Love pet

By Mail On Sunday Reporter


Taste for theft: Pugs have been found to be the most likely dog to steal their owners' things, a survey says


Mischievous dogs are responsible for stealing a staggering £33 million worth of their owners’ possessions each year, according to new research.

Almost three-quarters of items taken are underwear, a survey found.

One in ten dogs has a taste for the finer things in life, such as cash and jewellery, while slippers, TV remote controls and toys are also on the list.


And as pupils up and down the country can confirm, even homework is included in the canine crimewave.

A study by dog food company Bakers Complete showed that pugs are the most likely to steal, followed by cocker spaniels, labradors and shih tzus.

Animal behaviourist Peter Neville said: ‘More often than not, dogs do this to encourage family members to play with them.’

Mr Neville said that thefts do not come naturally to dogs and stealing their owners' possessions might simply be a means of convenient entertainment.

'If an unusual or high value object does vanish and you suspect your dog is the culprit, check the obvious hiding places first, as highlighted in our research – the basket, the garden and under the sofa,' he added.

The Bakers Complete study also revealed that dogs in Scotland and Wales are the most likely to be light-pawed with their owners' belongings, while Northern Irish canines are the least likely to steal.

The research also found that 19 per cent of owners are embarrassed by their mischievous mutt’s behaviour.


Loyal companion? Your faithful friend may not be as trustworthy as you assumed


source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Remarkable: Max has not had any formal training but can predict when Andree Trotter is going to have a fit

A pregnant mother-to-be has lost her 'superdog' which can predict when she is about to have an epileptic fit.

Andree Trotter's missing greyhound-Weimaraner cross Max rushes to her side when she is about to have a seizure and she gets into a safe position.

The remarkable animal has not been specially trained to help her - although he was a rescue dog.

The 31-year-old is due to give birth to her first child in two months time and is scared of hurting herself and her unborn baby without the dog at her side.

Miss Trotter, from Oxted, Surrey, has up to five seizures a week when her condition is at its worst - and does not know when they are about to happen.

The dog disappeared from her back garden two weeks ago while she and fiance Alan Whitlock were away and friends were dog sitting.

She said: 'Obviously our friends feel terrible but it's nobody's fault, we just want him back. He is a beloved pet but he's so much more than that.

'He was a rescue dog and we started to notice that he would always be by my side, guarding me protectively, just before I had a seizure, then he would lie right by me until I recovered.

'He would growl at Alan, even though he's really Alan's dog. It was uncanny. We started giving him treats when he did it to encourage him and now I don't know how I got by without him.

'I can have four or five seizures a week when I am bad and I never know when they are coming on. I have hurt myself in the past and even fallen in the road.

'I am terrified I will have one at the top of the stairs and lose my baby without Max here. He is a lifesaver.'


Expectant mother: Andree Trotter, pictured, is concerned she will injure herself and her unborn child without missing dog Max


Max even runs upstairs - normally out of bounds to him - if she is about to have a seizure in the bedroom or bathroom.

She said: 'It gives me just enough time to lie down somewhere safe. He lies next to me cushions me and it is comforting to have him watching over me when I come round.

'I just hope he has wandered off and someone has taken him in as a stray. I would beg them to call us so we can bring him home.'

Alan, a 45-year-old graphic designer, said: 'We got him from the dog's home after he was found tied up next to a motorway.

'He is incredibly jumpy and gets spooked easily, by a vacuum cleaner or any loud noise.

'I think someone must have taken him in because he doesn't particularly like being outside.

'We're offering a substantial reward for anyone who finds him.'

They have put up hundreds of flyers, visited local rescue homes and even been to a pet psychic in a desperate bid to find him and bring him home.


source: dailymail

By ANDREW LEVY

Deafening: Smokey the cat's purrs average an astonishing 80 decibels - more than THREE times louder than most cats


For cat lovers, there is nothing more soothing than the sound of their pet purring with contentment.

But when Smokey kicks off, it’s time to reach for the ear plugs.

The sound she produces can reach an incredible 92 decibels – the same a
s you’d experience watching a Boeing 737 coming in to land.

Even from five feet away the level is 80 decibels, the same as a car passing 25ft away. Most cats produce around 25 decibels.

