What do you get when you cross a lion with a tiger? A liger! And these cute cubs will grow into the biggest felines on the planet

Three rare liger cubs were born at Novosibirsk Zoo in southern Russia
The month old female cubs have a lion father and a tiger mother
The cubs will eventually grow to be the largest known feline species

By STEVE NOLAN

Adorable: Three rare liger cubs took their first steps in the outside world after being born at a Russian zoo last month

With the facial features of a lioness but the stripes of a tiger, these adorable cubs are a rarity in the feline world.
The three little cubs may look cute now, but they will grow to be the largest known species of big cat in the world - the liger.
The three rare ligers cubs, which can grow up to 3.5 metres in length, have been keeping their liger mother Zita and lion father Sam on their toes at the Novosibirsk Zoo in southern Russia.

Loving: The liger's mother Zita is pictured lovingly grooming one of her cubs

Big cats: The cubs will grow up to be the largest known species of feline in the world

Playful: The liger cubs were pictured playing with their mother on their first foray into the great outdoors

The female cubs were all born a month ago but have just taken their first steps outside.
The tiny trio are all on a diet of their mother's milk at the moment but will tuck in to up to 100lb of meat in one sitting when they are fully grown.

Cosy: A month old liger cub snuggles up to its mother

A keeper at the zoo said: 'All three of the girls have completely different characters.
'One is always near their mother's side, one enjoys exploring and one is always misbehaving and play fighting.

Big eaters: The cubs are currently on a diet of their mother's milk but will eat up to 100lbs of meat in one sitting when they are older

'Visitors coming to the zoo have been desperate to get a glimpse of the newborns as they are so rare.
'People always comment on how it's hard to believe they grow to be so big as they are so cute and tiny at there moment.'
The animals have faint tiger stripes on a lionesque tawny background.
Male ligers can grow to up to 3.5 metres in length.
The first known liger dates back to 19th century India.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384011/Cute-Liger-cubs-grow-biggest-cats-world.html
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Mystery over bizarre behaviour of baboons at Dutch zoo who have been turning their backs on visitors

Baboons at Emmen Dierenpark have behaved this way four times in 20 years
Animals have stopped eating and have been sitting frozen on the ground
Baffled zoologists have failed to find an explanation for bizarre behaviour

By KERRY MCDERMOTT

Mystery: Everything from an unseen predator to a natural disaster has been put forward as a possible explanation for the strange behaviour of the baboons

The bizarre behaviour of a troop of 'hysterical' baboons at a Dutch zoo has been blamed on everything from an earthquake to a UFO.
Ordinarily seen scampering around on their island at the Emmen Dierenpark in the northern Netherlands, the gang of 112 monkeys have been sitting frozen on the ground and turning their backs on visitors this week.
The baboons have even lost their appetites, say baffled zoologists at the park, who have heard various theories as to what may be behind the animals' strange behaviour.

'Hysterical': The baboons at the zoo in the Netherlands have been turning their backs to visitors this week

'They became panicked at the end of the day on Monday, they were hysterical, not jumping around but behaving strangely,' zoologist Wijbren Landman told AFP.
'On Tuesday and Wednesday they just sat in the trees or on the ground, hardly moving or eating.'
Mr Landman described various theories put forward to explain the bizarre scenes at the zoo, with some suggesting the baboons may have spotted a predator - either a real one or an image of one on a visitor's t-shirt - or felt the rumblings of an earthquake.

Baffled: Zoologists told Dutch news outlets they have failed to hit on an explanation for the animals' strange behaviour

The zoologist admitted he was yet to hear an explanation that 'holds water'.
'The craziest suggestion was that it was caused by a UFO,' Mr Landman said.
Baboons at the zoo, who were all born in captivity, have behaved this way four times in the past 20 years, the team at Emmen Dierenpark said.

