Animal Insider, "because animals are people too"

ANIMAL INSIDER HAS MOVED!!!!

2008-05-05T13:43:00.002-04:00

Animal Insider has moved to Tumblr...
Check out the new site at: http://animalinsider.tumblr.com

'Sex pest' seal attacks penguin

2008-05-02T15:43:00.001-04:00

An Antarctic fur seal has been observed trying to have sex with a king penguin.

The South African-based scientists who witnessed the incident say it is the most unusual case of mammal mating behaviour yet known.

The incident, which lasted for 45 minutes and was caught on camera, is reported in the Journal of Ethology.

The bizarre event took place on a beach on Marion Island, a sub-Antarctic island that is home to both fur seals and king penguins.

Why the seal attempted to have sex with the penguin is unclear. But the scientists who photographed the event speculate that it was the behaviour of a frustrated, sexually inexperienced young male seal.

Equally, it might be been an aggressive, predatory act; or even a playful one that turned sexual.

"At first glimpse, we thought the seal was killing the penguin," says Nico de Bruyn, of the Mammal Research Institute at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Source: BBC NEWS

Photo of the Day...

2008-05-02T13:52:00.001-04:00

Feral cat and feral kitten (via stshank)

What's love? For Conchita the endangered monkey it's a teddy bear mum

2008-05-01T15:35:00.001-04:00

Conchita is a white-naped mangabey, an endangered primate at the London Zoo. Her mother was seriously ill when Conchita was delivered via C-section, so zookeepers put a teddy bear into the newborn's enclosure. Now Conchita sorta thinks the bear is her mom. "She hugs that bear day and night," says keeper Andrea Payne. "She will run to the bear when she's alarmed. She won't run to me. She clamps on to it just like she would her mother." The teddy bear is "smelly" and has some monkey poo on it, but the zookeepers can't wash it. "To the baby it is her own special smell... The baby recognises the smell, it's a comfort to her. Washing the teddy would make it unrecognizable."

Sources:
London Times
Jezebel

Legless Lizard Among Newly Found Species: are you sure thats not a snake?

2008-05-01T14:26:00.003-04:00

Scientists discovered legless lizard, a dwarf woodpecker and another 12 suspected new species in Brazil's fast-disappearing Cerrado grasslands, an environmental group said Tuesday.

The discoveries were made during a 29-day expedition by U.S. and Brazilian scientists in Brazil's vast wooded grasslands, one of the world's 34 biodiversity conservation hotspots, Conservation International said in a statement.

The grasslands are threatened by encroaching farmland; the expedition focused in and around the Serra Geral do Tocantins Ecological Station, a 2,765-square-mile protected area that is Cerrado's second largest.

The 14 suspected new species discovered include eight fish, three reptiles, one amphibian, one mammal and one bird, the group said.

The legless lizard, of the Bachia genus, resembles a snake due to its lack of legs and uses its pointed snout to move about its predominantly sandy environment.

Other outstanding new findings include a dwarf woodpecker of the genus Picumnus, and a horned toad of the genus Proceratophrys.

Besides the new species, the scientists also recorded several threatened animals such as the hyacinth macaw, marsh deer, three-banded armadillo, the Brazilian merganser and the dwarf tinamou, among more than 440 species of vertebrates documented.

"We need to know our protected areas better, especially the ecological stations whose principal objective is to generate scientific knowledge of Brazilian biodiversity, so little studied and already so severely threatened," said expedition leader Cristiano Nogueira.

Source: Discovery Channel

Genetically Altered Trout Approved for Release in U.K.

2008-05-01T14:24:00.000-04:00

Plans to pour tankfuls of genetically altered fish into wild lakes and rivers have been given the go-ahead in the United Kingdom after conservation scientists backed the project.

According to a recent study, releasing the modified fish for anglers to catch is a better option than traditional trout farming and may even benefit native trout populations.

That's because the fish have been engineered to be sterile, so they won't breed with vulnerable wild strains.

These so-called triploid trout have three sets of chromosomes in their cells instead of the two sets normally found in diploid animals.

The two-year study, led by Dylan Roberts of the U.K.'s Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, investigated the impact of releasing triploid trout on native populations at 90 river sites in England and Wales.

The government's Environment Agency (EA) approved the plan last week following the study's publication.

The EA announced that by 2015 the estimated 750,000 farmed trout introduced each year in fishing waters must consist purely of triploids.

National Geographic

5 Extremely Expensive Exotic Pets...

2008-05-01T14:18:00.001-04:00

5. DeBrazza’s Monkey, $7,000

4. Macaw $12,000

3. Python $15,000

2. Chimpanzee $65,000

1. White Tigers $138,000

Source

Fence porthole gives pooch a point of view

2008-04-30T14:52:00.004-04:00

It needs no explanation, the Pets' Observation Poodle from Hammacher Schlemmer. Nine inches wide and 5" deep, it gives "the inquisitive canine," which is cataloguese for "dog," a panoramic view of things at which to bark.

Hammacher Schlemmer suggests lining several of these $30 domes around the perimeter of your yard, to allow your pet an unrestricted view of interesting places it cannot go.

Source: Boing Boing Gadgets

FAIL!

2008-04-28T14:51:00.001-04:00

I DIDN'T DO IT!

2008-04-28T09:48:00.001-04:00

Bear in New Jersey... nobody really cares!

2008-04-27T22:46:00.000-04:00

Drug-Sniffing Dogs Cloned in Korea

2008-04-25T15:45:00.001-04:00

The Korean Customs Service today unveiled seven golden Labrador retrievers cloned from a skilled drug-sniffing canine in active service—a test to see if duplicates could reduce the difficulty and expense of finding dogs qualified to detect drugs and explosives, officials say.

Seen here at their training facility near Incheon International Airport west of Seoul, the pups were born five to six months ago.

The dogs all currently share the same name: "Toppy"—a portmanteau of the words "tomorrow" and "puppy."

In February all seven passed a behavior test to check if they are qualified to work as sniffing dogs. Only 10 to 15 percent of naturally born dogs pass the test.

If the cloned dogs succeed in other tests for physical strength, concentration, and sniffing ability, they will be put to work by July 2009 at airports and harbors across South Korea, according to the training center.

Normally, only about three out every ten naturally born dogs the center trains—at a cost of about $40,140 each—ends up qualifying for the job.

The cloning was conducted by the team at Seoul National University that in 2005 successfully created the first known dog clone, an Afghan hound named Snuppy.

The team's leader, Lee Byeong-chun, was a key aide to disgraced scientist Hwang Woo-suk. Hwang's purported breakthroughs in stem cell research were revealed as false, but independent tests proved the team's dog cloning was genuine.

Lee said it cost approximately $100,000 to $150,000 to clone each of the seven Labradors.

The seven are the first cloned drug-sniffing dogs, though his team has cloned 13 other dogs and five wolves, he added.

Ancient Praying Mantis Found in Amber...

2008-04-25T15:44:00.001-04:00

An 87-million-year-old praying mantis found encased in amber in Japan may be a "missing link" between mantises from the Cretaceous period and modern-day insects.

The fossil mantis measures 0.5 inch (1.4 centimeters) from its antennae to the tip of its abdomen.

Although the forelegs, head, and antennae appear to be well preserved, the wings and abdomen have been badly crushed.