Owners Ruth and Mark Adams say the 12-year-old British Shorthair can drown out TV and radio shows and phone conversations with her ‘cooing purr’ which they describe as ‘sounding as if she has a dove stuck in her throat’.

Mrs Adams, from Pitsford, Northampton, said: ‘She even manages to purr while she eats. The only time she is quiet is when she is asleep.

'It’s either adorable or annoying, depending on what mood you’re in. You don’t even have to stroke her to start a purring session. Often she’ll do it for no reason.’

Guinness World Records said it had a category in place for noisiest cat but no entries yet. A spokesman said: ‘If Smokey can purr at over 80dB it would be an astonishing feat.’


Record breaker: Owner Ruth Adams has submitted an application for Smokey's piercing purrs to the Guinness World Records


Diana Johnson, of Northampton Cats Protection, who has met Smokey, said: 'I have never heard anything like her purr in my life. It can drown out your conversation.

'It is very unusual and I've never found a cat with a purr that is anywhere near as loud.'

Smokey has become an honorary volunteer for Cat Protection's Northampton branch and is helping to raise awareness of the important cat welfare work they do.



source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Mmm... maybe: Orangutan Suman, pictured at Melbourne Zoo, looks contemplative in the 97% Human exhibit


Amazing facial expressions in portraits for 97% Human, project that proves how closely we're related


An orang-utan appears trapped in thought by his own reflection in this amazing portrait captured at Melbourne Zoo.

Using techniques normally employed by baby photographers to produce emotional pictures, talented Arthur Xanthopoulos, 38, has forged an incredible relationship with our primate brothers.

And his striking shots of facial expressions not so dissimilar from theose of humans add tangible evidence to the fact that monkeys share so many of our genes.

The pictures were taken as part of a project called 97% Human, and give us incredibly moving images of orang-utans, gorillas and baboons.

'These primates have the ability to recognise I have a camera and I'm taking photos of them,' explained Mr Xanthopoulous.

'They change their behaviour in response to my presence just like a human model would do.

'There's a personal interaction between myself and the apes which I convey through the pictures.

'I hope to let their unique personalities shine through so people can feel this for themselves, particularly through eye contact- which is a powerful way of communicating for both humans and apes.'


Get lost, this is private? A western lowland gorilla seems perturbed by photographer Arthur Xanthopoulos


In one heart warming image, female orangutan, Suma, 32, gazes at the ripples of her own reflection in the pool of her enclosure.

Another picture shows a western lowland gorilla at Melbourne Zoo in Australia playfully sticking his tongue out at the camera while a very human sadness is evident in the eyes of baboons and apes in the exhibition.

'When people look at the images I've created I hope they will see their own reflection and this will make them think how much more we have in common with primates than the difference in our bodies might suggest,' said Mr Xanthopoulous.

'I see my work as a way to create a degree of awareness in people's minds and help them to see these animals in a different way.'


I want to be alone: A baboon at Melbourne Zoo seems to have recently heard some distressing news


Living close to Melbourne Zoo and striking up friendships with staff gave Arthur prime access to the unusually open primate enclosures he found there.

He prefers to shoot on days where the sky is overcast and the light is even enough to allow him to bring out the features of the primates.

'I try to pick moments when I'm going to see the best of the animal I'm photographing,' he explained.

'I focus on the human characteristics of how primates look and how they sit in front of the camera.'

Melbourne Zoo is home a total of 320 animals species including six orangutans, eight gorillas and many other primate species.


Life - don't talk to me about life: A tree-hanging ape stares sadly into the middle distance


Since Australia's oldest zoo opened in 1892 it has launched international campaigns to save the endangered orangutans of Borneo and the gorillas threatened in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

'I think the most important aspect to my work is that although the primates are living in a zoo, 97 per cent human shows that they're not just animals,' Mr Xanthopoulous added.

'In the wild the habitats these apes depend on are being destroyed at a very high rate.

'They may not be humans and they may not possess the kinds of rights and benefits humans enjoy.

'But they have the same capacity for emotion and feeling as we do and we should respect them as such.

'Ninety seven percent human is food for thought in this regard.'


Can I help you? Menyaru the Orangutan seems to be questioning the photographer's interest

source: dailymail

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE


In a pickle: Ksyusha the kitten loves nothing more than a tight squeeze


You've heard of the cat in the hat. Now meet the cat in the vat.

