Emaciated dog went 'weeks' without eating because of a rusted coffee can stuck round its neck

By MEGHAN KENEALLY

Pitiful: The starving dog may not have eaten for weeks, say rescuers

An abused dog has been found wandering the streets in Dallas with a coffee can around its neck.
The bottom and the top circular portions of the coffee can had been removed and the remaining tube had been placed over the head and around the neck of the starving dog.
When a Good Samaritan found the emaciated dog, it became clear that the coffee can had been on it’s neck for a sizeable amount of time because her skin had grown around the edges of the can.

Cruel: The dog was unable to eat because the edges of the can gouged into her neck

Care: The can is painstakingly cut away from Java's neck by Animal Allies of Texas

‘Her body had tried to grow over the can,’ a spokesman from the Animal Allies of Texas told the Dallas News.
Rescuers jokingly nicknamed the dog Java, and took it to Dallas Animal Services along with another stray dog named Joshua.

Raw: Java's skin was severely lacerated by the rusty, jagged edges of the can

Every one of severely emaciated Java' ribs was visible, as the edges of the can cut into the dog’s neck, preventing her from eating for days or weeks.
One of the worse injuries was to one of Java’s ears, which was nearly severed by the sharp edge of the rusting can.

Bloodied: The coffee can after removal from Java's head. The dog is now recovering from its ordeal

After the veterinarians cut the can off Java’s neck, the dog was taken to Metro Paws Animal Hospital.
‘The next few days are critical,’ a Metro Paws representative posted on their Facebook page, where they posted pictures of the injured dog.
‘We have to get her stable enough for surgery and watch out for organ failure due to her starved condition. But that tail is wagging.’

source: dailymail

Read more!

Signed with a paw, Uggie the autobi-dog-raphy: Jack Russell star of The Artist releases book about his life

By CHLOE THOMAS

Uggie the Jack Russell was the star attraction at a book signing in London yesterday

From high-fiving to playing dead, Uggie has mastered every trick he has turned his paw to. Except, it seems, doing nothing.
Despite officially retiring from showbusiness earlier this year, the world’s most famous dog just couldn’t resist one last lick of the limelight.
So the ten-year-old Jack Russell terrier, who starred in The Artist, has taken a path well-trodden by many retired Hollywood bipeds – writing his memoirs.

Say cheese! Uggie lapped up the attention from his fans at the event

He relied on the assistance of British journalist Wendy Holden to complete the book. But he wouldn’t be the first screen star to have a little behind-the-scenes help on the writing front.
Judging by the crowds queuing around the block to give Uggie a pat on the head at his first British book signing yesterday, his fans are only too delighted to see him take on the literary world.

Uggie, seen here with co-star Bérénice Bejo in a scene from the film which made him famous, The Artist

If he was tired after jetting in from promotional appearances in Paris, he didn’t show it, performing tricks for his adoring audience under the glare of dozens of cameras at Waterstones book shop in Kensington.
Looking every inch the screen star in his studded collar with an elaborate gold bone pendant, he also signed copies of Uggie: The Artist – My Story with a neat paw print.
The book tells the story of Uggie’s rise from abandoned puppy to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars under the guidance of his owner, dog trainer Omar Von Muller.

Uggie, seen here with co-star Bérénice Bejo in a scene from the film which made him famous, The Artist

Miss Holden, from Suffolk, said she contacted Mr Von Muller about working on a book after seeing Uggie appear in The Artist as Jack, the trusty sidekick of fading matinee idol George Valentin, played by Jean Dujardin.
Miss Holden said: ‘Uggie’s journey from a rescue dog to star of the silver screen is a classic rags to riches story which can happen to animals as well as humans.’
Uggie got his big break appearing alongside Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon in the drama Water For Elephants. But it was the Oscar-winning film The Artist that catapulted him to global stardom and awards glory. He even became the first dog to have his prints immortalised on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Uggie has even tasted Oscar glory in his career, with Jean Dujardin accepting the award for Best Picture

I've got this licked: Fan Wendy Coumantaros receives a kiss from Uggie

Uggie poses with his co-author Wendy Holden (left), and his trainer Omar von Muller

The book, 'Uggie: The Artist: My Story' tells the story of the Jack Russell's rise to Hollywood stardom

It wasn't just human fans who turned up to see Uggie the film star dog, some of his own kind wanted to see the famous animal too

source: dailymail

Read more!

