Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

New Post has been published on http://www.bestanimalworld.com/scientists-created-human-animal-hybrid-first-time/

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

Photo by Humid Beings News

Recently scientists have created part human, part big embryos. They contain a ‘low’ amount of human tissue. The human-animal hybrid or ‘chimera’ was created when the human stem cells were injected into pig embryos and implanted in a sow. 

Afterwards these human cells grew and as a result formed part of the tissue of the pig embryos. But they didn’t become piglets because they were removed through 28 days. According to researchers the amount of human tissue was ‘low’. The whole organs needed to be grown for use in transplantation. Anyway, it is considered to be a great step when they will grow human organs in many other animals. The problem is there is a great shortage of organs for transplant, so this technique will allow the organs in the pig to be grown of human cells.

According to the NHS three people each day die in the UK and 12 people in the US. This is because replacement organs cannot be found. The research raises some ethical issues. If too much human DNA is introduced in a pig’s embryo, then a pig may also have a human brain and human face but these concerns haven’t been yet realized.

The director of Human Genetics Alert, Dr David King said that these experiments may seem confusing. According to him in mythology human-animal creatures were considered as monsters. He is afraid that the human organs and tissues which are produced in pigs may contain pig viruses which will affect the human population. Mixing species may have bad results and it can be about the unwisdom of scientists. The creation of human-pig ‘chimera’ was the first scientific report published in the journal Cell.

Another attempt to create a cow-human embryo was rejected as it was costly and very difficult. As it is said, pigs are five times more distant from evolution than mice and rats.  Pig embryos develop faster than human embryos, but the professor at Stalk, called Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, says that it is a great step to grow some transplantable tissues or organs. He says that human cells should be injected into the pig embryo which is grown in the laboratory at that exact time, otherwise there will be accidents because of the different speeds.

It has always been considered impossible to grow large three-dimensional organs out of living creatures. Besides providing a source of transplant organs, chimeras can be used in testing drugs. According to the researchers, the most potential human stem cells are pluripotent stem cells which survive longest into big embryos. These cells formed a human-pig chimera embryo by surviving longer. The scientists say that it is great news to know that the pig embroys didn’t develop human brains. Due to 28 days they understood the whole process very well. They also confirm that their next step is to improve efficiency in the human cells and form a particular organ in pigs. Anyway, much more research is needed for the further developments!

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

New Post has been published on http://www.bestanimalworld.com/scientists-created-human-animal-hybrid-first-time/

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

Photo by Humid Beings News

Recently scientists have created part human, part big embryos. They contain a ‘low’ amount of human tissue. The human-animal hybrid or ‘chimera’ was created when the human stem cells were injected into pig embryos and implanted in a sow. 

Afterwards these human cells grew and as a result formed part of the tissue of the pig embryos. But they didn’t become piglets because they were removed through 28 days. According to researchers the amount of human tissue was ‘low’. The whole organs needed to be grown for use in transplantation. Anyway, it is considered to be a great step when they will grow human organs in many other animals. The problem is there is a great shortage of organs for transplant, so this technique will allow the organs in the pig to be grown of human cells.

According to the NHS three people each day die in the UK and 12 people in the US. This is because replacement organs cannot be found. The research raises some ethical issues. If too much human DNA is introduced in a pig’s embryo, then a pig may also have a human brain and human face but these concerns haven’t been yet realized.

The director of Human Genetics Alert, Dr David King said that these experiments may seem confusing. According to him in mythology human-animal creatures were considered as monsters. He is afraid that the human organs and tissues which are produced in pigs may contain pig viruses which will affect the human population. Mixing species may have bad results and it can be about the unwisdom of scientists. The creation of human-pig ‘chimera’ was the first scientific report published in the journal Cell.

Another attempt to create a cow-human embryo was rejected as it was costly and very difficult. As it is said, pigs are five times more distant from evolution than mice and rats.  Pig embryos develop faster than human embryos, but the professor at Stalk, called Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, says that it is a great step to grow some transplantable tissues or organs. He says that human cells should be injected into the pig embryo which is grown in the laboratory at that exact time, otherwise there will be accidents because of the different speeds.

It has always been considered impossible to grow large three-dimensional organs out of living creatures. Besides providing a source of transplant organs, chimeras can be used in testing drugs. According to the researchers, the most potential human stem cells are pluripotent stem cells which survive longest into big embryos. These cells formed a human-pig chimera embryo by surviving longer. The scientists say that it is great news to know that the pig embroys didn’t develop human brains. Due to 28 days they understood the whole process very well. They also confirm that their next step is to improve efficiency in the human cells and form a particular organ in pigs. Anyway, much more research is needed for the further developments!

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

New Post has been published on http://www.bestanimalworld.com/scientists-created-human-animal-hybrid-first-time/

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

Photo by Humid Beings News

Recently scientists have created part human, part big embryos. They contain a ‘low’ amount of human tissue. The human-animal hybrid or ‘chimera’ was created when the human stem cells were injected into pig embryos and implanted in a sow. 

Afterwards these human cells grew and as a result formed part of the tissue of the pig embryos. But they didn’t become piglets because they were removed through 28 days. According to researchers the amount of human tissue was ‘low’. The whole organs needed to be grown for use in transplantation. Anyway, it is considered to be a great step when they will grow human organs in many other animals. The problem is there is a great shortage of organs for transplant, so this technique will allow the organs in the pig to be grown of human cells.

According to the NHS three people each day die in the UK and 12 people in the US. This is because replacement organs cannot be found. The research raises some ethical issues. If too much human DNA is introduced in a pig’s embryo, then a pig may also have a human brain and human face but these concerns haven’t been yet realized.

