Matador cheats death at festival after bull gores his face... piercing through his jaw to his eye

By Lee Moran


A Spanish matador was left fighting for his life after he was gored through his face during a bullfight.

The bull's horn pierced Juan Jose Padilla's jaw and emerged through his left eye socket during the grizzly incident at the northeastern city of Zaragoza's Fiestas Del Pilar event yesterday.

With blood gushing from his head, he was helped out of the ring screaming 'I can't see, I can't see'.

Caught: The bull's horn pierced Juan Jose Padilla's jaw and emerged through his left eye socket during the grizzly incident at the northeastern city of Zaragoza's Fiestas Del Pilar

He then underwent a life-saving five-hour operation to repair severe damage to his eye, bone, muscle and skin.

The bull, called Marques and from the Ana Romero ranch, quickly took its revenge after Padilla slipped and fell in the sand after the placing of the banderillas (barbed sticks).

Doctors had initially thought the goring, of which footage exists on Youtube and was shown on Spanish TV channel Canal+ Toros, would be fatal.

But the bullring's doctor Antonio Val-Carreres told El Pais newspaper that Padilla was in serious condition and was staying at Zaragoza's Miguel Servet hospital.

Before: Padilla moves to place the banderillas into the bull

During: But he slips as he turns around from the ball and falls to the floor

It is not the first time Padilla, a popular matador who has won many fans for his courage and willingness to face the toughest bulls, has been gored.

In 2001 the Jerez native suffered serious injuries to his neck during a fight in Pamplona.

Yesterday's incident happened at one of the final bull festivals of a season that saw the spectacle come under increasing pressure from anti-bullfight activists.

Opponents of the bullfight say it is a barbaric ritual which has no place in a modern society. Supporters say it is a unique art form which epitomises Spanish culture.

During: The bull then takes its revenge on Padilla by goring him in his face

After: With blood gushing from his face, and his assistants distracting the bull, Padilla is helped from the ring

The Catalonia region has banned the bullfight from next year and 20,000 fans packed Barcelona's Monumental bullring on September 25 to see the last corrida to be held there.

Although matadors are regularly hurt, the last two fatalities of senior matadors were those of Francisco Rivera Paquirri in 1984 and Jose Cubero Sanchez 'El Yiyo' in 1985.

Those events triggered national mourning and led to a resurgence of interest in the bullfight. The six bulls fought at each corrida inevitably are killed.

Marques was later put to the sword by the senior matador on the bill, Miguel Abellan, who killed it with tears streaming down his face.


Before: Juan Jose Padilla pictured three months before the goring during July's San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona


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Gorillas in a tryst! Tired Rigo has to lie down after mating with four females in a day following 16 years in a cage on his own

By Martin Robinson


It is a tough, and clearly tiring job, but somebody has got to do it.

Sleepy Rigo has just mated with four females in one day and takes on a very human pose afterwards to grab a well-earned snooze.

After 16 years on his own in a cage the 41-year-old silverback is being allowed to hang around with other primates at Melbourne Zoo in Australia.

Time for bed: Rigo sleeping at Melbourne Zoo after a roll in the hay with four females

Keepers hope he will continue to get to know the females there better and produce offspring as they are all part of the endangered Western Lowland species.

And he has a bevy of beauties to choose from, including Julia, Yakini and Yuska, who despite their serious expressions are all keen to become a mum.

These beautiful photos, taken by Australian photographer Arthur Xanthropoulos, show the very gentle side to the animals, which have been hunted to the edge of extinction.

Gentle: Julia sits with body-language just like a human as she stretches her legs in the midday sun

'He has been introduced to eight other gorillas, four of them females, so he can continue his species. The hope is the females may trigger his instinctive behaviour,' he said.

His mission is to show the human-like qualities of gorillas at Melbourne Zoo as part of his project, which he calls 97 Percent Human.

The zoo has housed gorillas since 1980 and most of them have been rescued from poachers and exotic animal smugglers.

Despite being legally protected the tiny gorilla population are often captured by criminal gangs and sold for huge sums to unscrupulous foreign zoos and private collectors.

