An Algae Serum Is Being Used to Treat Wounded Animals

Joe Landolina has always been a bit of a science nerd. Growing up he'd spend hours at his grandparents' winery, finding plants in the vineyard and trying to see what he could extract from them. It was while he was tinkering with algae that the then 17-year-old discovered a liquid that would change into a solid quickly. "I always knew I wanted to go into medicine, so I thought of stopping a bullet wound [using that liquid]."

Now 22, Landolina has started his own company called Suneris which makes Vetigel, a plant-based serum that, when applied to wounds, stops bleeding in seconds. It's a product bigger than his initial aspirations.

"[Liquid bandage] doesn't stop bleeding. It'll seal the surface of a small cut but is not effective for traumatic bleeding." Landolina says. "Vetigel makes a mechanical plug that holds the pressure in and also helps the body make its own clots."

While Landolina, along with his co-founder Isaac Miller and 25-person company, are still about a year away from being able to use its product on humans (if all goes well in the approval process), the entrepreneur has found an unexpected industry for Vetigel: animal health care.

"Vets don't have most of the tech that's available to human patients," Landolina says. He explains the standard of care for animals with traumatic bleeds is to use a gelatin sponge, but this method can take 10 minutes to staunch the bleeding, compared to seconds with Vetigel. This coupled with the fact that there are fewer federal regulations required to administer products to animals (as opposed to humans) has helped Suneris quickly break into the field.

There are 3,500 veterinary clinics enrolled to use Vetigel once it's distributed in the coming months. The company's focus continues to be getting its product -- retailing for $150 for five syringes -- into the hands of surgeons, a high-use customer, as well as general practitioners (so they can begin do basic surgeries, rather than providing a referral to another doctor).

With Vetigel's current use and the possibility that it could one day be used on humans has caused a lot of interest among investors. The company has more than 60 investors, and they were easy to find. After Landolina hosted a Ted Talk (see below), Suneris had more interest than they could take on. "We had 1,200 accredited investors that asked to invest," he says, adding that he and his team eventually asked potential backers to apply to be considered via a selection process. They whittled that batch of applications down to 40 (adding additional investors later on). Though Landolina wouldn't give names, he says the backers are private individuals with high net worth, most of whom he had never met or had a connection to prior to investment. "We want someone who is not a VC, who's passionate about the product, trusting of the team and has a network that's beneficial," he says.

The funding Suneris has received is going toward research and development, along with focusing on the next step: getting FDA approval for human use. Everyone from military members to surgeons and emergency medical technicians could benefit from Vetigel's abilities but that's still a bit down the road. FDA approval for military and emergency use is expected within the next year or two and surgical use could be approved as soon as three years from now. To that end, the company is working on a new facility where they can work on researching, testing and manufacturing the version of Vetigel that would be used on people. Suneris hopes to find a suitable facility by early next year.

For their launch event this summer, the backdrop was the Brooklyn Zoo. As vets and other guests filed in, a sea lion surfaced on a rock in his tank and barked. It was a happy sound, perhaps signaling approval.

What you can learn about teamwork from these animals' traits

Teamwork can be described as the process of working collaboratively with a group of people in order to achieve a goal. It involves subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. Over 200,000 years of evolution, mankind has survived the ice-age, famines, and plenty of other adverse conditions to reach the evolved state of civilization we are in now. We survived the worst of times because we worked together and supported each other. The basic ground for survival was to ‘be together or perish’.

We may say that mankind is more evolved because human cognitive abilities are much higher than that present in the animal kingdom. However, there are certain species of fauna that display traits, which we can learn from when it comes to working as a team.

1. Trust from Meerkats

Remember Timon from the famous Disney movie, Lion King – well, he is one. Meerkats live in the harsh and dangerous conditions of Africa. They have adopted a very smart survival strategy, which is based on mutual trust. One member is assigned the job of guard while the mob feeds. As soon as they spot any danger, they alert the whole clan, which then has enough time to run for safety. The amount of trust the mob places on each other is massive; one slip of alerting the mob can be the difference between life and death, but they still do it with a high rate of success.

Learning: Similarly, trust in each other is the most basic requirement in a team. You cannot grow or achieve much individually until you trust your team and work together.

