On global safari to find the perfect shot

By ROBERT DEX

Scary: Scots wildlife photographer David Yarrow even escaped an up close and personal meeting with a lioness on the prairie during his global travels

He has travelled to some of the world’s remotest destinations and come face to face with deadly animals to capture these stunning images.
And Scots wildlife photographer David Yarrow even escaped an up close and personal meeting with a lioness on the prairie during his global travels.
Mr Yarrow, from Glasgow, has produced almost 90 black and white pictures of wildlife in some of the harshest landscapes on Earth.

Impressive: Mr Yarrow, from Glasgow, has produced almost 90 black and white pictures of wildlife in some of the harshest landscapes on Earth

Beautiful moment: Among the images are two baby penguins helping each other climb an icy slope in Snow Hill, Antarctica

Covering its mouth: Encounter by David Yarrow is published by Clearview, in affiliation with the conservation charity Tusk, on November 12

Looking at you: This is the moment Scots wildlife photographer Mr Yarrow came face to face with an adult brown bear in the wilds of Alaska

Black and white: Self-taught wildlife photographer Mr Yarrow, who has produced the collection for a new book, took this stunning image of a zebra

Fighting talk: Among the images in the set by Mr Yarrow are a pair of polar bears confronting each other in Manitoba, Canada

Locked together: Mr Yarrow has travelled to some of the world's remotest destinations and come face to face with deadly animals

Staring: This stunning portrait of a razorback gorilla was taken by the self-taught wildlife photographer who is promoting his new book, Encounter

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2486855/Photographer-comes-face-face-deadly-animals-capture-stunning-images.html
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Don't worry, Valentine's Day is nearly over… but here's just one more set of the world's most adoring animals

By HELEN LAWSON

This kitty probably won't be the only one wanting their partner to stay awake longer today

The annual day devoted to love - and last-minute panic buying - is nearly done.
But there's still plenty of time left for animal magnetism to work its magic, as these cute photographs show.
The pictures, uploaded by the Cutest Paw site, show animals getting close to the object of their affection. And there's not a wilting garage-bought rose in sight.

Unrequited love? A squirrel's advances catch a tabby cat off-guard

Bears take a romantic stroll and kittens curl up together in the sweet snaps - even though one cat looks unimpressed with its squirrel suitor.
It's not just humans feeling the love today. And if the day hasn't gone to plan, a bit of puppy love should warm your heart.

This duo got into the mood for love by baring their souls to each other

Pucker up: they may be pups but these two have already learned how to show affection

This kitty cuddle forms a calendar-appropriate heart shape to mark the occasion

They called it puppy love - with a side of a wet nose rub for good measure

Who needs a Valentine's card when you can have a cat nap for two?

This guinea pig and ginger cat are getting along just fine, despite the species barrier


source: dailymail

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Dog sentenced to death because he is 'gay' is SAVED at the last minute by animal lover... and she's going to call him ELTON!

By DANIEL MILLER and JAMES NYE

Now safely with a new owner - Elton the dog is pictured in his pen at an animal shelter where he was being threatened with destruction because his owner thought he was gay

The dog dumped at a Tennessee animal shelter to be destroyed because his owner thought it was gay has been saved at the last minute by a kindhearted animal lover.
After the the plight of the American Bulldog mix was seen by millions online, Stephanie Fryns, a veterinary technician from Jackson, stepped up this afternoon and adopted him from Jackson TN Euthanasia.
Naming him Elton, Fryns, who already owns four dogs said that she had planned to rescue him even before his story had traveled around the Internet.

Animal lover Stephanie Fryns has rescued Elton the dog from the animal shelter were he was scheduled to be gassed

Describing the 50 pound dog as 'pretty friendly', Fryn said, 'He's pretty scared of everything, which is understandable. But he loved the car ride.'
She said she suspected that Elton had been involved in illegal dog-fights, but that it was impossible to confirm. However he did have some redness on his ears.

New brothers: Stephanie already has four dogs of her own at her home in Jackson

Fryn doubted he had been used routinely in dog fights because of his 'submissive' nature.
The last minute reprieve for Elton came with only hours to go until he was scheduled to be euthanized at the Tennessee animal shelter.

The Facebook page which started the outcry: Posted to their timeline Jackson TN Euthanasia explained why the dog was with them to be destroyed

He was dumped there because according to the owner of the shelter, the dog's master noticed him 'hunched over' another male dog, which led him to assume he was gay.
Yesterday a Facebook user became of aware of his plight after seeing his picture on the shelter's timeline and contacted Jackson TN Euthanasia to discover the reason why he had been left there to be destroyed.
'His owner threw him away bc he refuses to have a 'gay' dog!' wrote a user who calls herself 'Jackson Madison Rabies Control Stalker'.

