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Dazzling diversity of dogs: How humans breed their canine companions into amazing varieties

2012-02-03T14:20:00.005+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Contrast: Oakley the pug and Little Dude, a St Bernard, are members of the same species despite appearances

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, from towering alsatians to tiny chihuahuas, from shaggy St Bernards to hairless puppies.
But remarkably, every breed of dog is a member of exactly the same species - Canis lupus familiaris.
While some variation between breeds has occurred naturally, most of the very obvious differences are the direct result of human breeding.

Diversity: This Afghan hound, Manny, provides one of the more spectacular examples of canine variation

A feature in the latest issue of National Geographic magazine illustrates the extraordinary diversity of caninekind - and explains how much of it is the result of human activity.
While many dogs nowadays are bred for their aesthetic qualities, in the past there were more practical motivations behind human intervention in the gene pool.
Many dogs were raised to be the best possible hunters - for example, as National Geographic notes, the dachshund was bred to get in to badgers' setts with their low, narrow entrances - hence its name, which means 'badger dog' in German.

Striking: The remarkable appearance of black-haired puli Charlotte is produced by variations in three genes

Distinctive: The Rhodesian ridgeback is famous for the shape of its spine, the result of just a single gene

Unusual: But the hairlessness of dogs like Sugar, a Chinese crested, is down to only one genetic variation

One possible reason dogs are so easily adaptible is because changing their genetic code is relatively simple compared to many other species.
In human genes, for example, nearly every characteristic is governed by a complex network of genes, which work in combination to display certain outcomes.
But with dogs, many quite drastic changes, such as fur type and ear shape, are controlled by a single genetic variation.

Beautiful: The papillon takes its name from the French for 'butterfly' because of the shape of its ears

Protective: The behaviour of Tibetan mastiffs like Midas remains a mystery to scientists

Dogs: The English setter is another breed created by no more than a few dozen evolutionary changes

In fact, a huge research project called CanMap determined that every single biological difference affecting dogs' appearance is controlled by one of around 50 gene variations.
This simplicity is partly a result of the human activity which has tinkered with canine biology for thousands of years, and has therefore picked out the characteristics most easily changed by simple genes.
Nonetheless, there is one aspect of variation among dogs which breeders do not yet know how to control - canine behaviour remains a closed book for researchers.

These amazing images are taken from the February 2012 issue of National Geographic magazine, on sale now

source: dailymail

What a gent! Generous bird catches his dinner, but offers it to a female friend

2012-02-03T14:10:00.004+07:00

By JILL REILLY

Got to be quick: The pair were sitting on a branch, when a small creature flew past. Realising his female companion was looking in the other direction, the crafty bird managed to catch a snack

A European bee eater bird gave his female companion the ultimate gift - his catch of prey. The colorful pair were perching on a branch in Tivon, Israel, when a small creature flew past. Realising his companion was looking in the other direction, the crafty bird managed to catch a snack.

Generous: When he offered her the gift, she didn't see it at first, but when the female turned her head, she found him offering her the small winged creature

Time to eat: After a seconds hesitation, she decided to accept his offering and quickly took the prey from his beak

But feeling generous he decided to offer it to her and when she turned her head, she found him close with the small winged creature in his beak.
After a few seconds hesitation, she accepted his kind offering and quickly took the prey from his beak. He was quite content to watch her enjoy his catch.

Dinner for one: The male bird was quite content to watch his companion eat his gift

In order to catch its prey, the bee eater is an agile and skilful flyer and their diet as their name suggests, includes flying insects such as bees and wasp - it is said to eat about 250 bees daily.
Once their prey is caught, it is taken to a favourite perch and the sting actively removed.
An RSPB spokesperson Tom Waters said ' The picture is a European Bee-eater, possibly called a Golden Bee-eater in Israel.'

source: dailymail

Great seafood comes with a huge bill: White Pelican tucks into a sardine lunch

2012-02-03T14:04:00.003+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

This cunning pelican landed a free lunch after swooping down to intercept fish being thrown by holidaymakers to waiting seals and dolphins off the coast of Namibia, Africa.

This cunning bird landed himself a free lunch after swooping down to intercept fish being thrown to waiting seals and dolphins.
A boat trip crew member hurled the fish overboard to attract sea animals but passengers were stunned when the Great White Pelican caught two in its huge bill.
Photographer Peter Quint captured the fantastic moment while on holiday in Walvis Bay, in Namibia, Africa. He said: I' was on a dolphin tour with a group of people and the skipper's assistant frequently threw fish into the ocean to attract seals and dolphins.

Shopping basket: A Great White Pelican's bill can hold around three gallons of water

'This smart bird noticed what was going on, took a dive and caught the fish before landing on the surface.
'The pelican narrowly missed my head because this all happened two metres in front of the camera.'
Peter, from Holland, added: 'Once I saw the photo I was very excited, it was a once in a lifetime shot in a split second with a real wow-factor.'

source: dailymail

Teenager wins her wandering cat back after fur flies in court fight against woman who took her in and fed her for six months

2012-02-03T13:53:00.005+07:00

By DAMIEN GAYLE

Victory: Nicola Dempster holds her cat, Smudge, after winning a legal battle to prove that she was his rightful owner after he was cared for by another woman

A long-running dispute over the ownership of a cat who went missing was finally settled in court yesterday with a victory for its original teenage owener.
Della Macdonald from Stornaway, who cared for missing cat Smudge for six months, had sued his owner, Nicola Dempster, 19, after the teenager found him and took him back home. Mrs Macdonald, who had found Smudge in her garden and taken him in after he went missing from Miss Dempster's home, had wanted to be made rightful owner of the cat. But today Sheriff David Sutherland dismissed her action and also a claim for £70 for neutering the cat.

Difficult time: Neilson Macdonald told the Sheriff that his wife had decided to drop the case as she was undergoing treatment for cancer

Neither Mrs Macdonald or her husband Neilson, attended the hearing at Stornoway Sheriff Court on the Isle of Lewis - but the sheriff read a letter from her which said she was dropping the action because she had cancer.
It also emerged that the Citizen Advice Bureau, who were representing Mrs Macdonald, were no longer doing so and had withdrawn from the case.

After the decision a delighted Miss Dempster said: 'I’m over the moon and going to give Smudge a celebratory meal of prawns tonight.
'I’ve been through five months of hell through this and I’m just glad the nightmare is over. For that is what it has been - a nightmare.
'Smudge has obviously been oblivious of what has been going on. But he is well cared for, much loved and in great shape.

'The letter from the Macdonalds to the court was dated January 3 - so why I was not told about it before has just prolonged my agony. However I’m just glad it is all behind me now.' Miss Dempster bought the cat at a Stornoway pet shop in September 2010 and had him inoculated at the local vet.

Stornoway Sheriff Court on the Isle of Lewis

Mrs Macdonald had said she badly misses the cat. She had alleged that the cat was thin and hungry when it appeared in her garden and she would be able to look after it better.
She also claimed that she has suffered stress over losing the cat and that her dog Hamish is pining for him.
However Miss Dempster said she has proof of purchase, vets bills and has witnesses to verify her original ownership.

source: dailymail

Our takeaway-gorging pets: Half of Britain's cats and dogs are fed fish and chips every week

2012-02-03T13:42:00.004+07:00

By SUZANNAH HILLS

Dog's dinner: 72 per cent of cat and dog owners feed their pets unhealthy human foods and takeaways every week

Britain is facing a pet obesity epidemic because half of owners are feeding their cats and dogs unhealthy human food such as fish and chips every week, a new study revealed today.
Figures show one in three are now overweight - with 72 per cent owners allowing their pets to gorge on the leftovers of unhealthy takeaways.
And fish and chips is now being devoured by over seven million, equating to 45 per cent, of Britain's cats and dogs each week.

Tubby cat: Mickey, pictured, is just one of an increasing number of cats that are becoming overweight because of a poor diet

Animal nutritionist Stephanie Mehanna said: 'Obesity in pets is a serious issue and has become a much more common problem over the past few years.
'Our pet’s diet shouldn’t be a mirror image of our own dining habits.
'By allowing them to eat human foods we are adding a serious amount of extra calories into their diets and exposing them to ingredients they cannot tolerate.'

The research from More Than Pet Insurance showed that one in ten owners now give their pets their leftovers every day.
Eighteen per cent of owners admitted feeding their pets chicken tikka masala, while 47 per cent feed their animals dairy-laden dishes, such as lasagne and pizza.
And 18 per cent have given their cat or dog a kebab.
The study, a survey of 1,000 cat and dog owners, found that feeding the leftovers of a typical human dinner to a cat or a dog every day could add an estimated 30,4054 calories per year to the pet’s normal diet.

As part of the research, pet owners were quizzed on the reasons they were allowing their four-legged friends to tuck into a menu of unhealthy human dishes.

Paws for thought: Pets being fed human dishes such as fish and chips is leading to an increasing number of overweight animals in the UK

'However, in the long run this unhealthy love is doing much more harm than good and leading to serious health complications.
“'To ensure the well-being of their pets and protect themselves from avoidable vet bills, pet owners should take all the necessary steps to keep their pets fit, healthy and happy.'

source: dailymail

How 'incy wincy' spider's webs are so well-built they survive hurricanes - and could help to design the buildings of the future

2012-02-02T17:08:00.004+07:00

By TAMARA COHEN

Clever design: The key to a spider web's success is 'sacrificial beams' which allow just one, or a few, threads to break while keeping the rest intact

Tougher than steel and intricately woven, spiders’ webs are certainly a natural wonder. Now a team of scientists has worked out why they are resilient enough to withstand the force of hurricanes and fierce attacks from predators.
It is not just the remarkable strength of the silk, but its clever design.
The key to a web’s success is its ability to remain intact and even stronger after threads break, say researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
They say the findings could be used to help design fail-safe buildings and even a new generation of unbreakable materials.

A typical web uses up a huge amount of a spider’s energy – so it contains a series of features which stop major repairs being needed.
The researchers found the silk itself has an ability to soften or stiffen to withstand different types of loads put on it – unlike any other natural or manmade fibres. In tests against three other materials made into similar webs, the spider silk was six times more resilient to damage when subjected to falling twigs or high winds. When a weight was applied, only one thread broke – so the spider could do minor repairs rather than start from scratch.

The researchers found that it wasn't the strength of the fibres that gave webs their elasticity - it was the design

Removing up to 10 per cent of the threads from various areas made the web not weaker but actually up to 10 per cent stronger.
Report co-author Markus Buehler said: ‘The real strength of the web is not the silk but how its mechanical properties change as things strain it, which is a very sleek inbuilt feature which could be used in many areas of life to contain damage to a small area.’
Scientists have already shown how spider silk is five times as strong as the same weight of steel.

Wasp spider, Argiope bruennichi, in web, Italy

This study, published in science journal Nature, looked at every aspect of the web. They contain two types of silk, a stiff, dry one for the threads which come out from the centre and hold it all together.
Then there is a thinner, stickier one called ‘viscid silk’ for the spiral threads which are mainly used to trap prey.
The authors found both types are constructed to ‘localise failure’ so only one thread breaks.

Thinking ahead: A typical garden spider's web takes a huge amount of the insect's energy to build so it contains a series of features which stop major repairs being needed

source: dailymail

Ready for their close-ups: The amazing wildlife photographs taken INSIDE A STUDIO

2012-02-02T16:58:00.005+07:00

By SIMON TOMLINSON

Does this colour suit me? A veiled chameleon, Chamaeleo calyptratus, poses for Joel Satore's camera

From a naked mole to a chameleon, a lemur to an elephant, these stunning portraits capture the individual beauty of animals great and small.
Each pictured against a black or white background in a studio, these are just a handful of the world's rarest and most stunning species photographed by Joel Satore.
The photographer, from Nebraska, U.S, aims to highlight their importance and encourage people to pay closer attention to endangered species.

Unforgettable picture: A female African elephant shows off her flexible trunk during the studio shoot

Some of the images feature the world's most threatened animals, including the armadillo and the Delhi Sands flower-loving fly.
Joel, 49, said: 'Photographing the animals in the wild would have done them a great dis-service. Some of the animals were so small they wouldn't have been able to see them.
'By having them pictured on black and white backgrounds, means each animal is given equal consideration.
'The studio shot can make a grizzly bear look the same size as an owl and a polar bear the same size as a snail, it gives each animal equal weight and equal importance.'

Toothy grin: A naked mole, warts and all, flashes his unique style of smile for the camera

Saying cheese: This picture shows incredible detail inside a hippo's terrifyingly huge mouth

But Joel said photographing the animals was no easy feat, some like the grizzly bear were too dangerous to photograph at close range.
Others such as the St Andrew Beach Mouse barely stayed still long enough for him to take the shot.
And others such as the Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly were so endangered he had to have permission from the US government, to photograph.
'Some of the animals were exceedingly hard to photograph, a turtle is easy as it doesn't move too quickly but mice run around like crazy and I needed to wait patiently for them to stand still for a second, so I can get the image in focus.

Eyes on the lens: A waxy monkey frog, Phyllomedusa sauvagii, strikes an unusual stance

Lovely fur-tograph: A black lemur has one to be proud of. Joel said some animals were very difficult to snap

He added: 'But by far the hardest animal to photograph was the Delhi Sands fly. This fly lives underground for years and comes above ground for just two days in California.
'To get a picture of this fly we had to get special permission from the US government to catch just one fly.
'We had to work with a fly handler and anaestise the fly with gas. It was unconscious for two seconds, so we set the picture up and take photos as soon as it came round.

Cheeky monkey! A captive five-month-old mandrill pokes its tongue out

Model subject: A spectacled owl keeps remarkably still for the camera, unlike some animals

Joel has recently released a book in the US called Rare, which features his portraits of America's most endangered species.
He vows to continue to take studio shots of animals worldwide, paying close attention to the thousands of endangered species worldwide in the hope it will help save some of those from extinction.
He added: 'A lot of species are dying out but there is hope for almost everything but if people don't step up to the plate we will lose these animals for good.
'But people won't try to save animals if they don't know they exist.

source: dailymail

Look mum, no wings! Baby great tit flies through the air without flapping in stunning video

2012-02-02T16:42:00.003+07:00

By CHRIS PARSONS

Flying without wings: Slow motion footage of the tiny bird shows how it folds its wings into its body mid-air

Flying the nest as a youngster might seem traumatic for most small birds, but this baby great tit makes taking flight look effortless.
The tiny bird captured in this stunning slow motion video appears to soar through the air while at times not even flapping its wings.
In the remarkable New Scientist footage, the baby great tit flies around a bird feeder, folding its wings in while still remaining air-born.

Take off: The tit launches into the air using its wings as normal

The bird does flap its wings every few seconds to maintain flight, but for the most part of the 50-second video its flies without wings.
The award-winning video was shot by Remco Brand and Ansa Fiaz, as part of the Flight Artists project at Wageningen University.

Unorthodox: The tit's unusual flying technique is not normally noticeable, but can be spotted here during the slow-motion video

The bird approaches its landing spot with its wings still tucked in to help reduce drag as it flies through the air

Experts say the great tit folds its wings into its body as it flies to change direction and also modulate its aerodynamics as it lands

According to Anders Hedenström from the Animal Flight lab at Lund University, the baby great tit retracts its wings to modulate its aerodynamics before landing.
As well as using the clever manoeuvre to change direction, the bird also folds its wings in while cruising in the air to reduce drag.
Mr Hedenstrom said: 'Swallows and hirundines are often seen having a brief pause in the middle of the upstroke.'

source: dailymail

How could you turn down these pups? Magnificent seven searching for new homes after being abandoned

2012-02-01T19:54:00.003+07:00

By LIZ HULL and KATIE SILVER

Adorable: Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed Ashley is looking for a home

Hard as it may be to believe, these adorable pups have been abandoned and are on the lookout for new owners.
The eight-week old Jack Russell crosses, with their sad puppy dog eyes, are among a record 16 puppies in only five days taken into one Welsh rescue centre.
‘They are really cheeky, playful little things, so I’m hopeful we should be able to find good homes for them,’ said Nicky Owen from North Clwyd Animal Rescue.

Dumped on roadsides or abandoned in cardboard boxes, these puppies are often the result of Christmas presents that have lost their novelty or breeders who are unable to sell their litters. It’s really sad, but the puppies are adorable,' Ms Owen said.
Along with the magnificent seven, the arrivals include Sam, a 12-week-old springer spaniel and Sky, a ten-week-old Staffordshire bull terrier.
Nicky Owen from North Clwyd Animal Rescue, near Holywell, north Wales, said many of the pets had been bred for sale over Christmas but were abandoned after nobody bought them. She added: ‘Getting 16 puppies in five days is a record for our centre after Christmas. People have been breeding pups and just not being able to sell them.

