Originally a skinny, bad-tempered stray cat, Nick was befriended by Jo Darden, a teacher of English, who took a liking to him when he was about five years old. After four years of friendship, whilst Nick was napping on the bench where Jo was sitting, she picked him up and put him quickly into a cage, and took him to a veterinarian, who vaccinated, dewormed and desexed him. Afterwards Jo released Nick back to his neighbourhood. Eventually, after about a year, Nick forgave Jo's "betrayal", and walked into Jo's house, where he stayed for the next ten years, passing away peacefully in Jo's arms in 2015.

Butterflies

Life during the dry season is fraught with challenges and dangers.

Our group "The Beauty of All Animals and Living Things" welcomes the Chinese New Year of the Water Rabbit, which starts today, the 22nd of January. (By way of further explanation, the Rabbit symbol comes from the Chinese Zodiac, whilst the Water element arises from the Chinese Five Elements.)

Happy Feast! Today, January 14th, is a special day in Christianity as it marks the Feast of the Ass Day.



The Feast of the Ass was a Christian feast during medieval times, which was mainly celebrated in France. It celebrated all of the donkeys of the Bible, especially the one that was believed to have brought Jesus and his family into Egypt after Jesus' birth, during what is known as the Flight into Egypt.

Giant pandas at Sichuan province in China.

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Huge wildebeest herds on the move at the world-famous Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya.

Red foxes like open areas in woodlands, rural and suburban neighborhoods, wetlands, and brushy fields.

Mountain hares in Scotland during the cold winter season.