ISSUE 295
Hey you all, welcome to another edition of Furry Weekly! Thanks so much for joining us!
As usual, we’ve got some announcements to get to, but we’d like to keep your attention on the ‘Recruiting’ section; we need a lot of help here at the magazine to keep posting new content every week, so we hope you’ll consider checking out some of the roles we have open and perhaps joining our team! If you’re looking for a way to get more involved in the fandom, this could also be for you!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECRUITING
Here are the roles we currently have open at Furry Weekly:
- Art Corner Host
- Furry of the Week Host
- Art 101 Host
- Species Spotlight Host
- Radical Raffles Host
- Available Artists Host
- Writing Showcase Host
- Front End Website Developer
- Editor
- Content Migrator
If you’d like to help out or if you want more info, please contact Yeshua, or Carkas. If you want a description of the roles above, visit this document! If you have any suggestions for other roles or things we could bring into Furry Weekly, please reach out as well. We’d love to hear your ideas! We still need lots of help in general, so please do consider joining us or sharing with other friends in the fandom if you can! We’d really appreciate it!
READER SURVEY
In addition to recruiting, we want to listen to what you, our readers, have to say about Furry Weekly! Our goal is to showcase a little bit of everything in the fandom, especially giving a small spotlight to all kinds of creators and folks in the community. So we want to know what you think about what we’re doing now as well as what you might want to see from a furry magazine. So whether you’re an avid follower of Furry Weekly, or maybe you just found us, we want to hear what you like, what you don’t like, and what you would like us to do in the future! That’s why we have a short survey on this topic. We would seriously appreciate it if you took just a few minutes to take it and give us your feedback! You can do this multiple times as well! The link is below!
Click here to take our reader survey!
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Time now to get into today’s issue! Please let us know on our social media what you enjoyed or if you’d like to see something or someone in a future issue. We’re @FurryWeekly on both Twitter and Instagram!
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SEGMENT LINEUP
[❌] Furry of the Week
[✔] Animal of the Week
[❌] Art Corner
[❌] Writing Showcase
[❌] Art 101
[✔] Species Spotlight
[❌] Writing 101
[✔] Fursuit Focus
[✔] Photography 101
[❌] Fursuit Designing Tips
[✔] Radical Raffles
[✔] Available Artists
[❌] Character Interview
[✔] Convention Calendar
[✔] Furry Quote
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ANIMAL OF THE WEEK
Hello everyone! It’s Zed Shirogane and it’s another animal of the week segment!
Animal of the week is a segment where we highlight an animal that is really cool, cute, creepy, or just plain fascinating. There will be a coloring-page illustration for you all to print out and color in at home, as well as an adoptable character inspired by the animal of that week. The best part? All proceeds made by said adopt will be donated to conservation charities!
Whenever possible, we do symbolically adopt the animal, but only some animals have the privilege to have that as an option unfortunately; thus we collect extra funds to donate to many different species conservation charities, donate towards wildlife rehabilitation programs, or send funds to scientists so that they can research underappreciated animal species. Join us on this fun adventure, and I hope that you, too, will fall in love with these amazing animals!
Today’s the penultimate part of our series on the Rorquals!
Rorquals are the largest group of baleen whales containing ten extant species in three genera. Rorquals take their name from French rorqual, which derives from the Norwegian word røyrkval; the first element røyr originated from the Old Norse name for this type of whale, reyðr, probably related to the Norse word for "red," and the second from the Norse word, hvalr, meaning "whale" in general.
All members of the family have a series of longitudinal folds of skin running from below the mouth back to the navel – except the sei whale and common minke whale, which have shorter grooves. These furrows allow the mouth to expand immensely when feeding. These "pleated throat grooves'' distinguish balaenopteridae from other whales. Most rorquals feed by gulping in water, and then pushing it out through the baleen plates with their tongue; the exception is the gray whale, which gulps in and filters large amounts of marine sediments from the seafloor.
This Week’s Species: Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Did you know that we started Animal Of The Week with the humpback whale? I decided it would be great to revisit it with the new and improved format! Plus humpback whales hold a special place in my heart, as I have seen them in person a few times. - Zed Shirogane
Characteristics
The body is bulky with a thin rostrum and proportionally long flippers, each around one-third of its body length. Unique among large whales, humpbacks have bumps or tubercles on the head and front edge of the flippers; the tail fluke has a jagged trailing edge. It has a short dorsal fin that varies from nearly non-existent to somewhat long and curved. As a rorqual, the humpback has grooves between the tip of the lower jaw and the navel. The upper-side of the animal is generally black and the underside has various levels of black and white coloration.
Fun Facts
Humpback whale groups, aside from mothers and calves, typically last for days or weeks at the most. They are normally sighted in small groups, though large aggregations form during feeding and among males competing for females. Humpbacks may interact with other cetacean species, such as right whales, fin whales, and bottlenose dolphins.
Male humpback whales produce complex songs during the winter breeding season. Males may sing between 4 and 33 minutes, depending on the region. In Hawaii, humpback whales have been recorded vocalizing for as long as 7 hours. Whale songs are similar among males in a specific area. Males may alter their songs over time, and others in contact with them copy these changes.
Habitat
Humpback whales are found in marine waters worldwide, except for some areas at the equator and High Arctic as well as some enclosed seas. They are usually coastal and tend to congregate in waters within continental shelves. Their winter breeding grounds are located around the equator and their summer feeding areas are found in colder waters, including near the polar ice caps. Humpbacks go on vast migrations between their feeding and breeding areas, often crossing the open ocean.