Kazuhisa Sasaki, director of the Kuji Amber Museum, found the fossil creature in January buried 6.5 feet (2 meters) below the surface in an amber mine in Japan's northeastern Iwate Prefecture.

"This part of Japan is famous for producing large amounts of amber, but it was very fortunate for me to find this specimen," Sasaki said.

"I found it in a deposit that had lots of other insects—ancient flies, bees, and cockroaches—but this was the only praying mantis."

Are animals stuck in time?

2008-04-25T15:42:00.003-04:00

Dog owners, who have noticed that their four-legged friend seem equally delighted to see them after five minutes away as five hours, may wonder if animals can tell when time passes. Newly published research from The University of Western Ontario may bring us closer to answering that very question.

The results of the research, entitled "Episodic-Like Memory in Rats: Is it Based on When or How Long Ago," appear in the current issue of the journal Science, which was released recently.

William Roberts and colleagues in Western's Psychology Department observed that rats are able to keep track of how much time has passed since they discovered a piece of cheese, be it a little or a lot, but they don't actually form memories of when the discovery occurred. That is, the rats can't place the memories in time.

The research team, led by Roberts, designed an experiment in which rats visited the 'arms' of a maze at different times of day. Some arms contained moderately desirable food pellets, and one arm contained a highly desirable piece of cheese. Rats were later returned to the maze with the cheese removed on certain trials and with the cheese replaced with a pellet on others.

All told, three groups of rats were tested in the research using three varying cues: when, how long ago or when plus how long ago.

Only the cue of how long ago food was encountered was used successfully by the rats.

These results, the scientists say, suggest that episodic-like memory in rats is qualitatively different from human episodic memory, which involves retention of the point in past time when an event occurred.

""The rats remember whether they did something, such as hoarded food a few hours or five days ago," explained Roberts. "The more time that has passed, the weaker the memory may be. Rats may learn to follow different courses of action using weak and strong memory traces as cues, thus responding differently depending on how long ago an event occurred. However, they do not remember that the event occurred at a specific point in past time." .

Prior studies have suggested that rats and scrub jays (a relative of the crow and the blue jay) appear to remember storing or discovering various foods, but it hasn't been clear whether the animals were remembering exactly when these events happened or how much time had elapsed.

"This research," said Roberts, "supports the theory I introduced that animals are stuck in time, with no sense of time extending into the past or future."

Are Ice Age relics the next casualty of climate change?

2008-04-25T15:40:00.002-04:00

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently launched a four-year study to determine if climate change is affecting populations of a quintessential Arctic denizen: the rare musk ox. Along with collaborators from the National Park Service, U. S. Geological Survey, and Alaska Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation Society scientists have already equipped six musk ox with GPS collars to better understand how climate change may affect these relics of the Pleistocene.

The research team will be assessing how musk ox are faring in areas along the Chukchi and northern Bering Seas, and the extent to which snow and icing events, disease, and possibly predation may be driving populations.

Musk ox are a throwback to our Pleistocene heritage and once shared the landscape with mammoths, wild horses, and sabered cats, said the studys leader Dr. Joel Berger, a Wildlife Conservation Society scientist and professor at the University of Montana. They may also help researchers understand how arctic species can or cannot adapt to climate change.

Once found in Europe and Northern Asia, today musk ox are restricted to Arctic regions in North America and Greenland eventhough they have been introduced into Russia and northern Europe. They have been reintroduced in Alaska after being wiped out in the late 19th century. Currently they found in two national parks: Alaskas Bering Land Bridge National Park and Cape Krusenstem National Monument.

Balding Penguin Gets a Wetsuit

2008-04-25T15:38:00.001-04:00

Pierre, an African penguin at the California Academy of Sciences, was going bald, which posed a significant problem for the 25-year old bird. Penguins rely on their feathers to stay warm, not blubber.

The poor little bird was shivering and refusing to get into the water. Scientists charged with his care initially tried a heat lamp to keep him warm, but that was costing him social interaction, so they began brainstorming. The result was interesting to say the least. They ordered him a wetsuit.

Pierre, who began going bald when he was five years older than the average life expectancy of a penguin, was fitted for a suit by Oceanic, one of the largest manufacturers of wetsuits in the world.

He has, since that time, began to re-grow his feathers. He now fearlessly plunges into the water where his mates have readily accepted him, allaying one of the early fears of the scientists. Pierre, who has been in the Velcro-closed suit for about six weeks now, is already being weaned off his new clothes as he re-grows his feathers, but until then happily flaps around the habitat with his black neoprene body.

Ashera Cats are expensive...

2008-04-24T16:44:00.002-04:00

The ASHERA EXOTIC CAT is considered one of the rarest domestic cat available today. A proprietary blend of the exotic bloodlines of the African Serval and the Asian Leopard Cat subsequently crossed with a rare domestic cat, the ASHERA grows up to 30 pounds (14 kg).

The Snow Ashera is a rare version of the standard Ashera and differs in that the background color is white instead of the brown caramel seen in the standard cat. The result is a striking animal that resembles the famed white tigers. The Royal Ashera is rarer still, with less than four kittens produced each year. The Royal Ashera has a cream background but uniquely, the spots and stripes are tiger orange, instead of black. The Royal Ashera is indeed the rarest domestic cat in the world and will be enjoyed by just a few. All ASHERA kittens are hand delivered to your residence (U.S. residents only).

Price: From $22,000.00 to $130,000.00

LifeStyle Pets

Oscar the sexy naked bird...

2008-04-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

Oscar has a rare virus that causes her to pull out her feathers because they irritate her. She has survived 12 years so far. And yes, Oscar is a girl. It was a year before Humane Society workers determined through a blood test that what they thought was male, was truly female, and it was too late to change names.

3-D Coyote Lifelike, Full-Size Predator

2008-04-23T15:02:00.002-04:00

Get rid of aggressive, destructive, disease-carrying Canada geese

www.bird-x.com

DIY Discovery Channel: Casio EX-F1 Slow-Mo Cam In My Backyard

2008-04-23T12:53:00.002-04:00

Shooting slow-mo takes some getting used to, and because you end up with long stretches of zero movement, the in-cam video editor is not just a luxury but a necessity. In the end, though, everything looks like it's ready for Discovery Channel. I think that chipmunk's gonna be a star.

Check out the VIDEO

Compliments of Gizmodo

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

2008-04-22T16:38:00.001-04:00

FAIL...

2008-04-21T22:19:00.000-04:00

R.O.A.R for Earth Day!

2008-04-21T14:25:00.002-04:00

Reach Out. Act. Respond.

This month, celebrate the earth as a home for animals while lending a helping hand, whether it’s nationally, locally or in your own backyard. With Earth Day approaching on April 22, it’s the perfect time to learn more about local conservation – and we’re ROAR-ing with ideas!

Animal Planet is partnering with leading animal organizations to inspire people like you to make the world a better place for animals. Together, we have the power to improve the lives of animals in our communities and in the wild. Simple things like volunteering at a local shelter, spreading the word about conservation, supporting a favorite animal cause or walking an elderly person's dog can make a difference. Even the smallest act has an impact. Join us in our passion to help animals.

ROAR

ROAR for Earth Day!

This is What Cows Do for Fun, Tongue Tricks!

