JACKSON, Wyoming (Reuters) - Gray wolves in Wyoming, the last still federally protected in the northern Rockies, will lose endangered species status at the end of next month, opening them to unregulated killing in most of the state, the U.S. government said on Friday.
The planned delisting of Wyoming's estimated 350 wolves caps a steady progression of diminishing federal safeguards for a predator once hunted, trapped and poisoned to the brink of extinction throughout most of the continental United States.
Wyoming will officially regain control over the management of its wolf population on September 30, joining Montana and Idaho, where more than 1,500 wolves were removed from the federal endangered list in May of 2011.
About 4,000 wolves in the northern Great Lakes region -- primarily Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota -- lost their status as endangered or threatened last January.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe on Friday hailed delisting of the last wolf population in the northern Rockies as a victory assured by the Endangered Species Act and cooperation among state and federal partners.
'The return of the wolf to the Northern Rocky Mountains is a major success story,' he said in a statement.
Conservationists decried the move, questioning how an animal could be protected until September 30 only to be subject to 'open fire' on October 1, the first day of Wyoming's regulated hunting season. Environmental groups say they fear ending federal safeguards could push wolves back to the brink.
Like Idaho and Montana, Wyoming is required to maintain a statewide population of at least 150 wolves, including 15 breeding pairs, to prevent a relisting.
Wyoming wolves will remain off-limits to hunters inside national wildlife refuges and national parks, including Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as well as on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
FROM PROTECTION TO BULL'S EYE
But restricted hunting will be permitted from October through December within zones just outside those parks and refuges in the greater Yellowstone region of northwestern Wyoming, where most of the state's wolves reside.
For the rest of the state, wolves would be classified as predatory animals, subjecting them to unlicensed, unregulated killing year-round through methods such as shooting, trapping and pursuit on mechanized vehicles.
Wolves were reintroduced to the northern Rockies in the mid-1990s, but their return triggered an emotional debate that pitted livestock producers and hunters against conservationists.
Ranchers and hunting groups have argued that wolves prey on livestock and big-game animals targeted by sportsmen. Environmentalists contend the predators play a key role in restoring an ecosystem impaired by overgrazing and erosion caused in part by wildlife such as elk and mule deer.
Under Endangered Species Act protections, wolf numbers rebounded in the northern Rockies, far exceeding the original recovery goals set by the federal government.
Efforts in recent years by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove wolves in Idaho and Montana from the endangered species list were reversed by court rulings.
But Idaho and Montana wolves ultimately were delisted last year through an unprecedented act of Congress, and those states have since sought to reduce wolf numbers -- mostly through hunting and trapping -- to as few as 300 from as many as 1,500.
Wyoming's wolves had remained protected while state and federal officials negotiated what safeguards would sustain a viable population under Wyoming management.
The Fish and Wildlife Service's latest estimate puts current numbers in all three states at more than 1,774 adult wolves.
The gray wolf originally was classified as an endangered species across the lower 48 states and Mexico, except in Minnesota, where the animal was listed as threatened.
An estimated 7,000 to 11,000 wolves roam much of Alaska, but are so abundant they have never been federally protected.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Peter Cooney)
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Tigers tamed by Royals in Kansas City
(Reuters) - The Detroit Tigers failed to make up ground on the pacesetting Chicago White Sox in the hotly contested American League Central division when they lost 2-1 to the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
The White Sox were beaten 5-3 by the Baltimore Orioles earlier in the day but the Tigers did not take advantage as the Royals rode strong pitching by Jeremy Guthrie to complete a three-game series sweep.
Right-hander Guthrie (3-3) allowed just one run on 10 hits, nine of them singles, while Alex Gordon struck his 10th homer leading off the sixth to bolster the Kansas City offense.
'I was going to go out there and throw strikes, and when you throw strikes, guys put some swings on them,' Guthrie, who has made eight starts for the Royals since they acquired him in a July 20 trade, told reporters.
'The biggest thing was I was able to keep nine of them to singles and just allow one extra-base hit. That was kind of the big key in terms of allowing hits but no runs.'
For Detroit, Rick Porcello (9-10) cruised through four innings before finding trouble on his way to a fourth straight loss, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks.
The game turned in the fifth inning after the Royals loaded the bases with none out as Mike Moustakas doubled into the right-center gap, Jeff Francoeur singled to center and Eric Hosmer walked.
However, Porcello escaped with just one run in after Johnny Giavotella's groundout to shortstop Jhonny Peralta scored Moustakas.
'We were fortunate enough to get out of that inning with only one run,' said Porcello. 'And then in the sixth inning, that's the inning where I've got to be able to close and get us back in the dugout. It didn't happen, obviously.'
In the sixth inning, the Royals went after Porcello as Gordon opened with a home run, Billy Butler doubled, Salvador Perez singled and Porcello was relieved by left-hander Darin Downs.
The Tigers (69-61) remain three games behind the White Sox in their head-to-head race for the division title and the teams now head to Detroit to begin a crucial three-game series on Friday night.
'We're a much better team than what we showed these past three games,' said Porcello. 'For us to be looking at what Chicago's doing and what's happening with them would be a mistake. We need to focus on ourselves, playing good baseball.
'We can't sit around and wait for other teams to lose. We've got to take the bull by the horns and go out and simply beat teams.'
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The White Sox were beaten 5-3 by the Baltimore Orioles earlier in the day but the Tigers did not take advantage as the Royals rode strong pitching by Jeremy Guthrie to complete a three-game series sweep.
Right-hander Guthrie (3-3) allowed just one run on 10 hits, nine of them singles, while Alex Gordon struck his 10th homer leading off the sixth to bolster the Kansas City offense.
'I was going to go out there and throw strikes, and when you throw strikes, guys put some swings on them,' Guthrie, who has made eight starts for the Royals since they acquired him in a July 20 trade, told reporters.
'The biggest thing was I was able to keep nine of them to singles and just allow one extra-base hit. That was kind of the big key in terms of allowing hits but no runs.'
For Detroit, Rick Porcello (9-10) cruised through four innings before finding trouble on his way to a fourth straight loss, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks.
The game turned in the fifth inning after the Royals loaded the bases with none out as Mike Moustakas doubled into the right-center gap, Jeff Francoeur singled to center and Eric Hosmer walked.
However, Porcello escaped with just one run in after Johnny Giavotella's groundout to shortstop Jhonny Peralta scored Moustakas.
'We were fortunate enough to get out of that inning with only one run,' said Porcello. 'And then in the sixth inning, that's the inning where I've got to be able to close and get us back in the dugout. It didn't happen, obviously.'
In the sixth inning, the Royals went after Porcello as Gordon opened with a home run, Billy Butler doubled, Salvador Perez singled and Porcello was relieved by left-hander Darin Downs.
