Napcatcher rather than ratcatcher: Larry the Downing Street cat shows 'no interest' in going after the rodents

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Napcatcher: Photographers had to wait 45 minutes to meet the new recruit when he arrived - because he was asleep


Larry the Downing Street cat may have been brought in to catch the rats but he has spent his days curled up asleep, it has been claimed.

The tabby was expected to go chasing after the rodents who have been seen scuttling down the street during television reports - but he's shown no interest in going after them.

Within hours of arriving at No 10 he had courted controversy by taking a swipe at ITV News reporter Lucy Manning when they tried to get him to pose for an item.

And he kept waiting reporters and photographers waiting for 45 when he was unveiled as the new pet because he was asleep.

The cat has also apparently covered the Prime Minister's suits with fur and has dug his claws in when sat on members of staff.

He's got a long way to go until he has the fierce reputation of Harry - Downing Street's first official moggy who arrived when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister.

The animal - who also served under Thatcher and Blair - acquired a fearsome reputation after being falsely accused of killing a family of robins in the garden.
He was known to energetically catch the rats.

Despite Larry's failure to deal with the pest problem, Downing Street's newest resident has quickly become popular among the staff.

A source told the Independent on Sunday: 'He has shown no interest in the many mice in Downing Street. There's a distinct lack of a killer instinct.'


Taking over the cabinet: Larry wanders across the table in the Cabinet Room at No 10


Rat catcher: Larry was brought in to get the Downing Street rat which appeared in Lucy Manning's report


The four-year-old cat arrived from Battersea Dogs and Cats home three weeks ago has apparently made several bids for freedom.

His former keepers at the rescue centre have recommended that he is not let out for at least three weeks until he becomes fully acclimatised to his new surroundings.
But as David Cameron posed on the steps outside with Kevin Spacey, Larry made a bid for freedom.

In between his frequent naps, the cat dines out not on taxpayer-funded meals - but dishes paid for by the Prime Minister's own staff.
With George Osborne clamping down on public spending, there is no room for a pet paid for by the public in No 10.

He arrived on February 15 - just days after a spokesman said on January 24 that there were 'no plans' for a cat to move in.


Arrival: Larry is carried in to No 10 for the first time earlier this month


The four-year-old tabby has apparently shown no interest in going after the rodents in Downing Street

source: dailymail

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Foster mutt: Rottweiler plays mother to orphaned bunnies, birds... and even kittens

By JAMES TOZER

Dave the rottweiler has helped bring up four ducks, three geese, five rabbits, 13 kittens and five puppies - plus countless new-born chicks


You probably wouldn’t pick a ten-stone rottweiler to nursemaid orphaned bunnies and birds. But even kittens are in no danger from Dave the Dog. All he wants to do is look after them.

Owner Amanda Collins discovered her six-year-old pet’s maternal nature when she brought home an unwanted French giant rabbit.

‘Dave just walked over to him and started licking him to clean him,’ said the 25-year-old, who runs a pet shop in Blackpool.

‘They bonded straight away. Now they sleep together, and I’ve even seen them sharing each other’s food.’

Miss Collins, who has looked after a menagerie of abandoned animals, soon found this wasn’t a one-off.

'When I brought home the ducklings, I thought he might not be the same as with the rabbits, but he just went over to them and licked them on the head,' she said..

'I filled a paddling pool with water so they could learn to swim in it, and Dave went and laid down in the water so they could clamber over him. He even lifted them out if they got into trouble.'

So far, Dave has helped bring up four ducks, three geese, five rabbits, 13 kittens and five puppies - not to mention countless new-born chicks.

Dave had a traumatic upbringing – his first owner docked his tail with a cleaver – but has remained amazingly good-natured and has now been voted Britain’s most inspirational dog in a contest sponsored by worming specialists Drontal.

The online contest attracted over 6,000 entries and 265,515 votes were cast.

And six-year-old Dave's owner hopes his success will help improve the breed's image.

'People see him coming and cross the road to the other side - it's so sad,' said Miss Collins.

