Heroic mother cat takes a bullet for her babies and shields them until help arrives

By LAURA COX

Cindy's adorable kittens: No wonder she didn't want to leave them!

Meet Cindy, the mother cat whose maternal instinct kicked in when faced with a BB gun, putting herself in the line of fire and taking a bullet to protect her kittens.
She was found hovering over her newborns in Santa Fe, California, having been shot in the head and determinedly stayed with her litter until help arrived.
Despite being in a critical condition she was reluctant to leave her babies and had to be gently pried away by staff at the Helen Woodward Animal Centre so that they could treat her. Veterinarians performed surgery to remove the bullet and Cindy is now recovering, surrounded by her precious kittens.

Road to recovery: Cindy was operated on at the Helen Woodward Animal Centre in Santa Fe, California

‘Mommy and baby kitties are all doing fine, but it was touch and go when they first arrived,’ Dr Oba told the Del Mar Times.
‘They were all very tiny, malnourished, unvaccinated and very scared. It took a gentle hand to pull that Momma away from her babies.’
Staff described the loyal cat as a ‘role model’ to mothers everywhere. She and her kittens are available for adoption from the centre.

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Sure I'm not adopted Mum? Albino kangaroo cuddles up to his mother making everything all white!

By DAVID BAKER

Motherly love: This Bennett tree-kangaroo keeps her unusual joey close by having drawn attention since his birth in the Garden of Nature Zoo in Hungary

Poking his head tentatively out of his mother's pouch this kangaroo has got everyone hopping mad. But while crowds come out to marvel at the albino joey his mother is always on hand to make sure everything is all white.
Sticking close to her side this baby albino Bennett tree-kangaroo has already caused a storm. Up until a few years ago growing concern about the population of Bennett kangaroos led to new legislation to protect the 'near threatened' species.
So the arrival of this albino was an unusual addition at the Garden of Nature zoo in the town of Szeged, Hungary.
Following his birth more and more visitors have been coming to see the unique tree-kangaroo, or Dendrolagus bennettianus as it is officially called.

Everything all white? This albino Bennett tree-kangaroo has caused a storm since his birth one month ago

And despite its colour it is thought the joey is fit and healthy and can now expect to grow in weight of up to almost two-and-a-half stone.
As a species they are very agile and are able to leap 30ft from branch to branch and have been known to drop as far as 59ft without injury.
More commonly found in both mountain and lowland tropical rain forests they are one of the more unusual animals at Hungary's newest zoo.
Having been opened back in 1989 it spans almost 45 hectares, making it the youngest, but biggest zoo in the country.


'Near threatened': The Bennett tree-kangaroo is thought to be a lot safer now following a change in legislation

It also famously has its own Nature Conservation Rescue Centre, which treats almost one thousand injured or orphaned wild animals every year.
Legislation was passed to protect the species in their native Australia meaning they are no longer hunted by Aboriginals.

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I'm over here... Polar bear says hello to Arctic cruise ship with a friendly wave

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Hans missed the amazing moment the first two times and had to wait for the bear to take part in a third and final performance


Living in the limelight can be difficult but as these fantastic pictures show for one bear the tourist train never stops.

This arctic animal loves nothing more than an audience and will even climb out of his snowy bed to give the crowd a wave.

The antics of the friendly polar bear were caught on camera by Swedish photographer, Hans Strand.

During a cruise through Svalbard in the Arctic, the 54-year-old snapped the fame-hungry bear as he came out to pose for the excited crowd.

But it was third time lucky for Hans who missed the amazing moment the first two times and had to wait for the bear to take part in a third and final performance.
Hans, from Stockholm, said: 'I was on board the ship just taking in the view when I suddenly saw a head pop up from behind the ice about 15 yards away.

'Everyone on the ship got really excited and started rushing over to the one side to get a better view.

'He was yawning as though he'd just woken up but even so he seemed to be enjoying all the attention and walked over to us.

'He waved twice and everyone was pointing and cheering but I had to change the battery in my camera.

'I was willing him to wave a third time and then he finally lifted his hand and started again. Thankfully I managed to capture the shot.

