The Nature Animals

What you see is real – no trick photography, nor has the bun been shaved or artificially modified! This amazing little character is quite rare and was accidentally bred here in Australia.

Hairless bunnies pop up as spontaneous mutations fairly frequently but very often die early on in their life. link

Many in the pet world are a bit horrified by this as to date furless bunnies that have showed up spontaneously in the pet population (and there have been many) usually die very early in their life suffering from all sorts of health problems. Besides this hairless animals might be OK in heat but they’d bake like a lobster in the sun with no fur to protect their delicate skin.

Bald Baboon

Lonely baboon ... the rare hairless female was spotted in Zimbabwe (link)

The animals usually hang around in troops of up to 250, but this female is forced to feed alone - after losing all her hair. The unfortunate creature was spotted by British-born gran Ann Warner near her new home in Zimbabwe.

Ann, 65, who is originally from Hartlepool, said: “Baboons are not the loveliest looking of animals at the best of times. “(She) gave us quite a fright on first glance."

It's not known what caused the baboon to go bald - but monkeys and apes sometimes lose their hair in rare cases of alopecia, just like humans.

Hair-raising ... other animals have shunned the unfortunate monkey (link)

This hairless baboon was seen being forever alone in Zimbabwe. All the other baboons won’t let this one join in their baboon games because of her appearance.

Hairless Cat

Cats are typically fuzzy, soft little creatures that enjoy a good snuggle (once in a while, on their terms)! There are at least two genetically different strains of hairless cats out there forming the Sphynx breed and the Peterbald breed. There are several breeds on top of this but I have yet to discern if they’re playing with the same gene or are distinctive. Either way people love these little naked kitties.

They’re obnoxiously friendly (or maybe just using your lap for heat – we may never know) and often are even colorful. Badly bred kittens may have heart issues later in life or other health problems while well bred ones are generally pretty healthy. In fact one of the world’s oldest cats, Grandpa, was a sphynx and he lived to be 34 years old! Not bad for a cat rescued from the Humane Society.

Hairless Squirrel

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The fur loss is caused by a fungus or mange mites that spread easily from squirrel to squirrel in their winter dens. On frigid days, unrelated squirrels seek out the coziest dens and squish together. Most squirrels aren’t harmed by the fungal infection, the mites or the fur loss. They’ll regrow fur in the coming weeks. More pix after the jump.

The animal first experiences hair loss over the chest and shoulders. The mange then eventually spreads over the entire body, causing the animal to become nearly bald.

Naked: Smoothie the squirrel has baffled vets (dailymail)

Hairlass Chicken

Mr Feather, the five-month-old featherless chicken, being chased by a cat (link)

It was one of 2,000 chicks born on a remote farm... but this is the bird that caused a real flap. Mr Feather, as he's been cruelly dubbed, won't feel cock-a-hoop though. That's because the poor chicken was born completely bald - and has remained so ever since.

Not only does Mr Feather look fowl, he must be a temptation to hungry humans - being oven-ready after all - and he's even had cats chasing him round. But, so far, he's survived. The bird of no feathers hatched in China's Shandong Province five months ago and since then he has become a local celebrity.

Soon the shelves of European and American shops will decorate the new genetically modified chickens. They are fundamentally different from the usual chicken – not feathered friends, because the tail is completely absent from them …

Israeli researchers set out to a new breed of broiler chickens, which would have saved time and money to producers of chicken meat. Genetically modified chickens have no feathers, and their skin is reddish in color.

Hairless Parrot

While much of the media is touting Oscar the cockatoo as the world’s ugliest bird, the near-naked creature with nothing more than a tuft of feathers on her head is enchanting people world-wide by storm as she gives real meaning to the adage that true beauty comes from within.

“She looks like a bald chicken. There’s no getting away from it.” said one of her keepers, adding, “I love this bird.” What’s even more miraculous about this special bird is that Oscar was diagnosed with Beak and Feather Disease — a virus highly contagious to other birds — and given 6 months to live. That was 12 years ago.

Hairless Horse

Nobody is quite sure what causes a horse to be hairless. The breeds that seems to pop up as hairless most often are Drafts and Ahkal-Tekes. A hairless horse requires a lot of specialized care that a regularly coated horse does not. They can get fungal infections and are way more prone to sun burning. Without the protective coat their skin dries out easily.

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Brindle coats, curly coats, spotted coats, shiny coats... I've seen them all. However, I've never seen a hairless horse before! While it's more common in cats and dogs, hairless in horses is quite rare. Part of this is because the mutation that causes hairlessness in horses tends to be fatal.

Below are several hairless horses including Bluebell the $25,000 "hairless wonder" and Wild Nell who was billed as the "india-rubber skinned mare (both from the 1890s) and an unidentified hairless horse from the 1900s.

Hairless Dog (Obama offered Peruvian dog as White House pet)

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has promised daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, a new pet for the White House. But Malia is allergic to most breeds, he said on Friday as speculation swirled about the dog the family would choose. Owners of the Peruvian Hairless Dog, a breed dating back 3,000 years and depicted in pre-Hispanic ceramics, say it is perfect for kids who are sensitive to dogs.

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"They do not cause any type of allergy and are very friendly and sweet," said Claudia Galvez, 38, director of the Friends of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association.

The Peruvian Hairless Dog is a hairless dog breed that originated in Peru. Its entire body is hairless only having short hair on top of its head, on its feet, and on the tip of its tail. An absolutely hairless is much preferred in Peru. The skin color of Peruvian Hairless Dog can be copper, chocolate-brown or elephant grey mottled.

Extra Naked Snakes

Biologists have found five specimens of an exceedingly rare amphibian, Atretochoana eiselti, in the Brazilian Amazon, reported national media on Tuesday (31)2012. The specimens, a species with an elongated cylindrical body and smooth skin, belonging to the family of so-called caecilians, were found near the construction site of a hydroelectric plant on the Madeira River in Porto Velho, capital of Rondônia state in Northern Brazil.

Biologists consider the animal very rare, since only two specimens of the species were known to exist before this and there was no clear information about the area where those originated, except that they came from “South America.” The biologists found six of the amphibians – they returned three to the river, one died and they sent two others to research centers.

Animals Literally Half Male And Half Female

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A gynandromorph is an organism that contains both male and female characteristics. These characteristics can be seen in butterflies, where both male and female characteristics can be seen physically because of sexual dimorphism. Cases of gynandromorphism have also been reported in crustaceans, especially lobsters, sometimes crabs and even in birds.

Scientists solve half-cock chicken mystery

The left, white, side of this bird is male. The right, brown, side is female.link

Researchers say they've solved the mystery of why some chickens hatch out half-male and half-female.
About one in every 10,000 chickens is gynandromorphous, to use the technical term. In medieval times, they might have been burned at the stake, as witches' familiars.

A gynandromorph chicken looks lopsided due to the differing structure of muscle mass in hens and roosters. As well, the average gynandromorph chicken will typically have a spur on the male half’s foot but not on the female half’s foot. Do gynandromorph chickens crow with the sunrise? Maybe just a little… we can forgive them for going off half cocked.

Gynandromorph Lobster

NationalGeographic - link

Batman fans will remember Two-Face, the villain with a mug that's half handsome and half gruesome. Recently a Maine lobsterman caught a different kind of two-faced prey—a lobster that looks half raw and half cooked. First noted in 1730, gynandromorph lobsters are extremely rare – they do attract notice, however, because the condition is often (but not always) characterized and/or accompanied by the male and female halves sporting different colors.

Female lobsters produce eggs whether they’ve mated or not; a gynandromorph lobster was once captured in the wild carrying half the usual complement of eggs. The lobsterman who found the creature donated it to the Maine Department of Marine Resources who monitored the eggs. Though only two eggs were observed to hatch, one of the larvae was male and the other was female.

Gynandromorph Butterfly

Butterflies are among the most frequently noticed gynandromorphs, owing to the creatures’ oft-exaggerated sexual dimorphism – that is, male and female butterflies of the same species can differ greatly in both size and coloration.

Children from The Russell School in Richmond with Sir David Attenborough are charmed by a swallowtail at the Big Butterfly Count launch in our butterfly house this morning.

Since butterflies display their brightest colors on their wings, marked asymmetry in the color and patterning of the wing scales is easily noticed from a distance by both human observers and hungry predators.

Gynandromorphic House Sparrows

Gynandromorphic House Sparrow observed in Catalonia, Spain © J.C. Abella/Revista Catalana d’Ornitologia

There was a taleJ.C. Abella, 2002 of two probably gynandromorphic House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) in two cities in Catalonia, Spain encountered during banding surveys in the late 90s. These again, exemplify the relatively more rare case of male markings on the left and female phenotype on the right.

A gynandromorphic Rose-breased Grosbeak in transitional plumage, as indicated by the red wing lining on the right (male) side only. © Robert Mulvihill and Adrienne Leppold/Powdermill ARC

Gynandromorph Crab

One claw two claw red claw blue claw… now hold on a sec, Blue Crab males have blue claws while Blue Crab females have red claws. What to make of a Blue Crab with one blue claw and one red claw, like the one caught by waterman Dave Johnson (above) in a crab pot off the coast of Gwynn’s Island, Virginia on May 21st of 2005?

The crab, called a "bilateral gynandromorph," is split right down the middle—its right half female and its left half male.

Gynandromorph Spider

This is a spider from my captive groups. Some of you might find this interesting. It is a gynandromorph Poecilotheria subfusca, meaning that it is half male and half female. Aren’t spiders creepy enough without adding gynandromorphism to the mix? Actually, arachnids aren’t creepy at all – it’s all in your head, or ON your head if you don’t watch where you’re going!

Spiders don’t exhibit as much sexual dimorphism as some insects (and spiders aren’t insects, trivia buffs) but gynandromorphs are still quite obvious even without an up-close-and-personal inspection.

Unique Swimming with Wild Predators

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See wild animals-predators in their natural environment is always aroused the attention and mild chills in many people. But swimming and shooting predators rise in everyone adrenaline, fear of unexpected reactions that carry in their genes. Here are some rare photos recorded where people still muster. For some, it just seems to work.

Swimming in the Crocodile

As prehistoric predators, crocodiles have a fearsome man-eating reputation, but little is known of their behaviour underwater in the wild. Now scientists are risking their lives to study the reptiles in their natural habitat. But can it ever be safe to dive with a crocodile?

They have been around for more than 100 million years, but much crocodile behaviour remains a mystery, as they spend around 80% of their lives underwater.

Nile crocodiles can grow up to 6m long, live up to 100 years old, and weigh up to half a tonne. Fully grown crocs have the strongest bite of any animal, and they are indiscriminate about what they eat - wildebeest, fish or humans.

Swimming with Anaconda

It lurks just inches below the surface coiled and ready to strike - and yet you wouldn't know it was there.These remarkable images show the enormous 26-foot (eight metre) anacondas of Mato Grosso in Brazil searching for prey in the murky depths.

An anaconda is a large, non-venomous snake found in tropical South America. Although the name actually applies to a group of snakes, it is often used to refer only to one species in particular, the common or green anaconda, Eunectes murinus, which is one of the largest snakes in the world.

They were captured by brave diver and snake enthusiast Franco Banfi, 53, who joined the beasts in their natural habitat armed only with a camera.

Say cheese! Banfi, 53, goes up close to take an underwater shot of one of the anacondas. He saw six huge female snakes during his time in Brazil.

Swimming with Shark

The great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, also known as the great white, white pointer, white shark, or white death, is a species of large lamniform shark which can be found in the coastal surface waters of all the major oceans. The great white shark is mainly known for its size, with the largest individuals known to have approached or exceeded 6 m (20 ft) in length, and 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) in weight. This shark reaches its maturity around 15 years of age and can have a life span of over 30 years.

