Zoo 'tests baby leopards and tigers' natural reflexes' by throwing them a LIVE rabbit to play with

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Nervous: These tiger cubs seem not to know what to do when confronted with a rabbit

You might think that tiger cubs would be hard-wired to go after their prey aggressively from an early age.
But when these wild-beasts-in-training were presented with a juicy rabbit, their predatory instincts seemed to fail them.
The white rabbit simply jumped around their enclosure, eluding their grasping paws as it outpaced them.

Escape: The rabbit's leaping abilities apparently enabled it to avoid a grisly fate

The charming scenes took place at Qingdao Forestry Zoo in Shandong province in northern China.
Zookeepers there put the rabbit in with the tiger and leopard cubs when they reached the age of two months.

Athletic: The rabbit's canny escape attempt seemed to outpace this leopard on the prowl

They hoped to test how well developed the big cats' wild instincts were by seeing if they would be able to hunt down the rabbit.
However, the intended prey was apparently able to escape the fierce animals' attention.

Success? One leopard cub got his teeth on the rabbit - but only managed to chomp on its ear

Stand-off: The tiger apparently tried intimidating the rabbit by giving it the hairdryer treatment

The tiny tigers even seemed to shy away from the rabbit, though it was only a quarter of its size.
Photographs of the chase show that the worst any of the predators was able to do was to grab hold of one of the rabbit's ears.
The scene was presided over by a mother tiger, separated from the youngsters in another cage.

Playful: The big cats toyed with the rabbit but were not pictured going in for the kill

Disapproving: The mother tiger would have had no problems catching and eating the white rabbit

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2417494/Zoo-China-tests-tigers-reflexes-throwing-live-rabbit.html
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Dwarf rabbit has to be covered with suncream to protect his skin after all his hair fell out because of condition that was thought to exist only in dogs

Delta-Mouse has pituitary dwarfism which vet had only seen before in dogs
Owner thought he'd die, but he's pulled through and is quite a character

By HELEN COLLIS

Miniature: Owners feared their tiny, bald and funny looking rabbit might not survive

A rabbit born with a normal amount of hair has confused doctors after it appeared to show signs of a condition that only exists in dogs.
Delta-Mouse appeared just to be the runt of the litter when he was born six weeks ago, but when his fur started falling out owner Debbie Ikin from Horwich, Greater Manchester, realised something was amiss.
When she took the pet to the vet, she discovered that he had pituitary dwarfism.

Rare condition: The poor bunny began shedding his fur after he was born six weeks ago

His condition, which caused his fur to fall out all over except from his head and feet, had only been seen before in German Shepherd dogs, the vet said.

Rabbit's foot: But luck was on Delta-Mouse's side and the little creature has surprised everyone by getting stronger by the day

Ms Ikin, 40, said: 'I thought he was the runt of the litter with a skin condition. I have grown up around rabbits and we have had several litters but I've never seen anything like Delta-Mouse.
'I worried he wasn't eating properly, but he was living and just looked a bit different, especially compared to the other rabbits.'
After being checked by the vet, he was declared perfectly healthy. Ms Ikin said the vet decided not to take a blood sample from the tiny creature as it might make him anaemic, so she has been keeping a close eye on him instead.

While he remains far smaller than his siblings, the rabbit's fur has now regrown

Debbie Ikin, who bred the unusual looking rabbit, said he has become part of the family and will not be for sale

The rabbit's eyes need bathing every morning to help him open them because they get stuck together over night.
And when out in the sunshine, Delta-Mouse must be lathered in factor 50 suncream to protect his sensitive skin.
The rabbit has astounded both his owners and vets by becoming stronger by the day.
His hair has regrown on his body, but he still has bald patches on his the back of his head and the top of his feet.
Ms Ikin's son Jacob, 10, loves his new pet and after naming him Delta when he was born, added 'mouse' to the end due to his small stature.

Best friends: Ten-year-old Jacob was so afraid to hold the tiny baby bunny when he lost his fur because he seemed so fragile

Now that Delta-Mouse is on the road to recovery, he likes no where better than sitting on Jacob's head

The ten-year-old has been scared to hold him at times because he is so precious.
Ms Ikin said: 'He's thriving and very spritely. He's super friendly and loves to sit on your shoulder.
'He's become quite a little celebrity, everyone wants to come round and see him and have their picture taken with him.'
Ms Ikin's breeding pair Junior and Stitch have produced a number of litters as well as being parents to Delta-Mouse.

