Shame of Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine as footage shows baby bear being tortured to entertain tourists in front of its frantic mother

By Leon WatsonTorn away from his mother, and then shoved screaming into a tiny box which is nailed shut - this is what happened to a bear so it could please tourists in Ukraine.This heartbreaking footage was released by an Austrian animal charity trying to get the two bears reunited.The baby bear Nastasia is seen screaming in terror as she is taken away by a photographer who has been using her to make pictures of tourists in the country co-hosting Euro 2012.These heartbreaking pictures from Lutsk zoo in Ukraine show a bear cub is torn away from his mother and shoved screaming into a tiny box which is then nailed shut have been released to start...

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Splash of colour: Bright bird shows off its incredible plumage as it dives head first into bath

By David Baker..This brightly coloured bird looks to be having a splashing good time as it shows of its eye catching plumage.Readying itself to make a big splash the 'Painted Bunting' bird was snapped in these incredible shots, while washing itself in a bird bath.The multi-coloured U.S. bird tip-toes up to the bath but its not before too long that he dives straight in.Splash of colour: The Painted Bunting bird readies itself for a wash as it perches on the side of a bird bath Splashing good time: The colourful bird ruffles its feathers as it splashes around in the bath Ray of light: The amazing shots were captured by Geoff Powell at Jekyll Island,...

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In search of higher ground: Wildlife tries to keep dry as raging waters in India overwhelm 2,000 villages

By Leon WatsonWild elephants and rhinos are among the animals searching for higher ground after raging torrents overwhelmed more than 2,000 villages in northeast India.The floodwater fed by monsoon rains has swept away homes and leaving hundreds of thousands of people marooned today.At least 27 people were killed, but the toll was expected to rise.Wild animals reach highlands in Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary due to large floods, around 150 miles east of Gauhati, IndiaThe Indian air force was delivering food packages to people huddled on patches of dry land along with cattle and wild elephants.Rescuers were dropped by helicopter into affected areas...

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Sea you later! Crab who picks up unwanted friend in adorable puppy... and leaves him disappointed as he runs for ocean

By Daily Mail Reporter..A playful pup has found its match in an unlikely opponent - a crab.An adorable video, posted on YouTube, captures the moment a two-year-old dachshund makes friend, or foe, with a side-stepping ghost crab on a South Carolina beach.The energetic puppy, named Madeline, is shown bounding around with her new playmate on the sandy beach in Pawley's Island.SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOStare: The pup stopped its chase for the occasional starting contestShe only stops to stare down her rival, who looks like he'd like to take a swipe at her snout.Instead, the white crab darts in all directions in an unsuccessful attempt to escape Madeline's...

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A foreign correspondent's heartfelt tribute to the rescue dog who has followed him around the world

By Toby Harnden In his day, Finn, a hairy mongrel and former Belfast stray, was a daredevil. He would leap spread-eagled into huge waves at the seaside and launch himself off 10-feet-high banks during river walks.Soon after I got him in early 1998, I thought our brief relationship was over when he leapt over a harbour wall at Howth. I ran over, my heart in my mouth, expecting the worst. There he was, perched on a rock having landed cleanly, looking just a little sheepish.A favourite trick of ours was me throwing a tennis ball close to the top of some rapids. Finn would swim towards the ball, grasp it in his jaws and then be swept down the rapids,...

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The only wheels most lambs see is on a shopping trolley! Buster the disabled sheep is saved from the chop and given specially designed wheelchair

•Vets said he should be put down because of his deformed leg but volunteers were determined to find another solution•The £445 device was paid for by donations from the local community•Now Buster can whizz around the field at great speed and can even reverse By Emily AllenA disabled sheep is enjoying a new lease of life after receiving a specially designed wheelchair to help him get around. Buster the sheep is unique amongst the animals at Clough Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Stockport, as instead of four legs he uses just three - plus four wheels. Vets recommended that he be put down as a deformed leg meant he could barely walk but volunteers at...

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Happy happy hippo: This acrobatic fellow proves the notoriously fierce creatures have a playful side

By Tom GoodenoughDespite a fierce reputation as one of the planet's deadliest creatures, it's still difficult to take this hippo seriously.And the huge creature looked as though he was more interested in frolicking around in the mud than starting any trouble.The amazing images of the over-sized beast were taken at the Khwai River in Botswana, on the border of the Moremi Game Reserve.Bottoms up: The hippo shows off its playful side as it puts on an apparent performance for the cameraBut despite the apparent fun of the occasion, the hippo still did its best to try and scare off the photographer who took the pictures. In an apparent bad-tempered...

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Surely it can't be that bad in Number 10: Larry the cat lies down in front of Downing Street traffic

By IAN GARLAND and HANNAH ROBERTS It is often said that pets bear a striking resemblance to their masters. And, just like David Cameron, it seems that Larry the Downing Street cat is partial to a little ‘chillax’ here and there.The five-year-old tabby, a rescue cat from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, was spotted taking time off from his mousing duties yesterday to enjoy the morning sun outside No 10.Cat nap: Larry the Downing Street Cat takes a nap in the road outside No10 this morningUnfortunately his favoured spot – the middle of the road – proved something of a headache for ministers arriving for a Cabinet meeting. In a rude awakening,...

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There's a bear in the air: Tranquilised black bear falls 80ft from Boston tree… but survives the ordeal with little more than a sore head

By Leon Watson..It's happened again - yet another bear has got stuck in a tree.This black bear was seen falling from a canopy above a residential street in Boston, Massachusetts, after being tranquilized by environmental police officers.It plunged 80ft, but survived the ordeal with little more than a sore head.A black bear is seen falling from a tree near Hammond Street in Brookline, Boston after being tranquilized by environmental police officersAccording to The Boston Herald, the 200lb bear was transported out of the residential area in Brookline to an 'undisclosed location'.It is the fourth case of its kind this season, following reports in...

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So where's the deep end, then? The moment unlikely guest Monduli the giraffe took a dip in club swimming pool

By Nick EnochThree-and-a-half-year-old Monduli is a regular sight at the Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate in TanzaniaWhen this unlikely guest took a dip in a club house swimming pool, he had no trouble keeping his head above the water... which is not surprising since he's a giraffe.In fact, three-and-a-half-year-old Monduli is a regular sight at the Kilimanjaro Golf and Wildlife Estate in TanzaniaThe leggy swimmer is the only giraffe at the estate after being rescued as a baby by the anti-poaching unit of the Wildlife Department of the Tanzanian Government.The leggy swimmer was rescued as a baby by the anti-poaching unit of the Wildlife DepartmentWould...

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