Divers pose face-to-face with the predators WITHOUT any protective gear

She described her dance with the massive animal, saying how in the beginning she watched ‘the shark acknowledge and observe me, while I peacefully and calmly allowed it to swim towards me, and then experiencing it accepting my touch, allowing me to dorsal and tail ride,’ in her description of the experience.

The shark lover wants to challenge the misconceptions people have about the oceanic predators

Commonly thought of as the most voracious man-eating predators of the seas, these creatures actually need to gain confidence in their visitors from the surface before approaching them.Tail-riding through the ocean on the back of a great white shark Ocean Ramsey looks relaxed as she smiles confidently.The stunning show of bravery is even more impressive considering she is swimming with one of the world's most feared ocean predators without protection

A diver takes a swim next to a great white shark in “Disneynature: Oceans.”

Swimming with Orcas

Ingrid Visser swims with orca for her research

The killer whale (Orcinus orca), also referred to as the orca whale or orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family. Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas.

Killer whales as a species have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, walruses, and even large whales. Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators.

If a baby orca is in the pack, swimming with them is illegal

One eager man was seen snorkelling with them as they rounded the harbour side of the Miramar Peninsula – something which is against the law if a juvenile orca was present.

Bonus-Swimming with Hippo

Is that a vegetarian diet, but can be very dangerous to man. Brave: Penny's daughter Holly learned to take calculated risks when living in South Africa, such as swimming with this hippo.

The hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius), or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" (ἱπποπόταμος), is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae (the other is the pygmy hippopotamus). After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest type of land mammal and the heaviest extant artiodactyl.

Unusual Frost Shadows

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Sunny morning when we wake up after a cold night and when melted snow and ice, then comes the Frost Shadows. And then the fog takes on the shape of the shadow. It's like having a shadow in the negatives. Until it melts. Just one of those cool things you get to see every once in a while. For some people who live in warmer areas such as shadow play real phenomenon while the others become irresistible inspiration for photography.

Most Impressive Coral Reefs

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Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Coral reefs are mostly underwater, which in rare cases grow out of the water, structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs cover less than one per cent of the world’s oceans but support incredible biodiversity. Check out some of the unique structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals.

Coral and Mangrove, Zanzibar, Tanzania, East Africa

Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Zanzibar archipelago possesses rich marine resources that have been poorly exploited compared to neighbouring coastline on the mainland of East Africa. Its marine habitat consisting of coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves and sandy beaches harbours a diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate species.

Other Zanzibar's marine resources include coral reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy beaches. With more than 200,000 sq. km of coral reefs and plenty of seagrass beds, the undersea marine environment is one of the best in East Africa.

New Caledonia Barrier Reef

The New Caledonia Barrier Reef is located in New Caledonia in the South Pacific, and is the second-longest double-barrier coral reef in the world, after Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The New Caledonia Barrier reef surrounds Grande Terre, New Caledonia's largest island, as well as the Ile des Pins and several smaller islands, reaching a length of 1,500 kilometres (930 mi).

Most of the reefs are generally thought to be in good health. Some of the eastern reefs have been damaged by effluent from nickel mining on Grand Terre. Sedimentation from mining, agriculture, and grazing has affected reefs near river mouths, which has been worsened by the destruction of mangrove forests, which help to retain sediment. Some reefs have been buried under several metres of silt. In January 2002, the French government proposed listing New Caledonia's reefs as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres (1,600 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.

The Great Barrier Reef can be seen from outer space and is the world's biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps. It supports a wide diversity of life and was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981.

Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Philippines

The Tubbataha Reef (Filipino: Bahurang Tubbataha) is an atoll coral reef and a Natural Marine Park in Sulu Sea, Philippines composing of two huge atoll (the North Atoll and South Atoll) and the smaller Jessie Beazley Reef. The park is a Marine Protected Area (MPA) located 150 kilometres (93 mi) southeast of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan according to the reefs' official website but according to United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the reefs are 181 kilometres (112 mi) southeast of Puerto Princesa City.

The reefs are considered part of the island municipality of Cagayancillo, Palawan, which is located roughly 130 kilometres (81 mi) to the northeast of the reef.

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef in Belize

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize. The largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere lies 980 feet from shore and stretches for 25 miles within the country’s limits. The site identified by UNESCO is actually part of one of the largest barrier reefs in the world – the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that extends from Cancun to Honduras.

One of the most beautiful features of the Balize Barrier Reef system is the “Balize Blue Hole.”
Popular for scuba diving and snorkeling, the Balize Barrier Reef is quite possibly Balize’s top tourist attraction, as well as being vital to the country’s fishing industry.
There are almost 450 cays within the barrier reef, and atolls range from small sand spits to permanent islands. Three of these large atolls, Turneffe Island, Lighthouse Reef, and Glover’s Reef, have been settled by locals.

Coral reef, Federated States of Micronesia

The Federated States of Micronesia Listeni is an independent sovereign island nation consisting of four states – from west to east, Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae – that are spread across the Western Pacific Ocean.

Together, the states comprise around 607 islands (a combined land area of approximately 702 km2 (271 sq mi)) that cover a longitudinal distance of almost 2,700 km (1,678 mi) just north of the equator. They lie northeast of New Guinea, south of Guam and the Marianas, west of Nauru and the Marshall Islands, east of Palau and the Philippines, about 2,900 km (1,802 mi) north of eastern Australia and some 4,000 km (2,485 mi) southwest of the main islands of Hawaii.

Red Sea Coral Reef

The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez (leading to the Suez Canal). The Red Sea is a Global 200 ecoregion. The sea is underlain by the Red Sea Rift which is part of the Great Rift Valley.

The Red Sea has a surface area of roughly 438,000 km² (169,100 mi²). It is about 2250 km (1398 mi) long and, at its widest point, 355 km (220.6 mi) wide. It has a maximum depth of 2211 m (7254 ft) in the central median trench, and an average depth of 490 m (1,608 ft). However, there are also extensive shallow shelves, noted for their marine life and corals. The sea is the habitat of over 1,000 invertebrate species, and 200 soft and hard corals. It is the world's northernmost tropical sea.

7 Islands Occupied by Animals

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Each island has its own natural ecosystem, which can be quickly disrupted due to the arrival of some new species of animals on the island.It can be fun for tourists but real disaster for ecology. Here are 7 amazing islands that has changed, and their natural balance disrupted.

Rabbits – Okunoshima, Japan

Ōkunoshima is a small island located in the Inland Sea of Japan in the city of Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture. It is accessible by ferry from Tadanoumi and Ōmishima. There are campsites, walking trails and places of historical interest on the island. It is often called Usagi Shima (ウサギ島?, "Rabbit Island") because of the numerous wild rabbits that roam the island; they are rather tame and will approach humans.

Many rabbits live in the island. When the island was developed as a park after World War II, these rabbits were intentionally set loose. Many rabbits were used in the chemical munitions plant to test the effectiveness of the chemical weapons during World War II; however, those rabbits were killed when the factory was demolished. The current rabbits have nothing to do with those that were involved with chemical weapon tests.

The rabbits did what rabbits do best and now the 700-square-meter island is home to more than 300 of their floppy-eared descendants, earning it the nickname Usagi Shima, or Rabbit Island.

Chickens – Kaua’i, Hawaii

Chickens were first brought to the Hawaiian Islands by the first waves of Polynesian colonists over 2,000 years ago. The chickens were kept and bred mainly for their meat and eggs though roosters were selected for cock-fighting. In the modern era, chickens of American and European ancestry were imported to the island.

Most people suggest that the feral chicken population can be traced back to when Hurricane Iniki hit Kaua`i in 1992 and destroyed many chicken farms. Another story is that sugar cane plantation workers in the late 1800s and early 1900s brought and raised chickens and many got loose over the years and multiplied. The reason could be a combination of the 2 theories. Probably every visitor to Kaua`i has a photo of the beach, a waterfall, and a chicken or rooster. Hundreds of souvenir items feature Kaua`i chickens and roosters.

Other Hawaiian islands have feral chickens, too, but Kaua`i’s chickens are somewhat protected. Kaua`i is the only one of the Hawaiian Islands in the chain that lacks the mongoose, the natural enemy of wild chickens. Mongoose were imported to the Hawaiian Islands in the late 1800s to kill rats in the sugar cane fields. Legend has it that a mongoose bit the hand of a Kaua`i dockworker who knocked the entire crate of them into the bay, and no more were imported.

Crabs – Christmas Island

The Christmas Island red crab, Gecarcoidea natalis, is a species of land crab that is endemic to Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean. Although restricted to a relatively small area, it has been estimated that 43.7 million adult red crabs lived on Christmas Island alone, but the accidental introduction of the yellow crazy ant is believed to have killed about 10–15 million of these in recent years. Christmas Island red crabs eat mostly fallen leaves and flowers, but will occasionally eat other animals, including other red crabs (see cannibalism) if the opportunity arises.

Not only do the Red Crabs migrate from their inland rainforest burrows to the sea, their offspring perform the feat in reverse creating difficulties for pedestrians, drivers and trains (until the railway was closed in 1987).

Mice – Gough Island

Gough Island is roughly rectangular with a length of 13 km (8.1 mi) and a width of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi). It has an area of 91 km2 (35 sq mi) and rises to heights of over 900 m (3,000 ft) above sea level. Isolated as it is, Gough Island has a long history of human visitation going back to the year 1505 and during one of those visits, common house mice escaped from one of the landing ships. The humans didn’t stay but the mice did.

The Gough Island mice are three times bigger than their UK relatives, weighing in at around 35 grams. Albatross chicks can weigh up to 10 kilograms and stand 1 metre tall - 250 times larger than their rodent attackers.

But the mice are undaunted by their hefty prey and gnaw into live chicks, creating gaping wounds that slowly kill the birds after a few days. The RSPB team thinks that there are around 700,000 mice on the island that have learned to dine on chicks in this gruesome fashion. "It is like a tabby cat attacking a hippopotamus," says Hilton.

Spiders – Guam

A walk through the jungles of Guam has never been a very pleasant proposition but lately it’s downright horrific. As bird populations plummet worldwide, will Earth become the Planet of the Spiders? Researchers on Guam, a 30-mile-long U.S. island about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii, found that arachnid populations grew as much as 40-fold in the wake of entire species of insect-eating birds eaten into oblivion by invasive brown treesnakes. One biologist suspects spiders are multiplying also in other regions where birds are in decline.

As the years passed, native bird populations plummeted and the spiders normally kept in check by the birds boomed. Removing the snakes would help restore Guam’s ecological balance but that may just create more problems. In the meantime, if you don’t like spiders and snakes, stay the heck away from Guam!

Cats – Tashirojima, Japan

Tashiro-jima is a small island in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It lies in the Pacific Ocean off the Oshika Peninsula, to the west of Aji-shima. It is an inhabited island, although the population is quite small (around 100 people, down from around 1000 people in the 1950s). It has become known as "Cat Island" due to the large stray cat population that thrives as a result of the local belief that feeding cats will bring wealth and good fortune. The cat population is now larger than the human population on the island. (A 2009 article in Sankei News says that there are no pet dogs and it is basically prohibited to bring dogs onto the island.)

Hundreds of the semi-wild cats roam freely around the isle, and are fed by local fisherman. If you think you can keep your couches looking nice here, forget about it. This is Cat Island.

Tashirojima suffered severe infrastructural damage from the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake in March of 2011, chiefly from the ensuing tsunami which flooded low-lying areas of the islands. The cats, however, proved their rumored weather forecasting abilities were no folk tale by moving to higher ground before the tsunami struck.