Stop monkeying around! Hapless lion cub's clumsy bid to climb out of a tree captured on camera

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tangled: Try as it might to wriggle free, the lion cub managed to become even more deeply entwined

This hapless lion cub will think twice before monkeying around again.
The youngster managed to become stranded precariously in the branches of a low-standing tree while playing with his siblings.
But he soon discovered that while he may have been nimble enough to get himself up there, getting down was an entirely more challenging prospect.

High and dry: This young lion cub managed to become entangled in the branches of a low standing tree while playing

Hanging on: The cub discovered it was not quite nimble enough to follow his siblings up into the branches

Amateur Russian photographer Alexey Tishchenko snapped the stranded lion in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya.

Drama: Amateur Russian photographer Alexey Tishchenko snapped the drama unfolding during a visit to the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya

He said: 'I was watching a pride of lion’s when all of a sudden the young cub leaped up into the tree and tried to balance on the branches.
'You could tell that as soon as he got himself stuck that he immediately regretted the decision to go climbing in the trees.
'It was as if he forgot he was a lion and thought he was a monkey instead.

Monkeying around: Photographer Alexey Tishchenko said it looked as if the cub 'forgot he was a lion and thought he was a monkey instead'

'It was such a funny and unexpected sight to see the lion up in the tree.
'As soon as I started experimenting with photography, I knew that it was animal photography that I wanted to specialise in because animals can be so unpredictable and end up doing such funny things.'
Alexey, 41, spends his days heading up his cargo transportation business and his spare time behind the lens focusing on the natural world.

Wiggle room: The cub found a few branches to support he weight as he summoned more energy to struggle free from the tree in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya

source: dailymail

Read more!

Gong wild! Photographers stake out the best of the animal kingdom on land, at sea and in the air to claim the honours in competition

By LARISA BROWN

Back front back: Three egrets fighting for the best place to fish stand on a frozen lake in Hungary

From herons rudely showing off their behinds while hunting for fish, to hungry cheetahs preparing to pounce on their next dinner - these striking images capture the magic of the animal kingdom.
The photos are entries to the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and are among a field of almost 12,500 entries by photographers from 27 countries.
The winning image, titled 'Stargazer', is a night shot of white-tailed deer in winter at their feeding place in Finland.

Hungry: Four cheetahs prepare to pounce on a gazelle as it runs away as fast as it can

Finnish photographer Tommy Vikars spent countless hours at night in the forest to get the shot.
He worked with a hidden camera, which he could trigger with a remote shutter release, while he sat in his hiding place about 50 metres away from the feeding place, observing the scene through the 300mm lens of a second camera.
He said: 'In the dark it was extremely difficult to see what was going on at the feeding place, and many images would come out useless.

Winning photo: Star-grazing deer search the forest floor for food with stars shining brightly above them

'Often the deer would move too fast or in the wrong direction given the long exposure time.
'For years I spent almost every spare minute in the forest. In the beginning I did not photograph that much, mostly I just wandered around thinking what a fascinating place the forest was with all its secrets to discover, and I realized how healthy, happy and whole I felt on these hikes.
'This is the kind of feeling I aim to convey in my photographs. I wanted to capture the essence of the forest, its spirit.'
The competition European Wildlife Photographer of the Year is run annually by the GDT, the Society of German Nature Photographers.

A hare in a corn field in Austria appears to be quite unperturbed by a photographer's presence

source: dailymail

Read more!

Pictured: The astonishing moment an owl snatched up a full-grown cat for a 'light' meal

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Big appetite: Swooping in, an owl is caught wide-eyed clutching a domestic cat in its talons as seen in this photo taken in Minnesota

In the famous poem by Edward Lear the owl and the pussy cat marry and dance by the light of the moon.
But as this amazing photo shows, the love and affection expressed by the pair in their beautiful pea green boat does not extend to the battle of survival in the wilds of Minnesota.
This brazen barred owl is pictured grabbing the hapless domestic cat after swooping out of the darkness in a surprise attack.

