A fairy penguin popped into the Clark family's Tasmanian home for a visit on Wednesday and spent the day in the bathtub.
Sometime before Wednesday morning, the little penguin had waddled about 100 metres up the beach, crossing a railway track and a road in the process and wandered into the Clark's front yard in West Ulverstone about three hours northwest of Hobart in Tasmania.
Garry Clark said when the front door was opened to let the dog out to the toilet, the penguin entered.
"The dog went out and a penguin came in," Mr Clark said.
"I was in getting ready for work and my son came in and said `Dad, there's a penguin in the lounge room'.
"I thought, `that can't be right'."
But a penguin in the lounge room there was, and a friendly one at that.
Mr Clark said the animal appeared quite comfortable and made no problem when it was picked up.
The penguin was popped in the bathtub with a little water for the day.
"We sat him in there and he splashed about in the water every now and again."
A bit of thawed salmon from the freezer did not tempt the penguin.
On advice from the Parks and Wildlife Service, the penguin remained in the tub until Wednesday evening.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Fairy Princess Costume
Highly-detailed, high-quality Fairy Princess Costumes are perfect for trick-or-treating, Halloween parties, or photos.
All costumes feature Velcro® closures for easy-on/easy-off dressing, and are available in an array of sizes to suit any dog. Coordinating headwear features an elastic band for a comfortable fit. Wipe Clean with a damp cloth.
All costumes feature Velcro® closures for easy-on/easy-off dressing, and are available in an array of sizes to suit any dog. Coordinating headwear features an elastic band for a comfortable fit. Wipe Clean with a damp cloth.
Truffle Retriever dog
Truffle Golden Retriever
Jellycat truffles are so nifty: they can sit up and pose, or lay completely flat for a portable and oh-so-soft blanket and, of course, be cuddled in any number of ways. Cute and cleverly functional! We think this pooch is particularly irresistable.
Mouse Taunts Man, Steals Dentures
Bill Exner, 68, has his dentures back, but his wife said the mouse that stole them is now taunting him.
The resident of Waterville, Maine, said he's caught the mouse three times, but each time it escaped.
Exner told the Morning Sentinel he trapped the field mouse and placed in a gallon-sized pickle jar three times. He said each time the mouse escaped.
"The first time, I left the top off the pickle jar -- I figured there's no way this guy can get out," Exner told the paper. "But he escaped, so the next time I caught him, I put the cover on loosely so he could breathe, and he got out again."
After the third time, Exner discovered his lower dentures were missing.
In the subsequent search, he and his wife found a small opening in a wall. With the help of their daughter's fiance, they tore a larger hole and retrieved the dentures.
"The dentures were inside the wall, lying right there. They were not damaged. The mouse didn't bite them or anything. It's like he was saying, 'I'm going to get even with you for putting me in that jar,'" Exner said.
The resident of Waterville, Maine, said he's caught the mouse three times, but each time it escaped.
Exner told the Morning Sentinel he trapped the field mouse and placed in a gallon-sized pickle jar three times. He said each time the mouse escaped.
"The first time, I left the top off the pickle jar -- I figured there's no way this guy can get out," Exner told the paper. "But he escaped, so the next time I caught him, I put the cover on loosely so he could breathe, and he got out again."
After the third time, Exner discovered his lower dentures were missing.
In the subsequent search, he and his wife found a small opening in a wall. With the help of their daughter's fiance, they tore a larger hole and retrieved the dentures.
"The dentures were inside the wall, lying right there. They were not damaged. The mouse didn't bite them or anything. It's like he was saying, 'I'm going to get even with you for putting me in that jar,'" Exner said.
Barking Not Part Of Free Speech, Court Rules
Freedom of speech is guaranteed by the Constitution, but what about the freedom to bark?
The North Dakota Supreme Court has rejected a claim that an anti-barking ordinance is unconstitutional.
Fred Kilkenny got a ticket for his barking dogs in Belfield, N.D., even though he was in Mississippi at the time helping Hurricane Katrina victims. His lawyer argued that Belfield's anti-barking law is too vague to be fairly enforced.
But the judges on the state's high court saw no reason to muzzle local officials. The ruling noted that similar dog-barking ordinances have constitutional teeth.
Kilkenny may take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The North Dakota Supreme Court has rejected a claim that an anti-barking ordinance is unconstitutional.
Fred Kilkenny got a ticket for his barking dogs in Belfield, N.D., even though he was in Mississippi at the time helping Hurricane Katrina victims. His lawyer argued that Belfield's anti-barking law is too vague to be fairly enforced.
But the judges on the state's high court saw no reason to muzzle local officials. The ruling noted that similar dog-barking ordinances have constitutional teeth.
