King of the b-boys: Calgary Zoo's 'breakdancing gorilla' is the latest Internet star

By BRIAN CLARK HOWARD


Bust a move: Zola, a nine-year-old Western lowland gorilla at the Calgary Zoo, shows his fancy footwork


Who needs to be king of the jungle when you can be king of the b-boys? This breakdancing gorilla must have learned his slick moves in New York.

Nine-year-old Zola, one of eight Western lowland gorillas currently living at the Calgary Zoo in Canada, has become the latest Internet video star, thanks to a YouTube clip that shows him stomping and spinning, as if he were breakdancing.

It's a welcome change for Canada from the Internet video clips of mass rioting in Vancouver after the local team was beaten in the Stanley Cup hockey final.


Zola came to Calgary from the Bronx Zoo in New York City about two years ago. He 'loves to play in water'


Zola was moved to the Calgary Zoo two years ago along with three other young gorillas from the Bronx Zoo in New York City.

New York, of course, is where breakdancing - or b-boying, as it is often popularly known - was born.

According to his current keepers, Zola 'loves to play in water and keepers regularly give him the opportunity to do so as part of the enrichment activities they plan and vary on a daily basis'.


Senior zookeeper Garth Irvine said: 'He's way more talented than I am. But he's got all day to practice'


Senior zookeeper Garth Irvine told Metro that when he first received Zola, he was told the young animal liked to splash around.

Mr Irvine said: 'He's way more talented than I am. But he's got all day to practice'.


Zola is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Gorilla Species Survival Plan, to save the species


On Friday, June 17 at about 3:30 pm, the Calgary Zoo posted a short video on YouTube and their Facebook page of Zola playing in a puddle of water.

Within 72 hours, the video had been viewed more than 15,000 times.

Zola is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Gorilla Species Survival Plan.
Both the Western and Eastern species of gorillas are highly endangered, thanks to poaching and habitat loss in their native central Africa.


Hit: Within 72 hours, the video of Zola 'break dancing' had been viewed more than 15,000 times


Zola out: After putting on an amazing show, the gorilla heads out the door into another part of the enclosure


Some gorillas continue to be taken from the wild for the 'pet' trade and some zoos, though most reputable zoos now source their animals from captive breeding.

Gorillas are threatened by the 'bushmeat' trade as well, in which hungry people living in their vicinity hunt them for meat.

Gorillas are the closest living relatives of humans next to two chimpanzee species.
Gorillas share 95-99 per cent of their DNA with human beings, depending on how you measure it.

But one thing remains certain: few human beings can break dance as well as Zola.


Break Dancing Gorilla at the Zoo


source : dailymail

My soaring pedigree chum: The 'flying' dogs competing to keep a frisbee in the air for as long as possible

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Got it! This furry competitor clasps his paws around the disc, leaping over the heads of a woman and girl


They're at the top of their game. Fit and focused, they show the same grit and determination as any other athlete with their eye on the prize.

But these are no ordinary athletes. While it might seem barking to some, these are the furry competitors of the Skyhoundz Disc Dog European Championship in Budapest

Hounds from all over Europe descended on the Hungarian tournament to show off their finely-tuned skills in the sport known as 'disc dog' which is played alongside their owners.


Man's best friend: German competitors Jergen Bartz and his dog Summi compete in the Skyhoundz Disc Dog European Championship in Budapest


In what looks like a complicated move, a border collie jumps over two human competitors to catch the frisbee


Disc dog - of frisbee dog - is described by enthusiasts as a sport celebrating the bond between handler and canine and involves thedog and its handler keeping the frisbee in the air for as long as possible.

It began in the early 1970s, and sees both dog and human working together as team mates to keep the disc in the air for as long as possible.

According to enthusiasts of the sport, it can handlers a while to get the animals to understand the concept of the game as most dog might not instinctively know to turn and chase a disc thrown over its head.

Handlers training hounds for competition start by throwing the disc straight to the dog over short distances.

Once the animal has learned how to catch handlers teach them the concept of running for the disc.


Team work: Krisztina Herberling of Hungary and her dog Roni. Hounds from all over Europe descended on the Hungarian tournament


Taking the lead: Eva Nagy, of Hungary, with her dog Babu and Jergen Bartz with Summi


Flying through the air: A border collie leaps over its owner as it reaches for the frisbee


Further on in the training, the disc should be thrown at increasing heights to encourage the dog to leap higher to catch it.

It's only once the dog has mastered these moves that it will instinctively follow the disc wherever it goes, meaning it has the skills to be capable of competing.
The handler can then enter the dog in a number of categories, which include 'toss and fetch' and freestyle.

In competition categories, dogs chase multiple discs in short routines choreographed to music.

Skyhoundz staged its first ever World Canine Disc Championship in 2000 and is now the largest disco dog competition series in the world, with more than 100 free local events held in the United States and other countries, including the European championships.