The director of Human Genetics Alert, Dr David King said that these experiments may seem confusing. According to him in mythology human-animal creatures were considered as monsters. He is afraid that the human organs and tissues which are produced in pigs may contain pig viruses which will affect the human population. Mixing species may have bad results and it can be about the unwisdom of scientists. The creation of human-pig ‘chimera’ was the first scientific report published in the journal Cell.

Another attempt to create a cow-human embryo was rejected as it was costly and very difficult. As it is said, pigs are five times more distant from evolution than mice and rats.  Pig embryos develop faster than human embryos, but the professor at Stalk, called Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, says that it is a great step to grow some transplantable tissues or organs. He says that human cells should be injected into the pig embryo which is grown in the laboratory at that exact time, otherwise there will be accidents because of the different speeds.

It has always been considered impossible to grow large three-dimensional organs out of living creatures. Besides providing a source of transplant organs, chimeras can be used in testing drugs. According to the researchers, the most potential human stem cells are pluripotent stem cells which survive longest into big embryos. These cells formed a human-pig chimera embryo by surviving longer. The scientists say that it is great news to know that the pig embroys didn’t develop human brains. Due to 28 days they understood the whole process very well. They also confirm that their next step is to improve efficiency in the human cells and form a particular organ in pigs. Anyway, much more research is needed for the further developments!

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

Scientists Created A Human-Animal Hybrid For The First Time

7 Things You Should Know About Lions

Photo by cheetah100

We know that we can see lions every day on our TV, and some of us have been lucky to even meet these amazing animals in their natural habitat.

But every time we see them, whether on TV or live, we are amazed by their beauty. So, below 7 amazing things about these creatures are sorted out.

1. The Lion Species

There are 2 surviving species of lions: African and Asian. Asiatic male lions have a less prominent mane. Both males and females have a belly skin fold that African lions don't. The Lion is the only big cat that lives in social groups and these groups (called prides) consist of 3 to about 30 lions.

2. Physical Description

Their coats are yellow to gold color. Adult male lions have shaggy manes, from reddish to black in color. The color and length of the mane is believed to be determined by various factors like age, hormones and genetics. Young lions have light spotting on their coats that will vanish as they grow up.

3. How Much Do They Grow?

 Male lions grow larger than females, reaching up to 10 feet long (females reach up to 9 feet long), plus a 2-3 foot-long tail. Male lions weigh from 320 to 570 pounds; females weigh 280 to 390 pounds. Lions stand between 3, 5 to 4 feet tall at the shoulder.

4. Reproduction

Females give birth to 1 to 6 cubs after a gestation of about 3, 5 months. Cubs nurse for 6 months, but start eating meat at 3 months. Because of many different dangers, including attacks by male lions taking over prides and starvation during times of food shortage, 60 to 70 % of lion cubs die within their first 2 years of life. Lions can survive in the wild for about 13 to 17 years. In captivity they can live until they are about 25 years old.

5. Eating

Lions eat mostly large animals, like as zebra and wildebeest, weighing from 50 to 1,100 pounds. Sometimes when there is a lack of food, they also catch and eat many kinds of smaller animals from rodents to reptiles. Lions steal food from hyenas, leopards, and other predators, but can also lose their catches to hyena groups. Lions may also attack domestic livestock, especially if they live in near villages.

6. Status

The abundance of African lions has declined rapidly in recent decades, mostly because of the competition for space with human populations. Their future in the wild depends on viable populations in large protected areas, where lions play key economic and ecological roles. Kafue is largest national park and a key refuge for the species.

7. Fun Facts

• The Swahili word for lion is "Simba". This word means king, strong, and aggressive.
• Tigers are lion's closest relatives. Their bodies are so similar that only experts can tell the difference.
• A lion's roar can be heard up to 5 miles away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC_cWuwj3Ho

Video Credit: wildwatchers60

• We all know that lions are named "Kings of the Jungle" and they are definitely interesting creatures. But even though the lions have this name, they really do not live in the jungle.

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Meet Gigi, Parrot With First Ever 3D Printed Titanium Beak

[caption id="attachment_2279" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image: 3ders.org[/caption]

A parrot in Brazil has a new chance for better life thanks to technology-savvy veterinarians who gave her beak an upgrade. Macaw is a colorful, long-tailed parrot with distinctive large beak.

This parrot species is popular as pet, but because of the same reason very endangered in the wild.Sometimes they can be released back into the wild, but if they were born in captivity it is usually better to find them a home in a zoo. But when a blue and yellow macaw called Gigi was saved recently in Brazil there was a problem. She had a badly deformed upper beak and couldn’t eat.

The simple solution would have been to put Gigi down, but a team of vets from Sao Paolo weren’t ready to give up yet.  They decided 3D printing might be the answer. It was a big challenge though. One of the team, Roberto Fecchio, had already made a 3D printed beak to a toucan that had crashed into a window. But toucans mostly feed on fruit and their large bills are very lightly built.

Macaws are an entirely different kettle of parrots. They eat varied foods that include a lot of tough seeds and their beaks are immensely powerful, so they can crunch their way into them. A PLA beak wouldn’t be able to take the abuse a typical macaw diet handed it, so that clearly wasn’t an option for Gigi.

In fact, Fecchio decided early on that – no plastic would do. Even if it didn’t break it would quickly wear out. A metal beak was the way to go but what metal? The only one is titanium which is both light and strong enough and that’s very difficult to machine. The answer was to use 3D printing.

The first stage was to take photos of Gigi’s beak, which were converted into a 3D model using a custom Blender plugin. A model of a normal macaw beak was then added, and the two altered to create the design for a prosthetic that could be fitted over Gigi’s natural beak, which was trimmed to create a secure base.

On 18 February Gigi’s new beak was fitted at Sao Paolo’s Animal Care Centre. Her deformed beak was shaped to match the 3D model, then the titanium one was mounted on it with bone cement and orthopedic screws. Just 48 hours later the macaw was already adapting well to having a fully working beak for the first time in years.

