Spider monkeys and their friends at London Zoo

Zookeeper Kate Sanders poses for photographers with a group of spider monkeys during the annual stocktake at London Zoo, north London, on January 4, 2011. With over 16,000 creatures, the headcount will include 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.




A photographer gets close to some squirrel monkeys during a photo-call media event to mark the annual stock-take at London Zoo in London, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. The zoo, which houses over 700 species of animals, is required to carry out the annual head count of all their animals as part of their zoo license



LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Zoo keeper Kate Sanders makes note of the Spider Monkeys as she conducts ZSL London Zoo's annual stocktake on January 1, 2011 in London, England. London Zoo is home to over 16,000 animals from over 700 different species including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.



Senior keeper Mark Tansley poses with a locust during the ZSL London Zoo's annual inventory count in London January 4, 2011. Zookeepers are conducting an annual headcount on over 16,000 different creatures including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.



Insect keeper Kate Pearce poses with a red kneed bird-eating tarantula during the ZSL London Zoo's annual inventory count in London January 4, 2011. Zookeepers are conducting an annual headcount on over 16,000 different creatures including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.



Mammal keeper Angela Ryan poses with Llamas during the ZSL London Zoo's annual inventory count in London January 4, 2011. Zookeepers are conducting an annual headcount on over 16,000 different creatures including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.



Mammal keeper Angela Ryan coaxes a meerkat for the benefit of photographers during the ZSL London Zoo's annual inventory count in London January 4, 2011. Zookeepers are conducting an annual headcount on over 16,000 different creatures including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles



Zookeeper Evelyn Guyett poses for photographers with flamingos during the annual stocktake at London Zoo, north London on January 4, 2011. With over 16,000 creatures, the headcount will include 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.



LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: Zoo keeper Kate Sanders makes note of the Spider Monkeys as she conducts ZSL London Zoo's annual stocktake on January 1, 2011 in London, England. London Zoo is home to over 16,000 animals from over 700 different species including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.




Zookeeper Kate Sanders poses for photographers with a group of spider monkeys during the annual stocktake at London Zoo, north London, on January 4, 2011. With over 16,000 creatures, the headcount will include 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.



LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 04: A Bolivian squirrel monkey sits in its enclosure during the ZSL London Zoo's annual stocktake on January 4, 2011 in London, England. London Zoo is home to over 16,000 animals from over 700 different species including over 10,000 invertebrates, 4,700 fish and 100 reptiles.


source : Daylife
photo: AP photo, Gettyimages, Reuters

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Who ape all the pies? Orangutan kicks back with a full belly in the midday sun

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

This orangutan soaked up the midday sun at Taman Safari Park near Jakarta, Indonesia looking a little full around the middle


Louise, a retired social worker, said: 'These orangutans were all in a special enclosure which was a wide-open, lush, green area.

'There were about 20 orangutans and they were going about their daily lives, which looked much like ours on occasion.

'It was around noon time at the park and it was rather hot.


The sedentary creature was too lazy to even swing on the trees and ropes


'There was an area where the orangutans could swing in the trees but I only saw one using the rope.

'The orangutans in question seem to lead a sedentary way of life.

'The really plump ones look like females.

'There were male orangutans in the enclosure and they were all of normal weight and more animated.' Louise, from California, United States, added: 'Later in my trip, I observed orangutans in the wild in Borneo in a conservation area.

'It seemed to me that the orangutans in captivity used more human-like gestures.


In addition to the overfed orangutan, this guy looked like he had a bit of a headache


source: dailymail

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Garcia the goose gets a nose job! Vets make fibreglass beak after freak accident

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Before: Garcia the goose had the top half of her orange beak sheared off in an accident


This farmyard goose has had a nose job after breaking off the top half of its orange beak in a freak accident.

Garcia was left with her tongue exposed after apparently becoming tangled up in a fence at her animal sanctuary.

Vets fitted a black prosthetic nose and she is back to eating as normal - even if the matt finish does make her stand out by the lake.


