wildlife

Orvis Presents North America's Finest Hunting Lodges

Last spring we reported that legendary Vermont-based sporting outfitters Orvis had published a great new book on fly fishing's finest destinations. Now the company has come out with an equally compelling companion volume on hunting game birds. Great Hunting Lodges of North America: Wingshooting's Finest Destinations (Rizzoli) is a lavishly illustrated look at the very best upland and waterfowl hunting destinations around. Profiles of almost 20 featured Orvis destinations celebrate the great American sporting tradition and include detailed information on the local game species and wildlife, the lodge and the surrounding countryside, along with in-depth sidebars on key game birds and sporting dogs. Even if you're merely an armchair adventurer who's never fired a shotgun the great outdoor photography is worth the price of admission in its own right. Featured lodges include the Eagle Nest Lodge in Montana, Flying B Ranch in Idaho, Greystone Castle in Texas, The High Lonesome Ranch in Colorado, Mexico's Rancho Caracol, Deer Creek Lodge in Kentucky, Harris Springs Sportsman's Preserve in South Carolina and Pine Hill Plantation in Georgia. Check out the gallery for a preview.

Gallery: Great Hunting Lodges of North America

Tags: books, coffee table books, Colorado, dogs, fishing, fly fishing, Georgia, guns, hunting, hunting lodge, Idaho, Kentucky, Montana, Orvis, Rancho Caracol, shotgun, sporting, sports, Texas, Vermont, wildlife

Judith Leiber Wildcat Clutch, Handbag of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

It's another "love it or hate it" animal-inspired clutch by Judith Leiber, this time a gracefully crouching leopard covered from head to toe in hand-placed Swarovski crystals. Not a bag you can carry with just anything, this Wildcat Crystal-Embellished Clutch is probably best when left to shine and paired with all black, like a LBD. The few surfaces that aren't crystallized are goldtone hardware, including the push-clasp fastening and chain handle that can be hidden inside for true clutch fashion. It has leopard paws engraved on the base, gold leather lining the interior, and comes with a miniature designer-engraved vanity. $5,495

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Tags: clutch, handbag, handbag of the day, judith leiber, swarovski, wildlife

Bid On Sustainable Adventures

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Charity

Bidding has begun in this year's Sustainable Travel International's (STI) bi-annual Green Travel Auction. The online auction runs 24 hours a day until October 30th. The event brings travelers and responsible travel companies together to raise money for STI's educational programs and to promote sustainable tourism development. The nonprofit organization promotes responsible tourism that protects the environment, preserves cultural heritage and contributes to economic development. Special deals are being offered on trips like eco safari adventures and rainforest excursions which were donated by travel and tourism providers from across the globe. Auctions include an Alaska cruise, a stay in Peru, an eco safari in South Africa and an idyll in Papua New Guinea. Bidding is open on the STI auction page.

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Tags: auctions, eco-tourism, responsible tourism, ResponsibleTourism, sustainable travel, SustainableTravel, travel, wildlife

Beauties and the Beasts - A Women's Wildlife Adventure at Spring Creek Ranch, Jackson Hole

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Events, Green

Spring Creek Ranch holds photography workshops in September and October

Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has a long list of luxury, seasonal wildlife-focused getaways. The picture at right is for their photography workshops which they hold in September and October.

This year, Spring Creek Ranch has something new for the ladies: The Beauties and the Beasts Adventure is taking place October 2-6.

Subtitled "A Women's Wildlife Adventure," Beauties and the Beasts is a four day excursion, venturing from Jackson Hole up into Yellowstone, where there will be naturalist-led hiking and driving, a trip to Old Faithful, and finally, massages back at Spring Creek Ranch. Ladies only!

There's still room! The price is $1,710 per person for double occupancy and $2,110 for single occupancy.

If I weren't busy keeping tabs on New York for you, I'd be there!

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Tags: adventures, destinations, jackson hole, safaris, spring creek ranch, vacations, wildlife

Lifesavers Inc., Charity of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

Lifesavers Inc. is all about saving horses -- all kinds from unwanted or homeless domestic pets to retired working animals to wild mustangs. Created in 1997 it's a fairly young organization that serves as a source of news and contacts to other horse related campaigns (like this one geared towards saving America's wild mustang population) and events like this horse dancing competition and this women's empowerment workshop. They also provide links to horse rescue resources and homeless horses that are available for adoption -- I love horses and seeing these that need a home makes me wish I had room for a one!