2008-04-17T15:59:00.000-04:00

This is What Cows Do for Fun, Tongue Tricks! - More amazing videos are a click away

Exotic animal found!!!!!

2008-04-17T15:54:00.002-04:00

Two high school students found an exotic animal on their way to school in Oregon. Affiliate KGW reports.
VIDEO

Mascot Bloopers!

2008-04-13T09:38:00.001-04:00

Rick Rolling Puppy...

2008-04-13T09:34:00.000-04:00

Kangaroos gone wild!

2008-04-11T15:17:00.000-04:00

Kangaroo takes out some kid - Watch more free videos

Daily Cow Comic...

2008-04-10T15:08:00.001-04:00

To the douche bag who let their dog pee on my Vespa...

2008-04-09T08:52:00.004-04:00

That isn't nice.
I don't understand how hard it is to curb your dog away from things that people own, touch or tend to.
I see people let their dogs pee on garbage bags and i think, someone has to pick that up; and maybe being a garbage man isn't the most glamorous job, but who wants to add insult to injury but making them touch urine soaked bags to make an already not so fun job worse!

there shouldn't be a need for people to put up signs that say "please curb your dog" around gardens! That should be common sense. If someone has a garden, then they probably enjoy tending to it. The next time they lean over to smell their flowers, all the will get is a tasty whiff if your dogs liquid excrement!

There are plenty of places in this city that are acceptable to let your dog urinate on. Fire hydrants for example is a good place to start. We hold firefighters with the utmost regard in our society, yet when they are trying to save your lives and possessions we thank them by letting them douse the blaze with a piss soaked hydrant.

Lets take a moment to dissect the term "curb your dog." Maybe the key here is that you don't quite understand what it means. "Your dogs urine isn't wanted here" that is what it means. But lets break it down further, does it mean that you should bring your dog to the actual curb to pee? YES!

I don't want to put a sign on my vespa cover saying "please curb your dog" because that is silly, and you probably won't pay any attention to it anyway; because any person who is so oblivious to the world around them would most likely not be able to process that request.

in conclusion, everything i touch now smells like urine, and i hope that one day i will be able to shake your hand.

New Kellogg's Cereal

2008-04-08T23:19:00.002-04:00

Sex Call...

2008-04-08T16:05:00.000-04:00

Sex Call - The funniest movie is here. Find it

Thats not mama duck!

2008-04-08T10:09:00.002-04:00

Credit: Soup

Animal Planet: "Groomer Has It" - April 12th at 9pm

2008-04-07T18:32:00.002-04:00

GROOMER HAS IT sniffs out 12 of America's most devout dog groomers to compete against each other in a test of desire, creativity and affinity for animals as they shave, shear and shampoo their way through a series of challenges that will crown only one as "Groomer of the Year." The contestants will be put through their paces to see who can turn the shaggiest pooch into a beautiful, prancing pup beginning Saturday, April 12, at 9 PM (ET/PT).

These self-proclaimed best groomers will live together in a swanky Los Angeles loft, the "Dog House;" work elbow-to-elbow in one salon; and face grooming challenges that range from styling pups for their runway debut to grooming some of the most exotic dog breeds to making adoptable pups look their fetchingly best for new homes.

After each challenge, host Jai Rodriguez and our outspoken panel of judges, including esteemed veterinarian Dr. Karen Halligan, champion dog handler Xavier Santiago and leading U.S. grooming expert Joey Villani will decide which contestant does not make the cut.

The grand prize winner will receive a cash prize of $50,000, a mobile grooming salon from Wag'n Tails Mobile Grooming and the title of "Groomer of the Year" - three prizes totaling $125,000 that could jump-start the groomer's career and change their lives.

Each of these groomers thinks he/she has what it takes to be top dog in this competition, but in reality, only one… GROOMER HAS IT.

VIDEO

The Most Popular Dog Name is Max...

2008-04-06T12:05:00.003-04:00

According to the announcement of the Department of Health, in 2004 the most popular dog names in NYC were Max, followed by Lucky, Princess, Rocky and Buddy. Always consider that only registered dogs contribute to these dog name statistics, and only about 20% of dogs are considered to be officially registered in NYC.
According to a list published by VIP (Veterinary Pet Insurance) for the most popular dog names in 2004 the number one male dog name was Max, followed by Buddy and Jake. For female puppies the most popular name was Molly, followed by Maggy, Daisy and Lucy. The list was compiled from a survey of more than 30,000 of VPI s policyholders.
Another source for dog name statistics could be a dog tag business. One good example for a company which has compiled lists of favorite dog names from their pet ID tag orders is Bow Wow Meow - they offer listings of most popular dogg names for different geographical regions. So as for baby names it alway depends on what region you are looking at if you search for favorite dog names.

FULL DOG NAME LISTS HERE

Photo courtesy of: www.MaxTheDog.com

When Animals Attack in High Speed Chases II

2008-04-05T11:51:00.001-04:00

Monkey Vs Dog...

2008-04-04T17:13:00.001-04:00

Sassy Pet Saks™

2008-04-04T11:40:00.003-04:00

Talk about stylin’ with sweetness, Douglas Company’s Sassy Pet Saks™ and Totes are the fashion forward statement of the year. No girl’s accessory wardrobe is complete without one. Most girls, “in the know,” have several! There are 13 brand new styles to choose from or add to your current style collection.

Giddy up and go Western Chic with the new Pink Bling Sak™, Kicky Denim Sak™ , and Cowprint Tote. Each holds a galloping great horse. Or, spring into spring with the following flowerlicious styles: Flowerburst Sak™ with white pony, Electric Bouquet Tote with white cat, Daisy Madness with Shep Terrier and Dream Catcher Tote with yellow nugget lab inside. Feel exceptionally pretty in pink with Summer Sun Tote, Sweetly Pink Sak™, Magic Princess Sak™ and Pretty Lilly Sak™. If black and white is more your style then go preppy with Black & White Plaid Tote holding a White Highland Terrier or try it a little more mod with Black & White Whirl Sak™ with black pup inside.

Douglas’ Sassy Saks™ come with all the feminine touches and are created from the richest and most popular hues and fabric choices. Look for this award-winning collection in specialty gift stores near you. Douglas Totes, Lil’ Nugget Sassy Pet Saks™, Sassy Pet Saks™ and Adventure Saks™ range in price from $13 to $24 each.

"Douglas’ Sassy Saks™ and totes continue to create fun fashion for girls of all ages,” said Erika Radich, Marketing Manager, Douglas Company. “Each new design offers a unique look to add to the young wardrobe needs.”

Douglas products are sold at specialty gift and toy stores in the USA, Canada and Europe.

www.stuffedanimals.com

Your Pets Can Live Pain Free...

2008-04-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dr. Frank's Safe All Natural Pain Relief

Just a side note here, i think if you have to actually say that the product is "safe" in the title byline then it makes you wonder. Also i don't understand why it's in a spray bottle. You spray it into your pets water dish and then they drink it and all pain stops magically. Why isn't it just a bottle that you mix in the water, why a spray bottle, it seems pointless.

There is a must see video here: VIDEO

When the Owners Away...The Dogs will Play!

2008-04-01T14:02:00.001-04:00

Slug Sex!