After: A fibreglass replica was fitted to the farmhouse goose under general anesthetic. Eventually the original will grow back and the 'false' £175 nose will be removed


There were fears the farmyard goose would have to be put down as she was left unable to fend for herself - but vets managed to create a false nose.

Bird expert Dr Alan Jones crafted the fibreglass beak before it was fitted while the animal was under general anaesthetic.

It was attached with wires which were placed in the goose's skull at the British Wildlife Centre in Newchapel, Surrey.


Back at home: Garcia with her new 'false' nose back with her friend Morgan back at the Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary


A metal framework was built for the new beak before it was filled with a fibreglass paste called Technovit.

Terry Kemp, a veterinary nurse and founder of the Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Hailsham, East Sussex, where Garcia lives said: 'We couldn't believe how great she looked after her nose job.

'Who would have thought you could save a goose's life with a piece of fibreglass - it's absolutely incredible. We are delighted.'

Garcia and her friend Morgan - named after actors on American police drama Criminal Minds - were taken in by Happy Endings four months ago after they had been dumped by their owner at a wildlife sanctuary.


source: dailymail

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Satanic leaf-tailed gecko born on January 1, 2011,

The San Diego Zoo's first baby of the year, a satanic leaf-tailed gecko born on January 1, 2011, crawls on a keeper's finger at the San Diego Zoo January 3, 2011. The San Diego Zoo is one of only seven zoos in the United States with this species in its collection and one of only two breeding them. The gecko weighs less than a gram and is smaller than a dime and is not yet named.




source: Daylife
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How I made friends with Humphrey the happy hippo (who even gives me piggyback rides across the river)

Tale from the riverbank: Marius Els with his pet hippo Humphrey at his farm in Free State, South Africa


The hippo is most dangerous animal in the whole of Africa.

But they're not all bad - as these incredible pictures show.

A South African farmer has developed a friendship with one that is so trustworthy, the hippo helps him cross lakes on his 400-acre farmstead.


Balancing act: Marius manages to stay on Humphrey's back as he cadges a lift across the river with the tame hipp at his farm in Free State, South Africa


Marius Els breeds 20 different species of wildlife on land near Petrus Steynlakes, including giraffe, buffalo, rhinos and antelope.

But he has a real soft spot for Humphrey, whom he bought aged just five months and allows to roam free. He even built a dam to create a 200m wide and 18m deep lake that is perfect for wallowing in.


Across we go: Marius Els bought Humphrey when he was just five months old and is looking for a mate but tame females are hard to come bywith his pet hippo Humphre


The gargantuan pet is now six, and as Marius, 40, explains, 'could rip a man my size apart with no problem'.

Sometimes he does get tired of his ferrying role. 'If he decides to get me off his back, then he throws me over like a horse.'

However, it is usually a case of Marius clinging on for dear life as Humphrey plunging through the water like like a giant grey tank .


Best friends: Marius pats the back of 1,200kg Humphrey who is so powerful he could rip a human apart in an instant


The powerful hippopotamus, who at 1200kg weighs well over a metric tonne, is such a strong swimmer that the water barely reaches Marius' knees before they ride to the far side of the lake where the two sit down for a well deserved break.

'Humphrey's like a son to me, he's just like a human,' said Marius,
'There's a relationship between me and Humphrey and that's what some people don't understand.

source: dailymail

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Meet the real Happy Feet! Baby penguin can't contain his excitement as snow starts to fall

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Full of the joys: The penguin dances around the compound, much to the bemusement of his friends


It's normally little children that get excited at the sight of their first snowflake.

As permanent residents of the chilly, snow-covered South Pole, you'd think for penquins it would all be a bit, well, mundane.

Not so for this little chap who clearly couldn't control his excitement as the white stuff started to fall.

Looking like the real-life star of animated film Happy Feet, the baby penguin tears up and down while his bemused friends look on.

Or maybe he's a fan of penguin-suited dance legend Fred Astaire, who often went through his paces wearing a top hat and tails.

The clip was posted on YouTube two days ago and has already attracted thousands of views.