Puppy dog eyes: These seven Staffordshire Bull Terriers are among a growing number of animals needing new homes as owners struggle to afford the cost during tough economic times

‘I think it has something to do with the recession. People think they can sell puppies for £500 each, but they don’t realise that they will only get that sort of money for pure breeds.
‘We’ve had all sorts of weird crosses brought in, probably due to the success of dogs like the labradoodle, but they simply haven’t been attractive to buyers.
Two adult shih tzu crossbreeds and their three scruffy puppies melted the hearts of staff at the centre after they were found dumped in a cardboard box close to a main road two weeks ago.
The parents have been named Jane and Jim, and their four-week-old puppies have been called Jade, Jess and Jack.
The centre has also taken a litter of eight-week-old Jack Russell crosses and a Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed called Ashley.
To adopt a puppy from the centre, call 01745 560546.

source: dailymail

Has the internet completely lost it? Attempt to make dressing up cats with BREAD next web trend

2012-02-01T19:43:00.005+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Breading: The new craze involves enthusiastic cat owners encasing their pet's head in a slice of bread

Are you over planking? Bored of owling? Tired of Tebowing?
A Facebook group dedicated to dressing cats in bread, and promoted by blogs across the internet, is attempting to create a new internet trend.
'Breading' could be taking off because it combines apparently random behaviour with the web's favourite animal.

Surreal: This kitty appears to have been breaded while it was trying to observe the aurora borealis

The Facebook page - entitled 'Putting bread on your cat, so that people think you have a walking sandwich' - has more than 10,000 fans.
It encourages its followers to post their own pictures of the wacky activity, and suggests that they might like to try using tiger bread to do it.
But while there is no doubting the authenticity of the photos uploaded by enthusiastic cat-owners, the breading craze may not be quite as much of a grassroots movement as it seems.

Serene: This laid-back cat appears to accept its owner's whim without getting agitated

Surprise: The pussy clearly didn't anticipate being ambushed with a wholegrain loaf

Crowned: Unusually, this cat has chosen to wear its yeasty headgear as a hat

The craze got a big boost from blog site Gawker, which claimed yesterday morning that 'all the cool kids' had started breading - and just an hour later boasted: 'Now people can't stop talking about breading!'
By the evening, another post appeared which claimed that breading had already 'jumped the shark' and lost its cool exclusivity.
The whole thing seemed like an elaborate inside joke, spoofing the nature of short-lived crazes which are more likely to be talked about than actually participated in.

Craze: But breading may have been promoted as an ironic commentary on internet memes in general

Popular: Whatever its origins, breading has quickly taken off among a certain sector of pet owners

Healthy: A cat encased in health-friendly seeded and wholegrain bread

Nonetheless, plenty of internet users seem happy to use their cats as tools for their own amusement, and perhaps breading really will catch on in the long term.
If you want to do it yourself, you need only two ingredients: bread and cat. Soft bread is recommended, both for your own convenience and for the cat's comfort.
Punch out a head-shaped hole in the middle of the bread, and insert your cat's head therein.
And be sure to take a picture, to capture that special moment for posterity.

Yawn: The victim of breading looks like it would prefer a return to less cat-intensive practices like planking

On the up: But it remains to be seen how long breading will remain popular with notoriously fickle netizens

source: dailymail

What a bright spark! Incredible animal images created from nothing but matches, smoke and fire

2012-02-01T10:51:00.003+07:00

By DANIEL MILLER

Firebug: A meticulously crafted spider dangles on a thread of smoke in one of Russian artist Stanislav Aristov's amazing images

These amazing animal images are setting the art world alight, after being created from nothing more than spent matches, smoke and fire.
Artist Stanislav Aristov struck up the clever idea while playing with a pack of matches as he decided what to photograph for a competition.
And now the IT specialist has become widely recognised in his native country for his swirling and colourful art works.

Hot stuff: A fiery snail slowly drags its matchstick shell up leaf

Stanislav has created a host of animals - from a wiggling salamander to a firefly out of the charred remains of matches.
He meticulously fashions each one by bending spent matches to form the bodies and using fire to add intricate detail.
And Stanislav, 29, from Yekaterinburg, central Russia, revealed how he discovered the unique art form by accident.

Tail blazing: A matchstick lizard comes to life. Artist Stansliav had the idea for the series of photos while fiddling with a box of matches as he tried to come up with an idea for a photography competition

He said: 'My first match was born or maybe burnt by chance at a monthly photo contest just as something I wanted to try.
'It was while I was watching the match trying to think of something to photograph that I began to think of how it represents life.
'There is the burnt part representing the past, the smoke of memories left and the untouched part of the match the future.
'The fire is the life. Matches of course are quite a usual object but it turned out can be presented in a very unusual ways.'

Firefly: Stanislav meticulously fashions each creation by bending spent matches to form the bodies before using fire and smoke to add the intricate detail.

Stanislav admits he has to be careful when creating the art works - because he isn’t a big smoker.
He added: 'The funniest thing is that I don’t smoke but have become quite well known for my smokey art.
'I haven’t exhibited any of my works anywhere yet, but i would love to come over to the UK and show it off.
'Matches of course are quite a normal everyday object but it turned out they can be presented in a very unusual ways.
'Fire as well as smoke sometimes swirls in a very freakish form, which creates very interesting associations and patterns.'

Philosophy: Stanislav believes the burnt parts represent the past, the smoke symbolises the memories left and the untouched part of the match the future

source: dailymail

How much fun can you have with a hard hat? Just ask the lonely polar bear

2012-02-01T10:37:00.004+07:00

By SUZANNAH HILLS

Taking the plunge: Walker dives in after his favourite toy - a hard hat

You'd be amazed how much entertainment a polar bear can get out of a simple hard hat.
And Walker the polar bear proved there was no end to the games he could play with a workman's safety helmet when he managed to get his paws on one for an hour after his weigh in today at the Highland Wildlife Park.
His keepers spotted three-year-old Walker throwing the hat into the water before diving in to retrieve it and then practised balancing it on his paw and his nose.

Nearly got it: Walker sets his sights on grabbing the workman's safety hat

Missed it: Walker plunges into the pond, narrowly missing his beloved hat, which drifts off along the water at the Highland Wildlife Park

Walker's playtime was well-deserved after his weigh-in today - which showed he has grown considerably since first arriving at the park.
But Walker, the only polar bear on public display in the UK, had to first be lured on to the scales with his favourite fishy treats to allow keepers to weigh him.

Making a splash: Walker throws the hat up into the air before chasing after it again

Walker was given a trail of sardines to follow to tempt him on to a large wooden platform attached to a set of scales which revealed he has gained around 330lb in just over a year.
The three-year-old bear weighed in at 63 stone - when he arrived at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie, Inverness-shire in December 2010 he was around 39 stone.

Got it: Walker finally catches the pesky hat that kept giving him the slip

On the nose: Walker prepares to practice balancing his hard hat with varying degrees of success

It will be another two or three years before he is fully grown and by the age of six he will weigh an estimated 80-110 stone.
Una Richardson, the centre's head keeper, said: 'The weigh-in this morning with Walker went extremely well. We managed to tempt him on to the scales with a few of his favourites - sardines.
'We are really pleased with Walker’s weight. He’s a big boy at 403kg, which is around 63 stone. It’s slightly higher than what we had expected. We guessed he could be around 62 stone, which is around 395kg.
'It’s a good, healthy weight for a polar bear of his age and size and is close to the weight we had expected.

Dinner time: Keepers had to use sardines to lure Walker on to the scales to get weighed

Walker is weighed by Senior Keeper David Barclay at the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, Inverness-shire

Tongue rub: Walker gets a tongue rub after being weighed by Head Keeper Una Richardson

source: dailymail

The owl and the (peckish) pussycat: Children scream in horror as lion eats blundering bird

2012-02-01T10:35:00.000+07:00

By ANDREW LEVY

Ash, the barn owl from Colchester zoo who was eaten by a lion during a display

IT is a scene played out in thousands of gardens every day...albeit on a rather smaller scale. But when a cat caught and devoured a bird at a zoo, it caused pandemonium among visitors. In this case it was a lion that ate a barn owl which had become ‘spooked’ during a falconry display and flown out of the arena.
The unfortunate bird, a female called Ash, had been left dazed and disoriented after clattering into a window. She landed unsteadily in a couple of other spots before swooping down to a ledge in the lion enclosure.

One of the lions at the zoo that is believed to have pounced on the owl after it was knocked out of the air by a lioness

The bird then appears to have lost her footing and was clubbed out of the air by a lioness before a male pounced and made short work of her as screaming zoo visitors looked on.
Staff at Colchester Zoo in Essex quickly moved in but were unable to prevent Ash’s untimely death.
Gavin Duthie, who witnessed the gruesome scene with his two-year-old son Daniel, said: ‘He was in tears, along with most of the people who were there. Women and children were screaming but it was all over in seconds.

Colchester Zoo where an owl was killed in front of children during a demonstration

‘It’s in the lion’s nature. I have taught Daniel that lions are not fluffy animals. He was very upset but we will be back in the zoo again.’
The drama took place on Saturday afternoon as dozens of visitors gathered around the falconry arena.
Describing the bird’s final moments, the zoo’s marketing director Alex Downing said yesterday: ‘Although she landed on the side of the enclosure, she very sadly lost her footing and fell in, whereupon she was killed by one of the lions.’
She added: ‘Everyone is obviously extremely upset about such a combination of events.
‘But there is nothing that anyone could have done at the time to avoid such an awful outcome.

source: dailymail

Pet rescue Fukushima! Animals saved from nuclear wasteland by volunteers who risked their own lives

2012-01-31T18:23:00.005+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Survivors: Volunteers have braved the exclusion zone around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant to rescue hundreds of pets abandoned after the earthquake and tsunami in March last year

For months they have been forced to wander a desolate landscape, lost, confused and alone. The thousands of dogs and cats abandoned in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear crisis have endured dangerously high radiation levels, a severe lack of food and now the freezing winter weather.
But thanks to a group of selfless volunteers, who have braved the 20km exclusion zone around the stricken plant, many of the animals are finally being reunited with their grateful owners.

Purring: A cat relaxes in his cage in after being rescued from the town of Okuma set within the 20km exclusion zone around the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

Rescue mission: Volunteers were given special permission to enter the 20 mile exclusion zone late last year

While Japan focuses on containing the nuclear accident and protecting people from radiation, Yasunori Hoso, representative director of United Kennel Club Japan, has been trying to save as many dogs and cats from the no-go area as possible.

Handful: The rescuers have also helped abandoned farm animals like this terrified cow discovered wandering a highway near the town of Namie

'But when it comes to the dogs themselves, all of them, without exception, become really ecstatic when they get reunited with their owners'.
A 9.0-magnitude earthquake and massive tsunami on March 11 triggered the world's worst nuclear accident in 25 years and forced residents around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to flee, with many of them having to leave behind their beloved pets.
More than 150,000 people from Fukushima prefecture still cannot return to their homes, with nearly half of them from the exclusion zone.

Japan's United Kennel Club Director Yasunori Hoso has led efforts to help the thousands of abandoned animals

Ordeal: Many of the animals, which were forced to survive on their own for over nine months, have since been returned to their grateful owners

Work to do: Mr Hoso, who runs a shelter for about 350 dogs and cats says there are many more animals which still need help

Volunteers hope to find new homes for hundreds of animals that can't be reunited with their owners

Mr Hoso said there are hundreds more animals in the area that still need help.
He added: 'If left alone, tens of them will die everyday. Unlike well-fed animals that can keep themselves warm with their own body fat, starving ones will just shrivel up and die.
'If we cannot go in to take them out, I hope the government will at least let us go there and leave food for them.'

Ghost town: More than 150,000 people from the area around Fukushima still cannot return to their homes

Desolate: An empty shopping street in the town of Namie inside the 20km exclusion zone

Deities: Dolls of the 'Seven Gods of Good Fortune' are seen inside a house damaged by the earthquake in March last year

Trashed: A home appliance retailer damaged by the earthquake

Toru Akama, an engineer working at the Fukushima nuclear plant, asked Mr Hoso to look after his 14 dogs when an entry ban was imposed on his town.
He said: 'I was really happy for my dogs. They are part of my family. There was no way I could abandon them.'
Mr Hoso said he plans to carry on until the last dog in his shelter is returned to its owner or finds a new home.
'That is what keeps me going, what makes me determined that I have to push ahead until the last one goes back to its owner."

source: dailymail

Holy mackerel! Lorry ploughs off road and overturns spilling 20 TONNES of fish across farmer's field

2012-01-31T18:15:00.003+07:00

By TED THORNHILL

Fishy business: The lorry load of mackerel spilled across farmer Gordon Flinn's field

A farmer was understandably left fed up to the gills by the sight of fish after a staggering 20 tonnes of mackerel spilled onto his land from an overturned lorry.
It was travelling towards Ardglass in County Down, Northern Ireland, last week when it appeared to have caught a grass verge, ploughed through 30 yards of hedge and fallen into a field belonging to Gordon Flinn, 71.
A digger and a crane were called in as 12 men worked for seven hours straight in a ‘large scale’ clean-up operation following the accident.

Fin on the ground: The fish measured two-feet deep in places

Mr Flinn, a sheep and cattle farmer, said the fish were piled up to two feet deep in places. He said: ‘We had a call from the police about 3pm, saying there had been an accident down by my land and that there were fish everywhere.
‘The driver had hit a verge and the fish had come down on the hedge, destroying it and spilling them all into my field.

‘When I got down there I expected to see boxes of fish fingers or something - but there was a 20 tonne silver sea of fish. It was quite a sight.
‘There were thousands of the things all over my land. It was a bit of a shock to say the least. ‘It took them from about 7pm to 2am just to clear it all up. It was about ten metres in diameter - they were all over the place.

Sea of mackerel: It took seven hours to clean the fish up

‘The one really bizarre thing was though, is that there wasn’t a smell of fish. I think there was more than enough to feed the 5,000. We could have fed the 5,000 five thousand times over.
‘I didn’t take some for dinner - I don’t think I could look another fish in the eyes for a long time.’

source: dailymail

How HUGE pythons are wiping out Florida mammal populations

2012-01-31T18:07:00.004+07:00

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

A new report shows that the proliferation of pythons coincides with a decrease of mammals in the Florida Everglades. In this 2009 photo researchers hold a 15-foot, 162-pound Burmese python captured in the park just after it ate a 6-foot alligator

A burgeoning population of huge pythons — many of them pets that were turned loose by their owners when they got too big — appears to be wiping out large numbers of raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals in the Everglades, a study says.
The study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that sightings of medium-size mammals are down dramatically — as much as 99 percent, in some cases — in areas where pythons and other large, non-native constrictor snakes are known to be lurking.
Scientists fear the pythons could disrupt the food chain and upset the Everglades' environmental balance in ways difficult to predict.

At least 1,825 Burmese pythons have been caught in and around Everglades National Park since 2000. Many used to be pets and were freed by their owners when they got too big. Here is one with its nest captured in 2009

'The effects of declining mammal populations on the overall Everglades ecosystem, which extends well beyond the national park boundaries, are likely profound,' said John Willson, a research scientist at Virginia Tech University and co-author of the study.
Tens of thousands of Burmese pythons, which are native to Southeast Asia, are believed to be living in the Everglades, where they thrive in the warm, humid climate.
While many were apparently released by their owners, others may have escaped from pet shops during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and have been reproducing ever since.

The National Academy of Science report released on Monday shows a sharp decrease in mammal sightings. This photo earlier this month shows Sec. of Interior Ken Salazar, center, and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fl, left, looking at a 13-foot python from the park

The report says the effect on the overall ecosystem is hard to predict. Declines among bobcats and foxes, which eat rabbits, could be linked to pythons' feasting on rabbits. On the flip side, declines among raccoons, which eat eggs, may help some turtles, crocodiles and birds.
Scientists point with concern to what happened in Guam, where the invasive brown tree snake has killed off birds, bats and lizards that pollinated trees and flowers and dispersed seeds. That has led to declines in native trees, fish-eating birds and certain plants.

In 2010, Florida banned private ownership of Burmese pythons. Earlier this month, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced a federal ban on the import of Burmese pythons and three other snakes.
Salazar said Monday that the study shows why such restrictions were needed.
'This study paints a stark picture of the real damage that Burmese pythons are causing to native wildlife and the Florida economy,' he said.

source: dailymail

We're not kidding - this goat can surf! Pet rides the waves in a surfing safari

2012-01-31T10:56:00.004+07:00

By EMILY ALLEN

Surfin' safari: Goatee surfs the waves in Pismo Beach, California in her distinctive yellow life jacket

When it comes to surfing - this goat is no kid.
Goatee loves the water so much she has been riding the waves like a pro at Pismo Beach in California. The four-legged water baby is often seen balancing on a surfboard as she catches the waves to glide effortlessly on to the beach - much to the delight of sunbathers.
With safety a number one priority she always dons a fetching yellow life-jacket.
Owner Dayna McGregor, who took Goatee surfing to celebrate his birthday recently, said: 'She did pretty well, she got up on a couple of waves. I say got up - we put her on a couple of waves.