Kilkenny may take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Pavlov's Dog
Pavlov's Dog
In this game, you will find out if you can train a dog to drool on command! Ivan Pavlov's description on how animals (and humans) can be trained to respond in a certain way to a particular stimulus, has drawn a tremendous amount of interest ever since he first presented his findings. His work paved the way for a new and objective method of studying animal and human behavior.
What Happens When You Tickle a Lab Rat?
Aristotle declared that humans are the only animal to laugh, but then, he never saw this video of Jaak Panksepp tickling rats.
When you play it, you’ll hear the tickled rats chirping — an ultrasonic noise that’s audible thanks to the special equipment that enabled Dr. Panksepp and his colleagues to discover this phenomenon. Young rats make the same chirp when they chase and play with one another, and they like to hang out with other rats who chirp at this frequency (50 kHz). It seems to be a happy sound: rats will run mazes and press levers in order to be tickled, and they’ll emit the same chirp when the dopamine reward circuits in the brain are stimulated.
Some researchers still aren’t sure these sounds qualify as animal laughter, but Dr. Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Washington State University, has been systematically gathering evidence of the parallels to human laughter.
When you play it, you’ll hear the tickled rats chirping — an ultrasonic noise that’s audible thanks to the special equipment that enabled Dr. Panksepp and his colleagues to discover this phenomenon. Young rats make the same chirp when they chase and play with one another, and they like to hang out with other rats who chirp at this frequency (50 kHz). It seems to be a happy sound: rats will run mazes and press levers in order to be tickled, and they’ll emit the same chirp when the dopamine reward circuits in the brain are stimulated.
Some researchers still aren’t sure these sounds qualify as animal laughter, but Dr. Panksepp, a neuroscientist at Washington State University, has been systematically gathering evidence of the parallels to human laughter.
"Monster" Toad Caught Down Under
With a body the size of a football and weighing nearly 2 pounds, the toad is among the largest specimens ever captured in Australia, according to Frogwatch coordinator Graeme Sawyer.
"It's huge, to put it mildly," he said. "The biggest toads are usually females but this one was a rampant male ... I would hate to meet his big sister."
Frogwatch, which is dedicated to wiping out a toxic toad species that has killed countless Australian animals, picked up the 15-inch-long cane toad during a raid on a pond outside the northern city of Darwin late Monday.
White lioness
"Ashanti", the first white lioness to be born in Italy. Along with its parents, Ashanti is one of the three white lions living in Italy, all in captivity.
(Photo: AP Photo/Safari Park-Pombia)
Woman stopped wearing girdle of live crocodiles
A woman was caught with three crocodiles strapped to her waist at the Gaza-Egypt border crossing after guards noticed that she looked "strangely fat," officials said.
The woman's odd shape raised suspicions at the Rafah terminal in southern Gaza, and a body search by a female border guard turned up the animals, each about 50 centimeters (20 inches) long, concealed underneath her loose robe, according to Maria Telleria, spokeswoman for the European observers who run the crossing.
"The woman looked strangely fat. Even though she was veiled and covered, even with so many clothes on there was something strange," Telleria said.
In her defense, the woman said she "was asked" to carry the crocodiles, said Wael Dahab, a spokesman for the Palestinian guards at the crossing.
The woman was not the first to try to illegally smuggle exotic wildlife through the Rafah crossing, Dahab said: another woman tried to bring in a monkey tied to her chest, and other travelers tried to smuggle in exotic birds and a tiger cub. Border guards more frequently confiscate cigarettes, prescription drugs and car parts.
The woman's odd shape raised suspicions at the Rafah terminal in southern Gaza, and a body search by a female border guard turned up the animals, each about 50 centimeters (20 inches) long, concealed underneath her loose robe, according to Maria Telleria, spokeswoman for the European observers who run the crossing.
"The woman looked strangely fat. Even though she was veiled and covered, even with so many clothes on there was something strange," Telleria said.
In her defense, the woman said she "was asked" to carry the crocodiles, said Wael Dahab, a spokesman for the Palestinian guards at the crossing.
The woman was not the first to try to illegally smuggle exotic wildlife through the Rafah crossing, Dahab said: another woman tried to bring in a monkey tied to her chest, and other travelers tried to smuggle in exotic birds and a tiger cub. Border guards more frequently confiscate cigarettes, prescription drugs and car parts.
Tiger Temple - Thailand
When villagers found an orphaned tiger cub, they went from place to place seeking help. Upon arrival at the monastery, the cub was welcomed out of compassion and saved from certain death. Since then many more orphaned tigers have found refuge under the abbots loving care.
Cruel beyond belief - China's live animal markets
The newly opened Three Birds Market is the biggest collection and distribution centre for cats, dogs and all kinds of birds in Southern China, and officially operates as a poultry market.
Cat and dogs crammed inside cages with no room to move, many of them diseased, all destined to be sold as food. These are the shocking pictures from a live animal market in Nanhai, China.