Diet
Humpback whales feed from spring to fall. They are generalist feeders, and their main food items are krill, copepods, other plankton and small schooling fish. The most common krill species eaten in the southern hemisphere is the Antarctic krill. Further north, the northern krill and various species of Euphausia and Thysanoessa are consumed. Fish prey include herring, capelin, sand lances and Atlantic mackerel. Like other rorquals, humpbacks are "gulp feeders", swallowing prey in bulk, while right whales and bowhead whales are skimmers. The whale increases its mouth gape by expanding the grooves. Water is pushed out through the baleen. In the southern hemisphere, humpbacks have been recorded foraging in large compact gatherings numbering up to 200 individuals.
Life Cycle
Mating and breeding take place during the winter months. Humpback whales are promiscuous, with both sexes having multiple partners. Males will frequently trail both lone females and cow/calf pairs. These are known as "escorts," and the male that is closest to the female is known as the "principal escort," who fights off the other suitors known as "challengers." Gestation in the species lasts 11.5 months, and females reproduce every two years. Humpback whale births have been rarely observed.
Conservation
Although modern commercial whaling seriously depleted all Humpback populations, some of which had already been reduced by pre-modern whaling, the species has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and there have been substantial increases in the North Atlantic, North Pacific, and Southern Hemisphere. Humpback Whales seem to be the most vulnerable of the large whales to becoming accidentally entangled, often fatally, in fishing gear and sometimes other debris. They are also vulnerable to injury by ship strikes, which can also be fatal. The distribution of Humpbacks in the Arabian Sea overlaps that of fisheries known to be dangerous to Humpbacks, and 30-40% of the photographed whales showed entanglement-related scars. As of 2018, the IUCN Red List lists the humpback whale as least-concern, with a worldwide population of around 135,000 whales, of which around 84,000 are mature individuals, and an increasing population trend.
Much of the growth of commercial whale watching was built on the humpback whale. The species' highly active surface behaviors and tendency to become accustomed to boats have made them easy to observe, particularly for photographers. In 1975, humpback whale tours were established in New England and Hawaii. This business brings in a revenue of $20 million per year for Hawaii's economy. While Hawaiian tours have tended to be commercial, New England and California whale watching tours have introduced educational components.
Here are some links to articles about the conservation of Humpback whale:
Adopt
Our adopt this week is specifically an Arcane manokit, a new subspecies of manokit introduced in 2023. Manokits are an original species currently being owned by Crucis/Yoskavel and originally created by DubMutt. To learn more about the Manokit species and its three major subspecies go to their official Discord.
All funds from this adopt will go to animal conservation. The goal for this series is to save up to help fund the monitoring of local baleen whales with the Oceanic Society. Specifically, for two years monitoring of SAYU-1.004, known as Lily, who is a humpback whale that has been seen twice at the Farallon Islands off of San Francisco, California in the United States, and one year monitoring of HW-MN0502559, known as Alexis, who was first sighted in 2022 and was estimated to be born in 2021, meaning she is as of now only 3 years old. These two adoptions require a total of $160 and this adopt will be one of five total created to achieve this goal, making $150, with extra funds pooled together from previous AOTW adopts to cover the additional $10 cost. It will be available for $30 at Shirogane Studios.
Coloring Page
Enjoy this coloring page made by yours truly, for you! Feel free to print it out at home to color in. If you enjoy the design you can also purchase it on a multitude of products like shirts and stickers: links to these options can be found at Shirogane Studios.
Animal Ambassadors
Thank you to our Animal Ambassadors–our AOTW supporters–who have helped make the world a little bit better for animals. If you wish to support this project, or maybe just really like these character designs and want to get access to some exclusive adopts and bases, you can find our patreon for this passion project HERE.
References
Most of my information was derived from Wikipedia and supplemented from other websites such as the IUCN RedList.
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SPECIES SPOTLIGHT
Hello readers, and welcome back to an exciting week of Species Spotlight! This is Danielle once again making a guest appearance for another segment.
Before we put the spotlight on this week’s original species, I wish to let all of you know that we’re still looking to recruit more hosts for this segment. If you enjoy diving into species lore and/or find original species fascinating, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, or our HR, Carkas, if you’re interested in hosting Species Spotlight.
This week we will be taking a look at fluffy space creatures known as the Zorgoia by CorrieZodori!
Zorgoias (Zor-goy-uhs) are strange mammalian reptile creatures that can bare any array of markings or colors. They possess a voracious appetite not only for food, but for magic as well. They are intelligent, and most have the ability to speak. Most Zorgoias are advanced enough to harness and control the magic that naturally flows through their beings. All Zorgoias are born with this magic within them, but not every single Zorgoia may be able to control or let alone ever know about it. The magic that runs through a Zorgoia can differ greatly, but there are a few abilities that all Zorgoias have by default, assuming they can yield said magic. These abilities include transforming their shape to walk on two legs and the reconstruction of the matter they consume.
Every Zorgoia is different. There is no limit to their appearance and personality. Zorgoias are a very adaptive species where no two are truly alike. Because of how vast they are, their existence is not limited to the planet that they originate from. They may even be seen scattered across various parts of the universe. While there are many species that reside with Zorgoias, the Zorgoia is the most common, iconic, dominant, and diverse among their home world called Veldram. From subspecies to hybrids, there's a fluffy space noodle friend for everyone!
In the earliest days of Veldram, one creature stood as the apex predator: the Zorgoia, an utterly massive beast with thick scaly hide, sharp claws, and blunt tail barbs. Compared to most other life forms on the planet, they were feral and territorial, and smaller creatures always fled whenever they heard one approach. Veldram was a hot, rocky, desert planet, and most of the creatures there were adapted for the heat relatively well. Then, on one fateful day, a stray meteorite plunged into the planet's surface, creating a miniscule crater; little more than a small ripple in geologic time.