The Tigers (69-61) remain three games behind the White Sox in their head-to-head race for the division title and the teams now head to Detroit to begin a crucial three-game series on Friday night.
'We're a much better team than what we showed these past three games,' said Porcello. 'For us to be looking at what Chicago's doing and what's happening with them would be a mistake. We need to focus on ourselves, playing good baseball.
'We can't sit around and wait for other teams to lose. We've got to take the bull by the horns and go out and simply beat teams.'
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Nick Mulvenney)
This news article is brought to you by GLOBAL WEATHER NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
UPDATE 1-Baseball-Tigers tamed by Royals in Kansas City
* Gordon homers to lead Royals to series sweep
* Tigers trail White Sox by three games in division race
(Adds quotes, detail)
Aug 30 (Reuters) - The Detroit Tigers failed to make up
ground on the pacesetting Chicago White Sox in the hotly
contested American League Central division when they lost 2-1 to
the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
The White Sox were beaten 5-3 by the Baltimore Orioles
earlier in the day but the Tigers did not take advantage as the
Royals rode strong pitching by Jeremy Guthrie to complete a
three-game series sweep.
Right-hander Guthrie (3-3) allowed just one run on 10 hits,
nine of them singles, while Alex Gordon struck his 10th homer
leading off the sixth to bolster the Kansas City offense.
'I was going to go out there and throw strikes, and when you
throw strikes, guys put some swings on them,' Guthrie, who has
made eight starts for the Royals since they acquired him in a
July 20 trade, told reporters.
'The biggest thing was I was able to keep nine of them to
singles and just allow one extra-base hit. That was kind of the
big key in terms of allowing hits but no runs.'
For Detroit, Rick Porcello (9-10) cruised through four
innings before finding trouble on his way to a fourth straight
loss, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks.
The game turned in the fifth inning after the Royals loaded
the bases with none out as Mike Moustakas doubled into the
right-center gap, Jeff Francoeur singled to center and Eric
Hosmer walked.
However, Porcello escaped with just one run in after Johnny
Giavotella's groundout to shortstop Jhonny Peralta scored
Moustakas.
'We were fortunate enough to get out of that inning with
only one run,' said Porcello. 'And then in the sixth inning,
that's the inning where I've got to be able to close and get us
back in the dugout. It didn't happen, obviously.'
In the sixth inning, the Royals went after Porcello as
Gordon opened with a home run, Billy Butler doubled, Salvador
Perez singled and Porcello was relieved by left-hander Darin
Downs.
The Tigers (69-61) remain three games behind the White Sox
in their head-to-head race for the division title and the teams
now head to Detroit to begin a crucial three-game series on
Friday night.
'We're a much better team than what we showed these past
three games,' said Porcello. 'For us to be looking at what
Chicago's doing and what's happening with them would be a
mistake. We need to focus on ourselves, playing good baseball.
'We can't sit around and wait for other teams to lose. We've
got to take the bull by the horns and go out and simply beat
teams.'
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by
Nick Mulvenney)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
* Tigers trail White Sox by three games in division race
(Adds quotes, detail)
Aug 30 (Reuters) - The Detroit Tigers failed to make up
ground on the pacesetting Chicago White Sox in the hotly
contested American League Central division when they lost 2-1 to
the Kansas City Royals on Thursday.
The White Sox were beaten 5-3 by the Baltimore Orioles
earlier in the day but the Tigers did not take advantage as the
Royals rode strong pitching by Jeremy Guthrie to complete a
three-game series sweep.
Right-hander Guthrie (3-3) allowed just one run on 10 hits,
nine of them singles, while Alex Gordon struck his 10th homer
leading off the sixth to bolster the Kansas City offense.
'I was going to go out there and throw strikes, and when you
throw strikes, guys put some swings on them,' Guthrie, who has
made eight starts for the Royals since they acquired him in a
July 20 trade, told reporters.
'The biggest thing was I was able to keep nine of them to
singles and just allow one extra-base hit. That was kind of the
big key in terms of allowing hits but no runs.'
For Detroit, Rick Porcello (9-10) cruised through four
innings before finding trouble on his way to a fourth straight
loss, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks.
The game turned in the fifth inning after the Royals loaded
the bases with none out as Mike Moustakas doubled into the
right-center gap, Jeff Francoeur singled to center and Eric
Hosmer walked.
However, Porcello escaped with just one run in after Johnny
Giavotella's groundout to shortstop Jhonny Peralta scored
Moustakas.
'We were fortunate enough to get out of that inning with
only one run,' said Porcello. 'And then in the sixth inning,
that's the inning where I've got to be able to close and get us
back in the dugout. It didn't happen, obviously.'
In the sixth inning, the Royals went after Porcello as
Gordon opened with a home run, Billy Butler doubled, Salvador
Perez singled and Porcello was relieved by left-hander Darin
Downs.
The Tigers (69-61) remain three games behind the White Sox
in their head-to-head race for the division title and the teams
now head to Detroit to begin a crucial three-game series on
Friday night.
'We're a much better team than what we showed these past
three games,' said Porcello. 'For us to be looking at what
Chicago's doing and what's happening with them would be a
mistake. We need to focus on ourselves, playing good baseball.
'We can't sit around and wait for other teams to lose. We've
got to take the bull by the horns and go out and simply beat
teams.'
(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by
Nick Mulvenney)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
How pets also suffer from the back-to-school blues
Toys get destroyed, tears flow and tantrums abound: it's not just children that find it tough at the end of the summer holidays.
Pets are equally likely to have difficulty adapting to a more constrained lifestyle after weeks of freedom and many of them will develop full-blown cases of the 'back-to-school blues', animal experts say.
In France, where month-long summer vacations are common, the problem is particularly acute.
'Every time we get back from holiday, my cat, Katou, uses my bed as a litter tray for several days,' says Philippe Uzan, the proud owner of a Siamese.
Nana, a German Shepherd, refuses to eat from her bowl and ignores her owner, Monique Gastinel.
After several weeks romping along the beach, the sulking can last for days and, according to animal behaviour expert Aline Auble, that's only to be expected.
'If a dog barks incessantly or chews the furniture when it gets back from a holiday, it is showing that it is missing having company and that it has the back-to-school blues,' Auble said.
'Above all it is important that you do not punish them. By playing with things that belong to his master, the dog is maintaining a contact with him.
'They have to re-learn how to be on their own.'
For both dogs and cats, animal professionals recommend trying to keep them occupied and stimulated during the long hours when parents are at work and children are at school.
'I advise hiding biscuits in different rooms for them to find -- if they are outside, cats will spend most of the day chasing butterflies and rodents,' said veterinarian Celine Moussour.
