It's Mara-Donna! Hilarious video shows two-year-old elephant wowing crowds with her football skills before Euro 2012

By ROB PREECE

Close control: Donna traps the football under a foot as she gets ready to start playing games

With Euro 2012 less than a fortnight away, England's footballers are doing all they can to impress before the big kick-off.
And judging by this hilarious video, it seems a two-year-old elephant called Donna has many of the ball skills that England coach Roy Hodgson is looking for.
The playful Asian elephant, one of the star attractions at Whipsnade Zoo, entertained crowds of tourists as she pelted a giant football about her paddock.


Heads up: Donna shows she is as impressive at heading as she is with the ball at her feet

Her impressive display of ball control included heading, passing between her feet and a nifty step-over.
She even managed a cheeky backheel before eventually falling into a heap on the floor at the final whistle.
Stefan Groeneveld, senior keeper at the zoo in Bedfordshire, said animals enjoyed taking part in ball exercises.

Having a ball: Donna pulls off a skilful dragback during her amusing display at Whipsnade Zoo

Look what I can do: Donna backheels the ball, watched by her keeper Elizabeth Becker

Off the hoof: Donna breaks into a trot in the elephant paddock with the ball at her feet

He said: 'The elephants love playing with their pilates balls and also a huge football which we have for them, especially two-year-old Donna.
'It's brilliant exercise for them, especially now the weather is nice and they're outside all the time.
'They can often be seen having a kick-about in the paddock on their own or with their keepers.

Keep the ball: Donna uses her trunk to ensure she maintains control of her football

'Donna particularly loves playing football and is very skilful - she can do back-kicks and has a good aim.'
Donna is one of nine elephants who share a seven-acre are at the zoo, which includes a large grass paddock and two houses.
They also have three pools and mud wallows to play in.

High five: Donna celebrates with keeper Darren Fellowes after another impressive routine

And relax... Donna takes a well-earned rest, but makes sure she gets to keep the matchball



source: dailymail

Read more!

You'll be blown away: Amazing photos of harvest mouse who climbed up a dandelion in the breeze

By NICK ENOCH

The harvest mouse - one of Britain's most elusive rodents - was snapped at the British Wildlife Centre in Lingfield, Surrey, by head keeper Matt Binstead. It uses its prehensile tail as an anchor

As this tiny harvest mouse seemed to blow away a dandelion, who knows what it was wishing for. These heartwarming pictures of one of Britain’s most elusive rodents were taken by amateur photographer Matt Binstead last weekend.
He said: 'It was lovely to get these shots of the mouse in its element. I saw it on the stem and just waited for it to climb all the way to the top.
'I can’t remember whether it was the breeze or the mouse blowing the dandelion.
'It is the only British animal with what is known as a prehensile tail that can be used as a fifth limb. 'When wrapped around a stem, it can act as a brake or anchor.
'This makes it very nimble, travelling and feeding in stems of cereals and grasses.'

'I can't remember whether it was the breeze or the mouse blowing the dandelion,' said Mr Binstead

Conservation measures have been in place for the species since 2001 when it was given near-threatened status.
It is Europe’s smallest rodent, at about 6cm long, and weighs less than a 2p coin.
They have many natural predators and are a snack for foxes, weasels, stoats, cats, owls, crows, kestrels and even toads.
And many of them freeze to death in the winter where they live in grass nests in hedgerows near the ground.
The species don’t hibernate but do sleep for long periods in the winter, waking up during milder spells to eat a little stored food or venture out on a foraging trip.
Tennis balls used in play at Wimbledon have been recycled to create artificial nests for harvest mice in an attempt to help the species avoid predation at this time.
They eat mainly seeds and insects but also nectar and fruit and are found in areas of tall grasses such as cereal crops, and in roadside verges, hedgerows, reedbeds, dykes and salt-marshes.