2. Communication from Wolves

Wolves have a highly evolved social structure with roles defined for each member of the pack. They utilize every channel of communication at their disposal – right from their bone-chilling howl to miniscule eye movements. Researchers say that wolves pay close attention to all types of communication. Their power of observation is honed so finely that they record even the most subtle changes in each other's behaviour.

Learning: This is the kind of approach that works wonders in teams as well – understand each other well and communicate so effectively that the scope of miscommunication becomes absolutely less whenever there is task at hand.

3. Coordination from Killer Whales

Killer Whales are the most dangerous predators that roam the seas. They understand the power of collaboration and coordination to increase their success rate in finding preys. They hunt down whales much bigger in size than them as easily as they pick up unsuspecting seal on an iceberg. In fact, they are the only species to have perfected the art of picking up prey from the beach without getting beached.

Learning: Coordinated efforts play a major role in completing any task, simple or complex. Irrespective of who is gets more recognition for the same task, what matters is the bigger picture of completing a task which is going to add value to your organization.

4. Conflict resolution from Chimpanzees

Chimpanzees, who have been in conflict with each other at a previous occasion, are likely to be near each other in a conflict against another. This close proximity allows the exchange of grooming, hugs and kisses, which serves to diffuse the chances of future conflict. After fights, the chimp who comes off worse in a conflict is the one who initiates reconciliation.

Learning: Since teams are composed of people with different personalities, there are always chances of conflict occurring over differences. We must remember that conflict does not only affect the people involved in the argument, but also the entire team, thereby creating negativity. It is essential to understand the importance of resolving conflicts and maintaining amiability.

5. Empathy from Elephants

Elephants are one of the most intelligent animals and are very social too. They have an innate ability to remember and act empathetically towards other herd members. If any member of the herd is injured or sick, the others will try to pick them up with their trunk. If a member is dead, the rest of the herd mourns for the one gone.

Learning: When you empathize with your team members and understand their joys and sorrows, you tend to create bonds which are very important for the team to perform better. Making an effort towards going that extra mile always reaps benefits at some point or the other.

To conclude, it doesn’t matter where you are or what you do, you are always going to work with others to make things happen. No task can be accomplished without teamwork and a good way to learn how to do so is to observe the traits offered by nature itself. Observe, learn and implement.

4 Low-Cost Business Ideas for Animal Lovers

If you're an animal lover you know you've said that once or twice before. What if that dream could become your next business?

"With so many people having dogs instead of children, products and services that help people care for their four-legged family members are in a growth pattern that I don't see slowing down for the near future," says Matthew Osborn, doo-doo guru and owner of Pooper Scooper Services.

Since 1994, the pet industry has nearly quadrupled in sales. In 2015, Americans spent over $60 billion on their pets, according to American Pet Products, a nonprofit trade association serving the pet industry. It's estimated that 2016 will see an increase of $3 billion in sales.

If you're an animal lover looking to go into your own business, these are 9 low-cost business ideas that can start you on your way. The paw-ssibilities are endless!

1. Pet photographer

Do you have experience with a digital SLR camera? Love hanging out with animals? A pet photographer might be the business for you.

"The most important thing in establishing such a business is to create a memorable, identifiable style of pet photography that appeals to dog lovers," says Mark McQueen, owner of phoDOGraphy, a New York City-based business that specializes in dog photography with a city feel. He adds that being a pet photographer requires a lot of patience.

Some ideas for how you can cut down on costs? Take photos of your subjects outside of a studio, which can be a fun way to catch them in a unique environment with natural light but also presents some challenges in a less-controlled environment. Or use the owner's home as a setting. Another way to save is to rent camera equipment until you have the funds to purchase.

2. Pet sitter

Starting a pet-sitting service requires little in startup costs, but you do need credentials, such as past or present pet ownership, as well as other pet-related experience, including working at a pet retail shop, an animal hospital or another animal-related work.

You'll also need to be able to build the "trust" credential, sometimes referred to as "honesty insurance." Owners often regard their pets as children, so bond with your client's precious pet by offering a brief but important "meet-and-greet" with both the client and pet to get to know each other and go over your policies and ask questions about the pet's needs.

Consider what services you'll offer by researching the services that other pet sitters offer, such as overnight stays and/or private dog walks versus non-private services (such as walking multiple dogs at once); plus, come up with your own set of policies to protect your business, such as cancellation and payment policy and what sort of management system you'll use to record your clients' information and keep track of your pet-sitting schedule.