Wipeout! A soggy Goatee hits the surf and runs to the beach after riding a wave

'She was pretty successful.'
Mr McGregor helped Goatee on to the board and beamed with pride as she rode the surf to the shore using her four legs to balance.
The soggy beach bum didn't look at all phased by the wet and wild experience - even sharing a hug with Mr McGregor at the end of the afternoon.
Mr McGregor bought Goatee to eat weeds in his garden but soon became fond of her and kept her as a pet. The pair now share a special bond. And, after realising her watery talents Goatee, now two, has become an internet sensation.

Good vibrations: Dana McGregor holds on to Goatee as the pair perform a dual balancing act on the surf board

As well as surfing, she accompanies Mr McGregor almost everywhere - to the shops, in a trailer attached to the back of his bike, shopping and even nights out.
But he said fame hasn't gone to her head.
He said: 'You know it hasn't gotten to her head yet. She doesn't even know it and that's probably a good thing.'

Love to surf: Surfer Dana McGregor poses on a surf board with his pet surfing goat Goatee

source: dailymail

Curiosity did not kill the cat but it did cause a four-hour flight delay: Plane grounded after Ripple the cat gets into cockpit

2012-01-31T10:46:00.004+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Dash: Ripples the cat caused mayhem on an Air Canada flight when she escaped from her carrier and into the cockpit of the plane

They say curiosity killed the cat.
Fortunately for this naughty feline - who seemed desperate to check out first class - he managed to escape with his life, but caused a four-hour flight delay for dozens of passengers. Ripples the tabby cat escaped from his carrier while on an Air Canada flight from Halifax to Toronto as some passengers were still boarding.

Owner: Debbie Harris said she thinks security did not close the latch on the carrier correctly and that's how the cat escaped

Flight 603 was scheduled to depart at 5.30am but passengers had to get off the flight after the cat ran into first class and into the cockpit before squeezing himself inside some panels at their feet.
It was when the ten-year-old cat was going through security and was put back in its carrier that the oversight is said to have been made.

Delay: The Air Canada flight was due to leave Halifax bound for Toronto at 5.30am but did not end up leaving until 10am

Ripples' owner, Debbie Harris, failed to realize that one of the latches on the carrier was not properly done until it was too late.
When it first escaped into first class, several passengers tried in vain to catch him before the cat ran into the cockpit and under the pilot's feet into the tiny compartment.
Passengers had to leave the plane while maintenance workers came on scene to remove panels, and dissemble part of the cockpit before the cat was retrieved, unharmed.

Caged: Air Canada permits small animals to be taken as hand luggage on all flights but they must be housed in a carrier

Halifax Stanfield International Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said: '(The crew) checked all the wiring where the cat had been to make sure there was no damage and connected properly. 'They then put the panels back on, put the passengers back on the plane, and then they left at about 10am.'
Speaking to CBC News, passenger Kyle Warkentin said: 'It's hilarious, really. It's so random.' He said the cabin crew told them they were looking for an escaped cat and apologized to passengers.
Mr Warkentin said: 'Then the engine turned off and the whole power on the plane turned off, and they said they were doing this to calm the cat.'
Air Canada permits small animals to be taken as hand luggage on all flights expect for those bound for Hawaii.
They must be housed in a carrier, which must fit under the passenger's seat.

source: dailymail

It's a bug's life: Artist creates human sculpture from 20,000 handmade ladybirds

2012-01-31T10:40:00.003+07:00

By SUZANNAH HILLS

The Lady Bug Sculpture: Hungarian artist Fulop Gabor used 20,000 hand-painted ladybirds to create this model of the female form

From a distance it looks like a simple red sculpture of the female form.
But artist Gabor Fulop hasn't used marble or paper-marche to create this piece of artwork called 'The Lady Bug' - and has in fact made up his model using 20,000 tiny ladybirds. Using artificial resin, the Bulgarian sculptor handmade the minuscule beetles, before painting them individually.

He then applied the Ladybirds - 20,000 in total - to a model of the female form.
He said: 'The work Ladybug resembles a goddess of nature, a fusion of both human and animal organisms, that is both a unique being and a mass of creatures that took a human form. 'My art works through a particular re-interpretation of the traditional techniques of sculpture. 'The focus of my interest is on living organisms, their relationship with each other and their environment.

Creepy crawlies: The sculpture gives the illusion of ladybirds crawling all over a body

'The human body is a recurring theme in my works. Eastern philosophy and pantheism give the basis of my approach.
'Surface, as the border where the inner and the outer meets, plays an important role in my sculptures: it separates and connects at the same time.
'I hope people find it interesting.'

Ladybird's-eye view: The Lady Bug is a standing yellow and red figure and is covered in a swarm of the tiny insects - which you can only see and fully realize in up-close shots

source: dailymail

Why your dog really DOES love you (and it's not just because of all the treats you give it!)

2012-01-31T10:24:00.005+07:00

By BRUCE FOGLE

Special bond: Humans feel love for their pets and one another, but do dogs have the same feelings?

Some years ago I wrote an article for this newspaper about my feelings on having to put down my golden retriever, Macy.
Your response was overwhelming, with many letters and emails expressing gratitude that an old vet like me, and a man at that, had talked openly about the personal pain I felt when my pet’s life ended.
One of those who had clearly read my musings was my client Michael, the owner of Molly, a collie-cross who suffered irreversible kidney failure last autumn.

A dog's life: Amanda Craig (pictured with her children Leonora and William) spoke about how a dog changes family life

‘You know how I feel, Bruce,’ he said when I arrived at the family home to give Molly a lethal injection. His wife Tricia stayed in the next room and Michael stayed with me — the opposite of what usually happens when I end an animal’s life. In my experience, men find it more unbearable to see their pets die.
As Michael bent over his old girl and I injected the overdose of barbiturate, his tears dropped like tiny pearls on her still face and he said something which got me thinking. ‘You know Bruce, she loved us as much as we loved her.’

A dog's life: Amanda Craig (pictured with her children Leonora and William) spoke about how a dog changes family life

Scientists find this idea hard to handle. They say only animals with ‘higher emotions’ — humans — are capable of love.
But Michael’s words came back to me this week when I read newspaper reports claiming the dog has been man’s best friend for far longer than anyone imagined. They described how archaeologists digging in Siberia and Belgium found two canine skulls dating back 33,000 years.
Unlike their wolf ancestors, who had long narrow jaws and large teeth, perfectly suited for grabbing their prey and tearing its meat off the bone, these creatures had far more blunted features with smaller teeth.

Love for the Queen: Elizabeth is pictured walking her corgis

This indicated they were domesticated long before the archaeologists’ previous estimate of 15,000 years ago. The researchers suggest that, apart from using these early dogs as an emergency food source or to follow animal scent trails, our ancestors also valued them as companions — just as we do today.
And I believe the bond between our two species has been so enduring because dogs are as capable of loving us as we are of loving them.

Emotions: Perhaps dogs can grow to love their owners just as much as their owners love them?

I decided to include a section called ‘In Memory Of’ where clients can leave pictures of dogs that loved their humans as much as they were loved by us.
Molly was the first of what I know will be many more.
Visit www.londonvetclinic.co.uk for the pets’ memorial page and Bruce’s story about Macy.

source: dailymail

New species of 'Pac-Man frog' discovered in South American jungle (along with 45 other creatures never seen before)

2012-01-30T15:22:00.005+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Leaping into the record books: The 'Pac Man frog' was discovered by scientists deep in the jungle of Suriname in South America

A new species of frog has been discovered by scientists hidden deep inside the South American jungle. Scientists also unearthed another 45 species during a three-year project where they were helped by tribes who live in villages along the Kutari and Sipaliwini Rivers in Suriname. The creature has been named the 'Pac-Man Frog' after the video game character as it has a mouth as wide as its body and can swallow whole its prey of fish, other frogs and even mice.

Standing out from the crowd: Dozens of species of insects were discovered including this fierce Great Horned beetle

Dozens of insects were also discovered including a vivid blue beetle the size of a snooker ball. A new kind of katydid, nicknamed the 'Crayola Katydid', was also thought to have been found during the trip.
Another potentially new species of frog was spotted and nicknamed the 'cowboy' thanks to the white fringes down its legs and a spur-like mass on each heel.

Cutie: The 'Cowboy' frog was nicknamed because of the white fringing down its legs and a spur-like shape on each heel

An 'armoured' catfish, covered in spines was caught - a natural deterrent for giant piranhas which also swim the inhospitable waters. Eight other new species of freshwater fish were found during the expedition which ended in 2010.
The discoveries were made by Conservation International, a non-profit team of scientists who were helped in their journey into one of the world's densest jungles by local guides. In total, they documented almost 1,300 species along the Kutari and Sipaliwini Rivers.

Winged beauty: A new species of katydid, nicknamed the 'Crayola Katydid' was also thought to have been discovered by scientists on a trip to southwest Suriname

Trond Larsen, director of the program, said: 'As a scientist, it is thrilling to study these remote forests where countless new discoveries await, especially since we believe that protecting these landscapes while they remain pristine provides perhaps the greatest opportunity for maintaining globally important biodiversity and the ecosystems people depend upon for generations to come.'
Suriname has a population of half a million people with most living in the capital Paramaribo or along the Atlantic Coast. It the smallest independent country in South America. A similar trip to the country by researchers in 2007 unearthed 24 new species.

Swamp thing: A new species of damselfly which breeds in forest swamps was found by scientists as they trekked through Suriname

Spiky: The 'armored catfish' is thought to have developed the barbs to prevent it being eaten by piranhas

source: dailymail

Forgotten victims of the recession: Can you offer an abandoned puppy a home?

2012-01-30T15:14:00.004+07:00

Fresh start: Staffordshire bull terrier crossbreed Ashley has been taken in by the rescue centre

Dumped on roadsides or abandoned in cardboard boxes, these puppies have one thing in common – they are looking for new homes.
Staff at one rescue centre have taken in a record 16 puppies in only five days as Christmas presents lose their novelty and breeders struggle to sell their litters.
The arrivals include Sam, a 12-week-old springer spaniel who is being nursed back to health after being found suffering from the painful skin condition mange, and Sky, a ten-week-old Staffordshire bull terrier who came in with a broken leg and had been kept in a cupboard all of her life.

Recession: These seven Staffordshire Bull Terriers are among a growing number of animals to be looked after at the rescue as owners struggle to afford the cost during tough economic times

Nicky Owen from North Clwyd Animal Rescue, near Holywell, north Wales, said many of the pets had been bred for sale over Christmas but were abandoned after nobody bought them.
She added: ‘Getting 16 puppies in five days is a record for our centre after Christmas. People have been breeding pups and just not being able to sell them.

Recovering well: Sam, a 12-week-old springer spaniel, had mange

‘I think it has something to do with the recession. People think they can sell puppies for £500 each, but they don’t realise that they will only get that sort of money for pure breeds.
‘We’ve had all sorts of weird crosses brought in, probably due to the success of dogs like the labradoodle, but they simply haven’t been attractive to buyers.

Dumped: Shih tzu crosses Jim and Jane with pups Jade, Jess and Jack

It’s really sad, but the puppies are adorable. They are really cheeky, playful little things, so I’m hopeful we should be able to find good homes for them.’
Two adult shih tzu crossbreeds and their three scruffy puppies melted the hearts of staff at the centre after they were found dumped in a cardboard box close to a main road two weeks ago. The parents have been named Jane and Jim, and their four-week-old puppies have been called Jade, Jess and Jack.
To adopt a puppy from the centre, call 01745 560546.

source: dailymail

Ozzy, the collie who never wobbles! The MoS tracks down the four-legged superstar whose astonishing balancing tricks took YouTube by storm

2012-01-29T22:24:00.000+07:00

By EMILY HILL

Nick Johnson and his dog Ossy have taken the internet by storm

It's the latest video to become a YouTube sensation. Showing a truly astonishing sense of balance, a dog perches on a thin metal chain before standing up on his hind legs. While other dogs are more content to chase cats or gnaw old bones, this canine is capable of incredible acrobatic feats.
Filmed by an amazed passer-by on his mobile phone, the footage was then uploaded to YouTube where it attracted more than 80,000 hits in just one day.

It has proved so popular since being posted two weeks ago that it was highlighted by ITV chat show host Jonathan Ross last weekend. Ross told viewers that the sight of the balancing dog would help banish their winter blues.
Until now the identity of the dog and his owner have remained a mystery – but The Mail on Sunday has tracked them down. They are carpenter Nick Johnson, 50, from Norwich, and Ozzy, his three-year-old chocolate border collie-kelpie cross.
Nick devotes up to five hours a day to training his pet, who was born on a farm in Anglesey, North Wales.
Ozzy is now recognised wherever he goes, and his repertoire of tricks includes balancing on Nick’s shoulders as he rides a bike, fetching his owner’s mobile phone, and ‘surfing’ on a street sign.

ON THE ROAD TO FAME... OZZY PERFECTS HIS STREET SIGN SURFING

Ozzy has plenty of energy so every day Nick takes him on a long walk around their home city, Norwich. It was during one of these walks that Nick decided to see if his dog could balance on a street sign.
Of his training style, Nick says: ‘Old-style dog-trainers say you should never look at the dog, but if a dog is looking at you he is giving you his full attention.
‘I bring him into my eyes and that helps him balance. I use a lot of sign language with him. I use my eyebrows to encourage him, but the most powerful command is me wagging my little finger.
‘That means “Come on” when he is right on the edge of what he can do.’

FIRST WITH THE NEWS: MEET THE PAPER HOUND

When some dogs hear the postman arrive, they bark loudly and hurtle towards the front door. But Ozzy is too well trained for that. And when a newspaper is popped through the letterbox each morning, he retrieves it up from the mat and brings it back to Nick – in one piece.

THE CHAIN EVENT... TALENTED OZZY'S STAR TURN

After Ozzy had managed his street sign trick, Nick got him to balance on a metal chain attached to two posts. Nick looks into his eyes and uses hand gestures, which has led some people to suggest that he is capable of mind-control methods – and to jokingly liken him to Jedi Master
Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars. ‘Once Ozzy is focused on me he is locked in. It’s funny that I have been compared to a Jedi. That would explain the strange looks I get,’ he says.

THE DOG AND BONE ACT

Always eager to please, Ozzy fetches and carries too. When Nick’s phone rings, Ozzy picks it up with his teeth and returns it to his grateful owner. ‘Ozzy understands what I say,’ says Nick.
‘If I tell him to get my white trainers, he gets them. I can also tell him to get my other trainers – he understands the difference. People say dogs cannot understand language but there’s a dog in America that can understand 3,000 words.’

THE PET WITH A PASSION FOR LIFE ON THE EDGE

As a puppy, Ozzy demonstrated a talent for jumping high to catch balls and Frisbees. Now he combines that athleticism with his extraordinary balancing skills to leap up on to awkward spaces, such as this window ledge. Incredibly, Ozzy performs all his tricks without inducements.
Nick does not reward him with treats or punish him for failure. Ozzy has so much energy he can concentrate for long periods. Nick says: ‘It is never a question of him lacking energy, but it is important to keep up his morale.’

RIDING HIGH... HERE COMES THE PIGGY-BACK POOCH

Simon Cowell has already said he is desperate to find an entertaining dog act when his show Britain’s Got Talent returns to our screens later this year – well look no further. When Nick decides to ride his bike into town, Ozzy is happy to tag along – just not on his lead. Instead, as Nick sits in the saddle, Ozzy hops up on to his owner’s shoulders and hitches a lift.

source: dailymail

The heartbreaking plight of research chimps who have spent their entire 30-year lives in laboratories

2012-01-29T22:16:00.003+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Caged for life: A young chimp chews on a piece of cardboard as he stares through the bars of his cage

Chimpanzees are being kept in research centres their whole lives and deliberately infected with killer diseases, a process activists describe as 'torture'.
The plight of these laboratory apes has been highlighted by a new report, which goes inside the labs and talks to the scientists involved, set to air on NBC this week.
Researchers who work with the chimps at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio say their suffering contributes to mankind's understanding of how to combat deadly illnesses such as hepatitis and Aids.

Experimentation: Lab chimps undergo repeated medical procedures by researchers hoping to conquer killer diseases

And they insist that the animals are not mistreated, but are kept in outdoor enclosures whose condition is similar to that of a sanctuary or a zoo.
But campaigner Jane Goodall told NBC that it was inherently cruel to lock up chimpanzees 'in a small space with no choice', saying: 'All invasive research is torture.'