Gigi’s titanium prosthetic is well out of reach of a home 3D print job, but many other animals have been helped with parts any modern printer can make. As well as the toucan bill there’s Fred the tortoise, whose shell was damaged in a forest fire. She’s now living happily in a custom-printed PLA one. Several cat and dog amputees have been fitted with printed pet wheelchairs or prosthetics.

After successful surgery, the research center posted photos and videos of Gigi living her new life with her new beak.

[caption id="attachment_2280" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Image: 3ders.org[/caption]

We wish you all the best, Gigi!

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The Baby Pink Elephant Was Spotted In A Herd In The Kruger National Park In South Africa

[caption id="attachment_2385" align="alignnone" width="915"] Photo: Caters News Agency[/caption]

The baby albino elephant was seen in a herd in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, when it was drinking water with its mother. Albino African elephant is an extremely rare phenomenon; even more so, than among its smaller Asian cousins. This cute baby albino elephant was seen flapping its ears and playing around by the edge of the river.

Albinism occurs when the body fails to produce melanin, the pigment that gives hair, eyes and skin their color. A variety of genetic mutations lead to the condition, which appears occasionally in mammals, birds, and reptiles.

The rare sighting was photographed by Nicki Coertze, a tourist, who visited the Kruger National Park with his family. He called it a “once in a lifetime sighting” stating that he has been visiting the park since childhood and has never seen an albino calf before.

Coertze said that he and his friends were watching the elephants drinking at the Shingwedsi River when they noticed the albino elephant calf. They took pictures of the elephant through the car window. He had to be super still in spite of the excitement of the others in the car.

Some of the pictures show it framed by the legs of another elephant, so you can really see the contrast in color between these animals as the baby elephant shows off its unique pinkness beautifully. Coertze also noted he has been visiting Kruger since his early childhood, and over the last many years has being spending at least 20 to 30 days in the Kruger National Park every year, but he has never seen an albino elephant before.

He hoped that the pink elephant would play in the water a bit and wash all the dirt off, so they could see him in all his pinkness. Unfortunately, due to the lack of pigment in its skin the calf is likely to have skin problems caused by the scorching African sun, and like other cases of albinism in humans and other animals, the baby elephant may suffer blindness later in life because its eyes are sensitive to sunlight.

But for now it seems safe and Coertze seems to think “as far as the rest of the herd was concerned they seemed to just accept him in their stride”.

[caption id="attachment_2386" align="alignnone" width="915"] Photo: Caters News Agency[/caption]

The little albino elephant is set to face many challenges, despite being in a fairly safe environment of the national park, which may help protect this rare elephant from poachers.

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Hospital Lets Animals Visit Their Sick Owners to Make Them Feel Better

[caption id="attachment_1369" align="aligncenter" width="605"] Image source: boredpanda.com[/caption]

Pets are allowed to visit their seriously ill humans in Juravinski hospital, in Ontario, Canada. The hospital adopted a program “Zachary’s Paws for Healing”, created by Donna Jenkins. Mrs. Jenkins was inspired by Zachary, her 25-year-old nephew, who showed an improvement after having his dogs around him while he was battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Mrs. Jenkins told that while Zachary was in the hospital for many weeks and very sick after having a stem cell transplant, he begged to see his dog, Chase. She told that that they have sneaked Chase into ICU to see him and the effect, it had on Zachary, was amazing.  When Zachary realized he was not going to survive his disease, he made her promise to start the organization. They had their official first patient visit September 15, 2015.

The hospital’s Oncology Unit Director noted that the hospital staff agreed to the scheme knowing that people have tried to sneak in pets in the past. If this is something really important to patients, then how can they make it happen safely? The pets are cleaned before they enter the hospital, and they are not in the same room with other patients. The visits last usually one hour and they come once a week. It is a great idea, because it takes their mind off the hospital and becomes sick for a bit.

Donna Jenkins also said that when patients get to see their animal, it can improve vital signs, fight depression and the feeling of isolation. The patient also gets a motive to be well and return home.

Their pet comes and loves them unconditionally, no matter whether they have lost hair or have tubes sticking out everywhere. When they get to see their pet, this can increase vital symptoms, happiness and forget about the experience of isolation.

It is always very touching moment to see how much they miss one another after not seeing each other for a while. Pets love their guardians and love is a very powerful healing force. It opens conversation again up and it is a reminder for the patient to get well and return home. Their pets are relieved to see them, knowing that they have not lost their human companion.

We wish more hospitals would be open within this program.

 

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Japanese Diver Has Been Visiting This Friendly Fish for 25 Years

[caption id="attachment_2273" align="aligncenter" width="1580"] Image by: inhabitat.com[/caption]

This is a story about an incredible friendship between a man and a fish.For 25 years, an Asian sheepshead wrasse living off the coast of Japan ,has been visiting diver Hiroyuki Arakawa whenever he goes to tend an underwater Shinto shrine near Tateyama in Chiba prefecture.

Hiroyuki Arakawa runs a dive shop near Hasama Underwater Park and manages the shrine in the park and consistently reports his meetings with the friendly wrasse, named Yoriko, on his Facebook page, Inhabitat reported. As he does his work, the large Asian sheepshead wrasse fish swims right by his side keeping him company in the dark depths of the bay.

Mr. Arakawa sometimes greets Yoriko with a kiss when they meet.  Yoriko also turns up from time to time when he brings divers to see the shrine. The Asian sheepshead wrasse is native to the Western Pacific Ocean. It is a pinkish-grey fish with humps on its forehead and chin. The greatest weight recorded for this species of wrasse is about 15kg and reportedly can reach about 1m in length. It is known to live in rocky reef areas, according to Asia One.