Theories: The baboons at the zoo have been sitting motionless in trees or on the ground at the zoo

Traumatised: The team at the zoo consulted outside experts, but they have so far failed to shed any light on the mystery

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2384032/Baboons-Dutch-zoo-sitting-backs-turned-visitors.html
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If you go down to the woods today... you'll find a family of dancing bears! Hidden camera reveals exactly what grizzlies are up to when they think no-one is watching

Amazing video filmed in wilderness of Canada's Kananaskis Country
When one grizzly discovers tree he returns with a whole family

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Dance party: A family of bears has been filmed dancing around a tree in a Canadian park

North America may be full of bears, but it is rare for people ever to get close enough to observe them in their natural environment.
So this video, filmed by a hidden camera in a Canadian park, is a unique opportunity to see how wildlife behave when they are not in the presence of humans.
And the result may be surprising - because the bears appear to be pole-dancing around a tree in the middle of the woods.

Comfort: The bears were apparently attracted by the chance to scratch their backs on the tree's bark

The extraordinary video was filmed in Kananaskis Country, a large expanse of national park in the province of Alberta.
Part of it was made with a normal camera, and part with a night-vision lens, so that it captures wildlife at play 24 hours a day.
Over a number of days in May and June this year, a variety of animals including deer and black bears approached the tree which the camera was trained on.

Pose: The unusual positions taken by the animals are reminiscent of human pole-dancing

At one point, as many as four bears were vying to grab a spot on the tree - and their vigorous motion made it look as though they were pole-dancing.
The video of still images edited together and set to an upbeat soundtrack by Ewan Dobson was uploaded to YouTube by Alberta parks offficials.
It has garnered more than 200,000 views in less than a week as viewers flocked to enjoy the wild antics.



source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381372/Hidden-camera-Canadas-Kananaskis-Country-reveals-wild-bears-think-ones-watching.html
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Puffins at sunset and baby elephants learning how to use their trunks: Stunning wildlife photographs capture nature at its best

Images by the world's best wildlife photographers have been released
They are part of the UK's largest wildlife photography show, WildPhotos
It will be hosted by television presenter Chris Packham
Budding snappers will have the opportunity to learn the skills and tricks needed to create stunning shots

By JAYMI MCCANN

African Elephants in Botswana taken by wildlife photographer and television presenter Chris Packham

Everyone believes they are a budding photographer, but these stunning images of nature at its finest show why we should leave it to the professionals.
Taken by some of the world's top wildlife experts, they show the skill that is needed to take such intimate pictures of nature.
The images have been released as part of the UK’s largest wildlife photography show, WildPhotos 2013.

Michael Nichols from National Geographic captured a newborn elephant being taught by its mother how to use its trunk in the Serengeti National Park

Hosted by zoologist and conservationist Mark Carwardine and wildlife expert and TV presenter Chris Packham, WildPhotos takes place at the Royal Geographical Society, London on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October 2013.

A striped field mouse investigates a red blossom in a cornfield. Grzegorz Lesniewski's managed to get an impressively close shot of the animal

The photographs feature wildlife from across the globe, from elephants on the Serengei to puffins in the north of Scotland.
More than 20 of the world’s top wildlife and environmental photographers will gather in London to showcase their work and offer insight and advice.
Amateur snappers will be able to learn secret tricks of the trade from industry experts through a series of workshops.

A dramatic snap showing Atlantic Puffins resting at dusk, Treshnish Isles, Scotland, by Danny Green

The two-day event is aimed at bringing together keen amateurs, budding enthusiasts, professional photographers and industry experts in a lively arena of debate and display.
This year’s keynote speech will be delivered by the American photographer Michael ‘Nick’ Nichols, editor at large for photography at National Geographic.
Charlotte Geeves, Festival & Events Director of Wildscreen, the charity behind WildPhotos, said: ‘In addition to being able to rub shoulders with the world’s greatest wildlife and conservation photographers, you’ll also get first-hand technical advice.
'This year’s amazing line-up of the best British and international photographers appeals not only to those in the industry but to anyone interested in how nature photography can be a powerful medium in supporting the conservation of the natural world.’