Rats – Montecristo Island, Italy

The island was immortalised by the novelist Alexandre Dumas as the location for a stash of buried treasure, but the tiny Italian island of Montecristo is now struggling with a rather less romantic reality – a plague of black rats.The uninhabited island, a protected nature reserve lying between the coast of Tuscany and Corsica, has been invaded by thousands of black rats.

The rodents are believed to have arrived on the four-square-mile island as stowaways on boats a few years ago but have now multiplied. Authorities are planning to use aircraft to bombard the island with poison pellets in a bid to tackle the infestation. The plan is to drop around 26 tonnes of pellets on the island at the end of this month. Biologists estimate that there is one rat for every square yard of the island and say they pose a grave threat to the ecology of the nature reserve, which is part of a scattered archipelago of islands off Tuscany.

Wild Animals That Love The Beach

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Wild animals rarely seen in their natural environment where they feel the best, but the beach with their charms not only attracts a large number of tourists but also many wild animals that have the same feeling. With whom would you like to share a beach while soaking up the sun?

Wild Horse in the Beach

Although Florida has the THIRD largest horse population in the country many Floridians do not know all that Miami-Dade has to offer horse and rider. There are even beach dwellers and urban residents who live in Miami-Dade and do not know we have horses here.

Whether your interest in horses is professional or your passion, you will find the variety and unique opportunities Dade has for the equestrian refreshing. Take a stroll with me through county and you might just be surprised.

Wolf on Beach

Wolf is basking on the beaches this is a very rare sight.

Kangaroo on Beach, Wester Australia

Twilight Bay | Esperance, Western Australia. We know that Australia is the land of kangaroos, but they would love to come to the beach and it's already a novelty for tourists.

Kangaroos may often be seen on the white sand beaches located near Esperance on the Southern Ocean coastline in Golden Outback

Phuket Elephant on the Beach

Playful little fella...as the storm gathers in the background

It seems that elephants in Phuket really love to play and hang out on the beach. Remember this one?

Deer Lounging at Inlet Beach

After bathing young buck was quickly attracted the audience on a beach in Florida, some were worried because the deer was shivering and did not want to move.

Contact the park ranger at Camp Helen who said that the deer had been swimming in the gulf on and off all day and in between swims would lie on the beach to rest.

Grizzly Bear on the Beach in Katmai

Grizzly bear in search of food and visiting Long Beach in Katmai

Camel on the Beach

Cows of Costarica Beach

Rhino at the Beach

Rhino at the beach, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

Incredible Frozen Waterfalls Around the World

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Usually we see waterfalls in its natural state, and what happens when the winter is too cold. Do they change they appearance? Believe it or not, running waterfalls can actually freeze, and when they do they form weird and wonderful shapes.

Frozen waterfall Öxarárfoss at Þingvellir, Iceland

Öxarárfoss is a small waterfall in Þingvellir National Park, Iceland. It flows from the river Öxará. The base of the waterfall is filled with rocks and is often very icy in winter. The waterfall is one of the main attractions of Þingvellir National Park and there is a path from the nearby car park leading up to it.

Iceland has its fair share of frozen waterfalls including this one which cascades directly into the mid atlantic ridge which passes through the country. Standing in front of the waterfall you are actually between the North American Plate on one side and the Eurasion Plate on the other.

Plitvice - Frozen Falls, Croatia

The protected area extends over 296.85 square kilometres (73,350 acres). About 90 percent of this area are part of Lika-Senj County, while the remaining 10 percent are part of Karlovac County. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage register among the first natural sites worldwide. Each year, more than 1,200,000 visitors are recorded.

The frozen waterfalls of the upper lakes in Plitvice National Park. In winter they aren't very easily accessible. If you visit this place in autumn you will have no problems of course. For wildlife photographers - you might encounter lynxs, wolves or bears if you're lucky.

Behind Minnehaha Frozen Falls, USA

Minnehaha Creek is a tributary of the Mississippi River located in Hennepin County, Minnesota that extends from Lake Minnetonka in the west and flows east for 22 miles (35 km) through several suburbs west of Minneapolis and then through south Minneapolis. Including Lake Minnetonka, the watershed for the creek covers 181 square miles (470 km2).

The creek might have been unremarkable except for the 53-foot (16 m) Minnehaha Falls located near the creek's confluence with the Mississippi. The site is not far from Fort Snelling, one of the earliest white settlements in the region. The falls are now located in Minnehaha Park.

St Louis Canyon Frozen Waterfall

Undulating waves and nodules of ice give this waterfall in Starved Rock State Park, Illinois such wonderful texture. It almost looks like marshmallow! The temperature was in the mid 30's so the water fall was dripping.

Starved Rock State Park is best known for its fascinating rock formations, primarily St. Peter sandstone, laid down in a huge shallow inland sea more than 425 million years ago and later brought to the surface.

Frozen Niagara Falls, NY, USA

Mighty Niagara Falls, pouring over the Niagara Escarpment to the sound of rolling thunder… most of the time, yes, but not always. Bitterly cold winter weather has been known to freeze the Falls in its tracks, so to speak, though this hasn’t happened to its fullest extent since the nineteenth century.

Niagara Falls once have been Frozen in 1911, during an extended winter cold snap, it naturally formed ice sculpture, the phenomenon has been known as "Ice Bridge".

In winter of 1934 the "ice bridge" phenomenon was expected to happen again but only half of the waterfall was frozen.

Frozen Akhlamad Waterfall in Khorasan, Iran

The Akhlamad Waterfall is located in the province of Razavi Khorasan in northeastern Iran and is a popular tourist excursion. It is 2 kilometers from the Akhlamad village and 84 kilometers from Mashhad. The waterfall itself is approximately 40 meters tall and is located at the bottom of a valley, surrounded by vertical rocky cliffs measuring up to 300 meters at some points )which in turn has consistently attracts rock climbing enthusiasts).

The mineral nature of the surrounding rocky terrain has caused the creation of large circular plunge pool directly under the base of the waterfall. The fossils discovered within the mineral deposits dates the area back to the Jurassic Period.

Gulfoss Frozen Waterfall, Iceland

Gullfoss is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the country. The wide Hvítá rushes southward. About a kilometer above the falls it turns sharply to the right and flows down into a wide curved three-step "staircase" and then abruptly plunges in two stages (11 m and 21 m) into a crevice 32 m (105 ft) deep. The crevice, about 20 m (60 ft) wide, and 2.5 km in length, extends perpendicular to the flow of the river.

Gullfoss (or “Golden Falls”, in English) is one of Iceland’s most popular tourist attractions in all seasons but when the mighty Hvítá river freezes up, Gullfoss becomes an icy, otherworldly landscape.

Frozen Waterfall South of Anchorage, Alaska

This frozen waterfall near Turnagain Arm, Alaska looks like something straight out of Narnia. It may not be very large in size, but it's certainly one of the most magical places in our selection.

Frozen Waterfall at Piedra River Trail, Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Treasure Falls - Due to its location on Highway 160 at the base of Wolf Creek Pass, Treasure Falls trail is probably the most popular hike in Pagosa. To get there from town travel 14 miles east on Highway 160.

The parking area is just off the highway on the right. It is a short quarter-mile trail to the bridge and another quarter mile to the base of the falls. Standing on the bridge, the falls pour a refreshing spray as they rush down the cliff in front of you. During the winter these falls create a frozen sculpture.

Big Catch In The Spider Web

2013-01-11T17:43:00.001+01:00

Lurking everywhere dangerous spider web. We think it's meaningless and in fact is very efficient trap for various animals. They lurk around every corner, waiting for someone's carelessness happens after that horror for everyone. Even people have a phobia of these insects, with good reason, because their venom has an awesome effect. See what you care able to make a spider and its web.

Australian Red Back Spider Caught Lizard

A Redback spider having caught a lizard, Rockingham, Western Australia. The lizard was still alive at the time. An Australian Red Back spider with a small lizard it has trapped and bitten. It is called the Redback spider, and this creature loves to live in dark and dusty places such as underneath dunny seats.

It is very unlikely you will find one in your house unless you do not house clean regularly and remove spider webs from dark or little-used corners of the rooms. The bite of a Redback spider will make you feel ill for several days but, even without treatment, it is not likely to kill anyone unless they happen to be very weak; or if they are a young child or a frail old person.

Spider Feeding Green Tree Frog

Night falls as a black and yellow garden spider feeds on a small Pacific tree frog in its web strung in a blackberry thicket along a seasonal creek near Roseburg.

Black and yellow garden spiders mostly feed on insects, but are also know to feed on small lizards and amphibians when available. I feel sorry for the frog, but a spider has got to eat.

Spider Catches Snake

If you suffer from arachnophobia, you might want to steer clear of applying for a job with this South African company.For the spiders here are so tough they wolf down snakes for breakfast.

An office receptionist was met with this horrifying sight when she arrived for work. Astonishingly the snake was off the ground and tangled in the web. And the spider was making short work of tucking in to possibly its biggest meal ever.

Witnesses say the spider spend two days weaving a web around its kill lifting it higher off the ground and continually snacking on it. At one point the spider reacted aggressively to a fly that accidentally landed on the web, chasing it away from its kill.

Bird Caught in Web Spider Approaching

A large spider found throughout coastal and inland Australia, especially Western Australia. Body length of females up to 40mm, males much smaller, about 7mm. Overall greyish with silvery cephalothorax and black brushes on the legs. Little or no yellow on the legs unlike the very similar Nephila plumipes which also has a raised yellow sternum.

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The female constructs a large, persistent web with strong strands of golden silk strung between tree branches or other structures. The strong web can trap large prey, sometimes even small birds. Small males tend to occupy the edge of the female's web, sometimes more than one. Rather timid, the female normally flees to the top of the web when alarmed, sometimes it shakes the web in defence when disturbed. There are often strings of spent food parcels or food caches in the web.

Queen Wasp and Spider

Was a real shock seeing a spider taking on a wasp that had flown into its web. I always assumed that wasps were pretty much the meanest, hardest creepy crawlies, but this one was no match for the spider. At this stage the wasp hadn't long flown into the web and was making an effort to get away.

The wasp had given up and the spider was preparing it for storage - quite a difficult shot to get as they were swinging around in the wind. And here's the last shot, taken just before the spider dragged his new food parcel into the undergrowth.

Mouse Caught in Spider Web

Watch out for spiders in Ohio! This spider has what looks like, a small gray House Mouse caught in its web. It was not possible to identify the spider at the time this photograph was taken.
There are probably some more plausible explainations how this mouse managed to get caught in this web rather than the spider catching and attacking the mouse.

Spider Caught Bat

Nine Cutest Animals in 2012.

2012-12-26T16:50:00.001+01:00

Cuddly animals have never been more popular on the Internet. All the world media almost every day funny or cute pictures and videos of animals that melted and most constricted heart. For lovers of sweet little animals enjoy this list.

1. Bu, bristled baby anteater

Thorny old baby anteater only 30 days were brought to the zoo, "Taronga" after they found him helpless on the track near Sydney.

Experts suspect that the animal, which is named Boo, fell out of his mother's bag. Individuals of this species would not leave lairs before the 45th of age.

2. Prince Harry, a pygmy hippo in South Africa

To the small hippos there is something irresistible posbeno shows an example of Prince Harry, preslatkog dwarf hippopotamus from the zoo in Kango ranch in South Africa.

At the photo session for the South African media, this member of an endangered species (pygmy hippopotamus has a total of 3,000 at large) kissed one of the employees at the zoo.