While such anomalies were common, and the meteorite was far too small to do any real damage to the planet or its life, the contaminants that it carried would ensure a different fate for Veldram’s ecosphere. Nestled in the core of the meteorite was a virus unlike anything the planet had ever seen; a bizarre, parasitic, crystalline substance, which crept deep beneath the planet's crust, eating it from the inside out and replacing it with more of itself. Over time, the virus began to spread rapidly, overtaking the planet internally; the ripple had become a rogue wave.
While heat from the planet's core still radiated from its genesis billions of years ago, the viral interference began to cool the core, stealing heat from the planet to continue its alien metabolism. Nearly indestructible, it displaced magma in Veldram’s mantle, forcing it through weak points in the crust. Parasitic crystals soon entwined with the superheated rock far below, and eruptions ejected an ashen miasma of infectious crystal. The planet itself began to cool at a rapid pace, plunging Veldram into an ice age era. With such a rapid change in climate, many species died out, unable to withstand such a change in climate. The Zorgoias, a species that relied on the heat to survive, were forced to look for shelter elsewhere, lest they share the fate of the others. Many perished in the wake of the unforgiving cold, while few found refuge in unexpected places.
While many found their homes in deep caverns and the rare warmer habitats that remained, others fled to the poles. Little did they know, the poles were the worst place for them to go. The crystal parasite had completed its chrysalis. Over eons, the crystalline mass would force itself skyward, upheaving the polar tectonic plates, creating a barrier of mountains around it. Now it lies dormant, an obelisk of mirror-like surfaces.
If you’d like to learn about the history of Veldram and more, feel free to click here.
Quadrupedal Zorgoias can have an average height of six and a half feet at the shoulders, whereas the average height of an anthropomorphic Zorgoia is eight feet tall. Zorgoias weigh a rough average between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, Zorgoias do not have claws; they are just pointy finger-type toes. The only exception to this are rare mutations.
Zorgoias are omnivorous with a varied diet of meat, fruit, vegetables, insects, and virtually anything that is not plastic or metal; however, they prefer meat and live prey. Due to their limited teeth, they tend to grip and swallow food whole. Their jaws can even unhinge like a snake. Zorgoias only need to eat anywhere from a week to three weeks. Since they do not produce waste, their bodies are very keen on grabbing energy from their prey.
Common Zorgoia Behavior in the Wild
Zorgoias work very differently in established civilized areas than they do in the wild. While Zorgoias can choose to live in the wild or among other sapient beings, they are still driven by instincts at their core. Those that choose the harsher life of living out in the wild tend to take up homestead in areas with lots of trees or high places that they can climb. They use their coily bodies much like snakes in order to climb up trees and function as ambush predators and are crafty enough to utilize traps and the element of surprise. Most wild Zorgoias are very often territorial and rarely stick around one another unless they have some sort of bond (mates, familial, friendship, etc).
When courting, the females will often approach the males first. They use their hindfoot talons to fend off other rival females if necessary and will strut around them and emit low frequency rumbles. When two Zorgoias pair up, they will coil their tails around one another and spend many days at each other's side. When they have mated, they will have litters of anywhere from one to six babies, and the parents will usually stay together until their children mature and leave off on their own. All Zorgoias in this familial unit will disperse at this point, saying their goodbyes. On very rare occasions, in the wild, mated Zorgoias have been known to stay together for life. This is much more common in civilized Zorgoia behavior.
When two Zorgoias meet over territory, they will resort to getting very close to one another and trying to puff out their chest and hold their heads high. They will unleash guttural snarls and growls to try and intimidate the other Zorgoia away from them and their established territory. If either Zorgoia fails to back down after some time, they will bite, sting, and slam their long bodies into one another until one submits. These fights rarely end in death but can lead to serious injury. Females usually have an advantage as their back legs have large sickle-like talons that they can use to kick with.
Civilized Zorgoia Society
Most Zorgoias who choose to live in more sophisticated, built-up societies take anthropomorphic appearances, choosing to walk on two legs rather than four. This isn't to say that all of them will, but they often choose to shake their quadrupedal appearance to fit in with the crowd a little better depending on where they have landed themselves. These Zorgoias function a lot like humans or other sentient bipeds with advanced societal standards and inventions. They work with tools, are very organized, and commonly find ways to mix their magic with science in order to advance their species even further. Common Zorgoias and Taurs are actually the two most common types of sophisticated Zorgoias out of all other subspecies.
Nomadic Zorgoias
Generally speaking, most Zorgoias are nomadic by nature. Being incredibly adaptive, they can live in virtually any biome. They may live in these biomes for extended periods of time should they wish; although, it is very common for Zorgoias to feel homesick for a place they haven't found yet. This nomadic urge has even motivated them into taking off on intergalactic adventures should they have the means to do it.
Regardless of rarity or trait class, feel free to use any traits that you would like when designing your Zorgoia. You are also free to stray from these traits and make your own if you wish. For more information regarding these traits, please take a look at the references and resources here.
Ears
Tail Barbs
Extra Features
Mutations
Due to the adaptive nature of a Zorgoia's DNA, there are multiple odd subspecies of Zorgoia. While Zorgoias can breed and reproduce with other species and create a plethora of hybrids, these specific subspecies are common, consistent, and retain pure Zorgoia DNA unlike hybrids.
Edible Zorgoias
One of the strangest yet most common subspecies of Zorgoia is the edible Zorgoia, also known as the Food Zorgoia. History states that these Zorgoias derived from a magical experiment gone terribly wrong. The result was an entire race of Zorgoia which took on food-based properties. Unlike real foods, these Zorgoias do not rot or expire. Some have been known to taste and smell like whatever food they resemble. Some edible parts of a Zorgoia may grow back and be harvested as viable food sources. Bizarrely, edible Zorgoias that reproduce have been commonly known to have kits that are unrelated to the parent's theme. For example, two edible Zorgoias may have sweet themes but bare a savory-themed child. The results are random and vast.