'After that he kept standing up on his back legs and playing up to the camera.
'He was really enjoying himself and kept us entertained for a good few minutes.
'I couldn't believe it, I've never seen anything like it before.'


The fame-hungry bear as he came out to pose for the excited crowd


Hans, from Stockholm, said: 'I was on board the ship just taking in the view when I suddenly saw a head pop up from behind the ice

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Just popping out with the dog (from 10,000ft): Meet the special forces hound that likes to parachute

By Daily Mail Reporter

The special forces parachutist leaps from the transporter plane over Norway with his loyal dog firmly attached


This has to be the ultimate in walkies... a four-legged recruit to the special forces joining troops on a parachute jump into one of Europe's biggest military training exercises in Norway.

The explosives sniffing dog, which a member of Austria's version of the SAS, took part in Operation Cold Response along with British special forces and Royal Marines assault teams.

Securely strapped to his handler and with a muzzle to stop him damaging his mouth on landing he plunged 10,000ft from a transporter plane over Narvik.

'It's something he does a lot and he's very comfortable with. He has a much cooler head than most recruits,' said one special operations trooper.

Far from panicking at the experience of hurling themselves out of a plane at 10,000ft, the Austrians' Belgian Shepherd dogs appear to be perfectly calm both before and during the jump.


In freefall, the sniffer dog calmly takes in the view as they both hurtle towards the ground on their assignment

One handler explained: 'They don't perceive height difference the same way humans do, so that doesn't worry them.

'They're more likely to be bothered by the roar of the engines, but once we're on the way down, that doesn't matter and they just enjoy the view.'

He was also eager to point out that the dogs, like their human colleagues, are regarded as valued team members and aren't put into situations that could prove unnecessarily dangerous.


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Yogi the Hungarian Vizsla beats 22,000 doggy contenders to win Crufts

By Sophie Borland

Top dog: Hungarian Vizsla Yogi, pictured with handler John Thirlwell, was named Best in Show at Crufts
His handler John Thirlwell, who trains the dog in Carlisle, Cumbria, said: 'He is just such a wonderful dog, I am just pleased that he stood up to it.'

He could not have wished for a better end to his dog-show career.

Yogi, the seven-year-old Hungarian Vizsla, yesterday scooped Best in Show at Crufts - moments before it was announced he would be 'retiring'.

The chocolate-brown dog, who was praised for his 'powerful' and 'free' movement, had beaten off 22,000 other pooches to win what is regarded as the most coveted crown in dogdom.

Yogi, who won the Gundog group earlier in the evening, is the first Hungarian Vizsla to win Best in Show at Crufts, held at the NEC in Birmingham.

Mr Thirlwell later said he is likely to retire now.

Judge Valerie Foss said: 'He is such a lovely mover, so powerful, so free.
'He is just a very, very good dog.'

The Kennel Club, the show's organisers, said almost 22,000 dogs across 187 breeds were entered into this year's Best in Show competition.

They had been whittled down in their individual categories during the four-day contest to just seven competitors - one from each group - who battled it out last night.


Walkies: Thirlwell puts Yogi through his paces during the four-day contest in Birmingham
They included a Rottweiler, a Welsh Corgi, Scottish Terrier and a Pharaoh Hound - a breed of dog traditionally from the island of Malta.

Taking second place was a Scottish Terrier from Russia, whose pet name is Rico.
Thousands of dog-lovers packed the arena to cheer on the finalists


Second place: A terrier named Rico, pictured with his Russian owner Valentina Popova, was named runner-up


The tense round of judging was briefly disrupted by an anti-breeding protester holding up a banner and shouting from the stands, and a streaker who ran into the arena.

The streaker was wearing nothing but shoes and socks and a cat-shaped mask covering his modesty and had the words 'I streak.com' written on his chest.

Believed to be known as the 'Captain', the man was quickly escorted from the area, allowing judging to continue.


Tense: An Akita named Tyra from West Lancashire with handler Liz Dunhill during the judging for the Best in Show


In the running: A Rottweiler named Joe from Rotherham with handler Marie Monk competes for the Best in Show
The Best in Show prize has been awarded for the past 79 years, with 40 breeds winning the coveted title over the years.

