Megalodon: MONSTER SHARK

Ever since Steven Spielberg ruined the ocean for an entire generation in 1975, sharks have reserved a spot in the darkest parts of our imagination.  They even made some people think twice about jumping in the pool.  Sharks are indisputably one of nature’s impeccable hunters and have dominated the food chain for ages.  They inspire feelings of fear, awe, and respect and rightfully so.  However, what’s truly horrifying is that the sharks reigning over our oceans today pale in comparison to one of their prehistoric ancestors.  The megalodon was one of the deadliest predators to ever exist on earth, let alone the ocean.

The Meg

The carcharocles megalodon terrorized the planet’s oceans from the early Miocene to the Pliocene epoch (3.6-23 million years ago).  The sharks were born about 7 feet in length and typically ranged between 30-40 feet once they reached full adulthood.  The largest of these gargantuan predators could reach 60 feet in length and weigh up to 100 tons.

That type of size warrants a pretty intense appetite.  Megalodons were said to eat upwards of 2,500 pounds of food every single day.  By comparison, that’s equivalent to eating the weight of a fully grown Titanoboa, one of their prehistoric predatory peers, who are monstrous creations of nature in their own regard.  This appetite demand led them to take feast on the largest prey the ocean could offer, whales.  With a bite force of over 40,000 pounds, megalodons could crush the skull of a whale just about as easily as you can bite through a grape.

Teeth

The name megalodon appropriately translates to “big tooth” in Latin and I’m sure you can imagine why.  Their herculean jaws could reach 6-7 inches long, doubling the size of the modern-day Great White Shark.  As you could infer, a set of teeth like that requires quite the foundation.  The megalodon’s jaws were around 7 feet in diameter, wielding 250 razor-sharp blades of perfect evolution. 

When tooth fossils were discovered during the Renaissance, scientists believed them to be dinosaur tongues based on their size.  It wasn’t until 1667 that they were discovered to be shark teeth by Danish naturalist, Nicolas Steno.

The scarcity and majesty of these teeth have made them extremely valuable.  A flawlessly preserved, non restored megalodon tooth over 7 inches can sell for upwards of $50,000.  One of the largest teeth currently residing in a collection was found by the late Vito Bertucci in South Carolina and measured 7 3/8 inches.  To this day, the largest megalodon tooth ever recorded was a 7.48-inch monstrosity found in Ocucaje, Peru.  The Peruvian region is famous for its enormous megalodon fossils.  Experts believe it’s due to the area’s presence of deep water with plenty of larger food sources.  Unfortunately for collectors, it’s illegal for fossils found in Peru to leave the country.

The mystery of the megalodon has been explored by everyone from the Discovery Channel to Jason Statham.  Scientists believe the species went extinct due to a lack of prey variation.  Predators of that size need a lot of food to keep the tank running, and the fact of the matter is there weren’t many creatures around that would satisfy their appetites.  Regardless, the megalodon is one of the most devastating forces nature has ever unleashed upon our oceans.

Keep Your Pets Safe During Fourth of July!

The sound of explosions is objectively pretty unsettling.  Since you can’t exactly explain the traditions of the 4th of July fireworks to your pet, your best bet is to be proactive and have a plan ahead of time.  Here are some precautions you can take to help your pet get through the 4th of July celebrations.  

Keep Your Pet at a Safe Distance

It should go without saying, but the most effective way to keep your pets safe during the fireworks is to keep them at a safe distance.  Dogs are especially sensitive to loud noises, so the further they are away from the boom, the better.  Leave the television on or play some soothing music to help your pet drown out the sounds of the fireworks.  Any background noise to take away from the explosions will be helpful.

Ideally, you’d want to stay with your pet to assure them everything is alright.  But, if you’re out for the holiday, experts recommend leaving your dog in a safe, comfortable room that they cannot escape from.  You could also hire a dog sitter to keep your dog company and keep a watchful eye.  If your dog is severely anxious, you may want to talk to your veterinarian about possible medications to help the evening be less scary.

Calming Jackets

The feeling of being held tightly can give nervous dogs a sense of security.  Products like Thundershirt utilize subtle, constant pressure when worn and make the dog feel secure and protected.  80% of Thundershirt users reported significant alleviation of their dog’s anxiety when wearing the coat.  The jacket is most commonly used for thunderstorms and firework celebrations but can be useful for any stressful situation for your dog.  It could also come in handy for separation anxiety, trips to the veterinarian, and general traveling.