A good clean: Now that his fur has grown back, Delta-Mouse has to keep it all in order

The miniature bunny has settled into the family, who have become completely taken with him

While she is hoping to sell the other members of the litter, it's sure that Delta-Mouse won't be going anywhere.
Ms Ikin, a catering assistant, said: 'Delta-Mouse has become a member of the family, we're completely taken with him.
'I think after all we have been through with him, we couldn't see him go off to another home.'

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381275/Bald-dwarf-rabbit-born-fur-body-covered-suncream-protect-skin.html
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Cute rabbit takes five to scrub behind his ears and groom himself in the sunshine

By OLIVIA WILLIAMS

The rabbit carefully cleaned his long ears in the sunshine at the Minsmere RSPB Reserve

This rabbit looks as though he is enjoying preening himself in the summer sunshine.
The animal, pictured at Minsmere RSPB Reserve, paid particular attention to his distinctive long ears as he gave his fur a spring clean.

Combing his fur with his paws, the rabbit took the time to groom himself from every angle

He spent a particularly long time checking over both sides of his ears

Clearly determined to look his best, the well turned-out mammal spent a long time carefully checking the rest of his fur for any dirt.
Rabbits keep themselves clean by washing regularly and grooming, using their teeth, tongue and claws.

Although very cute, this rabbit is a fully-grown adult as younger rabbits have very little fur when they are born

They often groom each other as a social activity, but it looks as though this one had to do it on his own.
As well as a way of looking smart, careful cleaning is a very important part of a rabbit's health.
In the warmer months they are at risk from attack by maggots, which can eat into their flesh in a condition called fly strike.

Happy with the state of his ears, using his sharp teeth the rabbit moved on to clean the rest of his body

Pleased with a job well done, the rabbit settles back down for a well-deserved rest

The risk is increased by dirty fur which attracts flies, so the rabbits have to take their grooming seriously.
Minismere RSPB Reserve where this rabbit lives is most famous for its unusual birds, such as nightingales, bitterns and avocets, but is home to all sorts of wildlife.
Rabbits in Britain mainly live in meadows and farmland but also occasionally in urban areas.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2364103/Cute-rabbit-takes-scrub-ears-groom-sunshine.html
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Watership Drown! Pampered rabbit has water therapy to cure her arthritis

By LUKE SALKELD

Heidi, a giant continental rabbit, has taken to her new exercise regime to help ease her arthritis like a duck to water

She doesn’t like getting those floppy ears wet. And there’s no way she’ll be trying the doggie paddle.
But it seems you can lead a rabbit to water and, with the help of a bright orange buoyancy aid, make her swim.
Heidi, a giant continental rabbit, has taken to her new exercise regime like a duck to water.
Her owner, Amanda Williams, hopes the twice-weekly swimming sessions will help cure her four-year-old pet’s arthritis.

Heidi, who measures 3ft 2in from nose to tail and weighs a hefty 15lb, lives with two other rabbits in a £3,000 converted garage complete with sofas, air conditioning and carpet

Miss Williams, 44, pays £30 a session for Heidi to swim in the 4ft-deep hydrotherapy pool.
Staff strap the rabbit into an adjustable buoyancy vest designed for small dogs and pin back her ears with a hair band.

She is then placed in the heated water where she paddles up and down for about seven minutes at a time before being dried off with a towel.
Heidi, who measures 3ft 2in from nose to tail and weighs a hefty 15lb, lives with two other rabbits in a £3,000 converted garage complete with sofas, air conditioning and carpet.

She has been diagnosed with arthritis in her hips and knees and spondylosis in her neck. ‘Over Christmas Heidi just stopped moving so I took her to the vet,’ said Miss Williams, an air traffic controller from Christchurch, Dorset.
‘He said we should try hydrotherapy, even though he had never seen it used with rabbits before. It is more usually used for horses and dogs. None of us thought she would tolerate one minute in the water but in her first session she took to it very quickly. She leapt off the platform into the pool.

source: dailymail

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Adventurous pet rabbit jumps in owner's satchel and smuggles itself into school for a day in the classroom

By LUCY CROSSLEY

Hopping mad: Ceri Braithwaite had the shock of her life when she arrived at school to find her pet rabbit had hitched a ride in her schoolbag

Schoolgirl Ceri Braithwaite was stunned when she opened her satchel in class - and discovered that her pet rabbit had bunny-hopped inside for a nap.
The 11-year-old was rummaging inside her bag to find her pencil case when she spotted Nala, her Lionhead rabbit, snuggled up with her exercise books.
The furry fugitive caused panic as teachers and pupils rushed to take care of the floppy-eared stowaway which leapt across the classroom after Ceri discovered him.