A coastal black bear searching for crabs in the river by Bertie Gregory

An unusual slow exposure shot of a spider's web blowing in the wind by photographer Jodie Randall

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2381310/WildPhotos-2013s-stunning-wildlife-photographs-capture-nature-best.html
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Satanic cult blamed for ritualistic killing of Dartmoor foal which was horrifically mutilated in centre of ring of fire during full moon

By STUART WOLEDGE

Sickening: The body of this two-month-old foal was found horrifically mutilated and there are fears it is the work of Satanists

A Satanic cult has been blamed for the sickening death of a pony, which was found horrifically mutilated and laying in the remnants of a ring of fire after full moon.
Police are investigating after the young male had its genitals, right ear and tongue sliced off, and eyes gouged out. It is thought the animal may have been alive when the atrocities were committed.
Its belly was hacked open and the young pony also had traces of white paint on one of its legs, suggesting it was killed as part of a bizarre ceremony.

Cult: The foal was found surrounded by patches of burnt grass, suggesting candles had been lit during the ritual. It also had white paint of one of its legs

It was also surrounded by circular patches of burnt moorland, which experts believe were left by a ring of torches or candles.
The two-month old pony seemed to have been dragged into a clearing and placed at the foot of a slope to face the previous night’s full moon.
It was found on Tuesday morning by a horse rider at Yennadon Down, a remote, area of Devon National Park.

Easy target: Experts believe ponies have become so used to humans they are vulnerable to this sort of attack. Pictured here, the foal's mother

Animal welfare officers are investigating and police have appealed to the public to be extra vigilant.
Horse carers believe the butchery was part of an evil occult or Pagan ceremony by Devil worshippers.
Dartmoor’s Livestock Protection Officer Karla McKechnie said: 'We do get strange things happening from time to time, normally when its a full moon.
'I’ve come across strange circles in the ground, boulders used as altars, that sort of thing, but thankfully animal mutilations are rare.

Remote: The dead foal was found in Yennadon Down by a rider on Tuesday. An investigation into its grisly end is underway

'I suspect its witches or devil worshippers but it’s always hard to get to the bottom of it.
'My main concern is how someone has been able to walk up to a foal and kill it in the middle of the night.I’m almost certain more than one person was involved.'
South West Equine Protection's Jenny Thornton believed Dartmoor ponies had become so used to being fed by humans they were now easy targets.
She said: 'I’ve seen plenty of dead animals but this was horrendous.

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2377782/Satanic-cult-blamed-ritualistic-killing-Dartmoor-foal-horrifically-mutilated-centre-ring-moon.html
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Cute as a button (mushroom): Tiny kitten who was attacked by a crow wears heart-melting crocheted costumes that - believe it or not - are aiding her recovery

By JAMES NYE

Button Mushroom: Wasabi-chan's mushroom cover was specially created by her rescuer's grandmother to allow her to be fed without stopping her feeding tube

What could be cuter than a tiny, wee kitten dressed up as a button mushroom?
Nothing of course - and when you realize that this adorable creature isn't just wearing the outfit for the 'awww' factor, but for her own good, it might just make you lose your cool.
Wasabi-chan, the adorable Japanese rescue kitten, was attacked and seriously injured by a crow who fractured her jaw and ripped her tongue in two.

Awwwww: This is the photo that launched Wasabi-chan to internet fame after her rescuer posted it onto Twitter in Japan

Taken in by her kind owner, who goes by the Twitter handle @jessiepon, Wasabi-chan's recovery was hampered by the fact that she wouldn't take to feeding through a tube.
Thinking outside the box, her rescuer realized that sticking her in cute crocheted costumes would be a fun and sensible way to stop her removing the tube from her mouth.

Where It All Began: Found on June 2nd seriously injured after a crow attack - a kindly passerby picked Wasabi-chan up and took her to the vet - who told her that the kitten needed to be fed by a tube

'She was attacked by a crow,’ explained Reddit user DopeSk1llz. ‘Her top jaw was fractured, a hole in her throat, tongue was ripped, and part of gum was eaten.
‘The rescuer was feeding her with a tube which Wasabi-chan hates, thus created this crochet to hold her down while feeding.'

Not a Big Fan for Such a Small Kitten: Wasabi-chan did not like being fed in this manner much and her arms had to be held in place

‘She’s gaining lots of weights and is now looking adorable!’
Once the pictures of Wasabi-chan were picked up by social media in Japan, the cute ball of fluff snapped up almost 50,000 fans - all wanting to hear how her recovery was going.
Updating Twitter and Instagram daily to update everyone as to her progress, @jessiepon has added to Wasabi-chan's wardrobe of outfits, all made by her grandmother.