Gotcha: Hungary's Zsuzsanna Varga and her dog Alex compete. The sport is described by enthusiasts as a celebration of the bond between human and canine


Acrobatic: The dogs show off their finely-tuned skills in the sport which is played alongside their owners



Eye on the prize: The dogs must master routine manouevres to ensure the grasp the concept of the game


Skyhoundz Worlds 2009 / Christina Weiß & Ronja



source :dailymail

Surf's pup dude! The amazing dogs who take to the waves like ducks to water

By RICHARD HARTLEY-PARKINSON

Bedraggled: Dogs from across the US flock to the beach to take part in the event


Hundreds of people took to a beach in the US over the weekend to cheer on a dog race of a different kind.

Rather than going for 'walkies' these incredible canines enjoy going for 'surfies' as they take part in the sixth annual Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf Dog competition.

More than 60 dogs from across the country took part in the competition where they had 10 minutes to catch two decent waves.


The competition is in its sixth year at the Loews Coronado Bay resort


Taking a tumble: One unfortunate pooch goes for an early bath after falling off his board


They were then judged on their confidence level, length of ride and overall ability to 'grip it and rip it'. The winners then get the ultimate holiday at the resort along with exclusive bragging rights to being the best dog surfer.

There are three categories for small dogs, large dogs and tandem dogs. The most decorated dog was Abbie Girl, an Australian Kelpie, which won the small dog category and came third in the tandems section.

Money from the event goest to donorschoose.org where school teachers in San Diego can post classroom needs and request and receive funding for school supplies from private sponsors.


Despite its size, this young dog manages to keep control of its oversized surfboard


Champion: Happy with his days work, this dog sits on the beach enjoying the sun and all the attention


Three's not a crowd on this surfboard while another dog rests on its owners shoulders before heading into the water to catch more waves


Dogs and their owners competed in the annual Surf Dog Competition at the weekend


Surf dog Ricochet - Loews Coronado Bay Resort Surf competition


Dogs take to the waves for Californian surfing competition



source: dailymail

Tragedy at the Queen's Salute: Horse has to be put down in front of shocked crowd after being run over by a gun carriage in Hyde Park

By REBECCA ENGLISH


Behind the foreground rider the horse can be seen as it falls and entangles its legs in the wheels of the gun carriage


Members of the public looked on in horror today as an army horse died on parade during a freak accident in London’s Hyde Park.

The animal, called Murphy, was taking part in the Royal Gun Salute which takes place on June 2 each year to mark the coronation of the Queen.

Soldiers from the King’s Troop were lining up when the horse tripped while galloping and his legs became entangled in the wheels of a gun wagon, which then dragged him across the grass.


Soldiers rush to disentangle the fallen horse


Realising the animal is bady hurt, a soldier dashes off to find expert help


As he fell, Murphy suffered a ‘complex fracture’ of his leg and after being examined by an on-site vet was immediately put down by injection.

Devastated soldiers erected a green tent around the animal to shield onlookers from the distressing scene which took place shortly before mid-day.

An army spokesman told Mail Online: ‘Unfortunately the horse, called Murphy, became entangled in the gun carriage which was being moved into position and very sadly broke its leg.


A soldier looks up as he realises the severity of the animal's injury


Distraught, a horseman buries his face in his hands


'The vet officer in place immediately gave him pain relief but it was a very complex fracture and the only course of action was to put him down by injection. It was really the only course of action.

‘Everyone involved was naturally distressed. Murphy had been with the regiment for a very long time.

‘It was a tragic accident, one of those split second things that happen and he went down straight away.

‘It is very rare, though, that something like his should happen. No-one can remember anything like this happening before.’


n a shot taken from the watching spectators, soldiers from the King's Troop erect a barrier around the horse as a vet gives it a lethal injection


The salute, to mark the 59th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne, was cancelled as a mark of respect.


Horse injury cancels Queen's 41-gun salute



source: dailymail

Otter-ly adorable! Boy racing sea otter at San Diego Zoo is an internet sensation

By JENNIFER MADISON

New pals: A toddler has become an instant internet sensation after a video of the boy racing a sea otter went viral


You could say they got on swimmingly.

A toddler has become an instant internet sensation after a video of the boy racing a sea otter went viral.

The video of the boy playing chase with a sea otter at the San Diego Zoo has scored over 1million hits in less than one week's time.

The video - the only uploaded by YouTube user mmoyerssd1 - was posted last Sunday and quickly caught the attention of animal fans around the world.

It shows a blond little boy running back and forth alongside the California zoo's sea otter tank, side-by-side with his new pal.



Somersaults in the sun: The otter, feeling quite social, playfully follows his every move even as the boy tries to trick his new mate


The otter, feeling quite social, playfully follows his every move even as the boy tries to trick his new mate.