Gentle: Silverback Yuska is one of four females at the zoo and originally comes from central Africa


Pondering: A thoughtful Yakini sits in the grass, and it is hoped she will help continue the endangered species by mating with Rigo

'My project, which I call 97 percent human was designed to capture the humanistic side of primates,' Arthur said.

'Many primate species share 97 percent their genetic make up with humans.

'But it wasn't simply about photographing these animals.

'More importantly it was about capturing a side to them that complimented that close genetic make up evident in their behaviour, expression and interactions.

'Ultimately my hope and intent has been to use these unique captures to create an environmental awareness of how endangered these animals are in the wild.

'The zoo environment allows me to do just that as the animals are readily accessible to the viewing public.'



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I'm quackers about you! Gorilla who dotes on a duckling

By Daily Mail Reporter


Nice to meet you: The huge gorilla happily sits next to the escaped duckling at Bronx Zoo, New York

This huge gorilla and tiny duckling became unlikely friends after the bird escaped into the ape's zoo enclosure.

Visitors to the Bronx Zoo in New York were stunned when the baby duck suddenly appeared inches from the massive primate.

Fearing the 90kg western lowland gorilla might react badly to the feathered visitor, onlookers held their breath to see what would happen.

Stick around, little buddy: Visitors to the zoo were stunned when the baby duck suddenly appeared inches from the primate

But rather than attacking or teasing the duckling, the four-and-a-half foot gorilla became fascinated with the bird and inspected its new friend with a nearby stick.

The 15-year-old female ape, called Fran, happily let it waddle about before the duckling was removed by zookeepers.

Although gorillas are frequently portrayed as aggressive, dangerous killers, they are shy, peaceful vegetarians.

Little and large: The curious beast plays with the duckling, using a small stick

The little bird confidently hops into the gorilla enclosure and makes new friends

Photographer Tom Warren, 51, captured the intimate scenes and said: 'I went to the zoo and quickly became aware of a commotion in the gorilla exhibit, as many of the school children were yelling "ducky, ducky!"

'We all watched with amazement as the little duckling wandered around the exhibit, while the gorillas either backed away from it or inspected it with curiosity.

'Then I spotted the duckling on the log next to a seemingly, amused gorilla.


New best friends: The 15-year-old female ape, called Fran, happily let the duckling waddle about before it was removed by zookeepers

'The duckling did not seem the least bit intimidated and for good reason, as Africa's gentle giants eat mostly fruits and plants.

'How fortunate I was to witness a wonderful moment between two unlikely friends.

'I held my breath and was able to fire off a few frames, knowing that the moment that I was witnessing was a very special one.'

Mr Warren, from New York, added: 'I was relieved when I got home and that the scene was in focus despite the fact that the photograph was taken through a thick piece of plexiglass.'


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Revealed: The moggie that kept a Bolivian in Britain (not to mention launching the catfight that split the Cabinet)

By Nick Fagge, Neil Sears and Ryan Kisiel


The cat is finally out of the bag.

This is the feline at the centre of the immigration row which has split the Cabinet.

Her name is Maya, and it was her joint ownership by Bolivian Camilo Soria Avila and his British partner Frank Trew which helped persuade judges that Mr Soria should be allowed to remain in Britain.

Mr Soria, 36, stayed illegally in Britain for more than two years after his student visa expired, coming to the attention of the authorities when he was accused of shoplifting.

But he fought off a Home Office move to deport him, arguing that his joint ownership of Maya with Mr Trew, 49, a librarian and Oxford graduate, showed the seriousness of their relationship.

The couple live together in a rented £220,000 flat in south London – and are intending to enter into a civil partnership in May or June next year.

Mr Soria’s current leave to remain in Britain expires in 2012, but if the couple are in a civil partnership he will have the strongest possible case under immigration rules to stay in Britain.

Maya is one of eight cats now owned by the couple and wears a pink collar bearing her name.

Yesterday, while the couple declined to comment, she could be seen stalking the window sills of their home.

