The Student Livestock Organization is a group dedicated to helping students gain experience working with various types of livestock. Among other activities, this past year they sponsored a poultry-handling lab on campus, a full day of hoof trimming at a local sheep farm, and an AI certification lab. They also organize several practical labs each year and monthly rounds with their ambulatory vets.

Watch their video below and vote for Tufts here.

Boston.com featured some of the great photos included in this year’s calendar, including 10-year old Velcro who has “a disregard for personal space” and a former foster kitten named Furby who is a  “sassypants diva.”  Some of the cute calendar stars are below, but check out the whole gallery on Boston.com.

Watch this video as Jon  shares stories of his many adventures in wildlife medicine:

Whale sharks congregate to eat plankton and fish eggs from mid-May to Mid-September, and since these fish are harmless (and spectacular!), people come from all over the world to swim with them. Whale shark tourism in the area has grown rapidly over the past few years, and tourists can now depart from destinations like Isla Mujeres and Cancun in addition to Holbox Island. This growth has led to the concern for the well being of the whale sharks, especially given their “vulnerable” status [...] I was drawn to the whale shark tours as I am interested in the intersection of culture and animals, namely wildlife, and how this intersection drives policy. The aim of my research is to uncover how social dynamics contribute to the current problems of the industry with a specific focus on those who operate the tours – the guides and boat captains.

Though she cannot disclose much about the results of her research because she’s still gathering data, she shared these amazing videos with the Center for Animals and Public Policy at Tufts University Facebook:

The first video captures the first eagle being released from its crate and calmly waiting on the grass as cameras flash and video rolls:

In the second video, we see the eagle taking flight:

In the final video, the second eagle is released from its crate and flies off into nearby trees:

Spay Worcester was formed in 2010 when local residents grew concerned at the number of stray cats in the area. Today the organization works to “reduce the population of free-roaming cats in the city of Worcester through spay neuter and public education.” During the super clinic, fourth-year veterinary students from the Cummings School performed the surgeries under the supervision of faculty veterinarians.

Not only did they reach their goal, they beat it: 102 cats were spayed or neutered at the super clinic. Check out this video for an inside look at the program:

Note: Though recently posted, this video was filmed earlier this year.

• Twitter: We’ll be live tweeting from @TuftsLive, so follow along from early morning preparation to the procession, the awarding of honorary degrees, and the commencement address. Use the hashtag #Tufts2012 to let us know what you’re up to.
•  Web: Watch the live streamed ceremony at commencement.tufts.edu, where you will also find the @TuftsLive and #Tufts2012 feeds, so you’ll be sure to not miss a thing.
• Instagram: We love photos! If you’re on campus, snap some pictures and tag them #Tufts or #Tufts2012. We’ll be capturing some shots too, so be sure to check them out (username: TuftsUniversity)
• Facebook: We’ve been getting ready for commencement, and will have tons more photos to share just after the ceremony ends.
• Foursquare: Check into Tufts University Commencement 2012 on Foursquare, include a shout out about graduation, and you’ll earn the Hats Off Badge.

The TIE Graduate Fellows program allows Tufts graduate students of any discipline to add an environmental component to his or her research. From biology to works of literature, Tufts students have found unique ways to delve into the natural world. Take a look:

On a different note, TIE Tufts Environmental Literacy Institute (TELI) brings faculty, staff and graduates together for a week-long workshop every year to increase environmental literacy.  Here’s more about this year’s program and what it accomplished:

Be sure to like TIE on Facebook and to check out some cool photos!