INDIAN WATER BUFFALO HAS SUCH GIANT HORNS THAT HE CAN BARELY LIFT HIS HEAD - The beautiful animal was photographed at a nature park in India

©http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/. Unauthorized duplication of this blog's material is prohibited.   Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full credit and link is given to Otters and Science News Blogspot.  Link to this post:  http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2016/03/indian-water-buffalo-has-such-giant.html - Thank you for visiting my blog.
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The giant creature astonished wildlife photographer Sanjeev Chadha

They are often hunted for their horns, which are made into jewellery 

The average water buffalo has a horn-span of just five feet in comparison 

The extraordinary mammal was captured at Kaziranga National Park in India

See additional photo

A HUMAN BABY AND A SLOTH - BEST FRIENDS - But the illegal trade of pet baby sloths is killing thousands. In Asia they are murdered to be turned into food and medicine.

©http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this blog's material is strictly prohibited.   Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Otters and Science News BlogSpot with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.   The link to this post is: http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/11/a-human-baby-and-sloth-best-friends-but.html  -  Thank you for visiting my blog.

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The best of friends! Five-month-old baby forms incredible bond with pet sloth called Daisy.

Baby Alia was introduced to Daisy when she was just two days old

Mum works as an author, educating children on animal rights and care

The pair have become best friends, playing and even napping together

Before you fall in love and decide to have a sloth of your own, please be aware that the illegal trade of pet sloths is killing thousands of baby sloths. 

These animals are extremely demanding as babies, and it's very difficult for a human to look after them.  As babies they may need to be carried around 24/7. 

While Asian trade mostly stems from a desire for exotic meat and medicinal ingredients, in Colombia the pet trade rules the market

Please read article at the bottom of this page for more information.

Daisy and Alia -  Friends forever

DEER - NOT JUST FIGHTING BUT ESTABLISHING RANK AND ACCESS TO FEMALES - Nature's way of ensuring only the best genes get passed on.

Is it Dancer and Prancer? Two deer appear to be pulling off well-timed dance moves while playfully rutting in Richmond Park.

Standing tall on their hind legs, the two animals appear to be pulling off well-timed dance moves

Deer were actually playfully rutting, which is when stags lock antlers to compete for mating rights

Keen photographer Bartek Olszewski, 32, snapped the spectacular scene in Richmond Park, London

Hunters interfere with nature by shooting the largest and strongest animals, thereby weakening the species in the long run. (Blogger)

 

See more images

ORPHANED BABY AARDVARK, WHOSE MOM WAS MURDERED BY A FARMER, IS BEING RAISED BY A NATURE PRESERVE - Barkie even wears a pyjamas at night

 

Little Barkie was less than three months old when he was found in Namibia

Staff at N/a'an ku sê sanctuary take termite-loving creature for daily walks

He even has a pair of 'pyjamas' to keep his near-hairless body warm at night

Aardvarks are common in large parts of Africa but they come into conflict with farmers, because they often dig holes through which livestock can escape into predators' jaws.

 

When female aardvarks are shot their young are left vulnerable, because they need their mothers for the first six months of their lives. 

 

Staff said Barkie is now recovering well on a healthy foraged diet of termites and other insects.  

 

A spokesperson for the sanctuary said: 'The killing of aardvarks is tragically a common occurrence in Nambia, where farmers and landowners heavily depend on their livestock to eke a living out of this desert land.  The natural burrowing and digging behaviour of aardvark inadvertently causes holes in fences that allow the livestock to escape, making them vulnerable to free-roaming carnivores."