3. Cute Duck Chases Man

Ducklings are certainly among the most spoiled creatures on Earth, but when they get angry, it should be kept! One user "YouTube" video of this set is "dangerous" Duckling who is chasing him as in a Hollywood movie. Bruce Willis can finally retire.

4. Kofi, "most coolers" dog in the world

"Dressed up" in jeans and "Stark", with sunglasses on his head, the dog Kofi certainly was the biggest star "Bike Week" in Mexico City, 11, November 2012. year. Thousands of pedestrians, runners, cyclists, skaters and pet owners "won" the streets of Mexico City that day, but only by Kofi came to almost all of the media world.

5. Prairie dog that enjoys brushing

6. Brown honey who woke up from hibernation ...

... And that's not 100 percent ready for the new labor victories.

7. Mini pig Hamlet: To get or not get down the stairs?

8. New born deer getting started has become Internet stars

9. Panda, cutest newborn zoo in San Diego

The San Diego Zoo’s newest panda cub got another checkup today and his vets report that he's growing well, especially around the waist, and is just starting to see.

"The cub weighed 4.9 pounds this morning and veterinarians noted that his eyes are almost open now and believe the cub has some vision but it is likely limited to light and shadows," the zoo announced in a statement Thursday (Sept. 20). "His chest now measures 12.5

Eight Animals Tricksters

2012-12-13T21:16:00.001+01:00

Animals are very shrewd when it comes to their survival for dear life. Some of the best animal evolution groomed to perfection imitation leaves. Not only confuse people, but all of them as predators to their prey. Look at those who are cheaters approach.

Tubenose Bat

Twisted leaves mimickig tubenose bat.

Kuranda's Bat Rescue is an amazing sanctuary for Australia bats, fruit bats, flying foxes, etc. The bats absolutely /adore/ the people who run it. I highly recommend a visit. They do Good Work, and the bats are incredible.

The eastern or Queensland tube-nosed bat (Nyctimene robinsoni) is a megabat in the family Pteropodidae that lives in north-eastern Australia. N. robinsoni is one of the few species in Pteropodidae that roosts solitarily. They get their common name from their raised tubular nostrils which is unlike most other species in the family. They are a deep brown with gray heads and sparse yellow spotting.

Leaf Fish

Believe it or not these are all the fish in different colors, not the leaves.

Leaffishes are small freshwater fishes of the Polycentridae family, from South America.

They usually have large heads, cryptic colors and very large protractile mouths. Those features, along with their peculiar movements help them to catch fairly large prey for the size of their bodies, including small fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates.

Their odd leaf-like appearance make them interesting fishes for aquarium hobbyists. That is likely because of their unique lifestyle, hanging around in the upper story of the tank imitating the leaves that commonly fall in temperate rivers were it typically lives.

They are extremely agile hunters, capable of consuming prey within a quarter of a second.

Leaf Mimic Matis

This species of praying mantis is always brown, but the shade of brown may vary between individuals. Their brown color is not solid all over, but it has dark and light spots to mimic a dead leaf. On their back they have a huge shield (prothorax), making it look even more like a dead leaf. This feature can be seen almost all species in the Deroplatys genus.
This is one of the largest species of cryptic mantis kept in captivity successfully.

They are about as big as the commonly kept species (Sphodromantis, Hierodula) but are very well camouflaged. Females are about 9 cm long, the males are a bit smaller with their 7 or 8 cm. Males have a small shield on their prothorax and their body is not as wide as that of the females.

Leaf mimic frog

This is a leaf mimic frog we spotted along the trail. His coloration makes it look just like the leaves on the forest floor. This one is a baby.

An incredible list form of frogs, which is almost invisible in the woods. For its finding really need to wear glasses.

Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko

Satanic leaf tailed geckos have shades of tan, brown, gray, and green . They have ripples in their skin and have tails that look like leaves making them rater difficult to distinguish from a small pile of leaves. Leaf tailed geckos are four to six inches long. The life span of these geckos in the wild is three to five years.

The Satanic Leaf Tailed Gecko, is a species of gecko endemic to the island of Madagascar. First described in 1888 by George Albert Boulenger, U. phantasticus is the smallest in body of the Uroplatus geckos, though there is an ongoing debate as to whether one of its cousins, U. ebenaui, is smaller because of its shorter tail. It may also be known as the eyelash leaf tailed gecko or the fantastic leaf tailed gecko.

Its specific name phantasticus is the Latin word for "imaginary" based upon the gecko's unique appearance which led Belgian naturalist George Albert Boulenger, to describe it as “mythical” in 1888.

Leaf Mimicking Katydid

The family Tettigoniidae, known in American English as katydids and in British English as bush-crickets, contains more than 6,400 species. It is part of the suborder Ensifera and the only family in the superfamily Tettigonioidea. They are also known as long-horned grasshoppers, although they are more closely related to crickets and weta than to grasshoppers. Many tettigoniids exhibit mimicry and camouflage, commonly with shapes and colors similar to leaves.

The diet of tettigoniids includes leaves, flowers, bark, and seeds, but many species are exclusively predatory, feeding on other insects, snails or even small vertebrates such as snakes and lizards. Some are also considered pests by commercial crop growers and are sprayed to limit growth. Large tettigoniids can inflict a painful bite or pinch if handled but seldom break the skin.

Leaf-Mimic Butterfly

This butterfly displays one of the best examples of camouflage known to science, and one of the most obvious examples of Divine design. It is perfectly designed to mimic an unappetizing dead leaf, from the tatters in the brown wings to the way it sways in the breeze. If it weren’t for the thin legs and antennae, this animal would be impossible to spot among the leaves of the forest.

Wild leaf-mimic butterfly exploring a researcher's hand in the Amazon rainforest - Yasuni National Park, Ecuador

Not only is this insect almost invisible to predators, but also gifted with great speed and agility. If disturbed, it can fly away at speeds over 20 miles per hour into the trees. God gave the Leaf-Mimic Butterfly this wide range of concealing and evasive designs so it can pollinate the tropical plant life in relative peace and safety.

Scorpion Spider (Arachnura angura )

Scorpion spider (Arachnura angura ) Family - Araneidae These spiders mimic litter, like twigs or dead leaves. common names are tailed spider, scorpion-tailed spider and scorpion spider. They do curl up their tail when disturbed, but this tail is completely harmless.

Females are between 1 and 3 cm long, males reach only 2 mm and are tailless. From a distance, this 7mm spider looks just like a dead leaf hanging in from a web.The interesting thing is- if we blow some air to the web it is sticking into, it will even oscillate like a dead leaf sticking to a web..! Nature is amazing...

Amazing Pink Insects in Nature

2012-12-06T16:22:00.001+01:00

Pink color is very rare in nature, except of course, colorful flowers, but when it comes to animals, especially insects to the exclusive rights. If you've ever had the luck to see the shocking pink insect and thought it was the only one, you are wrong, yet there are much more.! Here you can see just such a unique list of unusual pink color insects.

Pink Lady Bug

Some types of wildlife need to stand out. The rare pink LadyBug is proof of that. A pink Lady Bug is rare, but not so rare that we don't have photographs to enjoy!

This capture reminds me of a 'girly girl scene. I think: Barbie, dollhouses, glitter & playing princess - when I see this. This is so surreal... like a dream. Yet this ladybug is so cute & inviting. I feel like she is inviting me in to play.

Ladybugs, also called lady beetles or ladybird beetles, are actually beetles in the Coleoptera family Coccinellidae. As insects go, they are a very beneficial group, being natural enemies of many insects, especially aphids and other critters that damage plants by feeding on their sap.

Pink Katydid

First discovered in 1887, TreeHugger argues you'd be more likely to spot a unicorn in the wild than one of these precious hot pink critters, especially given only one in 500 have this fluorescent glow.

Pink katydid: the pink colouring of some katydids is due to a condition called erythrism, an unusual reddish pigmentation that can affect an animal's body, skin, feathers, hair or eggshells. It is caused by diet or a genetic mutation that either leads to the absence of a normal pigment or the excessive production of another. in katydids, the pink colouring might be a kind of camouflage that hides them on reddish or pinkish plants.

Pink Grasshopper

Ever seen a bright pink grasshopper?The Pink grasshopper is probably an unusual colour form of a common grasshopper.

They can be variable in colour with green, brownish, purple-red and pink forms recorded, although green forms are most common. Colour forms are genetically determined and some populations can show high frequency of pink grasshoppers.

The range of the Meadow Grasshopper extends from the Atlantic coast of Europe to the Urals. It is found from Scandinavia in the north to southern Spain and Anatolia in the south. It prefers moist vegetation and in southern regions is typically found in river valleys and at altitude (up to approx 2000m), not being found in arid areas.

Pink Praying Mantis

Mantodea (or mantises, mantes) is an order of insects that contains over 2,400 valid species and about 430 genera in 15 families worldwide in temperate and tropical habitats. Most of the species are in the family Mantidae.

The English common name for any species in the order is "praying mantis", because of the typical "prayer-like" posture with folded fore-limbs, although the eggcorn "preying mantis" is sometimes used in reference to their predatory habits.

Pink Dragonflies

This is the first dragonflies very special life in the Americas. Especially in the same pink dragonfly is found only in males and dark pink as when they're young.Males of the Roseate Skimmer dragonfly (Orthemis ferruginea) are characterized by their bright pink body (abdomen, actually) whereas the females prefer orange shades.

Dragonflies are important predators that eat mosquitoes, and other small insects like flies, bees, ants, wasps, and very rarely butterflies. They are usually found around marshes, lakes, ponds, streams, and wetlands because their larvae, known as "nymphs", are aquatic. Some 5680 different species of dragonflies are known in the world today.

Pink Spider

Flamingos aside, you do not get to see the color pink in the animal kingdom a great deal. A notable exception is and the pink spider. Yet this is by no means a separate species – this coloring affects around one in 500. You may have already guessed that the condition is something similar to albinism.

Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms.

Pink Elephant Hawk Moth

Deilephila elpenor, known as the Elephant Hawk-moth, is a large moth of the Sphingidae family.
The species is found throughout Britain and Ireland. Its range extends across Europe, Russia, and into China, northern parts of the Indian subcontinent, Japan and Korea (though not Taiwan).

Introduced specimens have been found in British Columbia. In most of their range, the adults are seen from May to July and the caterpillars from July to September, when they pupate. However in some parts of the Mediterranean and China the adults may be seen from April on, sometimes having two broods in a year.

Pink Flatid Hopper

The flatid hoppers begin their lives pink from carotenoid synthesis. They feed on host plants and as a result they can be found in colonies which can be as large as 50 individuals. As they age they lose their colouration, becoming green.Ankarana national park, Madagascar.

At first glance it may seem that twig strewn soft pink buds that are about to dissolve. No matter how true! If you get closer, it becomes clear that this is not at all the flowers, but very real creatures - hundreds of pink insects. If they bother, they will take off and land in a safe place, and once again become the beautiful "flowers."

Pink Cyanide Millipede

Among the most bizarre to be discovered was a hot-pink, spiny dragon millipede, Desmoxytes purpurosea.. The millipedes have glands that produce cyanide to protect them from predators.

First documented in 2007, the shocking pink dragon millipede--yes, that's its real name--is among more than a thousand new species found in the Greater Mekong region in the last ten years, WWF announced on December 15, 2008. Far from a fashion statement, the animal's bright color probably warns predators of the millipede's toxicity.

Pink Moth

A moth is an insect related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Most of this order are moths; there are thought to be about 160,000 species of moth (nearly ten times the number of species of butterfly), with thousands of species yet to be described.

Most species of moth are nocturnal, but there are crepuscular and diurnal species. This beautiful pink moth is obviously active and remarkable day.