Born behind bars: A young chimp knows no other life but being in a lab

She particularly drew attention to the fact that at the Texas institute, chimps are kept in the research programme until they die, rather than being released to an animal sanctuary once they reach old age.
This means that apes like Rosie and Ken, both 30 years old, have already undergone more than 100 medical procedures, and will not leave the laboratory for the rest of their lives - which could last another 30 years.

Cruel: Anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall says the government should ban lab tests on chimps

John VandeBerg, director of the centre, argued that it provides its animals with a quality of life as good as they would get at a sanctuary.
And he claimed that even if they were no longer the subject of day-to-day research, the procedures they have already undergone could be crucial in future medical breakthroughs.
I think of the chimpanzees in the same way that I think of a library,' he said. 'There are many books in the library that will never be used this year or next year.
'Many of them might never be used again. But we don't know which ones will be needed tomorrow, next year or the year after.'
Chimpanzee research was central to the development of a vaccine against hepatitis B, and scientists hope that they could also be used in the battle against hepatitis C.

A question of freedom: Chimps are confined within the Texas Biomedical Research Institute their whole lives

Because so many animals at the Texas institute are infected with hepatitis and other diseases like HIV, the NBC camera crew which filmed them was not allowed to approach the cages and had to shoot from a distance.
The chimps live outside, in enclosures known as primadomes - and one scientist who works with them said that this should dispel 'the wrong opinion that these animals are in little bitty cages in a dark room with no windows'.

source: dailymail

The mouse that tweets like a bird: Japanese scientists create genetically-modified animal

2012-01-28T16:09:00.003+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

A mouse genetically engineered to tweet like a bird has been created in Japan

Japanese scientists have produced a genetically-engineered mouse that tweets like a bird, it was revealed today.
A team of researchers at the University of Osaka are breeding genetically modified mice that are prone to miscopying DNA and are more likely to develop mutations.
The 'tweeting' mouse was created as part of the team's ‘Evolved Mouse Project. They hope it will shed new light on how languages evolve.

‘Mutations are the driving force of evolution. We have cross-bred the genetically modified mice for generations to see what would happen,’ lead researcher Arikuni Uchimura said.
‘We checked the newly born mice one by one... One day we found a mouse that was singing like a bird,’ he told AFP.
He said that the ‘singing mouse’ was born by chance but that the trait will be passed on to future generations.
‘I was surprised because I had been expecting mice that are different in physical shape,’ he said by telephone
The project has also produced ‘a mouse with short limbs and a tail like a dachshund’.
The laboratory, directed by professor Takeshi Yagi at the Osaka University’s Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences in western Japan, now has more than 100 ‘singing mice’ for further research.
The team hopes they will provide clues on how human language evolved, just as researchers in other countries study songbirds such as finches to help them understand the origins of human language.
‘Mice are better than birds to study because they are mammals and much closer to humans in their brain structures and other biological aspects,’ Uchimura said.

source: dailymail

Pregnant young woman suffers horrific injuries as leopard attacks her in middle of bustling city

2012-01-28T15:58:00.003+07:00

By TOM GARDNER

Caged: The fully grown leopard is now kept safely at Assam state Zoo following capture after it had mauled two people in Lalunggaon in Lakhara area of Guwahati.

A pregnant woman suffered serious injuries after being badly mauled by a leopard in India - the third such attack there in as many weeks.
The big cat clamped its jaws around Akila Bibi's head and arms, leaving her with deep wounds to her scalp, after it when it strayed into the largest city the country's north-east Assam state.
The woman, who is in her early twenties, is currently recovering in hospital. Her unborn child, due in three months, was unharmed by the ordeal.

Savaged: Akila Bibi, who is in her 20s, is being treated for serious injuries after being attacked by a leopard in Guwahati

Her husband, labourer Abid Ali, said his wife lost a lot of blood and was unconscious. He said: ‘The back of her scalp was badly mauled.’
The leopard caused panic when it wandered into a densely populated residential neighbourhood in Guwahati.
The wild cat also pounced on a 20-year-old man during the same attack.
Moziz Haq suffered head injuries.
Speaking from his hospital bed, he told AFP news agency: ‘It was a thumping, slap-like feeling and I fell on the ground with blood splattered all over me’.
The animal was later tranquilised by forest officials and taken to a city zoo.

Mauled: Mafij Ali, 21, sustained deep wounds during the third attack in Guwahati, western India, this month

It was the third leopard attack in Guwahati this month.
In a gruesome incident captured on camera, three people were injured and one killed by a leopard on January 7. Three people were hurt in another attack last week.
Thousands of people are attacked by wild animals in India each year, with tigers, leopards, elephants and snakes the most dangerous.
Conservationists say an increasing number of wild animals are appearing in towns and cities because of urban and industrial encroachment on their natural habitat.

source: dailymail

Tutan-CAT-mun: 18th Century mummified kitty falls out of ceiling as house is being renovated

2012-01-28T15:43:00.005+07:00

By DAVID BAKER

Petrified: George Hartley and the mummified cat found in an 18th century home during renovations

Bringing old homes up to scratch is nothing out of the ordinary for property renovators Andrew and George Hartley,
But this professional couple nearly jumped out their skin when greeted by their most recent form of preservation - as a mummified cat fell on them.
The couple got a face full of the ancient feline as they removed ceilings from an 18th century property in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.

Mummified: Much like the Hartley's discovery, workers at Woburn Abbey were shocked to discover this mummified cat, believed to have been buried to protect the Abbey

Mr Hartley was removing plasterwork and ceilings, to assess what work was needed, when the strange discovery fell from within the roof.
He said 'It is well preserved, and I think it has very likely been up there over 100 years at least.
'We had a look on the internet and it seems that this sort of find is quite uncommon.'

Evil spirits: A mummified cat hangs over the bar at The Nutshell pub in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, to keep bad punters away

Although experts are not 100 per cent sure if the cat was dead or alive when it was mummified it is thought that because it was positioned in the roof it was mummified intentionally, whilst alive.
According to folklore, it is said that cats were often put in to walls of properties as a sort of good luck charm and Mrs Hartley added 'Dead cats were put in houses to supposedly ward off evil spirits.
'During the renovation work, we have also found remains of lots of dried onions around the house, again signs of warding off unwelcome spirits.

'We don’t know if this cat would have been put up in the roof before it died, but it has no teeth which indicates it was an old cat that had died, or perhaps it lost its teeth trying to get out of the space.
'Since we have had it, already the body is starting to change and has started to soften since being exposed to the elements.
'It had obviously been perfectly preserved up there. We’re not sure what we’ll do with it now, but maybe we should bury it back in the foundations of the house where it came from.'

source: dailymail

Who's apeing who? The incredible images that show us jus

2012-01-27T11:40:00.004+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Me? Bored? What gives you that idea? The look in his eyes says it all and how like a human this little fella is as he takes it easy in his home habitat of The Congo

It's been proven that humans are 97 per cent similar to our primate cousins .. but these amazing photographs seem to underline that statistic.
British wildlife photographers Anup Shah and Fiona Rogers captured the intriguing portraits while on assignment in Borneo and Indonesia.
And the lighthearted collection, which captures the likes of chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons and bonobos in the wild, shows that it's not just use humans who like to monkey around.

I feel a little .. sleepy: Bornean Orangutan Petra looks just like a tired baby underlining our similarities with primates

The photographers have spent the past year travelling the world to capture the stunning images of some of the planet's most elusive primates.
And though their subjects may be rare it's clear that they are genetically very close to us, sharing 97% of our DNA.

What's a monkey to do? A forlorn Doyok from Indonesia looks like he is wrestling with some of life's biggest woes.

What! You think I need a haircut? Twelve month old Petra looks as though he has been taken by surprise, it's an expression which we can all say we've seen before.

Having a little scratch: The balding baby hanging on to its mother tackles an itch but seems preoccupied with something else entirely

source: dailymail

What's up doc? Meet the tubby bunny that guzzles BANANAS

2012-01-27T11:38:00.005+07:00

By NINA GOLGOWSKI

Bunny hug: The giant white rabbit lies back in its owner's arms in the YouTube video while munching a banana

Carrots are a more usual treat for a rabbit, but this oversized bunny clearly prefers bananas. A YouTube video captures the enormous white rabbit cradled in its owner's arms while greedily munching an equally large banana.
At times a nibbling and smacking sound can be heard - along with the cameraman's muffled laughter - as the New Zealand White nibbles away happily.

Going bananas: Smacking and munching sounds can be heard on the video as the New Zealand White rabbit tucks in

The woman cradling the rabbit speaks to the cameraman in what appears to be Slovenian and holds the peeled banana for her pet. After about a minute's guzzling, the giant rabbit squirms out of her arms and on to the floor.
University of Miami veterinarian Dr Dana Krempels said that rabbits naturally like bananas, as they do most fruit and vegetables, but they are considered treats which should be given in small quantities.

Rabbit food: But vets say that bananas and other fruit should be an occasional treat for bunnies and be given in small quantities

'Just about any fruit you would like is okay for your bunny,' Dr Krempels writes in an article titled What Should I Feed My Bunny?
However the main part of its diet should be grass hay and fresh leafy greens.
Some argue that the position in which the the rabbit is being held, lying flat on its back, promotes a relaxed state.
One English expert, referred to as a Bunny Whisperer with the Times Online, claims that holding the animals this way can tame the wildest of rabbits.
Other veterinarians argue the position is stressful for rabbits, making them feel vulnerable with their underbelly exposed.
But the New Zealand White munching happily away on its banana, legs in the air, is obviously completely relaxed, and much admired by YouTube viewers.
'CUTENESS OVERLOAD! AWWW :D!' OrkGold1 wrote.

source: dailymail

There's something p-p-peculiar about him: Rare white penguin spotted in Antarctica

2012-01-27T11:38:00.004+07:00

By DANIEL MILLER

This rare all-white Chinstrap penguin stands out against his friends as he takes his morning waddle around Antarctica

This rare all-white Chinstrap penguin stands out against his friends as he takes his morning waddle around Antarctica.
The unusual bird was photographed by naturalist David Stephens during a nature expedition to the Aitcho Islands.
Chinstrap penguins' normal black-and-white colouring provides them with camouflage while they dive for fish.

All white: The penguin was spotted during a nature expedition to Antarctica

Rare: The condition known as leucism only occurs in around 1 in 146,000 penguins

The condition which causes the whiteness is known as leucism. It differs from albinism which is a total lack of skin pigment.
Mr Stephen, who works aboard Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Explorer ship, wrote in the daily expedition report: 'At the water’s edge stood a leucistic Chinstrap. 'This bird was whitish, but not quite an albino. Instead, it had pigmented eyes and a washed-out version of a Chinstrap’s normal pattern.
'Many wondered about this unusual bird’s chances of success. While odd coloration may make fishing a bit more difficult, leucistic birds are regularly found breeding normally.'

Blending in: Chinstrap penguins' black and white colouring camouflages them when they dive for fish

The unusual bird was photographed by naturalist David Stephen who works aboard Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Explorer ship

Dyan deNapoli, a penguin expert and author of 'The Great Penguin Rescue, said the rate of leucism in Chinstrap penguins is about 1 in 146,000.
He added: 'It is a fairly rare phenomenon. When I was in Antarctica, I never saw one, and I saw a lot of penguins.' Lindblad Expeditions is a travel company which works in partnership with National Geographic, providing trips to both poles.
Spokeswoman Patty Disken-Cahill said: 'Expedition photography is a big component of our expeditions. 'The photography that comes out of our ships is pretty spectacular.'

source: dailymail

Man's best friend for 30,000 years: Canine skulls discovered in two separate digs reveals historic relationship

2012-01-25T17:51:00.003+07:00

-Teeth and jaws show animal was domesticated
-One of the oldest domesticated dogs ever found
-Hints that man may have domesticated dogs in several places - all dogs aren't evolved from one ancestor

By ROB WAUGH

The Altai skull was particularly well preserved, and allowed researchers to measure its teeth, jaws and snout for evidence it was domesticated

Dogs have been a loyal companion to mankind for more than 30,000 years, findings reveal. Scientists believe that two 33,000-year-old skulls unearthed in digs in Siberia and Belgium show dogs were domesticated long before any other animal, such as sheep, cows or goats.
Researchers from the University of Arizona said the skulls had shorter snouts and wider jaws than undomesticated animals such as wolves, which use their longer snouts and narrower jaws to help them hunt.
That suggested the dogs had been kept for protection and companionship by our ancient ancestors – just as they are today.

Recent DNA research hinted that all dogs came from a single wolf-like ancestor - but the Altai find may prove that isn't so

The researchers think dogs could have been the first species of animals to be domesticated by humans, long before farm animals were bred for their meat and skins.
This offers a possible explanation for why breeds such as pugs and huskies look so different, despite being the same species.

The scientists used carbon dating to determine the age of the two skulls, then looked at the bone structures and concluded that claims the dogs had been domesticated were ‘pretty solid’.
Study author Dr Greg Hodgins, whose findings were published in the journal PLoS ONE, said: ‘Both the Belgian find and the Siberian find are domesticated species based on morphological [structural] characteristics.
‘Essentially, wolves have long thin snouts and their teeth are not crowded, and domestication results in this shortening of the snout and widening of the jaws and crowding of the teeth.

source: dailymail

Give us a kiss: Monkey mama plants a smacker on the lips of the orangutan baby that's becoming a star

2012-01-25T17:34:00.004+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Mummy's boy: Orangutan baby Chang kisses his mother 'Lea' at the zoo in Krefeld, Germany

This little swinger proves he's not too old to give his mother a great big kiss.
Adorable one-year-old orangutan Changi was only too happy to take a break from playtime to plant a tender smacker on doting mother Lea.
But then it was back to business as usual - aping around his enclosure at Krefeld Zoo in western Germany.
Changi, who loves performing to the crowds, was born in 2010 and has quickly become one of the zoo's star attractions.

Time for a cuddle: Curious Changi takes a long hard look at the cameraman as he snuggles up to the warmth of his mother's coat

Just hanging out: The one-year-old ape shows off some of his gymnastic skills

Looking good: Changi was born in July 2010 and has become one of the zoo's main attractions

Jaw breaker: Changi shows his tough side by biting into a steel chain

source: dailymail

Pipsqueak's big adventure! Pet hamster dragged through catflap by predatory puss is found hiding 100 yards away... in pest controller's home!

2012-01-25T17:21:00.004+07:00

By EMMA REYNOLDS

Rodent's return: Delighted Callum Chalkley, eight, is reunited with his pet hamster Pipsqueak

When a family's pet hamster went missing and they found his cage ripped open by a cat, they feared the worst. But adventurous Pipsqueak had escaped the clutches of the predatory puss and run down the street to find refuge.
The Chalkleys were amazed when the brave furball turned up in the most unlikely of hideouts - a pest controller's garage.
Eight-year-old owner Callum had given up hope of seeing his hamster again when he went missing from the family home in Clifton, Herts.
But the Siberian hamster, had wriggled free from his feline abductor's claws and raced down the main road, dodging traffic and the dangerous presence of six more cats and a dog.

Callum said: 'A cat got Pipsqueak in his mouth and took him outside, but he escaped out of his mouth and did a runner.
'Pipsqueak is really friendly. I was really upset when he went missing and I am pleased to have him back.'
'He is a really nice man who brought Pipsqueak home to me.'
Callum, his mother Sarah and estate agent father Chris, 35, realised Pipsqueak was missing when they found a cat had broken into his cage on January 12.
They searched their home and believed poor Pipsqueak must have been killed when they could not find him.

Found: Pest controller Stuart Lazenby spotted the creature in his garge just up the road from the Chalkley's home

Mrs Chalkey, a 41-year-old healthcare assistant, said it was clear from the damage to Pipsqueak’s cage that he had been attacked by a cat.
'My husband accidentally left the inside door open, so we think a cat came through the cat flap and got him,' she said.
'There are at least half a dozen cats in the area and one of our neighbours has a dog so it is amazing that Pipsqueak survived.'