2008-03-31T16:50:00.001-04:00

The Life of Riley: Brooklyn Kangaroo Officially Named

2008-03-30T11:18:00.002-04:00

The Prospect Park Zoo's recent marsupial addition was named Riley this week, following a public contest (even though no one knew the animal's gender!).

Riley is a Western Grey Kangaroo--a species native to Australia that can jump 30 feet at a time. Zoo keepers were only able to determine Riley's sex this week, which required that the names for the contest remain gender neutral (Kinta, Kylie, and Nari were the others).

In a vote organized by the cultural group Heart of Brooklyn, 208 submissions were winnowed to four options for voters, who determined that Riley was the best of the lot. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, building his future constituency, announced the winner in front of many appreciative children and that Allison Make had submitted the winning name (apparently the 48th most popular name for baby girls in the city in 2006, 159th most popular for boys).

Video:HERE

Source: Gothamist

Why is it...

2008-03-29T14:52:00.003-04:00

We focus on controlling gray wolf populations when really, the species posing the greatest threat to the survival of humans on earth (and severely overpopulating the world) is man itself.

Source: Gray Wolf Hunts Planned After De-listing - MSN
Overpopulation: Resources For Understanding And Taking Action - CultureChange.org

Daily LOL Cats!

2008-03-28T10:27:00.001-04:00

Talking Dogs?! (I'm still skeptical)

2008-03-28T10:25:00.000-04:00

More Monkey Business: The Hundredth Monkey Effect

2008-03-28T10:21:00.001-04:00

According to Wikipedia, The Hundredth Monkey Effect generally describes the instant, paranormal spreading of an idea or ability to the remainder of a population once a certain portion of that population has heard of the new idea or learned the new ability. However, for those of you that don't know the origin of this phenomenal Effect, you're not only going to get excited you're going to instantly re-realize how freaking similar we are, as today's modern civilization, to this wonderfully wild species.

The year was 1952. The setting was an island somewhere in the south seas. A few anthropologists were studying the behavior of the macaques, a Japanese Monkey native to the islands with a diet consisting primarily of sweet potatoes. By routine, the monkeys would dig up a potato, break it in half and eat only from the center in order to avoid the potato's sandy coat, discarding the rest. After one potato, the monkey would go back to dig another. One insightful afternoon, a pioneering monkey decided to rinse his potato, allowing him to eat it whole, and dig for fewer potatoes. Consequently, he not only began enjoying a cleaner habit, he instantly created more free time to enjoy the things he loved to do. Was he praised immediately?

Just the opposite. His family and friends just couldn't understand why he was doing something so different! Despite this, some of the onlooking monkeys became privy to the transition and began washing their potatoes too. Slowly but surely, many more of the surrounding monkeys shared in the innovation. Hundreds of monkeys continued to hold fast to their comfortable method even though they began to notice the abundance the other monkeys were enjoying at the beach. Now, supposedly when the hundredth monkey took the leap of faith, all the rest followed. Most remarkably and due to an evident mass consciousness, the paradigm immediately shifted amongst the monkeys inhabiting the neighboring islands too!

Full Story

Monkey Riding Mini Bike!

2008-03-28T10:20:00.000-04:00

Monkey Riding Mini Bike - Watch more free videos

Giant Rubber Ducks and Badgers Oh My!

2008-03-28T00:16:00.003-04:00

Do Not Feed The Pigeons...in a thong!

2008-03-27T16:34:00.002-04:00

A 58-year-old man who fed pigeons wearing only a skimpy thong which was back to front has been fined £150.

Neighbours spotted David Batchelor in his street in Perth in the underwear which left his genitals partly exposed.

Perth Sheriff Court heard that children walking home from school had been passing by at the time.

His lawyer said that Batchelor had been drunk and there was no sexual element to the way he had behaved. He admitted committing a breach of the peace.

When officers had turned up to investigate they found Batchelor still partially dressed and with his flimsy thong on the wrong way round.

At the court previously, Fiscal Depute Hannah Kennedy said: "The witnesses watched as the accused walked between the common close entrance and the pavement. He went behind some bushes outside his house.

"There were a large number of schoolchildren passing his home address at this stage.

"He returned to his flat then reappeared still wearing this item.

"It was still exposing his genitalia. The witnesses were alarmed by his actions and concerned for the children who had passed."

Batchelor claimed he had not seen anyone around, but then confessed he looked at everyone as they went past and the "schoolgirls were bonnie."

Mrs Kennedy added: "Asked why he did it, he replied 'I don't know. I was just feeding the birds and if I was wanting to do that I would just go down town and get a whore'."

Sheriff Michael Fletcher said: "The alcohol seems to be at the root of the problem and nothing much can be done about that, given his attitude towards it."

BBC News

Rogue monkey accused of Rape!

2008-03-27T15:34:00.002-04:00

According to The Sun newspaper, the 3ft langur monkey had lived peacefully beside villagers in the Hyderabad region for years.

But the primate was overcome by lust after watching a couple engaged in amorous activities in a field, and is said to be copying the behavior.

An elderly woman is reported to have died of shock after the monkey jumped on her.

A local villager said: "It's awful. It keeps trying to do what it saw in the field!

"We're waiting for a forestry team to catch it" she added.

India has had problems with monkey violence in the past, and in some areas has resorted to training larger, more violent monkeys to combat the pests.

Last year the deputy mayor of Delhi was killed after being attacked by a hoard of wild monkeys on a balcony.

In another incident in Delhi a monkey is claimed to have snatched a two-year-old baby from its mother's arms.

The city now employs monkey catchers to round them up and return them to nearby forests. Local authorities have met resistance when they try to move the monkeys to other areas.

Culling the creatures is seen as unacceptable to devout Hindus, who see the monkeys as manifestations of the god Hanuman and often feed them.

Telegraph

Is Knut a Polar Bear on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown?

2008-03-27T15:01:00.002-04:00

According to the Daily Mail, orphan and former cuteness-porn star Knut has let his child stardom go to his head. Markus Roebke, one of the Berlin Zoo's keepers, claims the larger-than-life polar bear (whose silver-screen debut comes this spring) is a "publicity-addicted psycho." Roebke adds, "he actually cries out or whimpers if he sees that there is not a spectator outside his enclosure ready to ooh and aah at him." Poor Knut. Looks like unless he wants to take the Corey Feldman route, he should do like Shirley Temple, quit the biz, and take to politics.

Source: Gridskipper

Life Imitates 'Caddyshack': Gophers Triumph Over Man

2008-03-27T14:51:00.004-04:00

Bill Murray must have winced when he heard that mankind's latest salvo in the valiant war against gopher-dom ended in a massive explosion that sparked a prairie fire outside of Calgary, Alberta, over the weekend.

Even though there was a ban on fires in the area, two Canadian men went into a field with a device called the Rodenator.

The Rodenator dumps a mixture of propane and oxygen into gopher holes, then lights them up like a Fourth of July fireworks display, causing an underground shock wave, killing the gophers and collapsing their tunnels.

Problem was, after a couple of successful blasts, the two Canucks overfilled one of the holes, and the flames jumped out and onto the dry grass, starting a fire that threatened several homes and caused $200,000 in damage.

Check out this video of the Rodenator in action!

FAIL!