10 Breeds of Dogs That Are not Trendy

2012-12-01T10:04:00.001+01:00

Dogs that are not in fashion are still uncategorized and rare breeds of dogs that are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. These dogs are really unknown breeds, but they are great. Worldwide, there are hundreds of dog breeds, some of ancient origin and some relatively recent. Many foreign breeds and rare breeds are relatively unknown in the USA, and therefore are not recognized. Many rare breeds are found only in very small populations in isolated regions. They are also referred to as “emerging breeds” by some international associations.

Shiloh Shepherd

The Shiloh Shepherd is a rare breed of dog that is still under development. Developed in the 1970s, they are meant to resemble an older variety of German Shepherd. Shilohs are not recognized by any major kennel club, but may be shown in rare breed organizations.

Shilohs are larger and have a straighter back than most modern Alsatians and German Shepherds, they are bred for intelligence, size, and stable temperaments. Their coats can be a variety of colors and color mixes. They compete in obedience and agility. They work as therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, livestock guardians and service assistance. Originally trained for schutzhund (protection) service by founder Tina Barber.

According to the breed standard, the Shiloh Shepherd should have a regal bearing that shows intelligence and strength. The balance between elegance and strength is the key to their distinct appearance and fluid movement. Their larger size should not impede their movement or grace.

Havana Silk Dog

A Havana Silk Dog is a type of dog from Cuba. The modern Havana Silk Dog is derived solely from recent Havanese dogs. Breeders have sought to re-create older depictions of the breed based on paintings, sculptures, and written descriptions.

Compared to some Havanese, breeders seek to give the Havana Silk Dog longer, straighter forelegs, a flatter, silkier coat, a longer muzzle, and smaller ears.

After 10 years of attempting to convince Havanese breeders to breed away from osteochondrodysplasia, many of the original leadership of the Havanese Club of America decided to leave the organization in order to create a breed that they feel more accurately represents the original dogs from Cuba.

Canis Panthera

The Canis Panther is a protective and loyal breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.

The origin of the Canis Panther can be traced back to 1970's United States. Breeders Cleotha "Scorpio" Jones, Michael Stratten, and Lucas Lopez began experimenting with crossing various breeds in hopes of creating a superior guardian dog. The Canis Panther was developed by crossing such breeds as the Black Labrador, black Great Dane, Doberman Pinscher, and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Throughout its history, the Canis Panther has been most commonly used as a watch and guard dog, proving its incredible abilities to provide both protection and gentle companionship.

Cockapoo

A Cockapoo is a crossbred dog, the result of mating an American Cocker Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel with a poodle (in most cases a miniature poodle or toy poodle), or of two cockapoos. A Cockapoo can be the result of mating either the American Cocker Spaniel or English Cocker Spaniel with a Poodle. They have been known in the United States since the 1950s. The earliest known dictionary reference was a 1960 OED citation.

Purebred breed associations such as The Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club, or the Canadian Kennel Club, do not recognize the Cockapoo, or any other crossbreed.

Overall Cockapoos are usually healthy and happy dogs. As with a lot of smaller dogs they tend to be quite long-lived, and it's not unusual for cockapoos to live to 15 years or more.

American Bulldog

The American Bulldog is a breed of working dog that was developed in the United States.[citation needed] There are generally considered to be three types of American bulldog: the Bully or Classic type (sometimes called the Johnson type ), the Standard or Performance type (also called the Scott type), and the Hybrid type.[citation needed] The names associated with the Bully and Standard types are those of the breeders who were influential in developing them, John D. Johnson (Bully) and Alan Scott (Standard). American Bulldogs are thought to be descended from working type bulldogs found commonly on ranches and farms in the Southern and Midwestern parts of the United States

The American bulldog is a stocky, well built, strong-looking dog with powerful jaws, a large head, and a muscular build. Its coat is short and generally smooth. The breed is a light to moderate shedder; however, they should be brushed on regular basis.

Colors, while historically predominantly white with patches of red or brindle, have grown in recent years to include many color patterns including black, red, brown, fawn, and all shades of brindle.

Serbian Defensive Dog

The Serbian Defensive Dog (short: SDD, Serbian: Srpski odbrambeni pas "SOP") is a Molosser-type dog breed originating in Serbia. It was developed in the years 1981-1991, with the goal of resurrecting the medieval Serbian Mastiff which became extinct in the 20th century. The dog breed is characterized by its large size, excellent guarding and fighting abilities, as well as its agility and intelligence.

The Serbian Defensive Dog is a dog breed created in the Romanija mountains by interbreeding Gray wolf, Neapolitan Mastiff, Rottweiler, Bosnian Tornjak, and American Stafford terrier, beginning in 1981, by Bosnian Serb Nenad Gavrilović, a herbalist and medicine man. Interbreeding was concluded in 1991, the year in which the Serbian Defensive Dog breed was founded, and kennels were established throughout Serbia and Republika Srpska.

Coton de Tulear

The Coton de Tuléar is a breed of small dog. It is named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat. Multiple registries with differing standards describe the Coton de Tulear, but in general, it has very soft hair (as opposed to fur), comparable to a cotton ball (hence its name in French, coton meaning cotton), a prominent black nose, large expressive eyes (usually covered by bangs) and somewhat short legs. The Coton de Tulears tail should curl over its back like some other dog breeds.

The Coton is a playful, affectionate, intelligent breed. Although generally quiet, it can become very vocal, grunting, barking and making other noises when having fun. Cotons are known to have a habit of jumping up and walking on their hind legs to please people.

Labradoodle

A Labradoodle is a crossbred dog created by crossing the Labrador Retriever and the Standard or Miniature Poodle. The term first appeared in 1955, but was not popularized until 1988, where the mix was used as an allergen-free guide dog. Currently, they are not considered a breed.

The first known use of the term "Labradoodle" was by Sir Donald Campbell to describe his Labrador/Poodle cross dog in his 1955 book, "Into the Water Barrier". However, the Labradoodle became better known in 1988, when Australian breeder Wally Conron crossed the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle at Guide Dogs Victoria.

Conron's aim was to combine the low-shedding coat of the Poodle with the gentleness and trainability of the Labrador, and to provide a guide dog suitable for people with allergies to fur and dander. Although Guide Dogs Victoria no longer breed Labradoodles, they are bred by other guide and assistance dog organizations in Australia and other places.

Miniature American Shepherd.

Other name(s): Miniature Australian Shepherd; Mini Aussie; Miniature Aussie; North American
Miniature Australian Shepherd. Country / place of origin: United States

History: A miniature version of the Australian Shepherd was developed in the 1960's in a breeding program run by Doris Cordova of Norco, California. Ms. Cordova wanted to create a dog with the characteristics of the Aussie, but in a smaller size. Her breeding program used very small Australian Shepherds.

In October 2011, the American Kennel Club (AKC) approved the name "Miniature American Shepherd" for the breed, and accepted it into its "Miscellaneous Class". The Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) was selected as the parent club for the breed. The Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) does not recognize the Toy Australian Shepherd (10-14") or the Miniature American Shepherd (13-18") as varieties of the Australian Shepherd.

Estrela Mountain Dog

The Estrela Mountain Dog is a breed of dog that has been used to guard herds and homesteads in the Estrela Mountains of Portugal for centuries. The earliest of the Estrela ancestors were herd-guarding dogs in the Serra da Estrela, in what is now Portugal. Since there are no written records, it is not known for sure whether the ancestors which contributed to this breed were brought by the Romans when they colonized the Iberian Peninsula, or later by the invading Visigoths. Regardless, there is no disagreement that the Estrela is one of the oldest breeds in Portugal.

Life changed little for the people and dogs of the region, even into the 20th century. The isolation of the region meant the breed was relatively unknown outside it until the early 1900s, and even then, they were mostly ignored in early dog shows. History

The Estrela Mountain dog comes in two coat types. Both types should have coat resembling the texture of goat hair. Long coat: The thick, slightly coarse outer coat lies close over the body and may be flat or slightly waved, but never curly. Undercoat is very dense and normally lighter in color than the outer coat. The hair on the front sides of the legs and the head is short and smooth. Hair on the ears diminishes in length from the base of the ears to the tips. The hair on the neck, the buttocks, the tail, and the back side of the legs is longer resulting in a ruff at the neck, breeches on the buttocks and backs of the legs, and feathering on the tail.

Short coat: The outer coat is short, thick, and slightly coarse, with a shorter dense undercoat. Any feathering should be in proportion.

8 Species of Animals That Have Eyes Squint

2012-11-24T16:01:00.001+01:00

Squint eyes occur in people and animals. In science it is known as (Esotropia). Esotropia is a form of strabismus, or "squint", in which one or both eyes turns inward. The condition can be constantly present, or occur intermittently, and can give the affected individual a "cross-eyed" appearance. Animals that have a squint your eyes a more difficult task than others to survive in life, and as such they still manage to survive. Some have better luck and be adopted by people who care about them even more loved.

1. Cross-eyed Snowy Owl

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large owl of the typical owl family Strigidae. The Snowy Owl was first classified in 1758 by Carolus Linnaeus, the Swedish naturalist who developed binomial nomenclature to classify and organize plants and animals. Until recently, it was regarded as the sole member of a distinct genus, as Nyctea scandiaca, but mtDNA cytochrome b sequence data (Olsen et al. 2002) shows that it is very closely related to the horned owls in the genus Bubo. The Snowy Owl is the official bird of Quebec.

For birders on the Vineyard (indeed, for birders everywhere), there's no such thing as the off-season. Birds are always in motion, and there is always the possibility of something interesting showing up. Island birders (along with observers across the rest of the northern U.S.) are currently enjoying an influx of one of the most beautiful and enigmatic birds in the world.
Snoweys look cross-eyed, but not much gets past their detection, especially a tasty rodent.

2. Cross-eyed Grizzly Bear of Katmai

The grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear (Ursus arctos) that generally lives in the uplands of western North America. This subspecies is thought to descend from Ussuri brown bears which crossed to Alaska from eastern Russia 100,000 years ago, though they did not move south until 13,000 years ago.

Except for cubs and females, grizzlies are normally solitary, active animals, but in coastal areas, the grizzly congregates alongside streams, lakes, rivers, and ponds during the salmon spawn. Every other year, females (sows) produce one to four young (commonly two) which are small and weigh only about 500 grams (1 lb). A sow is protective of her offspring and will attack if she thinks she or her cubs are threatened.

3. Cross-eyed Jaguar Frank

The jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi syn. Herpailurus yagouaroundi) is a small-sized wild cat native to Central and South America. In 2002, the IUCN classified the jaguarundi as Least Concern, although they considered it likely that no conservation units beyond the mega-reserves of the Amazon basin could sustain long-term viable populations. It is probably extinct in Texas. Its presence in Uruguay is uncertain.

Frank, the cross-eyed jaguarundi, is pictured in a zoo in the town of Delitzsch. Germany's famous cross-eyed opossum, Heidi, faces competition, as another German zoo tries to steal her limelight by introducing their cross-eyed star to the public.

4. Cross-eyed Cheep Reggie

Sheep (Ovis aries) are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries. Numbering a little over one billion, domestic sheep are also the most numerous species of sheep.

Sheep are most likely descended from the wild mouflon of Europe and Asia. One of the earliest animals to be domesticated for agricultural purposes, sheep are raised for fleece, meat (lamb, hogget or mutton) and milk. A sheep's wool is the most widely used animal fiber, and is usually harvested by shearing. Ovine meat is called lamb when from younger animals and mutton when from older ones. Sheep continue to be important for wool and meat today, and are also occasionally raised for pelts, as dairy animals, or as model organisms for science.