It certainly seems that Ksyusha the kitten has got herself into an impossibly tight spot.

But according to her owner she has no problem escaping the glass container, rather like a feline Houdini.


Playful: The excitable female kitten has been squashing itself into jars from when it was a few weeks old


Cute: The cat's owner has been taking photos of her animal and posting them on the internet since the start of last year


‘It looks like she is stuck, but actually her body is not as big as it looks because of the large amount of fur,’ said Yuriy Korotun, who lives in Moscow.

‘She likes hiding in different places and is full of character.’


In a spin: The female kitten has been always been playful, according to her owner


Mischievous: Ksyusha plays with a chair leg


Yuriy said he first realised his pet, a Himalayan breed similar to a Persian, had a love of confined spaces when he heard a commotion in her kitchen one day.

‘I came in to find her in the jar,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes.’

She is also partial to curling up in the washing machine, said Yuriy, who has posted pictures of Ksyusha on the internet.


Similar: Ksyusha's ability to get in and out of seemingly impossible situations harks back to the comedy capers seen in classic kids' cartoon Tom & Jerry


Korotun got the shock of his life one day when he heard some commotion in his kitchen and discovered the fun-loving feline with more than her paws in the jar.

Her ability to get in and out of seemingly impossible situations harks back to the comedy capers seen in classic kids' cartoon Tom and Jerry.

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Poster dog: Not only has Lucy Lou been elected as mayor of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky, but she is also the face of the locally made wine, Elk Creek, which is sold in the village shop, one of only seven buildings in the hamlet


When it comes to politics, this border collie knows who the real top dog is.
For Lucy Lou has just been elected the four-legged chief executive of the tiny town of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky.

The quaint hamlet, on the Ohio River, had several four-legged candidates in the running for mayor including a cat, a donkey and an opossum.

But the collie was heads - and tails - above the rest and managed to win the tightly-fought election.

She even managed to beat her best friend, as a man was also in the running.
As the top dog she has few responsibilities apart from ceremonial duties that includes greeting tourists.

Manager of the historic Rabbit Hash General Store Terrie Markesbery said: 'She's famous for greeting the public. when you get out of the car, she comes right up to you.'

The village, which is only three acres and hold seven buildings, was recently awarded $1,000 from the Reader's Digest as part of the brand's 'We Hear You America' 100-city tour.

The tour was in promotion of the recently updated 'Off the Beaten Path' travel guide.

Lucy Lou has also become the face of a locally made wine, sold in the village shop.

'She's perfect for the job. It's a low-paying, highly visible position,' Markesbery said.

'She has to do a lot of footwork.'


source :dailymail

Five-month-old giant panda cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) climbs on a tree trunk in its enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011. The cub of pandas Yang Yang and Long Hui was born on August 23 in the zoo. Fu Hu's parents were transferred from China to Schoenbrunn Zoo in 2003, and are on loan to Austria by China for a period of 10 years.


Five-month-old giant panda cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) climbs on a tree trunk in its enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011.


Giant panda Yang Yang grips her five-month-old cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) in their enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011.


Giant panda Yang Yang watches her five-month-old cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) in their enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011.


Five-month-old giant panda cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) falls on its back off a tree trunk in its enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011.


Five-month-old giant panda cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) climbs on a tree trunk in its enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011.


Five-month-old giant panda cub Fu Hu (meaning lucky tiger) climbs on a tree trunk in its enclosure at the zoo in Vienna, February 8, 2011.

source: daylife
photo: Reuters

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Gorilla in the midst of motherhood: Kabatwa nurses her newborn twins in the Volcanoes National Park, in Uganda


Rare mountain gorilla twins have been born in Rwanda, conservationists said today.

The occurrence of twins in the population of mountain gorillas is extremely unusual and the new arrivals in the Volcanoes National Park are only the fifth set of twins recorded for Rwanda's gorillas.

There are fewer than 800 mountain gorillas living in the wild, according to UK-based charity the Gorilla Organisation.


Rare: There have only ever been five sets of twins born in the reserve, a haven for gorillas


The organisation said the pair were born on February 3 to Kabatwa, a member of the Hirwa group of gorillas, who was reportedly proving to be an excellent mother.