Stowaway: Pet rabbit Nala had hopped into Ceri's bag as she fed her other pets before heading to school

In a tale similar to the nursery rhyme 'Mary had a Little Lamb', Nala had sneaked into Ceri's bag while she was feeding her three other rabbits at their home in Normanton-Le-Heath, Leicestershire, before she left for school.
Astonishingly, Ceri walked to the bus stop and then travelled three miles to Ibstock Community College, unaware that her cheeky pet had hitched a lift.

Surprise visitor: Ceri was rummaging in her bag to find her pencil case when she spotted Nala her Lionhead rabbit snuggled up with her exercise books

She said: 'I had put my bag down in the garden, where the rabbits were running freely about and Nala must have jumped in.
'I did think my bag was a bit heavy when I stood at the bus stop but I thought it must be because I had a project and some extra homework in there.

Star pupil: Ceri said that Nala was shaking a bit at first but soon calmed down, and her friends enjoyed petting the rabbit

'I couldn't believe it when I reached in for my pencil case and she jumped out. One girl screamed but most people just laughed - I was so embarrassed.
'Nala was shaking a bit at first but soon calmed down and I think she enjoyed everyone petting her.'
Ceri's shocked teacher then called the schoolgirl's mother, Janet Sladen, 49, who came to collect Nala from the school.

Pet project: Stuart Kay, vice-principal at Ibstock Community College described the school as 'so good that even pets want to come'

'Since she carries a lot of books to school Nala must have just crawled in there in the snug warm with them.
'I think it sent the whole school into hysterics.
'Initially they assumed it was deliberate but when they realised what had happened the whole school went to work to look after Nala.
'They took her to reception for the youngsters to see and grabbed some lettuce from the kitchen to feed her.

source: dailymail

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Runaway rabbit who escaped from his hutch is rescued by firefighters after hopping up onto the ROOF of a three-floor block of flats

By MARK DUELL

Back in safety: Sophie Witchell and her son Logan's pet rabbit Barney had to be rescued by firefighters after he escaped onto the roof of their block of flats in Southend, Essex

A runaway pet bunny rabbit was rescued by firefighters after an adventurous escape bid from his hutch that saw him climb onto the roof of a three-floor block of flats.
Logan Witchell, aged three, was distraught when he found Barney the bunny had gone missing from his second-floor flat in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, before his mother spotted him above their home.
Sophie Witchell, 28, and her partner Grant Wyatt, 29, spent nearly two hours attempting to entice the white and grey one-year-old bunny to safety using lettuce leaves and carrots.

Adventurous: The three-storey block of flats where Barney was rescued from in Southend-on-Sea, Essex

But the couple were forced to call for help from firefighters battling a blaze in a neighbouring street.
Miss Witchell said: ‘Barney was hanging on for dear life. I kept thinking he was going to fall down because he was slipping down the roof tiles as he got higher and higher. But the couple were forced to call for help from firefighters battling a blaze in a neighbouring street.
Miss Witchell said: ‘Barney was hanging on for dear life. I kept thinking he was going to fall down because he was slipping down the roof tiles as he got higher and higher.

source: dailymail

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Puppy love: The lion cub called Simba who has forged an adorable friendship with Monty the dog and Thumper the rabbit

By IAN GARLAND

Simba the lion nuzzles up to his playmate Thumber the rabbit

It reads like the plot of a Disney movie - three unlikely animal playmates overcoming their differences to forge an adorable friendship.
But this is a real life story, about a lion cub called Simba, a rabbit called thumper and a dog called Monty, all being raised together at the Edinburgh home of two zookeepers.
The trio spend their days playfighting and cuddling and their antics have been filmed and shared online with thousands of animal lovers around the world.

Upper hand: Monty makes the most of his temporary size advantage in a playfight with Simba

Thirteen-week-old Simba was taken away from his mother at Edinburgh Zoo after falling ill over the winter.
While sharing a home with two zookeepers, Simba found willing playmates in the couple's pet dog and rabbit.
Despite their obvious differences, the three have become firm friends, showing genuine and heartwarming affection for each other as they scamper around the home they share.

Simba pounces on Thumper, playfully. Since the video was made, the cub has quickly outgrown his playmates

Sadly the friendship was destined to come to an end - having shaken off the illness that has kept him away from his real family, he'll soon have to return to the zoo.
He has also quickly grown too big to be trusted around his already fully-grown playmates - as well as his human housemates.
His keeper reveals on the Youtube video, which has already been viewed by thousands of people:
'As he gets older he gets more boisterous. in the morning you wake up and go to the toilet and there's a lion cub clinging on to the back of your leg.'