'Most rottweilers aren't big vicious things - they can be very gentle and obedient if they're looked after and trained properly, and Dave is the perfect example of that.'

source: dailymail

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A little fishy: World's smallest aquarium creates a (tiny) splash

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Small fry: The tiny fish tank was made by a Russian artist who specialises in miniatures


Here is the perfect home for small fry: the world's smallest aquarium.

Created by Russian artist Anatoly Konenko, who specialises in miniatures, the tiny tank is made of glass, contains tiny stones and plants and is home to a group of tiny fish.

It is just 30mm wide, 24mm high and 14 mm deep - enough to hold just 10ml of water, or about two tablespoons' worth.

The water has to be applied using a syringe so as not to disturb the landscape the Siberia-artist lovingly created.

Konenko, who calls his art 'micro-miniatures', even made a minuscule fishing net which he used to place the fish, baby Danios.

The adults are usually a favourite with more normal sized tanks but the tiny fish look at home in Konenko's construction for which he has since added a specially built air pump.


In the net: Anatoly Konenko made a small net to match, and tiny Danios fish swam around in the tank, which takes only two teaspoons of water to fill


Something fishy: The tank is just 30mm wide, 24mm high and 14 mm deep


Konenko is also a painter and is in the Guinness World Records book for making the world's smallest book.

He said: 'I've been doing microart for 30 years, doing the smallest things in the world.

'This tank was made out of curiosity.'

He works using a microscope for most of his work and has won awards in his home country and round the world.







source: dailymail

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I've lost my psychic, life-saving dog: Pregnant mother-to-be distraught at losing pet who senses when she will have a fit

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Remarkable: Max has not had any formal training but can predict when Andree Trotter is going to have a fit

A pregnant mother-to-be has lost her 'superdog' which can predict when she is about to have an epileptic fit.

Andree Trotter's missing greyhound-Weimaraner cross Max rushes to her side when she is about to have a seizure and she gets into a safe position.

The remarkable animal has not been specially trained to help her - although he was a rescue dog.

The 31-year-old is due to give birth to her first child in two months time and is scared of hurting herself and her unborn baby without the dog at her side.

Miss Trotter, from Oxted, Surrey, has up to five seizures a week when her condition is at its worst - and does not know when they are about to happen.

The dog disappeared from her back garden two weeks ago while she and fiance Alan Whitlock were away and friends were dog sitting.

She said: 'Obviously our friends feel terrible but it's nobody's fault, we just want him back. He is a beloved pet but he's so much more than that.

'He was a rescue dog and we started to notice that he would always be by my side, guarding me protectively, just before I had a seizure, then he would lie right by me until I recovered.

'He would growl at Alan, even though he's really Alan's dog. It was uncanny. We started giving him treats when he did it to encourage him and now I don't know how I got by without him.

'I can have four or five seizures a week when I am bad and I never know when they are coming on. I have hurt myself in the past and even fallen in the road.

'I am terrified I will have one at the top of the stairs and lose my baby without Max here. He is a lifesaver.'


Expectant mother: Andree Trotter, pictured, is concerned she will injure herself and her unborn child without missing dog Max


Max even runs upstairs - normally out of bounds to him - if she is about to have a seizure in the bedroom or bathroom.

She said: 'It gives me just enough time to lie down somewhere safe. He lies next to me cushions me and it is comforting to have him watching over me when I come round.

'I just hope he has wandered off and someone has taken him in as a stray. I would beg them to call us so we can bring him home.'

Alan, a 45-year-old graphic designer, said: 'We got him from the dog's home after he was found tied up next to a motorway.

'He is incredibly jumpy and gets spooked easily, by a vacuum cleaner or any loud noise.

'I think someone must have taken him in because he doesn't particularly like being outside.

'We're offering a substantial reward for anyone who finds him.'

They have put up hundreds of flyers, visited local rescue homes and even been to a pet psychic in a desperate bid to find him and bring him home.


source: dailymail

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Out of my way, don't you know this is a trunk road? Angry elephant rams car into ditch

By JOHN MCDONNELL

Road hog: Five-tonne elephant tries to barge car off road in South African safari park

When an elderly man booked a safari adventure of a lifetime to South Africa he knew he'd been in for a trip he'd never forget.

But little did he know that he'd end up getting involved in a physical encounter with an aggressive elephant.