3. Gift basket service for pets

Finding a niche to corner is the best way to start out in the gift basket business. And if you love animals, why not create a gift basket for pets?

Will you focus on homemade tasty treats for brachycephalic dogs (that have flat faces, such as French bulldogs and pugs) that have sensitive stomachs? Or a starter puppy kit, full of safe toys and snacks -- and a booklet containing 10 important training tips?

Will your basket be filled with goodies for dog grooming?

One company that has capitalized on this idea is Bark & Co. through its BarkBox product. The BarkBox is a monthly subscription service that sends dog treats and toys to pet owners every month.

"One of the reasons so many startups in this industry fail is that they act like humans and not as dogs," Henrik Werdelin, co-founder at Bark & Co. said. "We have from day one built BarkBox with dogs values like contagious optimism. We are always trying to please and not be too serious."

Try cutting down on costs by marketing through social media. BarkBox uses its customers on social media to market their brand. "Try asking on Twitter 'should I get a BarkBox?' and you will find that our amazing customers do the branding for us," Werdelin says.

4. Pet clothing and accessories designer

Kitty couture. Designer hoodies for dogs. The entrepreneurial possibilities for pet clothing are vast.

"Coats and pajamas are a mainstay, as well as Halloween costumes and fun holiday wear," says Madelena Perrelli, owner of Diamond Collar, a pet attire store in Brooklyn.

According to Perrelli, this business is beneficial for small animals in particular. "They need comfort from the cold in winter, and in the summer as well due to air conditioning," she says, so there is a large market geared towards smaller animals.

And for ideas on how to cleverly market your pet threads, check out Lucy & Co., an online store that specializes in signature dog clothing classics, such as puffer vests and hooded sweatshirts, which uses Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to show off its adorable wares.

Does shooting birds make them smarter?

Human hunters may be making birds smarter by inadvertently shooting those with smaller brains. That’s the conclusion of a new study, which finds that hunting may be exerting a powerful evolutionary force on bird populations in Denmark, and likely wherever birds are hunted. But the work also raises a red flag for some researchers who question whether the evolution of brain size can ever be tied to a single factor.

The new work “broadens an emerging view that smarts really do matter in the natural, and increasingly human-dominated, world,” says John Marzluff, a wildlife biologist and expert on crow cognition at the University of Washington in Seattle who was not involved with the work.

Hunting and fishing are known to affect many animal populations. For instance, the pike-perch in the Finnish Archipelago Sea has become smaller over time thanks to fishing, which typically removes the largest individuals from a population. This pressure also causes fish to reach sexual maturity earlier. On land, natural predators like arctic foxes and polar bears can also drive their prey species to become smarter because predators are most likely to catch those with smaller brains. For instance, a recent study showed that common eiders (maritime ducks) that raise the most chicks also have the largest heads and are better at forming protective neighborhood alliances than ducks with smaller heads—and presumably, brains.

Does the same hold true for birds that dodge human hunters? To find out, Anders Pape Møller, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Paris-Sud, assessed the brain sizes of 3781 birds from 197 species brought to taxidermists in Denmark between 1960 and 2015. The birds included pheasants, partridges, wood grouse, magpies, and hooded crows. Danish law requires taxidermists to record the date and cause of death of every specimen they handle. Møller’s co-author, Johannes Erritzøe, a taxidermist and ornithologist at the House of Bird Research in Christiansfeld, Denmark, autopsied each bird, noted its mass, and weighed its extracted brain. The scientists also assessed the birds’ body condition and age at death.

They found that 299, or 7.9%, of the 3781 birds were shot. Birds with smaller brains relative to their body size were shot more often, as were larger individuals (which offer a bigger target), and males (perhaps because of their brighter colors). But if a bird had a large brain relative to its body size, the probability that it would be shot decreased nearly 30-fold, the scientists report today in Biology Letters. This held true, regardless of the birds’ health, body mass, sex, and species. Hunters, they conclude, are unwittingly turning their prey into large-brained birds by eliminating those with pea-sized brains from the population.