Once he catches his little friend, they nuzzle and cuddle up and Simba nibbles affectionately on Thumper's fur

Simba the lion nuzzles up to his playmate Thumber the rabbit

Simba has had to be fed from a bottle, while he's raised away from his pride

The lion cub has grown quickly and will soon be well enough to return to Edinburgh Zoo



source: dailymail

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I have to lose a few me-ounces! Maverick the 22-POUND moggy goes on a diet

By TAMARA COHEN

Fat fighter: PDSA vet nurse Amanda Shearsby with Maverick, the 22lb moggy who is taking part in the charity's Pet Fit Club in the hope of shedding the weight and winning, perhaps unhelpfully, a year's supply of food

They may have expected the next eight months to consist mainly of snoozing and eating. But these three roly-poly pets will instead spend the time locked in a strict diet and exercise regime for a slimming contest.
They are among 18 contestants and the prize for the pet which makes the most progress by November is a stay in a ‘pet-friendly hotel’ and, whisper it quietly, a year’s supply of food.
The competition is to mark an annual study by leading veterinary charity the PDSA that shows six million dogs and cats in the UK are overweight, leaving them in pain and at risk of health problems.
One competitor is Maverick, a blue longhair cat from Edinburgh who at 1st 8lb, 85 per cent above his ideal weight, can barely move.
Worse still is Fifi Bottomley, a Bradford cat who is more than double her ideal weight – tipping the scales at 1st 7lb.

What a lump! A vet nurse struggles with hefty hound Cavalier Jack, who weighed 22kg before starting his diet in the contest


Always gorging herself: Fifi Bottomley will have to curb her extreme eating habits if she is to drop from 9.3kg to her ideal weight

Cat versus food: Fifi was starving to death as a kitten when she was found her new owners, which accounts for her desire to steal grub at any opportunity

Her owner said Fifi was found starving as a kitten, and has not stopped gorging herself since, stealing food from people’s plates given the slightest opportunity.
The pair face stiff competition from ‘Jumbo’ Jack, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel from London, who could barely walk in January. Jack has already lost a few pounds to reach 3st 3lb, but with an ideal weight of 1st 8lb, he remains more than twice the size he should be.
Overall, the competition includes 11 dogs, five cats and two rabbits with a combined weight of 24 stone.

Can't wait for Sundays: Deco the Labrador's love of roast dinners has seen him balloon to 55kg, more than 50 per cent over his healthy weight

Feline tendencies: At a morbidly obese 4.3kg, Samantha the rabbit weighs as much as a cat

Ouch! Bailey the border collie from Glasgow shocks vet nurse Kirsty McDougall with his reading on the scales


Pear-shaped: Mini Moo from Basildon ballooned after her owner became seriously ill and she kept her company on the sofa

source: dailymail

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Didn't hear it coming? Earless rabbit destined for stardom dies after being trodden on by cameraman

By ALLAN HALL

Gone too soon: Rare earless rabbit Til was destined to become a star in his native Germany, before he was crushed to death during a photoshoot. (Picture shows Til with intern Sophie Hartig at the animal park in Limbach-Oberfrohna, Germany)

After Paul the Octopus, Knut the polar bear and Heidi the cross-eyed Opossum, the world has been waiting for a new animal celebrity.
Step forward Til, the earless rabbit - who appeared destined for super-stardom, or a few extra carrots at least, when his touching disability was first discovered.
But his brush with fame was cut tragically short when he was accidentally trodden on by a cameraman at a photoshoot. Til was born in a small zoo in Limbach-Oberfrohna in Saxony, eastern Germany, three weeks ago. His earlessness was a rarity and he was destined for animal stardom.
He was meant to be presented to the press at a news conference today and was filmed on Wednesday.

Compare and contrast: Tiny Til (right) pictured a week ago with one of his five siblings. The babies were born in February, and Til was the animal park's star attraction

But Uwe Dempewolf, the director of the zoo, said: 'During the filming, the cameraman took a step back and trod on the bunny.
'He was immediately dead, he didn’t suffer. It was a direct hit. No one could have foreseen this. Everyone here is upset. The cameraman was distraught and I am completely floored by the whole thing.'
Til died almost a year after the demise of Germany’s famous orphaned polar bear Knut who suffered a brain haemmorhage and drowned in his enclosure at Berlin Zoo on March 19 2011.
He was named after Til Schweiger, the German hardman actor who co-starred in Quentin Tarantino’s wartime romp ‘Inglourious Basterds’.
It remains unclear why he had no ears, but clearly he did not hear the cameraman coming towards him.

source: dailymail

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

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

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