Irishman John Somers took a friend for a relaxing holiday to the Pilansberg Game Reserve in Johannesburg to celebrate his 66th birthday.

But as the wildlife enthusiasts drove along a dusty road they found themselves in the path of a five-tonne bull elephant, who charged towards them.

At first the massive mammal, named Amarula, went trunk-to-trunk with the grey car, before resting his weight right down on top of it.

The boystrous elephant then flipped the vehicle over into a ditch like a toy car as the terrified occupants hung on for dear life.


Trunk-to-trunk: Sexually charged bull elephant shows the wildlife enthusiasts in the car who's boss


Give it a rest: Massive mammal sits on top of the vehicle, driven by 66-year-old John Somers, who was on a birthday trip with a friend


Luckily the bull eventually got bored and the pair escaped with only minor cuts and bruises.

It is believed the animal was pumped full of hormones as it went in search of the mate.

The full sequence of bizarre events was captured by photographer Riaan van Wyk, who was watching from a safe distance.



Bowled over by the wildlife: The elephant flipped the vehicle like a toy car but luckily both passengers escaped with only minor cuts and bruises

source: dailymail

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If you need to come to Britain, you might as well do it in style: Illegal immigrants caught hiding in Rolls Royce body shells

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Sniffer dog Jake, a four year old labrador helped make the discovery at the Calais port


Illegal immigrants tried to smuggle themselves into the country by hiding in the body shells of £275,000 Rolls Royces, it was revealed today.

The nine men were discovered by a sniffer dog at Calais Port, France, in a German lorry heading for the luxury car maker in Goodwood, West Sussex.

The stowaways, from the African country of Eritrea, were handed to the French border police and the lorry was allowed to continue on its way.

Rolls Royce Motor Cars today confirmed the lorries usually carry four car body shells and they would have been for either their Rolls Royce Ghost or Phantom.

The Ghost costs around £200,000 and the Phantom £275,000. Stephen Fabman-Beker, from the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts Club, said: 'The immigrants have certainly got good taste. It does make you wonder how they got in.


Caught: Two illegal immigrants cover their faces after being caught trying to smuggle themselves into the country in the shells of luxury Rolls Royce cars


'The only thing the Germans make is the shell, the skeleton. There's no interior or panels. I very much hope they haven't been messing about and damaged anything.'

The aluminium shells are supplied to Rolls Royce technicians from German BMW factories because the car giant owns the famous British brand.

Andrew Ball, from Rolls Royce, said: 'A group of people were found in a truck from one of our suppliers and it was heading for our Goodwood factory.

'They were not complete vehicles but body shells for either our Phantom or Ghost models. The French authorities dealt with the matter and I do not believe there was any damage.'


One of the nine stowaways covers his head and face while he hides inside one of the cars. The German lorry was transporting the luxury vehicles to the car makers in Goodwood, West Sussex


The German driver and haulage company each face a potential fine of up to £2,000 per stowaway if they are unable to prove they took steps to secure the vehicle properly.

The immigrants were found at 7.20am on February 15, but the details have only just been released. The sniffer dog was a four-year-old Labrador cross collie called Jake.

Mandy Jones, UK Border Agency deputy director for south and Europe, said: 'This incident shows why we base UK Border Agency staff in France - to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they can reach the UK.

'Our strong presence in French ports like Calais helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally.

'As well as using sniffer dogs, officers also use heartbeat detectors and carbon dioxide probes and physical searches to find people hiding in vehicles.'

The UK Border Agency said they had no details of the ages of the men because it was the responsibility of the French authorities to record such information.


source: dailymail

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Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo

Veterinary technician Jessica Sosa and veterinary technician Peter Flowers perform an examination on Soy, an 18-year-old Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. The tiger receives a physical exam, complete with dental cleaning, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, every one to three years.




Veterinarians look at the paws as they perform an examination on Soy, an 18-year-old Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. The tiger receives a physical exam, complete with dental cleaning, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, every one to three years.




Veterinarians look at the mouth and teeth as they perform an examination on Soy, an 18-year-old Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. The tiger receives a physical exam, complete with dental cleaning, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, every one to three years.




Veterinary technician Jessica Sosa puts drops in the eyes as she performs an examination on Soy, an 18-year-old Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. The tiger receives a physical exam, complete with dental cleaning, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, every one to three years.