Small metal baskets no more than 4ft long and 2ft wide house anything up to eight cats at a time.
Trucks arrive containing cages packed with dogs that have not been fed or watered for days ahead of their slaughter.
Disease is rife. They will soon be dead and sold as meat.
Cat and dogs crammed inside cages with no room to move, many of them diseased, all destined to be sold as food. These are the shocking pictures from a live animal market in Nanhai, China.
Small metal baskets no more than 4ft long and 2ft wide house anything up to eight cats at a time.
Trucks arrive containing cages packed with dogs that have not been fed or watered for days ahead of their slaughter.
Disease is rife. They will soon be dead and sold as meat.
Deadly jellyfish halt Hollywood production
A deadly species of jellyfish, translucent and the size of a thumbnail, is spreading along Australia’s coastline as a result of global warming, scientists warned today.
Irukandji jellyfish are among the world’s most toxic creatures – all but impossible to detect in the water but packing a potentially lethal punch belying their tiny size.
Until recently it was thought that they were confined to Australia’s northern tropical waters, but marine biologists have now found them off Queensland’s Fraser Island — a popular tourist spot about 400 miles south of their previously assumed range.
Their discovery has halted production of a Hollywood film, Fool’s Gold, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, who were originally due to be filmed swimming in the sea. Dr Jamie Seymour, from James Cook University, said she had found five of the animals off the island.
“You can’t now say the waters around Fraser Island are jellyfish safe. I mean, these animals have the potential to kill you,” he told ABC radio.
“The ones we were catching weren’t any bigger than your thumbnail. They’ve got tentacles that are probably a half to three quarters of a metre long, and pretty much transparent. So unless you really know what you’re looking for, you’re not going to see them in the water.”
If they migrate south in sufficient numbers, irukandji would threaten the safety of swimmers, surfers and snorkellers along southern Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast holiday destinations.
Little is known about their biology but their toxicity is legendary. One of the tiny jellyfish was blamed for killing a 58-year-old British tourist, Richard Jordan, in the Whitsunday Islands of Queensland in 2002. A few months later, a 44-year-old American tourist was stung and also died.
Irukandji jellyfish are among the world’s most toxic creatures – all but impossible to detect in the water but packing a potentially lethal punch belying their tiny size.
Until recently it was thought that they were confined to Australia’s northern tropical waters, but marine biologists have now found them off Queensland’s Fraser Island — a popular tourist spot about 400 miles south of their previously assumed range.
Their discovery has halted production of a Hollywood film, Fool’s Gold, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey, who were originally due to be filmed swimming in the sea. Dr Jamie Seymour, from James Cook University, said she had found five of the animals off the island.
“You can’t now say the waters around Fraser Island are jellyfish safe. I mean, these animals have the potential to kill you,” he told ABC radio.
“The ones we were catching weren’t any bigger than your thumbnail. They’ve got tentacles that are probably a half to three quarters of a metre long, and pretty much transparent. So unless you really know what you’re looking for, you’re not going to see them in the water.”
If they migrate south in sufficient numbers, irukandji would threaten the safety of swimmers, surfers and snorkellers along southern Queensland’s Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast holiday destinations.
Little is known about their biology but their toxicity is legendary. One of the tiny jellyfish was blamed for killing a 58-year-old British tourist, Richard Jordan, in the Whitsunday Islands of Queensland in 2002. A few months later, a 44-year-old American tourist was stung and also died.
Culture vs. Cruelty
Controversy over the treatment of live animals in urban Asian markets rages on. Asian-American leaders have accused animal-welfare activists of racism, and the activists call the merchants callous animal torturers. A new bill in California aims to end the battle once and for all.
"Strange Owl" Seen in Wild for First Time
Conservationists working in Peru got their first natural glimpse of the long-whiskered owlet last month while working in a private mountain reserve.
The species wasn't even known to exist until 1976, and since then the only known living specimens have been those caught in nets at night.
"Seeing the long-whiskered owlet is a huge thrill," said David Geale of Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos, who was part of the research team, in a press statement.
The American Bird Conservancy, which partnered in the research, described the sighting as "a holy grail" of bird biology.
As few as 250 of the owlets are thought to exist, scientists said, and the birds are as distinctive as they are rare.
Owner says dog saved her with 'Heimlich'
Debbie Parkhurst poses with her dog, Toby, in Calvert, Md., Monday, March 26, 2007. Parker claims the 2-year-old golden retriever saved her life Friday by performing a doggy version of the Heimlich maneuver, knocking her to the ground and jumping on her chest to dislodge a piece of apple stuck in her windpipe.
(AP Photo/Cecil Whig, Adelma Gregory-Bunnell)
(AP Photo/Cecil Whig, Adelma Gregory-Bunnell)
Video: "Otter Chaos" Reigns in Biologist's Home
Tearing through laundry, messing up the bathroom—river otters aren't all that different from human toddlers, as one Missouri biologist and his wife learned when they raised orphaned pups.