Inspiration: Is our dancing penguin a film fan? If so he might have seen Happy Feet or one of Fred Astaire's many films


In the Happy feet film, Mumble the penguin is cast as an outsider because he has a terrible singing voice. But he soon becomes the star of the show when he discovers he has talent for something none of his friends has seen before - tap dancing.







source: dailymail

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Blinded in vicious gun attack, the sad sea lion that can never return to the wild

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2010 file photo, a sea lion recovers from gun shot wounds at the Marine Mammal Center, in Sausalito, Calif. The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act makes shooting or harming ocean mammals a crime, but after years of declines in reported shootings in California, wildlife officials have seen a slight rise: there were 43 reported marine mammal shootings in 2009, nine more than in 2008 and 14 more than five years earlier, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Michael Macor, File) NO SALES MAGS OUT NO INTERNET NO TV MANDATORY CREDIT


Watching Silent Knight the sea lion move about - playful inquisitive, and yet blinded by a shotgun blast to the head - the overpowering thought is: 'Why would anyone want to do this?'

The seven-foot-long sea mammal is recovering at the Marine Mammal Centre in Sausalito, California.

But experts are under no illusions that Silent Knight will ever make a return to the wild from where he came.


Close to death: Multiple buckshot fragments can be seen in an X-ray of Silent Knight's skull. The creature was left permanently and totally blinded by the attack


The injured sea lion was found after being blasted in the head by an unknown gunman. He was brought to the Marine Mammal Centre and has been slowly nursed back to health.

The plucky sea creature has had a remarkable recovery but his injuries are permanent and debilitating.

X-rays of the animal reveal at least four large pieces of buckshot in his skull - one lodged near the eye and dangerously close to the brain.

The federal Marine Mammal Protection Act makes shooting or harming ocean mammals a crime, but after years of decline in reported shootings in California, wildlife officials have seen a slight rise.


Recue centre: the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. Sadly, it has seen many animals attacked by hearltess humans, and the incidence of illegal gun attacks on sea animals is on the rise


There were 43 reported marine mammal shootings in 2009, nine more than in 2008 and 14 more than five years earlier, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Veterinarians at the centre are hoping that an aquarium or zoo will provide a long-term home for him.

While wild sea lions that are born blind or gradually lose their sight have the possibility of adapting to that blindness and surviving in the ocean, adult sea lions like Silent Knight, who have relied on their vision all of their lives, are not so fortunate.

The centre's website says Silent Knight's story highlights the realities of what happens to marine mammals at the hands of thoughtless and cruel people.

It says: 'We hope you pause to think about these animals and consider ways you can help them, and stop these unthinkable acts.


source: dailymail

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Give us a kiss, you just bowl me over! Cat makes friends with goldfish that could be supper

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Love, Actually: Four-year-old tabby Kaiser reaches into the bowl to kiss goldfish Fishy


The average cat seldom looks upon a fish as anything more than a potential supper.

But four-year-old Kaiser has developed a rather closer – and more lasting – relationship to Fishy the goldfish. He regularly leans into the goldfish bowl to help himself to a kiss and a drink of water.


Owner James Armstrong, 45, a landscape gardener from Newcastle who bought Kaiser from a cat shelter, said: ‘We often joke that he likes fish-flavoured water. It happens with such regularity I think the fish enjoys the company.’

Meanwhile, a cat that went missing for 11 years was miraculously reunited with her teenage owner on Christmas Eve - making the furry feline a surprise Christmas present for her overjoyed family.

Chloe Hill was just six years old when she was given tiny kitten Salem as a present from her mum, Karen.

But she was heartbroken when the little cat disappeared just weeks later after slipping through an open door.


Incredible reunion: Chloe Hill, with her cat Salem that went missing for 11 years and was miraculously reunited with her teenage owner on Christmas Eve


The family spent weeks searching the neighbourhood for their kitten, but never spotted their beloved pet.

They eventually feared the much-loved moggie was gone forever and got on with their lives.

Yet on Christmas Eve the RSPCA called the family from Halesowen, West Midlands to say Salem had been handed in and an emotional reunion followed.

