Pets & Animals

The Cane Toad is the only species of frog that has been introduced into Australia. There are over 216 frogs native to Australia. In Darwin and surrounding areas in the Northern Territory, there have been 25 species of frogs found and listed. Many of these resemble toads in colour, as not all frogs are green.

1. CANE TOADS have very wart like skin on their backs and are granular on their stomachs. The skin colour is reddish-brown, or olive-brown, or grey, with rarely any type of marked pattern. Their skin is bumpy and leathery. Their eyes are at the sides of their heads. They prefer dry conditions, but will go in water to lay eggs or find food.

FROGS have soft, smooth skin that hangs in folds. They absorb water through their skin and breathe through their skin. This means they absorb pollutants from the environment, so are good to have around. They range in colours from bright green, dark green, brown, and black. Frogs have three eyelid membranes to protect their eyes underwater. Their eyes are on top of their heads. Frogs prefer wet, moist conditions.

2. THE CANE TOAD is very toxic to most animals that try to devour them. Research has proven now that the crow will kill the toad by turning it over with its beak,then eat them. Recently, in 2009, it has been found that Meat ants are able to kill the Cane Toad. The Australian native rat will kill them but only eat the legs.

FROGS are not venomous, so unfortunately, any animal or reptile can eat them. They are eaten by snakes, goannas, and large birds.

3. CANE TOAD’S eggs are different to frog’s eggs. They are laid in long strings which are continuous and generally over one metre long. The small black eggs are held in with a jelly substance. The eggs are laid in shallow waters and usually amongst sticks and vegetation. They can be pulled out in one long string and disposed of in the sun before they hatch.

FROG’S eggs are laid in a foamy clump in water. Most of our native frogs lay eggs in clumps, others lay individually. None of the native frogs lay in long strings.

4. THE CANE TOAD tadpoles are also poisonous to wildlife that might eat them. The young tadpoles do not develop their full poison until they are about 30mm in length. They place birds and any other animal or fish in danger if eaten. The tadpoles have a clear see-through tailfin, but the rest of their body is black. The toadpole grows no bigger than 30mm before changing into a toad. The toadpoles prefer to sit in full sun during the hottest part of the day; will swish their tails quickly when not swimming forward, and swim in schools along the shallow edges of the water.

FROG tadpoles are not poisonous, and therefore, are eaten by predators, such as fish, diving beetles and birds. The tadpoles like to hide on the bottom of the water under weeds.

5. CANE TOADS are carnivores and also eat insects and anything small enough for them to swallow. Native ground nesting birds, such as the Rainbow Bee-eaters and their eggs, are in danger from the toads. Toads also love dog food.

FROGS are also carnivores, and may eat other small frogs, lizards and small mammals, but climb up to outside lights to eat insects.

6. CANE TOADS are a ground dwelling predacious species and cannot climb anything. They cannot jump high, either. They prefer open areas to hunt and like lots of lights, old rubbish, drains, and man-made stuff. They use their eye sight to detect movement when hunting.

FROGS jump high and climb up walls and trees, using their toe pads for friction. Some frogs are ground dwelling.

7. CANE TOADS have horizontal pupils and have a bony ridge (rostrum) across the eye to the snout.

FROGS have eyes on the top of their heads. They are usually protruding.

8. CANE TOADS have partial webbing between their toes. They cannot hop high, but can run, especially when being chased.

FROGS have full webbed feet which help them to swim and move in the water. Some frogs have suction pads on their toes to help them cling to anything. Because they have long back legs that are very strong, they get about by hopping.

When you visit Darwin in the Northern Territory, spend some time at night looking for these frogs. It is best not to handle these creatures, as it can harm their skin. Do not handle the toad without a plastic bag or gloves on your hands, as they do have poisonous skin.

Before you buy a pet, you want to be comfortable with the basics of pet care. Each individual animal has a different set of needs but there are some general tips to follow for different types.

Dog Pet Care

Dogs are pets that require care. Dogs will give you unconditional love, loyalty and companionship and in return, you should do the same. While dogs count on you for food, water, shelter and exercise, there’s a lot more pet care involved.

Immediately after you get your dog, get a collar and ID tags. If your dog somehow gets out, you want them to find their way home. If someone finds your dog wandering, they have no way to know where the dog lives unless there are tags. On the tags, you want to include your name, address and phone number. Also, put the dog’s vaccination tags on the collar as well.