Emmanuel Bugingo, the Gorilla Organisation's programme manager in Rwanda, said: 'It is very rare to hear of mountain gorilla twins, so we were all excited to hear the news from rangers.

'The twins are both boys and we feel very positive about their future.'

Ian Redmond, chairman of the Ape Alliance coalition, and a father of twin boys, said: 'Gorilla mothers usually have only one baby every four years or so - which is one reason why they are so vulnerable - so twins give a rare double gain in one birth.

'But coping with two infants is a challenge for any parent - as my wife and I know from experience - so I wish Kabatwa, and the boys, the best of luck in the coming weeks and months.'


Twin boys: Gorillas usually only have one baby every four years





source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

One of the dragonflies lands on the green heron's beak while all the while the bird keeps a close eye on them both


Patience is clearly also a virtue in the heron world as this specimen demonstrated before snatching its dinner.

The bird eyed up two of the insects as they danced before its beak before lashing out and one unawares.

The whole amazing sequence of the dragonflies dancing before the green heron was caught on camera.

And it was the bird, sat on a branch at Village Creek park in Texas, U.S., which had the last laugh.


My moment has come. The heron makes its move and the dragonflies rise up to flee. The one on the far right escapes, the other ...


Wildlife photographer Steve Wheeler, 53, who captured the dramatic moment, said: 'When I first spotted the heron I could see he was hunting, so I had my lens focused on him and my finger on the shutter release for quite a while.

'They are generally fairly secretive birds and stay well hidden in thick cover along the water's edge.

'I've only ever seen one very quickly a couple of times, so I was really excited even to get a close up look at this guy.

'Before I knew it, I these two, mating dragonflies came into the view finder, fluttering around together.

'They were obviously preoccupied because they flew closer and closer to the heron. It must have been a dream come true for the heron.

'He just opened up his beak and snatched one from right in front of him - he was lighting fast and deadly accurate.


No escape: The heron's moment has come and while it's toast for the dragonfly, it's dinner for the bird


Savouring its snack: Just part of the dragonfly's wing can be seen sticking out of the bird's beak


'As I was watching this little mini drama unfold, it felt like it took forever - time seemed to slow way down.

'It was only after I loaded the images on the computer that I realized the total elapsed time was only 43 seconds between "first strike" and "last gulp."

'It was crazy to see and photograph.'


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Staggering: Louise Harris has spent £100,000 on her three Yorkshire Terriers over a period of six years


Shopaholic Louise Harris has spent a staggering £100,000 on her three dogs in SIX years.

Louise, 31, loves nothing more than spoiling her three Yorkshire Terriers Lola, six, Lulu, four, and two-year-old Larry.

The pampered pooches have their own £2,000 four-poster bed, £200 collars, £400 tiaras and £2,500 bespoke jewellery complete with rubies, emeralds and sapphires.

And Louise admits she even spent an incredible £4,000 on luxury Christmas presents last year - just on her beloved pets.

She said: 'Even I'm a bit shocked at the amount I've spent on them - it's totally barmy!

'But they are my babies and a part of my family. I love spoiling them and making sure they have the best of everything.

'A lot of people think I'm mad, and I realise it's completely over the top, but I want to give them the best life I possibly can.'

Louise's splurge on her pets all started six years ago when her sister Olivia convinced her to look at a Yorkshire Terrier puppy called Lola.

She fell in love the tiny pup, which could fit in the palm of her hand, and started ordering clothing and collars online from America.


Luxury lifestyle: Lola, Lulu and Larry have their own four-poster bed worth £2,000


She said: 'I bought Lola the smallest dog collars I could find here but they were too big and really poor quality. When I ordered them from the States they just fit perfectly and you could see how much more comfortable she was.

'At that point I would never have dreamt of dressing her up but when it got really cold in the winter she was refusing to go outside so I bought her a jumper and as soon as she had it on she bounded straight out into the garden.

'After that I started buying her other clothes - before I knew it, she had a whole wardrobe!'

In 2006 Louise added to her family by buying Lulu, now four, followed by Larry, who is now two.


Spoilt: Louise Harris spent £4,000 on Christmas presents for her three dogs


Louise admits that the dogs do dominate a lot of her life, so any future partner would have to love them as much as she does.