Partners: Bolivian immigrant Mr Soria (left) with British librarian Frank Trew

The judgment on the case is packed with detail about the importance of the cat, including criticism of the Home Office for failing to consider how Maya – which has since had a litter of several kittens – could adapt to a lower standard of living in South America.

It is powerful vindication of Home Secretary Theresa May’s claim to the Conservative Party conference that the then-unnamed illegal immigrant had avoided deportation under the Human Rights Act because he had a pet cat.

Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has since angered his party by deriding her claim of the cat’s importance to the case as ‘laughable’ and ‘complete nonsense’.

Closer analysis of the judgment also shows that Mr Soria’s lawyers argued it would be against the Bolivian’s human rights to relocate to his homeland with Mr Trew because the Briton was so dedicated to his dying father.

Made in Britain: Maya in her younger days, before she found herself at the centre of an immigration row between Ken Clarke and Theresa May

Claws out: Ken Clarke and Theresa May rowed over the interpretation of the cat's role in Mr Soria's case

Mr Soria was a regular presence at gatherings of his lover’s family, immigration judges were assured. The story behind Catgate begins in July 2002, when Mr Soria, from the Bolivian capital La Paz, arrived in London on a student visa with leave to remain in the UK to study for two years and four months.

It was in 2004 that the Bolivian, who works as a building manager, claims to have embarked on his relationship with Mr Trew.

No effort was made to deal with Mr Soria until his arrest for alleged shoplifting.

No charges were brought but he was identified as an illegal over-stayer, and served with a notice to quit Britain. He appealed and in September 2008 won his fight against being kicked out.

Cat's cradle: The south London ground floor flat of Mr Soria and celebrity moggie Maya (black door)

Paws for thought: Maya the politicat is caught in the middle of the Conservative party row

Immigration Judge James Devittie devoted a substantial part of his judgment to the issue of the cat.

While the Home Office ‘considered that the cat could adapt to life abroad with her owners’, the judge suggested that a decrease in Maya’s quality of life in Bolivia was a factor to consider.

He accepted arguments that it would be unreasonable to expect Mr Trew to move to Bolivia, saying the most important factor was ‘the evidence of Mr Trew’s partner and his siblings that their father is in a condition he is not expected to recover from’.

The Home Office appealed against the decision, partly because it placed ‘inappropriate weight of the appellant having to leave behind not only his partner but also their joint cat’.

But it lost again two months later, on grounds unrelated to the cat.

Having kittens: Maya (pictured with her first litter) has struck discord into the heart of the Government

A judge found in favour of Mr Soria because officials had not followed immigration rules correctly when deciding the case, adding: ‘Maya need no longer fear having to adapt to Bolivian mice.’

Mr Trew’s mother, Veronica, who lives in Bradley Stoke, South Gloucestershire, said her son rarely saw his father in the years before his death last year.

‘He came on a couple of visits, but that was it. Frank lives in London, I don’t know where. I’ve met his boyfriend once.

‘My husband had Alzheimer’s and he was in a home in Bristol for five years. Frank and him weren’t that close.

‘Years ago he got me to write a letter on how sick his father was but I honestly can’t remember what it was for or why I had to write it. It was to some tribunal or court.’



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Could this be a chupacabra? Homeowner thinks animal he shot dead is mythical creature

By Daily Mail Reporter


Strange: Is this the mythical chupacabra or just an emaciated dog? Truitt Barnard gunned the beast down in his Simpson County garden after spying it from 130 yards

With its blue hairless body, rounded ears and scarily sharp teeth, this strange creature has been creating quite a stir.

Shot dead by a Mississippi homeowner, it has re-opened the debate as to the very existence of the mythical chupacabra - which is said to hunt livestock by sucking the blood out of animals.

Truitt Barnard, who gunned the beast down in his Simpson County garden after spying it from 130 yards, said: 'Strangest animal I've ever seen. I've been hunting 50 years.

Identical: Truitt Barnard said the beast's 3/4 inch long double canines were the same as those seen by others on the mythical chupacabra

'It had a long face, no hair, red rough hide, his ears were rounded, and had double canines which were 3/4 inch long.'