In recent years, the event has been shrouded in controversy over pedigree breeding.

Earlier this week the charity People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) claimed breeders were 'creating a Frankenstein's monster of a dog'.


Can we have some? A couple of pooches fancy a snack on the fourth and final day of the contest


This year the event was broadcast on More4 after the BBC - which began screening Crufts in 1966 - announced it was dropping its coverage in December 2008.

The decision followed a BBC documentary claiming Crufts allowed damaging breeding practices that caused disease and deformities.
The RSPCA also withdrew its support in 2008 because of welfare concerns


Dog tired: One of the show's competitors takes a breather

I'm sorry, Sir - you have to be a canine to enter this competition...


Not the right pedigree: A security guard attempts to apprehend an anti-breeding protester - known as the 'Captain - from streaking across the floor of the main arena during judging




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Well, at least his mother loves him: Bald, pink (and ugly) newborn baby aardvark makes it five at one UK zoo

By Daily Mail Reporter

The new arrival plays alongside its mother Oq at Colchester Zoo

Pink, wrinkly and bald, this baby aardvark certainly isn't about to win any beauty prizes.

But at least his mother still seems to love him.

The two-week-old youngster, who has not yet been named, is the latest animal to be born thanks to the only successful aardvark breeding group in the UK
The latest addition to the aardvark family at Colchester Zoo is the fourth offspring for mother Oq and father Adela, and the fifth born at the zoo.

The mother, who would separate from her mate during new births in the wild, has been moved with her baby to the zoo's new rearing burrow, which is being used for the first time in a bid to boost breeding success.

The burrow is away from visitors to give the new arrival peace and privacy, but CCTV gives members of the public at the zoo a peek at the progress of the little aardvark.

Keepers said mother and baby will be in the rearing burrow for another month, before being moved back to be with the other aardvarks when the youngster is big enough to cope with any knocks and bumps from the adults.

Until then, staff will be keeping a close eye on the new arrival and have been sitting in to make sure it is healthy and feeding well.

And because newborn aardvarks have poor sight and are nocturnal and very clumsy, the keepers have even been taking the baby home at night to make sure it does not get accidentally crushed, as well as to give it supplementary feeds.


The unnamed aardvark was born on February 27a and is the fourth offspring for mother Oq and father Adela


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Spot the dog! Moment a Crufts owner let the show go to her head

By Daily Mail Reporter

Who says I'm barking? The owner sits alongside her pet at Crufts


We've heard of hair of the dog but this owner looked seriously ruff as she took a break from the action at this week's Crufts show.

She was caught in this brilliant photo as she sat back... and her prize pet took a step forward to grab the limelight.

The pair were among thousands of entries at the show at Birmingham's NEC.


Best friend: Charlotte Guest takes the chance to have a nap with her beloved collie


In the dog house: A youngster takes a breather in the pens at Crufts


Preparing for the biggest dog event of the year must be a huge pressure for the canines.

So is it any wonder that owners of the pampered pooches arriving at the Crufts Dog Show 2010 at Birmingham's NEC ensured their beloved dogs arrived in the most luxurious method of transport possible.

Peeking out from the comfort of their pink doggie buggy, three Shih Tzus seem entirely unaware of their privileged upbringing as they arrive at the event


A couple pushes a pram containing three Shih Tzus as they arrive for the first day of the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham


The Shih Tzus peer out of the pram as they arrive at the world-famous event


However, the price of privilege is certainly not cheap.

The specialist prams, made by designer pet shop Pet London, retail for a staggering £129.99 and also come in blue for more macho pooches.

They come complete with a removable snack tray with dual cup holders and are 'great for all small animals such as dogs, cats & rabbits', according to the store's website.


Another dedicated pet owner pushes her dog in a more masculine blue pram as they arrive for the four-day event


It's a slightly less comfortable ride for this dog, whose owner transports him to the event in a cage on wheels

During this year's four-day competition nearly 28,000 dogs and their owners will compete for a variety of awards, with the majority ultimately seeking the coveted 'Best In Show' prize.

However, this year's event had a shaky start, with animal rights protesters complaining that pedigree breeders are 'creating a Frankenstein's monster of a dog'.

Protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) gathered outside the National Exhibition Centre with banners bearing the slogan: 'Hitler Would Be Proud'.

The campaigners also displayed posters featuring a white Maltese dog, pictured with a black comb placed across its upper lip to make it look as if it has an Adolf Hitler-style moustache.

The posters were captioned: 'Master Race? Wrong for People. Wrong for Dogs. Boycott Breeders. Adopt!'


Dogs at the world-famous event showed off a variety of unusual pet accessories, including this colourful poncho


A Newfoundland wears a fun bib as it waits to go on show at Crufts


The group accused the Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, of promoting the breeding of dogs to achieve a 'pure bloodline' or 'master pedigree' at the cost of animals' health.

Spokeswoman Poorva Joshipura said: 'Whether you call it 'pedigree' or 'master race', the quest for pure bloodlines is the same thing - the false and dangerous belief that some breeds or races are superior to others.

'In the race to produce pure-bred dogs, breeders are moving unwittingly towards creating a Frankenstein's monster of a dog.

'The end result will be not only a more genetically impaired animal but also hundreds and hundreds more homeless animals put to death for the "crime" of being mutts.'

The demonstrations coincided with the publication of an open letter from the producer of a BBC documentary about health problems in pedigree dogs, accusing the Kennel Club of failing to take sufficient action on the issue.

The Kennel Club said it was 'committed to ensuring that every dog's life is as healthy and happy as it can be'.

Caroline Kisko, Communications Director, for the Kennel Club, added: 'We are very excited about this year's event, which will celebrate the unique relationship between dogs and their owners and the many ways that they mutually improve and touch each other's lives.'


source: dailymail

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Canadian politicians to eat seal in protest of new EU ban

By Daily Mail Reporter

On the menu: Canadian politicians will eat seal this week to protest an EU ban on the sale of products using the animal's meat or blubber


The Canadian Parliament's restaurant will serve seal meat this week in support of hunters battling a European Union ban on seal products, a Liberal senator said Monday.

Celine Hervieux-Payette said Wednesday's seal meat lunch menu will allow politicians to demonstrate their backing for the annual hunt. A dish of double-smoked bacon-wrapped seal loin in a port reduction will be on the menu.

'All political parties will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the international community the solidarity of the Canadian Parliament behind those who earn a living from the seal hunt,' she said in a statement.

The EU ban on seal imports was imposed last July on the grounds that Canada's annual hunt was inhumane.

The East Coast seal hunt, the largest in the world, kills an average of 275,000 harp seals during mid-November to mid-May. The seals are either shot or hit over the head with a spiked club called a hakapik.

Animal rights groups believe the hunt is cruel, poorly monitored and provides little economic benefit. Seal hunters and Canadian authorities say it is sustainable, humane and provides valuable income for Atlantic fishing communities.

The EU ban includes processed goods derived from seals, including their skins - which are used to make coats, bags and clothing - as well as meat, oil blubber, organs and seal oil, which is used in some omega-3 pills.

It exempts products derived from traditional hunts carried out by Inuit in Canada's Arctic, as well as those from Greenland, Alaska and Russia.

Canada has requested consultations with the EU at the World Trade Organisation, which is the first step before launching an official trade challenge to salvage a Canadian industry valued at £6.5million in exports last year.


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We apologise for these images but they speak more eloquently than any politician of the plight of Zimbabwe's starving people

By Mail Foreign Service

Fallen giant: The corpse of the bull elephant lies undisturbed in deep scrubland in Gonarezhou National Park

For us it is a saddening sight - a magnificent bull elephant struck down in his old age.

But for the starving of Zimbabwe, it was little short of a miracle.

The carcass provided a vital source of food, and hundreds of desperate villagers in the Gonarezhou National Park descended on the dead animal within minutes of its discovery.

Using machetes, axes and knives made from tin cans they set upon the six-ton carcass, which was found deep in scrubland.


The desperate descend: Within minutes, starving villagers arrive at the carcass


Fights broke out as villagers battled to strip chunks of flesh from the animal and drag them away to feed their families.

It took just one hour and 47 minutes for the 13ft-tall elephant to be reduced to a skeleton. Every part was used for food, even the trunk and ears.