Two male penguins cuddle at the Bremerhaven zoo, in Germany.

'Don't let this gorgeous dog die [because] his owner is ignorant of normal dog behavior! He's in kennel 10L and he WILL be put down tomorrow bc there is no room at the inn!'
Following an outcry over the Internet numerous people including Stephanie Fryns arrived at the shelter this morning to adopt the unloved dog.

source: dailymail

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Who lives in this animal house? Shocked dinner guest reveals images of home FILLED with with taxidermy trophies

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Living on the wild side: The home is brimming with hunting trophies from stuffed rhino to elk and lions

A guest who was invited to a dinner party got a shock when he came face to face with hundreds of work of taxidermy at his host's home.
He reportedly had no prior warning that his new friends were seasoned big game hunters - and avid collectors of the spoils of their sport.
From stuffed lions to bears, rhinos and crocodiles, the avid hunters go on a trip to Africa every six weeks, he claimed.

What's for dinner? One guest was astonished when faced with his host's big game hunting hobby at the home

The pictures were posted to Reddit by user sweete_d with the remark: 'Invited to dinner party, I was given no warning.'
The home contains around 75 taxidermy statues and unsurprisingly, the home owners have a large gun collection.

Head count: A bison, deer and hippo are among the many busts adorning the walls of the home

Big game taxidermy appears to have become something of a popular decor choice recently after a mansion was put up for sale proudly displaying dozens of pieces.
The $15million home in Celina, Texas is a shrine to blood sports and boasts more than 40 mounted busts of deer, antelope and rhino heads on its walls.
The 314-acre property is also perfect for equestrian lovers with two competition arenas, a ranch and several barns.

Big game: Along with the works of taxidermy are sets of tusks decorating the spa

The lion king: Two majestic statues decorate what appears to be a living room

source: dailymail

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The animals went in two by two! London Zoo staff in annual stocktake as they note down rare insects, tree frogs and penguins

By HARRIET ARKELL

Me first: Penguins line up to be counted at London Zoo's annual stocktake of every animal they have

Counting sheep may be so boring it sends you to sleep, but counting penguins who are not inclined to line up nicely certainly keeps you on your toes.
Today the staff at London Zoo had their notepads and pens at the ready as they attempted to marshal their 18,000-odd beasts for their annual stocktake.
Penguins, tigers, baby monkeys and even insects were all noted down, with staff saying the fish and ants were hardest to count.

Stay still! Zoo keeper Zuzana Matyasova tries to count the penguins

London Zoo will share the information they amass with zoos around the world, in the hope that animals in need of a mate might find one.
David Field, London Zoo's director, said: 'We put all this data together so we know what zoo has what animal.
'All the work we do here counting the animals is so we can understand what we have and breed together the most genetically important male and females together to breed these incredibly endangered species.'

Jill the Red Kneed Spider is inspected during the annual zoo stocktake

Some of the world's most endangered species were counted for the first time, including a pair of Sumatran tigers and Ziggy, a white naped mangabey.
The data will be shared with zoos worldwide to help with breeding programmes so animals like Ziggy, or Ricky the rockhopper penguin, who is also single, will be able to mate.
The zookeepers recorded 17,519 animals in last year's count, with 767 species, but since then the zoo has seen a number of arrivals.

Bribe them with snacks: The otters stay still to be counted

Sssssh, he's trying to think! Here a Diamond Python slides over a zookeeper's clipboard

Sumatran tigers Jae Jae and Melati have been brought over to breed, replacing elderly Lumpur and Raika who were moved to a wildlife retirement home this year after failing to produce any cubs.
Mr Field said: 'It is so important for us because we are all about tigers in terms of field work, raising funds and also breeding them.
'The Sumatran tigers are incredibly endangered and there are fewer than 300 in the wild.

The zoo's Jeff Lambert smiles as two leaf insects get close on his nose, while meerkats check the books, right

'Jae Jae and Melati are both ready and in their prime for producing the tiger cubs.'
The zoo has also seen the addition of baby black and white colobus monkeys, cotton top tamarins and one rare mangabey, born just before Christmas, which may bring the total number of mammals up from last year's 500.
Kate Sanders, the zoo's monkey keeper, said: 'They are very endangered in the wild and we have a very good record breeding them.'

It takes twit-two: A Barn Owl, left, and a Eurasian Eagle Owl were among those who stood up to be counted

She spoke about the difficulties of counting animals such as fish and ants, adding: 'With the mammals if you don't know how many you have, you have problems.
'We have lost a couple of loved ones through the year. It's a sad factor of the job.'
One of the animals who might be helped by today's census is Ricky the rockhopper penguin, described by zoo staff as 'quite a character'.
Adrian Walls, team leader of birds, said: 'We hope to be able to find Ricky a partner. We haven't moved him to another zoo what him being such a diva as he might cause problems.'