He added: 'I saw the ones [that are said to be chupacabras] in Texas that look identical to it, the pictures are identical to it with the rounded ears and all of it.'

Dubbed the 'Bigfoot of Latin culture', the chupacabras - which means goat sucker in Spanish - have been reportedly seen since 1995.

Popular legend uses the phrase to describe unknown animals that attack livestock, usually goats, and allegedly drink the animal's blood.

Astonished: Truitt Barnard (pictured) said that it was the strangest animal he had ever seen in 50 years of hunting

Descriptions of them vary from reptilian with spikes or quills on its back to hairless dogs with fangs and claws.

But Jackson vet Troy Majure said Mr Barnard's unusual find was probably not the mythical animal.

He said: 'All the cases I know it would be a type of canine, whether it's a fox coyote dog.'

He revealed it also could be a hybrid of the animals, and said: 'This one looks like it's pretty emaciated as well, when I say emaciated it looks like it could use a good meal.

'Chronic mange will actually cause blue in color and give the appearance that you see with the so called Chupacabra.'


Doubtful: But vet Troy Majure said he thought the animal was not a chupacabra and was more likely to be a dog (pictured)


The first alleged sighting of the beast was in Puerto Rico, but reports have been made from as far north as Maine, U.S., to the south of Chile.

Scientists last year speculated that the creatures could be coyotes infected by parasites after one animal was discovered in July following a fatal attack on livestock.

In 1995, eight sheep were found dead in Puerto Rico with near identical puncture wounds to the chest and completely drained of blood which spawned the legend of the chupacabra in Latin America.

Months later, the creature was allegedly spotted in Canóvanas, where as many as 150 animals had been killed.

Since then there have been attacks allegedly carried about the legendary creature across South and Central America, and even into New Mexico and Texas.


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Leap of faith: The moment polar bear jumped between two melting ice caps

By Daily Mail Reporter


Bouncing beast: A polar bear leaps from one piece of pack ice to the next off the coast of Svalbard, Norway

With ice in the polar regions disappearing at record speed this hunting polar bear is literally taking a leap of faith jumping between two ice caps.

The amazing picture was taken by American wildlife photographer Rebcecca Jackrel during a 22-day sailing expedition to capture the bears in their natural environment. The photographer, from San Francisco, travelled to the islands of Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet in the independent archipelago of Svalbard to stake out her subjects.

There she spent three weeks in a tiny boat watching more than twenty different bears go about their daily routine of hunting from the ocean What emerged is a fascinating insight into the behaviour of these often maligned animals in their natural habitat.

Coming in to land: The bear was bounding about as was out hunting seals

Rebecca explained: 'We never slept for more than 4 hours at a time and had someone posted on watch round the clock.

'We ate when there was no activity, sometimes dinner was at 6pm and sometimes 2am so it was a very different, very intense trip. 'I don't believe many polar bear were able to slip past us undetected.' Despite having to contend with the biting cold and the knowledge that the an attack from a wild animal was ever-present Rebecca revealed the real challenge of her mission was the clothes she was forced to wear.

'By the time you get all the layers of clothing on to keep you from freezing or developing frostbite it's almost impossible to move,' she explained.

'Anyone who ever wore a snowsuit as a child knows how hard it is to put your arms down once you are geared up. 'Finding a tiny shutter button through thick gloves? Impossible.'

However, behind the striking photography of a species perfectly adapted to its frozen environment, Rebecca wishes to raise awareness about the perilous future the bears face.

Just me and my reflection: A bear yawns in preparation for a nap on the sea ice

Slippery business: A bear slides off the snow bank, left, while another, right, surveys the sea for seals while standing on a perilous icy perch

Taking a dip: The bear enjoys a midnight swim in Smeerenburgfjorden in Svalbard

She said: 'The Arctic Ice cap expands and shrinks with the seasons but historically there has been a large portion of the cap that never melts called multi-year ice.

'In the winter when ice is plentiful in the circumpolar region bear are able to hunt the seals they need to survive with relative ease. 'But 2011 showed the second lowest level of Arctic ice in recorded history.