Gem-fused Zorgoias
Gem-fused Zorgoias are also called Gem Zorgoias. There are technically two strains of this subspecies, as these Zorgoias did not come to be by natural means. History says that these Zorgoias, long ago, resided too closely to the spire. Those that stuck around too long would find themselves undergoing a rather bizarre and often painful change. Their bodies became infected with a strange virus known as the spire's core virus, and for once, their adaptive DNA worked against them.
Most Zorgoias rejected this virus and succumbed to a gruesome fate, overtaken by this crystalline infection. However, the ones that survive meld together with this virus, creating a new subspecies of Zorgoia. A gem-fused Zorgoia is technically never born as a gem-fused Zorgoia, but is instead a result of a normal Zorgoia becoming infected with the spire's virus in some way or another. While their exposure to the virus is temporary, the change that their body adapts to as a result of the virus is permanent.
The common gem-fused Zorgoia takes on properties of various minerals and gemstones like you may expect. Their bodies resemble normal Zorgoias, but they have crystalline or gemstone growths spread cleanly across their body. Their tail barbs are almost always a replica of the gemstone or mineral that they are themed after. The common gem-fused Zorgoia is a result of DNA successfully adapting to the spire's core virus only if a Zorgoia is exposed to it during its lifetime. The transformation can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days, but it is a rapid and usually painful process.
But what happens to the ones that are unable to adapt?
Corrupted Gem-fused Zorgoias
The corrupted strain of gem Zorgoias is a result of Zorgoia DNA that partially or completely rejected the virus. These Zorgoias are either disfigured, overtaken by parasitic gem growth, or perish as their mortal bodies cannot handle the mutilation that the corrupted strain causes. Those that survive are commonly thought to be zombies controlled by the will of the spire itself, though there is no confirmation of this. This fate is unfortunate, and many have come to fear the sight of these bizarre and unlucky Zorgoias.
Taur Zorgoias
Also known as the Taurgoia, these Zorgoias are the largest of the Zorgoia species. With both a quadrupedal and anthropomorphic body fused together, they tower over their common kin. Taur Zorgoias are not very common, but they hold a record for exceptional physical strength and endurance among other types of Zorgoia. They are the least likely to wield and understand magic, so many taur Zorgoias rely on physical weapons and armor to aid them. Taur Zorgoias have been known to set up camps and socialize as a community, a behavior unseen in most other Zorgoias.
Pygmy Zorgoias
Pygmy Zorgoias are not only the most rare subspecies of Zorgoia but are the most mysterious. Pygmies look like regular Zorgoias but are a bit more stumpy and chibi in proportion. These impish little creatures are curious and mischievous by nature. Unlike other Zorgoias and Zorgoia subspecies, all pygmy Zorgoias are in-tune with their magic abilities and are adept at wielding it.
Pygmy Zorgoia cannot reproduce because they have no genitalia to do so. Instead, they create new pygmy Zorgoias using a hefty amount of magical energy. It is extremely difficult to create a true pygmy Zorgoia, and only another Zorgoia can create a pygmy. It is also known, while rare, for a pygmy Zorgoia to be able to temporarily shift sizes to a normal-sized Zorgoia. However, this is considered illusion magic, and while they are tangible, they cannot sustain holding these forms for more than a couple of days or so. The more adept a pygmy is at wielding their magic, the longer they may be able to hold this larger form.
Spireborn Zorgoias
The most recently discovered Zorgoias are, ironically, one of the most ancient Zorgoias out there. Their build and features vary from the appearance of any of the other Zorgoia species, most noticeably with their tails, paws, facial features, and necks. While they are an ancient and reclusive subspecies, they are incredibly intelligent and are more in-tune with magic than any other subspecies. They're considered to be priests of the spire, as they worship it as if the spire itself was some sort of all powerful deity. While the spire has long been rumored to be sentient, no Veldram creature has ever been able to prove it. However, the Spireborns believe it to be true and have believed so since the beginning of time.
Unlike the other species of Zorgoias, Spireborns are naturally anthropomorphic by default. They can change into a quadrupedal form at will, but they prefer to walk among themselves on two legs. Spireborns are incredibly rare and generally stick to contaminated areas and underground near the spire itself. Where most creatures perish from the spire's virus, the Spireborns have adapted to it over time and thrive in its deadly protection. And, while gem-fused Zorgoias have evolved in a similar manner, they were only a recently evolved species that had limited contact with the spire's virus. Spireborns have had constant, strong exposure to the spire for eons, evolving them in an entirely different and drastic way. They rarely stray from their homes unless they are hunting or curious because of how social they are with their own, even if they have strict laws.
Zorgoias are an open species, which means you’re welcome to make any without having to ask for permission. They are incredibly flexible in what you can do with them, and you can even make Zorgoia hybrids with other species. Their adaptable DNA makes them prime candidates for mixing and matching.
There are a couple of restrictions, however. Please do not sell designs or customs of Spireborns or Pygmies. These are reserved for official guest artists as a means to help them out monetarily. You may, though, make a pygmy or spireborn for yourself or for another person for free if you wish.
To help you get started with your own Zorgoia, there are a couple of bases available on CorrieZodori’s Ko-fi shop. One of them will be free or pay what you want (PWYW), and the other will be a new and up-to-date version for $5.
Ready to embark on a journey through a realm teeming with CorrieZodori’s diverse open species? Feel free to join the Discord server to immerse yourself in the vibrant universe, as well as to check out the Zorgoia website and official FurAffinity page to learn more. As noted by CorrieZodori, there will be some information missing on the website.