Suspect: Jessie the cat, who lives with Callum, is one of the felines who may have dragged Pipsqueak from his comfortable cage

But two days later pest controller Stuart Lazenby, 40, who lives 100 yards down the road from the family, knocked on their door with Pipsqueak in a bucket.
He said: 'I was in the garage and I heard a noise and thought it was a cat, but when I looked down I saw a little white Hamster.
'It is lucky my wife was walking past at the right time and heard two mothers talking about a hamster in the playground. And lo and behold it was Pipsqueak.
'I think I got there just in time or the cat would have eaten him.'

source: dailymail

Millions of untrained pet dogs showing signs of aggression warns PDSA as youngster is mauled by bull terrier

2012-01-24T17:39:00.003+07:00

By NICHOLA JONES

The PDSA found dogs with behavioural problems were biting, snarling and growling at humans and other animals on a weekly basis

A million dogs in the UK display signs of aggression towards people because of a lack of basic training, a leading veterinary charity warned last night.
The worrying conclusion from a survey by the PDSA comes after a six-year-old girl was mauled on Saturday in a park in Chingford, Essex.
Gary Hindley, 56, from Chingford, yesterday admitted allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and causing injury.

Attack: A six-year-old girl has been left scarred for life after she was bitten by a dog at this park in Chingford, Essex

The PDSA surveyed 11,000 dog owners and found 87 per cent believe there should be tougher penalties if pets attack a person or another animal.
It also found that 4.1 million dogs did not have any discipline lessons in the first six months of their lives, which makes them more prone to potentially dangerous behaviour.

'We keep hearing awful stories about dog attacks and it's something that dog owners have to take very seriously,'
One in three owners admitted they would consider giving up their dog if its behaviour became a problem.
Mr Wensley added: 'Owners have a responsibility for their dog's behaviour and must consider the effect their dog's actions have on others.
'Effective training also prevents fears from developing which can be a cause of aggression in later life.'

source: dailymail

A real sting operation: Heritage bosses plan to use bee hives to protect ancient buildings from vandals

2012-01-24T17:32:00.004+07:00

By NICK ENOCH

The team at Greenfield Valley Heritage Park in Flintshire, North Wales, intend to use hives filled with 'security bees' to scare off would-be vandals

Heritage bosses have unveiled their new weapon in the battle against vandals - swarms of honey bees. Conservation chiefs at Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, in Flintshire, North Wales, are planning the sting operation to deter yobs who repeatedly vandalise their ancient buildings.
The park houses a collection of original and reconstructed local buildings - including mills and factories from the 18th century.
And if the plans are approved, hives will be filled with 'security bees' to scare off the would-be raiders.
Chris Wright, manager of the park, said: 'The idea to use bees seems sensible.

The heritage park houses a collection of original and reconstructed local buildings - including mills and factories from the 18th century

'Vandal attacks have led to the deterioration of many historic buildings and it is difficult to deter people who seem determined to get in there.
'But they may think twice if they know there is a hive inside.'
The park team are planning on hiding the hives in old mill buildings which have been repeatedly attacked.
If disturbed, the swarms of honey bees could attack intruders, using their vicious sting to drive them from the heritage site.

If disturbed, the swarms of honey bees could attack intruders, using their vicious sting to drive them from the heritage site (file photo)

The idea has been tabled by members of the Greenfield Valley Trust but they will have to see if it is approved by health and safety chiefs.
Barbara Chick, publicity officer for the Welsh Beekeepers' Association, said: 'I haven't heard of them being used as security bees.
'They could be a deterrent but there may be health and safety issue if someone is stung, so I don't agree to their use as a security measure.'

source: dailymail

The ultimate cat scan! 'My kitten alerted me to my cancer because she kept jumping on my breast'

2012-01-24T17:25:00.003+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Talented: Fidge's owner is convinced she sniffed out her cancer

A woman claims her pet cat saved her life - by alerting her to her breast cancer when she was just a whisker from death.
Wendy Humphreys, 52, was bemused when her black-and-white kitten Fidge leapt up and sat on her right breast every night for two weeks while she lay on the sofa.
She went to her GP and was told she had a cancerous pea-sized lump in her breast - which would have killed her if left undiagnosed.

Life-saver: Wendy Humphreys of Wroughton with her cat Fidge who she said detected her breast cancer

The brave mother-of-two is now set to have the breast removed after undergoing chemotherapy and says she owes her life to her 10-month-old kitten.
Wendy said: 'I just couldn't believe it because I didn't think cats were capable of that - I thought it was only dogs.
'Dogs can diagnose epilepsy and can tell when someone's going to have a fit.'
Animals detecting cancer is not unusual as it first sounds. In 2011, German researchers discovered that dogs could sniff out lung cancer from breath samples of sufferers.

It’s believed that cancers produce volatile chemicals that dogs can be trained to smell, which could have dramatic implications for early diagnosis of the disease.
Wendy is convinced Fidge has a similar talent.
She said: 'She saved my life, definitely. No hesitation at all. I was told that if I hadn't been diagnosed when I was I could have died because of the hormones in the menopause. 'I am the first one in my family to have breast cancer. I am so glad I got her.' Wendy and husband David, who have been married for 32 years, got Fidge in May last year when she was eight-weeks-old.

source: dailymail

He's no scaredy-cat! Angry feline who took on an alligator

2012-01-24T17:14:00.004+07:00

By MIKE O'BRIEN

Menacing: The cat and the alligator faceoff over a pile of tasty chicken at a wildlife park in New Orleans

It looks like a good way for this cat to become a tasty snack.
But when the bold feline decided to take on an alligator in New Orleans, he came out remarkably intact. He chose to take on the reptile at an wildlife park just as it was trying to eat some chicken, and began raining blows on its snout.

Growl: The gator flashes its bone-crushing jaws but the cat remains gloriously unimpressed

Tourists on a Cajun Pride Swamp Tour, looked on stunned as the moggy took offence to an alligator trying to eat some chicken.
It begins with the cat firing off three right jabs before the gator steps back to flash its most menacing stare down ever.
After the tense face off, the gator moves forward, grabs a piece a chicken and wham! gets a right hook straight in the mouth.

Oh no you don't: The cat tries to intercept the beast grabbing at the chicken

As the 'living fossil' twists its head and picks up more meat, the cat unleashes three left hooks in quick succession.
The American alligator can weigh up to 800lbs and grow to 13 feet, but our fluffy fighter didn't care for facts and figures - it simply didn't like the ugly beast.
Sitting bolt upright, its ears went back and it started hissing.

Smack! It fires off a fearsome right hook as the gator moves in for the kill

The gator tried coming at the chicken from a different direction, the cat threw an overhand right, the dazed gator sheepishly retreated into the water and ding! ding! ding! the fight was over.
The cat may be the bravest or most stupid you've ever seen and a cynic may argue that the gator has been trained not to attack.
But who's ever heard of a trained alligator?

source: dailymail

We'll never forget you: Elephants say a sad farewell to baby who died of a heart defect

2012-01-24T17:04:00.003+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Goodbye little one: An adult elephant tenderly nuzzles the lifeless body of baby Lola at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, Germany. The three-months-old calf was due for an operation on her defective heart but sadly died during a preliminary scan

A herd of grieving elephants gathers round the lifeless body of a little calf after she died of a heart defect. Three-month-old Lola was due to receive groundbreaking surgery for her condition but passed away during a preliminary scan.
Keepers at Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo decided to return her body to the enclosure so mother Panang, 22, could say her goodbyes in peace.

Afterwards the rest of the herd gently nuzzled Lola's body with their trunks before taking their leave of her. Zoo director and veterinarian Dr Andreas Knieriem explained how baby Lola died after three days of treatment by experts.
'Considering the pathology, it has to be said it's a miracle that she lived as long as she did," said Dr. Knieriem. 'Her arteries were so blocked that blood couldn't flow through her lungs anymore.'

source: dailymail

Who's baarmy idea was that? Keepers dye sheep pink (but luckily they're practically colour blind so don't mind too much!)

2012-01-23T21:57:00.004+07:00

By JILL REILLY

Pink and proud: Park bosses originally dyed the animals as part of breast cancer awareness week, but they proved to be such a hit with visitors, that they decided to keep them as a permanent feature

Parents should prepare for some tricky questions from their confused children if they head to a a New Zealand nature park and find this flock of pink wooly mammals grazing on the hills.
The extraordinary sight is causing a sensation at SheepWorld, near Auckland.
Park bosses originally dyed the animals as part of breast cancer awareness week, but it proved to be such a hit with visitors that they decided to keep them as a permanent feature.

Mother and baby alike: They are dyed with harmless food colouring and the dye washes out in the rain

Only five sheep are coloured at one time and the dye washes out in the rain.
John Collyer, from SheepWorld, said the food colouring they use is completely harmless to the animals and had even been approved by a local vet.
He added: 'We use food colouring, which eventually washes out in the rain.
'Sheep are practically colour blind and so would probably not notice if they or other sheep were pink.
'The dye is harmless so there are no side effects. We have cleared what we do with our local vet.

Feeding time: A member of staff from SheepWorld, said 'Sheep are practically colour blind and so would probably not notice if they or other sheep were pink'

'Feedback from visitors is 99 per cent positive. One per cent are concerned about the sheep - normally these people don't understand the precautions we've taken.'
SheepWorld is dubbed an insight into sheep farming in New Zealand.
Visitors can watch sheep-dog shows and also watch as the flocks are shorn of their woolly fleeces.

Unusual sight: SheepWorld visitor feedback 'is 99 per cent positive'

source: dailymail

Father watches in horror as daughter, 10, is grabbed and eaten by crocodile

2012-01-23T21:50:00.003+07:00

By DAVID BAKER

Horror: A saltwater crocodile snatched and killed a 10-year-old girl in Indonesia as her father and brother watched helplessly (file pic)

A father watched helplesssly as his 10-year-old daughter was snatched and killed by a crocodile in Indonesia.
The pair, along with the girl's brother, had been hunting for turtles in the East Nusa Tenggara province when the girl, Juraida, was dragged in to the water by a giant saltwater crocodile.
Indonesian official Viktor Mado Waton, speaking to the Jakarta Post, said: 'Juraida was seized when she was in about half a metre of water at the river’s mouth.'
Juraida's body has yet to be found.
Locals had already told officials they had seen several crocodiles sunbathing at the river mouth a few days before the incident.

Fatal: The attack happened near Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia. It is the second attack on the Wailolong river in a month

He said her family had been only yards away but 'father and brother could only watch helplessly'. A rescue team later discovered a dress and a hair ribbon on the sand near the site of the incident on the Wailolong river.
And last month a boy was killed by a crocodile in the same river whilst villagers have also reported a loss of livestock.
The salt water crocodile is the largest of all living reptiles and is more commonly found in Australia, the eastern coast of India and parts of south-east Asia.
Although, on average, there are just two fatal attacks reported per year, in recent years there have been attacks in Borneo, Sumatra and Myanmar.

source: dailymail

Herd of curious cows crowd around six-month old boxer dog to sniff each other out

2012-01-23T21:39:00.005+07:00

By MARCUS BARNES

Surrounded: Lucy the boxer dog makes some new friends during a walk with her owner in Tyneside

If you put a six-month-old boxer dog and a herd of cows together you might expect a recipe for disaster. But one dog's close encounter in a field led to a heartwarming getting to know you session.
Filmed out on one of her favourite walking routes across Newcastle's Town Moor, the funny meeting sees the dog, named Lucy, approach the herd, who come in for a closer look.

Trouble brewing? Lucy the six-month-old boxer comes nose with a big cow at the beginning of the video

For a split second it appears that trouble may be on the way as a large black cow flinches when first approached by Lucy.
The cows then surround the fearless dog as she hits the ground, waiting to see their reaction. As she lies in wait, the cows all close in for a better look, or smell, while the equally-curious boxer also sniffs out her new found friends.

Come and say hello! The boxer puppy hits the deck and the cows make a beeline for her

At least half the herd get up close and personal with Lucy, nose to nose - but, there is no animosity between the creatures, just curiosity it seems.
The footage was actually filmed a year ago but has recently been thrust into the limelight thanks to an American TV show.
Simon said: 'The cows came over and they looked interested and so I started filming.

And you are? Lucy greets two other cows during the heartwarming exchange

Hi, what's your name? Lucy comes face to face with a new bunch of friends

'Lucy was really calm about it and it really looked like they were communicating. I don't know if the cows maybe thought she was a calf.
'She's got a very gentle and curious nature.'
In the last few days the video's views on YouTube hit over 600,000.

God nose what will happen next: Another cow inspects their new companion

Altogether now: Four cows all sniff out their fearless new mate at the same time

source: dailymail

Trio of tortoises arrive SEVEN months too early because of unseasonably warm weather

2012-01-22T21:29:00.004+07:00

By ANTHONY BOND

Tiny: This adorable trio of tortoise babies gave their owner a shock when they turned up months too early because of the unseasonably warm weather

This adorable trio of tortoise babies gave their owner a shock when they turned up months too early because of the unseasonably warm weather.
Tortoises usually lay their eggs in early summer and youngsters hatch around August.
But the warm winter confused one female so much she laid her eggs in November.

Early start to life: The warm winter confused the mother of these tiny tortoises so much that she laid her eggs in November instead of early summer

The tiny trio were born recently and are now enjoying an earlier than usual start to life for a tortoise.
Owner Sally Walker, from Waterlooville, Hampshire, said: 'Normally they go in to hibernation and come back in the spring.
'But because it was warm she produced eggs in November.'

Sweet: The size of the newly-born tortoise babies can be seen when they are lined up against this ruler

Ms Walker is now hoping to sell the new arrivals, the proceeds of which will go towards an orphanage in Africa.
Last year was one of the warmest on record and led to all kinds of strange happenings during the winter months.
The Royal Horticultural Society said earlier this month that the mild winter weather confused some flowers into blooming almost six months early.

Taking a ride: One of the babies takes the easier option of hitching a lift with a slightly larger tortoise

Daffodils, geraniums, hellebores, crocus and little pinks have all been seen well ahead of their normal arrival time.
The warm temperatures also confused some ladybirds in Watts Wood Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire this month.
They were tempted out of their winter refuge by weeks of unseasonably mild temperatures but found out to their cost that they had been tricked by nature.

Early bloomers: The snowdrops at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridge have flowered early due to the mild winter

Spot of bother: The warm weather confused these ladybirds which were tempted out of their winter refuge early but were later encrusted by a layer of frost

When the cold snap descended, there was no hiding place and they found themselves encrusted by a layer of frost.
The balmy temperatures in November convinced one female duck that it was spring and therefore time to give birth.
This led to Millicent, Margot and Mildred being born in a pond in King's Somborne, near Winchester, Hampshire.

source: dailymail

Given a home: The eight puppies left for dead inside a bale of hay... near mother who had been tied up and abandoned

2012-01-22T21:22:00.003+07:00

By JOHN HUTCHINSON

Left for dead: The litter of eight puppies which had been dumped in a bale of hay on farmland. Their mother had been tied up next to them

It's little wonder that with such cute faces peering out over the edge of their plastic bowl, these eight abandoned puppies have found new homes.
But their futures could have been a lot bleaker.
The puppies and their mother, a mongrel named Amy, had been found by a farmer stuffed inside a bale of hay on his land in Newark.

Adorable: The gorgeous pups tugged on the heartstrings when their plight went public after being found by a farmer last month

But now, following an appeal by local newspaper the Lincolnshire Echo, the eight six-week old puppies have found caring owners who will be able to give them the life they deserve. The Echo put out an urgent plea to animal lovers to adopt one of the puppies who were taken in by Lincolnshire Rescue Kennels on December 5.
The mother was discovered with a rope tied around her neck which she had bitten through. The cute and playful nature of the puppies must have hit home as they were rehomed within hours.

Puppy love: Marek Cybulski gets a playful paw from one of the rescued brood, who has been named Nina

'I saw the picture on the front of the Echo and knew that she was the one for me. I went to have a look at the puppies and Nina came running up to me – that just sealed the deal. 'She's been settling in great so far and she's already met our cats and other dog. 'She's only six weeks old so she's still a bit skittish, but she's very playful and we're going to give her a loving home.'
Nina, joins a family which includes another dog, two cats and 20 chickens.
But there is still some sadness left in the story.

Child's play: The puppies enjoy some much-needed attention from a young fan as they recover from their ordeal

source: dailymail

Ready for your close up? Diver survives tiger shark attack by fending off 12ft-beast with camera

2012-01-22T21:13:00.004+07:00

By ALISON SMITH-SQUIRE

Attack: Diver Russell Easton has a lucky escape as his camera saves him from attack by a tiger shark

This is the terrifying moment a daring diver looked into the jaws of one of the world's most dangerous animals. Forced to fend-off the tiger shark with just his camera the adventurer came perilously close to the wrong kind of snap.
Conservationalist Russell Easton was photographing the 12ft beast in the Bahamas when he got the close-up he was not expecting.
The professional underwater photographer and diver says: 'I was looking through the view finder of the camera when I suddenly saw this huge mouth and teeth.
The 42-year-old professional underwater photographer and diver says: 'I was looking through the view finder of the camera when I suddenly saw this huge mouth and teeth.