The mouse is Europe's smallest rodent, at about 6cm long, and weighs less than a 2p coin

Mr Binstead, 30, is head keeper at the British Wildlife Centre in Lingfield, Surrey, where the pictures were taken.
He added: 'They have a remarkable ability to sense vibrations through the soles of their feet.
'Larger animals in the vicinity can be sensed by vibrations passing through the ground and up the plant on which the mouse is feeding.'
Harvest mice breed from May to October, often producing three litters a year after a two-and-a-half-week gestation period.
The young are completely independent and are abandoned by their mother after 16 days.
The centre has been open to the public since 2000 and houses about 40 native species.
Maybe this little one was just wishing the lovely weather will continue.

source: dailymail

Read more!

Is Maru the internet's most famous cat? Japanese moggie celebrates fifth birthday with another series of cute video clips

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

He's back: YouTube's favourite feline is back in business with a series of cute clips to celebrate his fifth birthday

YouTube's favourite feline is back in business with a series of cute clips to celebrate his fifth birthday.
Maru, the ever-mischievous moggy, appears in the latest online video poking his head through shopping bags, diving into boxes and cartwheeling behind a sliding door.
Footage of the Japanese cat's antics has been viewed millions of times, and he now has more than 10,000 Facebook fans and 15,000 followers on Twitter.
Maru, who has his own blog, recently told lovemeow.com: ' Sleep, eat, and play. My hooman always says that I live a life that everybody envies.
'I don’t know why (I love boxes so much) but I can’t seem to stop going into a box when I see one. It just gets me so excited.'

Naughty: Maru appears in the latest video poking his head through boxes and shopping bags

Popular: Footage of the Japanese cat's antics has been viewed millions of times, and he now has more than 10,000 Facebook fans and 15,000 followers on Twitter

Peek-a-boo: Maru was given some cake, meat, a new toy and a slim box to play in to celebrate his milestone birthday

Interview: Maru, who has his own blog, recently told lovemeow.com: ' Sleep, eat, and play. My hooman always says that I live a life that everybody envies

Maru was given some cake, meat, a new toy and a slim box to play in to celebrate his milestone birthday.



source: dailymail

Read more!

So what IS the Frankenfish of Cambridge? Angler baffled by catch with the body of a goldfish, head of a roach and the fin of a bream

By EDDIE WRENN and ANDREW LEVY

What is this? The bizarre 'Frankenstein' fish, which seems to be part-roach, part-goldfish, and part-bream

Most anglers’ tales revolve around the improbable size of their catch – but this specimen really does look fishy.
Mark Sawyer, 53, hooked the bizarre creature while fishing for carp in a lake.
At first he thought it was a common brown goldfish but on closer inspection he realised it appeared to have the head of a roach, the body and tail of a brown goldfish and the rear fin of a bream.
Those who fear falling hook, line and sinker for a hoax should bear in mind Mr Sawyer is the tackle editor of the Angling Times with a reputation to protect.
And experts who have seen images of the ‘Frankenfish’ agree it is the offspring of more than one species.
The fish, which weighed a little under 2lb, was caught in Cambridge earlier this month. ‘It is a proper oddity,’ said Mr Sawyer, who returned the fish to the lake.
‘The head resembles more of a roach, its lips aren’t quite right.
‘It has the body of a normal goldfish, its anal fin resembles a bream and the tail is of a fan-tailed goldfish.’

Angler Mark Sawyer, 53, the tackle editor for trade magazine the Angling Times, was left reeling by the fish

After photographing the oddity, Mr Sawyer threw it back into Magpie Lake in Cambridge.
He said: 'I have shown the picture to a number of marine boffins who say it is definitely the result of mixed parentage.
'I have caught thousands and thousands of fish but have never seen anything like it before. It is a proper oddity.'
Dr Paul Garner, a fisheries ecologist, said: 'The head is more carp but the back end and extended fins and tail belong to fan-tailed goldfish.

Mark Sawyer says his Frankenstein fish has the face of a roach...