Watch as Glenn and Jeannie Chambers endure "otter chaos" to teach Paddles and Babyface how to swim, to eat fish Popsicles, and generally to be themselves—all leading up to an emotional farewell.
Watch as Glenn and Jeannie Chambers endure "otter chaos" to teach Paddles and Babyface how to swim, to eat fish Popsicles, and generally to be themselves—all leading up to an emotional farewell.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Stumpy
A rare mutation has left the eight-day-old duckling with two nearly full-sized legs behind the two he runs on. Nicky Janaway, a duck farmer in New Forest, Hampshire, 95 miles southwest of London, showed the duckling to reporters Saturday.
"It was absolutely bizarre. I was thinking 'he's got too many legs' and I kept counting 'one, two, three, four,'" Janaway said.
Stumpy would probably not survive in the wild, but Janaway, who runs the Warrawee Duck Farm in New Forest, says he is doing well.
"He's eating and surviving so far, and he is running about with those extra legs acting like stabilizers," Janaway said.
The mutation is rare, but cases have been recorded across the world. One duckling named Jake was born in Queensland, Australia, in 2002 with four legs but died soon after.
Tasmanian devils face extinction from mutant cancer
A mutant cancer which causes facial tumours on Australia's Tasmanian devil has brought the carnivorous marsupial to the brink of extinction, a leading researcher has said.
Local populations of the animal, popularised as Taz by Warner Bros. in its Looney Tunes cartoons, have already been savaged by the mysterious disease which results in malignant facial tumours.
Hamish McCallum, professor of wildlife research at the University of Tasmania's school of zoology, said the disease, which usually results in death six months after the appearance of the first lesions, could lead to the extinction of the species within a decade.
"I won't say that it's the most likely outcome but I think at this stage there is an unacceptable risk that we may lose all populations on mainland Tasmania," he told AFP Monday. "And I think probably in the next 10 years."
Local populations of the animal, popularised as Taz by Warner Bros. in its Looney Tunes cartoons, have already been savaged by the mysterious disease which results in malignant facial tumours.
Hamish McCallum, professor of wildlife research at the University of Tasmania's school of zoology, said the disease, which usually results in death six months after the appearance of the first lesions, could lead to the extinction of the species within a decade.
"I won't say that it's the most likely outcome but I think at this stage there is an unacceptable risk that we may lose all populations on mainland Tasmania," he told AFP Monday. "And I think probably in the next 10 years."
Wild pigs in Hong Kong pose pesky problem to villagers
Hong Kong villages are being plagued by wild pigs being a nuisance, and destroying crops.
Just a distance away from the residential district of Fanling, a village in the New Territories has a pesky problem.
Head Villager Jody Au-Yeung says her village has suffered an alarming rate of wild boar sightings, and claims six pet dogs have died as a result.
Villagers have had their crops destroyed.
"They step all over, dig up and destroy some of my flowers," says a flower farmer.
It has left some feeling unsafe, and there've been requests that the authorities do more to eradicate the problem.
Bloodhounds on the trail to extinction
For generations the bloodhound has been a faithful friend. Now, however, it is being pushed to the brink of extinction, by a celebrity-led trend for new crossbreeds.
It is one of a number of traditional breeds fighting for survival as owners opt for toy dogs such as labradoodles and puggles.
New figures for the number of pedigree pups born have alarmed breeders as they show 24 breeds below the benchmark deemed viable for a healthy long-term population.
The Skye and Glen of Imaal terriers, the field spaniel and the smooth collie are among them.
"It all seems to be about fashion," said Julien Barney, of the British and Irish Dog Breeds Preservation Trust. "But the breeds that need help are the rare ones that are just as unusual."
Breeders reckon that a birthrate of 300 puppies a year is needed to guarantee a large gene pool and a long term, healthy population, but 10 breeds had less than 100 puppies in the last year.
The lowest birth rate was among Glen of Imaal terriers, which had 41 puppies, while 51 otterhounds were born.
It is one of a number of traditional breeds fighting for survival as owners opt for toy dogs such as labradoodles and puggles.
New figures for the number of pedigree pups born have alarmed breeders as they show 24 breeds below the benchmark deemed viable for a healthy long-term population.
The Skye and Glen of Imaal terriers, the field spaniel and the smooth collie are among them.
"It all seems to be about fashion," said Julien Barney, of the British and Irish Dog Breeds Preservation Trust. "But the breeds that need help are the rare ones that are just as unusual."
Breeders reckon that a birthrate of 300 puppies a year is needed to guarantee a large gene pool and a long term, healthy population, but 10 breeds had less than 100 puppies in the last year.
