Community saves homeless man’s dog 

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zooborns:

Musk Ox Baby Welcomed at Calgary Zoo

With shaggy fur and chunky legs, a baby Musk Ox is taking center stage at the Calgary Zoo.  The calf was born on April 23 to mom Shyia and dad Tlayopi.  Though Musk Ox calves are big babies, they have a lot of growing to do before reaching their adult weight of 500 to 800 pounds.

See more photos of the big, adorable baby on ZooBorns!

Duck, Owl Photos Show The Most Adorable Friendship Ever

The best friend bond is something that can last a lifetime, and for these two winged pals, it looks like they’ll be buds for years to come.

Chop-suey, a baby white-crested runner duck, and Larch, a baby long-eared owl, met at the Kirkleatham Owl Center in northern England earlier this month. The two have since become inseparable, sleeping and cuddling with each other.

A spokesperson for the center said the pair will eventually need to be separated due to “differing needs as they develop,” Zooborns reported. But for now, the cuteness can continue.

While they may be adorable, make sure to keep baby ducks outside as they don’t make for good pets. The average duck poops once every 15 minutes and the CDC recommends washing your hands after coming into contact with them as they “often” carry Salmonella.

Take a look at some more photos and a video of the pair here.

guardian:

A new species of fairyfly, Tinkerbella nana, has been discovered

John T Huber of Natural Resources Canada and John S Noyes of London’s Natural History Museum have named a new genus for the species after the fairy Tinker Bell from JM Barrie’s Peter Pan, while the specific epithet they chose is derived from the name of the children’s dog, Nana, in the same play.

[Photograph: Dr John T Huber]

Dog helps alert owner to house fire

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Un-extinct?

guardian:

Astonishing news from Walvis Bay, Namibia, where scientists from the Namibian Dolphin project on Tuesday confirmed the sighting of a grey whale. Not only has this north Pacific species been extinct in the Atlantic since the 18th century, it has never been seen south of the equator.

Philip Hoare has the full story.

Photograph: Turner Forte/NGS/Corbis

mothernaturenetwork:

New deep sea fish species found in Antarctica

Next to nothing is known about strange-looking fish’s behavior, diet, or what it does down there in the depths.

nbcnews:

Goats to clean up at Chicago’s O’Hare International

(Photo: Gregg Woodward)

If they had passports, they’d probably eat them.

A herd of about 25 goats will soon arrive at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and go to work munching weeds and invasive plants on about 120 acres of airport-owned land that is difficult to get to with traditional landscaping equipment.

Read the complete story.

mothernaturenetwork:

Custom leggings help disabled cat walk

Born with backwards hind legs, Willow had trouble getting around until she donned the first ‘Leggings for Life.’

Koalas make comeback at private refuge

goodstuffhappenedtoday:

Baby Sifaka Born at The Maryland Zoo

BALTIMORE, MD – The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is pleased to announce the birth of a male Coquerel’s sifaka (CAHK-ker-rells she-FAHK) baby born on Saturday, March 30, 2013.  “We are excited by this new birth, and our continuing contribution to the Coquerel’s sifaka population,” stated Mike McClure, general curator.  “The staff is happy to note that the baby is healthy, and to observe that the baby and his parents have been bonding quite nicely in a quiet off exhibit area since the birth.”

….

Coquerel’s sifaka (Propithecus coquereli) are lemurs; native only to the island of Madagascar off the southeastern coast of Africa.  Coquerel’s sifaka spend most of their lives in the treetops in two protected areas in the sparse dry, deciduous forests on the northwestern side of the island.  As with many species of lemur, Coquerel’s sifaka are endangered — habitat loss due to deforestation is the leading threat to sifaka, as is the case with many species of lemur.  Sifaka have a unique brown and white coloration and are distinguished from other lemurs by the way that they move. They maintain a very upright posture and, using only their back legs, leap through the treetops. They can easily leap more than 20 feet in a single bound. On the ground, they spring sideways off their back feet to cover strance.

nbcnews:

Here’s a first: Fish using sign language

(Photo: Klaus Jost via University of Michigan’s Animal Diversity Web)

Two types of fish have been shown to use gestures, or sign language, to help one another hunt. This is the first time these types of gestures have been found to occur in animals other than primates and ravens.

Read the complete story.

BBC plans ‘Tweet of the Day,’ radio for birds

Remember when tweeting was for the birds?

The BBC is hoping to revive that simpler time with “Tweet of the Day” — an early-morning radio program dedicated to British birdsong.

The broadcaster announced Wednesday that veteran naturalist David Attenborough will host the 90-second show, which will feature the song of a different bird each weekday, along with background on the species’ behavior, habits and place in literature and folklore.

Attenborough, who has traveled the world for documentary series including “Planet Earth” and “Frozen Planet,” said he was delighted to be involved in something closer to home.

“I’ve seen some of the most incredible animals on my travels around the world, but ‘Tweet Of The Day’ is a nice reminder of the teeming world of birds on my doorstep,” he said.

The show on the BBC’s main speech station, Radio 4, may be best appreciated by those who rise with the birds. “Tweet of the Day” will be broadcast at 5:58 a.m.

The BBC said 265 different birds will be featured during the year-long series, which begins May 6 with a recording of the cuckoo and moves on to song thrushes, swifts and wood warblers.

Attenborough will host for the first month, and be followed by other BBC presenters.

As this is the 21st century, “Tweet of the Day” will be available online — and will be promoted on Twitter, under the hashtag “r4tweet.”

nbcnews:

Saving abandoned animals, one ride at a time

(Photo via NBC Nightly News)

For former trucker Sue Wiese, obstacles don’t get in the way of her drive to save pets’ lives.  

The 69-year-old Texas grandmother is the founder of Operation Roger, a group of volunteer truck drivers who transport animals from kill shelters and rescue groups to families willing to adopt them.  

Read the complete story.

nbcnews:

Xena the Warrior Puppy, rescued from abuse, helps 8-year-old boy with autism

(Photo: Linda Hickey)

For most of his life, Jonny Hickey was quiet and withdrawn — but not anymore. Here is the story of how a mistreated dog and a misunderstood boy found, and rescued, each other.

Read the complete story.