The  scientists also compared the birds' other internal organs--heart, liver, lungs--and found that only the brain was smaller in the hunted birds. “It means that hunting has a very peculiar and specific effect on the brain and not the other bodily functions of these animals,” Møller says.

Hunters aren’t specifically targeting the smaller-brained birds, he adds. Such birds simply aren’t savvy about hunters, apparently lacking the smarts to realize that people with guns are dangerous. “They take longer to fly when approached by someone with a gun, whereas larger-brained birds enjoy the benefit of being wary.” Moller and his team couldn’t track changes in brain size over time, since hunting regulations in many of the study areas have shifted; there are some areas where it was once allowed, but it’s now banned. That could let birds with smaller brains gradually make up a larger part of the population, Møller predicts.

“The study is intriguing, but I will remain a bit sceptical because it is based on a comparative long-term data set and not an experiment,” says Jesper Madsen, a population ecologist at Aarhaus University in Rønde, Denmark, who was not involved in the study. “To conclude that hunting selects for larger brains requires more than a correlational study.”

Such an experiment is already underway—albeit inadvertently, Møller says. In the last 5 years, the hunting of snipe and curlew has been banned permanently in Europe. Scientists could compare specimens from the earlier hunting period with those collected after the ban to see if these birds are evolving smaller brains, Møller says. “That’s a predictable consequence of stopping hunting.”

Still, Madsen isn’t alone in his scepticism. “My heart drops every time I see another study like this showing a correlation between some factor and brain size,” says Susan Healy, an evolutionary biologist at the University of St. Andrews in the United Kingdom. In 2007, she and Candy Rowe, a behavioral ecologist at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, assessed more than 50 studies that revealed a correlation between brain size and behavioral traits such as migration, deception, and female promiscuity. They concluded that this type of research did little to advance an understanding of either brain evolution or function.

Healy’s and Madsen’s concerns are valid, Marzluff says. But, he adds, the study is valuable because of the questions it raises. “For example, did smarts pay off more for some species than for others? Were similar trends seen in social versus solitary species? That’s what correlational studies do: They generate questions.”

Indeed, the authors raise several at the end of their study. To wit: If hunters are indeed making birds smarter, what will this do long-term to bird populations and to the sport of hunting itself? Will these birds be increasingly harder to catch, for example? And how would this affect wild predators that live on these species? Møller predicts they’ll have a harder time. As for the answer, stay tuned.

Rare White Giraffe and Other Unusually Pale Animals

Albino and leucistic animals abound in the animal kingdom, from squirrels to crayfish.

Omo, the rare white calf recently spotted in Tanzania’s Tarangire National Park, is one special snowflake.

But unusually white animals in other species—from eagles to bears to crayfish—are often seen in nature. There are three ways this can occur: albinism, leucism, and isabellinism.

True albinos are unable to produce any kind of pigment, hence their white coloration and pink eyes: Blood vessels normally masked by eye color show through. (See "Special Albinos and Unusually White Animals.")

Albinism is a recessive trait, meaning both parents must pass the mutation on to their offspring. Snowflake, an albino lowland gorilla, had parents that passed on copies of a gene found in other albino animals like mice, horses, and chickens.

Leucistic animals are mostly white but can produce some pigment. For example, many still sport color in their eyes. Two white spider monkeys recently spotted in a Colombian rain forest likely have this condition.

A third condition is called isabellinism, in which a genetic mutation leaches the color out of pigmented penguin feathers. Animals that have isabellinism are different from albino animals because they can still produce pigment.

Leucistic and isabelline are sometimes used interchangeably to describe the pale brown or "blonde" coloration of penguins with this condition.

Keep clicking to see our roundup of albinos and other white animals.

Nova Scotia man banned from owning animals for life

A Nova Scotia man has been banned from owning pets for life after pleading guilty under the Animal Protection Act this week.

On January 19, 2016, the SPCA received a complaint that alleged multiple dogs were tethered outside without adequate shelter at a property in Kings County, N.S.

Three dogs were located – all were emaciated, anemic, severely matted and in extremely poor condition. One was found frozen to the ground by its chain and unable to stand.

The three dogs underwent extensive veterinarian care and were successfully rehabilitated and adopted.

Thursday, Leroy Marshall pleaded guilty to a charge of causing an animal to be in distress under the Animal Protection Act and was handed a lifetime ban on owning companion animals.