Overjoyed Chloe, now 17, said: 'I just couldn't believe it when I saw Salem again. I never thought she'd come back after all these years.'

'I couldn't believe it when we got the call to say she had been found. I thought it was a joke at first, as we'd forgotten all about her.

'We rushed over to the pet store on Christmas Eve and spent GBP100 on litter trays and food.'


Homeward bound: Salem gave his owner a festive surprise after being found on December 24, over a decade after going missing


source: dailymail

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The 2011 Year of the Rabbit

Manny Tangco feeds a tiger cub with warm milk while surrounded by rabbits in preparation for the 2011 Year of the Rabbit at the Malabon zoo, north of Manila December 28, 2010. The year 2010 is the year of the tiger on the Chinese zodiac calendar, and the year 2011 will be the year of the rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011.




Zoo owner Manny Tangco (C) holds up a rabbit and a tiger cub while surrounded by local children at the Malabon Zoo in Malabon, in northern Metro Manila on December 28, 2010 to illustrate the shift from the 'Year of the Tiger' to the 'Year of the Rabbit'. China and many other parts of Asia will celebrate the start of the 'Year of the Rabbit' at Lunar New Year in early February 2011, in accordance with the Chinese calendar that works on a 12-year cycle.



Zoo owner Manny Tangco (C) holds up a rabbit and a tiger cub while surrounded by local children at the Malabon Zoo in Malabon, in northern Metro Manila on December 28, 2010 to illustrate the shift from the 'Year of the Tiger' to the 'Year of the Rabbit'. China and many other parts of Asia will celebrate the start of the 'Year of the Rabbit' at Lunar New Year in early February 2011, in accordance with the Chinese calendar that works on a 12-year cycle.


source: Daylife
photo: Gettyimages

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Who's a VERY clever doggy! Prepare to be bow-wowed as we put Chaser, the world's brainiest dog, to the test

By ANNETTE WITHERIDGE

Dog with hundreds of toys: Chaser knows more than 1,000 nouns and verbs which he has learned over the past three years


Most dogs have a much-chewed, ¬favourite old toy: it may once have had a squeak, is guarded with a playful growl and enjoys pride of place alongside its devoted doggy owner in the sleeping basket.

What most dogs don’t have, however, is 1,000 favourite toys, all identified by name and taking up so much room that they have to be kept in 30 massive tubs in the backyard.

But then Chaser, a six-year-old border collie, is no ordinary dog.

Whisper it quietly — and around Chaser you do have to be careful about what you say — but Chaser might just be the cleverest dog in the world. Which is why I’ve flown all the way from snow-bound New York to see her.


Showtime: Owner John Pilley has taught Chaser how to categorise items according to function and shape, something children learn to do around the age of three


First impressions, however, are reassuringly familiar. She may have become world-famous as the dog who knows more than 1,000 nouns and verbs, but Chaser arrives in a veritable doggy whirlwind, paws clattering on the wooden floor, her tail wagging so hard that half her body seems to be joining in.

I’m in Chaser’s comfortable log cabin-style home in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and delighted to say she’s clearly pleased to see me. ‘Ooh, a new playmate; ooh, a new playmate,’ she seems to be saying, as she rushes to and fro bringing me first her favourite tennis ball and then a blue ball she’s particularly fond of.


Professor Alliston Reid and Dr Pilley have worked intensively with six-year-old Chaser for three years to see how large a vocabulary she could command


I rapidly get the impression that the cleverest dog in the world would like me to do what every dog in the world wants us humans to do: throw their ball. So I do, and an instant friendship is forged. ‘Careful,’ says her owner, John Pilley, with a grin, ‘she’ll drive you crazy if you keep picking them up and throwing them for her.’

My new black and white friend looks at me with already devoted eyes. ‘Ignore him,’ they seem to be saying; ‘throw the ball, throw the ball’. So I do once more and then it’s time to discover, not how like other dogs Chaser is, but how extraordinarily different she is.


Chaser checks out the items laid out for her by her owner before her 'vocabulary' is tested


source: dailymail

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