Safeguarding with an ID tag and collar

ID tags should be worn 24/7 in case your dog curiously wanders off and gets lost.  The stress of the explosions can drive dogs into a nervous state that they’ll do anything to escape.  If the dog panics severely, they may try to get away from the noise of the fireworks by any means possible.  There have been many cases of dogs bursting through windows and taking off to get further away from the explosions. 

 In the event that your dog runs off and can’t find their way back, whoever finds them will know where they belong.  You should also consider a microchip with your current contact information for the same reasons.  In the event that your pet gets lost, contact local animal shelters or animal control.

Post Celebration

Make sure all debris from the fireworks is cleared before letting your dog back outside.  Even if you didn’t use any fireworks, it’s possible that debris flew in from a celebratory neighbor.  A curious dog will eat just about anything, so don’t give them a chance to get sick after getting through the night of explosions.

Fireworks on the 4th of July don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.  They’re much more beautiful knowing your dog is safe, comfortable, and secure.

Koko the Gorilla

It’s hard not to marvel at the intelligence in the animal kingdom.  From the beginning of time, humans have longed for a way to communicate with the other species that roam our Earth.  One of the greatest instances of human-animal bonding and communication was the famous case of Koko the Gorilla.  Not only did she prove that animals are capable of amazing feats of intelligence, but she also showed us the true depths of animal compassion and emotional awareness.

“Koko has a very strong sense of self…she’s got a strong ego.”

-Francine Penny Patterson

President and Scientific Director of The Gorilla Foundation

Background

The legend of Koko began on the 4th of July, 1971 at the San Francisco Zoo.  With a medley of fireworks in the background, the Western lowland gorilla quite literally came in with a bang.  Her original name was Hanabi-ko, which appropriately translates to, “fireworks child” in Japanese.  In 1976, she was transferred to The Gorilla Foundation preserve in the mountains of Santa Cruz.

It was there that she met her best friend, Francine “Penny” Patterson, a psychology student at Stanford conducting an experiment for her Ph.D. program.  With all due respect to Naomi Watts and Charlize Teron, no human has ever formed a bond with a gorilla quite like Francine Penny Patterson. In an attempt to communicate with the great ape, they started teaching Koko American Sign Language.  She was able to add over 2,000 English words to her vocabulary and could capably communicate with Patterson and others involved.  She also had about 1,000 additional signs for what Patterson refers to as, “Gorilla Sign Language”.

She became a global sensation and earned the cover spot of the 1976 edition of National Geographic.  Her clout was acknowledged across the celebrity spectrum, as she sported friendships with the likes of Robin Williams, Leonardo Di Caprio, William Shatner, Mr. Rogers, Betty White, and Peter Gabriel.

Koko managed to score 70-90 on IQ tests when periodically surveyed.  Forrest Gump, for instance, had an IQ of 75 and retired with millions in the bank, Medals of Honor, and acres of property.  In true American fashion, the first words Koko mastered were, “Eat, drink, more”.  Koko weighed about 250 pounds and took in 7 pounds of food per day.

She was actually raised alongside a male counterpart, a gorilla named Michael.  Surprisingly, he and Koko never mated.  Her caretakers believed Koko viewed Michael as a sibling instead of a potential mate.  Unfortunately for Michael, the friend zone is alive and well across all forms of life.

Kittens!

Koko was an animal lover across the board, but kittens were her true soft spot.  Ron Cohn, a biologist working with the program gifted Koko a stuffed animal for Christmas in 1983.  But Koko would settle for nothing less than the real thing, and refused to play with her lifeless toy and constantly gestured the sign for, “sad”.  The crew caved and got her a real kitten a year later.  Koko chose a kitten named, “All Ball” from the litter and the two were immediately inseparable.  

All Ball was tragically hit by a car after escaping Koko’s cage one day.  Biologists reported Koko signing, “Bad, bad bad…Frown, cry, frown, sad, trouble” while making a weeping noise.

Koko let us venture deeper into the psyche of an animal than ever before.  She passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 21st, 2018 at the age of 46.  But the barriers she broke for human-animal interaction will forever be monumental.