 

Read more and see additional pictures of Barkie - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2732501/Nose-place-like-home-Orphaned-baby-aardvark-mother-shot-farmer-saved-nature-reserve.html

Photos - Andrew Bowden - Africa Geographic - Caters - Daily Mail

 

More on aardvarks - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardvark

 

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THE MYSTERIOUS CREATURE STALKING NEW YORK STREETS IS FINALLY EXPOSED - It is a cute FISHER of the weasel famil who feeds on RATS

Welcome to New York! Meet the weasel-like creature spotted stalking the streets of the city... and the good news is it feeds on RATS

People in the Bronx first spotted the odd creature in April

A zoologist has identified it as a fisher, a member of the weasel family

Fishers prey on rats and squirrels

They were once prevalent in the New York City area but moved further upstate after they were excessively hunted for their fur

The last one was seen sometime in the 1600s

Zoologist Roland Kays thinks the Bronx fisher may have come down the river

Fishers could help control the rat population - but may also have a taste for cats and small dogs

Read more http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2671838/Mysterious-creature-stalking-streets-New-York-feasting-rats-identified.html



Photos by Daily Mail - The stalker (picture in the middle)  by CBS
Other illustrations by All Canada Photos and Wikipedia



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THE CUTE SWIMMING PIGS OF THE BAHAMAS BECOME FAMOUS

©http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/. Unauthorized duplication of this blog's material is prohibited.   Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full credit and link is given to Otters and Science News Blogspot.  Link to this post:  http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2014/06/the-cute-swimming-pigs-of-bahamas.html - Thank you for visiting my blog.
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Are they doing the hoggy paddle? Swimming pigs of the Bahamas become YouTube stars and are even set to star in a documentary.
 

Swimming swine of the Caribbean popular with visitors, who upload videos of themselves taking a dip with the pigs

The animals are believed to have been abandoned in the idyllic spot by sailors, who intended to eat them

Now a documentary is being made about the pigs, who often swim out to boats to get food from holidaymakers

A man talks about the pigs for the documentary "When Pigs Swim"


Source
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2673896/Are-doing-hoggy-paddle-Swimming-pigs-Bermuda-YouTube-stars-set-star-documentary.html

Photos - wenn.com and Daily Mail

Trailer for documentary When Pigs Swim

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6xsPVMVHGk


UPDATE



Click on this link to read the February 8, 2015 new article 
on the swimming pigs:
http://ottersandsciencenews.blogspot.ca/2015/02/more-pictures-of-cute-swimming-pigs-of.html
 

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A BABY GIRAFFE IS BORN - WITH DAD LOOKING ON BY MOM'S SIDE - PICTURES

In remarkable pictures, giraffe Eura can be seen birthing her newborn at the GaiaZOO in Kerkrade, The Netherlands.  She then rather touchingly tends to the calf as it lies looking startled on the floor of the enclosure.  The birth, which took place on June 20, followed a 15-month pregnancy.
 
As the giraffe is the tallest living animal on earth - the newborn would have fallen about two meters during the birth.  


Mom, dad and baby

 

Luckily, this calf looks to have survived its fall without any major incident - although it does appear to be a little shell shocked.
The birth comes as another birthed a calf in front of a jubilant crowd at San Diego Zoo in California.  Spectators waited for two and a half hours for the mother to deliver the creature - with one person even capturing the moment on their camera.

Read more and see additional pictures
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2664463/Its-long-way-After-15-month-pregnancy-giraffe-Dutch-zoo-gives-birth-concerned-dad-watches-on.html

Photos - EPA, Daily Mail

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BEAUTIFUL PICTURES OF MAN FEEDING MANATEES UNDERWATER - Jeremy Wade is known for his River Monsters show.

Manatee  - (Wikipedia photo)

Dinner time with the gentle giants of the deep: River Monsters presenter Jeremy Wade dives to feed the manatees.

He took on his own greatest fear when he hunted down a 200lb anaconda hiding out in the Amazon river.  But now Jeremy Wade has taken some time out beneath the waves with a gentler aquatic breed, this time a docile marine mammal.

 

The River Monsters presenter is pictured here feeding the manatees at River Safari, Singapore.  Wade made a sell-out special appearance at the aquarium this afternoon to share stories and tips on how to catch monster fish.

 

He swam among the manatees as well as captive arapaima, among the world's largest freshwater fish, at River Safari’s Amazon Flooded Forest – the world’s largest freshwater aquarium. 