She said: 'My dogs wouldn't come before my partner but they would have to be happy living side by side.

'A dog can't make its own breakfast so they would have to understand it's my priority in the morning to make sure they have food.

'But as its normally scrambled eggs we could all eat that and have breakfast at the same time!' And with three dogs to kit out in the latest designer dog clothes, her spending has shot through the roof.

In six years she estimates she has spent a minimum of £101,680.


Bejewelled: The pooches own collars encrusted with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, swarovski crystal and gold leaf


She spent £26k on clothes, collars, and harnesses, including couture item made just for Lola costing £400 features vintage brooch with crystals, £250 collars with swarovski crystal encrusted stones made with high quality leather, and bespoke jewellery consisting of 5 pieces with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, swarovski crystal and gold leaf costing approximately £400 - £500 each.


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Close enough to touch: Children swim perilously close to two enormous polar bears as one rises up out of the water


It's a heart-in-the-mouth moment that would have most parents running for help.
The world's biggest predator the polar bear is seemingly pictured paddling menacingly alongside unsuspecting children.

In these remarkable images the massive carnivores loom over their bite-size pool companions in what looks an imminent disaster.

But there's more to these pictures than meets the eye, as in fact the children and the inquisitive polar bears are separated by 10-inch thick plexiglas.

Both children and bears are actually very safely taking part in an amazing initiative by the owners of Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, Canada, in a attempt to promote awareness about the amazing animals.

The sanctuary only takes in rescued bears from the wild and through letting visitors get so close they hope to help understanding and reduce hunting in the wild.

Former director at the centre and keen photographer Gerry Robichaud took the amazing photographs of the moment bear meets man in the safety of the tank.

He said: 'You do get some very surprised reactions from visitors when they first see the bears and the children in the pool.

'When you're in the water and up by the glass next to these animals it barely seems like there is anything protecting you, when in fact there's a 10-inch think barrier.


They're behind you: A child keeps his head above water as the two bears swim towards him - but everything is not as it seems


'We get various reactions from the children, some of them can't wait to get in the pool and others really don't want to. It's the adults you have to watch out for, some of them jump in still with all their clothes on.

'The two bears in the pictures are actually females, Aurora and Nikita, both who we took in as rescue animals.

'They came to us a cubs after a tribe told us about them because their mother had been shot by a hunter near Winisk, near the Hudson Bay in the far north.'

Gerry, 59, said the aim was to give the bears as much stimulation as possible in their 100m by 200m enclosure.

He said: 'I have been in the water myself when the public have not been here and actually realised one of the bears was stalking me, she was hiding and keeping very low in the water. It was quite an odd feeling.

'I have lived in the far north with the people up there myself and documented their lives, it's a different world up there.'


source: dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter



Dats my dose: The Kodiak bear cub grabs his mother's nose with his sharp claws as they play in Katmai National Park, Alaska


He might just be a cub, but this playful grizzly clearly shows he has some bite after taking a painful swipe at his mother's nose.

The plucky youngster was captured with his family group in the wild of Katmai National Park on Kodiak Island, Alaska.

The park is located in the Valley of Ten Thousands Smokes, and is home to the unique sub-species of Kodiak bears which can grow up to 900lbs on a diet of abundant salmon.


Another of the images shows an adult bear clearly with things on his mind as he rests his chin on the palm of one of his massive paws.

The images were captured by grandmother Judy Lynn Malloch, 66, from Boynton Beach, Florida, who made the 5,000-mile trip and risked her own safety to get within yards of the animals.

She said: 'It is a privilege above all else to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat living their lives in such a carefree way.

'The grasslands are totally open and you may see anywhere from twenty to thirty grizzlies at one time.

'The babies are very playful but sometimes too playful - and the mother would scold them and quite sternly too as the babies would cower and get down low.'


Bear necessities: An adult male ponders his next move in grasslands on the unique Kodiak Island, home to around 3,000 of the bear sub-species


Do you think he saw us? This cub is clearly alert as he spots the camera snapping away at his family group


Mrs Malloch's father was a vet and she grew up with animals as a child.

She got up at 5.30am every day to travel by skiff to Hollow Bay where the bears live and hunt for food.

She added: 'To watch them play with their babies and nurse them is just the best.