Make believe: Seated in a row boat, poem The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear contrast a friendly pair of newly weds basking in the light of the moon

According to nature experts in the U.S., the owl - which is easily identified by its evening call that sounds like ‘Who cooks for you! Who cooks for you!’ – repeatedly drops its oversized prey from high up in attempt to stun it into submission.
It then devours its meal - with not one of Lear’s famous ‘runcible’ spoon’s in sight.
The owl is known by other names, including Eight Hooter, Rain Owl, Wood Owl, and Striped Owl.
But it is probably best known as the Hoot Owl based on its distinctive, culinary call which is repeated eight times in sequence.

source: dailymail

Read more!

No need for the dentist yet! Cute lion cub lets out toothless yawn as she looks to the sky at Thai zoo aged just six days old

By MARK DUELL

Adorable: This six-day-old lion cub named Ying Yai, which translates as 'Elder Princess', was pictured in a zoo in Thailand closing her eyes and looking to the sky as she yawned in bright sunlight

It looks like she's letting out a mighty roar - but a lack of teeth makes her look more cute than fierce.
This six-day-old lion cub named Ying Yai, which translates as ‘Elder Princess’, was pictured in a zoo in Thailand closing her eyes and looking to the sky as she yawned in bright sunlight.
Ashley Vincent, 48, who lives in the country after he moved there from London, took the photos from just a few feet away as he lay on the ground at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province.

Sisters: Another photo shows Ying Yai and Ying Klang accidently clashing heads at the age of 14 days, because they were still a little unsteady on their feet

Ying Yai was born at the zoo with her sisters Ying Klang, which translates as 'Middle Princess', and Ying Lek, which means 'Little Princess'.
Mr Vincent, who watched the cubs growing up for five months, said: ‘At six days old the cubs were teething. Occasionally they would wince and give out a little cry.

Up close: Ashley Vincent, 48, who lives in the country after moving there from London, took the photos from just a few feet away as he lay on the ground at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province

‘Laying on the ground I was able to catch the fully extended jaws of Ying Yai exposing her teeth they were just beginning to show through. I called the photo “Roaring Practice” for the fun of it.’
Another photo shows Ying Yai and Ying Klang accidently clashing heads at the age of 14 days, because they were still a little unsteady on their feet.

Line up: In photos when they are aged between 23 days and one month, the three sisters appear to pose for photographs, sitting in neat rows

Growing up: Ying Yai, who is pictured at five months old. Mr Vincent stopped photographing the cubs in the open when they were aged five months because they were 'too big and boisterous' to cope with

Looking scarier: Photographer Mr Vincent watched the cubs growing up for five months at the Thailand zoo

source: dailymail

Read more!

Just too cute! Adorable red panda cubs born at British zoo that look like teddy bears emerge from their nest box for first time

By STEVE NOLAN

A close up of one of the creatures. The twins are the first of their kind to be born at the Cotswold centre for a decade

These adorable pictures show the moment two cuddly red panda cubs take their first look at the outside world as they emerge from their den for the very first time.
Not only are the little pair super cute but they are also extremely rare and the first creatures of their kind to be born at Cotswold Wildlife Park in a decade after mother Scarlet gave birth back in June.
Keepers at the park were stunned at the birth as they had no idea that first-time mother Scarlet was pregnant with the male cubs.

This is the moment two rare red panda cubs emerge from their den for the first time at Cotswold Wildlife Park

Staff had not observed any signs of mating between two-year-old Scarlet and father Doodoo, five, and the mother's thick fur hid any growing signs of pregnancy.
Red pandas are also secretive and shy by nature and only have a small window of opportunity for breeding every couple of years when the female is receptive.