Toys specially designed for animals can also help ward off the boredom that can spell danger for chair legs and shoes: for example a cylindrical biscuit dispenser that cats and puppies have to spin to the right spot to liberate the snacks.
According to Moussour, it's vital to get your pet back into its normal routine in the final days of a holiday.
'You have to resume morning and evening walks and feed them at the same time you do when you are working.
'For cats coming back to a house with a garden, it's important to keep them locked inside for two or three days to allow them to rediscover their territory and ensure they don't run away.'
As with most people, pets tend to over-indulge on holiday and it's also important to re-establish healthier eating patterns. For dogs especially, the snacks have to stop to prevent weight gain over the winter months.
'Usually most pets will adapt to the new routine after a few days,' advises Moussour. 'But if they refuse to eat for several days or won't come out of their beds then it could be something more serious. In that case a visit to the vet is required.'
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Pets are equally likely to have difficulty adapting to a more constrained lifestyle after weeks of freedom and many of them will develop full-blown cases of the 'back-to-school blues', animal experts say.
In France, where month-long summer vacations are common, the problem is particularly acute.
'Every time we get back from holiday, my cat, Katou, uses my bed as a litter tray for several days,' says Philippe Uzan, the proud owner of a Siamese.
Nana, a German Shepherd, refuses to eat from her bowl and ignores her owner, Monique Gastinel.
After several weeks romping along the beach, the sulking can last for days and, according to animal behaviour expert Aline Auble, that's only to be expected.
'If a dog barks incessantly or chews the furniture when it gets back from a holiday, it is showing that it is missing having company and that it has the back-to-school blues,' Auble said.
'Above all it is important that you do not punish them. By playing with things that belong to his master, the dog is maintaining a contact with him.
'They have to re-learn how to be on their own.'
For both dogs and cats, animal professionals recommend trying to keep them occupied and stimulated during the long hours when parents are at work and children are at school.
'I advise hiding biscuits in different rooms for them to find -- if they are outside, cats will spend most of the day chasing butterflies and rodents,' said veterinarian Celine Moussour.
Toys specially designed for animals can also help ward off the boredom that can spell danger for chair legs and shoes: for example a cylindrical biscuit dispenser that cats and puppies have to spin to the right spot to liberate the snacks.
According to Moussour, it's vital to get your pet back into its normal routine in the final days of a holiday.
'You have to resume morning and evening walks and feed them at the same time you do when you are working.
'For cats coming back to a house with a garden, it's important to keep them locked inside for two or three days to allow them to rediscover their territory and ensure they don't run away.'
As with most people, pets tend to over-indulge on holiday and it's also important to re-establish healthier eating patterns. For dogs especially, the snacks have to stop to prevent weight gain over the winter months.
'Usually most pets will adapt to the new routine after a few days,' advises Moussour. 'But if they refuse to eat for several days or won't come out of their beds then it could be something more serious. In that case a visit to the vet is required.'
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Cowboys and elephants, Republicans got bling
TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Abe Lincoln, Wyatt Earp and the Wicked Witch of the West walk into a hockey arena...
This is not a joke, it's the Republican National Convention.
When the most passionate conservatives in America gather to nominate their presidential candidate, many of them wear their hearts on their sleeves - or rather on their buttons, T-shirts, hats and costumes.
The bearded president, the legendary Kansas lawman and the witch from 'The Wizard of Oz' were just a few of the more extravagant costumes seen this week in Tampa. The latter two were worn by members of the Kansas delegation, which apparently wanted to showcase some of the state's most beloved characters.
Texas delegates were not in costume but they were hard to miss in their matching cowboy hats and color-coordinated shirts - stars and stripes on Tuesday, sky blue on Wednesday.
'I think tomorrow's casual day,' said delegate Ross Davis, who described himself as 'a Jewish, third-generation independent oil and gas producer from Houston' and was sporting a button with the slogan: 'Don't Mess with Texas.'
Nearby, members of the West Virginia delegation proudly wore black helmets adorned with stickers proclaiming slogans such as 'Coal keeps the lights on,' a reference to their state's long history of mining.
'Our entire caucus is wearing this miner's helmet to protest the unbelievable war on coal that Obama has waged on us,' said Bob Fish, a 67-year-old delegate from the city of Parkersburg, criticizing the Obama administration's efforts to curb emissions of carbon and other air pollutants from power plants.
Stars and stripes were everywhere, from cowboy boots to chunky gold and diamante jewelry. Omnipresent state lapel pins made it easy to identify the origin of delegates not as ostentatious as the Texans.
While the Republican leadership was keen to present a united front behind presidential nominee Mitt Romney, more than a few delegates were still pining for their hero, Ron Paul, the libertarian from Texas who is retiring from Congress this year after a colorful career and three failed White House runs.
'Ron Paul Revolution' T-shirts were in abundance, and the people wearing them were among the more boisterous.
Others wore buttons that showed their disdain for President Barack Obama, including: 'Hands off my healthcare,' 'Obama Oy Vey' and 'How's that hope and change working out for you?'
There were buttons displaying nostalgia for former presidents - 'I'm for Nixon' - and presidential candidates - 'Goldwater in '64,' a reference to Barry Goldwater, a conservative hero who lost the 1964 election to Lyndon Johnson. (A more obscure version of the latter was 'Au H2O,' from the periodic table's symbols for gold and water.)
A popular trend among the more elegant conservative women was jewelry in the shape of an elephant, the logo of the Republican Party, said to represent strength and dignity.
North Carolina delegate Nancy Mazza wore a glitzy elephant pendant necklace and confessed to having a collection of elephant-themed trinkets back home: 'You should see my office.'
Sitting next to her and sporting a three-inch diamante elephant brooch was Dena Barnes, a member of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women.
'Some of our ladies always have our bling pins,' she said.
(Editing by Jim Loney)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
This is not a joke, it's the Republican National Convention.
When the most passionate conservatives in America gather to nominate their presidential candidate, many of them wear their hearts on their sleeves - or rather on their buttons, T-shirts, hats and costumes.
The bearded president, the legendary Kansas lawman and the witch from 'The Wizard of Oz' were just a few of the more extravagant costumes seen this week in Tampa. The latter two were worn by members of the Kansas delegation, which apparently wanted to showcase some of the state's most beloved characters.
Texas delegates were not in costume but they were hard to miss in their matching cowboy hats and color-coordinated shirts - stars and stripes on Tuesday, sky blue on Wednesday.
'I think tomorrow's casual day,' said delegate Ross Davis, who described himself as 'a Jewish, third-generation independent oil and gas producer from Houston' and was sporting a button with the slogan: 'Don't Mess with Texas.'
Nearby, members of the West Virginia delegation proudly wore black helmets adorned with stickers proclaiming slogans such as 'Coal keeps the lights on,' a reference to their state's long history of mining.