This is one of the feeding tube solutions - holding the cutest kitten firmly in place

Improving: The crocheted costumes allowed feeding time to go unhindered and Wasabi-chan steadily increased in weight and health

Hungry: Wasabi-chan has now beefed up to the point where she doesn't need the tubes anymore

Now Wasabi-chan has moved off the feeding tube and is eating on her own and is a firm member of the household

Making Friends: The little kitten is now well enough to explore her surroundings and get to know her room-mates

Describing the moment she found Wasabi-chan on June 2nd, @jessiepon described the harrowing scene.
'I heard a horrible cry of a kitten, getting attacked by crows in front of my house. I immediately rescued her and brought her to the vet. Crows have eaten inside of the kitten’s mouth, to the point she can’t drink milk on her own.'
By the end of the month and a few cute costumes later, Wasabi-chan was well enough to eat by herself and join the family.

Picture of Health: But will she ever look as cute as when she was dressed as a button mushroom?

source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2360017/Cute-button-Tiny-kitten-injured-crow-wears-heart-melting-crocheted-costumes-believe-aiding-recovery.html
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Cuddles with mother: Adorable endangered orangutan is the first to be born in Devon zoo for 18 years

By SAM WEBB

Motherly love: The baby girl snoozes in her mother's arms at Paignton Zoo in Devon

A newborn orangutan cuddles up and nestles in its mother’s arms as it enjoys a nice snooze in the sunshine.
The little ape, less than a month old, appears to content in its mothers strong arms.
The 18-year-old mother, Mali, poses for the camera with her baby at her home at Devon's Paignton Zoo.

On the brink: Orangutans are at risk because of human encroachment into their territory, notably by palm oil producers

It was the first birth at the zoo for 18 years and workers are confident that the baby ape is a girl.
Phil Knowling, a spokesperson for the zoo, said the the pair are doing well after the birth.
He said: 'We are pretty sure it’s a girl. Keepers are 99.9 per cent sure that the baby, now a month old, is female.
'Mali and the baby are doing well. They have the largest of the orangutan islands and even have an off show den to themselves.

Around 55,000 Borean orangutans live in the wild, and a number are in preservation programmes throughout the world

'We hope that visitors will be able to catch a glimpse of the youngster, which will become more mobile over the coming months.'
The pair are Bornean orangutans and they have suffered declines where the population is estimated to just be 50,000.

source: dailymail

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Cat on a hot-PLATE: Does any pet really need protective boots to explore the kitchen?

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Smart: Mischief the cat modeling his bespoke heatproof 'Kitten Mittens'

Curiosity will no longer necessarily kill the cat.
Thanks to these groundbreaking kitten mittens, cats investigating dangerous hot hobs and other kitchen surfaces will not burn themselves - as long as they remember to put their heatproof boots on.
The launch of the bespoke boots comes after a survey found 43 per cent of all cat owners worry that their kitchens are unsafe for their beloved pets.

Snug fit: Inquisitive Mischief the cat will no longer scald his paws when he goes to investigate what's cooking in the kitchen

Owners such as housewife Jackie Cable find that their curious cats ended up burning their paws when seeing what's for dinner.
Her pet Mischief regularly lives up to his name as he clambers on to the ceramic kitchen hob.

Safe at last: Housewife Jackie Cable, with Mischief, can finally relax about him snooping around the kitchen thanks to his bespoke boots

Mrs Cable, 35, from Newbury in Berkshire, said: 'My cat means the world to me, but cooking anything when he is around is a nightmare.
'He gets under your feet when he senses food is being prepared.
'Several times Mischief has hopped up on to the ceramic cooking plate and burnt his paws quite badly.
'Once I had to take him to the vet as the burns were so bad they caused a cyst.'