Snappy: Russell Easton is saved by his camera equipment as the tiger shark goes in for the kill

'It is only because of the camera I was not bitten. Sharks bite because that is how they find out what something is - they use their mouth as we use our hands - and it had its mouth wide open, about to bite me.
“In that moment I managed to get one shot of the inside of its mouth. Thankfully sharks are attracted to cameras and bit that instead, giving me vital seconds to swim away.'

It was only afterwards I realised the camera had probably saved my life and how fortunate I was.' Despite his lucky escape, Mr Easton, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne maintains the shark was not trying to hurt him.
He says: 'I don't think he was attacking me. He was just curious and wanted to know what I was so was going to take a nibble to find out.

Close call: The snap caught by Mr Easton as he tried to fend the shark off with camera

The problem is a tiger shark's mouth is so large and it's teeth so sharp that if a shark takes a nibble out of you, the bite is so huge it is often fatal.'
Despite the close call the seasoned diver is due return to Cat Island, Bahamas to photograph sharks and is looking for a sponsor.

Escape: The tiger shark gives up the chase allowing this daring diver to make his lucky escape

source: dailymail

Is this really fun for all the family? The giraffe hunters who pay £10,000 to shoot the gentle giants with guns and bows for sport

2012-01-22T21:00:00.005+07:00

By PAMELA OWEN

The gentle giants are tracked down and killed so tourists can take home pictures showing they have killed the animals

Tourist trophy hunters are paying thousands of pounds to go and shoot giraffes with high-powered guns and bows. The gentle giants are loved around the world for their comical appearance and gentle nature.
Just like character 'Melman' played by Friend's-star David Schwimmer in Disney's Madagascar, they are a hit with kids who love their long necks and eyelashes.
But shocking images show how scores of big-spending men and women - and even families - travel from across the globe, some even from Britain, to kill them for sport.

Entire families go on the hunts and appear to relish having their pictures taken with the dead giraffe

Hunters pay up to a whopping £10,000 for the the chance to slay them - preferring bulls because they are the biggest.
Safari clubs and game reserves ask for a £1,500 trophy fee, and then add on rates for guides and trackers costing around £1,000 per day.
The hunts typically last three-to-five days and see tourists using .458 Winchester Magnum rifles to kill the animals.
With most hunters flying to Africa from their homes in Europe or America, the costs stretch into five figures.

The animals are near extinction and are no longer found in countries like Nigeria, Mali and Angola

The hunting continues even though numbers of the animals are plummeting.
But the world's leading giraffe expert said populations in the countries where it is legal - South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe - can cope with the killings.
The latest statistic show the number of giraffes in the world have nearly halved since 1988 from over 140,000 to less than 80,000.
Dr. Julian Fennessy produced the report for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Tourist hunters often take the skin home or get taxidermists to mount the heads so they can be taken home as trophies

Another recent IUCN report suggests the giraffe may already need to be listed as a threatened species - because some populations are being decimated in places like West Africa and DR Congo.
They are already thought to be extinct in Angola, Mali and Nigeria.

The hunts typically last three-to-five days and sees tourists using .458 Winchester Magnum rifles to kill the animals

'They might have a 'second gun' in the party whose job it is to take the animal down quickly if the tourist misses.
'But hunting guides need to asses the ability of the hunter and stop the hunt if they do not have the skills to do it humanely.'
Another factors decimating the giraffe population is poaching.
'Poaching is illegal and is not licensed,' said Dr. Fennessy.
'They set wire snares at giraffe-height in the trees to snare their necks, or to trap their feet and kill them when they return.
'It leads to huge suffering for the animals, sometimes for days.'
To help the Giraffe Conservation Foundation click here visit http://www.giraffeconservation.org/

It is legal to hunt the giraffes in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia - where they have greater numbers of giraffes

source: dailymail

Pictured: The terrified tomcat speared through his torso by an arrow

2012-01-21T17:03:00.009+07:00

By LEE MORAN

Injured: Cupid the ginger cat was shot with a crossbow but miraculously survived after it did not hit any of his vital organs

A terrified tomcat roamed the streets for several days - with an arrow pierced through his torso. The ginger moggy, now dubbed Cupid, was speared by a bolt that tore right through his muscles and one shoulder blade.
Miraculously the stray survived because it did not hit any of his vital organs.

Painful: Cupid was treated at the Brittmore Animal Hospital and will now be put up for adoption

Residents in east Houston, Texas, took him to Brittmore Animal Hospital so the weapon could be removed.
He is now recuperating at animal rescue group Purr Paws, who has said he will be put up for adoption once he is fully fit.
The group's Trudy Bennett told KHOU-TV: 'It was just a shock to see the arrow – it went totally through his body. 'My worst fear is some parent gave their kids bow and arrows for Christmas, and they’re out there not knowing what they’re doing without any training, and this is the result.

Terrified: Cupid roamed the streets for several days until he was taken to a vets to be treated

'He was terrified. The fact that he’s still trusting people – because, you know, cats usually take a little bit of time to trust people.
'And he went through a whole lot, and he’s still trusting and loving. He just wants to be loved on.'

source: dailymail

'Dracula' monkey comes back from the dead in Borneo

2012-01-21T16:55:00.003+07:00

By ROB WAUGH

One of the rarest and least known primates in the world, Miller's Grizzled Langur, has been found in Borneo - despite the fact that it was thought the species had been wiped out in 2004

An 'extinct' monkey has been rediscovered in the rainforest of Borneo by an international team of scientists on a new expedition.
One of the rarest and least known primates in the world, Miller's Grizzled Langur, has been found alive - it was thought the species had been wiped out in 2004. The species has a distinctive dark face and white, Dracula-esque 'collar' of fur.
Some of the only photos in existence of the rare animal were snapped by camera traps and have provided the first solid evidence that it is still alive.

Some of the only photos in existence of the rare animal were snapped by camera traps and have provided the first solid evidence that it is still alive and well

The endangered monkey was discovered living in the Wehea Forest, East Kalimantan, Borneo, a largely undisturbed rainforest where it was previously not known to exist.
Brent Loken, from Simon Fraser University Canada, said: 'While our finding confirms the monkey still exists in East Kalimantan, there is a good chance that it remains one of the world's most endangered primates.'
'I believe it is a race against time to protect many species in Borneo. It is difficult to adopt conservation strategies to protect species when we don't even know the extent of where they live.'

Brent Loken, from Simon Fraser University Canada, said: 'While our finding confirms the monkey still exists in East Kalimantan, there is a good chance that it remains one of the world's most endangered primates.'

The Miller's Grizzled Langur is part of the small primate genus Presbytis, found across Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Thai-Malay Peninsula.
In Borneo, it was only found in a small corner of the county's north east and its habitat has suffered from fires, human habitation and conversion of land for agriculture and mining.
But the team of scientists stumbled upon the monkey when trekking through the 38,000 hectare rainforest which contains at least nine known species of non-human primate, including the Bornean orangutan and gibbon.

source: dailymail

The streakiest bacon you'll ever see: Thousands of squealing fans cheer on the piglet racers

2012-01-21T16:44:00.005+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Horsing around: Kobuk (yellow bib) nudges ahead of Sourdough Jack (green bib) in the piglet race in Multnomah, Oregon

Racing piglets tear round a 150-foot-long track at 20mph - jumping fences and lighting up the faces of hundreds of children.
The popular steeple-chasing piggies are a huge hit with fans, who watch up to four cute 'Babe' look-a-likes slog it out in each round.
With their curly-tailed stars leaping over two-foot-tall hurdles in the races, organisers say the pigs are enticed by the thrill of the competition - and a tasty snack at the end.
The shows are organised for kids - but adults keen to bring home the bacon regularly bet just as they would if they were at horse-racing.

Over they go: Up to 1,000 spectators turn out to each event in a tradition that stretches back 100 years

'The pigs are so intelligent that we don't even have to train them,' said 20-year-old Alec Crisman, who works for the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs in Eugene, Oregon.
'At larger shows we have had audiences of up to 1,000 people.
'It's a 100-year-old tradition in America and this is our 25th year in business.
'We start by introducing the pigs to the crowd one by one and hopefully throw in some funny names to get the kids going.
'For example last year when the film The Black Swan [starring Natalie Portman] was popular we had one one pig called Natalie Porkman. 'The crowd loved that.'

Leap of faith: Darting over the fence Natalie Porkman (blue bib) leads Strawberry (pink bib). Who chooses these names?

Quick out of the traps: The piglets tear round a 60 foot long track at 20mph but are constantly rotated so they don't get too tired

Organisers Alaskan Racing showcase their racing oinkers at fairs across the US, including states Oregon and California.
'We do around 200 shows in one season and there around four to seven races a day, especially in our busy summer season in June to August,' said piglet racing commentator Alec.
Buying the little piglets from reputable breeders, Alaskan Racing go to each event with 20 piglets they rotate between races to reduce stress on the little porkers.

Bringing home the bacon: Performed for the benefit of excited kids, it is not unusual though to see a few notes changing hands between adults

Well-earned feed: The piglets enjoy a chow-down after earning their corn

source: dailymail

Six daredevil firefighters race to rescue big cat stuck on hotel roof ... only to discover it's an 8ft stuffed toy

2012-01-20T16:22:00.008+07:00

By DANIEL BATES

Top cat: The Houston Fire Department received several calls Wednesday about a tiger on the roof of an abandoned hotel, though it turned out to be a stuffed toy

When the calls came in saying an escaped tiger was on the loose, everyone knew it was serious.
Dozens of people dialled 911 after seeing the eight-foot long animal perched on top of an abandoned hotel, apparently pausing in the middle of its hunt.
But when fire-fighters went in for a closer look, they discovered that it was actually rather more tame - because it was a life-sized stuffed toy.

Cat on a hot tin roof: The tiger was on the roof of an abandoned hotel in Houston, Texas

Rather than snarling and leaping at them, the vicious predator merely fell from its ledge to the floor with a gentle tug.
At least one fire truck and six firemen were involved in the ‘rescue’ in Houston, Texas, including two men on a cherry picker who were sent up to try and talk the tiger down. A video posted on YouTube shows them carefully inching towards the beast, which had one paw dangling over the side and its head tilted so it appeared to have just been startled.
When they realised it posed no threat, they then pulled it off with a large hooked stick so it fell to the floor where their colleagues picked it up and held it by the neck as if it were a trophy.
One fire-fighter even played with it as if he was being attacked.

Dramatic rescue: Two men on a cherry-picker helped 'rescue' the tiger

It isn't real? A Houston firefighter looks confused as he realises the tiger belongs at a toy store, not a zoo

Perks of the job: Onlooking fire-fighters record the rescue on their phones. They had to remove the big cat because it posed a risk to drivers, who would rubberneck when they saw a tiger on the roof

It is not clear how the tiger ended up on the ledge of the abandoned hotel, but fire crews said it had to be removed as drivers were slowing down to look at it, potentially causing an accident.
Real life animal escapes are rare - but deadly when they happen.
Last year dozens of pack animals were shot dead after their owner opened their cages before killing himself in Zanesville, Ohio.

I've got him: A fire-fighter looks amused as he holds the toy tiger after his co-worker knocked it from the roof

Job well done: The firefighters take the tiger away after one pretended to be attacked by the creature

Tigers, wolves, mountain lions, cheetahs and bears up to 300lbs in size were all hunted down by police as they roamed the rural town.
Some of the animals were thought to have eaten each other as families stayed in their homes for fear of being attacked.
Real life tigers are among the most deadly predators on Earth and can grow to 11ft long and weigh 700lbs.
In 2007 17-year-old Carlos Sousa Jr. was killed and two others injured when two 350lbs Siberian tigers escaped their cage at San Francisco zoo and rampaged through the crowd.

Real animals on the loose: Police killed dozens of animals, including this lion, last October after they escaped from the wild-animal preserve in Ohio

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source: dailymail

I called in a £4,000 rescue team to search for my late wife’s dog

2012-01-20T16:00:00.005+07:00

By ANDY DOLAN

Rod Chivers by the sett where his dog Alfie went missing with his other dog Bobby

His late wife chose their pet from a dogs’ home, so Alfie the mongrel has an extra special place in Rod Chivers’s heart.
Now, with the eight-year-old dog missing, Mr Chivers is leaving no stone unturned in his search. The 68-year-old widower has enlisted the help of search and rescue teams, pet detectives and drainage experts to track down his beloved companion since he disappeared on Saturday.

Heartbroken: Animal lover Rod Chivers, 64, has spent £5000 trying to find his missing pet dog

He was prepared to spend almost £4,000 looking for Alfie, who vanished while exploring a badger sett on one of their twice-daily walks.
Mr Chivers, who runs a recycling and scrap metal business in Rugby, Warwickshire, said: ‘It’s just the not knowing that’s the destroying thing.
‘Of course, it’s my wife’s dog and she died three years ago. It’s my lifeline really. I have to find him.’

Much loved: Eight-year-old Alfie was chosen by Rod Chivers late wife from a dogs' home

Mr Chivers spent hours looking for Alfie after he vanished down a badger sett by a disused railway line. When there was no sign of the black and tan dog, he called in the search and rescue team from West Midlands fire service – expecting to pay £688 an hour. Their monitoring equipment is designed to detect signs of life among the rubble of earthquakes, collapsed buildings, explosions and landslides.
His late wife, Janet, adopted the dog from a rescue centre but died of lung cancer two years later, aged 68.

source: dailymail

Just lolling around! Bee-eating bear who's clearly got life licked

2012-01-20T15:54:00.003+07:00

By WIL LONGBOTTOM

Does my tongue look big in this? Kala the Malayan sun bear lets her tongue loll out as she yawns in Miami Zoo, Florida

At first glance, this bear looks like she has taken a shine to the bark of the tree she is lazing about in.
But the amusing image is in fact the creature's best attempt at stifling a yawn as she woke up from a snooze at Miami Zoo in Florida.
Photographer Adrian Tavano captured Kala, a 19-year-old Malayan sun bear, as she emerged from a nap and opened her mouth.

Stop lolling about: The bears use their long tongue to scoop up termites from the crevices in trees

Sun bears usually employ their tongue, which can reach up to ten-inches, to eat termites hidden deep inside trees.
Mr Tavano, 39, from Miami, said: 'The bear exhibit is very nice and visitors have a clear view of the animals.
'Kala loves to sleep on top of this tree, which was about 20 metres from where I was.
'I think she had just woken up and had a yawn, so she is not licking the tree but it looks like it.'

source: dailymail

Are you my new daddy? Orphan baby seal becomes big hit with locals

2012-01-20T15:44:00.004+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Firm friends: The head of S.O.S Rescate Fauna Marina, Richard Tesore, playing with the baby seal

This is a friendly little chap. And the 15-day-old male baby seal has brought delight to locals at a seaside resort in Uruguay.
The orphan, taken in by S.O.S Rescate Fauna Marina, is happy as Larry perched on the shoulders of the organisation’s head, Richard Tesore.

Just a baby: The male seal enjoys being fed milk from the bottle

He drinks milk from the bottle and takes regular trips out into the sea as he is nursed to fitness after losing contact with his mother.
And he doesn’t seem to mind at all as he poses for holidaymakers’ pictures at the resort of Piriapolis, Uruguay.

Smile for the camera: The seal has become used to regular photoshoots with locals

The rescue centre has become a popular attraction just 60 miles down the road from Montevideo and has recently cared for dolphins and baby penguins before releasing them back into the wild.
Bruce Willis lookalike Richard certainly enjoys getting to know the animals – and the affection is clearly mutual.

The seal is being nursed back to fitness after losing contact with his mother

Piggyback: The seal posing for pictures, lives near the seaside resort of Piriapolis, 56 miles east of Montevideo

source: dailymail

So why the long tongue? Horse has pioneering surgery to remove melon-sized tumour on her jaw

2012-01-19T18:13:00.004+07:00

By ANNA EDWARDS

What a Star! The horse's life was saved by pioneering surgery after owner Paul Newby discovered a melon-sized tumour on her jaw

A horse has been saved by pioneering surgery which removed her jaw to cut out a rare melon-sized tumour.
Paul Newby, 33, was devastated when he discovered his beloved six-year-old horse Star had the rare form of cancer in her mouth.
After taking her for a series of tests, he was told the showjumping champion had ameloblastoma of the mandible - a rare tumour in her bottom jaw.

Determined not to give up hope on his steed, Paul’s vet Kathy Uprichard of Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, contacted surgeons at Glasgow University who offered to carry out a delicate and dangerous operation to remove Star’s bottom jaw and take out the tumour.
The horse spent two weeks being looked after by the surgeons at Glasgow University where the pioneering operation was carried out.