People are sometimes weary to approach a dog without these tags in fear of getting rabies. Not to mention, you need to get your dog vaccinated anyway. Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs that have been fixed are at less risk for certain diseases and they generally live longer. This procedure also helps with certain behavioral issues like biting and wandering.

If you have a female dog that is not spayed, she will be in heat and bleed occasionally. Overall, spaying or neutering is better for everyone. Make sure that you take your dog in to the vet for regular check-ups. This is absolutely essential for quality pet care. Dogs, just like people need to be examined. If anything was ever wrong with your dog then a vet might be able to find it before it gets too serious.

Along with regular vet visits, make sure that your dog eats nutritiously and gets regular exercise. Sometimes owners do not realize the importance of a dog staying at a healthy weight. If you give your dog quality pet care then you will have a companion that loves you unconditionally.

Cat Pet Care

Although cats are slightly more independent than dogs, they ‘re still pets that require care. You still need to provide them with food, water, shelter and more. If you take good care of your cat then you will have a great feline companion.

Do not let your cat be an outdoor cat! This used to be a lot more popular but some owners are still doing this. Cats are very smart and they have a natural instinct to find their way home but you don’t want to take the chance. You should take care of your pet and you cannot do this if it is an outdoor cat.

Take your cat in for regular check-ups and health procedures. Like a dog, spaying or neutering your cat will keep them healthier. Part of pet care for your cat also includes regular brushing and keeping its coat clean. If your cat tries to groom itself, which it will if you do not, it will ingest a lot of hair, thus causing hairballs.

Quality Pet Care

While pet care for every animal is different, these are just some basic guidelines to follow. Having a happy and healthy pet gives you the gift of friendship like no other.

Till some time back, creativity could not really help a person draw a monthly salary but these days scenario is completely different. Now one can easily give a vent to his / her creativity and take home a handsome pay packet. The booming animation market has opened newer avenues for all those who have a thing for painting and drawing.

The art of animation, a creative field which was earlier dominated by the West, has now India running as one of the most serious competitors. While cartoons are illustrations of a single diagram with varied meanings and expressions, animation is a rapid display of 2-D or 3-D images to create an illusion of motion.

In India, there are several career institutes offering Animation and Cartoon Courses. These career courses involve exhaustive career training for the job requirements in the field of animation and cartoons.

Cartoon Courses and Animation Institutes in India:

There are various colleges in India that offer specialized courses in animation and cartoons. These institutes help those who have a creative bent of mind and want to to earn a living from that. Some of the colleges are:

National Institute of Design (NID, Ahmedabad) J.J School of Arts Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) Industrial Design Center (IDC), IIT – Mumbai & Guwahati Academy of Animation and Gaming Admec Multimedia Institute, Delhi Arena Animation, Delhi Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics, Mumbai Aptech Computer Education, Mumbai Zee Institute of Media Arts, Mumbai Asian Institute of Gaming and Animation, Bangalore Ants Animation Training School, Bangalore Image Institute of Digital Technology, Bangalore SAE Technology College, Chennai Pivot Animation, Chennai Artlab College, Chennai Raymax Multimedia, Chennai Brainware Computer Academy, Kolkata, Digital Asia School of Animation, Kolkata Animaster – The Animation Varsity, Kolkata Micro Pro Institute, Kolkata Sumeru Academy of Digital Arts, Pune Indian Academy of Digital Arts, Pune Tilak Maharashtra University, Pune Image College of Arts, Animation & Technology, Hyderabad Picasso Animation College, Hyderabad Palette School of Multimedia, Hyderabad

For those who are looking for graduation courses in animation and cartoons, there are many colleges offering both diploma and degree courses. But for those looking for post graduate courses, options are very rare. Among the colleges that have been mentioned above, the Industrial Design Centers in Mumbai and Guwahati offer post-graduate degree courses.

Basic qualification required: All those who want to pursue a cartoon and animation course, there is a basic minimum qualification required. Like for applying for a diploma course in animation, one should have passed the 12th standard examination from any recognized board with a minimum of 45% marks. For those who are looking for a bachelor’s degree program, the same eligibility criterion is relevant, while for the PG program, one must have a bachelor’s degree from any university or institute.

Benefits of these courses: As one can see that the animation & multimedia industry is growing rapidly, pursuing a course in these fields can definitely push your career. Moreover, if you have a flair for drawing or creating characters, a course in this field would help satisfy your creative spirits.

