Rescued from an icy grave: Temmy the mare who went walkabout and plunged into a frozen lake

By DAILY MAIL Rescuers cut their way through the thick ice to reach Temmy as she stuggles to keep her head out of the water Rescuers who battled through thick ice to haul a pet horse to safety after she had plunged into a frozen lake was showered with praise by her relieved owner today.Fire and Rescue crews cut a 20-metre path through thick ice to rescue Tempest , a 17-year-old grey mare who had been grazing on fields in Rhosneigr, North Wales, before wandering onto the lake on Boxing Day.Temmy, as she is affectionately known, crashed through the ice, sparking a dramatic hour-long rescue as she struggled to keep her head above water. A path...

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'Micro' pig that wasn't the squeal deal: Shelter condemns woman for dumping unwanted animal... after she realised how big it would grow

By ANDREW LEVY Macro pig: This animal was dumped at a shelter after its owner realised it was going to grow much biggerWith a happy and inquisitive nature and an endearing need for companionship, Hilda seemed like the perfect pet.What’s more, the micro pig would be easy to care for because they grow no bigger than a small spaniel. But this pig’s tale took an unfortunate twist after her owner realised she was a normal pig which would soon become too big to look after. On top of that, the ten-week-old was so desperate to socialise with other pigs that she started squealing loudly, annoying the neighbours. As a result, she was left with an animal...

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The smile that says rescued Mely the orangutan loves her new home

New life: Mely was freed after 15 years of being chained by the neck in a remote village on the island of BorneoThree months ago, she was in shackles, with a chain clamped around her neck and desperation in her eyes.After being neglected and held captive for 15 years, Mely the orangutan struggled to walk, climb or feed herself. But what a difference 12 weeks – and the generosity of Daily Mail readers – makes. Now, playing happily in her nest and eating fruit and leaves, the look on Mely’s face clearly shows she is enjoying every moment of her new life after being rescued from a riverside shack in Borneo. ‘When Mely first arrived her steps were...

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Scrambled eggs for breakfast, his own wardrobe, bubble baths and a daily moisturise, Clarins of course: Is Prince the pup Britain's most pampered pet?

By TAMARA COHENEmma Buttarrazzi with her heavily pampered dog Prince, who she spends £250 a month on as she attends to his every need He has a wardrobe of designer clothes, lovingly cooked meals and regular beauty treatments.Meet Prince, the most pampered dog in Britain. The one-year-old Chinese crested is spoiled rotten by his devoted owner, Emma Butarrazzi, who spends £250 a month attending to his every need. Every day after dinner Emma brushes and flosses Prince's teeth before putting him to bedEvery day Prince enjoys a long bubble bath, while she applies shampoo and conditioner to his hair, followed by a lathering of Clarins moisturising...

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Dew-covered damselflies glitter like jewels in the morning sunshine

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Beautiful: Dew drops on the damselflys in the dawn sun makes them shimmer like jewels These sparkling objects look more like dazzling jewels than humble damselflies.But the beautiful creations are actually insects covered in early morning dew, a combination which creates a jaw-dropping natural effect in the morning sunshine.The incredible images were captured on camera by photographer Patrick Goossens. Early riser: Goosens gets up before dawn every morning to take his picturesThe Belgian insect expert has dedicated years to getting the perfect shot, studying dragonfly and damselfly behaviour to help him get closer to...

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'I can't bear to be without you': Inseparable cubs play together in Alaskan national park

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Laughing matter: Two brown bear cubs playfight on the beach at Lake Clark National Park near Port Alsworth, Alaska Life's a beach for this pair of unlikely sunbathers.Frolicking in the surf without a care in the world, these bear cubs are inseparable as they play together in Alaska's Lake Clark National Park.Rambling along the waterfront hunting for food, these beach-loving brown bears provide an intimate record into the families of bear which frequent the area. Tiring work this: The two cubs rest side by side on the shoreline as photographer Doug Merrick was able to get within 12ft of themBritish photographer Doug Merrick...

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We've found Nemo! Stunning shark picture looks exactly like 'Bruce' from Pixar blockbuster

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER A school of pilot fish swarming around a oceanic whitetip shark. The two species co-exist - he smaller fish get protection from larger predators while the shark gets freedom from parasitesJust like Finding Nemo this hungry shark looks like it has learnt 'fish are friends not food'.In the Pixar blockbuster, great white shark Bruce gives up his fish-munching ways at an alcoholics anonymous style, self help meet.And as this incredible real life image shows, sharks in the real world seem to be following in Bruce's fin-steps. The image taken by underwater photographer Daniel Selmeczi, shows a school of pilot fish swarming around...