The lowest birth rate was among Glen of Imaal terriers, which had 41 puppies, while 51 otterhounds were born.
Ancient Tree Frog Found Encased in Amber
The block of amber, or fossilized tree resin, encasing the 0.4-inch (1-centimeter) frog was unearthed in 2005 and sold to a private collector, according to the Associated Press (AP). The collector then lent the piece—seen in this photo released on February 14—to scientists.
The specimen appears to belong to the genus Craugastor, said Gerardo Carbot, of the Chiapas Natural History and Ecology Institute, who has been studying the find. This genus includes many modern frogs native to Central America.
Dancing doggies
In the growing sport, human and dog become a dancing duo, dress in over-the-top costumes and show off their fancy footwork using all six of their legs to songs of all genres, from country to disco to classical masterpieces.
The sport has invaded canine culture in America, including doggie daycares, kennels and boarding facilities.
Dog owners and their pets don't cut the carpet just for exercise. Many try to perfect their routines to win competitions around the nation and worldwide. Colorado will be the site for two competitions this year being held by the World Canine Freestyle Organization, including the group's international titling contests that will take place in July.
Pets in America: The Story of Our Lives with Animals at Home
Americans are passionate about their pets, so much so that two-thirds of American households own at least one animal. "Pets in America: The Story of Our Lives with Animals at Home,” on view at the National Heritage Museum March 31 through October 14, 2007, is a charming and informative exhibition exploring our relationships with the furry, feathered, and sometimes scaly creatures we hold dear.
"Pets in America” will feature more than 200 objects and photographs including pet portraits from the 1800s, a dog treadmill from the 1890s, early veterinary medicines, vintage pet food packaging, antique collars, birdcages, aquariums, and print ads. The objects are drawn from public and private collections across the nation. The exhibition explores American love of the company of animals, and how this relationship has changed as our country and culture have evolved.
The exhibition also has a companion web site, which provides a virtual tour. It can be accessed at www.PetsinAmerica.org.
Letting the Cat out of the Bag
Checkers Drive-In Restaurants recently re-released a commercial starring a rapping feline named, of course, RapCat.
When it was first released last Fall, it was an "overnight success", according to a Checker's spokesman.
RapCat has his own official website at http://www.rap-cat.com where you can get RapCat merchandise (coming soon), download RapCat themed goodies, read RapCat's bio, and watch RapCat's Music Video World Premiere on March 5th!
What's the problem?
The Tampa, Florida-based, fast-food company has a special take-out bag with cutaways for a cat's legs and tail. Checkers is encouraging customers to dress-up their cats with the bag, which is designed to look like a basketball jersey.
Hillsborough County Animal Services has issued an advisory asking people not to put their cats into the bags. Their fear is that a cat or cat owner will be hurt stuffing a cat into one of the bags. The department also stated in a news release that if someone does force a cat into a bag, they could be charged with animal cruelty. A First Offense comes with a stiff $300 fine and arrest.
Extra-special cat has 26 toes
"You would sort of want to wear boxing gloves when you play with her," says Kaelene Gerrard, who lives with her partner Eli Eliu and daughters Mercy, six, and 12-year-old Shardae.
She examined the frisky feline's paws and did a double take at what she found.
"We counted and then recounted but we had it right the first time," she says.
Extra has seven toes on each front paw and six toes on each back paw - instead of the normal five on each.
"Her mum Star is a normal cat but her grandmother had six toes on each paw as well and so does her brother. But we've never even heard of a kitten with seven toes on each front paw," says Kaelene.
"Extra's a good climber and runs really fast.
Spear-wielding chimps snack on skewered bushbabies
In a revelation that destroys yet another cherished notion of human uniqueness, wild chimpanzees have been seen hunting bushbabies with spears. It is the first time an animal has been seen using a tool to hunt a vertebrate.
Many chimpanzees trim twigs to use for ant-dipping and termite-fishing. But a population of savannah chimps (Pan troglodytes verus) living in the Fongoli area of south-east Senegal have been seen making spears from strong sticks that they sharpen with their teeth. The average spear length is 63 centimetres (25 inches), says Jill Pruetz at Iowa State University in Ames, US, who observed the behaviour.
And the method of procuring food with these tools is not simply extractive, as it is when harvesting insects. It is far more aggressive. They use the spears to hunt one of the cutest primates in Africa: bushbabies (Galago senegalensis).
Bushbabies are nocturnal and curl up in hollows in trees during the day. If disturbed during their slumbers – if their nest cavity is broken open, for example – they rapidly scamper away. It appears that the chimps have learnt a grizzly method of slowing them down.
Many chimpanzees trim twigs to use for ant-dipping and termite-fishing. But a population of savannah chimps (Pan troglodytes verus) living in the Fongoli area of south-east Senegal have been seen making spears from strong sticks that they sharpen with their teeth. The average spear length is 63 centimetres (25 inches), says Jill Pruetz at Iowa State University in Ames, US, who observed the behaviour.