'In the summer the ice retreats from the circumpolar region and the bear need to swim further and further from land in order to find ice to hunt on.

'While polar bear are incredible swimmers - some have been tracked swimming continuously for over 100km - they tend to get into trouble when the sea gets choppy. 'Sea ice tends to settle the sea, blocking the wind from creating large waves and without that protection the wave grow and break over the bears as the swim.

'The more they have to fight to keep their head above water for air the more tired they become and without ice or land to haul out on, eventually they will drown.'


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Not such a Pretty Woman! Hilarious video emerges of dog who runs away at the sight of Julia Roberts

By Daily Mail Reporter


She has been one of the world's most desirable women for the last 20 years.

But the mere sight Julia Roberts in a magazine is enough to send one dog running for its life.

A hilarious video has emerged on YouTube showing four-legged Optimus looking decidedly scared every time the dog's owner holds up a picture of the Oscar-winning actress.

It has caused a stir on the site, attracting more than 400,000 views.

Scroll down for video...

Beautiful: Most people wouldn't mind being shown a picture of Julia Roberts

Get ready: The dog's ears prick up when its is shown the advert of Roberts

Fearful: The dog takes an initial glance at the Hollywood movie star

Hiding: The dog then scuttles off to a safe distance and refuses to come closer while the picture of Julia Roberts is being shown

First the man shows a full-page advert using her face to the camera, before closing it.

Then he calls Optimus over and opens the magazine in front of the dog's eyes.

The dog instantly backs away, keeping its sights locked on Roberts, then edges towards the door, seemingly petrified.

Optimus's owner calls the dog back a second time and repeats the trick.

This time the dog's ears prick up and it runs off instantly, scrambling for the haven of the next room.

Maybe Optimus has heard Roberts is scheduled to play the Wicked Witch in next year's Snow White movie.



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The uplifting tail of the dolphin taught to swim with the world's first artificial fin has been made into a film

By TOM LEONARD

Inspirational: Winter with her prosthetic tail

This is the tale of a tail. A story which is a tribute to human ingenuity and the courage of one very special mammal who, for the past six years, has astonished thousands of visitors to her Florida aquarium.

For Winter the dolphin has a custom-built plastic and silicone prosthetic tail with which she has learned to swim — and with which she has inspired many men, women and children who have lost limbs.

Now, millions have learned about this remarkable story after it was turned into the Hollywood film currently sweeping all before it at the American box office and which opens in the UK next week.


Fishy tale: A worker at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Florida holds the prosthetic tail

Dolphin Tale, which stars Morgan Freeman as the man who crafted the tail for Winter, recreates a real-life saga which began one December morning in 2005, when Florida fishermen found a three-month-old dolphin caught by its tail in a crab trap.

The creature, so badly hurt that her mother had abandoned her, was taken to the nearby Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a rehabilitation centre for injured sealife. But a rope in the trap which had snaked around the young dolphin's tail had cut off the blood supply, with devastating consequences.

Named Winter by aquarium staff, she lost her tail and two vertebrae, but at least survived. Slowly, she found a way to swim, albeit far more slowly and with the side-to-side motion of a shark rather than the typical up-and-down movement used by dolphins.


Maimed: Winter before her artificial tail was fitted

'She has a way of connecting with injured people. Someone missing a limb is obvious, but she seems to be able to pick up on anyone with a physical challenge and somehow connect with them.'

Dolphins learn how to survive from their parents. Having lost her mother so young, Winter cannot be released into the wild. But in her newly-built 80,000-gallon aquarium pool, the resilience of this rather marvellous creature is enriching the lives of those who are lucky enough to meet her.


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Fish kebab! Incredible pictures capture the moment a bird skewers its dinner before swallowing it whole

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Ouch! This fish meets a spikey end when a bird spears it using its beak

This hungry bird has given a new meaning to the term spear fishing after she turned her unlucky prey into a kebab.

The Anhinga bird spotted the fish swimming in a river near Miami, Florida.
She then chased it through the water after setting her sights on it for dinner.