 

Read more and see pictures

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638868/Oh-huge-manatees-River-Monsters-presenter-Jeremy-Wade-takes-deep-feed-river-mammals.html

 

Photo Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manatee

 

Save the manatee

http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm

 

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FOX AND HEDGEHOG PEACEFULLY SHARE A MEAL - Caught by night-time camera

Night-time camera captures amazing moment when unlikely dining companions meet for dinner.

Photo Daily Mail

The unlikely duo dine out in Suffolk between 1am and 3am every morning

Both appear to enjoy a tasty treat at the 'Hog Buffet Bar'

The fox does not see the hedgehog as prey and eats alongside it

Wildlife experts suggest foxes do not generally pose a threat to hedgehogs 

The animals were captured eating food on webcams set up by wildlife enthusiast Jason Alexander, at his home in Rushmere St Andrew, Suffolk, Britain.

Read more and see additional pictures
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2638225/The-Fox-H-edgehog-Amazing-night-time-camera-captures-moment-unlikely-dining-companions-meet-dinner.html

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MOTHER HIPPO'S GRIEF WHEN SHE FINDS HER DEAD BABY - She guards it howling in sorrow, while keeping everyone else away

Mother hippo grieving for her dead baby

Photographer Neal Cooper captured scene on camera in Kasane, Botswana.  The mother hippo was pictured warning other hippos away from the dead calf.  Mr Cooper described the scene as 'really quite a distressing sight to see'

'We spotted a hippopotamus standing motionless on the river bank with her head resting on something which looked like a rock and as we approached we spotted something lying on the ground in front of her.

CUTE HAMSTER ENJOYING A BURRITO LUNCH AT A TINY TACO STAND BUILT BY HIS 'DADDY'

A video of a hamster tucking into his meal of bite-sized burritos has become an internet sensation, with more than 1.7 million views in just two days.  

 

The video, listed as Episode One, shows a chef finely chopping up ingredients before wrapping them in a mini tortilla wrap.  He then sets up a dining area, complete with a string of lights, and uses tweezers to serve up the tiny delicacy on a poker chip to his furry friend.

 

The video was posted on YouTube by HelloDenizen on April 29, and came with the simple catchline:   'Sometimes love is best expressed through tiny food'.  It opens with scenes showing a chef carefully slicing roasted chicken, tomatos, herbs and other ingredients, before wrapping the burrito.  The chef then uses a dental mirror to examine his tiny masterpiece, before setting up the dining area.  

 

A striped piece of cloth around a board is used as a floor, and a chair and table, complete with white linen cloth, are arranged on top.  To add to the pop up restaurant's ambiance, a string of fairy lights are put up, and a poker chip is placed on the table to serve as a plate.

 

Read more, see pictures and video

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2617514/Internet-dines-adorable-video-hamster-tucking-tiny-burritos-specially-mini-taco-stand.html

 

Picture above:  YouTube - HelloDenizen (via Daily Mail)

 

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COURAGEOUS MOUSE FIGHTS A SCORPION - SLOW MOTION VIDEO

Grasshopper Mouse eating scorpion Photo - Ashlee Rowe

A jaw-dropping new video shows a fuzzy little mouse as a fearsome fighter, attacking and killing a venomous scorpion in slow motion. 

 

The new mouse-scorpion video, released on YouTube by Michigan State University, shows how the hamster-sized southern grasshopper mouse (Onychomys torridus) has evolved to withstand the painful stings of the Arizona bark scorpion (Centruroides sculpturatus).

 

FIERCE MOTHER HIPPO STRUGGLES TO SAVE HER BABY FROM OTHER HIPPOS

Hungry hippos who try swiping calf from its mother get taught a fierce lesson as she singlehandedly fights them both off in Botswana watering hole

 

A female hippo proved that you should never come between a mother and her baby - no matter the species after she took on two attackers singlehandedly when they went for her calf.  The hippo mother was enjoying some bonding time with her young calf,  at the Okovango Delta in Botswana, when a male and female hippo interrupted.

