3-22-21, North Carolina: This is what happens when you break into the Dollar Store and steal a stuffed unicorn five times! Sisu, a male stray dog, consistently entered the store and swiped a purple unicorn - animal control came out; the agent bought the unicorn for him and took him to the shelter. So sweet.

Looking for a home:

Sisu
Male
Stray
1 yrs old
67.1 lbs
​Breed?

https://www.duplincountync.com/animal-services/

7-10-20, National Geographic --  The predators that some feared would wipe out elk herds in Yellowstone Natl Park, Wyoming have instead proved to be more of a stabilizing force. New research shows that by reducing populations and thinning out weak and sick, wolves are helping create more resilient elk herds. For the past 12 years, elk numbers in the park’s largest herd have leveled off between about 6,000 and 8,000, instead of extreme boom-and-bust cycles. Chris Wilmers, Wildlife Ecologist from California reports: “Elk aren’t starving to death anymore.” [..]
 
Yellowstone area’s wolves now numbering between 300 and 350 — the study, published in the Journal of Animal Ecology reports that to maintain consistent numbers, rather than yo-yoing up and down, can better withstand more frequent droughts. Doug Smith, Yellowstone's senior wildlife biologist reports that: “In a future that will be very unpredictable, we want a buffer against mass die-offs,  wolves’ ability to keep elk herds balanced can play that role. Through hunting and management practices, humans help stabilize elk populations also, but they don’t do the same thing as wolves.” More here https://www.nationalgeographic.com 

2-18-21, National Geographic -- Residents, some of whom lack heat or basic amenities in their own homes due to the unusual frigid Polar Vortex ice storm to hit the Gulf of Texas, have been rescuing cold-stunned sea turtles and taking them to South Padre Convention Center. 

When two wildlife photographers saw a polar bear approaching a chained up sled dog, they were frozen stiff with horror – but the encounter actually turned out to be more heartwarming than anticipated.
The photographers had been exploring the Churchill region of Canada’s Hudson Bay, which is known to be the polar bear capital of the world.

Polar bears are also renowned for being aggressive predators. So when they saw one of the massive mammals meandering up to a the sled dog, they expected the worst.​

The bear, however, was apparently only looking for a playmate – and the dog was more than happy to oblige.


​See two minute video here 

​https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/watch-friendly-encounter-polar-bear-sled-dog/

Silk fibers are a miraculous creation of almighty God. They are water-insoluble filaments that animals (chiefly the larval version of moths and butterflies, but also spiders) secrete from specialized glands. Animals store the chemicals fibroin and sericin—silkworm cultivation is often called sericulture—as gels in the insects' glands. As the gels are excreted, they are converted into fibers. Some use them to construct nests and burrows, but butterflies and moths use the excretions to spin cocoons. The silkworm caterpillar feeds exclusively on the leaves from several species of mulberry (Morus), which contain a latex with very high concentrations of alkaloid sugars; those sugars are toxic to other caterpillars and herbivores. 

Today silkworms domesticated and completely dependent on humans for survival, a direct result of artificial selection. Other characteristics bred into the domestic silkworm caterpillar are a tolerance for human proximity and handling as well as for excessive crowding. 

​Archaeological evidence indicates that the use of cocoons of the silkworm species Bombyx to produce cloth began at least as early as the Longshan period (3500–2000 BC). ​More here

4-17-20, NYPost -- Amid the global lockdowns over the Covid virus … in South Africa’s popular Kruger National Park that has remained closed since March 25, 2020 amazing images one showing a pride of some 15 lions napping in the middle of a warm empty paved road. Normally on any typical day, this area would be packed with tourists on safari excursions. A park representative reports that: “This lion pride is usually resident on Kempiana Contractual Park, an area Kruger tourists do not see.”  Kruger Park is still  largely a wild area and in the absence of humans, wildlife is more active.
 
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in early April 2020 that he would extend the quarantine at least until the end of the month.

• In India people in New Delhi have spotted monkeys looking for food in an alleyway lined with closed shops. And peacocks venturing to the city of Bengaluru [1]
• In Venice, Italy, clear blue canals have lured swans and fish before tourists return in gondolas.
• In Wales mountain goats roamed the streets of Llandudno; they typically live on a nearby hill that looks over the town, rarely heading into it.
• In Illinois USA the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago that’s closed to the public, penguins have been released into the public areas and are wandering about.
• London England a herd of deer settled on someone’s front lawn [2]
• Italy: Wild boars roam the streets of Bergamo [3]​

Dachshunds: Weiner Dogs What's Good and Bad About 'Em
Dachshunds aka 'Weiner dogs' are curious, lively and brave. They're similar to a terrier. This comical clown loves to play games and has a great sense of humor. He is a loyal little dog, very attached to his family, and he firmly believes that sleeping under the bedcovers is in the Dachshund Bill of Rights. They're usually good with other family pets, though they can be jealous when they want attention and they can be possessive of their toys.  It's a great house dog, he does need his daily walks (on-leash! Dachshunds are chasers who will take off! Loneliness will lead to excessive barking. Dachshunds are alert watchdogs who do not take kindly to strangers intruding on their domain. Though bright and clever, Dachshunds like to do things their own way. In other words, they're stubborn.