The bones of the 70-year-old animal were taken to boil for soup and within 24 hours nothing was left but a blood-stained patch of earth.

The images are undeniably shocking. But they illustrate the terrible lengths to which Zimbabweans are forced to go just to survive under Robert Mugabe.

Yesterday, the Red Cross warned the situation in the former British colony is 'critical' with 2.17million - one in four of the population - requiring urgent food aid.


Battle begins: Soon, the villagers are fighting to get the urgently-needed meat


Audience: People gather on a hill a short distance away to watch village men get to work


Emma Kundishora, of the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, said: 'In some parts of the country, the food situation is as bad as many of our volunteers and staff have ever seen.'

Conditions are expected to deteriorate further this year following the collapse of agriculture caused by President Mugabe's violent seizures of thousands of white-owned farms since 2000.

Erratic rain has also damaged crops of corn. Harvests could produce just 500,000-tons this year, less than a third of the amount required to feed the nation.

Photographer David Chancellor said: 'Just after dawn a villager spotted the carcass as he passed on a bicycle.

'It was in the middle of nowhere, but within 15 minutes hundreds of people had arrived from all directions.


Brutally effective: Nothing goes to waste, with the skin, trunk and ears all removed


Starving: Zimbabweans grapple with each other as they set upon the elephant to get meat


Stripped: After less than two hours, only bones remain. Even these will later be taken


Desperate: A blood-spattered villager and, right, the spot where the bull elephant lay is completely cleared just 24 hours after it was found


'The women formed a ring around the elephant and the men stood inside, fighting and stabbing each other to get to the meat.'

He added: 'The meat was taken back to homes. Some was eaten immediately but most was dried on washing lines and stored to eat later.

'There were celebrations in the surrounding villages for the next two nights.'



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Museum staff discover bird-sized beetle was shot out of the sky by Victorian insect collector

By Daily Mail Reporter

Staff at the Natural History Museum discovered the beetle had been shot


A bird-sized beetle was shot out of the sky by a gun-toting Victorian insect collector, museum experts have discovered.

The Goliath beetle, from Africa, is housed at London's Natural History Museum.

Staff at the museum had been puzzled by small circular holes in the giant bug's tough exterior.

But it was only when cameras started rolling for a BBC documentary on the museum that the mystery was solved.

Forensic scientist Heather Bonney confirmed that the beetle had been shot after her investigation identified entry and exit wounds, and X-rays revealed a shotgun pellet still inside the the body.

The positioning of the wounds showed the beetle was in flight when it was shot, but the pellets hit the creature's back and not its underside.


The X-rays of the beetle further confirmed the insect was shot down from the sky


Experts believe it must have been performing one of the high aerobatic displays that make Goliath beetles notoriously difficult to catch.

Beetle curator Max Barclay said: 'Our collections are full of mysteries and every year scientists are discovering more about them and using them as evidence to help understand the world around us.

'The number of new discoveries just waiting to be made in these collections is astronomical, and every one of the museum's 70 million specimens has a story to tell.'


The X-rays revealed a shotgun pellet still inside the the body


Goliath beetles belong to the scarab family and are one of the largest insects on Earth, growing up to 4.5 inches long and weighing as much as 3.5 ounces.

The Natural History Museum specimen is 3.9 inches long and described as being about the size of 'a large sparrow or small blackbird.'

The first episode of the six part documentary Museum of Life will be shown on BBC2 on Thursday, March 18


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From strays to first-class pets: Dogs and cats abandoned at Battersea home become photogenic stars of new stamps

By Beth Hale

Look, I can do it again! Tia the nine-year-old terrier reenacts her playful pose captured by a photographer for the new Royal Mail stamps. She was adopted by a family in Berkshire when she was five months old


They didn't exactly smile for the camera.

But there was lots of tail wagging, tongue lolling and contented purring when these models got together.

Some even managed that classic pose of cocking their head to one side with an earnest gaze.
No wonder they were happy. After a rather tough start to life each and every one of this whiskered brigade has fallen on their feet, or rather paws.

And all have the famous Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London to thank for putting them on the path to a happy ever after.