Hollywood remains a distant dream for the ram, affectionately christened Reggie, while he's stuck stranded on Streymoy, in the Faroe Islands.

5. Cross-eyed Opossum Heidi

Opossums (colloquially possums) (Didelphimorphia) make up the largest order of marsupials in the Western Hemisphere, including 103 or more species in 19 genera. They are also commonly called possums, though that term technically refers to Australian fauna of the suborder Phalangeriformes.

Heidi was a Virginia Opossum housed at Germany's Leipzig Zoo. In December 2010, the two-and-a-half year old, cross-eyed animal made international headlines shortly after a photograph was published by Bild. Since that time, Heidi had inspired a popular YouTube song, a future line of stuffed animals, and a Facebook page with over 290,000 followers.

The zoo's new tropical wildlife exhibit opened to the public in July 2011, and Heidi was exhibited alongside two other opossums – her sister Naira and a male named Teddy.[3] International media has noted that Heidi was one of several animals either born or living in German zoos who have made headlines over the past few years; she followed in the footsteps of other German celebrity animals such as polar bears Knut and Flocke, as well as Paul the Octopus. Heidi was euthanised by the Zoo veterinary staff on 28 September 2011 after several weeks of struggle against an unspecified health condition.

6. Cross-eyed Cat Spangles

The domestic cat (Felis catus or Felis silvestris catus) is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal. It is often called the housecat when kept as an indoor pet, or simply the cat when there is no need to distinguish it from other felids and felines. Cats are valued by humans for companionship and their ability to hunt vermin and household pests.

Meet Spangles, the cross-eyed cat, who has become an internet sensation after his proud owner Mary Buchanan posted pictures of him wearing costumes online. Now the three-year-old feline has his own Facebook fan page at facebook.com/spangles09 where thousands of followers eagerly await daily pictures.
Spangles can so far be seen dressed in quirky costumes including a pirate, frog, tiger and unicorn.

7. Cross-eyed Gray Wolf

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The gray wolf or grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a species of canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. It is the largest member of its family, with males averaging 43–45 kg (95–99 lb), and females 36–38.5 kg (79–85 lb)

Within the genus Canis, the gray wolf represents a more specialised and progressive form than its smaller cousins (the coyote and golden jackal), as demonstrated by its morphological adaptations to hunting large prey, its more gregarious nature and its highly advanced expressive behavior.

8. Cross-eyed White tiger

The tiger (Panthera tigris) is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 metres (11 ft) and weighing up to 306 kg (670 lb). It is the third largest land carnivore (behind only the Polar bear and the Brown bear). Its most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underside. It has exceptionally stout teeth, and the canines are the longest among living felids with a crown height of as much as 74.5 mm (2.93 in) or even 90 mm (3.5 in)

Image Credit Flickr User Jurvetson

White tigers - there is a well-known allele that produces the white tiger, technically known as chinchilla albinistic, an animal which is rare in the wild, but widely bred in zoos due to its popularity. Breeding of white tigers will often lead to inbreeding (as the trait is recessive). Many initiatives have taken place in white and orange tiger mating in an attempt to remedy the issue, often mixing subspecies in the process.

10 Coolest Displays of Topiary Art

2012-11-19T15:28:00.001+01:00

A Topiary is an art form that involves trimming and training live plants by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees and shrubs to create a living work of art. Foliage that is trimmed into simple geometric shapes to form borders and fences are called hedges.

1. Beijing Olympics Topiary

An incredible topiary display at the 29th Olympic Games in 2008. (Photo)

5. Panda Topiary in China

From the Chelsea Flower Show in Xi'an, China. (Link | Photo)

6. Gravity-Defying Dolphin Topiary

(Link | Photo)

7. Row Boat Topiary

(Photo)

8. Lawn Furniture

(Link | Photo)

9. Thailand's Amazing Owls

(Photo)

10. Topiary Gone Wild?

(Photo)

The Banana Slug – Nature’s Giant Recycler

2012-11-12T16:56:00.001+01:00

Perhaps it is the mucus, perhaps the snake-like appearance or the habit of many species of slug to regard your garden and the carefully cultivated plants within as dinner – but the slug generally has a pretty bad press.

So, if you just groaned in horror at the picture above, you are in good company. A lot of people don’t like slugs. The sight of them in a garden has been known to turn even the most mild mannered in to mad mollusk murderers. Yet the giant Banana Slug, the second largest in the world (after the European Limax), has more than just its size and resemblance to a certain yellow fruit as a claim to fame. This is one of the unsung champions of the forest, for the banana slug only eats dead organic material which they then turn in to soil.

Image Credit Flickr User Bill Bouton

Image Credit Flickr User Tonx

It is the color which first attracts. Even those averse in general to slugs can find the banana variety compelling. As a member of the mollusc phylum they have soft bodies and no obvious shell. A single foot, the muscularity of which would shame a young Schwarzenegger, transports the slug, found on the western seaboard of the North America, from California all the way up to Alaska, via a system of rhythmic waves. To ensure this foot does not get damaged it also secretes a layer of mucus and it is on this layer the slug travels rather than the ground itself.

Image Credit Flickr User Snifette

Image Credit Flickr User Franco Folini

The mucus has much more than just a single role, however. Another purpose for this sticky secretion is to enable the slug to breathe. They are pulmonates and this means that they only have a tiny pair of internal lungs. These are exposed to the outside via a pneumostone – have a look at some of these pictures and you can see it when it is open. The pneumostone collects moisture out of the air and extracts oxygen and is used when the slug is doing something particularly laborious and an extra supply is needed. Otherwise, the slime keeps the skin wet so oxygen can be breathed through it.

Image Credit Flickr User bgreenlee

Image Credit Flickr User David Ifry

The hump on the back of a banana slug (Ariolimax columbianus) is called the mantle and that is also there for a purpose. Underneath it are some rather important organs, the genitals and also the anus. It is the mantle which protects them. In some species, including the banana slug, this is where the mollusk will have a very small and flat shell.

Image Credit Flickr User eyesontheroad

Image Credit Flickr User tnkntx

The two sets of feelers on the slug’s head help out in a sensorial manner. The top ones are used to detect light and the lower ones provide the slug with its sense of smell. The slug can retract these feelers, but in case they are destroyed they can be replaced – they will simply grow back!

Image Credit Flickr User Jacki Dee

Image Credit Flickr User Wandering herpetologist

Image credit Flickr User acaben

The Banana Slug can grow up to 25cm in length and although they are often yellow the color depends very much on their recent diet, the amount of moisture in their locale and the light. They can look like an overripe banana, with black mottling appearing on their skin and they can also come in shades of green and white. Although rare, almost white examples have been found too. Their various colors also help as a form of camouflage – on the floor of the forest they can blend in completely.

Image Credit Flickr User Porkpie

Image Credit Flickr User Random Truth

Yet when they are spotted by predators, the Banana Slug has yet another use for its mucus. It really doesn’t taste very nice and a slug will often be spat out by an animal before they can be chewed. The mucus also contains an anesthetic which can make the predator’s mouth tissue numb, making chewing all but impossible. Not only that but the mucus will become stickier, making the slug the worst kind of chewing gum ever.

Image Credit Flickr User Random Truth

Image Credit Flickr User randomtruth

Most animals learn the lesson once and move on. However, raccoons have been seen rolling slugs in the dirt, to cover up the mucus. They can then be eaten. Some snakes and birds will also eat the slugs without complaint, not to mention the salamander above! Another interesting fact about slime is that it can be used, if the slug has climbed a tree, as a string which can safely and quickly transport the slug to the ground.

Image Credit Flickr User Vicki & Chuck Rogers

Image credit Flickr User John Loo

As the banana slug travels (albeit very slowly) along the forest floor it sweeps up dead leaves and animal droppings (it also has a great fondness for mushrooms) in to its mouth, grinds them up. It deposits the digested remains, recycled soil humus, via its anus. As such it is called a detritivore, and the banana slug contributes greatly to the decomposition and the nutrient cycles of the forests in which it lives.

Image Credit Flickr User Gregory WIld-Smith

Image Credit Flickr User Satorsphere

The Banana Slug is a hermaphrodite which means that they contain female and male organs. The mucus is used in the mating process as well – they leave another chemical in their slime which other slugs will find irresistible. When they meet for mating purposes, banana slugs form a heart shape and exchange sperm. After they have laid their 70 or so eggs they will leave them to their own devices – banana slugs don’t do parenting.

Image Credit Flickr User A Poulos

Image Credit Flickr User Anya

The Banana Slug can live to be a few years old and so will see a number of winters and summers. When the temperature gets to just below zero they will hibernate. They will also estivate during hot spells – burrowing in to leaves or soils and insulating themselves from the heat in the cool, surrounded by a bubbly layer of, you’ve guessed it, mucus.

Image Credit Flickr User Jadeilyn

Image Credit Flickr User J Natali

Perhaps slugs will never make it on to your own personal list of charismatic creatures. The Banana Slug, however, cares not if we find it charming, captivating or compelling. It does, however, contribute to its own ecosystem in ways which belie the reputation of its phylum and should be treasured as such.

Image Credit Flickr User Bill Bouton

I’vil Got a Real Cruch on You

2012-11-05T17:09:00.001+01:00

This is the astonishing moment a tiny turtle snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after escaping the grasp of a giant anaconda.

It looked as though the turtle's fate was sealed when the large snake clapped eyes on its prey and wrapped itself around the much smaller creature.

But the courageous turtle managed to survive the struggle for several minutes before French photographer, Jean-Michel Labat, helped it to escape.

This feisty turtle battled with an anaconda for several minutes in Venezuela before being freed

The 61-year-old was visiting Los Llanos in Venezuela when he stumbled across the extraordinary battle.

The anaconda had gripped its prey in the water, and was attempting to squeeze the air out of the turtle, which was able to cling to life because of its tough protective shell.

Mr Labat took pictures for a while before realising the turtle was in serious trouble and dropped his camera to help out.

He said: 'I found it all fascinating to watch at first but then I realised it was going to end badly for the turtle and I had to step in.

Gripping: The snake tried to crack the turtle's shell as it constricted in the water

Assisted: The turtle held its own for a number of minutes before photographer Jean-Michel Labat came to the rescue and helped it free

'The anaconda was trying to stifle the turtle but it came unstuck because of its hard shell.

'Even though it couldn't crush the turtle it became clear that it would drown if I didn't do something.

'It was a remarkable battle, I've never seen anything like this before and probably never will again.'

On average anacondas grow to more than 20 feet long and can weigh a staggering 21 stone.

The de*dly snakes are not venomous but are known for hiding in shallow waters waiting to surprise their prey before killing them by either constricting them or drowning them.

Mismatch: The turtle fought for his life against the anaconda, which can grow to up to 20 feet and weigh 21 stone

9 Weird Facts About Marijuana

2012-10-31T10:36:00.001+01:00

1. Marijuana is NOT Hemp!

Can you tell the difference? (Hemp is on the right.)
Although both marijuana and hemp are weeds, have a similar leaf shape, and are subspecies of the Cannabis sativa plant, they are in fact very different. Marijuana has flowering buds with a high content of THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) the stuff that makes you feel “high”. Hemp, on the other hand, has a very low THC content, can be grown closely together, and it can be used to make a variety of useful products. (You cannot get high from smoking hemp.) Hemp and marijuana were once considered separate entities. The 1937 Marihuana Tax act was focused on the THC-producing variety. It wasn't until 1970, when the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act took over lumping hemp and marijuana in the same category, making both illegal, and creating confusion in people's minds to this day. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)

2. It Used To Be Patriotic To Grow Hemp

While America was still just 13 colonies, a 1619 law REQUIRED farmers to grow it. Hemp was used to make rope, clothing, and sails. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson owned hemp farms, and Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration of Independence on hemp paper. Also, what about the flag Betsy Ross sewed? You guessed it: made of hemp. (Link | Photo)

3. The US Government Used It To Fight The Nazis

During the height of World War II, the US produced a film entitled “Hemp for Victory” praising the many uses of hemp, and encouraging farmers to grow it to help with the war effort. The existence of the film was denied by the Government for many years until 1989, when marijuana advocate Jack Herrer donated a VHS copy to the Library of Congress. It is now in the Public Domain, and can be seen on YouTube – watch below!