Innovative: The boots were launched after a survey showed cat owners are concerned about their dangerous kitchen surfaces

Mischief's new mittens means he now is free to explore the kitchen without the risk of scalding himself.
Mrs Cable added: 'He is happy to wear them and it's a big relief to know he is safe, particularly because of how badly burned his paws used to get.'
The survey, of 2,000 pet owners, was carried out to mark National Pet Month.

source: read more at dailymail

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Just don't try to wake them up! Adorable moment two lions settle down for afternoon snooze in the sun

By MARK DUELL

Sweet: The adorable moment two big cats settled down for an afternoon snooze in the sun was captured on camera by British photographer Mike Krom

It might remind you of a game for quietening down children, where they lie down on the floor and try to remain still while someone tries to disturb them.
But although these sleeping lions might look exceptionally cute now in the sunshine - they would probably look a lot scarier if you tried to wake them up.

The adorable moment two big cats settled down for an afternoon snooze in the sun was captured on camera by British photographer Mike Krom. They looked at ease in the Portuguese sunshine at Lisbon Zoo, and at one point the larger male gently put one of his paws on the other lion.

source: read more at dailymail

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We knew there was a dog in there somewhere: Womble is shorn of his 2lb 'fleece' after years of neglect

By PAUL HARRIS

Groomed: Womble the Lhasa Apso after having 2lb of excess fur removed by Dogs Trust staff

Dumped in a park, he looked like a cross between some tumbleweed and the contents of a barber shop’s bin.
But the shocking shaggy dog story of Womble the Lhasa Apso had a happy ending yesterday – after he was rescued and given a smart new haircut.
The three-year-old dog was found abandoned and seriously neglected, with fur so overgrown and matted he could barely walk or see.

Abandoned: Womble was found in a park in Leeds by a concerned member of the public

Only his tongue was visible beneath the tangle, thick with dirt and debris and containing rubbish ranging from a strip of Velcro to a sticky chocolate sweet – which led his rescuers to name him after the litter-collecting Wombles of Wimbledon Common. Staff at the Dogs Trust rehoming charity, which took in Womble, believe he had not been groomed for more than a year.
Emma Cooper, assistant manager of the organisation’s Leeds centre, said: ‘He was struggling to walk, he could hardly see and with the fur weighing as much as a bag of sugar, he was in some discomfort and under intense strain.’

Care: The dog was taken in by the local Dogs Trust and given a thorough grooming

It took two hours to shave off more than 2lb of fur, equivalent to about an eighth of Womble’s body weight. The discarded fur formed a bundle almost as big as him when placed beside him.
A concerned member of the public found three-year-old Womble in a park in Leeds and took him in to the local Dogs Trust.

Quizzical: Womble looks at the pile of shorn fur, which appears to be nearly as big as he is

When staff examined the unfortunate dog, they found pieces of Velcro and a chocolate sweet stuck in his fur.
Assistant manager Emma Cooper said Womble's 2lb burden of hair put immense strain on his body, and estimated that it had been a year since he was last groomed.
'Womble was brought to us by a member of the public just over a week ago and was a very immobile dog,' she said.

Playful: Womble is now back on top form after handlers helped him get over his harrowing ordeal

source: read more at dailymail

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In for a ruff ride: Trio of dogs hit the open road in a sidecar attached to owner's motorcycle in Australia

By KERRY MCDERMOTT

Faithful companions: Mary Mayhead treats her dogs Hine, Mari and Kiri to a spin in the sidecar of her motorcycle

This trio of furry bikers likes nothing more than to feel the wind in their ears.
So whenever Mary Mayhead hits the open road in her Moto Guzzi motorcycle, she brings her three pet dogs along for the ride.

Ruff ride: The three dogs sported goggles for their trip in the sidecar no Australia's Sunshine Coast

Alsatians Mari, Kiri and Hine have even been kitted out with their own goggles - or 'doggles' -
for their trips along Australia's Sunshine Coast in their owner's sidecar.
'When I bring out the bike, they run into it,' said Ms Mayhead, a dog trainer.

Open road: The biker says her three pet pooches love to feel the wind in their faces

I call shotgun: Kiri usually claims the best spot at the front of the sidecar, leaving Mari and Hine to perch behind, Ms Mayhead said

source: read more at dailymail

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