'Our entire caucus is wearing this miner's helmet to protest the unbelievable war on coal that Obama has waged on us,' said Bob Fish, a 67-year-old delegate from the city of Parkersburg, criticizing the Obama administration's efforts to curb emissions of carbon and other air pollutants from power plants.
Stars and stripes were everywhere, from cowboy boots to chunky gold and diamante jewelry. Omnipresent state lapel pins made it easy to identify the origin of delegates not as ostentatious as the Texans.
While the Republican leadership was keen to present a united front behind presidential nominee Mitt Romney, more than a few delegates were still pining for their hero, Ron Paul, the libertarian from Texas who is retiring from Congress this year after a colorful career and three failed White House runs.
'Ron Paul Revolution' T-shirts were in abundance, and the people wearing them were among the more boisterous.
Others wore buttons that showed their disdain for President Barack Obama, including: 'Hands off my healthcare,' 'Obama Oy Vey' and 'How's that hope and change working out for you?'
There were buttons displaying nostalgia for former presidents - 'I'm for Nixon' - and presidential candidates - 'Goldwater in '64,' a reference to Barry Goldwater, a conservative hero who lost the 1964 election to Lyndon Johnson. (A more obscure version of the latter was 'Au H2O,' from the periodic table's symbols for gold and water.)
A popular trend among the more elegant conservative women was jewelry in the shape of an elephant, the logo of the Republican Party, said to represent strength and dignity.
North Carolina delegate Nancy Mazza wore a glitzy elephant pendant necklace and confessed to having a collection of elephant-themed trinkets back home: 'You should see my office.'
Sitting next to her and sporting a three-inch diamante elephant brooch was Dena Barnes, a member of the North Carolina Federation of Republican Women.
'Some of our ladies always have our bling pins,' she said.
(Editing by Jim Loney)
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
How Pandas Pick the Perfect Spot to Pee
Wild giant pandas are endangered loners that roam remote bamboo forests in the mountains of China. When the bears actually want to find each other - typically during their short mating window - it's important that they pick the perfect place to leave their scent.
So what qualities do peeing pandas look for in a tree? Researchers say bark roughness helps the pandas' scent carry, while a large width makes for an easier target to aim at, especially for male pandas spraying urine in a handstand.
Researchers monitored where pandas left their pee and smelly anogenital gland secretions (AGS) - a waxy substance that carries information about a panda's sex and age - in the Qinling Mountains from 2007 to 2008. They found that the pandas preferred to leave both scents on rough bark, which might ensure the odor is captured by the crevices and doesn't evaporate quickly.
The pandas also liked to leave their scent higher off the ground, maximizing the size of the odor field, the researchers said. To get their urine up as high as possible, male pandas often bust out a handstand and let it spray. This, in turn, could explain why the pandas tended to pee on wider trees. [See Video of Panda Handstand and Panda Mating Dance]
'Aiming urine backwards and hitting the target is probably no easy task, particularly when doing a handstand,' the researchers wrote in the July 2012 issue of the journal Animal Behaviour, 'so selection of larger trees for urine marks probably maximizes the amount of urine that reaches the target.'
The study's authors initially thought moss might have the same effect as bark roughness, serving as a sponge for the pandas' scent. But moss-cover seemed to make little difference in where the pandas peed. What's more, the bears liked to leave their waxy gland secretions (also called 'long-lasting calling cards' by some) on trees with no moss. One explanation for this could be that the bark's sap might bind to scent chemicals and keep them potent. Moss cover might prevent that from happening, the researchers said.
The panda's deliberate scent-marking moves are likely tied to energy efficiency. The bears almost exclusively survive on bamboo, which contains just slightly more energy than it takes to consume it.
'These choices have clear effects on the scent signal, making it last longer, be detected from [farther] away, or otherwise enhance its communication efficiency,' Ron Swaisgood, a San Diego Zoo researcher involved in the study, said in a statement. 'We are not surprised that pandas are efficient with their use of chemo-signals, as mounting evidence suggests that many aspects of giant panda life history are constrained by their energetically poor diet.'
Conservationists estimate that fewer than 1,600 giant pandas exist in the wild and say the furballs are increasingly threatened by habitat loss from climate change and human activity.
Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.
Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITE.
So what qualities do peeing pandas look for in a tree? Researchers say bark roughness helps the pandas' scent carry, while a large width makes for an easier target to aim at, especially for male pandas spraying urine in a handstand.
Researchers monitored where pandas left their pee and smelly anogenital gland secretions (AGS) - a waxy substance that carries information about a panda's sex and age - in the Qinling Mountains from 2007 to 2008. They found that the pandas preferred to leave both scents on rough bark, which might ensure the odor is captured by the crevices and doesn't evaporate quickly.
The pandas also liked to leave their scent higher off the ground, maximizing the size of the odor field, the researchers said. To get their urine up as high as possible, male pandas often bust out a handstand and let it spray. This, in turn, could explain why the pandas tended to pee on wider trees. [See Video of Panda Handstand and Panda Mating Dance]
'Aiming urine backwards and hitting the target is probably no easy task, particularly when doing a handstand,' the researchers wrote in the July 2012 issue of the journal Animal Behaviour, 'so selection of larger trees for urine marks probably maximizes the amount of urine that reaches the target.'
The study's authors initially thought moss might have the same effect as bark roughness, serving as a sponge for the pandas' scent. But moss-cover seemed to make little difference in where the pandas peed. What's more, the bears liked to leave their waxy gland secretions (also called 'long-lasting calling cards' by some) on trees with no moss. One explanation for this could be that the bark's sap might bind to scent chemicals and keep them potent. Moss cover might prevent that from happening, the researchers said.
The panda's deliberate scent-marking moves are likely tied to energy efficiency. The bears almost exclusively survive on bamboo, which contains just slightly more energy than it takes to consume it.
'These choices have clear effects on the scent signal, making it last longer, be detected from [farther] away, or otherwise enhance its communication efficiency,' Ron Swaisgood, a San Diego Zoo researcher involved in the study, said in a statement. 'We are not surprised that pandas are efficient with their use of chemo-signals, as mounting evidence suggests that many aspects of giant panda life history are constrained by their energetically poor diet.'
Conservationists estimate that fewer than 1,600 giant pandas exist in the wild and say the furballs are increasingly threatened by habitat loss from climate change and human activity.
Follow LiveScience on Twitter @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.
Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITE.
Monday, August 27, 2012
California slaughterhouse allowed to reopen after cow cruelty video
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - A slaughterhouse in California's central agricultural heartland was allowed to reopen on Monday after agreeing to improve its handling of animals following a graphic video that showed cows being mistreated there, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.
The USDA suspended operations at the Central Valley Meat Company earlier this month after animal rights activists gave it a video showing cows at the facility flailing wildly as they are dragged by one leg on a conveyor belt on their way to be slaughtered.