Although it was not easy, Mr. Arakawa will take off his diving glasses and held his breath for a while to kiss Yoriko. Even though fish have very blank faces, you can tell Yoriko is different to Mr. Arakawa because it doesn’t swim away as most fish would when a human approaches. Although Arakawa came with another group of divers Yoriko would appear.

The best moment of their relationship can be seen in this video where these cute friends share a kiss upon greeting. Although fish are not usually considered to have feelings, this is actually not true. A recent study has found that fish are smarter and more social than previously believed.

 

We only need to take one look at this long term friendship of Arakawa and Yoriko for proof.

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They Call It the “Killer Bug” and If You See One Get Help Immediately

Photo by goingslo

The triatomine bug can cause the spread of a highly hazardous disease called American Trypanosomiasis – also known as Chagas Disease. Chagas disease is also known as “the silent killer” because people don't know they have it until the disease has progressed to later stages. It is deadly to humans and pets.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that the triatomine bug, also known as the “kissing bug”, has made its way to Georgia. The CDC says there have been sightings of the bug in some Southern States. It's unclear when, where or how many of the bugs have been reported. The kissing bug feeds on the blood of mammals, including people, and may carry a parasite that causes Chagas disease – which the CDC noted can be fatal if left untreated.

Patricia Dorn, an expert on kissing bugs at Loyola University, said that the chances of encountering this bug are much higher for the people living in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America or South America. But don't think you're not in danger if you don't live in the bottom two-thirds of the United States, because climate changes will make these pesky bugs drift further north in the future.

Among the 12 species of kissing bugs that live in the mainland United States, most of them like to reside in wooded areas far from human habitations. If these pesky bugs could choose their ideal habitat, they would likely choose to live in close to their hosts, which include a variety of wild animals like rodents, possums and raccoons.

Triatominae or kissing bugs feed on blood. For dogs that is the area around their mouths and eyes. The disease is contracted when the bug bites and injects its feces into the wound. People who are infected with the Chagas disease can live for many years without showing any symptoms of having it, according to the World Health Organization.

WHO said that up to 30% of infected people suffer from cardiac disorders and up to 10% suffer from digestive (usually enlargement of the oesophagus or colon), neurological or mixed alterations. In later stages the Chagas disease can cause sudden death or heart failure caused by progressive destruction of the heart muscle. She added that it is spread through their feces, so, when these insects bite you they rub their abdomen on you and it can spread through their feces through the wound.

Keeping these bugs far from your home requires making your home inhospitable and uninviting. People should double check around their homes for cracks and holes because this bug usually hides under beds and mattresses.

Photo by Pasha Kirillov

You can try to shut off strong exterior lights or switch to yellow bulbs instead. You can also hire an experienced professional to help you reduce their population. 

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True Love Story: Male Stork Flies To The Same Rooftop Every Year For 14 Years To Be Reunited With Its...

Photo by Stuart Pinfold

This male stork flies to the same rooftop in Croatia for 14 years to be reunited with its crippled partner who cannot migrate after it was shot by a hunter. The male has melted hearts in Croatia by flying to the same rooftop every year. The faithful bird, named Klepetan, has returned once again to the village of Slavonski Brod in east Croatia after about 5,000 mile migration. 

Klepetan spends his winters alone in South Africa because his disabled partner Malena can't fly properly after being shot by a hunter in 1993.  Every year the pair brings up chicks and Klepetan teaches them how to fly to be ready for the trip to south in summer.  Klepetan spends his winters alone in South Africa and makes this long journey home every year, for the 14th year in a row now. 

His love, Malena had been found lying by the side of the road by school teacher Stjepan Vokic, who fixed Malena's wing and kept her in his home for a few years before helping this bird to build a nest on his roof. After placing Malena there, Klepetan spotted her 14 years ago. And now every year these lovers are reunited in the spring. Stjepan Vokic, whose roof the couple nest on, has taken care of her since she was first injured by hunters and says that Malena, like Klepetan, is now a part of the family.

During the winter, Stjepan keeps Malena inside the house, and then lets her go to the roof each spring where she patiently waits for Klepetan. Her partner keeps a very strict timetable, usually arriving back at the same time on the same day in March to be welcomed by local people.  But this year he was running 6 days late, causing panic among local people and fans of the stork couple. These birds are so popular that there is even a live feed on the main square in the capital Zagreb showing this cute love birds.

There was a huge excitement when stork-watchers saw Klepetan flying over the nest, and then landing.  But the new arrival turned out to be another stork that was attempting to woo her. Malena quickly attacked him and drove him off and continued to wait for her only love, Klepetan. She can make very short flights, but Malena's wing has not healed well enough for her to make the trip to Africa, or even to properly feed herself.

Photo by Adam Zdebel

The oldest recorded living stork was 39. Locals are hopeful the couple's long relationship will continue for years to come.

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25 Strange Dog Facts You Probably Never Knew About Your Pet

Photo by foshydog

Dogs are considered to be the most loved companions in the world. But do you know that dogs are complex creatures? Have you ever wondered why they do some of the things they do? Your dog seems smart, but how sharp is his memory? Why your dog can always outrun you? Is it your imagination, or does it seems like your dog is always eating? Here are some interesting dog facts bound to keep you guessing. So, let’s go on reading!