Down the hatch: Photographer Alfred Forns captured the amazing tussle near his home in Miami


Watch the birdie: The hungry Anhinga shows off its catch to the camera

After taking a dip, the beautiful bird expertly skewered the fish with her beak.
But the predator then shook it free before throwing it into the air and catching it in her mouth, swallowing it down in one.


Open wide: The crafty Anhinga can swim like a U-boat with its body submerged below the waterline and only its neck protruding like a periscope to creep up on its unsuspecting prey before spearing its target with a sudden thrust

The crafty Anhinga can swim like a U-boat with its body submerged below the waterline and only its neck protruding like a periscope to creep up on its unsuspecting prey before spearing its target with a sudden thrust.

The incredible scene was caught on camera by Alfred Forns, a 64-year-old dentist also from Florida.


The hunt: This tiny fish had his chips after being speared by a hungry Anhinga bird in a saltwater lake in Florida



Gulp: The predator shook its meal free before throwing it into the air and catching it in her mouth, swallowing it down in one


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The dog with a painful skin condition whose life was saved by PYJAMAS

By Richard Hartley-parkinson


They call me Mr Bojangles: 'Bo' shows off the pyjamas that stop him from scratching and biting himself. He was hours away from being put to sleep when an animal charity in Burton, Staffs, came to his rescue

A dog with a painful skin condition has been saved hours before he was due to be put down - thanks to some new pyjamas.

Mr Bojangles, a five-month-old crossbreed, was due to be put to sleep but was rescued by a charity from Burton, Staffordshire, in the nick of time.

They gave him 'dog pyjamas' to stop him scratching and he is now making a good recovery.

Life savers: The pyjamas prevent Mr Bojangles from scratching himself, giving his skin a chance to heal while he is treated for the painful skin condition Demodex mange

It turned out that Mr Bojangles has Demodex mange - a contagious skin disease caused by mites - which had not been treated, leading to him scratching and biting his own body to relieve the discomfort.

The charity Impawtant Pups Rescue rescued Mr Bojangles from a dog pound in Cambridgeshire.

Charity worker Emma Nicholson said: 'We went down on Sunday to get him straight away and now he is settled in, with his own sets of pyjamas to keep his wounds covered.'

She said that he is an affectionate dog who gets on well with the others at the pound.

It is hoped that Mr Bojangles will find a new home some time in the future but for now the charity is trying to raise money for treatment.


Neglected: Mr Bojangles' raw and painful legs show just how bad the condition had become, with some wounds open to infection


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Down here! Baby tortoise hatches that is 3,000 times smaller than its mother

Galapagos tortoise becomes first time mum at ripe old age of 90

By Mail Foreign Service


This newborn Galapagos tortoise looks tiny as it stands next to its massive mum - who is a staggering 3,000 times bigger.

The hatchling weighed just 87 grams when it was born and will take 30 years to get to the same size as its mother, who is a massive 256 kilos.

Keepers will not know if it is male or female for several years so have given it the unisex name NJ.

The tortoise - who is barely the size of its mum's foot - can expect to live to 150 years.

Hello titch: This newborn Galapagos hatchling weighed just 87 grams when it was born and will take 30 years to get to the same size as its mother

Its mum has become a first-time mother at the age of 90 but will play no role in its up-bringing.

As soon as a Galapagos tortoise is born they are left to fend for themselves.

The youngster is now roaming around its pen and nibbling on fruit and flowers at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in New South Wales, Australia.

Keeper Jennifer Conaghan said: 'A Galapagos tortoise can live between 100 and 150 years so we expect NJ to be around long after we have all gone.

'It loves exploring the outside environment and is especially active on warm sunny days.


Hungry fella: Keepers will not know if the Galapagos addition is male or female for several years so have given it the unisex name NJ

'We are very careful with NJ's diet and it currently gets fed three to four times per week.

'The diet is as varied as possible and includes a variety of edible plant species, lucerne hay, herbs and finely chopped fruit and vegetables.

'Our Galapagos tortoise are responsive to bright coloured, edible flowers and fruit, such as roses, hibiscus, grapes and watermelon. But just like any youngster we ensure the hatchling eats all the veggies first.'