'The company has committed to a number of corrective actions including additional humane handling training for employees and safeguards to ensure that only ambulatory animals are processed,' an agency spokesman said in an email.
The plant was allowed to resume operations as of Monday morning, although an investigation into possible food safety violations is continuing.
The company still is suspended from supplying meat to federal food programs, including the National School Lunch Program to which it contributed prior to the video's release, the USDA said.
The video, published online by activist group Compassion Over Killing, shows lame, sick former dairy cows being shot in the head multiple times and struggling before they die. In one portion of the video, a worker stands on a cow's nostrils to kill it after the cow is shot in the head.
An undercover activist shot the video at the farm in June and July, the animal rights group said.
Central Valley Meat Company said the closure of its facility caused economic hardship for the 450 people that work at the family-run plant.
'We have worked closely with both inspectors and industry experts while developing our USDA-approved action plan,' the company said in an emailed statement. 'As a result, Central Valley Meat will provide better training for our workers, better monitoring of our facilities, and more frequent third-party audits of our operations.'
The company told Reuters at the time of its suspension that it had retained an outside animal welfare expert to conduct an internal investigation.
In 2008, the Humane Society of the United States captured employees of a California meatpacking plant in Chino torturing cattle and processing the unfit animals for human consumption in a gruesome undercover videotape.
That video's release led to the record recall of nearly 143 million pounds (65 million kg) of meat by the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company.
(Reporting by Mary Slosson; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)
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The USDA suspended operations at the Central Valley Meat Company earlier this month after animal rights activists gave it a video showing cows at the facility flailing wildly as they are dragged by one leg on a conveyor belt on their way to be slaughtered.
'The company has committed to a number of corrective actions including additional humane handling training for employees and safeguards to ensure that only ambulatory animals are processed,' an agency spokesman said in an email.
The plant was allowed to resume operations as of Monday morning, although an investigation into possible food safety violations is continuing.
The company still is suspended from supplying meat to federal food programs, including the National School Lunch Program to which it contributed prior to the video's release, the USDA said.
The video, published online by activist group Compassion Over Killing, shows lame, sick former dairy cows being shot in the head multiple times and struggling before they die. In one portion of the video, a worker stands on a cow's nostrils to kill it after the cow is shot in the head.
An undercover activist shot the video at the farm in June and July, the animal rights group said.
Central Valley Meat Company said the closure of its facility caused economic hardship for the 450 people that work at the family-run plant.
'We have worked closely with both inspectors and industry experts while developing our USDA-approved action plan,' the company said in an emailed statement. 'As a result, Central Valley Meat will provide better training for our workers, better monitoring of our facilities, and more frequent third-party audits of our operations.'
The company told Reuters at the time of its suspension that it had retained an outside animal welfare expert to conduct an internal investigation.
In 2008, the Humane Society of the United States captured employees of a California meatpacking plant in Chino torturing cattle and processing the unfit animals for human consumption in a gruesome undercover videotape.
That video's release led to the record recall of nearly 143 million pounds (65 million kg) of meat by the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Company.
(Reporting by Mary Slosson; Editing by Cynthia Johnston)
This news article is brought to you by INTERNET NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Cambodia creates safe zones for Mekong dolphins
The Cambodian government on Friday said it will limit fishing in a zone in the Mekong River to protect critically endangered freshwater dolphins.
The Irrawaddy dolphin conservation area will cover a 180-kilometre-long (110 miles) stretch of river from eastern Kratie province to the border with Laos, the government said after the measure was approved in the weekly cabinet meeting.
Fishing will still be allowed inside the zone but the use of floating houses, fish cages and gill nets will be banned as they risk endangering the dolphins.
The government estimates there are between 155 and 175 Irrawaddy dolphins left in Cambodia's stretch of the Mekong River, while WWF last year put the figure at just 85.
The newly created zone 'will serve the eco-tourism sector and sustainably preserve dolphins,' the statement said.
Entanglement in gill nets is seen as the leading cause of death in adult Irrawaddy dolphins, according to conservation group WWF. The animals also suffer from high calf mortality rates, the cause of which remains unclear, and from habitat degradation.
Acting WWF-Cambodia country director Michelle Owen said the creation of the protection zone was 'welcome news' that 'demonstrates the commitment of the Cambodian government to conserve this iconic and endangered species'.
The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin has been listed as critically endangered since 2004, according to WWF.
Irrawaddy dolphins are also found in coastal areas in south and southeast Asia, in the Irrawaddy river in Myanmar and in the Mahakam river in Indonesia.
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The Irrawaddy dolphin conservation area will cover a 180-kilometre-long (110 miles) stretch of river from eastern Kratie province to the border with Laos, the government said after the measure was approved in the weekly cabinet meeting.
Fishing will still be allowed inside the zone but the use of floating houses, fish cages and gill nets will be banned as they risk endangering the dolphins.
The government estimates there are between 155 and 175 Irrawaddy dolphins left in Cambodia's stretch of the Mekong River, while WWF last year put the figure at just 85.
The newly created zone 'will serve the eco-tourism sector and sustainably preserve dolphins,' the statement said.
Entanglement in gill nets is seen as the leading cause of death in adult Irrawaddy dolphins, according to conservation group WWF. The animals also suffer from high calf mortality rates, the cause of which remains unclear, and from habitat degradation.
Acting WWF-Cambodia country director Michelle Owen said the creation of the protection zone was 'welcome news' that 'demonstrates the commitment of the Cambodian government to conserve this iconic and endangered species'.
The Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphin has been listed as critically endangered since 2004, according to WWF.
Irrawaddy dolphins are also found in coastal areas in south and southeast Asia, in the Irrawaddy river in Myanmar and in the Mahakam river in Indonesia.
This article is brought to you by PERSONALS.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Zoo Provides Meat 'Popsicles' to Keep Big Cats Cool
(M. Di Giovanni/AFP/Newscom)On a hot day, an ice pop hits the spot perfectly. Big cats at a zoo in Italy are enjoying their own version of the perfect summertime treat, but theirs is made with meat.The BBC reported that the zoo's employees at the Bioparco di Roma zoo in Rome made large frozen balls of meat for the animals, which apparently spent hours enjoying their treats.
The meat popsicles are helping the animals beat the heat wave that has been sweeping Italy this week.
(M. Di Giovanni/AFP/Newscom)Other animals, including monkeys, were served yogurt and fruit such as cantaloupe and watermelon, according to ANSA, Italy's news service. Bioparco di Roma zoo director Paul Giuntarelli said employees have also set up additional fountains and pools to keep the animals refreshed and "help fight boredom," ANSA reported.