2008-03-27T14:45:00.001-04:00

Animals from Junk

2008-03-26T22:28:00.001-04:00

MORE PHOTOS

Photo of the day: Cliffhanger

2008-03-26T13:27:00.001-04:00

No Bait! Fish May Respond to Sound

2008-03-26T13:07:00.002-04:00

Call them Pavlov's fish: Scientists are testing a plan to train fish to catch themselves by swimming into a net when they hear a tone that signals feeding time.

If it works, the system could eventually allow black sea bass to be released into the open ocean, where they would grow to market size, then swim into an underwater cage to be harvested when they hear the signal.

What's next, teaching them to coat themselves in batter and hop inside a fryer?

"It sounds crazy, but it's real," said Simon Miner, a research assistant at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Wood's Hole, which received a $270,000 grant for the project from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Miner said the specially trained fish could someday be used to bolster the depleted black sea bass stock. Farmed fish might become better acclimated to the wild if they can be called back for food every few days.

The bigger goal is to defray the costs of fish farming, an increasingly important source of the world's seafood. If fish can be trained to return to the farmer after feeding in the open ocean for several days, farms could save money on feed and reduce the amount of fish waste released in concentrated areas.

FULL STORY

Elephants Shoot Excellent Video!

2008-03-26T11:02:00.003-04:00

For the upcoming BBC documentary series Tiger - Spy in the Jungle, filmmakers enlisted the help of elephants to capture the tigers with hidden HD cameras. The large "trunk cam" (pictured here) was the most ludicrous of the devices carried by the elephants, while the smaller, lighter "tusk cam" proved to be easier for the elephants to carry for long periods of time. In addition, various log and rock cams were placed along the ground and activated by motion sensors when animals came close.

Apparently elephants move so smoothly that the improvised footage resembles that shot with a Steadicam rig. Look for the show on BBC One this Sunday, March 30th.

Source: Gizmodo

Here's what it looks like when a sloth bear checks out its reflection in the lens.

Animal Planet Launches DVD Training Series

2008-03-25T13:46:00.001-04:00

The next page in the cause for responsible pet ownership may be found in Animal Planet's new DVD training series.

Revealed at the 2008 Global Pet Expo in San Diego, the series is designed for pet adopters. Two million free DVDs will be sent to shelters across the country by Animal Plant Pet Video.

Pet Pulse reporter Annabella Asvik has the story. Click on the video at the top right to watch this interview.

For more information on the training series, visit animalplanetpv.com

Hey There Vagina, Monkey - NSFW

2008-03-25T13:38:00.004-04:00

VIDEO

Peep of Faith: The Most Heavenly Easter Candy Dioramas

2008-03-23T23:08:00.001-04:00

What is it about sugary-sweet marshmallow Peeps that makes us want to violate them, dress up them up and take pictures?

Peeps have used their mind-numbing cuteness to take over the Internet with over 200 websites, as well as two Peeps diorama photo contests hosted by the Seattle Times and the Washington Post. They have been the best-selling, non-chocolate Easter candy for a decade, and the amount of Peeps that will be eaten this year, if lined up, would circle the globe.

Full Gallery

HAPPY EASTER!

2008-03-23T09:41:00.002-04:00

Easter Fun...

2008-03-23T09:00:00.003-04:00

March 22nd is "World Water Day" (water makes dogs smell terrible)

2008-03-21T10:55:00.016-04:00

The United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March of each year as the World Day for Water by adopting a resolution.This world day for water was to be observed starting in 1993, in conformity with the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development contained in chapter 18 (Fresh Water Resources) of Agenda 21.

States were invited to devote the Day to implement the UN recommendations and set up concrete activities as deemed appropriate in the national context.

1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply - approximately one in six people on earth.

A person can live weeks without food, but only days without water.

A person needs 4 to 5 gallons of water per day to survive.

Almost two in three people lacking access to clean water live on less $2 a day.

Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease.

Horses’ Tails Vandalized by Intruder!

2008-03-21T10:41:00.002-04:00

A rare case of vandalism is being labeled as an act of animal cruelty by local officials.

At a North Carolina family horse farm, intruders have targeted the Lawrence family’s show horses, hacking into five of the horses’ tails over the past two months.

“It’s a situation that makes no sense,” said Barry Lawrence, owner. “Someone has come onto the property and harvested major sections of the tails of some of our show horses here.”

While the crime seems random, the family believes the thief’s motive was for profit and gain.

“My guess is that it probably has something to do with horse hair jewelry or buck tail fishing lures,” said Lawrence.

But, the crime is costing the family. In the show ring, gauges and chops into a horse’s tail will cause point deductions.

“The impact could be thousands of dollars in lost winnings, if you will, in lost shows,” Lawrence said.

The show ring isn’t the only place the horses’ vandalized tails will have a negative effect. As the summer heat arrives, the horses will be left without an effective way to cool themselves or to swat away biting flies.

“We will have to keep our show horses in the barn and barn feed them, until they regain enough of their tail enough to do that,” said Barry Lawrence.

Depending on breed and diet, a horse’s tail will grow three to four inches a year.

With no other farms being targeted, Rockingham County Sherriff Sam Page said, “To me it sounds like a bit of harassment of something going on.”

According to Sherriff Page, whoever is responsible could face multiple charges, including injury to real property, larceny, trespassing and a misdemeanor in cruelty to animals.

“It’s a cruel thing and again we want to do our part to identify who is causing these problems and bring them to justice,” said Sherriff Page.

VIDEO

Hamster Cam Lives!

2008-03-21T10:33:00.000-04:00

Watch live video from Animal Insider on Justin.tv

I have created a new cage for my hamsters!
This state of the art cage was build entirely of plexi glass.
Now you can see that hamsters better!
The back wall has a flat screen mounted on it, so the background can change and display whatever i want. Right now it is showing a NY skyline at night.

The camera moves around zooming in on anything the moves! That way viewers can get a closer look at the hamsters when they eat, sleep or run on the wheel!

Scientists Discover that Moose Antlers Act as Amplifiers

2008-03-21T09:17:00.001-04:00

The secret of a moose's exceptional hearing is down to its antlers, apparently. Scientists have discovered that those cool, gnarly things that look so fabulous perched atop the furry freaks act as amplifiers, allowing Mr Moose to be able to hear things up to 2 miles away. Added to the animal's already acute hearing—it's to do with its large ears that rotate in almost every direction, apparently—antlers improve the beast's audio capacities by as much as 19 per cent.

The father-and-son team of George and Peter Bubenik used an artificial moose ear that had been created by TV special effects team, and mounted a pair of antlers on top of it. A microphone and sound meter were placed in the ear canal, and a speaker set up 30 feet from the ear, which was rotated into different positions.

When a sound was played through the speaker (something by The Rasmus springs to mind) the sound meter recorded 59.5 decibels when the ear was facing the source of the sound, and 57.5 decibels when it was facing backwards. But when it was moved into a sideways position, and where the antlers worked as an amp, the level came out at 61 decibels.

Gizmodo

Familys Wins $9K for Dog Shot by Police!

2008-03-21T00:35:00.002-04:00

It was the judgment the Smoak family was hoping for, but not the kind they ever wanted to hear.

A federal jury awarded James Smoak $9,100 and found Sgt. David Bush guilty of using excessive force against Smoak.