And the method of procuring food with these tools is not simply extractive, as it is when harvesting insects. It is far more aggressive. They use the spears to hunt one of the cutest primates in Africa: bushbabies (Galago senegalensis).
Bushbabies are nocturnal and curl up in hollows in trees during the day. If disturbed during their slumbers – if their nest cavity is broken open, for example – they rapidly scamper away. It appears that the chimps have learnt a grizzly method of slowing them down.
Something to smile about
Pets get in on the fun also by winning a three-day, two-night stay at a pet hotel.
Rare Colossal Squid Could Be World's Biggest
A colossal squid that could weigh a half-ton may prove to be the biggest specimen ever landed.
The squid, which weighs an estimated 990 pounds and is about 39 feet long, took two hours to land in Antarctic waters, New Zealand Fisheries Minister Jim Anderton said.
The fishermen were catching Patagonian toothfish, sold under the name Chilean sea bass, south of New Zealand "and the squid was eating a hooked toothfish when it was hauled from the deep," Anderton said.
The fishing crew and a fisheries official on board their ship estimated the length and weight of the squid: Detailed, official measurements have not been made.
Wolf dogs find haven in New Hampshire sanctuary
What happens, finally, is you turn a corner – this one being deep in New Hampshire at the bottom of a frost-heaved dirt road over a Western ridge. There is a sign there, crude letters on simple planks. "Loki Clan Wolf Refuge," it says. And you turn that corner and then you see one. You see a wolf. Her name, you learn later, is Wayah. You're here to meet the man who saved her.
In a minute that man, Fred Keating, will watch you watching Wayah, and will begin telling you about her. To begin with, she is not entirely a wolf, despite everything your senses tell you. She's a wolf dog, a mix made by breeding wolves in captivity with dogs. (Wolves won't mate with dogs in the wild.) In most states, Wayah is illegal; in the rest, she's a bad idea for all but a very, very few. "People get them, thinking they'll be pets," Mr. Keating says, "dogs, but cooler. But they're not pets. They're wolves. Doesn't matter if their wolf blood is only 1 percent – that makes them as smart as a 12-year-old human, compared with dogs who are like 3-month-old infants. They're wolves, and that's how they act."
Long-captive manatees returned to wild
Gene, who weighs about 1,900 pounds, had been in captivity for 30 years. When he was 2, he was hit by a boat and cut by its propeller in Brevard County.
Gene's son, Dundee, who weighs about 1,300 pounds, was released with his father. Dundee acted a little childish when workers tried to turn him on his stomach. He showed off for the waiting pod in the water and the crowd was delighted.
Researchers hope that Gene and Dundee will thrive in the wild. They have installed global position system-like devices in the manatees to monitor their progress.
"We're monitering him to make sure he is adapting, and if he is not, then we can intervene. We also do routine health assessments," said Monica Ross, a Wildlife Trust research scientist.
It was a bittersweet parting for some in the crowd, including Marvin Darvey, who watched over Gene in the Ohio zoo for more than six years.
"I am glad that he can get out there and meet some girls and maybe make some babies because that's the whole object," said Darvey.
Smooshi and Phil
Phil works as a Marine Mammal Trainer. In 2004, Smooshi, a then 18 month old baby walrus, arrived at Marineland from Russia weighing approximately 198lbs. The two would spend many hours playing, eating … even napping together, and an immediate bond was established.
Fast forward to today (3 years and 600lbs later) and the bond remains unchanged. Smooshi will follow Phil absolutely anywhere often looking up to him for approval. They often take walks around the park or just play in the snow. This is a unique bond that is sure to amaze and touch you… it truly is “something you gotta see ----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLlZTVoUums&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcommunity%2Elivejournal%2Ecom%2Fbaaaaabyanimals%2F2993331%2Ehtml.
Raccoon dogs used for fur
Two raccoon dog pups, and a third unseen pup, members of the canine family who are native to inland China, huddle together at the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Neb., Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004.
An animal advocacy group says an investigation has found coats - some with designer labels, some at higher-end retailers - with fur from man's best friend. Although raccoon dogs aren't kept as pets and importing their fur is not illegal, activists argue they are still a type of dog. Fur from domestic dogs has also been found on coats even though the fur was advertised as fake. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)
White Bengal tiger cub
A white Bengal tiger cub touches the glass inside a cage at Buenos Aires' Zoo February 8, 2007. A female white tiger named Betty gave birth to three cubs on December 23, 2006.
(Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
Kid's Pug Bank
Kangaroo Desk Organizer
"Kangaroo" is a fine message center, holding papers and pencils or a cell phone in its pocket and messages in its mouth. - momastore.org
comfy cozy puppy
USA Rawhide Retriever Rolls
USA RAWHIDE - seconds, irregulars
approx. 15 to 25 pieces in a 10 lb. pack
10 pounds --- $22.50
100% USA RETRIEVERS Manufacturer's Seconds / Irregulars
The color or shape wasn't perfect enough to package them individually.
DOGS LOVE THEM!
approx. 15 to 25 pieces in a 10 lb. pack
10 pounds --- $22.50
Introduction to Bats
This website, batdetective.com, has been designed to educate all age groups on the life styles of bats.
These creatures are probably the most misunderstood creatures in the world. They come out while we sleep and are back in their roosts long before we are up and about in the morning. Most people only get to see a fleeting glimpse of a shadow that shoots by in the twilight. In Africa tribes believe that bats bring bad omens while in China bats bring good luck and can be seen embroidered on the gowns of emperors. The Chinese word ‘FU’ can mean bat or good luck depending on its pronunciation.
These creatures are probably the most misunderstood creatures in the world. They come out while we sleep and are back in their roosts long before we are up and about in the morning. Most people only get to see a fleeting glimpse of a shadow that shoots by in the twilight. In Africa tribes believe that bats bring bad omens while in China bats bring good luck and can be seen embroidered on the gowns of emperors. The Chinese word ‘FU’ can mean bat or good luck depending on its pronunciation.
Rhapsody in Blue
For most of the year, the Karner blue butterfly exists as a tiny, dimpled white egg. But as winter days lengthen into spring, the life inside begins to stir, and soon a pale green caterpillar emerges. It feeds, then cloaks itself in a chrysalis. And then, for one brief week, the Karner blue is on the wing.
Or, a wing and a prayer.
For decades, the butterfly with the fleeting appearance was on the verge of becoming a fleeting species as its oak savannas and pine barrens disappeared. Now, with efforts to restore its preferred habitat and raise the butterflies in captivity, the Karner blue’s future is decidedly more upbeat.
The rare blue butterfly lives for the wild blue lupine. When Karner eggs hatch in April, lint-sized caterpillars emerge to feed on the leaves of the newly sprouted plant. Nothing else will do. And when the mature butterflies are looking to lay eggs for a second brood, again, they’ve only got eyes for lupine.
Or, a wing and a prayer.
For decades, the butterfly with the fleeting appearance was on the verge of becoming a fleeting species as its oak savannas and pine barrens disappeared. Now, with efforts to restore its preferred habitat and raise the butterflies in captivity, the Karner blue’s future is decidedly more upbeat.
The rare blue butterfly lives for the wild blue lupine. When Karner eggs hatch in April, lint-sized caterpillars emerge to feed on the leaves of the newly sprouted plant. Nothing else will do. And when the mature butterflies are looking to lay eggs for a second brood, again, they’ve only got eyes for lupine.
Australia rocked by 'lesbian' koala revelation
Female koalas indulge in lesbian "sex sessions", rejecting male suitors and attempting to mate with each other, sometimes up to five at a time, according to researchers.
The furry, eucalyptus-eating creatures appear to develop this tendency for same-sex liaisons when they are in captivity. In the wild, they remain heterosexual.
Scientists monitoring the marsupials with digital cameras counted three homosexual interactions for every heterosexual one.
"Some females rejected the advances of males that were in their enclosures, only to become willing participants in homosexual encounters immediately after," say the researchers.
The furry, eucalyptus-eating creatures appear to develop this tendency for same-sex liaisons when they are in captivity. In the wild, they remain heterosexual.
Scientists monitoring the marsupials with digital cameras counted three homosexual interactions for every heterosexual one.
"Some females rejected the advances of males that were in their enclosures, only to become willing participants in homosexual encounters immediately after," say the researchers.
Tourists buy live animals.. to throw to tigers
This is just despicable - reading it turned my stomach . . .
EYES rolling and squealing with fear, the cow is forced from the back of a moving pick-up truck into the dirt. There is an explosion of dust, blood and flashing cameras as an ambush of tigers moves in for the kill, tearing great strips off the animal's back as it struggles for a second, then goes still, bar the odd twitch. A minute later there is little left of the ton-weight heifer except a scrap of skin, a mess of bones and a puddle of blood.
But this is not some wild savannah. Welcome instead to China's latest tourist craze - paying up to £120 a time to feed live animals to ravenous Siberian tigers. From four packed buses goggle-eyed tourists shoot roll after roll of film, and even clap. One Westerner waves a roll of notes at the tour guide, excitedly gesturing at the bizarre menu pinned to the wall.
. . . [ pictures ]
Last year, Wang Wei, of China's Wildlife Conservation Department, promised to "put an end to shows of feeding beasts of prey with live animals". But, today, it is still very much business as usual.