The marine mammal is seen doing an underwater somersault in a bid to catch up and give chase in the opposite direction.

The boy giggles in response, running back and forth as passers-by laugh in delight.


San Diego Zoo: One of the largest in the world with with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species, it is known for its many friendly characters


The zoo - one of the largest in the world with with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species - has become widely-known for its many friendly characters.

In March, a playful young panda bear named Su Lin grabbed headlines after cameras caught her having a roll in the snow and sticking her tongue out at spectators.

And last year Otis the hippo became a sensation after beaming a smile for visitors' photos as they posed next to his tank.


Playing with an Otter-1


source: dailymail

Smotherly love! A reassuring snuggle for the kitten having a nightmare

By MIKE O'BRIEN

Deep sleep: The kitten starts to move its paws as its imagination takes over


Awww factor 10! People usually say they're either a dog person or a cat person, but this display of motherly love should have universal appeal.

A fluffy young kitten is lying, snuggled as close to her mother as possible, with the parent's front left leg draped over the young 'un's stomach.

The orange and cream striped kitten seems to be deep in sleep with its little mouth wide open.


Kitty nightmare: The arms start flailing and mother is waking


Suddenly the kitten's left paw jerks quickly.

Then the right, then the left, then both.

Clearly having something of a nightmare, the kitten lifts both front legs up in the air.


We'll have none of that: Without opening her eyes, the cat pulls the kitten close


Safe enough for you: The kitten is virtually smothered by its mother


Fighting off a vicious dog, perhaps, or some other big nasty animal.

At that point, mother decides she's had enough.

She lifts her left leg, puts her right leg under the kitten's body and reassuringly pulls her baby as close to her as possible.


Comfy now: The kitten moves her head to a better position


The kitten obviously enjoys her new safer position, eventually moving its head to face her mother's.

The video has had more than 1.3 million views since it was posted on Thursday.
So cute! It's enough turn even the bitterest old man into an emotional ball of fluff!




source: dailymail

Mason the miracle dog: Canine crawls home on TWO broken legs three weeks after being blown away in deadly Alabama tornado

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

On the mend: Mason underwent surgery last week to pin his broken front legs after managing to crawl home on them two weeks after being blown away by a tornado


He probably didn't have to walk 300 miles.

But it was certainly an 'incredible journey' for Mason, the plucky pup who crawled home on two broken legs after a tornado tossed him up and left him for dead.

The scrappy dog had been hiding in a garage in North Smithfield, Alabama, when the storm hit on April 27.

It whipped through the community, destroying houses and uprooting trees, but when it had passed Mason was nowhere to be seen.

His family had all but given up hope when two weeks later they returned home to sift through belongings only to find the dog on their doorstep.

He was in a bad way with what appeared to be broken limbs.


Four legs not so good: Before his op Mason was still having to hunker down to walk


The family rushed him to the Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control shelter where veterinarians gave him once over.

'He's got two broken legs and they're distal radial unal fractures,' Dr Barbara Benhart told Wavy-TV 10.

'They've not been able to be in alignment so neither one of them have healed so he had to crawl on two broken legs to get home,' she added.


Serious: Dr Barbara Benhart with the Birmingham Jefferson County Animal Control shelter said Mason had distal radial unal fractures in both front legs


Mason's owners asked the shelter to look after him while they try and put their own lives back together.

And with the help of donations and the generosity of a nearby veterinary clinic Mason underwent an operation to fix plates into his two front legs last week.

He is now doing well and will go home to his family in six weeks time, a spokesman from the animal shelter said.


Scene: The tornado whipped through the Jefferson County community destroying houses and uprooting trees, left. Mason had bee hiding in his family's garage, right, when the storm hit


Deadly: A wave of deadly tornadoes hit the state on April 27, including a massive F5 one that destroyed Tuscaloosa, which is around an hour's away from North Smithfield


Now the pup has become something of a celebrity and even has his own Facebook page with 1,255 friends and counting.

He also speaks 'woof' according a list of language skills on his profile.

Phil Doster, who works at the shelter, said the amount of animals brought in because of the storm is starting to taper off, but added that Mason's injuries were the most dramatic they'd seen in an animal that had survived so long on its own.


Mascot: Mason has become something of a celebrity dog after attracting more than a thousand friends on his very own Facebook page


Adventure: Mason's tale smacks of the fictional story of the three pets in 1993 remake Homeward Bound: The incredible journey, in which they travel 300 miles to get home


'For an animal to go through what he's gone through and not to be ugly, to be happy for any companionship is remarkable,' Mr Doster told Wavy-TV.

'We're honoured to be part of his recovery,' he added.

The shelter has been inundated with pets, mostly dogs and cats that have been lost in the storms


After tornado, dog crawls back home [CNN: 5-19-2011]


source: dailymail