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Berlin zoo's last panda, gift from China, dead at 34
The oldest male panda bear in the world, a gift from China to former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt, died Wednesday aged 34 in Berlin, its zoo said.
Bao Bao, the last remaining panda in Germany, was a present from then Chinese communist leader Hua Guofeng to Schmidt during a state visit in November 1980.
The panda lived with its companion Tjen Tjen until her death in 1984 and then was alone in Berlin, despite an unsuccessful attempt to mate him with a female panda called Ming Ming in London in 1991.
During another Chinese state visit, this time by Li Peng in 1994, another panda was promised to the zoo and one year later Yan Yan arrived in Berlin.
Again, all attempts to persuade Yan Yan and Bao Bao to mate proved unsuccessful and the female died in 2007 aged 22.
Bao Bao died 'peacefully in his sleep' early in the morning in his enclosure, the zoo said. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.
'Bao Bao will never be forgotten,' zoo official Heiner Kloes said in a sombre statement.
China is famed for its 'panda diplomacy', using the bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries. About 1,600 remain in the wild in China, with some 300 others in captivity worldwide -- mostly in China.
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Bao Bao, the last remaining panda in Germany, was a present from then Chinese communist leader Hua Guofeng to Schmidt during a state visit in November 1980.
The panda lived with its companion Tjen Tjen until her death in 1984 and then was alone in Berlin, despite an unsuccessful attempt to mate him with a female panda called Ming Ming in London in 1991.
During another Chinese state visit, this time by Li Peng in 1994, another panda was promised to the zoo and one year later Yan Yan arrived in Berlin.
Again, all attempts to persuade Yan Yan and Bao Bao to mate proved unsuccessful and the female died in 2007 aged 22.
Bao Bao died 'peacefully in his sleep' early in the morning in his enclosure, the zoo said. An autopsy is underway to determine the cause of death.
'Bao Bao will never be forgotten,' zoo official Heiner Kloes said in a sombre statement.
China is famed for its 'panda diplomacy', using the bears as diplomatic gifts to other countries. About 1,600 remain in the wild in China, with some 300 others in captivity worldwide -- mostly in China.
This news article is brought to you by CELEBRITY MUSIC NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Rome zoo cools tigers down with meat-flavoured lollies
Giant meat-flavoured ice lollies for the tigers and lions and frozen fruit and watermelons for the monkeys: Rome's main zoo is resorting to some resourceful methods to battle the current heatwave.
With temperatures hitting nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Italian capital, zookeepers said in a statement on Tuesday that they were trying to help some of the 1,000 animals 'confront the torrid heat.'
Tigers and lions can be seen pawing at that giant lollies about the size of the carnivores' heads, while monkeys are being given bamboo canes filled with yoghurt and frozen fruit as well as watermelons to cool themselves down.
'These tools are also a way of enriching their environment and allow the animals to sharpen their skills at finding food,' the zookeepers said.
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With temperatures hitting nearly 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in the Italian capital, zookeepers said in a statement on Tuesday that they were trying to help some of the 1,000 animals 'confront the torrid heat.'
Tigers and lions can be seen pawing at that giant lollies about the size of the carnivores' heads, while monkeys are being given bamboo canes filled with yoghurt and frozen fruit as well as watermelons to cool themselves down.
'These tools are also a way of enriching their environment and allow the animals to sharpen their skills at finding food,' the zookeepers said.
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Rogue Penguins Break Out of Zoo Yet Again
Some pesky penguins in the Japanese city of Suzaka are acting like characters in a 'Madagascar' movie and are giving zookeepers quite the headache with their repeated attempts to break free.
A pair of 3-month old chicks from Suzaka Zoo first escaped earlier this month by jumping off a slide. Zookeepers responded by attaching boards to the foot of the slide, but two days later another chick got out, by crawling under the fence, according to Japanese media reports. Keepers responded a second time, by sealing off the bottom of the fence.
Early this morning, that same bird made yet another successful escape by hopping over the fence. Zookeepers spotted it swimming in a nearby pond a few hours later.
Zoo officials say they plan to keep the four young penguins in an indoor cage with concrete walls and nets, for now.
Japan is no stranger to rogue birds. Earlier this year, a Humboldt penguin known only as 'Penguin 337? made a daring escape from a Tokyo aquarium and managed to elude capture for 82 days. He was eventually captured in Tokyo Bay.
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Endangered whales invade California coastal waters
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) - Grab your camera and binoculars: There's rarely been a better time to go whale-watching off the California coast.
Tourists from around the world have been flocking to Monterey Bay to catch a glimpse of the massive marine mammals, including impressive numbers of blue whales, the largest animals on earth.
Longtime observers say they've seen a sharp increase in endangered blue and humpback whales feeding near California shores, where they spend the spring and summer before heading to their winter breeding grounds off Mexico and Central America.
'It's phenomenal that these humongous creatures are out there and we just get to go out on a boat and go out and watch them,' said Santa Cruz resident Susan Stuart after a recent whale-watching cruise.
What's bringing the whales so close to shore? A bumper harvest of their favorite food: tiny, shrimplike critters known as krill.
Strong northwest winds have been pushing up cold, nutrient-rich waters from the ocean bottom - a phenomenon known as upwelling. That has fueled blooms of phytoplankton that have led to an explosion of krill, the main food source of blue and humpback whales.
'The season overall has been pretty exceptional and we're not done,' said Nancy Black, a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, which offers bay cruises twice daily.
The abundance of whales has been a boon to boat tour operators in Monterey Bay, whose deep underwater canyon makes it one of the best places to see whales, dolphins and other marine life.
'The word is out right now. If you want to see a whale or blue whale or several species of whale, now's the time to go for sure,' said Ken Stagnaro, co-owner, Santa Cruz Whale Watching, who estimates business has doubled this year over last year.
But the rebound in whale populations has led to a new problem: more collisions with the giant cargo ships heading in and out of San Francisco Bay, one of the world's busiest ports, experts say.
'When a ship strikes a whale, it's usually not a good outcome. Often times the vertebrae are broken and the whale dies,' said Maria Brown, superintendent of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Federal officials are working with conservation groups and the shipping industry on a plan to help protect the whales around San Francisco Bay. They want to reroute ship traffic and improve tracking of whales to reduce collisions.
Conservationists want to ensure that future generations get a chance to see the world's largest animals.
'When you see a whale in the wild, it's a life changing experience,' said Maureen Gilbert, an on-board naturalist for Santa Cruz Whale Watching. 'You're never the same person after you've had that kind of encounter with a wild animal.'
This news article is brought to you by ADVANCED DATING ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Tourists from around the world have been flocking to Monterey Bay to catch a glimpse of the massive marine mammals, including impressive numbers of blue whales, the largest animals on earth.