The case stemmed from a traffic stop on New Year’s day in 2003, when the Tennessee Highway Patrol stopped the family on Interstate 40.

Mistaken as robbery suspects the Smoaks were forced out of their vehicle as a patrol car video captured the disturbing events that transpired.

The video shows the family’s pleas of protest that they were just vacationing and passing through on their return trip home to North Carolina.

The Smoaks then plead with the officers to close their car door. Their 55-pound mix breed bulldog, General Patton, was still inside.

“I got a dog in the car and I don’t want him to come out,” James Smoak’s voice is heard on the video.

But in the process, Patton escapes the car and can be scene on the side of the road wagging his tail. In a matter of seconds, a Cookville police officer shot the pet with a shot gun at close range.

Smoak tried to help his dog but he’s forced to the ground and injured by highway patrol Sgt. Bush. General Patton died on the spot and Smoak was lead to a waiting patrol car, crying “you shot my dog, you shot my dog! Oh, my God!”

The federal jury’s verdict settles the issue of excessive force used by Bush of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

The city of Cookeville compensated the family more than $77,000 for their officer’s actions in a separate lawsuit.

Jerry Andrews, a lieutenant at the time of the incident, was also named in the case, but found not responsible, while Bush was the trooper responsible for handcuffing Smoak.

VIDEO

The Origin of the Easter Bunny!

2008-03-21T00:30:00.000-04:00

The Easter Bunny is a rabbit character who brings gifts and candy to children on the Easter holiday.

Eggs, like rabbits and hares, are fertility symbols of extreme antiquity; since birds lay eggs and rabbits and hares give birth (to large litters) in the early spring, these became symbols of the rising fertility of the earth at the Vernal Equinox.

In English, the word "Easter" etymologically comes from an ancient pagan goddess of the spring named Eostre, related to German Ostara. According to a popular piece of folklore, Eostre once saved a bird whose wings had frozen during the winter by turning it into a rabbit. Because the rabbit had once been a bird, it could still lay eggs, and that rabbit became the modern Easter Bunny.

The precise origin of the custom of coloring eggs is not known, although it too is ancient; Greeks to this day typically dye their Easter eggs red, the color of blood, in recognition of the renewal of life in springtime (and, later, the blood of the sacrificed Christ). Some also use the color green, in honor of the new foliage emerging after the long "dead" time of winter.

German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time.

The idea of an egg-laying bunny came to the United States in the 18th century. German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area told their children about the "Osterhas" , sometimes spelled out as "Oschter Haws". "Hase" means "hare", not rabbit, and in Northwest European folklore the "Easter Bunny" indeed is a hare, not a rabbit. According to the legend, only good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter.

Wikipedia

Fail Dogs

2008-03-20T19:48:00.000-04:00

FailDogs.com

Hercules the Liger!

2008-03-20T12:39:00.005-04:00

At just three years old, Hercules already weighs half a ton.

He is the unintentional result of two enormous big cats living close together at the Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species, in Miami , Florida , and already dwarfs both his parents.
"Ligers are not something we planned on having,"
said institute owner Dr Bhagavan Antle.
"We have lions and tigers living together in large enclosures and at first we had no idea how well one of the lion boys was getting along with a tiger girl, then lo and behold we had a Liger."

Hercules likes to swim, a feat unheard of among water-fearing lions.
On a typical day he will devour 20 lb of meat, usually beef or chicken, and is capable of eating 100 lb at a single setting.
In the wild it is virtually impossible for lions and tigers to mate
Not only are they enemies likely to kill one another.
But incredible though he is, Hercules is not unique.
Ligers have been bred in captivity, deliberately and accidentally,
since shortly before World War II

Today there are believed to be a handful of ligers around the world and a similar number of tigons, the product of a tiger father and lion mother. Tigons are smaller than ligers and take on more physical characteristics of the tiger.

Animal Lists: 50 Animals Driving & 50 Animals with Day Jobs

2008-03-19T14:21:00.003-04:00

50 Animals Driving
50 Animals with Day Jobs

The 5 Most Dangerous Animals in Asia

2008-03-19T13:23:00.002-04:00

5. Tiger
4. Cobra
3. Malayan Pit Viper
2. Camel Spider
1. Krait

More information HERE

Wii Dog vs. Wii Cat

2008-03-19T13:20:00.001-04:00

In Most Species, Faithfulness Is a Fantasy

2008-03-18T13:47:00.003-04:00

You can accuse the disgraced ex-governor Eliot Spitzer of many things in his decision to flout the law by soliciting the services of a pricey prostitute: hypocrisy, egomania, sophomoric impulsiveness and self-indulgence, delusional ineptitude and boneheadedness. But one trait decidedly not on display in Mr. Spitzer’s splashy act of whole-life catabolism was originality.

It’s all been done before, every snickering bit of it, and not just by powerful “risk-taking” alpha men who may or may not be enriched for the hormone testosterone. It’s been done by many other creatures, tens of thousands of other species, by male and female representatives of every taxonomic twig on the great tree of life. Sexual promiscuity is rampant throughout nature, and true faithfulness a fond fantasy. Oh, there are plenty of animals in which males and females team up to raise young, as we do, that form “pair bonds” of impressive endurance and apparent mutual affection, spending hours reaffirming their partnership by snuggling together like prairie voles or singing hooty, doo-wop love songs like gibbons, or dancing goofily like blue-footed boobies.

Yet as biologists have discovered through the application of DNA paternity tests to the offspring of these bonded pairs, social monogamy is very rarely accompanied by sexual, or genetic, monogamy. Assay the kids in a given brood, whether of birds, voles, lesser apes, foxes or any other pair-bonding species, and anywhere from 10 to 70 percent will prove to have been sired by somebody other than the resident male.

Full Story: NY Times

Only the Dog Knows For Sure!

2008-03-17T17:09:00.003-04:00

Robot plays with your dog, so you don't have too!

2008-03-17T16:46:00.004-04:00

Why play with your dog when you can just clean up after him, feed him and walk him without all those unnecessary "good times"

Heres a robot that takes away the only fun part of owning a dog, and leaves you to pick up the poop!

Bear convicted of stealing honey!

2008-03-17T13:34:00.004-04:00

A bear who could not keep its paws out of a beekeeper's hives has been convicted of theft and criminal damage by a court in Macedonia.

But the honey-stealing bear was nowhere to be seen as the court in Bitola handed down its judgement.

The case was brought by a frustrated beekeeper, who, after a protracted battle, turned to the law to stop the bear from attacking his beehives.

Zoran Kiseloski said he tried to keep the bear away by playing thumping "turbo-folk" music and buying a generator to light up the area.

"I tried to distract the bear with lights and music because I heard bears are afraid of that"

But when the generator ran out of power and the music fell silent, the bear was back.

"It attacked the beehives again," said Mr Kiseloski.

The court found the bear guilty and, since it had no owner and belonged to a protected species, ordered the state to pay the 140,000 denars ($3,500) damage it caused to the hives.

Source: Telegraph

People in the 1930s Sure Hated Their Dogs!

2008-03-17T11:49:00.002-04:00

Dog Rides Comfortably in Sack on Running Board

When you take your dog along for a ride, but prefer not having it inside the car, it can ride safely and comfortably in this sack, which is carried on the running board. The bottom of the sack is clamped to the running board and the top is fastened to the lower part of an open window with hooks, covered with small rubber tubing to prevent marring the car.