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4. Medical Marijuana Has Been Around For Thousands of Years

Chinese symbol for marijuana (Ma)
In Ancient China, the plant, known as Ma, was used for food, fuel, clothing, and medicine going back to 6,000 B.C. But the oldest existing reference to medical marijuana dates to 2737 B.C. when the Red Emperor Shen Nung is credited with writing The Herbal, a listing of medicinal properties of various herbs, including Ma, to alleviate rheumatism and gout pain. In 2 A.D. Hua T'o is recorded as having used Ma-yo (the female plant) and red wine as an anesthesia while he performed painful surgeries including organ grafts and loin incisions. Yeah, you'd probably want to be high for that. (Link | Via)

5. Marijuana is actually GOOD for your lungs!

Brazilian artist Fernando de la Rocque uses pot smoke to make art
That's right, a recent study of 5,000 pot smokers by UCSF and University of Alabama showed that those who only smoke a few joints a week actually had stronger lung capacity and external blowing force than non-users. A 2005 UCLA paper also shows that marijuana smoke might actually help to PREVENT lung cancer. Unlike tobacco, which contains nicotine and is a known carcinigen, marijuana contains cannibinoids and THC, which seem to discourage cancer. It is also impossible to die of an overdose. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3 | Photo)

6.The Indian Government Declared Marijuana Harmless in 1894

While use of cannabis was primarily medicinal in Ancient China, over in India they liked to party with it. It was a common substance, used in religious ceremonies and to help people chill out. It was often ingested as a drink, boiled with nuts and milk called Bhang. It made people happy, so much so that the British Colonial Government was concerned it might be driving the population insane. They commissioned a study and issued a report entitled The Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Report of 1894. It not only concluded that mainstream usage was harmless, but also that a ban on it might actually prove more detrimental.

(Link)

7. Why Do They Call It Dope? 14.4 Million Americans Smoke

A 2007 Government report estimated that 14.4 million Americans smoked pot during a one month testing period. One study in 2006 suggested that marijuana is the largest cash crop in the US at $35.8 Billion, but that number has recently been disputed, with a contrasting report putting it as low as $2.1 Billion. (Either way, it's still a large, essentially unknowable number.) The largest producer of marijuana in the world is Mexico, followed by Paraguay. But who are the biggest users of the drug? The Good ol' USA. According to a study in Time, 42% of Americans have tried it. Even President Obama has smoked it. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)

8. Where Did The Name Marijuana Come From? No One Knows

There is a lot of speculation when it comes to the origin of the name marijuana. Folklore has it that it is a hybrid of the names Maria and Juana, slang terms for a prostitute. Another theory is that it is derived from the word maraguanquo, which means “intoxicating plant.” While a variant of the word appeared as early as 1873, the plant was known mostly as cannabis. It wasn't until the demonization of the drug in the 1930's and 40's (used to suppress minorities) that the word Marihuana was associated with “Reefer Madness.” Over the years, hundreds of nicknames have been coined, including grass, weed, dope, pot, and kush. What's your favorite? (Link 1 | Link 2)

9. The Use of Hemp Could Save Our Planet

Uses of the hemp plant fiber itself are numerous. It can be made into rope, paper, clothing, canvas, eaten as a food, and its seeds can be used for fuel. It's also good for the planet. A study by McGill University in Canada estimated that 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 million acres of industrial hemp would take care of all of our oil needs. In addition, unlike tobacco, which destroys the soil after every crop, planting cannabis actually improves it. It is legal in Uruguay, Peru, India, and even in Iran for it to be grown for food/fuel. Legalization of both hemp and marijuana would produce thousands of jobs, take care of world hunger, cut back on greenhouse gases, and help people cope with the pain of AIDs, glaucoma, and cancer. It turns out that getting “high” from it is just an added bonus. (Link 1 | Link 2 | Photo)

5 Heroic Animal Tales Inspired by the ‘Animals in War’ Memorial, London

2012-10-25T17:39:00.001+02:00

(Image: Iridescenti, cc-sa-3.0)

Amid the busy traffic of London’s Park Lane and Upper Brooke Street stand two weary mules, a proud horse and a loyal dog. These noble beasts are poised at the edge of Hyde Park in commemoration of the millions of creatures who died while serving the British and Allied Forces. The Animals in War Memorial honours mammals, birds and even insects who sacrificed their lives doing their jobs or following their natural instincts. The monument, designed by sculptor David Backhouse, intends the onlooker to follow the struggling mules into a ghostly wall of conflict. The active observer can then travel through a narrow opening to accompany the dog and horse on their journey into the future.

As well as commemorating animal selflessness, the Animals in War Memorial demonstrates man’s compassion towards the animal world. This calls us to reflect on what our furry, or not so furry, friends have done to earn the respect of humankind. Here are some examples:

(Image: Ildar Sagdejev, cc-sa-3.0)

Thor, a Pit Bull Terrier, rescued his masters from a house fire. The brave hound barked repeatedly to alert his masters to the blaze and even pulled their three month old baby, in her basket, to the front door.

(Image: Hisashi, cc-sa-3.0)

Charlie, the black and white cat, saved her human surrogate mother from a hypoglycemic attack. The clever feline found her diabetic owner collapsed on the bathroom floor and woke the lady’s husband with insistent paws to his hand. While he administered the life-saving glucose, Charlie kept vigil.

(Image: Gary Tanner, cc-nc-sa-3.0, see website: gazsnaps.me.uk)

Kerry, the chestnut-coloured horse, came to the aid of her farming owner who was being trampled by a cow defending its calf. While the cow butted the lady farmer to the ground and trampled on her, the heroic mare repeatedly kicked out at the beast until it moved away.

(Image: Just chaos, cc-3.0)

A Watusi calf prevented its cattle rancher owner from stepping on a snake by suddenly blocking the lady’s path and refusing to let her past. Although she initially tried to move the the caring creature, she finally noticed the dangerous snake.

(Image: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez, cc-sa-3.0)

Charlie the parrot assaulted two burglars as they tried to ransack a man’s home for his prescription drugs. The men pushed their way in through the front door and began beating Charlie’s owner. This provoked the fearless bird into pecking chunks out of them and forcing them to run away.

Visit the Animals in War website to find out more about the memorial and Jilly Cooper‘s book, Animals in War, from which the monument originated.

Big Dog, Little Bed: Does this happen in your house?

2012-10-22T20:10:00.001+02:00

Please note the species of animal that has taken over the large, more luxurious bed in every instance!

Cats Vs Dogs

2012-10-18T17:05:00.001+02:00

Image Credit Flickr User Michael Holden

Nature’s Fiery Funnel – The Fire Whirl

2012-10-11T18:10:00.001+02:00

They are called variously fire whirls, fire devils, fire tornadoes and even firenadoes – and the chances are you will never be fortunate (depending on your outlook) enough to see one in real life. An extraordinarily rare phenomenon they are only occasionally caught on camera. Here, however, are a few wonderful examples.

Fire whirls come about only under specific conditions, a combination of air currents and temperature. A fire on the ground forms a whirl which can rapidly reach great heights, though mercifully most never last for long. However, just like a tornado, the fire rises in an almost vertical rotating column.

It is unusual enough to see a fire tornado amidst a bush fire on the ground. Yet sometimes they separate from the flames and become a brief vortex of flame, an independent spectacle. However, certain fire whirls can be more than a kilometer in height, move over 160 km/h, and persevere for more than 15 minutes. Best not to get too close.

Image Credit Flickr User NOAA PhotoLibrary

The Great Kanto earthquake in Japan in 1923 showed how lethal they can be. A fire whirl spontaneously combusted (how else to describe it?) and killed almost forty thousand people in a little under twenty minutes.

Moreover, there was a fire caused by a lightning strike on a fuel depot in San Luis Obispo, California, in the 1920s. The resulting firestorm produced a myriad of fire whirls which carried debris over three miles away. There is every possibility that you will, in your life time, hear of a fire whirl wreaking untold havoc on lives and property. Video

This remarkable footage was taken by Australian photographer Chris Tangey. He managed to capture a fire whirl at full strength and captured it on footage which was seen on news bulletins around the world. This is the raw film he took – bear with it because when you see the fire whirl in action I think you will appreciate it! Watch as the debris from the whirl cascades down to the ground – simply amazing.

Image Credit Flickr User Zharth

Fire whirls are certainly magnificent to behold but they are also capable of propagating fire in areas previously untouched. As such, although they are invariably greeted with some awe there is always a dread of what greater damage they might inflict.

There are fire whirls quite often at the Burning Man Festival in the Black Rock Desert in Nevada (see picture below). It seems there the conditions, along with the strange urge the festival goers have to start fires often result in the creation of fire whirls, though none quite the size of the one in the Australian outback or indeed those which inflicted such damage on Tokyo and San Luis Obispo.

Image Credit Flickr User Mulling It Over

12 Creepiest Looking New Species

2012-09-25T16:39:00.001+02:00

1. The Yoda Bat

In 2010, a tube-nosed fruit bat with an appearance reminiscent of the Star Wars Jedi Master Yoda was discovered in a remote rainforest. The bat, along with an orange spider and a yellow-spotted frog, is among a host of new species found in a region of Papua, New Guinea. More than 200 animals and plants were revealed for the first time after two months of surveying in the rugged and little-explored Nakanai and Muller mountain ranges that year. (Link | Via)

2. Lesula

Scientists are claiming they have discovered a new species of monkey living in the remote forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo -- an animal well-known to local hunters but until now, unknown to the outside world. In a paper published in the open-access journal Plos One, the scientists describe the new species that they call Cercopithecus Lomamiensis, known locally as the Lesula, whose home is deep in central DR Congo's Lomami Forest basin. The scientists say it is only the second discovery of a monkey species in 28 years.
In an age where so much of the earth's surface has been photographed, digitized, and placed on a searchable map on the web discoveries like this one by a group of American scientists seems like a throwback to another time. (Link | Via)

3. Mr. Blobby

Affectionately nicknamed "Mr. Blobby," this fathead sculpin fish was discovered in 2003 in New Zealand during a Census of Marine Life expedition, according to the Australian Museum in Sydney. Fathead sculpins—named for their large, globe-like heads and floppy skin—live in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans at depths of between about 330 feet (100 meters) to 9,200 feet (2,800 meters). (Link)

4. Penis Snake

A group of engineers building a dam in the Amazon recently discovered an Atretochoana eiseltiis, better known as a caecilian, which some people might know as a limbless amphibian. But let's be honest, the creature pictured above is a penis snake. The strange creature was discovered while the Madeira River was being drained as part of a damn building project in Brazil's Madeira River. Biologist Julian Tupan said that six penis snakes were found at the bottom of the river. (Link)

