Help the Puerto Rican Crested Toad!

Help the Puerto Rican Crested Toad!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about the Puerto Rican Crested Toad. The Puerto Rican Crested Toad (Peltophryne lemur) is critically endangered. The amphibian lives in the rocky areas of forests of evergreen. It is threatened because of the growing human population and the introduction of a new species.

         The Puerto Rican Crested Toad one was thriving on the island of Puerto Rico and Virgin Gorda. This toad is the only native toad to Puerto Rico. But they are now declining. The first reason because of the decreasing population is because of habitat loss. They bred in small ponds in the forests. People drained these ponds for agricultural and urban uses. The last population of the toad is in the south of Guanica National Park.

          The next cause is because of the introduction of the Marine Toad. The Marine Toad (Bufo marinus) was brought to manage the grub population that destroyed the sugar canes. Sadly, the marine toad is a lot bigger (7 in.) than the Puerto Rican Crested Toad (2.5-4.5 in.). They fight for breeding areas, food, and shelter. The Marine Toad also eats the Puerto Rican sometimes. Other species of mammals also prey on the Puerto Rican Crested Frog.

          The AZA Species Survival Program (SSP) helps the toad by breeding them and releasing the tadpoles back into the wild. Miami Children’s Zoo also had a birth of tadpoles. The tadpoles were then given to Guanica National Park.

          There are many ways to help the Puerto Rican Crested Frog. You could:

1.     Spread the word. You could write an article to the newspaper or tell someone you know.

2.    Start a petition. Start a petition to have people help the toad.

3.    Donate to the SSP.

 

https://npo1.networkforgood.org/Donate/Donate.aspx?npoSubscriptionId=4946

4.    Help at zoos that need help for the Puerto Rican Crested Toad.

Help save the Puerto Rican Crested Toad!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop Animal Abuse

Stop Animal Abuse

         

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about animal abuse. IGL has contributed a lot on animal abuse. There are also other posts about animal abuse including animal fighting, the animal shelter, farm animals, wildlife, and more.

          Animal abuse is so cruel and inhumane. The reasons are just so unexplainable. Sometimes people take their anger out on someone else (just like bullying, domestic violence, rape, women violence, and child abuse—which are also NOT okay). Sadly, people know that animals are helpless against a person’s power.

          Another reason is that a person just doesn’t realize how hard it is to take care of animal. Sometimes someone buys a puppy from the pet store (which is usually from the puppy mill, but that’s a whole different story). But that person doesn’t realize that an animal needs a lot of care. But they thought that they need to be brushed, washed, watered, and fed. So they just leave the animal there for a few days without any care.

          You can always help stop animal abuse. You could:

1. When you don’t want an animal anymore, talk to your vet/animal expert or take it to a no-kill animal shelter. Both of those options are better than abandoning it without any food, water, and shelter.
2. When you buy a pet, know what it needs. Give your pet the thinks it needs including food, water, and shelter.
3. If you suspect animal abuse is going on, call the animal control.
4. Donate to organizations that help stop animal abuse. A good organization for helping abused dogs is Rolda.

http://rolda.org/Ways-to-Help/help-dogs-with-us.html

Another good organization is ASPCA.

http://www.aspca.org/

Lastly, the IS foundation helps the circus animals.

http://www.isfoundation.com/news/kids/stop-circus-animal-abuse

5. Spread the word. You could write a letter to the newspaper or just tell some people you know.

Help stop animal abuse!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Stop HIV/AIDS!

Stop HIV/AIDS!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about AIDS. AIDS starts with the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus). The virus attacks your immune system. People believe that it started when people in Western Africa hunted infected monkeys for food. Later, it spread on. The virus attacks your T cell, a type of white blood cell. It makes more copies of the HIV. When it attacks too much of your T cells, you get AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome).

          Technically, AIDS doesn’t kill you. It’s not a disease, but a syndrome. A syndrome is when a group of symptoms occur together that affects your body. It just damages your immune system. So it is involved in killing you. What does kill you is some small disease that you don’t really care about after twenty years, like influenza.

          The HIV is present in your body fluids, including blood and sexual fluids. Saliva, vomit, poop, pee, and tears contain HIV, but isn’t strong enough to affect someone else, except when containing blood. You could receive the HIV by sexual contact, drug injection, pregnancy, exposure during occupation, and body transplant. By sexual contact, unprotected intercourse could lead to HIV. During drug injection, people insert needles into their body with drugs. Sharing needles with someone who has HIV could lead to AIDS. An infected mother could give birth to an infected baby. Also, blood and a fluid called amniotic fluid come in contact with the baby during pregnancy. Breast milk could also contain the HIV. If you are a doctor, when caring for babies, the amniotic fluid around the baby could also infect you by transmitting into your body. Infection through body transplant is very rare because doctors scan or diagnose the body part or blood to check for HIV. But doctors probably wouldn’t do that.