Source: Gizmodo

Cat Jumps Off a Plane, Lands on Its Legs

2008-03-14T14:52:00.003-04:00

Sky Diving Cat

Now we're not saying this is totally cruel - this cat may really love open doors on airplanes, heights, plummeting to the earth and being strapped to his owner's stomach - but we're just going to observe that the whole experience must have been really strange for that cat's little, little brain to process. We imagine it went something like this: 'food, water, play, scratch, sleep, food, water, play, scratch, sleep, food, confusion, terror, YEEOOOW!). It seems like the people had a lot of love for the cat - though we're not really sure what the point was - so we trust it was ok in the end.

Gizmodo

What Makes Cats Go Crazy ?

2008-03-14T14:12:00.002-04:00

What Makes Cats Go Crazy ? - For more funny videos, click here

Photo of the Day!

2008-03-14T12:00:00.001-04:00

Thanks: Richard

Cute Fluffy Animals Want You To Visit Them In London!

2008-03-13T12:25:00.001-04:00

Easter gives Londoners a rare opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones in airport departure lounges while their flights are delayed or stuck on gridlocked roads. The four-day weekend is a green light to escape -- but with the school Easter holidays and an entire country trying to get out and back in at the same time, it's not such a wise move. You could stay in, gorge yourself on some low-quality egg shaped confectionery and watch bad 80s films on TV. Or you could get out there and meet some little fluffy bunnies, adorable lambs and the occasional pig or donkey. Yes, London has many city farms -- some are of the We Only Have Three Animals But There's A Nice Café variety and some are more like proper working farms. They're at their best in spring and are the perfect destressing activity (provided your visit doesn't coincide with that of the screaming child who has just made the connection between the lamb on the farm and the lamb on the lunch table). Fill up a bucket of feed and go pet your new furry friends; if your inner kid is lucky, there might even be an Easter egg hunt.

Check it out on Gridskipper

Kangaroos To Be Killed in Australian Capital

2008-03-13T12:16:00.001-04:00

An overabundance of kangaroos munching on native grasses near Australia's capital, Canberra, has left the government little choice but to kill some of the pesky marsupials, authorities say.

In Canberra and elsewhere in the island nation, kangaroos are becoming pests that overgraze native grasslands and compete with domestic livestock for food.

This concern has led the government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which includes Canberra, to prepare for an April cull of 400 eastern gray kangaroos from an unused defense site just a few miles from the city's parliament house.

The 287-acre (116-hectare) location is also home to endangered species of moth and grasshopper, which rely on the vulnerable native grasses for survival.

"We want kangaroos in the same environment, but just not in the same numbers," said Maxine Cooper, ACT's commissioner for the environment and author of a report that recommended the extermination plan.

"Culling any animal is a concern, but the real issue across the world is that we're losing species daily. The eastern gray kangaroo is not under threat—but there are threatened species on this site," Cooper said.

"If we don't take action, these species won't exist."

Full Story

Harlequin Frog RE-Discovered?!

2008-03-13T12:08:00.003-04:00

I don't really get this, how do you re-discover something. just because nobody has seen it in a few years. We haven't been back to the moon since the 60's does that mean some other country can just go there and re-discover it? i think this is a silly concept.

With such flashy looks, this aptly named harlequin frog seems like it would be easy to spot.

But scientists hadn't seen one of its kind for 14 years, until it was "rediscovered" last month in the mountain forests of Colombia.

The rare find—technically known as a Carrikeri harlequin frog—is some welcome good news for South America's amphibian species, which have been disappearing at an alarming rate, experts say.

But for other amphibians in the region—including dozens of other harlequin frog species—the prospects remain grim, said Luis Rueda, a biologist with the nonprofit Conservation Leadership Program who led the expedition that made the find.

The rediscovery of the Carrikeri harlequin—high in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range—may mark the last stand for this genus of frog against the advancing epidemic.

I think i am going to re-discover something from my closet that nobody has seen in 14 years.

Deer In Forest Wall Art

2008-03-13T12:02:00.000-04:00

$68.00, Buy it here.

I Haz A Dance Video...

2008-03-12T16:16:00.001-04:00

Stupid French Hunter Kills Last Bear Ever!!

2008-03-12T15:35:00.001-04:00

A French hunter is on trial, facing serious charges over the shooting of what was likely the last native female Pyrenees bear in existence.

In 2004, French hunter Rene Marqueze was hunting boar in the Aspe valley in the Pyrenees mountains near the French border with Spain. Marqueze shot and killed the bear, which had been named Cannelle, allegedly in self defense.

The Pyrenees bear no longer exists in the wild. Every native bear was hunted to extinction, with the bear Marqueze shot supposedly the last native female.

The case of Marqueze and Cannelle drew heaps of media attention. Former French President Jacques Chirac called the animal’s death a “great loss for biodiversity”. It sparked a movement to reintroduce bears to the region which saw several bears imported from Slovenia. Finally, it sparked Marqueze’s trial, which was the result of an action brought by several environmental groups against him for killing a protected species.

Marqueze says he shot the bear in self defense when he was surprised by the animal. He said “She was standing on her hind legs, her two ears were standing up. She raced forward when I saw her, I took off to get out of her way but she didn’t hesitate, she charged me from behind.”

Many environmentalists think otherwise. Francois Ruffie is a lawyer working for the two environmental groups that brought the action against Marqueze. Ruffie says that Marqueze was aware of the presence of the bear, which was also travelling with cubs, and that there was no way he could have been surprised by the bear.

Ruffie said: “Everyone who uses natural spaces has rights but also responsibility and hunters, who use weapons, most of all.”

If convicted, Marqueze faces up to nine months in prison and a nine thousand Euro fine. He has the backing of the local community, however. Livestock herders in the Pyrenees were thrilled that the bear disappeared. It allowed them to leave their flocks mostly unattended without danger. They are fiercely opposed to recent efforts to reintroduce the bear to the mountain range.

Casting Wild Animal Expert

2008-03-11T15:14:00.001-04:00

Hi,
We are looking to cast a WILD ANIMAL EXPERT to host a new TV series for a major cable network. Ideal candidates have educational and professional experience in the field, are adventurous, outdoorsy, age 30-50. Must be charismatic, smart, with great communication skills, who's not afraid to get his hands dirty...or be up close and personal with dangerous animals in the wild. The Host is the expert so must be able to communicate his expertise in an engaging way. This is a show about wild animals around the world -- must be willing to travel.

Big opportunity for the person chosen. You'll be the face of the show, which will air and be promoted nationally.

We are looking for a combination of expertise and personality.

To be considered, please film yourself or have someone film you answering the following questions and send me the tape (VHS, DVD, or mini-DV formats only) by Friday, March 14, 2008. 5-10 minutes max. Shoot outdoors if possible. Please also send a photo of yourself and your bio/resume. Materials will not be returned.