5. Pinocchio Frog

This Pinocchio-like tree frog species was discovered by fortunate accident when it ventured into a Foja Mountains camp kitchen and perched on a bag of rice, where herpetologist Paul Oliver of Australia's University of Adelaide spotted it. Oliver was unable to find another of these frogs, and suspects that they stay mostly in the treetops.
The male frog's nose, the scientists were surprised to discover, points upward when the animal's calling and hangs flaccid when it's not. "Exactly what it is for, no one really knows for sure," Oliver said. (Link)

6. Chinchilla tree rat

The chinchilla tree rat (Cuscomys ashaninka) was discovered in 1997 during RAP expeditions that targeted Peru's Vilcabamba mountain range, very close to the famous ruins of Machu Picchu. It is pale grey in colour, possesses a stocky build, has large claws, and is characterized by a white stripe along its head. It is related to the chinchilla rats which are known to have been buried alongside the Inca people in their tombs. (Link)

7. Leaf-Nosed Bat

A new species of bat has been found in Chu Mom Ray National Park. Apparently this bat was mistaken for a known species in 2008, but has since been proven genetically distinct. (Link)

8. Cyclops Shark

An extremely rare cyclops shark, recently confirmed in Mexico, is one of the oddest life-forms found in 2011. The 22-inch-long (56-centimeter-long) fetus has a single, functioning eye at the front of its head, scientists announced. The eye is a hallmark of a congenital condition called cyclopia, which occurs in several animal species, including humans. Scientists have documented cyclops shark embryos a few times before, said Jim Gelsleichter, a shark biologist at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. The fact that none have been caught outside the womb suggests that cyclops sharks don't survive long in the wild. (Link)

9. The flamingo tongue snail

This flamingo tongue snail, Cyphoma gibbosum, from the British West Indies is one of thousands of new species uncovered as part of the first Census of Marine Life.
(Link)

10. Sea-Angel

A 2005 Census of Marine Life expedition to the Arctic Ocean captured a so-called sea angel, Clione limacina, at about 1,148 feet (350 meters) underwater. Despite its nickname, this little angel apparently doesn't mind showing a little skin. It's actually a naked snail without a shell, scientists said in December 2009.
Such marine snails—most of them the size of a lentil—are widely eaten by many species, making them the "potato chip" of the oceans, biologist Gretchen Hofmann, of the University of California, said in a 2008 statement. (Link)

11. Pink Nillipede

Able to shoot cyanide, this millipede is tough enough to wear pink. First documented in 2007, the shocking pink dragon millipede--yes, that's its real name--is among more than a thousand new species found in the Greater Mekong region in the last ten years, WWF announced on December 15, 2008. Far from a fashion statement, the animal's bright color probably warns predators of the millipede's toxicity. (Link)

12. Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Restricted to Colorado, the Gunnison Sage-Grouse was only recently realized to be a species separate from the Greater Sage-Grouse. The two species differ in size, display ornaments, and breeding displays. (Link | Via | Photo)

Who ate all the sausages?

2012-09-10T16:53:00.001+02:00

World's fattest Dachshund put on drastic diet after weighing in at five and a half stone

The world's fattest sausage dog weighing a staggering five and a half stone has been put on a drastic diet to try and get him back into shape.

Overweight Obie, who is double the size of an average Dachshund, was nearly fed to death by his doting elderly owners who had to give him up because of their deteriorating health.

Vet Nora Vanetta heard about his condition and has now taken him in determined help him lose weight.

Big boy: At five and a half stone - the equivalent of 77 lbs - Obie is the world's fattest Dachshund

Too many sausages: Obie, who was overfed by his doting elderly owners, is now too fat to do any exercise

Ms Vanetta, from Portland in Oregon, U.S., couldn't believe a sausage dog could reach that size and originally assumed they'd got confused about his breed.

A Dachshund normally has a maximum weight of 32 pounds - a little over two stone - with Obie more than twice the size at the age of just five.

She said: 'Well, he arrived on August 18 and to my astonishment he was a dachshund and he actually weighed 77 lbs.

'He is extremely sweet and loving. He was obviously loved and is a joy to work with. The ageing owners just couldn't say no to those big brown eyes.

Dieting: Obie, aged five, has now been taken in by vet Nora Vanetta in Portland, Oregon, who is determined to get him back in shape

Counting calories: As Obie is too big to exercise, he has been put on a special diet and hydrotherapy regime

'But we are thrilled to be able to help him, and now moving on with his new life.'

Nora, who has a degree in animal science and is a certified veterinary technician, now has the difficult task of getting Obie into shape.

But because of his staggering weight, she is unable to take him out for exercise and has resorted to a special diet and hydrotherapy in an attempt to shed the pounds.

Obie now has his own Facebook page - 'Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition' - which documents the obese animal's weight loss regime.

It is hoped the sausage dog can lose around 40 lbs to get his weight to between 30 and 40 lbs.

Tipping the scales: Obie is double the size of most Dachshunds that normally have a maximum weight of 32 pounds

Working out: Obie has a Facebook page, Biggest Loser, Doxie Edition, where people can track his progress

Nora wants her two other dogs - a nine-year-old Labrador and five-year-old Dachshund - to be good role models for Obie

She has also set up a Paypal page to encourage people to donate money to pay for his continued care.

Nora added: 'I feel tremendously blessed to be involved in his rehabilitation and I am amazed at the outpouring of love and support that I have received.

'My hope is that he can be an inspiration to any person or animal trying to lose weight.

'It is so important to introduce pups and kids to a healthy lifestyle and food choices as early as possible.'

Source

10 Bizarre Medical Treatments Involving Animals

2012-08-30T16:21:00.001+02:00

Humans have long depended on the natural world as the source of our most powerful treatments, from the use of sheep-gut thread to sew wounds up in ancient times, to the bacteria-killing properties of penicillin discovered in the first half of the 20th century. Yet, whether everyday or downright disgusting, some of these remedies can be pretty surprising to Western eyes. In Cambodia, for instance, cattle are sacred animals, and itÕs apparently considered quite healthy to drink cow urine. And, unbelievably enough, the techniques used for modern heart and lung transplants were partly inspired by Soviet experiments in creating two-headed dogs during the 1950s. We list our top ten strangest medical treatments involving animals.

10. Fish Psoriasis Treatments

Originating in Turkey, fish therapy is a relatively common treatment for the symptoms of skin conditions like psoriasis. The patient immerses their affected locations in mineral water containing the fish, which proceed to slough off dead skin with their mouths in their quest for food Ð a bit like a more beneficial school of piranhas! Doctor fish (Garra rufa obtusas), the species used, is believed to nibble away the dead and unhealthy skin while leaving healthy skin untouched. This practice has been banned in some of the US provinces due sanitary concerns but is still legal in the UK and other countries.

9. Bee Venom Arthritis Treatment

Bee stings may be painful, but apparently they can also soothe the joints of those affected by rheumatoid arthritis. A number of alternative medicine systems, including Chinese traditional medicine, use live bee stings to treat the condition Ð as well as shingles and eczema. Amazingly enough, a study by the University of San Paulo in 2010 found that bee venom produces higher levels of inflammation-preventing hormones, supporting claims that practitioners have been making for centuries. Their findings showed that bee stings may not only alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, but may also even prevent it from taking hold in the first place!

8. Snake Massage

Anyone interested in a really unconventional massage should check out Ms. Ada BarakÕs snake salon in Israel, which offers clients a sensual back rub from up to six serpents at once. Various species are used, including California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes, and milk snakes, with the larger species being used to treat deep muscle cramps and pain and their smaller counterparts to create a ÒflutteringÓ effect. Ms. Barak said that she got the idea from observing that her friends tended to become more relaxed after holding her collection of snakes for an extended period of time. At $70 a session, itÕs also a bit cheaper than some of the other therapies on this list!

7. Maggot Debridement Therapy

In maggot debridement therapy, fly larvae are placed in a wound, where they secrete digestive juices that break down dead flesh while leaving healthy tissues intact. Throughout history, many cultures have used this treatment, from ancient Aboriginal tribes, to surgeons of the Napoleonic era and American Civil War period. As disgusting as it may look, this form of therapy is gaining ground again amongst physicians, thanks to its efficiency in cleaning wounds. A study carried out in Caen, France in 2012 found that patients’ wounds treated with maggots were cleansed significantly faster and had less dead tissue than those treated with more conventional methods, and with no increase in pain. Anecdotal reports that maggots provide significant healing or antibacterial benefits have yet to be supported by scientific evidence, however.

6. Dolphin Therapy

Dolphins are symbols of peace and serenity in many cultures. Small wonder, then, that the act of bonding with them is now used as a treatment for some forms of mental illness. A study by the University of Leicester in 2005 showed that playing in the water with ÒFlipperÓ and his buddies in short sessions over a period of two weeks can provide significant benefits for patients with depression. The treatment has also been used for autistic children who have problems with verbal communication. Interacting with animals can help to alter the dysfunctional social patterns of people with depression, so itÕs not surprising that spending time with one of the most intelligent creatures on the planet can help to raise someoneÕs mood.

5. Ant Mandible Sutures

The heads of African driver ants boast mandibles that act as seriously strong natural pincers. Presumably for hundreds of years, traditional medicine has been taking advantage of this fact to close open wounds. To put the sutures in place, the healer holds the edges of the gash together and then places the antÕs head lengthwise against the wound. The insectÕs natural instinct is to bite down, which closes the gash, and the healer then twists and breaks off the rest of the body. This very efficient, if primitive, form of emergency medicine is still practiced even today.

4. Leeching

Bloodletting with leeches was a very common treatment in medieval and early modern medicine. It was used to prevent inflammation of wounds, relieve fevers, and to treat practically every other kind of ailment. Sessions of bloodletting were often continued until the sufferer had fainted or was on the verge of falling unconscious. Famously, as a cure it was spectacularly harmful, generally causing as many problems to patients as the original condition. However, leeching has now been reintroduced in certain circumstances; for example, as a way of removing congested blood from a finger that has been reattached. It is more effective than many other forms of medical treatment because the leech secretes chemicals with anti-clotting agents, which prevent blood vessels from closing up and atrophying.

3. Fish Swallowing for Asthma

Another fish-related cure is practiced by the Bathini Goud brothers in India, who every year treat thousands of visitors with their patented asthma medication Ð administered in the mouth of a live murrel fish. The herbal medicine is a family secret that (so the legend claims) was originally given to the brothersÕ grandfather by a Hindu holy man more than 160 years ago. The movements of the small fish are meant to help alleviate phlegm in the nose and throat and help ease congestion. Three successive cycles of the medicine are prescribed normally, and they are administered 15 days apart. Traditional, maybe, but we still find it pretty hard to swallow!

2. Terrapin Healing

As previously mentioned, animals such as cows are associated with healing in Cambodia and are used in a number of different traditional forms of medicine. Terrapins also feature prominently in many Cambodian treatments, both as the ingredients for remedies and in more mystical ways. Why? Because they are believed to be able to cure rheumatism and other bodily ailments by touch. In this picture, a turtle is held to the mouth of a villager in the Kandal province. It is estimated that more than a third of CambodiaÕs native species are used in remedies, but many of the animals are threatened or high priorities for conservation. ItÕs a shame so many traditional cures involve killing the creatures for medicine that may have little more than a placebo effect.

1. Diabetes-Attack Preventing Dogs

One well-known fact about dogs is that some of their senses are significantly more acute than those of their human companions. But did you know that manÕs best friend can also detect the symptoms of a diabetic attack? Diabetes Alert Dogs (DADs) can tell from their ownerÕs odor whether their blood sugar is too low or too high, and are trained to warn them either by fetching a special stick or fetching the diabetes kit and bringing it to their owner. This is especially useful for the care of young children who might not wake up if they enter hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia during the night. What’s more, it saves mom and dad from having to set the alarm clock to check on them every couple of hours.