'Goldfish and carp and from the same family of fish and it would not be uncommon for them to come together.
What is very unusual, however, is for a fisherman to catch one of their offspring.'
But another fish expert believes the odd specimen is the result of a fan-tailed goldfish and a normal goldfish mating.
Dr Mark Everard said it had probably been released into the lake from a private aquarium.
Now you decide...

...The anal fin of a bream...

...And the body of a goldfish: So do you agree with Mr Sawyer?

source: dailymail

Read more!

Now that's a DASH-hound! Moment dog mistakes lit rocket for toy and runs around with firework in his mouth

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Dash-hound: A Dachshund runs up to a lit rocket and claims it as his own

This hilarious video shows the moment a mischievous pup mistook a lit firework for a doggie toy - with dangerous results.
The dog, which appears to be a Dachshund, runs up to the white rocket shortly after it is lit. The pet then runs frantically around the area until his owners are able to pry the sputtering rocket from his mouth.
The video, obtained by Petsami, shows the wiener dog run up to the rocket shortly after it is lit. He cocks his head sideways to grab it and then makes off, rocket in mouth, beginning to run around the area.
All the while, sparks and smoke are erupting from the rocket. The dog appears spooked by the sparks, which only encourage him to run faster.


Sparky: The dog grabs the rocket and takes off with it

Explosive: The dog runs around in a dusty enclosure as the live rocket keeps firing

Hold on there: A man tries to chase after the dog, which will not slow down

Easy boy: He finally dropped the rocket after an adrenaline-filled 30 seconds

People run to pry the firework from the dog’s mouth before he hurts himself, but the Dachshund is not to be stopped.
He runs around more until he is finally stopped by a man and a boy.
The dog doesn’t appear to be hurt – only frightened.



source: dailymail

Read more!

Dog tired! The stray who ran unbelievable 1,100 miles across China after making friends with cyclists on cross-country race

By LEON WATSON

Lovable pooch: Mr Heng, a student in Wuhan, Hubei province, had decided to cycle to Llasa as a graduation trip with friends when he met a lonely dog

If dogs are famed for being dogged, Xiao Sa from China really takes the biscuit.
The little white stray showed incredible determination to run for 24 days and complete a 1,100-mile bike race across China.
Her journey started when one of the cyclists, Zhang Heng, 22, gave her food on highway G318 in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
After that, 'Little Sa' simply refused to stop following.
Since then she's become a celebrity in her homeland and a micro blog recording her life online has attracted more than 37,000 followers in two weeks.
On Thursday night more than 4,000 comments on a micro blog online were left congratulating her after a picture was posted of Xiao Sa in the arms of her new friend in front of the Llasa's Potala Palace.

One of the gang: Xiao Sa with the riders travelled more than 1,100 miles together

Mr Heng, a student in Wuhan, Hubei province, had decided to cycle to Llasa as a graduation trip with friends when he met a lonely dog.
'She was lying, tired, on the street around Yajiang, Sichuan province,' he told China Daily. 'So we fed her, and then she followed our team.
They thought she was following for fun, but found she insisted on sticking around them day and night.

The dog has become a celebrity in her homeland and a micro blog recording her life online has attracted more than 37,000 followers

'We felt she might want to come along with us, so we decided to bring her along to the end.'
A week later, Zhang and his friends opened the micro blog account for her.
'We thought the dog was encouraging us, and wanted others to know its story,' he told China Daily.
They created the name Xiao Sa by combining xiao meaning 'little' with the last syllable of Lhasa.
During their journey, Xiao Sa, Zhang and his team covered 1,138 miles and climbed 10 mountains higher than 4,000m.

Xiao Sa's journey started when one of the cyclists, Zhang Heng, 22, gave her food on highway G318 in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Student Zhang Heng gave the lonely dog a bite to eat and it didn't look back

Xiao Sa just ran up the mountains or along dirt roads.
'Many people stopped cycling in some sections, then took the bus, but the dog made it,' he said.
Zhang put the dog on the back of the bike when the team was riding downhill.
'The speed can reach 43 miles per hour, impossible for the dog to catch us.'