Longtime observers say they've seen a sharp increase in endangered blue and humpback whales feeding near California shores, where they spend the spring and summer before heading to their winter breeding grounds off Mexico and Central America.
'It's phenomenal that these humongous creatures are out there and we just get to go out on a boat and go out and watch them,' said Santa Cruz resident Susan Stuart after a recent whale-watching cruise.
What's bringing the whales so close to shore? A bumper harvest of their favorite food: tiny, shrimplike critters known as krill.
Strong northwest winds have been pushing up cold, nutrient-rich waters from the ocean bottom - a phenomenon known as upwelling. That has fueled blooms of phytoplankton that have led to an explosion of krill, the main food source of blue and humpback whales.
'The season overall has been pretty exceptional and we're not done,' said Nancy Black, a marine biologist with Monterey Bay Whale Watch, which offers bay cruises twice daily.
The abundance of whales has been a boon to boat tour operators in Monterey Bay, whose deep underwater canyon makes it one of the best places to see whales, dolphins and other marine life.
'The word is out right now. If you want to see a whale or blue whale or several species of whale, now's the time to go for sure,' said Ken Stagnaro, co-owner, Santa Cruz Whale Watching, who estimates business has doubled this year over last year.
But the rebound in whale populations has led to a new problem: more collisions with the giant cargo ships heading in and out of San Francisco Bay, one of the world's busiest ports, experts say.
'When a ship strikes a whale, it's usually not a good outcome. Often times the vertebrae are broken and the whale dies,' said Maria Brown, superintendent of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Federal officials are working with conservation groups and the shipping industry on a plan to help protect the whales around San Francisco Bay. They want to reroute ship traffic and improve tracking of whales to reduce collisions.
Conservationists want to ensure that future generations get a chance to see the world's largest animals.
'When you see a whale in the wild, it's a life changing experience,' said Maureen Gilbert, an on-board naturalist for Santa Cruz Whale Watching. 'You're never the same person after you've had that kind of encounter with a wild animal.'
This news article is brought to you by ADVANCED DATING ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, August 20, 2012
PC download charts: 'Counter Strike: GO', 'Sleeping Dogs'
Pre-orders for the new Counter Strike keep it top of the Steam chart on the verge of its August 21 release, while Hong Kong-based Sleeping Dogs makes a decent dent and anticipation builds for Guild Wars 2.
New release Sleeping Dogs, a tale of undercover police action among brutal triad gangs, reaches third on the Steam chart, second on Green Man Gaming, and GamersGate's European storefront has the Sleeping Dogs limited edition in second.
Guild Wars 2, the massively multiplayer adventure game, launches August 28, and clambers back up the Impulse and Green Man Gaming charts as players prepare themselves for launch night.
GamersGate, meanwhile, is still in the throes of a summer sale, as evidenced by the proliferation of re-entries.
Steam* (steampowered.com)
1. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (0)
2. Arma II: Combined Operations (+1)
3. Sleeping Dogs (+5)
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard (-2)
5. Borderlands 2 (-1)
*Steam chart based on revenue, not units
GameStop Impulse (impulsedriven.com)
1. Guild Wars 2 (re-entry)
2. Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe (re-entry)
3. Dishonored (new)
4. Blood Bowl Legendary Edition (re-entry)
5. Civilization V (re-entry)
GamersGate (gamersgate.com)
1. Supreme Commander 2 (re-entry)
2. Civilization V Game of the Year Edition (re-entry)
3. Settlers 7 Gold Edition (re-entry)
4. Total War: Shogun 2 - Fall of the Samurai (re-entry)
5. R.U.S.E. (re-entry)
Green Man Gaming (greenmangaming.com)
1. Borderlands 2 (+7)
2. Sleeping Dogs (+3)
3. Guild Wars 2 (0)
4. Dark Souls (+3)
5. Guild Wars 2: Digital Deluxe (re-entry)
GOG (gog.com)
1. XIII (re-entry)
2. Duke Nukem 3D (re-entry)
3. The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time (+1)
4. Cossacks Anthology (+5)
5. One Unit Whole Blood (re-entry)
This news article is brought to you by MUSIC UNITED 1 - where latest news are our top priority.
New release Sleeping Dogs, a tale of undercover police action among brutal triad gangs, reaches third on the Steam chart, second on Green Man Gaming, and GamersGate's European storefront has the Sleeping Dogs limited edition in second.
Guild Wars 2, the massively multiplayer adventure game, launches August 28, and clambers back up the Impulse and Green Man Gaming charts as players prepare themselves for launch night.
GamersGate, meanwhile, is still in the throes of a summer sale, as evidenced by the proliferation of re-entries.
Steam* (steampowered.com)
1. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (0)
2. Arma II: Combined Operations (+1)
3. Sleeping Dogs (+5)
4. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard (-2)
5. Borderlands 2 (-1)
*Steam chart based on revenue, not units
GameStop Impulse (impulsedriven.com)
1. Guild Wars 2 (re-entry)
2. Guild Wars 2 Digital Deluxe (re-entry)
3. Dishonored (new)
4. Blood Bowl Legendary Edition (re-entry)
5. Civilization V (re-entry)
GamersGate (gamersgate.com)
1. Supreme Commander 2 (re-entry)
2. Civilization V Game of the Year Edition (re-entry)
3. Settlers 7 Gold Edition (re-entry)
4. Total War: Shogun 2 - Fall of the Samurai (re-entry)
5. R.U.S.E. (re-entry)
Green Man Gaming (greenmangaming.com)
1. Borderlands 2 (+7)
2. Sleeping Dogs (+3)
3. Guild Wars 2 (0)
4. Dark Souls (+3)
5. Guild Wars 2: Digital Deluxe (re-entry)
GOG (gog.com)
1. XIII (re-entry)
2. Duke Nukem 3D (re-entry)
3. The Journeyman Project 3: Legacy of Time (+1)
4. Cossacks Anthology (+5)
5. One Unit Whole Blood (re-entry)
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Polar bear in German zoo died from zebra virus
A polar bear in a German zoo died and its companion barely survived after they fell sick with a mutated encephalitis virus that originated in zebras, scientists say.
The finding is a concern, for it shows how rare species in zoos can be at risk from species-jumping pathogens, they say.
The incident happened in Wuppertal Zoo, western Germany, in 2010, when a female bear called Jerka and her male companion Lars fell ill with encephalitis.
'The symptoms were quite shocking, and it was completely unclear at the time what was causing them,' Wuppertal vet Arne Lawrenz said in a press release issued on Thursday.
'We tried to stabilise both animals for days. In the case of Jerka, we were sadly unsuccessful. Fortunately, however, Lars recovered after several weeks and is still alive today.'
The next step was to hunt for the cause of the virus, and the result -- published in the journal Current Biology -- points to a hybrid virus that began in zebras but spread to other species.