The zoo has been attempting to breed the Galapagos Tortoise for the last ten years.

Jennifer added: 'It involves manipulating and fine-tuning our husbandry techniques to achieve this fantastic result.

'At the end of the day however, regardless of what we do, it is up to the individual animals compatibility.

'There has only been a handful of zoos around the world that have had success with breeding this species and we currently have more eggs in the incubator.

'The incubation process is very temperature dependant and once the female lays the eggs the incubation time may take three to five months.

'NJ weighed in at about 87gms at hatching, which is about 0.00034 per cent of the size of its mum. It therefore has lots of growing to do over the next 30 years or so until it catches up.

'Although the size difference is huge, NJ is an exact replica of the adults.

'It's amazing to think of how much growing it has to do and the challenges any young hatchling would struggle with in the wild.

'Galapagos Tortoise are very responsive to getting a rub under the chin from their keepers and will stand up and extend themselves up for as long as you want to scratch them.

'They do have loads of personality but like everything to do with them - nothing happens quickly so you just have to be a little more patient to see it.'



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Sorry, this is a trunk road! Elephant causes safari park jam by lying down in front of traffic

By Louise Boyle


The recent heatwave all got a bit much for this elephant who decided this was as good a spot as any to take the weight off.

The African elephant, named Five, plonked himself down in front of a queue of traffic at the safari park and stretched out earlier this month.

Bewildered visitors were left with no choice but to wait until nap-time was over and the 11,000lb creature wandered off to find a quieter spot to sleep in the West Midlands.

Ready for my close-up: Five the elephant strikes a pose in front of a queue of traffic at a safari park in the West Midlands

The comic pictures were taken by head keeper Andy Plumb, who rushed to grab his camera when he spotted Five.

He said: 'There was a bit of a traffic jam which lasted a fair amount of time as Five was out for the count and there are rocks along the road to stop drivers leaving the track.

'I think the sun was getting a bit too much for him and he simply had no energy left and just settled down where he was.

'When I arrived there was a queue of traffic forming and it just got bigger - he's a bit of a character so I'm not surprised he decided to crash out on a road.

'When he eventually woke up I don't think he knew what all the fuss was about. There was a big cheer and he just wandered off looking for somewhere else to sleep.

'We all had a good laugh about it for the rest of the day.'


Big laughs: Zoo keeper Andy Plumb managed to capture the comic snaps of Five the elephant at the safari park


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The ultimate in teacher cutbacks? Primary school children told to read to a LABRADOR to improve their public speaking skills

By NADIA GILANI


Story time just got more exciting for school children who have a new reading partner.

Ten-year-old labrador, Hollie has been drafted in to help children at Gawsworth Primary in Macclesfield, Cheshire improve their literacy skills.

The black pooch will visit the school for one afternoon each week to quietly sit and listen to the children read her their favourite books.

Story time: Ten-year-old, Hollie the labrador listening to Ethan Moss, and Erin Jennings, both five and Ellie Moss 10, to help improve their literacy skills

The project is part of a programme launched by the charity Pets As Therapy (PAT), which provide animals for therapeutic visits in schools, hospitals and hospices.

Headteacher Pam Childs said: 'Research has shown that many children find reading aloud a daunting experience but when reading to a PAT dog they often become less stressed and self-conscious.

'Hollie passed her temperament test with flying colours and is extremely friendly. We are really looking forward to the successful results it promises to bring.'


Ellie Moss, 10, reads to Hollie who listens patiently

Pupil Lucy Holland, nine, said: 'I love her, she's absolutely gorgeous. I would like to read to her.'

Hollie's owner, mum-of-two, Frances Gregory, 50, found out about the charity when she was at Crufts and decided it would be the perfect job for mild-tempered Hollie.

Frances - a swimming instructor from Henbury, Macclesfield - was asked to lend Hollie to the school by friend Christine Nichols, literacy coordinator at the school, who is a fellow member of Wilmslow Dog Training Club.

Frances said: 'I just thought this is a perfect job for her. She absolutely loves children. She's been fully trained, and she's very gentle and very loving.'


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