James 1:27 ; Exodus 22:22; Matthew 5:7; Malachi 3:5; Luke 6:36

​3-26-20, * -- Reportedly, in 2007 Christian leader in Kandhamal Odisha, India - Pastor Prakash, brought 40 orphaned children into his home, from areas ravaged by disaster. By 2008, radical Hindu locals wanted to kill him. Pastor Prakash reported: “I was bound to leave my housing by evening. I left everything. I went to the forest with the children. By 7:30 they burned down my house.”  The next two days were spent deep in the jungle and later in a relief camp, or rehabilitation home. Christian non-government organizations (NGO’s) sent representatives to set up tents and give the newly homeless people food and supplies.
 
On August 23, 2008, Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda was assassinated in Odisha. Police arrested seven Maoist men. However, the area’s Christian population was blamed saying it was an international conspiracy organized by the church. Christianity was banned and, over a three month period of terror; Christians were commanded to denounce their faith and follow Hinduism or be arrested. While extremist Hindus traveled in murderous groups to small Christian villages tucked deep into the pockets Odisha’s vast mountainous region, survivors heard chants ”Christian dharmo chalibo nahi” [Christian religion will not remain]. The groups killed many Christians who were publicly slaughtered, buried alive or burned. Human rights groups estimate that, by the time the Indian government took control of the situation, over 100 Christians were dead, 300 churches destroyed, 600 homes demolished and 56,000 people homeless.
 
In 2009 - exactly one year later, at the same time that the Hindu extremists began their rioting and path of destruction and horror; a herd of wild elephants charged through Kandhamal - as they do every year. Although this year they arrived abnormally early and the homes of those responsible for the 2008 riots were completely wiped out as elephants stormed through their communities killing five of the Christian oppressors. Some Christian homes were damaged, but no Christians died.

The animals were later referred to as the “Christian Elephants.”
​
Examples in scripture where the Lord God used His creation of animals to accomplish His goals:
a donkey Numbers 22:28; a whale Jonah 1:17; ravens 1 Kings 17:3-4; bear 2 Kings 2:23-25 and lions Daniel 6:22.
​Although elephants aren't found in scripture … why not in modern day - the Lord used elephants in India?!

Five Christians in India Falsely Accused of Killing Hindu Leader
11-29-19, MorningStarNews -- The Supreme Court of India issued a decision granting bail to the five Christians from Odisha state falsely accused of killing Hindu leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, whose death on Aug. 23, 2008 in Kandhamal District touched off anti-Christian attacks that killed 120 people, destroyed nearly 6,000 homes and displaced thousands...
***
Excerpted and adapted full original report by Will Gerhard, Persecution Today here

4) Ezekiel 47:11-12 Yet its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be left for salt. All kinds of trees providing food will grow along both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fresh fruit because the water comes from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for medicine.

5) Isaiah 38:21; 2 Kings 20:7  Isaiah had said to Hezekiah’s servants, “Make an ointment from figs and spread it over the boil, and Hezekiah will recover.”

6) Jeremiah 51:8  But suddenly Babylon, too, has fallen. Weep for her. Give her medicine. Perhaps she can yet be healed.

7) Psalm 103:2-3 Bless the Lord, my soul, and never forget any of his benefits: He continues to forgive all your sins, he continues to heal all your diseases.

8) Revelation 22:2 It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

9)Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 

Revelation 5:5, 9; Nahum 2:11; Amos 3:4; Genesis 49:9; Hosea 5:14; Micah 5:8

2-28-20, * -- Animals have 'communities' ... elephants have a parade, geese have a gaggle, cows have a herd, fish have a school and lions have social units called prides. Some of the oldest paintings in history are in the Chauvet Cave in France containing artwork called the “Gallery of Lions.” [Smithsonian Museum report here]

In the New Testament we find lions—two of them. One is worthy of eternal worship; one is worthy of eternal condemnation.

1. THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH - Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; His great power is shown and felt in His devotion to creating and sustaining life for the world. Today’s verse is about Him and is part of a greater story in Revelation 5:5; there is a scroll no one in the universe can open and read making the apostle John  weep! However, a mighty angel tells him, “Do not weep! The Lion of the Tribe of Judah . . . is able to open the scroll and its seals.”  We learn that THIS Lion is worthy because He became a lamb shedding His blood for the salvation of people from every “tribe and language and people and nation.” (Matthew 26:28; Revelation 5:9)

2. THE LION OF DESTRUCTION - The apostle Peter writes about the wicked lion in 1 Peter 5:8, warning: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." This lion is Satan himself and his powers are persecution, pain, confusion, delusion fear, destruction, devouring, consuming and death. [2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 2 Timothy 4:3]

While Jesus is the Author of Life, Satan is the bringer of death.