The pair, who are yet to be named, were pictured snuggled in their box at just four weeks old. Keepers were unaware that mother Scarlet was pregnant until she gave birth

The creatures are regarded as as 'vulnerable' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which means the species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Cotswold Wildlife Park has kept red pandas for 40 years but, due to a combination of habitat loss and hunting, it is thought there are less than 2,500 of the gentle species left in the wild.

Red pandas are also secretive and shy by nature and only have a small window of opportunity for breeding every couple of years when the female is receptive

source: dailymail

Read more!

That's one bad fish: Photographer gets shot of a lifetime after short-tempered shark circles his boat for two hours

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tough customer: This bad-tempered shortfin Mako shark circled a photographer's boat for two hours and only left after filling up on bait which was thrown into the water

These terrifying pictures show the moment a photographer was circled by a hungry shark - for two hours.
Brave Sam Cahir refused to panic during the real-life Jaws scenario - getting in the water with his camera to capture these incredible shots.
Australian Sam had been taking part in a Great White tagging trip when he found himself face-to-face with the deadly predator off the Neptune Islands, South Australia.

Predator: Sam Cahir had been taking part in a tagging trip in the Indian Ocean when he found himself face-to-face with the vicious fish

The Shortfin Mako shark - which have been known to attack humans eventually left after eating tuna baits thrown into the water.
Sam said: 'The Mako made some menacing passes. On a number of occasions she almost swallowed the camera whole, allowing me to shoot straight down her maw.
'It was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel humbled to have witnessed such a display of nature's quirkiness.'
Sam was taking part in work carried out by the Fox Shark Research Foundation, which was set up by Andrew Fox, the son of famous shark attack victim Rodney Fox, in notorious shark infested waters.

Brave: As the Mako circles the boat relentlessly, Sam Cahir slowly edges his way into the water to get some pictures

Sam said: 'When I saw the shark I couldn't get in the water fast enough to get some pictures.
'I couldn't believe what I was seeing up close. This Mako was audacious, bordering manic.
'At one point I had a Great White and a Mako circling for the tuna bait. The Mako literally browbeat away a Great White and not just any Great White Shark but a very large dominant male maybe six times her mass and twice her size - it was amazing.
'Once the Great White left, the Mako decided I was the next threat to her free meal. She circled me for around two hours making intimidatingly close passes.'

Snappy temper: The Shortfin Mako shark - which have been known to attack humans - eventually left after eating tuna baits thrown into the water

source: dailymail

Read more!

Twycross Zoo keepers sacked and arrested 'for beating star elephant Tonzi and two other with canes'

By ANNA EDWARDS

Tonzi, seen with daughter Tara, was allegedly whipped with bamboo canes by three men

Three zoo keepers have been sacked and arrested after allegedly whipping a female elephant at a Leicestershire zoo and harming two others.
Three male staff members are accused of beating Tonzi the elephant with bamboo canes after reportedly being caught on CCTV camera.
A source at the zoo claims that the keepers took turns hitting the 28-year-old elephant but left no marks, so it was not obvious that the animal had been harmed, it was reported.

Tonzi, seen with her daughter Tara, was allegedly subjected to beatings. The zoo says that it contacted animal welfare organisations afterwards

It is believed that the other two elephants were hit with bamboo canes.
But when other staff members were checking through CCTV footage of the zoo, they spotted the alleged abuse.
The source told The Sun: 'It appeared Tonzi was being beaten by the keepers.
'Apparently the keepers were taking it in turns
The source claims that the zoo fears people will not visit the Leicestershire attraction after the alleged cruelty to the star animal.
Tonzi, who originally came from a timber camp in Burma, became a grandmother this year when her daughter Tara had a baby.
The zoo, which has an 80-acre site, confirmed that they had sacked staff following the alleged incident and said the animals had not been permanently harmed.
A spokesman said: 'Three members of Twycross Zoo staff have been dismissed.