These former Battersea residents, all happily living with new owners, star in a set of first-class stamps to mark the home's 150th anniversary.

They were once among the 12,000 animals the charity takes in a year.

The charity began life as the Temporary Home for Lost and Starving Dogs in Holloway, North London, back in 1860.


First class act: The eye-catching stamps celebrate 150 years of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home


It was 11 years later that it moved south to Battersea and in 1883 that it started taking in cats.

And one hundred and fifty years since its formation, it remains true to its simple message: 'We aim never to turn away a dog or cat in need of our help.'

Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, Royal Mail said: 'Stamps featuring animals have always been extremely popular with collectors and non-collectors alike, and I think these wonderfully charming and expressive images are a great way to mark the achievements of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.'

Howard Bridges, Chief Executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said: 'Everyone at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is thrilled that the final images truly capture the character of the animals chosen.'

Here are the ten photogenic pets who have been selected to appear on the 150th birthday stamps:TAFKAThis playful seven-year-old border collie arrived at Battersea in 2008 when his owner died. Now living with a new owner in Berkshire, Tafka may soon be representing Battersea in the doggy game of flyball, as well as in the rescue agility team. Tafka and Herbie live together.


Furry housemates: Herbie, left, and fellow canine Tafka sit patiently beside their own stamps


HERBIEThe seven-year-old mongrel arrived at the home as a puppy in 2002 but was soon adopted and now has a new canine pal in Tafka, to whom he is teaching some flyball tricks - a kind of relay running game for dogs.

LEONARDThe terrier was discovered as an underweight and timid stray in Essex but after two weeks of tender loving care he bounded off to a new home in Maidenhead, Berkshire. When his owner first saw Leonard at the Battersea home he was cowering at the back of his kennel with his huge ears held back.


Looking good: Leonard the terrier, admires his face on a 1st class stamp


MR TUMNUSThe two-year-old was born at Battersea with his two sisters when his mother was brought in because her owner could no longer care for her. Now Mr Tumnus is living with sister Lucy and new owners in London where he is often found observing life from a shelf in the kitchen.

CASEYThe loveable lurcher needed a new home when his owner was too ill to care for him. But he quickly charmed his 'foster' carer who has since adopted him. He lives in Surrey where he enjoys long walks, chasing toys - and squirrels.


All charm: Casey was soon adopted by his foster parent and now loves long walks in Surrey


TIGGERA Golden oldie, the male tabby needed a new home when his owner died and found one after two months. Tigger lives in London and loves lazing in the sun and strolling around the garden. He now demands to be let out every morning for his daily walk around the flower-beds and jumps on everyone’s lap as soon as they sit down. He loves sleeping under the duvet, lazing in the sun and tucking into any ham that might come his way.

BUTTONThe five-year-old ginger tomcat arrived at the cattery when his owners could no longer care for him. But he stayed just a few days before he moved on to a new home in Hampshire where he loves to play with anything he can chase, and enjoys the occasional treat.


Tomcat mates: For veteran Tigger, left, modelling for Royal Mail is serious business. But it's a stretch and roll around for Button, who just loves to play with anything he can chase


PIXIEThe mastiff arrived at the home as a tiny stray puppy and was fostered to adjust to the home environment. The foster carer fell in love with Pixie and gave her a permanent home in East Sussex


Willing to please: Pixie, the mastiff, sits proudly with her stamp


TIAThe nine-year-old terrier was adopted by a family in Berkshire when she was five months old and has since encouraged a string of foster dogs waiting for new homes.


Best behaviour: Tia the terrier sits upright for her all-important stamp photoshoot


BORISThe bulldog with the woeful expression was a stray when he arrived at the home in 2007 with a very bad skin condition. Now fully recovered he lives with adoptive owners in London.


Don't look so glum: Despite his woeful expression, Boris is now a happy bulldog after finding a permanent home in London


All together now: Top row (left to right) Tigger, a tomcat; Tafka, a collie; Herbie, a mongrel; Mr Tumnus, a tomcat; Casey, a lurcher; Leonard, a terrier; Bottom row (left to right) Pixie, a mastiff; Tia, a terrier; Boris, a bulldog and Button, a tomcat


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