On the mend: Paul Newby allowed surgeons from Glasgow to operate on his champion showjumper, making her the fifth horse in the world to have the pioneering operation

Paul, of Sunderland, said in January he started noticing a swelling around her mouth but thought it was an abscess or a bruise, but it soon swelled to the size of an apple.
Vets took a biopsy and discovered it was cancer.
'I was convinced I was going to lose her,' Paul said.
'I was told I had two choices. I could either leave it, but I was told her days would be numbered, or go to Glasgow and have the operation.
'It was a gamble because there was still a massive risk with the operation because she might not have pulled through, but I had to go for it.'

source: dailymail

'He bit me on the shoulder': Screams of a woman attacked in her car by zebra as she ate a bag of crisps

2012-01-18T21:43:00.004+07:00

By DAVID GERGES

Eye catching: The zebra spies an easy meal

Any visitor to a safari park hopes to get as close as possible to the animals.
But not this close. A woman, called Megan, was left in tears after she was attacked by a zebra that lurched into her car and bit her on the shoulder during a recent visit to a resort in Texas. The footage was caught by one of her friends in the back seat and was uploaded to YouTube.

In for the kill: Zebra lunges in for crispy treat
The animal appeared to be keen on a crisp that the youngster was about to eat, but instead caught Megan near the collarbone.

Scare: Megan is left screaming after the zebra bites her on the shoulder

Following the incident, she is heard screaming 'he bit my shoulder' before asking her friends whether she is bleeding.
The attack left a visible flesh wound but Megan appeared to recover once the zebra was a safe distance away.

Damage: A visible mark is left on the top of Megan's shoulder

source: dailymail

Truck full of dogs crammed into tiny cages and bound for Chinese restaurants is intercepted by animal lovers

2012-01-18T21:31:00.003+07:00

By DAVID GERGES

Cruel: The dogs which were being taken to a chain of restaurants in south-west China

Crammed into tiny cages, unable to stand and deprived of food and water, these dogs endured terrible suffering on a truck bound for a chain of restaurants.
The harrowing pictures show the cruel conditions in which 1,500 of the animals were found when the truck was stopped at a toll gate by highway police and animal rescue volunteers in Chongqing, south-west China.
The truck was stacked high with cages, each containing several dogs in pitiful condition.

Rescue workers lift the cages from the truck which was stopped at a toll by highway police

The animals were moved to a nearby farm by volunteers from the Chongqing Animal Protection Association who gave them food, water and emergency treatment.
Sadly some of the dogs were already dead and rescue workers were unable to save other who were dying.

Pitiful: More than 1,500 dogs were crammed together in cages so tiny they couldn't even stand

Suffering: Many of the dogs were dead or dying, having been deprived of food and water

Volunteer Xiao Lu said: 'When they [the dogs] saw us they were groaning, but some were so exhausted and dying that they didn't even have the strength to make a sound.'
He said: 'The dog peddler said his truck was only loaded with 700 dogs, but there are at least 1500.'
Dog continues to be a popular meal in the Far East, with many in China favouring the meat, particularly during the winter.

source: dailymail

Almost 50 dolphins stranded and at least 20 dead on Cape Cod beaches

2012-01-17T22:52:00.002+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Save: Two rescued common dolphins are kept warm with blankets after beaching on a Cape Cod shore

At least 20 dolphins have died after they were washed up on several Cape Cod beaches, according to an animal welfare organization.
More than 40 dolphins have been found stranded close to the shore since Thursday and the number is likely to rise.
Kerry Branon of the International Fund for Animal Welfare says the common dolphins were found in Dennis, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet on Saturday.

Worker: The International Fund for Animal Welfare's Marine Mammal Rescue Team Manager, Katie Moore places a hand on a rescued common dolphin

Location: Between 40 and 50 dolphins have been found stranded close to shores near Cape Cod, Massachusetts

She says of the 28 to 30 dolphins found, 10 to 12 have died and eight were inaccessible to rescuers. They later died.
Almost 20 dolphins have been saved.
She told CNN: 'It may not sound like a high success rate, but when you consider that 27 were alive when they washed up, I think we're doing pretty well.'
The dolphins are two of at least 28 dolphins that stranded along Cape Cod Bay's shores from Dennis to Wellfleet.

Rescue: Four common dolphins wait to be released back into Cape Cod Bay, just some of 30 stranded along Cape Cod Bay's shores from Dennis to Wellfleet

Precaution: A rescued common dolphin is given a hearing test before being released back into Cape Cod Bay. Some of the dolphins were also tagged

source: dailymail

The incredible rescue of Bobby the cocker spaniel who survived 100ft cliff fall and was saved by lifeboat crew

2012-01-17T22:35:00.006+07:00

By LEE CAIN

Lucky escape: Bobby is found by rescuers and amazingly he has only suffered minor injuries

It is supposed to be cats with their mythical nine lives who enjoy lucky escapes.
But Bobby the dog showed that some canines enjoy more than their fair share of good fortune. Bobby had a miracle escape after he chased a seagull off a cliff and was saved when he landed on soft seaweed 100ft below.
The cocker spaniel-poodle cross - a cockapoo - suffered just a broken toe and a chipped tooth in the death-defying fall.

The one-year-old was being taken for a walk by owners Denise and Kevin Rowell when he spotted the sea bird perched on the grassy edge of the cliff.
While the couple sat on a bench to enjoy the scenery, Bobby went after the gull and fell off the sheer cliff.
Denise and Kevin couldn't fathom where the black dog had gone until a member of the public gave them the bad news.

Tall order: Members of the RNLI make their way to the foot of the cliff to rescue bobby the dog

Kevin, a 48-year-old train driver, dialled 999 for help before kneeling over the precipe to find Bobby sat on the shingle beach below yelping out.
With no way of reaching the dog the coastguard team who arrived at Old Harry Rocks, near Swanage, Dorset, summoned a lifeboat to fetch him.
The Swanage RNLI crew found Bobby sheltering against the cliff face.
They lifted him to safety and motored to a nearby beach where he was reunited with his relieved owners.
The rescue was recorded on a helmet-mounted camera worn by one of the lifeboatmen.

Helping hand: Bobby is coaxed to safety by a member of the RNLI as he nurses his injuries following the fall

Helping hand: A rescuer tends to Bobby's injuries as he lies at the base of the cliff

Bobby was taken to a vets and had a bandage strapped on his front left paw for the broken toe.
He is now recovering well at his home in Poole.
Kevin said: 'We went for a long walk along the coast path and when we reached Old Harry Rocks Denise and I sat on a bench for a rest.
'Bobby was by us the whole time. But we took our eyes off him for 30 seconds and in that time he had bolted.

Paws for thought: One-year-old cocker spaniel-poodle cross Bobby is carried to the lifeboat

'I couldn't see him anywhere and then a couple came up and said 'your dog has gone over there' and they pointed to the edge of the cliff.
'They said he chased after a seagull and went straight over the edge.
'Straight away I dialled 999 and then I walked towards the cliff, fearing the worse.
'Looking at the cliff face, there was nothing to break his fall at all.
'But I looked over the edge and saw him sat on the beach crying in pain.
'The tide was out at the time and there was a lot of seaweed on the beach. He must have landed on that and it cushioned his fall. It is incredible that he survived.

Recovering: Bobby gets a well earned rest as he is sailed to safety following his miracle escape

Bobby the dog had a miracle escape after chasing a seagull off a cliff at Old Harry, nr Swanage, Dorset and was saved when he landed on soft seaweed 100ft below

'We took him to the beach where we waited for the owners to come down for him. They were very happy afterwards. He is one lucky dog.'A spokesman for Portland coastguard said: 'This dog is very lucky to be alive.
'At first he was hard to spot from the top of the cliff because he was black and blended in with the seaweed on the beach.'
The spokesman reminded dog owners to keep their pets on a lead whenever they are near cliffs.

Amazing: Bobby the dog survived despite falling more than 100ft from this cliff at Old Harry, nr Swanage, Dorset

source: dailymail

It’s the lady-brrrrds! Insects lured out by warm snap caught unawares by sub-zero temperatures (but don’t worry, they will thaw out)

2012-01-17T22:28:00.005+07:00

By DAVID GERGES

Ice, ice, lady: A group of ladybirds are frozen over in Watts Wood Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire, after temperatures plummeted overnight

The current cold snap has taken many of us by surprise - and these frozen ladybirds are no exception.
Although they are usually only active in summer, the recent spell of unseasonably warm weather has lured the bugs out of their winter hiding spots.
And these unlucky insects must have got a short sharp shock when sub-zero temperatures swept across the country today, leaving a thick coat of ice on their shells.

The ladybirds were spotted in Watts Wood Nature Reserve, Lincolnshire, by keen wildlife photographer Mark Johnson, 43, from Dunholme.
He said: 'I’ve never seen them frozen like that before - I started snapping away as soon as I spotted them.
'They’ve been out and about in the warmer weather recently so maybe the cold weather caught them by surprise.'
'Later on in the day when they had thawed out you could see them moving around as if nothing had happened.'

Spot of bother: Two of the ladybirds have an ice coat whilst one seems to have avoided the big chill

Dr Peter Brown, zoology Lecturer lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University and an author of the UK Ladybird Survey, said that the recent fluctuations in cold weather may explain why the insects came out.
Dr Brown explained that insects such as ladybirds go through a process called ‘overwintering’ during cold months.

Tight squeeze: The ladybirds huddle together under a branch in Watts Wood, Lincolnshire

He said: 'It’s not quite like hibernation of mammals as they can come out of it on warmer days.
'They are around all year but not normally active in January, though they can withstand sub-zero temperatures
'They may come out of dormancy and perhaps take in a little water and bask on a sunny day in winter.
'But they will shut down again and only become properly active from about March.'

source: dailymail

Meet Britain’s best-dressed dog! Rocky has more spent on him than the average women forks out in a year (and he even has his own guitar)

2012-01-16T21:51:00.005+07:00

By LUCY BUCKLAND

Keeping it real: Rocky poses up in one of his 1,500 outfits which owner Lynsey Noble has spent more than £2,500 on

He has more designer outfits than the average woman and sulks unless he changes at least three times a day.
Known as Britain’s best-dressed pooch, meet two-year-old diva dog Rocky, who has an extensive wardrobe of 1,500 outfits worth a staggering £2,500.
His devoted owner Lynsey Noble, 26, spends more on his clothes every year than the average British woman spends on herself and even wheels her pampered pooch around in a designer baby buggy.

Dino doggie style: Although Rocky is in a camouflage as a dinosaur the pampered pooch is still very noticeable in his designer gear

Up to ten times a day Rocky rotates through his 1,500 designer outfits including fancy dress costumes of an elephant, dinosaur, panda, bumble bee, zebra, Superman, and his favourite - a ‘hot dog'.
And no style icon would be complete without their fashion staples, which for Rocky includes 15 t-shirts, three tracksuits, six hoodies, four coats and three body-warmers.
Rocky’s sharp sense of style is so great his owner’s boyfriend Daniel Judge, 27, a metal worker, now sees him as a rival for Lynsey’s affections.

Ghetto guy: Rocky shows off one of his designer tracksuits which like all his other outfits, fits perfectly

The beautician takes her four-legged friend everywhere, and even shares a bed with him.
Lynsey said: 'My friends and family tease me about how much I pamper Rocky, but I don’t care.
'I call him my little fur baby and love nothing more than spoiling him rotten.
'I don’t dare work out exactly how much I have spent on him - he has more clothes than me.
'If I see something and I like it then I buy it. And If it’s in Rocky’s size it is destiny and he has to have it.”

Bee-auty! Rocky - who won Mr Pageant Pooch 2011 -loves his bumble bee outfit but on dress down days still has a wide range of accessories such as bow ties to go with plainer outfits

Posh pooch: Not content with having an array of designer outfits devoted owner Lynsey Noble even forks out for accessories such as guitars or tiny chairs and only feeds Rocky boiled chicken

Lynsey says the best places to buy pet costumes and treats are from Japan and South Korea.
She said: 'But I will never make Rocky wear anything that he doesn’t feel comfortable in. He doesn’t wear shoes as he cannot walk properly in them and it would be mean.
'I'd probably get in trouble if I admitted to all the places I take Rocky with me in my doggie handbag.'

Paws for thought: Rocky is said to sulk unless he gets at least three costume changes a day - his owner Lynsey said if she sees an outfit in his size she has to buy it as it's fate

Panda eyes: Owner Lynsey calls Rocky her 'fur baby' and doesn't deny him any treats saying her pet now turns heads wherever she wheels him (in his bespoke wheelchair)

Treats: As well as emblazoned T-shirts and designer coats Rocky also owns a wide range of accessories, including a guitar and a microphone

source: dailymail

I'm ready for my close-up: Incredible images taken by photographer who goes nose-to-nose with swimming polar bears

2012-01-16T21:36:00.005+07:00

By WIL LONGBOTTOM

Don't I nose you? French conservationist Joe Bunni got within 20 inches of this polar bear as it swam up to him in the Arctic Ocean

These incredible close-ups of wild polar bears were taken by a fearless photographer as he swam just inches away from them.
While few would go within 50ft of the dangerous animals let alone nose-to-nose in the freezing Arctic Ocean, French conservationist Joe Bunni does just that - despite promising his wife he wouldn't.
Wearing only a dry-suit, snorkel and mask, he submerged himself in the two degree waters of The Nanavut in Canada and came within 20 inches of the 700lb bears.

Just chilling: Mr Bunni gets close to the animals so he can capture them part in and part out of the freezing water

On two occasions the animals came so close to the 57-year-old that they touched his waterproof camera housing with their noses.
But during one encounter he only just got away from one of the bears when it became aggressive.
Mr Bunni, from Paris, said: 'I broke all my own rules for safety and had become overconfident in my relations with these wonderful animals after having had such an amazing experience the year before.
'The encounter did not go as expected and the bear became agitated, started to growl and filled me with fear.
'I did not respect nature and the bear took a swipe at me and his powerful paw nearly tore down the boat we were in, scratching the metal.

Got any grub? This polar was less than happy with having his picture taken and began getting aggressive

The one that got away: Mr Bunni had been in the water in Repulse Bay, Nunavut, Canada, when the animal to exception to his presence and he was forced to get out quickly

'My skipper barely had time to pull me out of the water and I came within an arms length of being mauled at sea by nature's largest land predator.'
Mr Bunni, who also works as a dentist, began photographing polar bears in July 2009 when he was looking to get a split level shot of one of the animals above and below the water.
He was taken out on a 21ft steel boat to the iceberg fields and after three days of searching finally found polar bears.
After taking a few shots and allowing a female to become used to his presence, Mr Bunni then climbed into the water to get more pictures.
It was then that the animal approached him.

Fancy a dip? Despite their size, polar bears are good swimmers and few people would consider getting this close to them

He said: 'I submerged myself under the water so that only the camera casing was visible and my snorkel.
'The bear was too concerned with the boat, but when she saw the casing she must have seen her own reflection and thought it was another bear.
'You can see the sequence in the photographs as she approaches, touches the casing and then recoils when she realises it isn't a bear.'
Mr Bunni said he indulges his dangerous hobby to help preserve polar bears. He is writing a conservation book, '+/- 5 Metres', in association with SOS OCEANS.
For more information on the book visit http://5meters.sosoceans.com/index-EN.html or go to www.sosoceans.com.

Freeze: The disgruntled female turns and swims away after Mr Bunni manages to climb back on to his boat

source: dailymail

Mysteries in slow motion: Videos offer a glimpse into an aerial world we never see

2012-01-15T21:58:00.001+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Rough, tough world: A sparrow clings on as a bully barges him out of the way at the feeder before pushing him away with his leg

A series of high-speed animal flight videos are producing an amazing glimpse aerial world most of us have never seen before.
Amateurs videographers, with a bit of luck, can use inexpensive digital cameras to turn blurred images into clear illustrations of animal and insect behaviour.
A Dutch programme named Vilegkunstenaars asked videographers and animal lovers around the world to capture nature in flight, digg.com reports.
They sent high speed video tools to amateurs and the results that came back were stunning.

Upside down: A goose, top of picture, is seen turning around so it flies with its back to the ground and his belly facing the sky

In one year the contest attracted 460 amateurs who between uploaded more than 2,400 slow-motion video clips that were taken on their complimentary cameras.
The jury was made up of video experts, philosophers and scientists.
They picked their favourites, most of which are featured in still pictures here.
The videos are all viewable on Youtube or at flightartists.com.
Among the highlights is footage showing the less than friendly of the sparrow.
They make look small and sweet but they inhabitat harsh, dog eat dog world.

Aerial crash: A bee gets excited at the sight of a big white flower and flies straight into a bumble bee

Showing off: Two pigeons pretend not to notice as a great tit hovers and puts on a show

The video shows a group of sparrows around a bird feeder.
One bird comes along and kocks another biird out of the feeding hole.
It then uses its legs to the push the other bird right out of the way.