EYES rolling and squealing with fear, the cow is forced from the back of a moving pick-up truck into the dirt. There is an explosion of dust, blood and flashing cameras as an ambush of tigers moves in for the kill, tearing great strips off the animal's back as it struggles for a second, then goes still, bar the odd twitch. A minute later there is little left of the ton-weight heifer except a scrap of skin, a mess of bones and a puddle of blood.
But this is not some wild savannah. Welcome instead to China's latest tourist craze - paying up to £120 a time to feed live animals to ravenous Siberian tigers. From four packed buses goggle-eyed tourists shoot roll after roll of film, and even clap. One Westerner waves a roll of notes at the tour guide, excitedly gesturing at the bizarre menu pinned to the wall.
. . . [ pictures ]
Last year, Wang Wei, of China's Wildlife Conservation Department, promised to "put an end to shows of feeding beasts of prey with live animals". But, today, it is still very much business as usual.
A real life Dr Doolittle
Bird lover Dennis Bright has become a real life Dr Doolittle by taming this plucky Robin so it dares to land on his chin - and eat a worm from his mouth.
Dennis, who has been a wildlife photographer for 20 years, says Robins are naturally tame birds and can be tempted by a free feed of mealworm.
And he says he even talks to the birds and lets them fly around his house so they can get used to him.
He said: "Taming a Robin is actually quite simple - anyone can do it. The secret is that they will sell their soul for a mealworm!
Not everyone's pets are warm and fuzzy
Robert and Beth Hall of Sheboygan don't have your run-of-the-mill house pets.
Among their menagerie of reptiles and invertebrates are 38 snakes, including a 17-foot Burmese python, along with two alligators, a tarantula, 16 scorpions, a green iguana, an Australian tegu, a Nile monitor and three tortoises, one weighing 50 pounds.
"We first started out with the tarantulas because they do take up less space," Beth Hall, 23, said. "Then, our first few reptiles that we had, we had a green iguana and a bearded dragon."
The Halls got more animals as people learned about the animals they had.
"Then, they were like, 'Oh, I can't keep my snake anymore. Do you mind if I drop it off at your house?'" Beth said.
Among their menagerie of reptiles and invertebrates are 38 snakes, including a 17-foot Burmese python, along with two alligators, a tarantula, 16 scorpions, a green iguana, an Australian tegu, a Nile monitor and three tortoises, one weighing 50 pounds.
"We first started out with the tarantulas because they do take up less space," Beth Hall, 23, said. "Then, our first few reptiles that we had, we had a green iguana and a bearded dragon."
The Halls got more animals as people learned about the animals they had.
"Then, they were like, 'Oh, I can't keep my snake anymore. Do you mind if I drop it off at your house?'" Beth said.
Man says dog saved him from black bear
Jason Schindler says he wouldn't be alive if it were not for his dog, Dude. The 27-year-old rural Cataract man said the 8-year-old mixed-breed hound jumped between him and an attacking black bear Thursday night, saving his life but giving up his own. The animal sustained at least 28 puncture wounds to his chest and neck, he said.
"I'd hate for someone else's dog to go through what mine did," he said.
Schindler and his wife, Kimberly, buried the dog with a blanket and pillow the next day, using a rented jackhammer to dig the grave in the frozen soil.
He said he heard the dog yelping loudly Thursday after dark and went out to see what was happening.
Suddenly, "all I saw was this dark thing lunging at me," Schindler said.
But his dog jumped between the two and was quickly snatched up in the bear's jaw, he said.
"I'd hate for someone else's dog to go through what mine did," he said.
Schindler and his wife, Kimberly, buried the dog with a blanket and pillow the next day, using a rented jackhammer to dig the grave in the frozen soil.
He said he heard the dog yelping loudly Thursday after dark and went out to see what was happening.
Suddenly, "all I saw was this dark thing lunging at me," Schindler said.
But his dog jumped between the two and was quickly snatched up in the bear's jaw, he said.
Five-Legged Lamb Born In Kansas
The lamb, which is owned by the Evans family in Osawatomie, has a fifth leg sticking out of its abdomen; the leg has a bone in it.
"Isn't this the weirdest thing you've ever seen?" Michelle Evans said. "We didn't know if it would walk, but it got right up and it's doing great."
Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril
In 24 states throughout the country, beekeepers have gone through similar shocks as their bees have been disappearing inexplicably at an alarming rate, threatening not only their livelihoods but also the production of numerous crops, including California almonds, one of the nation’s most profitable.
“I have never seen anything like it,” Mr. Bradshaw, 50, said from an almond orchard here beginning to bloom. “Box after box after box are just empty. There’s nobody home.”
The sudden mysterious losses are highlighting the critical link that honeybees play in the long chain that gets fruit and vegetables to supermarkets and dinner tables across the country.
Beekeepers have fought regional bee crises before, but this is the first national affliction.
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