 

The assailants went for the baby, throwing it into the air with their fangs, and submerging it into the water during the vicious fight.   According to wildlife guide Joe Molekoa at the Seba camp in Botswana, who took the pictures, the calf's life was at risk during the fight, but the mother managed to grab it and swim away.  Fortunately, when Mr Molekoa returned the next day to find all was well with mother and baby who had returned to their tranquil routine.

 

Read more and see pictures

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2597059/Hungry-hippos-try-swiping-calf-mother-taught-fierce-lesson-singlehandedly-fights-Botswana-watering-hole.html

 

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CUTE BABY SQUIRREL BREAKS HER LEG AND GETS A BRIGHT RED CAST

Photo - Facebook

When this baby squirrel fell out of a nest and tumbled 75ft onto a concrete sidewalk, it suffered a broken ankle, a chipped tooth and a bloody nose.  Luckily, the adorable creature was quickly taken to a vet by a concerned passer-by.

 

When the terrified animal arrived at City Wildlife in Washington D.C., it was given a bright red leg brace, was cleaned up by vets, and is now on the way to a full recovery.

 

The wildlife rehabilitation centre in the city posted a photo of the tiny rodent Facebook and said: This baby squirrel was brought into City Wildlife after she fell 75 feet from her nest on to the concrete sidewalk below.  'She suffered a bloody nose, a broken tooth, and a broken ankle. Luckily, just like children, this squirrel is young enough that her ankle should heal very quickly. Send her your well wishes on a speedy recovery!'

 

Source

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2606878/Baby-squirrel-given-red-leg-brace-heal-broken-ankle-falling-75ft-nest-concrete-sidewalk.html

 

Washington DC City Wildlife Center

http://www.citywildlife.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CityWildlife

 

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ORPHANED KANGAROO AND WOMBAT ARE INSEPARABLE FRIENDS

The following story is from 2012, but it's worth posting now because the animal babies are so cute.

True blue mates! Orphaned kangaroo and wombat are inseparable friends.  They even share the same pouch.

Photo Daily Mail

Opposites can attract and Anzac a doe-eyed baby kangaroo has become best friends with Peggy, a tiny squint-eyed wombat.  Their unlikely union developed after the pair -  both orphans - shared a pouch at the Wildlife Kilmore Rescue Centre in Victoria, Australia.

 

At just over five months old, Anzac was brought to the centre after being rescued in the Macedon Ranges.  The joey is in the mother kangaroo's pouch for about eight months, depending on the species, but Anzac was abandoned a few months before he was ready to be free. 

 

Read more and see pictures of adorable Anzac and Peggy.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2182470/Orphaned-kangaroo-wombat-inseparable-friends-share-pouch.html

 

RELATED

 

Read more and see pictures

of more rescued animals at the Kilmore Wildaabout Rescue Centre in Victoria, Australia

https://www.facebook.com/WildaboutWildlife

 

And here

http://www.wildaboutwildlife.net.au/Gallery.php

 

ABANDONED BABY FOAL SNUGGLES UP WITH BIG TEDDY BEAR EVERY NIGHT

 

The following story is from last year, but I never got to post it.  It's a moving story showing animals' need for love.  I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

The Care Bear: Teddy takes on role of mummy after foal is found abandoned

• One-week-old pony Breeze was found searching for his mother
• Rescuers failed to find his mother so gave him the teddy as a surrogate
• He was found collapsed from clinical shock and dehydration, but he can now be seen nestling into the bear's fur for comfort

Photo Daily Mail
 

Newborn foals rely on their mothers to provide everything from food to motherly affection.

But after Breeze the Dartmoor Hill pony was orphaned, his cuddles have come from a 4ft teddy bear, which rescuers have given him as a surrogate mother.

 

One-week-old Breeze was found abandoned on Dartmoor National Park on May 24 when he was just a few hours old.  He had been wandering without his mother and attempting to suckle on other mares before rescuers found him collapsed from clinical shock and dehydration.