A Bull Frog seemed to rather enjoy himself as he was sorted from his friends during the annual census at the zoo

Get a room: A male jungle nymph sits on a female jungle nymph during a photocall for today's stocktake

source: dailymail

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Creatures of bad habits: The shocking images of animals smoking cigarettes

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Shelling out for a bad habit: The smoking terrapin in Yongji county, China gets through half a pack a day

Smoking kills - and for these poor animals the vice has no less fatal consequences.
These are the shocking images taken by pet owners after many forced cigarettes into their animals' mouths and made them smoke.
From the terrapin who smokes half a pack each day in China to Zhora the Russian chimp who was forced to enter rehab for addiction, the images show the saddening effects of a nicotine habit.

Puffin away: This magpie in Poland retrieves cigarettes from the packet when offered one

One in five deaths in the U.S. is related to smoking and cigarettes account for 90 per cent of lung cancer cases.
Around 35million people in the U.S. try to quit smoking every year - particularly as part of their New Year's resolutions.

Life's a drag: Cats are among the worst affected by cigarette smoke because the carcinogens also stick to their fur

Human nature: Zhora the chimp was taken out of her zoo in Russia and put into rehab because of her problems with alcohol and cigarettes

Teaching an old dog bad tricks: Treasure the cocker spaniel, who lives in Beijing, China, chases people who are smoking down the street and eats butts

Filthy habit: Raju the monkey picked up smoking from his rickshaw driver owner Ramesh

Lighting up: A Puff adder called Po smokes one cigarette in the morning and one at night in Taiwan

source: dailymail

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The cute Christmas pictures that will melt even the coldest heart: Adorable snaps of kittens, puppies, and lambs in festive hats

By AMANDA WILLIAMS

Time for a nap: Even the coldest-hearted Scrooge would have their heart melted by these adorable Christmas animals

Even the coldest-hearted Scrooge would be melted by these adorable Christmas animals.
Dressed in Santa hats or playing with tinsel the merry models start their careers early - aged just six weeks old.
And it's a fine art for photographer Mark Taylor, from Guildford, who has to distract the kittens and puppies just enough so they don't eat the props.

What a little cracker: The photographer manages to distract his subjects just long enough to get the perfect shot

Card companies and calendar makers all over the world use his work which he does following in the footsteps of his renowned photographer mother Jane Burton who passed away in 2007.
Growing up in Surrey Mr Taylor said he was surrounded by some very unusual animals his mother used to photograph.
Mr Taylor, 48, who together with dad Kim Taylor run the family firm Warren Photographic, in Guildford, said continuing his mother's work was a lovely experience.

Give us a slice! The photographer has mastered the art of getting different animals to work together

He said: 'Growing up in Albury in Surrey as a child we used to have a tame fox, a badger, an iguana and even a type of crocodile called a caiman. The kids would love to come to our house because it was like a zoo.

Baa Humbug: This little lamb does not seem to think much of his Santa hat

Dog tired: Dressed in Santa hats or playing with tinsel the animals start their merry modelling careers aged just six weeks old

Peekaboo! The photographer is following in the footsteps of his renowned photographer mum Jane Burton who passed away in 2007

'I'm not sure this suits me': The photgapher said continuing his mother's work was 'a lovely experience'... although this chap doesn't look so sure

'At first I wasn't as keen on photography, we spent some time as a family in Kenya. My sister Hazel and I would spend what seemed like hours in the back of a Land Rover while mum waited to get a picture of a lion or something.
'But I actually picked up a camera about 15 years ago when I was in Canada while my ex-wife taught there, mum said to me as something to do why don't I do landscape pictures for them.

Where are the huskies when you need them? Mark Taylor has now become known as 'the master of cuteness' for his work with animals

Nuts about Christmas: This cheeky little chap won't be telling anyone where he has squirreled his presents away until the big day

'The Canadian landscape is stunning on the western coast and I think I got the bug from there. Doing the cute animal pictures now is a great privilege and I am proud to continue mum's work.'
Mark said using Christmas hats and props with his furry subjects was a challenge especially as most of the time they tried to eat them.

It wasn't us: These two look like they may been caught up in some trouble as they play with Christmas decorations

He said: 'The natural reaction of a kitten is to lift its paw up and try and take the hat off and eat the bobble.
'Luckily as well as inheriting mum's talent for cute animal pictures I also have her assistant Britta who is great at keeping them distracted just long enough to get the picture.'

source: dailymail

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