Veterinary technician Peter Flowers (R) draws blood as they perform an examination on Soy, an 18-year-old Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. The tiger receives a physical exam, complete with dental cleaning, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, every one to three years.



An ultrasound monitor shows the abdomen as veterinarians perform an examination on Soy, an 18-year-old Sumatran tiger, during a routine checkup at the Smithsonian Institute's National Zoo in Washington, DC, February 24, 2011. The tiger receives a physical exam, complete with dental cleaning, x-rays, ultrasounds and blood work, every one to three years.


source: daylife
photo: Gettyimages

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How the leopard REALLY got his spots: Scientists identify gene that determines patterns of colour on mice

By FIONA MACRAE

Distinctive: Scientists have unlocked a gene that determines patterns of colour on the coats of mice - and believe it plays a role in the formation of leopard markings


Kipling would have us believe that the leopard got its spots to hide in the ‘stripy, speckly, patchy-blatchy shadows’ of the African forest.

But the reality behind the big cat’s distinctive coat is much more prosaic.

Scientists have identified a gene that determines the patterns of colour on the coats of mice.

While the research is still preliminary, they believe that the stretch of DNA may also play a role in the formation of the markings of other animals – including the leopard’s spots.

Researchers already knew that the gene, called Agouti, affects how deeply adult fur is shaded.

But the latest research also implicates it in the formation of patterns.

The finding, from a team at Harvard University in the US, comes from a study of deer mice, which like many creatures, has a lighter-coloured belly than back.

The researchers showed that small changes in how active the Agouti gene is in the womb affects the distribution of pigment on the animal’s body in later life.


Study: The scientists found the Agouti gene when they examined the difference in colour between the belly and back of deer mice


In the case of the deer mice, the gene is highly active in the unborn rodent’s belly, where it delays the maturation of the cells that will eventually produce pigments.

‘This leads to a lighter-coloured belly in adults, which is the most common colour pattern across a wide variety of vertebrates, from fish to antelope,’ said researcher Hopi Hoekstra.

The study’s lead author, Marie Manceau, said: ‘The question of how colour patterns are established in vertebrates has been a black box.

‘Taking advantage of the simple colour pattern of deer mice we showed that small changes in the activity of a single pigmentation gene in embryos generate big differences in adult colour pattern.’


Next up: The scientists who conducted the research now hope to study other animals, including how zebras got their stripes


The researchers, who detailed their findings in the journal Science now plan to dissect the mechanics of more complex colour patterns, starting with striped mice and squirrels the ‘racing stripes’ of chipmunks.

The leopard’s spots and the zebra’s stripes are also within their sights.

They said: ‘It is hard not to speculate that Agouti plays a role in generating more complex patterns, from stripes to spots, in a diversity of vertebrates.’


source: dailymail

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Better luck next time bird lovers! Mission Impossible rodent make short work of breaking into 'squirrel proof' feeder

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Treasure: The cheeky squirrel has a look round the cage to get to its prize


This is supposed to be a 'squirrel proof' bird feeder, but it didn't out-smart one particularly crafty critter when he turned up in a British garden.

The feeder had flummoxed his friends but this clever creature was determined not to be beaten.

After some careful negotiation of the extraordinary-looking feeder in front of him, the squirrel cracked it by squeezing his fat body through the protective wiring.

His incredible feat was captured on camera by Sandra Carter in her garden in Gosport, Hampshire, who snapped away as he rewarded himself with the bird nuts inside.

The 57-year-old support worker said the grey squirrel had become a regular visitor in recent months.

She and her husband, Richard, 63, invested in the £19.95 Gardman 'squirrel proof' feeders after watching the greedy animal devour the nuts from all their other feeders.

They hoped the space-age looking design, which protects the bird nuts with a wire globe, would be a strong enough deterrent.

But they were stunned when they peered out of the window one day and saw the squirrel had worked his way around it.


Greedy: The cage's manufacturers say the squirrel will soon be too fat to fit between the bars


Ms Carter said: 'This particular squirrel is very greedy and very clever.
'He comes into the garden a dozen times a day to eat from the bird feeders.

