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 asleepLarry 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...

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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 chicksYou 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...

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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 miniaturesHere 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...

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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,...

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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 parkWhen 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,...

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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...

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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,...

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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 markingsKipling 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...

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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 prizeThis 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...

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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 upJimmy 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...

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

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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 spaceHe 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 —...

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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...

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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...

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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 StreetHis 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...

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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 treeAnd 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...

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