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Thank you for tuning in to this week of Species Spotlight! I hope you enjoyed learning about Zorgoias today. There are plenty of creative original species out there, and we’ll be sure to hunt them down.
Ready for us to explore your original species? Feel free to fill out this form if interested. You can also submit content by emailing furryweeklysubmissions@gmail.com, or you can directly message me on any of my platforms.
As Coyote Peterson from Brave Wilderness says, stay wild, and we’ll see you on the next species adventure!
Disclaimer
All information and art pertaining to the Zorgoia species belongs to CorrieZodori.
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FURSUIT FOCUS
What’s up everyone? This is Yeshua and I’m back with another edition of the Fursuit Focus segment! If this is your first time reading, this is the part of the magazine where we take a look at different fursuiters in the fandom and get to know a little more about why they fursuit! Time to see who we’ve got this time.
Today we’re meeting Puramu!
Puramu is a relatively new fursuiter, but dove straight into the scene once she got her suit! More on that in a bit, first let’s talk about her design. It’s not hard to tell that Puramu has a pretty straightforward look. She looks like a typical fox, but instead of natural colors like red, brown, or gray, she’s purple! That’s the dominant color along with white, but there’s also a touch of bright green on the tip of her ears, tail, and hair; that green is pretty subtle but combines nicely with the purple and white, and makes her more recognizable! Puramu’s green eyes also look wonderful with her design, and the pink paw pads and tongue were another good choice! Huge props to the fursuit makers for making Puramu come to life; I don’t know how else to describe it, but when I look at her, she just looks very slick! Firefly Studio made Puramu’s head, and the body is by Daisycat Creations.
Pura has the most fun fursuiting when she’s around other fursuiters, whether she’s at a furmeet or convention! As she puts it, “there’s just something magical about bonding over this hobby.” I mentioned Pura is still a bit new to the fursuiting scene. The first time she used her full suit was in December of 2023 – only about four months from when I’m writing this! That’s where she met tons of friends and got a lot of compliments! Not only did she enjoy fursuiting and getting to interact with other fursuiters, but even just being in the headless lounge and bonding with others “on how sweaty and thirsty everyone is” – so it’s pretty safe to say Pura makes the most of her fursuiting experiences! I did ask Pura about what exactly makes fursuiting around other fursuiters so enjoyable for her, and her answer is actually kinda profound! Pura says she just loves sharing the fursuiting experience with others; they don't even have to be doing anything in particular! Pura says doing specific activities like going to con raves and such are of course fun, but her fondest memories are simply standing around and chatting with others, just enjoying fursuiting with others who also like it.
When it comes to taking pics and videos, Pura’s favorite environment is the outdoors! She says that because her character is a fox, nature is where she fits in the best – especially in wooded areas: “She is in her element in those locations.” Pura hasn’t gotten the chance to fursuit in public or outdoors too much so far, saying she’s only gone to a park and other similar places a handful of times. However, she does have plans to fursuit outdoors more, in fact, there’s one particular setting she is eager to be in to get some fursuit photos: “I really really want some suit pics in the snow because I think it’d look super cool! … getting to go out in the snow in suit is a big dream.”
If you follow Pura on social media you’ll get a good variety of content! She posts all kinds of photos, whether it be indoors trying a new outfit or just lounging around, or recording some silly videos or dancing! One thing’s for sure, just be ready for a lot of fun and lighthearted content! Just a quick scroll through her profiles and you can tell Pura has a lot of fun sharing her fursuit shenanigans with folks!
The road to getting into the fursuiting scene for Pura has been quite the long one, especially considering she’s been in the fandom for white a while; she became a furry right around the time the 2000s started! She was a closet furry for the most part, really only posting drawings of her characters on DeviantArt, something I’m sure a lot of you relate to! It wasn’t until all the way in 2019 when Pura finally started to interact more with the fandom, initially joining furry Discord servers. Then, another four years later came the turning point that ultimately led her to fursuiting.
In 2023 Pura joined Instagram, which is where she started seeing more and more fursuits which really drew her attention. Before then, Pura did know about fursuits, but dismissed the idea of having one of her character because she is based off a feral fox: “It wouldn’t make sense for her to have a suit.” She eventually changed her mind, and soon after joining Instagram she got her partial, and she hasn’t looked back ever since! “She is a part of me and brings me so much joy, even though I haven’t even had her for a year [at this point]. And then once I got the fullsuit later in [2023], I was unstoppable.” She’s not lying, either! If you take a look at her social media, you probably wouldn’t be able to tell she’s had her suit for less than a year with how much she posts!
So what’s in the future for Pura? She’s only getting started in the fursuiting scene! First of all, Pura is getting a second suit of a dutchie character she has. As of April 2024, she says that’s coming “really soon!” When it comes to things she wants to try while fursuiting, she’s got two ideas in mind. One of them is doing a furbowl! Pura says she’s always wanted to try it out because she loves bowling and she loves fursuiting, “so doing them together sounds like super fun.” Makes sense, huh? The second thing she’s keeping in mind is fursuiting in the snow like I mentioned earlier! Pura actually moved to Canada recently as of writing this, and she’s excited to get to experience some snow. She’ll have to wait a little bit, though, as we’re in the peak of spring and summer is coming! Still, once winter rolls around, you bet you’ll see Pura roaming around in the snow as soon as that opportunity arises!
When asked if she had anything else she wanted to share about her experience with fursuiting, Pura had a pretty good reminder. She wants everyone to remember that while having a fursuit is a lot of fun, it’s not what being a furry is about: “I see people who don’t think they’re ‘furry enough’ because they don’t have a fursuit, but having one is NOT required for being a furry.”