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Tags: animal rescue, AnimalRescue, animals, charity, charity of the day, CharityOfTheDay, conservation, equine, horse, horses, wildlife

The Panda Trust, Charity Of The Day

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day

The Panda Trust's mission is simple; protecting the habitat of the giant panda, and increasing their numbers in the wild. With only 1000 or so pandas remaining, the situation is urgent....around 500 of that 1000 roam free in unprotected forests, where they remain an easy target for poachers (panda skins can sell for up to $200,000 outside of China!). There is also an immediate need for research that has Chinese scientist working around the clock, not a single panda has ever been successfully re-introduced to the wild. So, along with protecting pandas and their natural habitat, methods must also be found that will allow pandas born in captive facilities to be integrated back into the wild. If you would like additional info about how you can help save the giant pandas from extinction, visit the panda trust website.

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Tags: panda, The Panda Trust, ThePandaTrust, wildlife

The Snow Leopard Trust, Charity of the Day

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

Founded in 1981, the Snow Leopard Trust (SLT) is the longest running and largest organization working solely to protect the endangered snow leopards of Central Asia. The snow leopard shares the same ranking on the World Conservation Endangered List as the tiger and the panda, with an estimated population of only 5,000 worldwide.

The Snow Leopard Trust realized early on, that without the help of those residing near the snow leopards, any attempts to save them would be in vain. Conservation programs are therefor designed not only to preserve snow leopards and their fragile habitat, but also to increase the quality of living for local citizens. In exchange the locals agree to help the SLT protect the wild cats from illegal killing and trade. The SLT offers a fun way for people to help their plight, you can adopt an adorable snow leopard cub for $50! "New Parents" receive an adoption certificate and a 5x7 glossy of their cub, as well as a year membership to the SLT!

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Tags: charity of the day, CharityOfTheDay, conservation, leopard, snow leopard trust, SnowLeopardTrust, wildlife

The International Rhino Foundation, Charity of the Day

by Star Sutherland (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity, Charity of the Day

The International Rhino Foundation was formed in 1963 to aid the five species of rhino that is rapidly facing extinction, today it is dedicated to the survival of the world's rhino species through conservation and research. Without drastic action, some rhinos could be extinct within the next 10-20 years! There are currently only 17,500 rhinos alive (1,200 of those are in captivity). The Sumatran rhino is one of the most endangered mammals on Earth, with fewer than 300 alive, living in Indonesia and Malaysia. You can help to protect the Sumatran Rhino from extinction by adopting one of them! You can adopt one in your own name, or as a unique gift for a fellow animal lover.

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Tags: charity, philanthropy, rhino, the international rhino foundation, TheInternationalRhinoFoundation, wildlife

White Porcelain Wildlife

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor

Decorating with animals is tricky (all too often it just comes off as tacky) but these crisp white porcelain creations from Rose and Radish may be the answer for those looking for a way to bring the beauty of nature indoors. This collection of porcelain wildlife figurines has all the usuals (i.e. lots of birds) plus a few unusuals like a goat and a hippopotamus. The hippo happens to be my favorite because he looks like he'd be really interesting, without being too bright or bold, sitting on a bookshelf. $1019

Via Wists

Gallery: White Porcelain Wildlife

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Tags: animal, animals, hippo, hippopotamus, nature, porcelain, wildlife

The Elephant Sanctuary, Charity of the Day

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Charity of the Day

Established in 1995 and existing on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, Tennessee, The Elephant Sanctuary is devoted to providing a safe refuge for endangered Asian and African elephants that are old, needy, and sick after being retired from zoos and circuses. It is also passionate about educating others on the crisis facing these large and gentle creatures, and working to stop the capture and training of elephants from their natural habitats to perform in circuses and safaris. They have 23 elephants total in the sanctuary, and you can meet them all by name and picture and either send a general donation or sponsor a specific "girl" after reading each of their bios and getting to know them in photo albums.

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Tags: animal rescue, AnimalRescue, charities, charity, conservation, donation, donations, elephant, elephants, giving, rescue, sanctuary, tennessee, wildlife

Wolf and Bear Safari

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

I say the word safari and you may immediately be thinking Africa but you can actually experience a safari a bit closer to home. No lions and tigers in sight but you may get to see some bears. Spring Creek Ranch in Wyoming, a resort that combines luxury with rugged Western flair, is offering their annual "Wolf & Bear Safari Weekend" during select dates in April, May and June. The three night package includes journeys that take guests through Yellowstone National Park to watch large predators and other wildlife in their natural habitat. Tours include high powered binoculars and the help of professional biologists. The package costs $1350 per person double occupancy and includes safari transportation, lodging, meals and snacks. If you are looking to sleep until noon however, this isn't the package for you, one of the observation trips starts with a pre-dawn breakfast on Saturday morning followed by a morning search for predators.

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Tags: spring creek ranch, SpringCreekRanch, travel, vacation, wildlife, wyoming