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A bear with a sore head - and an empty belly: Polar bear that fancied snacking on a seagull ends up biting off more than he can chew

By DAILY MAIL REPORTERBear bites back: The polar bear surfaces immediately behind the unsuspecting gull and clamps its jaws into the bird's back This brave seagull heroically took on a polar bear in an epic battle of David v Goliath - and won.The ten-minute encounter between bird and beast stunned onlookers as the seagull dramatically escaped with its feathers intact. After the scrap the shame-faced half tonne bear scampered off in search of easier prey to pick a fight with. Bird fights back: The gull pecks its attacker in the eye in a desperate attempt to get awayPhotographer Ole Jorgen Liodden was shocked when he captured the incredible moments...

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Zen and the art of fish tank maintenance: 'Aquascapers' herald the end for treasures chests and shipwrecks with arty installations

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER The seemingly mundane world of fish keeping has now received an arty makeover with the emergence of the 'Aqueous Art Movement'A new trend of creating amazing living pictures in fish tanks has emerged from a group of enthusiasts - and is fast becoming a major art movement.And it could spell the end to the traditional treasure chest, shipwreck and diver that adorn the usual British fish tanks.Members of the Aqueous Art Movement design incredible scenes - or aquascapes - beneath the water that are described as moving pictures. The plants, stone, lighting and types of fish are carefully selected to make the tanks genuine works...

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In a hole lot of trouble: The inquisitive pup who put his nose where it wasn't wanted

By DAILY MAIL Now what? Eight-month-old Rebel ended up in a tight spot after his curiosity got the better of himDogs may be inquisitive by nature, but this eight-month-old German Shepherd was heading for trouble when he decided to check out this hole in the wall.Rebel somehow squeezed his head into a tight spot in the 18in wall in his garden at home in Los Angeles, California, and got well and truly stuck. It was only when a friend of the owner, who was out at the time, heard Rebel whimpering that he found the pup was in a bit of a tight spot and called the authorities. County Animal Services officers arrived and decided the dog was not in serious...

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Blind woman breaks TWO world records on holiday after being taught to fish by her husband

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Great catch: Sheila Penfold, 59, (right) caught this 214lb giant catfish in the River Ebro, near Barcelona. It was the largest catfish ever caught by a woman. Husband Alan (left) has not managed to better his partially-sighted wife's efforts A fisherman who introduced his blind wife to fishing has been upstaged twice - as he watched her break two world records for catching giant catfish.Retired gardener Alan Penfold, 63, decided to start bringing wife Sheila along on his fishing trips four years ago but wouldn't have expected to be upstaged by his partially-sighted partner. She has broken the record for the biggest catfish...

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The pony and the very patient robin: Little bird forced to queue for food after being barged out of the way by foraging horse

By KATHERINE FAULKNER Out of my way: The tiny robin is forced to queue after the Dartmoor pony nuzzled it aside while they both were foraging for food in the snow ion Boxing DayThey say it’s the early bird that catches the worm.But this robin had to wait its turn after a Dartmoor pony got in first as he hunted for food. The brave, little bird had been pecking through the snow for scraps near Ashburton in Devon when the pony pushed it out of the way as it too foraged for something to eat. Undeterred, the cheeky robin stationed itself next to the pony’s hooves in the hope of a tasty morsel turning up.Like many British songbirds, robins have been...

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Enjoying his winter playground, the zoo elephant who likes to make snowballs with his trunk - and then eat them

By DAILY MAIL REPORTERAsian elephant Ko Raya played in the snow, coating herself in the white stuff The elephants got a taste of a German winter at the Berlin Zoo this week as they played in the snow, getting into play fights and sampling a bit of the frozen treat.Ko Raya, an Asian elephant, even rolled around in the snow in her enclosure at Zoologischer Garten, where temperatures have been staying below zero. An elephant lifts a snowball it made with its trunk at the Berlin zoo on Monday Unfortunately, if the elephant was trying to get clean, the snow will be less effective than throwing water on himselfAnd hopefully she liked it, as even...

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The saddest puppy: Princess has never been cuddled and can never go outside... now she's looking for a loving home

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Heartrending: Six-month-old puppy Princess, a bull-breed-greyhound cross, prepares for her special bath An ultra-cute bald pup was abandoned and rescued earlier this month suffering from a severe medical condition that has left her with no hair.Staring sadly at the big outdoors through a window, her illness means that she can never go outside, and these pictures show her receiving her first ever cuddle.With such delicate skin she can't wear a jacket to keep her warm enough for the outdoors - even in summer. Puppy love: Princess gets her first ever hug from Sallie Conroy, Dog Isolation Staff member, at Bleakholt Animal...

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