'The poor birds hardly get a look in - they just sit in the surrounding trees waiting for him to finish.

'We've tried so many things to stop him - we tried making our own 'squirrel proof' feeders but he always work them out.

'Once we tried hanging bird feeders on wires out of his reach but he managed to get to them by tight-rope walking.

'When we saw a "squirrel proof" feeder on sale we thought it was the answer to all our problems.


Squeeze: The squirrel manages to get its head and body through one of the wider holes in the middle of the cage


'We bought one first to test it and, initially, it seemed to work so we bought another one.

'But I peered out of the window one day and was stunned to see he was inside one of the feeders, eating all the nuts.

'And it wasn't long before he figured out the other one, which contained seeds.
'We thought it would be a little harder for him to feed from because it has a plastic covering.

'But he simply shakes it from side to side until the food comes out of the holes.

'My husband has since tried to put more wire on the outside of both feeders to make the holes smaller but it hasn't worked.' When Ms Carter wrote to Gardman to inform them of what had happened she was refunded the cost of both feeders.


Victory! It manages to squeeze its whole body into the cage to get its reward


She said: 'I wrote to them and said it was perhaps time to go back to the drawing board with the design and they gave me my money back.

'My husband and I have now given up trying to outwit the squirrel.

'It is very frustrating but you can't deny he's a clever little animal and I admire his tenacity.'

Jane Lawler, marketing director at Gardman, said: 'Our squirrel proof feeder is designed to keep squirrels out but to let as many birds as possible into the feeder.

'Very occasionally, some skinnier squirrels squeeze through and with all the extra food this one is eating, it won't fit through the bars for long.'


source: dailymail

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He's one cool cat: Jimmy's party trick gets a big thumbs-up

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Jimmy the cat stars in a YouTube video in which a woman with a British accent asks him to give her the thumbs up


Jimmy the cat has an amazing party trick.

In a YouTube video a woman's voice can be heard saying: 'Hi Jimmy. Can you give me a thumbs-up, Jimmy?'

And then the woman and a man are heard laughing as Jimmy obliges and sticks his 'thumb' up.

The description attached to the video says: 'Jimmy is a polydactyl cat. He's probably the laziest cat in the world but he's also super clever and has thumbs. And he's got a great party trick :-)'

Jimmy has polydactyly, which means he has extra digits, a physical anomaly that's sometimes caused by a genetic defect.

Polydactyl cats are fairly common in some parts of New England in the U.S. and they are sometimes called Hemingway cats, because the writer Ernest Hemingway grew to love them after being given a six-toed cat.

The Guinness World Record holder for the cat with the most digits is Jake, a cat from Ontario, Canada, which has 27 digits. The unofficial record goes to Bandit, a 29-toed cat from Hoboken, U.S. Bandit is owned by Beth Stuart, who is in the process of applying for recognition.




source: dailymail

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An Academy Award-predicting possum? Cross-eyed Heidi's tips for the top Oscar winners

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Squinting possum: Heidi's pronounced squint doesn't prevent her from leading a full life...and she has hidden talents


A cross-eyed possum in Germany is predicting this years Oscar winners.

Following in the footsteps of Paul the octopus, who predicted the World Cup results, Heidi the possum is giving her tips for the Academy Awards.


Heidi the cute marsupial gives her tips for the Academy Awards by sniffing and touching the fake Oscar statuettes, complete with squinty eyed actors pinned to each one


Each day the cute marsupial is being released in a pen, where she comes face to face with a row of fake Oscar statuettes.

Whichever statue she touches with her paw first signifies the winner in that category.

On Tuesday night, Heidi picked Black Swan star Natalie Portman to take home the Best Actress award.

The possum made Portman her chosen one after sniffing around the trophies and walking in and out of her box.


Out of the box: Here she comes for her daily walk around her pen, ready to choose the next Academy Award winner


The hilarious footage was broadcast on Jimmy Kimmel's US chat show.

A picture of each actress was taped to each statuette - complete with cross eyes to make Heidi feel at home.

Heidi, who is believed to be two-and-a-half-years-old, was abandoned outside an animal shelter in North Carolina in the United States with her sister Naira, and has been living at Leipzig Zoo in Germany since May last year.