Investigation: Twycross Zoo sacked three members of staff accused of beating one of its elephants. Pictured are other elephants at the famous zoo

'This action follows an internal investigation and relates to an animal welfare issue. Twycross Zoo acted rapidly and comprehensively as soon as the issue came to light.
'The zoo immediately instigated an extensive investigation in line with its internal policies and legal welfare requirements.
'The small group of animals this incident relates to suffered no lasting injury, are behaving normally and are now doing extremely well.
'The animals have been and continue to be on full public show.
'The incident was reported immediately to the police who are investigating.
'In addition, leading zoo animal welfare organisations were informed.'
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said that there was an ongoing investigation.
She said: 'We can confirm that there is an ongoing investigation in connection with the unnecessary suffering of an elephant at Twycross Zoo.

source: dailymail

Read more!

Adorable litter of wrinkly-faced piglets make history after becoming the first of their kind to be born in the UK for 30 years

By SARAH JOHNSON

One of a kind: The first litter of rare Meishan piglets in the UK for 30 years was born at Whauphill Farm in Dumfries and Galloway

They are less than two weeks old, but these piglets already have wrinkles and are making history.
The litter of eight Meishan piglets are the first of their kind to be born in the UK for thirty years.
The breed, with their long floppy ears and wrinkly faces, is popular in China but has never been properly introduced in this country.

Proud mother: Miep gave birth to her new brood two weeks ago

Owner Linda McDonald-Brown, 51, brought the litter’s year-old mother Miep and nine-month-old father Wrinkles over from northern Holland with husband Graham, 47, last year.
And two weeks ago Miep gave birth to seven girls and one boy.

Hello! Four of the piglets peek out from their sty. Meishans are a popular breed in China because of their unusually large ears and wrinkly faces

The couple plan to start the UK’s first pedigree line of the species and have already sold two of the litter to a smallholder in Essex.
Linda, from Wigtown, Dumfries and Galloway, now intends to bring other boars in from Eastern Europe to create a foundation Meishan family from which every pig in the UK will descend.
She said: ‘We are really pleased with the birth. They are the first to be born in this country for about 30 years so it’s very exciting to be involved.

Owner Linda McDonald-Brown with mother and piglets. She has been breeding pigs for 15 years

‘We went across to Holland to stay with a friend who also breeds pigs. We didn’t set out with the intention of buying anything but when I saw them I just fell in love with them and bought two sows then and there and later a boar.
‘I have never seen anything like them in my life.
‘They are really prolific breeders in China and are very popular because of their unusual appearance and fatty meat but for some reason they have never taken off here and I want to change that.’

Hot to trot: Two of the piglets frolick around in the grass outsie the sty

source: dailymail

Read more!

Cheer up, it might never happen... Baby otters sport matching glum expressions

By KERRY MCDERMOTT

Olympic inspired: The adorable baby otters have been named Jess, Sophie and Mo after Britain's Olympic champions
Enchanted staff named the cute creatures after three of Britain's Olympic gold medal winners; heptathlete Jess Ennis, distance runner Mo Farah, and rower Sarah Hosking.

Their Olympic namesakes inspired scenes of jubilation across the country with gold-medal winning performances at the London Games.
But these adorable baby otters - named Jess, Mo and Sophie after three of Britain's 2012 Olympic superstars - all sport less than enthusiastic expressions.
The tiny oriental small-clawed pups, weighed less than half a pound and were just three inches long when they were born at Bournemouth Oceanarium in Dorset.

Why so glum? The cute baby otters sport identical sorrowful expressions at Bournemouth Oceanarium

Enchanted staff named the cute creatures after three of Britain's Olympic gold medal winners; heptathlete Jess Ennis, distance runner Mo Farah, and rower Sarah Hosking.
The oriental or Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world, and is distinctive for its forepaws, which give the creatures a high degree of manual dexterity allowing them to feed on molluscs and crabs.

Playful: the baby otters weighed less than half a pound and were just three inches long when they were born at Bournemouth Oceanarium

The oriental or Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world, and is distinctive for its forepaws, which give the creatures a high degree of manual dexterity allowing them to feed on molluscs and crabs.

Namesakes: The otters have been named after heptathlete Jess Ennis, distance runner Mo Farah and rower Sophie Hosking

Solemn: One of the solemn faced otters, left, is cuddled by a member of staff (right) at Bournemouth Oceanarium in Dorset

source: dailymail

Read more!