Pura mentions that fursuiting may not be for everyone because of how physically taxing it can be: “... they’re very hot, you can’t see or hear too well, [and] if you have a digi full suit you can’t move that great.” It’s definitely good to remember these aspects about fursuiting, but even beyond that, Pura’s original point is even more important to remember, because most of folks in the fandom don’t have a fursuit and that’s okay! That doesn’t make them less of a furry. Pura had a great final comment summarizing this idea: “Keep being you and that’s furry enough.”
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That wraps up this latest edition of Fursuit Focus! Thanks so much for joining me! If you liked what you saw from Pura, I definitely recommend you give her a follow! She just might become your next favorite fursuiter, especially if you enjoy silly and high-spirited fun!
We’re always looking for fursuiters to meet and show off, so if you want to appear here, just use the tags #furryweekly and #fursuitfocus when you post your fursuit photos and videos to social media! You can also reach out to me or our usual host, tahlmorra to tell us you want to be featured, or you can also suggest your friends or favorite fursuiter!
Thank you all again for reading, this was such a fun segment to put together and I hope you all liked it as much as I did! I’ll be back next time with another fluffy individual for you all, and I hope you all are ready for him, cause he’s a bit of a fierce fella! Until then, take care!
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PHOTOGRAPHY 101
Hello, friends and photografurs! Welcome back to this week's Photography 101! I'm your co-host, Jaden. With a massive solar eclipse just passing, a lot of people have a ton of eclipse glasses just lying around. In today's issue we’re going to talk about a cool DIY project to repurpose those glasses!
During the solar eclipse that was seen across North America on April 8th, many people, including me, bought eclipse glasses to watch this spectacular event. The problem is that after the quick event many people will throw out these glasses since they don't really serve any purpose. I mean, who's going to be staring at the sun on a regular basis? This causes a lot of plastic waste from people throwing out their glasses, but if you're a photographer, there's a unique way you can repurpose these glasses to make a special solar filter that would otherwise cost you a pretty penny!
What You Will Need
- 2 clear lens filters
- ISO certified eclipse glasses (amount varies on size of lens) - Scissors
- Microfiber lens cloth or lens pen - Sharpie (preferably fine tip)
Step One: If your filters are dirty, be sure to give them a quick polish with a lens cloth or lens pen.
Step Two: Tear apart your eclipse glasses to get those lenses! To get rid of the glue and leftover paper stuck around the edge of the lenses, you can dip some q-tips into some hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol which will dissolve the glue like it's nothing!
Step Three: Put the lenses over one of the filters you'll be using, and use your sharpie to trace the shape on the lenses. Be careful not to get any sharpie on your filters!
Step Four: Cut the lenses along the sharpie lines you made.
Step Five: Place your cut lenses on top of one of your filters and screw the other one on top.
And just like that you have a solar filter! It may not be the same quality of a real solar filter that you would spend a hundred dollars on, but for only a tiny fraction of that price it sure beats nothing! Now you can take pictures of the sun without having to worry about it damaging your sensor!
That concludes this week's segment! If you have any questions or would like to share your photos, don't be afraid to shoot me a message (now available on Bluesky)!
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RADICAL RAFFLES
Hello, everyone! Danielle here once again, and I’m here to bring you some fun raffles to potentially participate in.
Before we get into the raffles, I wish to remind all of you that we’re looking to recruit more hosts for this segment. If you enjoy coming across raffles, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, or our HR, Carkas, if you’re interested in hosting Radical Raffles.
Please stick around because we have 10 raffles for you this week! Let’s take a look at them.
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First we have an art raffle by Charlie!
How to Enter:
★ Follow and repost. New followers are welcome!
★ Comment something that makes you happy.
★ Optional: Tag a friend.
Prize:
★ Character illustration with a background
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on April 27th. There’s about a week left to enter!
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Celebrate with a 2,000 followers raffle by pixieseals!
How to Enter:
★ Follow, like, and repost.
★ Post a reference or picture of a character.
★ Optional: Share random facts about your original character (OC).
Prize:
★ Detailed icon
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on May 11th. There’s lots of time left to enter!
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Customize your character or fursona with a custom PNGtuber raffle by Tel0din!
How to Enter:
★ Follow, like, and repost. New followers are welcome!
★ Comment a safe for work (SFW) reference of your OC that you want as a PNGtuber.
Prize:
★ Custom PNGtuber (you’ll need the program PNGtuber+; it’ll be free on Steam)
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on April 26th. There’s about a week left to enter!
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Modelize your character or fursona with a 3D Vtuber raffle by Julien!
How to Enter:
★ Follow and repost.
★ Reply with your SFW reference.
★ Disclaimer: For more information about the 3D Vtubers, please click here.
Prize:
★ 3D Vtuber model (two winners; one bust and one full body)
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on April 28th. There’s about a week left to enter!
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Up next, we have an art raffle by Asterell!
How to Enter:
★ Follow, like, and repost.
★ Comment on the raffle post.
Prize:
★ Bust
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on April 30th, and the winner will be announced on May 1st. There’s over a week left to enter!
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Next up, we have an art raffle by Heartlilly!
How to Enter:
★ Like and repost.
★ Comment your favorite fruit.
Prize:
★ Painting
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on May 1st at 1 pm GMT. There’s lots of time left to enter!
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Capture the moment with an icon raffle by Purple Dice6!
How to Enter:
★ Follow and repost.
★ Comment on the raffle post; just an emoji is okay.
Prize:
★ Icons for three winners
-1st place at 8k followers
-2nd place at 8.3k followers
-3rd place at 8.5k followers
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end when PurpleDice6 reaches all three of the follower goals. As of April 16th, PurpleDice has 7,493 followers. There’s plenty of time left to enter!