• Japanese Chins and Pekingese were so important in the ancient Far East, that they even had their own servants who carried them around trade routes as gifts for kings and emperors.
• During the middle Ages, Mastiffs and Great Danes were often suited with armor and spiked collars to defend their caravans.
• Basset Hounds can't swim.
• The shape of a dog’s face can help predict how long it will live. Dogs with sharp, pointed snouts that look more like wolves typically live longer.
• Average body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees.
• Puppies are often rejected by their mother if they are born by cesarean and cleaned up before their mother.
• A puppy is born blind, deaf, and toothless.
• Small amounts of grapes and raisins can cause renal failure in dogs.
• All dogs can be traced back 40 million years ago to weasel-like creature called the Miacis which lived in trees and dens.
• Some dogs can smell dead bodies under water where termites are hiding, and natural gas buried under 40 feet of dirt.
• Dogs can detect cancer that is too small to be detected by a doctor and can find lung cancer by sniffing a person’s breath.
• The Chihuahua was named after the state in Mexico where they were discovered.
• If never spayed or neutered, a male and a female dog and their babies could produce over 65,000 dogs in about 5 years!
• Apple and pear seeds contain arsenic, which can cause serious health problems, or even be deadly to dogs.
• Chocolate contains the obromine, a substance which can kill dogs or at the very least make them very ill.
• A dog’s shoulder blades are unattached to the rest of the skeleton, allowing it greater flexibility of movement.
• Dogs can be trained to detect epileptic seizures.
• The first Hollywood’s dog star, Rin Tin Tin, really signed his movie contracts (all 22 of them), with a paw print.
• Their hearts beat up to 120 times per minute or about 50% faster than the average human heartbeat.
• The longer its nose, the more effective a dog’s internal cooling system.
• The phrase “It’s raining cats and dogs” originated in 17-century England. During rainstorms, many homeless cats and dogs would unfortunately drown and float down the streets, giving the appearance that it had actually rained dogs and cats.
• They have a wet nose to collect more of the small droplets of smelling chemicals in the air.
• Boxers got this name because of their manner of playing with their front paws.
• 3 dogs survived the sinking of the Titanic – a Pekingese, a Newfoundland, and a Pomeranian.
• About 33% of dog owners talk to their dogs on the phone and leave answering machine messages for their pets while away.

Dogs are really incredible animals and these facts may surprise you. But whatever information we get, we are sure that they are our trusted friends and as it is said, “They are our link to paradise”.

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Mobula Rays Leap From The Water In The Gulf Of California

[caption id="attachment_1301" align="aligncenter" width="624"] Image :Octavio Aburto / iLCP)[/caption]

The BBC captured footage of a large gathering, or aggregation of flying rays in the Gulf of California. Because of their jumping out of the water in large packs of hundreds of rays at a time, flying rays (Mobula munkiana) have been a mystery for decades.

Mobula rays are collectively referred to Flying Rays or Flying Mobula, because of their tendency to jump out of the water, sometimes more than two meters while swimming. Mobula rays can be confused with the more popular members of the same subfamily - the Manta Rays.

Oceanographer Joshua Stewart told the BBC that sitting in a boat in the midst of these aggregations is similar to sitting in a pot of popcorn as the kernels explode into the air. Everywhere you look mobulas are jumping out of the water and landing with a loud smack.

Bob Rubin, from the Santa Rosa Junior College in California that these rays often travel in huge schools of thousands of animals and also jump from the water and twist in the air. Bob also noted that he worked in the Gulf of California for many years where there are abundant mobula schools, but he has never seen a mass stranding.

Rubin added that these animals seem to have blood on their “wings” which may have come from slapping something like boats, rocks, sand or maybe even each other. Unless the stomach contents and condition of the gills were examined, it would be impossible to determine a cause of death. However, he said that maybe large underwater noises or electrical signals caused some state of disorientation.

These rays have long, pointed, pectoral fins which they stroke up and down, like wings, for propulsion. On either side of the head and in front of their prominent eyes are two fleshy lobes that project forward to funnel food into their mouth. The tail is long, flattened and spineless and the dorsal fin is small. The upper surface of their body is generally dark purplish to grey, while the underside is white, becoming blue towards the “wings”.

Back in the Gulf of California, Joshua Stewart told that he is worried about the future of the flying rays. While the IUCN only lists the mobula rays as “near threatened” (two steps away from endangered), Stewart worries that the flying ray populations could vanish over time.

Photo by Daniel, Daniel Kwok

He also noted that huge numbers of these animals are moving through relatively constricted geographic areas. Just a few large catches could have dramatic negative impacts on their population.

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A Horrifying Video Showing A Python Devouring A Helpless Puppy Alive

[caption id="attachment_1295" align="aligncenter" width="691"] Image credit: worldofbuzz.com[/caption]

Apparently, this sick man is willing to sacrifice other people’s pets to feed his own pet python. If you are an animal lover, I would caution you before you proceed. I didn’t even watch the video. I just posted this to spread news in order to somehow help to find this psychopath. Anyone who owns a pet, please do the same! We must do something!

The video is just very disturbing even to a normal person, and I am also highly disturbed by the fact that this person even took a video and uploaded it publicly. The footage was uploaded to Weibo, a Chinese social media site.

In the background of this video a man can be heard saying “the python surely won't eat it”. Afterwards, a girl is heard crying in horror.

Many people have expressed disgust and called such show cruel and inhuman. According to the organization, this person has been going around to adopt dogs, only to feed them to his pet snake.

“This man is going around adopting puppies to feed a snake! Please share this to teach this idiot a lesson!" Every dog up for adoption should be someone’s pet, and you should be allowed to adopt it because they wish that this pet would have a happy life, so how could he do this?

Of course, some pet owners would insist that the snake is just as much a pet and animal as the puppy. They defended them saying that it was just the food chain in action. One person said, “Some people think that his is cruel. However, have you eaten meat? If you eat it, it's not cruel but when a python eats it, it is. After all, this is just the law of the food chain in action.”

“I think that the man could have given other food to the snake,” one user said.

The other user said, “A golden python coasts a couple of million Yuan. This person must be a tasteless tycoon. Ordinary people couldn't be able to afford the pet, this person is indeed sick.”

I definitely agree with the last one, “The couple in this video should be given a death sentence. Do they still have humanity?”