          If you are HIV+, in the beginning, there aren’t any symptoms. But about 2-4 weeks later, you could get ARS, or the “worst fever in the world”, but not everyone gets ARS. Other symptoms include fatigue, rashes, muscle pains, night sweats, fever, chills, ulcers in the mouth, sore throat, and swollen lymph nodes.

          There are no cures for HIV/AIDS. But treatments include therapy and staying extra healthy.

          Most people with AIDS are in southern Africa. Approximately thirty-three million people are living with AIDS. Since 1981, twenty-five million people have died. One out of five people are infected without knowing.

          If you are affected with HIV or not, it is best to stay safe during sexual intercourse, avoiding drug injection, eating clean and healthy foods, being careful and staying sanitary. Remember, if you have HIV, any small virus could kill you, even a cold. So when doing everything, wash your hands and when you eat, clean it extra well.

          There are many awareness days for AIDS, but the worldwide one is World AIDS Day on December First. The ribbon color for World AIDS Day is red. You could take action on World AIDS Day. You could:

1.     Wear the red ribbon

2.    Spread awareness by holding up signs

3.    Helping the infected

Help spread awareness and caution for HIV/AIDS!

Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the dolphins!

Help the Dolphins!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about the dolphins. Dolphins are many people’s favorite animal. In fact, it is one of Victori’s favorite animals too. But we might not see them in the future. Some species of dolphins are extinct!

          The first reasons some dolphins are becoming extinct is because of bycatch. Fishermen accidentally catch them into their nets. And the fishermen were just trying to catch some tuna!  

          Another reason is dolphin food. In some places, people serve dolphin seafood. You probably don’t eat dolphin seafood, but it happens in Japan and the Japanese government allows it. Yes, they serve dolphin sushi!

          The third reason is because of pollution. You see a surf dude throw a water bottle onto the shore. But soon, the waves come up and splash the beach. Then poof! Water bottle gone. Dolphins usually eat the trash, including plastic bags, soda cans, and other objects. The pollution also increases the acidity level in the water. And dolphins live in the water! Also, when people ride on boats, the propeller could scrape the dolphin.

          There are many ways to help. You could:

1. Stop littering! In fact, don’t litter at all.
2. Start a petition
3. Spread the word
4. Pick up trash
5. Donate to charities

All these ways could help dolphins all the time! Help the dolphins!

-Idea=Gift=Love IGL

Help the Republic of Congo!

Help the Republic of Congo!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about the Republic of Congo. The Republic of Congo is the country next to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Republic of Congo is a bit wealthier than the Democratic, but it is still a poor country.
          The population is about four million people. But unfortunately, because of AIDS, the lifespan has decreased, birth mortality increased, and the death rate is taking over.

          The GDP per capita, or money made for each person, is about $4,700. That may seem a lot, but that’s how much they make every year. It doesn’t’ really supply much.

          About 1.514 million people are victims of forced labor. That is about ¼ of the population. It is also a destination for child slaves for forced labor, human trafficking, and sexual trafficking.

          There are many ways to help. There ways to help that you can do. You can:

1. Spread the word
2. Donate to that country
3. Start a petition
4. Adopt a child

These ways can help the Republic of Congo in so much difference!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Democratic Republic of Congo!

Help the Democratic Republic of Congo!

          Hello, this is IGL and this post is about the Democratic Republic of Congo. This country is a poor one. The country has 72.6 million people and the GDP per capita is $400.

          Years ago, the African World War involved the Democratic Republic of Congo with fights over natural resources. 5.4 million people have died because of the war. 47% of the people were children and people die of diseases unrelated to the war.

          Due to the increasing poverty, people hunt endangered animals like gorillas for bush meat. The national parks that help these animals have to exploit their water and food.

          The population for people below the poverty line is 71%. And people are trafficked to forced labor and forced prostitution. There are ways to help the Democratic Republic of Congo. You could:

1. Spread the Word
2. Start a petition
3. Donate
4. Adopt a child

These ways could always help this country. Help the Democratic Republic of Congo!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL

Help the Galapagos Penguin

Help the Galapagos Penguin!

          Hello, this is IGL and this topic is about the Galapagos penguin. They are endangered and are found only on a small island. They are the only penguins found north of the equator.

          The Galapagos penguin is threatened by climate change, bycatch, and pollution. People also bring dogs to the Galapagos Island and the dogs carry diseases the penguins can’t cope with. Cats also prey on the penguins. There are less than 2000 Galapagos penguin living. You could:

1. Donate to the Galapagos penguin
2. Start a petition
3. Clean the planet
4. Spread the word

Help the Galapagos Penguin!

-Idea+Gift=Love IGL