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Celebrate with a road to 2k raffle by Tokori!
How to Enter:
★ Follow, like, and repost.
★ Optional: Comment a reference.
Prize:
★ 1st place: full body
★ 2nd and 3rd place: mini chibis
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on April 30th. There’s over a week left to enter!
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Up next, we have a your-character-here (YCH) raffle by Yazz!
How to Enter:
★ Follow, like, and repost.
Prize:
★ Headshot YCH
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on May 15th. There’s plenty of time left to enter!
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Up next, we have an icon raffle by selfcare!
How to Enter:
★ Follow and repost.
★ Comment your SFW reference.
★ Extra entry: Follow selfcare on Instagram.
Prize:
★ Your choice of a flat or shaded icon
Deadline:
★ This raffle will end on April 26th. There’s still time to enter!
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Those are all the raffles I have for you this week. There's always more out there, and we'll make sure to find them and bring them to you every week.
Would you like us to showcase your own raffle? Feel free to fill out this form if interested. You can also submit content by emailing furryweeklysubmissions@gmail.com, or you can directly message me on any of my platforms.
Thank you for taking a look at this week’s raffles. Stay tuned because more radical raffles are coming your way!
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AVAILABLE ARTISTS
Hello, everyone! Danielle here once again to bring you the latest and greatest artists to consider commissioning.
Before we get started, I wish to let all of you know that we’re looking to recruit more hosts for this segment. If you’re a connoisseur of furry art, then this might be for you! Feel free to message our boss, Yeshua, or our HR, Carkas, if you’re interested in hosting Available Artists.
We have two artists this week! Let’s dive in.
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We start with Julien, a multimedia artist who specializes in neat character designs, digital illustrations, and 3D modeling. Currently, Julien isn’t open for commissions, but they’ll be reopening on May 1st with a form that you can fill out. They offer base, tower unite, and Vtuber models, as well as props, items, and throwables as commission options.
You can find all of Julien’s commission information as well as other important links on their site. Be sure to be on the look-out for their commission form when they reopen on May 1st. Feel free to message Julien if you’re interested in getting a commission and/or if you have any questions.
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Last but certainly not least, we have Skyford, a full-time artist who specializes in cool furry-based art. If you are younger than 18, please take caution that Skyford sometimes has suggestive art posted on Twitter/X. They offer sketches, full-shading, chibis, and reference sheets as commission options.
Skyford doesn’t have a slot limit, but they will be accepting five simultaneous requests per commission type. If interested, feel free to fill out their form on Artistree to request your commission. Before doing so, please be sure to take a look at their terms of service on Artistree as well.
You can also find Skyford’s other socials on their Linktree. Feel free to message them if you have any questions and/or are interested in a commission.
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That is all for this edition of Available Artists. We’re always on the lookout for amazing artists to put in the spotlight.
Looking to recommend yourself or others for this segment? Feel free to fill out this form if interested. You can also submit content by emailing furryweeklysubmissions@gmail.com, or you can directly message me on any of my platforms.
Thank you for reading and checking out these amazing artists. Keep being creative!
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CONVENTION CALENDAR
Hello again, readers! I’m Shetani, your Convention Calendar segment host for this issue. Birds are chirping, bees are buzzing, flowers are blooming, and that can only mean one thing - spring is here! With pleasant weather on the horizon, lots of furries are looking to get out there and mingle. Thankfully, I can help you with that! Let’s talk about all the furry conventions and events happening online, around the world, and in your neck of the woods.
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Fauntastic’s fourth event is Friday March 29 - Tuesday April 2. Point your GPS to a new location, Novotel Lyon Bron Eurexpo in Lyon, France! The theme, Greetings from Camp Critters, aims to delight fans of cryptids and the paranormal. Planned events include a dance competition, IT furs presentations, Me Too panel, and others, in addition to the standard furry con activities like a dealer’s den, group photos, gaming, karaoke, and dances. Programming is hosted in French and English, with Fauntastic providing translation services for attendees who need them. A unique aspect of Fauntastic is their specially-marked sticker areas on which furries can feel free to self-express by writing, drawing, and of course sticking surfaces to their hearts’ content! If you want to attend Fauntastic, keep in mind that you must be over 18 years old.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook
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Motor City Furry Con roars back onto the scene Thursday April 4 - Sunday April 7 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. This year’s theme is The Lost World: Furassic Park! MCFC boasts a video game room and prize arcade, bingo after dark, and even a raffle where you could win a PS5! Be sure to say hello to the Guests of Honor, artist BlindCoyote and CAMP HOWL owner Clyde Pine. You’ll also have an opportunity to help out the worthy charity The Pipsqueakery, a small animal rescue and sanctuary, via donations and events over the course of the weekend. Attendees must be at least 18 years old.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Mastodon | Facebook
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The Hilton LAX in Los Angeles, California, USA welcomes the furries back for this year’s Golden State Fur Con between Friday April 5 - Sunday April 7. If you’re into retro aesthetics and haven’t made it to another con in the past year or so, you’ll be delighted to know GSFC 2024’s con theme is Back to the 80s! The Guests of Honor are fursuit making duo Delicious Disguises, retro-styled furry artist Kosperry, and pastry chef Arden Wolfsky. Charity and schedule info were not available at the time of reporting, but if you’ve had the pleasure of attending GSFC in the past, we’re sure they can offer more of the same fun you’ve come to expect this year.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook | Instagram
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After a banger first year, Furcationland is ready to welcome the furries back from Friday April 12 - Sunday April 14. Returning to their previous digs, the Holiday Inn Portland-By The Bay in Portland, Maine, USA, Furcationland promises a fun “Fireside Tails” themed weekend. The Guests of Honor are artist Fleur and molecular biologist Chise. The con continues its charity relationship with Short Folks for Hope, raising donations through a bucket brigade, charity auction, and pinball tournament during the duration of the event. Other scheduled programming includes gaming demos, a writing slam, game shows, and comedy improv. Let’s not forget the dealer’s den, dance competition, masquerade, and nightly dances!