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This Woman Reunites With Gorilla Family After 12 Years Apart. Their Reunion Will Touch Your Heart!

[caption id="attachment_1291" align="alignnone" width="700"] Image: beneathblindfold.com[/caption]

In the African jungle conservationist Tansy Aspinall along with her father Damian Aspinall, searches for Bimms and Djalta, two western lowland gorillas born at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent. In 2003 these two animals were released into the Gabon's forests, West Africa as part of a conservation programme to re-introduce gorillas back to the wild.

For more than 15 years, conservationist Damian Aspinall has been working to reintroduce captive gorillas to the wild. Over the years Damian revisited Bimms and Djalta, but his daughter Tansy hadn’t seen them in 12 years. Will they find Bimms and Djalta? How will these gorillas react to his daughter, Tansy, whom they haven’t seen for 12 years?

So, in 2014, Damian brought her daughter into the wild to try and find Djalta and Bimms. He wasn’t sure if they would recognize his daughter, the once little girl who grew up with her gorilla friends.

Damian said in the video that he was considering if it was safe for Tansy to come on land and see the gorillas. After all, gorillas are the largest living primates and are known for tendency to attack when provoked with their incredible strength.

But after spending a few peaceful moments with the gorillas, Damian felt it was okay for his daughter Tansy to reunite with them. He ushers her over to the thick forest where Djalta and Bimms live. Tansy slowly makes her way over, a bit hesitant at first, but after just a few minutes something absolutely incredible begins to happen.

Djalta and Bimms themselves were very healthy, but then Damian noticed one of the gorillas staring at Tansy. What happened next - wow. The gorilla, after a few seconds, recognized Tansy and they embraced her like never before. When the second gorilla came they accepted her right away, and this story just shows how strong bond animals can develop with the people who look after them. What an amazing story!

[caption id="attachment_2358" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Image: laughandshare.com[/caption]

It is just incredible that they recognized each other after all those years. Share this amazing story with your friends and family!

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Endangered Rhinos with Cameras Hidden In Their Horns Could Stop Poaching

[caption id="attachment_1286" align="aligncenter" width="530"] Image credit: newatlas.com[/caption]

Conservationists in the United Kingdom have created a system that uses GPS tags, heart rate monitors, and embedded cameras to deter poachers from killing rhinos. Rhino poaching has risen sharply in recent years, particularly in South Africa, home to the largest population of rhinoceros in the world.

About 1,200 were killed in South Africa last year, according to government figures, equating to one animal every eight hours. Criminal syndicates target its horn, which commands high prices in Asia for its perceived health benefits.

Some areas have de-horned rhinos to stop poachers, but that requires constant animal monitoring and it hasn't always proven effective. More recently, conservationists have begun using microchip implants to improve their chances of survival and other threatened populations.

RAPID (The Real-time Anti-Poaching Intelligence Device) was created by Protect, a British nonprofit focused on conservation and animal welfare. This monitoring device is already being tested in South Africa, where rhino populations are devastated from poachers.

The system, which was created by biologist Paul O'Donoghue, relies on heart rate monitors embedded under the rhino's skin.  If the rhino's heart rate suddenly elevates or plummets, the device will send an alert to operators at a control center, who can then remotely activate a small camera implanted into its horn.

A leather collar around the rhino's neck also tracks its GPS coordinates, allowing conservationists to quickly find anti-poaching forces if the live camera footage suggests that the rhino is in danger. The hope is that once the system is widely deployed, poachers will have to avoid any rhino with the distinctive GPS collar.

Steve Piper, a director at Protect, says that it acts as a deterrent so that poachers realize that any animal that has one of these collars or units attached to it are basically off the list. He also noted that there's no point in attacking it, there’s no point in killing an animal, because you're never going to get away with the valuable parts of the rhino.

The wireless systems have been upgraded to minimize battery drain, so new power supplies need only be placed a few times over the course of a single animal’s life. The team will equip more animals with these devices, as well as exploring ways to harvest energy from the rhino's movement to remove the need for batteries. The embedded camera also poses no risk to its health, and can be implanted painlessly.

The team hopes that this system will let them gather data on animal behavior that could prove to be useful for academic purposes and also boosting tourism activities.

Save

Big Fat "Dog" Wedding In Uttar Pradesh, 5000 Attend Strange Ceremony

[caption id="attachment_1276" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Image credit: theyouthmagazine.com[/caption]

One in its own kind, a big fat dog wedding held at Pawara Village in Kaushambi, UP, on 11th March 2016, with ceremonies and tearful farewell, according to an article from Times of India.

This cute dog couple was married in proper Hindu rituals in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh and the wedding was attended by even 5000 of people! Anything can happen in India, and one of the many proofs that exist for that statement is this cute yet slightly bizarre ceremony. The style of an Indian wedding ceremony is always lavish and cuts across the economical sections of the country. Now, apparently Indians do not even discriminate against dogs and even when it comes to marrying them off, Indians are very generous!

Marriage is the biggest institution worldwide, but it doesn't apply only to humans, and it was evident when over 5000 people in India attended this “big fat” dog wedding. The dog bride, Shaguniya wore yellow clothes for the occasion whereas the dog groom, Shagun wore pink color clothes.

This wedding was celebrated with all Hindu rituals with Band, Baaja&Baraat. The guests were dancing to the music of band with full enthusiasm. The dog groom Shagun belongs to BasantTripathi, while dog bride Shaguniya hails from Jung Bahadur’s family. Even the reception took place with traditional Indian recipes for guests. Jung Bahadur gave a tearful farewell to Shaguniya who left with groom in a car as per report from Times of India.

The bride’s owner, Jung Bahadur, was quite emotional during the ceremony, and sad that although she is his dog, Shaguniya is like a daughter to him.