Back on the road again: The dog and his friends have built up a massive following online after word got out about their trip

Then word began to spread of the cyclist and the homeless dog.
Wang Penghao, 24, from Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan province, said: 'I've heard about her from other friends who rode to Lhasa on the road before I met her.
'They told me to take care of her if I saw her, and give her some food and water like they did.
'She followed us for three days, running behind our team but sometimes leading us. She's very smart and knows the route, because she never got lost even when we passed through mountains.'
After following Wang, the dog lagged behind and met another cyclist, Wang Zi, on May 4.
'She may be the first dog who ran to Lhasa along this route,' said Wang Zi, who was followed by the dog one day.
'I have a special feeling about her, especially when I found she was never lost, waited for us at milestones on the road, and ran all the time, making me feel that she never feels tired,' he said.
Wang Zi will continue to the foot of Qomolangma, known as Mount Everest in the West, after he arrives in Lhasa.
'If possible, I would like to take the dog with me, taking her to see a more splendid scene.'
Zhang Heng, who accompanied Xiao Sa for 20 days, called her 'a buddy and a friend'.
'I would like to take the dog home and take care of her. She has been a stray on the road for a long time. She needs a home.'



source: dailymail

Read more!

What a goose! Swan looks less than majestic after getting himself stuck in river well for five days

By GRAHAM SMITH

Stuck: A male mute swan stuck in a three-metre deep well on the River Avon at Warwick. It was rescued by the RSPCA after five days

A swan enjoying a casual swim along a river found itself in a spot of bother after becoming stuck in a well for five days.
The male mute swan fell three metres into the well on the River Avon at Warwick.
It was only five days later that a passer-by spotted the bird and called the RSPCA.
The unlucky swan was rescued by animal welfare officer Boris Lasserre, who waded into the well and placed him into a specialised bag.
Both the swan and Mr Lasserre were then lifted out to freedom by RSPCA inspector Ben Jones.
As the swan was underweight, he was taken to Wychbold Swan rescue near Droitwich, Worcestershire, for specialist treatment and care.
Inspector Jones said: 'We are so grateful to the member of the public who called about the swan being trapped - it was in an area with no source of food so may have perished down there without human intervention.

Safe and sound: As the swan was underweight, he was taken to Wychbold Swan rescue near Droitwich, Worcestershire, for specialist treatment and care

'We think he was most likely just swimming along on the water and before he knew what was happening he had fallen into the well and wasn’t able to get out.
'I am at present trying to get a telephone number for the land owner so I can advise them of what happened and suggest what can be done to prevent anything similar happening in the future.
'The good news is that the swan is now in the best possible place for recovery and once he is fully fit he will be released back to the wild.'

source: dailymail

Read more!

Shall I be mother? Man, 50, becomes unlikely surrogate to eight ducklings after injured mum abandoned her eggs

By AMY OLIVER

Ducker up: Mr Risco keeps the ducklings inside his family home in Longton at night but lets them out into a pen during the day

When Ponce Risco noticed a mother duck had abandoned her eggs he decided to take them under his wing.
But the Spanish guesthouse owner from Longton, Staffordshire, didn't quite bargain for the demands eight ducklings can bring.
After watching them hatch and keeping them incubated, the daffy birds now think Mr Risco is their mother and follow him everywhere.
They are kept in a pen during the day but do get to stretch their legs when they accompany Mr Risco on his daily walk to Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve.
Mr Risco, 50, said: 'They think I'm their mother I think, as long as they can see me they are fine but if I go out of site they start making a noise and panic and huddle together.'

Ducker up: Mr Risco keeps the ducklings inside his family home in Longton at night but lets them out into a pen during the day

He added: 'I didn't ask for this, I was just trying to help.
'We were here with the eggs and they take an imprint of the first thing they see.'
The babies' mother and father, named Shy and Handsome by Mr Risco, visit his garden every year.
But, in April he realised something was amiss when Shy abandoned her eggs. In a moment of panic Mr Risco, his wife Lisa, 44, and 15-year-old son Lewis, bought a second-hand incubator for the eggs

Troupe: The ducklings are happy when they can see Mr Risco but when he goes out of sight they huddle together and start quacking loudly

They later found Shy injured in a neighbouring garden. And, while she recovered, the family decided to try their hand at looking after the eggs.
They bought a second incubator and soon the eggs began to hatch - leaving the family with eight ducklings.
Mr Risco is currently keeping the ducks inside at night time, in a part of the house that isn't finished yet and in the day time they are outside in a pen.