Angelic movements: With broad, elegant sweep, a dove flies in to show everyone how graceful it is

Round in circles: A fly does a somersault bwefore regaining its composure and making off

Another clip shows a fly doing a somersault.
Experimental zoologist David Lentink, of Wageningen University, said: 'Research into fruit flies has shown that when trying to escape, they first jump and then topple into flight before eventually gaining control.
'This film illustrates the same behavior in a larger fly, the main difference being that [this] fly is exceptionally quick in getting the whole maneuver under control.'

source: dailymail

Anyone for grey squirrel pie? Victorian delicacy enjoys revival in bid to save red cousins from extinction

2012-01-15T11:33:00.004+07:00

By RYAN KISIEL

Earning a crust: James Hughes Davies, who runs Little Jack Horner's pie company, sells 60 squirrel pies a week at farmer's markets

It was a popular delicacy served up until the last century when it dropped off Britain’s menu.
But grey squirrel pie is currently enjoying a revival due to attempts to save its less aggressive red cousins from extinction.
Thousands of grey squirrels have been sold to restaurants, butchers and are on sale at farmer’s markets after being legally trapped and shot in woodland and rural areas.

Squirrel stew: Mr Davies makes batches of his pie filling to sell at farmers markets around London

Conservationists have attempted to increase numbers of red squirrels through campaigns to cull thousands of the grey variety.
Not only are greys larger, tougher and more aggressive they carry squirrel pox disease - a virus deadly to reds.
The meat, which chefs say tastes like wild rabbit or game, is dark and usually slow-cooked before being made in casseroles, hot-pots or pies. As there is not much flesh on the squirrel, a whole one provides enough meat for a single pie.

Days are numbered: Some argue that trapping and shooting grey squirrels (pictured) is the only way to save the native red squirrel from extinction

James Hughes Davies, 31, who runs Little Jack Horner’s pie company, sells 60 squirrel pies a week at farmer’s markets and says he could sell dozens more if he could get hold of the animals.
‘The main problem is that I can’t get enough of the squirrels as the demand is so high’, he said.
‘I get them at the moment from a man who traps them in Suffolk before killing them humanely. As they’re classified as vermin they are there to be caught.

Battle for survival: Not only are greys larger, tougher and more aggressive they carry squirrel pox disease - a virus deadly to reds (pictured)

‘They have been selling really well. People from all walks of life are trying them, not solely people who are quite wealthy and into their food.
‘Squirrel tastes a little bit like wild rabbit, but has darker meat. As a country, we’ve been eating squirrel for centuries along with pigeon and many other wild animals that we now classify as game.
‘It’s only been in the last 50 years when we’ve had an emotional attachment to them that it’s gone off the menu.

Slow cooking is the key: A whole squirrel should take about an hour and a half

source: dailymail

Barkingham Palaces: Why these pampered pets can't wait to be sent to the (£3,000) dog house

2012-01-15T10:24:00.004+07:00

By VALERIE ELLIOTT

Kennel Club: The Alabama House features pillars, lattice windows and a porch

For most dogs, a kennel used to comprise a few planks of wood held together with rusty nails to form a rather rudimentary shelter from the wind and rain.
But now besotted owners are lavishing up to £3,000 on designer homes for their pets – from a Bauhaus-inspired cube-shaped structure to a pink castle complete with turrets. The pet palaces are the latest ‘must-have’ accessories for spoilt dogs, many of whom already enjoy gourmet food, diamond-studded collars and massages.
The kennels have been created by Doria Keppler and Andre Heinermann, whose company, Best Friend’s Home, is based near the German city of Dusseldorf.

Living it up: The pink castle is one of the kennels offered by Best Friend's Home

The firm says it caters for all tastes. While a small dog such as a chihuahua might feel comfortable in the pink castle, the owners of larger, more imposing breeds may consider the Alabama house – with its pillars, lattice windows, elegant canopy and porch – is far more desirable. The company has also come up with a Swedish-style house called Lonneberga, which the designers say inspires a peaceful atmosphere and ‘holiday mood’.

Top dog: The Cubix kennel has a contemporary feel for canines with a modern flare

And of their modernist Cubix, the couple say they have created a space with lots of light and clean lines, and they are particularly proud of the apparently floating roof.
Ms Keppler said: ‘The design of these luxurious mansions complies with exceedingly high standards: classic architectural style, clear form and colours with great attention to detail and a most accurate finish.’
Despite the extravagant price tags – the wooden kennels range from £1,400 to £3,000 – furnishing the interiors is left to the dog owners themselves.

‘We just provide the structure of the house and leave it to the owners to choose the blankets, beds, bowls and toys for their pets,’ said Ms Keppler.
She and Mr Heinermann wanted to create their range because they believe a kennel should add beauty to a garden. They were unimpressed by standard structures, which can be bought from pet shops and DIY stores in Britain for as little as £35.

source: dailymail

Crowboarding! Thrill-beaking bird slides down snowy rooftop on makeshift-board... picks it up and flies back to the top for another go

2012-01-14T21:56:00.003+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTERS

Top of the run: The crow, with its makeshift snowboard in its beak, stands at the top of the roof, surveying its ski run

Snow brings out the dare-devil in most people - but especially this thrill-seeking crow. The adventurous bird clutches in its beak a mini-board - thought to be a paint-lid or frisby - while perching on the apex of the roof.
After plucking up the courage for the black run, the bird jumps on the board and slides effortlessly some 25ft down the steep icy roof.
Incredibly, the bird enjoys it so much it picks up its makeshift-board and flaps its way back to the top of the roof before dropping back into the slop for another five runs

And away we go! Balancing on its disc and positioning its wings for balance, there is nothing this crow's action can be for other than the sheer fun of it

How's my form? Getting to the deeper snow at the bottom of its run, the crow stretches out its wings and pecks at the disc to wring out the last bit of motion

Footage of the thrill-seeking crow has become the latest YouTube hit clip.
The 1min 20sec clip, posted by 'Alex' from Yekaterinburg, Russia, has no snappy music or witty voice-over - yet the simple pleasure the bird is deriving from its repeated rides has struck a chord with YouTube viewers
Various versions of the clip have aatracted as many as 250,000 views since it was posted two days ago.

Getting some air: Saving a potential fortune on chairlifts, the crow simply picks up its disc and heads back to the apex of the roof for another ski down the side

The bird can be seen skiing down the roof on a disc-shaped object - described by some viewers as a bottle top.
After the ride is over, the bird simply clutches the disc in its talons and flies back to the top of the roof - saving itself a fortune in chairlift costs.
After unsuccessfully attempting to slide down a more barren stretch of rooftop, the crow flies back to its original set-off point and enjoys another adrenaline-pumping ski down the slopes.
All the while, Alex and his family can be heard laughing at their feathered neighbour's antics (all except Alex's infant child, who finds the whole experience a little overwhelming).

No powder, dude! After briefly checking the sunny side of the roof, the crow heads back to where the skiing conditions are right

Finally, the bird picks up its disc an flies off - presumably planning to get a murder of mates together for a ski trip elsewhere.
Crows have been shown to be remarkably intelligent, with some species topping the avian IQ scale.
Researchers have observed crows using a variety of 'tools' to attract and process their food, such as hooded crows in Israel using bread crumbs for bait-fishing, or New Caledonian crows dropping nuts into a busy street and waiting for a car to crush them open.
Recent research also suggests crows have the ability to recognise one individual human from another by studying facial features.

source: dailymail

Who's a cheeky little chimp! Curiosity gets the better of two-year-old chimpanzee as he peeks down his keeper's T-shirt

2012-01-14T21:51:00.003+07:00

By SUZANNAH HILLS

Cheeky: Two-year-old chimp couldn't resist taking a quick peek down his keeper's top

This cheeky chimp couldn’t resist taking a quick peek down his keeper’s top as she held him close to her chest. The two-year-old primate cast his eyes towards the keeper’s cleavage after using his index finger to peel away her green t-shirt.
Photographer Cyril Ruoso captured the saucy moment at Pandrillus Drill Sanctuary, Nigeria.
The 41-year-old said: 'It’s a funny shot. This photo shows how close we are to apes and it is the first time I have taken a picture that shows this kind of behaviour so clearly.

'However, for the chimp his actions have a social meaning.
'Grooming or physical interaction is a way to show how close you are to another individual.
'All primates need affection and social interaction.”
Cyril, from Burgundy, France, added: “This isn’t the first time I have seen apes taking an interest in humans.
'I once met an Orang Utan in Borneo who loved to groom my hairy chest even when I was wearing a shirt.'

source: dailymail

Massacre in the hive: Amazing footage of 30 giant Japanese hornets slaughtering 30,000 tiny honeybees to eat their young

2012-01-14T15:03:00.004+07:00

By GAVIN ALLEN

Fight! A poor honeybee (left) comes face to face with a giant Japanese hornet on the doorstep of its own hive in the prelude to a massacre

Tens of thousands are dead, hundreds more of the dying lie writhing on the battlefield, powerless to protect their children.
These horrifying and yet fascinating scenes are the highlights of a three-hour battle between just 30 giant Japanese hornets and 30,000 European honeybees.
The video, from a National Geographic documentary called Hornets From Hell, shows a full-scale attack on the honeybees' comb in order that the hornets can get at their larvae.

Slaughter: Thousands of honeybee corpses litter the ground beneath the hive as the hornets hover over the entrance to the hive to continue the killing

The mass slaughter is possible because the European honeybees did not grow up around the Japanese Hornets and thus have no defence against them.
Vespa velutina - the hornet's Latin name - is believed to have hit Europe in 2004 after hitching a ride to France on some pot plants transported from China.
In Asia, honeybees have learned to encircle an intruder and, by flapping their wings, cause it to overheat and die. But European bees have not had enough time to evolve an effective tactic.

Natural selection: A hornet drags a honeybee larvae from the comb and eats it, turning the meat into a gooey paste which it can feed to its own offspring

The hornets begin their attack by hovering in front of a beehive, picking off single honeybees, decapitating them and stripping off their wings and legs before making off with the 'meat ball', taking it back to the nest to feed their young.
Adult hornets chew the flesh of their victims into a sticky liquid that it feeds to its offspring.
However, the hornets then step up their attack, emitting a chemical rallying cry that indicates that return flights to the nest must stop.

Learn to share your food: After the massacre two exhausted and overheating hornets are seen sharing liquids to regain some energy

They they concentrate of the slaughter and with the honeybee stings simply not powerful enough to wound the hornets, up to 40 honeybees a minute can be killed.
After the massacre the hornets exchange liquids with each other to boost their energy.
They they fly unopposed into the comb to feed on the succulent and nutritious flesh of the gestating honeybee larvae.
The Japanese hornet is four times the size of our native honeybees and its sting has been compared to a hot nail being hammered into the body. They can fly up to 60 miles with a top speed of around 25 miles per hour.

source: dailymail

The thief who bit off more than he could chew... puppy needs surgery after stealing a Chinese spare rib and swallowing it WHOLE

2012-01-13T18:46:00.003+07:00

By ANNA EDWARDS

Don't give this dog a bone: Rossi gulped down the six-inch rib before his astonished owners could stop him and had to have the spare rib surgically removed

A puppy got himself into a sticky situation when he pinched a six-inch Chinese spare rib from his owner and swallowed it in one gulp.
Greedy Staffordshire bull terrier Rossi got into difficulties when the bone - which unbelievably he didn't choke on - started scratching his stomach.
Owner Steven Hawthorn, 44, said the 15-week-old puppy snatched the rib and swallowed it whole as he and his family sat down to a takeaway meal.

Gobbled it up in one go: His owner Steven says Rossi could not resist the delicious smell of the takeaway, and ignored his usual dog food to try his luck with the takeaway

His wife Donna, 35, and sons Lewis, 13 and Samuel, 11, watched in amazement as Rossi, named after motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi, jumped up to nab the pork rib and devoured it in seconds.
Worried that the bone would get stuck, Mr Hawthorn, from Oldbury, West Midlands, took Rossi to the Companion Care Veterinary Surgery the next day.
An x-ray on January 6 revealed the large bone was scratching his stomach lining, which was starting to bleed and the pet was prepared for surgery.
Mr Hawthorn said: 'How he managed to swallow such a large bone is amazing. How it didn't choke him or damage his aesophagus is a miracle.

Sticky spare rib: The surgeons believe if they hadn't acted quickly Rossi could have died

'It could have easily ruptured his intestines. He's lucky to be alive, a lot of things went in his favour and we're really glad he's still here.
'A second x-ray showed the bone had moved towards the intestines. A few more hours without the operation and he would have gone, I can't praise the vets enough.
'It was our first food treat of the year after Christmas and we were looking forward to it. But as soon as he swallowed it I knew he was in trouble.'

source: dailymail

Couple who sold 'crippled' monkey instead of taking it to vets are banned from keeping animals for life

2012-01-13T16:02:00.005+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Abused: Mikey the baby marmoset was sold to a pensioner but then found to have seven fractures and bone disease. He was subsequently put down by a vet to spare him further suffering

A couple who sold a monkey which had seven separate bone fractures to a pensioner for £650 have been ordered to pay nearly £6,000 costs to the RSPCA and banned from keeping animals for life.
Lee Powell, 50, and Julie Ann Jones, 41, were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a four-and-a-half-month-old marmoset monkey named Mikey.
A two-day trial at Dudley Magistrates' Court heard that the monkey had to be put down by a vet after its injuries were discovered.

Julie Ann Jones, 41, and Lee Powell, 50, leave Dudley Magistrates Court, where they were disqualified for life from keeping animals and ordered to pay more than £2,700 each in costs after selling the 'crippled' monkey

The couple have been disqualified from keeping animals and will have to transfer all their current animals, which the court heard were also monkeys, into the care of the RSPCA.
Powell and Jones, both of Stourbridge, denied four charges brought by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act of 2006.
During their trial the couple denied knowing that there was anything wrong with the monkey, which they sold in June for £650 in cash after placing an advert in a local newspaper.

Distressing: An X-ray of the baby marmoset's fractured right and left femur. Petshop owner Jimmy Wick alerted the RSPCA as soon as he saw the condition of the monkey

The couple were both ordered to pay the RSPCA costs of £2,713.50 as well as £325 each to the woman who bought the monkey.
The couple did not comment as they left court but were both smiling as they walked away from the building.
Speaking after the hearing, RSPCA Inspector Jackie Hickman said it was the first time she had dealt with a case involving a monkey and that it had not been an easy case to handle.

Banned: The couple denied four charges of cruelty brought by the RSPCA under the Animal Welfare Act but were ordered to give up all their other animals to the RSPCA

The monkey was brought in to Jimmy Wick at his shop Wickid Pets in Wolverhampton. Wick, who has been keeping marmosets for more than 25 years, said the condition of the monkey was 'just wrong' and he knew he had to report it to the RSPCA.
He said: 'He had gone through a lot of pain and suffering. For a young monkey to have so many broken bones at different rates of healing means it's just not one thing that's happened to him - it was just awful to see.
'He couldn't walk properly, he would commando-crawl. I tried to introduce him to a female monkey that had babies the same age. She tried to take the baby monkey on board - babies cling on to the mothers - and this baby monkey could not even cling on. 'It was crying its eyes out because it wanted to get to her. It broke my heart to see it.'

source: dailymail

Trapped on the miaow-torway! Pet cat spends 24 hours on a road sign 50ft off the ground

2012-01-13T15:56:00.004+07:00

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Scaredy cat: The moggy was perilously perched on a 50ft traffic sign above a busy motorway for 24 hours

A curious cat used up all of its nine lives after getting stuck on a 50ft-high traffic sign above a busy motorway.
Police and animal lovers launched a major rescue operation after the puss spent 24 hours trapped on the sign alongside the M4.
Traffic officers set up a rolling roadblock as a crane was brought in to reach the frightened moggy.

Scaffolder Hugh Norville, 47, who went up in the crane lift, said: 'I was shocked when I saw him up there - you certainly don’t expect to see a cat perched above the M4. 'But we couldn’t have just left him up there. He was cold and scared, he could have died, I wasn’t going to let that happen.'
Brave Hugh climbed onto the concrete sign platform at Briton Ferry, near Swansea, armed with a tin of cat food to tempt the pet down.

Cat's-eye view: How the moggy got up there remains a mystery. He is now back safe with his owner

He said: 'He was well-looked after - what made him climb onto the sign is a complete mystery. 'But whoever owns him should re-name him Lucky because he’s used all his nine lives up in one go.' The cat was handed over to the RSPCA who returned him to his relieved owner today. A spokeswoman said: 'The cat was well and truly stuck - but everyone pulled out all the stops to bring him down. 'It just just goes to show what a nation of animal lovers we are.'

source: dailymail