'They are very loving and protective parents and also great teachers as they teach their young to clam and to survive in the wild.

'They really are not too interested in man as long as you did not get to close to them or to their young.'


Best paw forward: Two cubs play in the mud flats on Kodiak Island. The area has abundant salmon stocks and adult Kodiak bears can reach 900lbs


Kodiak bears on live in Katmai National Park and are not hunted by humans.

It is estimated that around 3,000 of the bears live on the 170-mile long island.


Source:Dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter



The 'ah' factor: Not perturbed in the least by all the attention from cooing
specatators, the exceedingly cute St Bernard puppies groom each other in their enclosure at the museum in Martigny, Switzerland


This litter of St Bernard puppies is causing quite a stir in the town of Martigny, Switzerland.

The adorable nine puppies - four girls and five boys - were born to mother Ivoire days before Christmas, and have just gone on show to the general public at the St Bernard Dog Museum.

The Swiss museum boasts a healthy breeding programme for the popular dogs, best known for their role as the 'guardians of the Alps.'


Although St Bernards are no longer used in rescues, the St Bernard Museum celebrates the past and present of Switzerland's most famous dog breed, who earned their legendary status as lifesavers of travellers lost in the snow.

Only dogs bred at this museum, or at the St Bernard Hospice in the Alps are classified as coming from the Great St Bernard breed.


Nine's a crowd: Mother Ivoire and six of her nine litter of puppies tumble excitedly all over each other


In 2005 the non-profit Barry Foundation, named after the most famous of the rescue dogs, took over the breeding kennel from the hospice at the Great Saint Bernard mountain pass (altitude 8114 ft) to continue the 300-year-old tradition of breeding the famous dogs, which return to their origin on the mountain pass during the summer months.

The St Bernard Museum tells the story of the Great St. Bernard Hospice and Pass, and the exhibition is dedicated to promoting the St. Bernard dog as a universal icon.

Originally used to locate freezing and helpless travelers during snowstorms, the Saint Bernard now uses his intelligence and strength in conformation and obedience competitions, cart pulling and weight pulling.

Although powerful and muscular in build, St Bernards possess a gentle and dignified temperament. Their coats can be long or short and range in colour from deep brown to brown-yellow.


Source:Dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter



Give us a song: Gibbons sing to each other in regional accents - and the divide between the northerners and southerners is the most pronounced, research shows


Gibbons have regional accents just like humans - and the divide between the northerners and southerners is the most pronounced, research shows.

Gibbons, which along with the great apes are the closest relatives to humans, sing to communicate with each other, and use song to define territory and woo mates.

Couples also sing in duets to strengthen their bond, and their song is adpated to carry through the forests.


Scientists analysed the songs of the primates in Asian rainforest in China, Laod, Cambodia and Vietnam, and found that the songs are distinct not only to each species of gibbon but also to the area it comes from.

A team from the German Primate Center looked at more than 400 samples of crested gibbon song including 92 duets and analysed them using 53 acoustic parameters.

Writing in journal BMC Evolutionary Biology, they say the song shows not only the regional differences in 'accents' but also could give clues to their migrationary past.

The gibbons from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam had the most closely related DNA, and although four distinct song patterns were identified, they were recognisable as being from the same region.

But two species from northern Vietnam and China had different 'accents' and were distinct from their southern relatives.

The further north the accents were, the more removed they were from the southern accents. This would suggest that ancestorally, gibbons migrated from north to south, say the team.


Every species of gibbon sounds different, but researchers identified a range of different dialects which give clues to the animals' migratory pasts


They write: 'We found the largest differences in the song structure between the most northern and most southern species with successive gradation between them.

'The results show that the structure of crested gibbon songs is not only a reliable tool to verify relatedness but also to unravel geographic origins.'

Reseacher Van Ngoc Thinh said: 'Each gibbon has its own variable song but, much like people, there is a regional similarity between gibbons within the same location.'


Source:Dailymail

In this photo provided by the Chicago Zoological Society, Hudson, a 4-year-old polar bear enjoys the snow Thursday, Feb. 3, 2011at Brookfield Zoo in Broofield, Ill. This week's blizzard dumped the third largest snowfall in Chicago's history.







source: Daylife
photo: AP photo