Horsing around: The ducklings walk outside Mr Risco's home as a horse rider double takes while trotting past

Nice weather for ducks: Once or twice a day Mr Risco walks to Longton Brickcroft Nature Reserve and the ducklings follow him

And, their real mother is still around. Mr Risco built a floating house for Shy on his pond and she sleeps there but tends to wander off during the day.
'Hopefully they will take off soon,' he added.
The family hasn't named the ducklings but they are able to tell a couple of them apart.
Mr Risco concluded: 'They are a bit of a pain but I would do it all over again.
'They have given us so much joy, they are fantastic.'

Hatchlings: After noticing the mother had abandoned her eggs Mr Risco and his wife decided to take them on and bought an incubator. Here is one duckling just after it hatched

Don't dawdle: Mr Risco said raising the ducklings had been a 'bit of a pain' but that he would do it all over again

source: dailymail

Read more!

The beautiful monsters of the deep: The jellyfish in Norway which look more like aliens than fjord-dwellers

By EDDIE WRENN

Fishbowl: Barrel jellyfish in the North Atlantic Ocean are opaque white colour with purple/blue lobes - and can weigh up to 35k

They look like creatures from another world, but these incredible looking jellyfish are actually found in the Norwegian fjords.
The beautiful animals, which are between one centimetre and a metre in size, swarm in their hundreds as they emerge from the murky depths.
The 37-year-old's pictures show each bizarre brightly-coloured creature in stunning detail.
The jellyfish are also found in the North Atlantic ocean - but Mr Rekdal went into the fjords for these pictures.
One looks almost like a parachute as it floats through the water with its tendrils dragging behind it.
Others, which are almost transparent, appear to glow in the dull water around them.

Pictured: One of the deep sea jellyfish, Leuckartiara medusae, gleams translucently for the lens

Spiky legs: This bizarre creature from the depths is hydromedusae


A blue lionmane jellyfish, pictured in front of an either bigger brother, can grow up to seven feet in diameter - and have tendrils stretching up to 100 feet

Are these twins? Hydromedusa sails past the camera

Mr Rekdal said: 'The deep sea jellyfish, featured here is a special phenomena occurring in only a couple of special fjords.
'These jellyfish are found worldwide in very deep water.
'But here in Norway there are a couple of deep fjords were they come up from the deep to feed during the night.
'Like vampires their cellular structures disintegrate when hit by daylight and they quickly return to the depths at the break of dawn.'

This images of the helmet jellyfish looks almost like the work of a graphic artist. It lives between 1,000 and 7,000ft underwater

Side view: Helmet jelly from another angle in Norway

And one more of this jelly-like creature of the depth, looking from the depth

Mr Rekdal, from Romslo, near Bergen, was able to take the shots by diving with specialist underwater camera equipment.
His camera was carefully housed in aluminium watertight casings which have glass portholes to photograph through.
He admitted taking the photographs was no easy task. Even the slightest movement or flash of light could send his subjects diving out of sight.

The juvenile moon jellyfish can withstand temperatures as low as -6C and as high as 31C

He said: 'Light use is kept to a minimum as the jellyfish quickly react to the light and seek refuge in deeper water.
'The jellyfish, some up to a meter in diameter when arms are extended, swarm in the hundreds, all strutting their arms in hope of catching prey.
'The tricky part is to approach the jellyfish slowly and with as little light as to not warn them of your presence.
After the first shot is fired the jellyfish will turn and head for deeper water. Getting good shots is a challenge.'

source: dailymail

Read more!