Which one will win? Heidi's on the prowl, inspecting all the statuettes put out for her yesterday


The zoo thinks her eye condition could have been caused by her diet before she was abandoned, or because she is overweight, leading to fat deposits behind her eyes.

Heidi, who will be picking Oscar winners on Kimmel's show all week, already has thousands of followers on her Facebook page.

Her popularity is reminiscent of Knut the polar bear, who became a global star in 2007 and even featured on the front of Vanity Fair magazine.

She has also been compared to Paul the octopus, who achieved fame when he correctly predicted the outcome of matches in last year's football World Cup. Paul died from natural causes in October.


Heidi the Cross-Eyed Possum Picks the Winners - Best Actress



source: dailymail

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Apestronaut! Meet Ham, the chimp recruited by the U.S. 50 years ago to help beat Russia in the space race

By BILL MOULAND

The right stuff: Ham is bolted into his capsule on top of the rocket that will blast him over 150 miles into space


He may sound like a comic book character from the age of Dan Dare, but Ham the astro-chimp had a serious purpose.

One of a squadron of 40 chimpanzees specially trained by the U.S. to make a monkey out of the Soviet Union’s attempt to win the space race, Ham made history 50 years ago as the first chimp to be launched into space.

With the Russians inching ever closer to the Holy Grail of sending a human into orbit, the Americans decided to use a three-year-old chimp — in the style of a gas-detecting canary in a mine — to find out whether humans would be able to survive in space.

The Soviet Union had previously sent dogs into space, but the U.S. chose chimps because of their similarities to humans.

Originally from Cameroon in Africa, and once the star attraction at a Florida zoo, Ham was purchased by the United States Air Force to boldly go where only fruit flies, rhesus monkeys and a dog called Laika had gone before.

Laika was a Russian hound who became the first animal to orbit the earth in November 1957 aboard the Sputnik 2 satellite. She survived for seven days before her oxygen ran out.

The difference with Ham — whose name was taken from the initials of the Holloman Aerospace Medical Center in New Mexico, where he was housed — was that he would not only go up into space, but also come down again safely.


Laid back: Ham appeared just as relaxed while preparing for take-off (left) as he did having come back down to earth


He and his fellow chimps were prepared for the flight for two-and-a-half years, and taught to complete simple tasks in response to lights and sounds. Pushing a lever within five seconds of seeing a flashing blue light earned him a banana pellet; failure gave him a mild electric shock to the soles of his feet.

Teams of white-coated scientists put the apes to the test on machines that measured the stresses they could cope with in terms of gravity, velocity and heat. They were even fed the diet of banana capsules that would sustain them in space.

On January 31, 1961, Ham was launched on Mission MR-2 — but almost immediately there was a hitch. The flight path was a degree higher than it should have been, meaning the craft reached an altitude of 157 miles above the earth — higher than the planned target of 115, and oxygen levels began to drop.

For six minutes of the flight, Ham was weightless as the capsule sped across the sky at around 5,000mph.

It splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean 16 minutes and 39 seconds later, and when rescuers reached it, Ham gratefully accepted an apple and half an orange.


Testing time: Ham, wearing his military dog tags, undergoes medical tests


He was unharmed by his adventure, and went to live at the National Zoo in Washington for 17 years. He died at North Carolina Zoo at the age of 25.

The space race didn’t end with his flight, though. Although the Americans could claim they had put a primate into space, the Russians argued that the flight was only sub-orbital — in other words, it hadn’t gone right round the world.

On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin entered the history books when he became the first man in space aboard Vostok 1.

The Americans followed a month later on May 5 when Alan B. Shepard became their first astronaut. By then, Ham already had his feet up.


source: dailymail

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Baby Rothschild giraffe 'Magoma' stands in front of her mother 'Koobi'

Baby Rothschild giraffe 'Magoma' stands in front of her mother 'Koobi' in their enclosure at Cologne's zoo February 22, 2011. The male baby giraffe was born on February 8, 2011, weighs about 80 kilograms and is 1.8 metre tall.




Baby Rothschild giraffe 'Magoma' drinks from her mother 'Koobi' in their enclosure at Cologne's zoo February 22, 2011. The male baby giraffe was born on February 8, 2011.