- Your name, where you live, your occupation
- Describe your expertise relating to wild animals and the outdoors.
- Describe your experience working with wild animals, specifically in the field
- If you're hiking a mountain and a lion approaches, explain what you should do. Further explain what to do if the lion attacks you.
- What is the most dangerous encounter or experience you've ever had (animal related or other)?
- This show will have you out in the wild, communicating to viewers what to do in the event of an encounter with a deadly animal. The experience will be authentic -- you really will be on location encountering wild animals. Are you willing to do that?
- If possible, show us you working with or encountering a wild animal.

Thank you,

Amy Rapp | Head of Development
NorthSouth Productions
1140 Broadway | Suite 1201 | New York, NY 10001
www.northsouth.tv

Do Monkeys 'Pay' for Sex?

2008-03-11T00:03:00.002-04:00

A recent study conducted in Indonesia shows that male primates "paid" for sexual access to females in the form of pre-sex rituals, and that the success of these rituals was reduced as the number of available females went up. Although the conclusions are not decisive, it is suggested that sex is a "currency" in the monkeys' biological market.

In a recent study of macaque monkeys in Indonesia, researchers found that males performed several services in order to encourage females to agree to sexual intercourse. The article, "Payment for Sex in a Macaque Mating Market," was published in the December issue of Animal Behavior and is based on the work of a group of scientists led by Michael David Gumert from Hiram College in Ohio. It describes the behavior of about 50 long-tailed macaques in Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia. After observing the monkeys for about 20 months, the scientists concluded that after the males performed their grooming ritual, sexual activity more than doubled: from an average of 1.5 times an hour to 3.5 times an hour. The study also showed that the amount of time that males spent grooming hinged on the number of females available at the time. For instance, as the number of females increased, the males spent less time picking nits off the females.

Full Story

Bear On A Bridge: A heroic rescue tale!

2008-03-09T14:47:00.002-04:00

A bear was walking across the "Rainbow Bridge" in Truckee California, on the I-80, California / Nevada State line, when two cars also crossed the bridge from both directions. The bear was so scared, with no place to run, made a leap over the side of the bridge...FULL STORY with pictures!

Zero G Kitty!

2008-03-09T14:42:00.001-04:00

Cops Capture Getaway Goat in the Bronx

2008-03-08T16:50:00.003-05:00

In a desperate bid for freedom and to avoid a date with a butcher's knife, a goat made a break for it in the Bronx. The 25 pound pygmy goat was spotted yesterday afternoon on 141st St. near St. Ann Ave. in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx and police quickly captured it. A worker with Animal Care & Control believes that the animal probably escaped from a neighborhood slaughterhouse.

Police have named the estimated 18-month-old goat Denny, who was described as being a little shy and cold, but otherwise healthy. Denny will be headed to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, NY today, where he will join a number of other famous four-legged escapees from the City. Last June, cops picked up Lucky Lady, a young lamb who also was believed to have fled a Bronx slaughterhouse. There's also Joey, a goat found wandering around Brooklyn. And perhaps most famous is Queenie, the cow who escaped from a Queens slaughterhouse in 2000 and evaded capture for 20 blocks before being cornered in a playground and shot with a tranquilizer gun.

Source: Gothamist

Deer Gets Revenge on Hunter

2008-03-08T11:13:00.001-05:00

Adopt Pheonix

2008-03-08T10:58:00.006-05:00

I'm not a fan of sentimentality, but I'm too ill to think of a witty spin for this:

Pheonix was abandoned months ago at a boarding facility. She has been living in a cage with no walks and barely any human interaction since then. Confinement has started to take a toll on this poor girl and she has become severly depressed (but NOT aggressive.) When I went in to see her she lifted her head for one second (when I snapped the first picture) and then only barely wagged her tail after that. You can see the heartbreak in this girl's eyes. We are seeking a foster or permenant home in the NYC area for Pheonix. She is three years old, great with people and good with most dogs her size or smaller. I promised her I would help her get out of the cage. She needs to know what fresh air smells like, she needs to see the sunlight again. Please if you have room in your home and heart to help Pheonix and you live in the NYC area, please contact Bobbicares2@aol.com. For immediate consideration please download our application from www.bobbicares.petfinder.org and email it to Bobbicares2@aol.com.

List of anthropomorphic animal superheroes

2008-03-07T14:24:00.007-05:00

This list consists of animal characters that walk, talk, act and sometimes look like humans, but also possess traits that allow them to be referred to as superheroes. These characters are usually changed from a normal animal into humanoid form or came from another planet to Earth. Some of the characters live on Earth, but its population comprises other anthropomorphic animals as well, sometimes coexisting with humans.

Many of these characters were originally seen in cartoons and comics of the funny animal genre such as Mighty Mouse and Underdog. The 1985 cartoon, ThunderCats, made this concept even more serious with their characters looking more human than animal. Today, anthropomorphic characters can also be found in central roles in computer and video games.

CLICK HERE for the full list complements of Wikipedia.

These are my top 10 favs...

1. Atom Ant
2. Darkwing Duck
3. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
4. ThunderCats
5. Mighty Mouse
6. Underdog
7. Earthworm Jim
8. Duck Dodgers
9. Rescue Rangers
10. Sonic the Hedgehog

Polar Bear Existential Cuteness Porn Hits the Silver Screen [Knut]

2008-03-07T13:42:00.001-05:00

Knut is the star of his own feature film, Knut und Seine Freunde (Knut and His Friends), which is currently out in 150 cinemas across Germany. The documentary, by Berlin filmmaker Michael Johnson, captures Knut in all his glory -- from young cub to enormous adult. The film also includes a handful of likewise cute and fluffy "friends" of Knut's -- two brown bears, Masha and Pasha, as well as the maternal Maidu and her two cubs, Lasse and Lin.

Source: Gridskipper

Weird New Fish Discovered off Antarctica

2008-03-07T11:12:00.001-05:00

This otherworldly creature was among a haul of strange new fish trawled from the bottom of the oceans of Antarctica.

The eelpout Pachycara cousinsi is one of six previously unknown deep-sea fishes caught at depths of 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) during a British research expedition to the remote Crozet Islands in the Indian Ocean between Antarctica and Africa.

Team member Nicola King of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, recently announced the new species.

P. cousinsi is known from just a single, 1.35 foot (41 centimeter) long specimen caught during the 2005 to 2006 voyage. King named the fleshy-lipped species in honor of her fiancé, geophysicist Michael Cousins.

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” the marine biologist said.

Indian City Aims to Poison 100,000 Stray Dogs

2008-03-07T11:09:00.002-05:00

Authorities in Indian Kashmir have begun poisoning stray dogs in an anti-rabies drive that aims to kill some hundred thousand dogs in the region's main city, Srinagar, officials said Thursday.

Animal rights activists vowed to go to court to stop the slaughter, saying it is an illegal and cruel solution to a problem that could be better addressed with other methods.

With the world's highest rabies fatality rate, India has grappled with ways to control the millions of stray dogs that live on its streets.

In Srinagar, city officials vowed to press ahead with the plan already under way to poison strays with strychnine.

"These dogs have become a big nuisance and they are threatening humans," said Riyaz Ahmad, the Srinagar city health officer who is organizing the killing.

It was not clear Thursday how many dogs have already been killed.

a squirrel and it's dressed up like a space stewardess

2008-03-06T16:29:00.000-05:00

Animal Sex Ed

2008-03-06T15:41:00.001-05:00

Sex Education - Awesome video clips here