Prospects of these courses in India:

Of late, animation in India has witnessed a remarkable boom with Indian animations catering to the needs of several private and public sectors and indigenously produced animated films all over the world.

There are various T.V programs, advertisements / commercials and computer games that demand a huge quantity of manpower from the Indian market. Besides that, animation is used for creating special effects in films or in web entertainment programs. Thus, the scope for aspiring students of animation is vast in the context of the rising Indian animation market.

Scope of animation students in foreign countries: Though cartoons and animations don’t really seem to be products meant for outsourcing, yet Indian cartoonists and animators have begun working for foreign companies. Undoubtedly, Indian companies are moving ahead of their South East Asian counterparts in this field. The western countries are also favoring India over any other country as far as animation is concerned because of the following reasons:

    * Good command over English speaking skills

    * Cost to company (CTC) advantage

Pet food might the most important thing that you should think about if you have pet. Since there are many options of pet food that you can find, you should be very careful in choosing it so that you can fulfill your pet’s needs.

You will find that choosing food for your pet might not be an easy job. Although it is not easy, you must do this very carefully in order to give your pet the right food that he/she wants. You will find that each pet has a kind of food that he likes. In this case, there are many things that you should pay attention such as the age of your pet, his psychological conditions, his activity level etc.

However, there are some selections that you should take to find the correct kind of food for your pet. The followings are some things that you should pay attention when choosing pet food for your pet.

Firstly, you should choose the food that has label from the Association of American Feeding Control Officials (AAFCO) and Animal Feeding Trials. This will ensure you that the food is guaranteed to be healthy for your pet.

Secondly, you should look at the food nutrients. You have to make sure that the food has balance nutrients for your pet that is set in a proper proportion. You must also make sure that the food has all nutrients that your pet needs. Minerals, energy, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, etc. are some nutrients that should be contained in the food. Additionally, you have to make sure that the food is easy to digest.

Thirdly, look at the manufacturer of the pet food product. Make sure that you choose one that has high reputation so that you will get the best pet food for your pet. In this case, you might find that pet food from a high reputable manufacturer costs more.

Finally, look at the directions given on labels. Make sure that you give your pet proper proportion. It might be modified to fulfill your pet’s needs. You can do this by consulting it with your veterinarian.

If you’re looking for pills for general pet health, then you want supplements that build immunity and contain antioxidants for their cleansing and restorative effects. What can you expect from a good supplement: what will it do and not do? How do you find a good one? Read this short article for answers.

Although many pet owners still don’t give supplements to their pets, they are essential. Like us, animals are subject to the stresses of living in a toxic environment, with chemicals in their water and preservatives and dyes in food that isn’t as full of nutrients as it used to be. These chemicals build up in the liver and other organs, increasing the body’s toxic load, leading to cancer and other disease. Since pills for general pet health fight free radicals and inflammation which cause disease, for this reason alone, it is crucial to give them to your cat or dog.

While these supplements will help to maintain good health, and prevent and fight disease, they do not necessarily cure cancer on their own, but can be used as part of an integrated approach to treat diseases such as cancer and other degenerative conditions.

Since the ingredients in these supplements are not found in food, they provide essential herbs and nutrients that your dog or cat can’t get in any other form. Some of the best pills for general health include ingredients like Cat’s Claw, Mistletoe, Milk Thistle, Indian Ginseng and Echinacea. Below is a short list of the benefits these ingredients provide:

1. Cat’s Claw – promotes a healthy immune system.
2. Mistletoe – used to treat cancer, circulation and respiratory issues.
3. Milk Thistle – cleanses the liver.
4. Indian Ginseng – nourishes the blood, promotes the immune system.
5. Echinacea – normalizes blood pressure and supports immunity.

Together these ingredients act as antioxidants, healing the body, eliminating toxic buildup and promoting health. Pills for general pet health are essential whether your pet is old or young, sick or healthy because they have a cleansing and restorative effect.

When choosing a good supplement, look for the ingredients listed above. Also, look for a company that stands behind its product with a “no questions asked” return policy. A one-year guarantee indicates a company that has down their research. Also, make sure the supplement contains no chemicals or artificial ingredients.

Dogs and cats that are free to roam the wild will naturally chew on medicinal plants for their healing properties. Now, you can give your beloved pet a daily dose of these ingredients in a formulation that will help your pet get healthy and/or stay that way.