 

Despite a search of the area for the mare that gave birth to Breeze, his mother could not be found.  Rescuers nursed Breeze back to health at the Mare and Foal Sanctuary in Devon, and he was given the cuddly toy to snuggle up to in the absence of a mother.  The giant bear lives with Breeze in his stable and the young foal can be seen nestling in to its fur for comfort.

 

Read more and see pictures 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2333745/The-Care-Bear-Teddy-takes-role-mummy-foal-abandoned.html

Mare and Foal Sanctuary website
http://www.mareandfoal.org/

Breeze is in training at this facility waiting to be adopted
http://www.mareandfoal.org/about-us/horses/
 

 

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BABY FOX FOUND FROZEN AND UNCONSCIOUS IN SUB-ZERO TEMPERATURES IS REVIVED

Tiny week-old fox brought back to life by animal shelter after being found unconscious in freezing temperatures in back garden

A tiny fox cub is being cared for at an animal shelter after she was brought back from death's door.  The week-old animal, who has been named Lira by staff, was found unconscious, freezing and starving by a man in his back garden.

 

The man took her to his local vet and critically-ill Lira, who weighs just 7ozs, ended up at Wildlives Rescue Centre in Thorrington, near Colchester, Essex in the nick of time. 

 

Before being brought to the shelter, Lira had never even opened her eyes. The charity are now nursing the fox cub back to health.  The rescue centre's owner Rosie Catford said that Lira's mother was almost certainly dead.

See pictures of tiny Lira drinking from a bottle.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2581675/Tiny-week-old-fox-brought-life-animal-shelter-unconscious-freezing-temperatures-garden.html

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ARAB BEAUTY CONTEST FOR CAMELS - OWNERS LOVINGLY ADD FALSE EYELASHES AND LIP FILLERS TO ENHANCE THE ANIMALS' BEAUTY - FIND THEM MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN WOMEN

'More beautiful than women, horses and all other animals' they say.  Welcome to the Arab beauty contest where million-dollar CAMELS with false eyelashes and lip filler compete for huge prizes

Visitors trek across desert for lavish event in Liwa, United Arab Emirates.  Men happily declare they prefer camels to their wives - and all other women.

 

Prize camels can change hands for as much as £1.8million at all-male event.  The festival also features camel races and milking competitions.

 

Read more and see pictures of those pampered beauties and their proud owners.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2571324/More-beautiful-women-horses-animals-Welcome-Arab-beauty-contest-million-dollar-CAMELS-false-eyelashes-lip-filler-compete-huge-prizes.html

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BIRD COMES FACE TO FACE WITH SQUIRREL SQUATTING IN HIS HOME

That's ruffled his feathers! Blue Tit comes face to face with cheeky squirrel squatting in his home

• Bird and squirrel faced off in Frankfurt, western Germany
• They eye-balled each other before, it appears, the bird flew off
• Photographer Christian Kuhn caught the Mexican stand-off on film

Read more and see pictures 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2569427/Thats-ruffled-feathers-Blue-Tit-comes-face-face-cheeky-squirrel-squatting-home.html

 

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CUTE MEERCAT GIGGLES WHEN TICKLED

Watch the incredibly cute moment this meerkat giggles with pleasure as he gets his tummy tickled

• Meerkats are tunnel-dwelling animals indigenous to African plains
• They are good hunters, and can be trained by humans to catch rodents
• They communicate with purring sounds, as shown in the video
• Zoo keeper says meerkats love being tickled and this one appears to laugh with pleasure when his stomach is rubbed
• The meerkats at the Northumberland farm centre 'all have personalities

Read more, see pictures and watch video
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2570836/Hilarious-video-shows-meerkat-giggling-pleasure-getting-tummy-tickled.html

RELATED

Seals get their tummies tickled
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2543781/Seals-compete-mans-best-friend-roll-bellies-tickled-nuzzle-divers-North-Sea.html


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