This is not the first time that a dog wedding is being celebrated with so much happiness in India. We keep on seeing reports about dog weddings from time-to-time. This video posted by the news agency ANI, shows some amusing ceremony, where thousands of people are seen dancing in happiness. 

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Mysterious Unexplained Noise From The Bottom Of The Pacific Ocean

Photo by ™ Pacheco

When the Bloop sound was first reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the media began to speculate that it was caused by a giant deep sea creature.

The Bloop does have similarities to those vocalized by living organisms, but scientists say no known creature on Earth can make this sound, not even a blue whale is large enough to do so. Scientists said that the sound waves are almost like voice prints.

It appeared in the South Pacific. It's about as remote as you can get in any ocean with no islands or anything anywhere near it. The sea is deep there, very deep, averaging about 4,300 meters.

Christopher Fox of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Acoustic Monitoring Project at Portland, Oregon looked at the characteristics of the sound and said that there's a fin whale, there's a  blue whale, there's a humpback whale, there's a boat, and here comes and earthquake. But until today the Bloop is a mystery. Is it a creature of the deep? No! Bloop sounds have appeared since 1997, although other loud and unexplained noise has been recorded in other places under different circumstances.

It appears to be seasonal, usually reaching peaks in spring and fall, but it's unclear whether this is due to changes in the source or seasonal changes in the propagation environment. According to scientists, some of the sounds can have straightforward origins and they can be traced to weather and ocean currents.

Scientists think that the sound most likely comes from some animal, because it is a rapid variation in frequency similar to sounds known to be made by marine creatures. A giant squid could do that, but then again we know so little about these creatures, and noted that they don't have a clue whether they make noise or not.

Cryptozoologists love the Bloop, because to them it is evidence that points to the existence of a huge unknown creature. Every web page about the Bloop sound (and there are a lot of them) says that even though it matches the sound of a living creature, there is no known animal that could have produced the sound. According to scientists who have studied the phenomenon, if it is an animal it would have to be gigantic — much larger than even a Blue whale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBN56wL35IQ

Video: AS N

So what do you think? Who is the creator of this mysterious sound?  

 

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Endangered Rhino Baby Born In Toronto Zoo

Photo by Martin Pettitt

I usually don’t like zoos, but this story melted my heart. The Toronto Zoo announced that an 11-year-old female Indian rhinoceros, Asha, gave birth to a male calf, a few weeks ago.

The recent birth is very important for the species conservation, as Indian rhinoceros are currently listed as “vulnerable” on the International IUCN (Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species) and there are only about 2,000 left in the wild.

The zoo says that the rhino went through a pregnancy of about 16 months. Inmid-January was moved from public viewing into a maternity area. It says her baby calf appears to be healthy and eating well, but its first month will be critical.

This is the first surviving baby for the mother rhino. Asha gave birth to a stillborn calf in 2011, and then had trouble maintaining pregnancy. In order to help the mother rhino to maintain this latest pregnancy, the zoo says it gave oral progesterone, a steroid hormone, and it worked.

This collaborative research resulted in the birth of this healthy cute calf and will strengthen conservation breeding efforts.

Maria Franke, Curator of Mammals, Toronto Zoo, said that Asha is on a breeding loan from L.A. Zoo, and it is these partnerships will bring us one step closer to overall conservation efforts to save this incredible species. She also thanked to the amazing team at the Toronto Zoo for their hard work and dedication that has resulted in this special birth.

According to CBC News, this is the fourth birth of an Indian Rhinoceros in this zoo, and the first one in more than 16 years. The last Indian Rhinoceros that was born at this zoo was a female rhino named Sanya (born August 14, 1999), who is now placed at The Wilds in Ohio, USA. Hopefully there will be plenty more in the future.

 In this video you can see this cute baby rhino. Look at the way his little ears tuck back when he’s getting ready to sleep! How cute is that? I can just say good luck to this baby rhino, and have a happy life in the wild.

Save

Big Fat "Dog" Wedding In Uttar Pradesh, 5000 Attend Strange Ceremony

[caption id="attachment_1276" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Image credit: theyouthmagazine.com[/caption]

One in its own kind, a big fat dog wedding held at Pawara Village in Kaushambi, UP, on 11th March 2016, with ceremonies and tearful farewell, according to an article from Times of India.

This cute dog couple was married in proper Hindu rituals in Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh and the wedding was attended by even 5000 of people! Anything can happen in India, and one of the many proofs that exist for that statement is this cute yet slightly bizarre ceremony. The style of an Indian wedding ceremony is always lavish and cuts across the economical sections of the country. Now, apparently Indians do not even discriminate against dogs and even when it comes to marrying them off, Indians are very generous!

Marriage is the biggest institution worldwide, but it doesn't apply only to humans, and it was evident when over 5000 people in India attended this “big fat” dog wedding. The dog bride, Shaguniya wore yellow clothes for the occasion whereas the dog groom, Shagun wore pink color clothes.

This wedding was celebrated with all Hindu rituals with Band, Baaja&Baraat. The guests were dancing to the music of band with full enthusiasm. The dog groom Shagun belongs to BasantTripathi, while dog bride Shaguniya hails from Jung Bahadur’s family. Even the reception took place with traditional Indian recipes for guests. Jung Bahadur gave a tearful farewell to Shaguniya who left with groom in a car as per report from Times of India.

The bride’s owner, Jung Bahadur, was quite emotional during the ceremony, and sad that although she is his dog, Shaguniya is like a daughter to him.

This is not the first time that a dog wedding is being celebrated with so much happiness in India. We keep on seeing reports about dog weddings from time-to-time. This video posted by the news agency ANI, shows some amusing ceremony, where thousands of people are seen dancing in happiness. 