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Mastodon | Facebook
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Furries who prefer a taste of the great outdoors in their furry events should look no further than Woods Flock, also from Friday April 12 - Sunday April 14. This family-friendly camp event returns to Fall Creek Falls State Park in Spencer, Tennessee, USA. The theme this time around is Finding Harmony, and going by what they have planned this year, attendees are almost guaranteed to do just that. Begin your adventure by going over the schedule posted to Woods Flock’s social media, wherein a blend of traditional camping activities and furry convention staples are listed. Iggi of Alstro Arts is the Guest of Honor this year. A Charity auction and bake sale will be held to benefit Exotic Pet Wonderland, a registered non-profit which provides sanctuary to captive-bred wildlife such as foxes, raccoons, and more. Whether browsing the Maker’s Market, doing arts and crafts, fursuiting with friends, or making s’mores by the fire, a memorable weekend awaits you at Woods Flock!
Website | Twitter || Telegram | Mastodon | Facebook | Instagram
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Furry Tea Party is scheduled for Saturday April 13 - Sunday April 14. Located at The Pier2 Art Center in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, furries from all around will gather to have fun and celebrate under the theme Tale of the Adventurer. Watch the super-cool trailer on Furry Tea PArty’s website and get excited for the con! Activities will include a fursuiter cafe (similar to maid cafes), photo contest, special banquet, group picture and parade, and a seminar hosted by the Taiwan Guide Dog Association.
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Furry Down Under, also known as FurDU, will be held Friday April 19 - Sunday April 21. Blast off from the Crowne Plaza Hotel Surfers Paradise & Oaks Hotel on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia and get ready to explore the far reaches of space with the theme Furbidden Planet! Three days’ worth of excitement await attendees, such as multiple fursuit games, trivia, dance competitions, a talent show, and dances each night of the convention. The Guests of Honor are ToxiDeVyne and JibKodi. Every year, FurDU raises donations for Fresh Start Rescue, an organization which assists with rescuing animals from shelters, fostering them, and giving them a new forever home. Pre-registration has closed for the season, but a limited number of day passes will be available on site. Bear in mind that you must be 18 years of age to attend FurDU.
Website | Twitter | Telegram | Facebook
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Wild Nights is a furry camping convention taking place Thursday April 25 - Tuesday April 30 in Robbers Cave State Park near Wilburton, Oklahoma, USA. This long-running community staple held their first event in 2009, if you can believe it! 2024’s con, themed the Rawring 20s, promises to be a swingin’ good time. Programming and events have historically included outdoor games such as swimming and basketball, a variety show, fursuit events, and artist sketchbook swaps. The charity partner is Oklahoma Exotics Rescue and Sanctuary, a rescue and adoption group specializing in reptiles and birds. The Guests of Honor are listed as musician Matthew Ebel and artist Zola, though they were also last year’s GoHs, so take this with a grain of salt! It may simply be a case of the con lagging in updating their website. Take a peek at the “Who’s Coming” list on WN’s website to start networking with the other furries you’ll meet at WN! Lodging and meals are included in the registration cost.
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This month’s calendar graphic features Shetani spending a glorious spring afternoon in a public garden, enjoying the beautiful flowers. It looks like she’s found some that fit her gothic aesthetic!
Remember to keep up-to-date on vaxx boosters and wear your face mask when meeting up with any furs in person.
Got questions or suggestions for Convention Calendar? Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter and the Fediverse, or hit me up at any of the other platforms linked on my website. If there’s an upcoming con you want to ensure we cover here on Furry Weekly, don’t hesitate to let me know. Have fun and stay safe out there!
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FURRY QUOTE
Hello, everyone! This is Danielle coming back to enlighten your day with an inspiring quote themed around spring. Let’s take a look!
“Spring: a lovely reminder of how beautiful change can truly be.”
Change. Is that something you often associate spring with? It very much describes the season because of its transition from the coldness of winter to the comforting breezes of spring. Despite how this is true between the other seasons like summer to autumn, spring especially emphasizes the importance of change.
We tend to face challenges here and there throughout our lives. Change leaves a mark both ways. It can give you a positive outlook one day, and then the next, it could leave you feeling scared for the future. One important thing to remember is that although change can be intimidating, it can lead you to the very best of something. Winnie the Pooh, a beloved Disney character, believes that doing nothing can often lead to the very best kind of something.
Don’t forget to be present in the moment by stopping and smelling the roses from time to time. You’ll be glad if you do because it just might be what you needed.
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This concludes this week’s Furry Quote. I hope it brought some motivation to your day.
Is there a quote or topic that you’d like us to cover next? Feel free to fill out this form with your idea(s). You can also submit content by emailing furryweeklysubmissions@gmail.com, or you can directly message the main host of Furry Quote, Multifurse, on Instagram or me on any of my platforms.
Thank you for reading this far, and we’ll see you all again next time!
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That is all for today! Thank you for reading! If you like Furry Weekly, share it with your friends or let us know by contacting us on our social media linked below! We always appreciate your support!
Remember, to submit your content to us, make a post with the tag #FurryWeekly and the tag of the segment you would like to be featured in (e.g. #ArtCorner, #WritingShowcase). These tags work regardless of what platform you're on, whether it’s Instagram, Twitter, Amino, or DeviantArt. These are the platforms we currently look at for user-submitted content!
Once again, thank you for reading and submitting content! We will see you next time!
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