Rothschild giraffe 'Koobi' sniffs at her baby 'Magoma' in their enclosure at Cologne's zoo February 22, 2011. The male baby giraffe was born on February 8, 2011, weighs about 80 kilograms and is 1.8 metre tall.



Baby Rothschild giraffe 'Magoma' stands next to her mother 'Koobi' in their enclosure at Cologne's zoo February 22, 2011. The male baby giraffe was born on February 8, 2011.



source: daylife
photo: Reuters

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Who's a clucky boy then? Flyaway parrot found in a hen house sounds like a CHICKEN

By JAMES TOZER

Home sweet home: Jack the pet parrot sits comfortably at home in Prenton, Wirral, with astonished owners Jerry and Irene Williams and zoo keeper Andy Woolham


A flyaway parrot has been reunited with his owners after surviving the bitter winter by apparently sheltering in a chicken coop.

Jack the blue-fronted Amazon began to cluck when he was found – thought to be a sign that he had set up home in a heated hen house as he searched for his owners.

The 12-year-old bird vanished for 66 days after he flew out of an open door at Jerry and Irene Williams’s home in Prenton, Wirral, on November 21.


Who's a clever boy: Jack the pet Bluefronted Amazon parrot survived sub-degree temperatures before his miraculous return


After making it through the coldest December for a century, he was then found perched on a fence outside a tropical aviary at Chester Zoo, some 15 miles away, towards the end of January.

Andy Woolham, the zoo’s head parrot keeper, said: ‘I could tell he was ravenously hungry so I enticed him down with a grape.

'No parrot can resist a black grape.’

He said Jack would have been killed by the cold had he not apparently found shelter and food in a poultry shed.

Mr Woolham fed him up and passed him to his mother to care for while they searched for his owner.

Two weeks later a visitor to Mrs Woolham’s home recognised Jack from a ‘missing parrot’ poster she had seen at a local vet’s surgery.

Mr Williams, 58, said he was speechless when the zoo called to say Jack had been found.

‘Ever since the day I watched helplessly as he flew off over the trees at the end of the garden, I thought I’d never see him again,’ he said.

‘It’s wonderful to have him back.’


source: dailymail

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But that’s my auntie's cat: Man's claim on 'stray' No 10 ratcatcher (… and there’s a Facebook campaign to get him back)

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Strikingly similar: Ms Sutcliffe took the picture of Jo the cat on the left before he disappeared, while the right hand picture is of Larry at Downing Street


His appointment to catch rats in the corridors of power made headlines around the world.

But it appears that Number 10's newest addition Larry the cat has already had one loving owner, who was left devastated when he ran away last October.

Margaret Sutcliffe adopted a stray cat two years ago who looks strikingly similar to the Downing Street moggy who moved in last month.

Now her nephew Tim has started a campaign to get him back, and is using Facebook to urge people to contact David Cameron by email.

Mr Sutcliffe opened the webpage on Sunday to campaign for the cat's safe return to his aunt, who lives in Bermondsey, London.

Currently 482 members have joined the group, with several confirming via the page that they had contacted the Prime Minister demanding his return.

Using the group's description, Mr Sutcliffe claims that the cat's ratcatching skills were honed in the flats where Ms Sutcliffe lives.


Distraught: Margaret Sutcliffe has been left 'devastated' by the cat's disappearance and said 'she nearly died' when she saw him at Downing Street


He adds that the cat wouldn't let anyone hold him except his aunt, showing much the same character traits that saw Larry attack an ITV news team.

Mr Sutcliffe continues that he believed the cat ended up at Battersea Cats Home, before it was re-homed to Downing Street.

Posting on the wall of the group, Ms Sutcliffe wrote: 'I'm overwhelmed by all these messages. I just wish they'd see sense and send Jo home.

'I still can't believe that my Jo has ended up being taken into Downing Street. I nearly died when I saw him in the papers.


Campaign: The 'Free Jo the Cat from Downing Street' Facebook page set up by Tim Sutcliffe


'He never let anyone hold him except me, so I'm not surprised he scratched those journalists!

'It sickens me that David Cameron isn't satisfied with cutting all our services and hiking up the VAT... he's taking our pets as well!