Save

Save

Mysterious Unexplained Noise From The Bottom Of The Pacific Ocean

Photo by ™ Pacheco

When the Bloop sound was first reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the media began to speculate that it was caused by a giant deep sea creature.

The Bloop does have similarities to those vocalized by living organisms, but scientists say no known creature on Earth can make this sound, not even a blue whale is large enough to do so. Scientists said that the sound waves are almost like voice prints.

It appeared in the South Pacific. It's about as remote as you can get in any ocean with no islands or anything anywhere near it. The sea is deep there, very deep, averaging about 4,300 meters.

Christopher Fox of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Acoustic Monitoring Project at Portland, Oregon looked at the characteristics of the sound and said that there's a fin whale, there's a  blue whale, there's a humpback whale, there's a boat, and here comes and earthquake. But until today the Bloop is a mystery. Is it a creature of the deep? No! Bloop sounds have appeared since 1997, although other loud and unexplained noise has been recorded in other places under different circumstances.

It appears to be seasonal, usually reaching peaks in spring and fall, but it's unclear whether this is due to changes in the source or seasonal changes in the propagation environment. According to scientists, some of the sounds can have straightforward origins and they can be traced to weather and ocean currents.

Scientists think that the sound most likely comes from some animal, because it is a rapid variation in frequency similar to sounds known to be made by marine creatures. A giant squid could do that, but then again we know so little about these creatures, and noted that they don't have a clue whether they make noise or not.

Cryptozoologists love the Bloop, because to them it is evidence that points to the existence of a huge unknown creature. Every web page about the Bloop sound (and there are a lot of them) says that even though it matches the sound of a living creature, there is no known animal that could have produced the sound. According to scientists who have studied the phenomenon, if it is an animal it would have to be gigantic — much larger than even a Blue whale.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBN56wL35IQ

Video: AS N

So what do you think? Who is the creator of this mysterious sound?  

 

Save

A Horrifying Video Showing A Python Devouring A Helpless Puppy Alive

[caption id="attachment_1295" align="aligncenter" width="691"] Image credit: worldofbuzz.com[/caption]

Apparently, this sick man is willing to sacrifice other people’s pets to feed his own pet python. If you are an animal lover, I would caution you before you proceed. I didn’t even watch the video. I just posted this to spread news in order to somehow help to find this psychopath. Anyone who owns a pet, please do the same! We must do something!

The video is just very disturbing even to a normal person, and I am also highly disturbed by the fact that this person even took a video and uploaded it publicly. The footage was uploaded to Weibo, a Chinese social media site.

In the background of this video a man can be heard saying “the python surely won't eat it”. Afterwards, a girl is heard crying in horror.

Many people have expressed disgust and called such show cruel and inhuman. According to the organization, this person has been going around to adopt dogs, only to feed them to his pet snake.

“This man is going around adopting puppies to feed a snake! Please share this to teach this idiot a lesson!" Every dog up for adoption should be someone’s pet, and you should be allowed to adopt it because they wish that this pet would have a happy life, so how could he do this?

Of course, some pet owners would insist that the snake is just as much a pet and animal as the puppy. They defended them saying that it was just the food chain in action. One person said, “Some people think that his is cruel. However, have you eaten meat? If you eat it, it's not cruel but when a python eats it, it is. After all, this is just the law of the food chain in action.”

“I think that the man could have given other food to the snake,” one user said.

The other user said, “A golden python coasts a couple of million Yuan. This person must be a tasteless tycoon. Ordinary people couldn't be able to afford the pet, this person is indeed sick.”

I definitely agree with the last one, “The couple in this video should be given a death sentence. Do they still have humanity?”

Save

Endangered Rhinos with Cameras Hidden In Their Horns Could Stop Poaching

[caption id="attachment_1286" align="aligncenter" width="530"] Image credit: newatlas.com[/caption]

Conservationists in the United Kingdom have created a system that uses GPS tags, heart rate monitors, and embedded cameras to deter poachers from killing rhinos. Rhino poaching has risen sharply in recent years, particularly in South Africa, home to the largest population of rhinoceros in the world.

About 1,200 were killed in South Africa last year, according to government figures, equating to one animal every eight hours. Criminal syndicates target its horn, which commands high prices in Asia for its perceived health benefits.

Some areas have de-horned rhinos to stop poachers, but that requires constant animal monitoring and it hasn't always proven effective. More recently, conservationists have begun using microchip implants to improve their chances of survival and other threatened populations.

RAPID (The Real-time Anti-Poaching Intelligence Device) was created by Protect, a British nonprofit focused on conservation and animal welfare. This monitoring device is already being tested in South Africa, where rhino populations are devastated from poachers.

The system, which was created by biologist Paul O'Donoghue, relies on heart rate monitors embedded under the rhino's skin.  If the rhino's heart rate suddenly elevates or plummets, the device will send an alert to operators at a control center, who can then remotely activate a small camera implanted into its horn.

A leather collar around the rhino's neck also tracks its GPS coordinates, allowing conservationists to quickly find anti-poaching forces if the live camera footage suggests that the rhino is in danger. The hope is that once the system is widely deployed, poachers will have to avoid any rhino with the distinctive GPS collar.

Steve Piper, a director at Protect, says that it acts as a deterrent so that poachers realize that any animal that has one of these collars or units attached to it are basically off the list. He also noted that there's no point in attacking it, there’s no point in killing an animal, because you're never going to get away with the valuable parts of the rhino.

The wireless systems have been upgraded to minimize battery drain, so new power supplies need only be placed a few times over the course of a single animal’s life. The team will equip more animals with these devices, as well as exploring ways to harvest energy from the rhino's movement to remove the need for batteries. The embedded camera also poses no risk to its health, and can be implanted painlessly.

The team hopes that this system will let them gather data on animal behavior that could prove to be useful for academic purposes and also boosting tourism activities.