'I've just found some of his cat hair on the sofa, so we can prove it's Jo with a DNA test if we have to.'

The animal's rise to fame after he was bought in to catch a rat who appeared on the doorstep during a live broadcast during ITV's News at Ten.

He is the first cat in Downing Street since Humphrey, who was banished when Cherie Blair moved into the home in 1997.


New home: Larry walks across the Cabinet room table where the Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers hold their discussions

source: dailymail

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Just like mum! Cheetah cubs pictured climbing trees at Masai Mara safari camp

By CHRIS LEADBEATER and SARAH GORDON

Keeping up with mum: The baby cheetahs try to follow their mother up the acacia tree


And she has every reason to be watchful. While the cheetah is the fastest mammal on the planet, the initial months of the average cub's existence are fraught with danger. The animal relies on its speed for survival as well as sustenance - and the first few weeks of life, when cubs lack the power that will make them lethal predators once they reach adulthood, are extremely difficult.

Around 90 per cent of cheetahs are killed during this time, their size and diminutive stature leaving them vulnerable to attack from larger African predators, including lions, hyenas and leopards.

Still covered in their baby fluff and balancing on legs that seem too long for their bodies, these young cubs look to be a long way from joining the ranks of adult cheetahs.

But that doesn't stop them wanting to be just like mum.

Spotted outside the Kicheche Camp in Kenya's Masai Mara, the six balls of fledgling fur attempt to follow their mother up an acacia tree as she looks out over the plains.



Long way up: The more timid cubs attempt to join their siblings at the top of the tree


The species is deemed to be endangered. Estimates suggest some 12,500 cheetahs are alive in the wild, spread across 25 African countries. Namibia has the densest population - the southern African state is believed to be home to around 2500 of the cats.

Still, this sibling sextet does not seem to be doing too badly, as these exclusive photos show - even if the feline art of climbing a tree seems to come easier to some than it does to others.


The view's great from up here: Once balanced in among the branches, the young cheetahs look quite at home


While one youngster makes it halfway up the trunk, finds a crook in a branch - and refuses to give up his hard-won spot - another cuts his losses and springs back to the ground.

Meanwhile, what appears to be the smallest club waits contentedly below the tree, showing no concern about trying to keep up with his adventurous siblings, preferring the view from ground level.


Leap of faith: Lower down the tree, the other cubs are struggling to cling on


Another, meanwhile, makes it all the way to the top of the tree, finding the position furthest removed from potential threat - but also risks the wrath of mum by placing himself right under her feet as she continues her lonely sentry role.

Although the cubs look ungainly here, cheetahs are among the most agile creatures on earth, able to reach speeds of up to 75 miles per hour - faster than the UK speed limit, and any other land animal.

In peak condition, they can accelerate from a standing start to 60 miles per hour in three seconds.


That's enough of that: One of the cubs bails out


They are also among the most elusive of the wild big cats - and can be particularly tricky to spot when they are protecting their young. Moreover, they are rarely seen climbing trees.

But lucky guests at the luxury tented Kicheche Camp, on the borders of the Masai Mara Reserve, were treated to this rare display earlier this month, as the cubs took advantage of their mum's rare foray into the branches to have a go at scampering up and down the acacia themselves.


Trunk call: One of the cheetah cubs finds a lofty viewpoint, and digs in


"Cheetahs seldom climb trees, leaving clambering to leopards with their sharper claws," explains Kicheche's Paul Goldstein, who took the images.

"But for youngsters of three months, acacia trees are leisure centres, and these six lost little time in frolicking up and down its trunk.



We preferred it up there, mum: The cubs return to solid ground - but seem to prefer the safety of the branches


"But the mother has a worrying time ahead of her. Bringing up a brood of cheetah cubs is one of the toughest tasks on the plains. And seldom successful."

For more information on Kicheche Mara Camp, see www.kicheche.com.

Safari Consultants (01787 888 590, www.safari-consultants.co.uk) offers seven nights at Kicheche Mara Camp from £2,560 per adult and £1,490 per child (based on two adults and one or two children aged 12 or under sharing a tent - including flights, transfers, all meals, game viewing and park fees.


source : dailymail

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