It is a mix of the equine herpesvirus EHV 9 and a cousin virus, equine herpesvirus 1.
Still unresolved, though, is how the virus got to the polar bears, which are housed 68 metres (75 yards) from the zebras and are cared for by different keepers.
One theory is that other animals, possibly wild mice or rats, spread it around.
'These viruses do not seem to respect species boundaries and in fact we don't really know whether they have any,' said Klaus Osterrieder, a professor at Berlin's Free University, who took part in the probe headed by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research.
'One conundrum is that these viruses are not particularly stable in the environment, so it is important to figure out how they move between species.'
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.
The finding is a concern, for it shows how rare species in zoos can be at risk from species-jumping pathogens, they say.
The incident happened in Wuppertal Zoo, western Germany, in 2010, when a female bear called Jerka and her male companion Lars fell ill with encephalitis.
'The symptoms were quite shocking, and it was completely unclear at the time what was causing them,' Wuppertal vet Arne Lawrenz said in a press release issued on Thursday.
'We tried to stabilise both animals for days. In the case of Jerka, we were sadly unsuccessful. Fortunately, however, Lars recovered after several weeks and is still alive today.'
The next step was to hunt for the cause of the virus, and the result -- published in the journal Current Biology -- points to a hybrid virus that began in zebras but spread to other species.
It is a mix of the equine herpesvirus EHV 9 and a cousin virus, equine herpesvirus 1.
Still unresolved, though, is how the virus got to the polar bears, which are housed 68 metres (75 yards) from the zebras and are cared for by different keepers.
One theory is that other animals, possibly wild mice or rats, spread it around.
'These viruses do not seem to respect species boundaries and in fact we don't really know whether they have any,' said Klaus Osterrieder, a professor at Berlin's Free University, who took part in the probe headed by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research.
'One conundrum is that these viruses are not particularly stable in the environment, so it is important to figure out how they move between species.'
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITES.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Study off Mass. coast finds noise harming whales
BOSTON (AP) - Researchers say increasing amounts of underwater noise, largely from shipping traffic, are enveloping rare right whales in 'acoustic smog' that makes it harder for them to communicate.
The endangered North Atlantic right whale relies far more on sound than sight, using distinctive noises to maintain contact.
A paper by federal scientists and Cornell University researchers published Wednesday estimates that in the last 50 years, the area where the whales can effectively communicate in Stellwagen Bank and surrounding waters off Massachusetts has fallen by two-thirds because of the noise.
The researchers say the racket is cutting down on the animals' ability to gather and share vital information that helps them find food, avoid predators, reproduce and protect their young.
'Basically, the whales off Boston now find themselves living in a world full of our acoustic smog,' said Christopher Clark, director of Cornell's bioacoustics research program and a study co-author.
The paper's lead author, acoustics expert Leila Hatch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, compared the whales' plight to a person at a crowded cocktail party who must either speak up or leave the room to be heard.
In the whales' case, the animals might change the frequency or volume of their calls, which can limit the effectiveness of the communication and put them under physiological stress, Hatch said.
The slow-moving whale, which can grow to 55 feet and 70 tons, was nearly hunted to extinction in the 18th century. With only 350 to 550 North Atlantic right whales remaining, it's crucial to better understand specifically how the noise affects each one of them.
But the increasing noise demonstrated in the study has implications for other struggling whales who rely on sound to communicate.
'What we're trying to do is get these endangered species into better condition,' she said. 'There's some 'i's to dot and 't's to cross, to put it mildly.'
The potential effect of underwater noise on marine animals has been studied for years, including how manmade noises can mask the low-frequency sound whales make.
In the latest study, researchers sought to better measure the natural and man-caused noise levels in a particular area over a long period, as a crucial step toward figuring out how that noise level affects the animals.
The scientists used computer models, vessel tracking information and data from underwater microphones in Massachusetts Bay to study the noise in about 3,900 square miles of ocean, including the Stellwagen Bank marine sanctuary.
The study focused on April 2008, a month when federal scientists documented more than 22,000 contact calls between right whales. It found that during most of the time the background noise, combined with the intermittent sounds of the ship traffic, left the whales with an area where they could communicate that was 62 percent smaller than the area 50 years ago.
Actually reducing the ocean noise is complicated, given that the background noise is often generated outside U.S. waters and most of the vessels that transit into U.S. ports are based in foreign countries with various regulations.
In the past, shipping companies have expressed interest in quieting vessels, and Hatch said developing more efficient propellers is an example of a change that could also benefit the industry. But other steps, such as slowing down ships or retrofitting them with quiet propellers, would be too costly and likely rejected by the industry. So it's unclear exactly what can be done.
'It gets much more complicated, very quickly,' Hatch said.
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The endangered North Atlantic right whale relies far more on sound than sight, using distinctive noises to maintain contact.
A paper by federal scientists and Cornell University researchers published Wednesday estimates that in the last 50 years, the area where the whales can effectively communicate in Stellwagen Bank and surrounding waters off Massachusetts has fallen by two-thirds because of the noise.
The researchers say the racket is cutting down on the animals' ability to gather and share vital information that helps them find food, avoid predators, reproduce and protect their young.
'Basically, the whales off Boston now find themselves living in a world full of our acoustic smog,' said Christopher Clark, director of Cornell's bioacoustics research program and a study co-author.
The paper's lead author, acoustics expert Leila Hatch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, compared the whales' plight to a person at a crowded cocktail party who must either speak up or leave the room to be heard.
In the whales' case, the animals might change the frequency or volume of their calls, which can limit the effectiveness of the communication and put them under physiological stress, Hatch said.
The slow-moving whale, which can grow to 55 feet and 70 tons, was nearly hunted to extinction in the 18th century. With only 350 to 550 North Atlantic right whales remaining, it's crucial to better understand specifically how the noise affects each one of them.
But the increasing noise demonstrated in the study has implications for other struggling whales who rely on sound to communicate.
'What we're trying to do is get these endangered species into better condition,' she said. 'There's some 'i's to dot and 't's to cross, to put it mildly.'
The potential effect of underwater noise on marine animals has been studied for years, including how manmade noises can mask the low-frequency sound whales make.
In the latest study, researchers sought to better measure the natural and man-caused noise levels in a particular area over a long period, as a crucial step toward figuring out how that noise level affects the animals.
The scientists used computer models, vessel tracking information and data from underwater microphones in Massachusetts Bay to study the noise in about 3,900 square miles of ocean, including the Stellwagen Bank marine sanctuary.
The study focused on April 2008, a month when federal scientists documented more than 22,000 contact calls between right whales. It found that during most of the time the background noise, combined with the intermittent sounds of the ship traffic, left the whales with an area where they could communicate that was 62 percent smaller than the area 50 years ago.
Actually reducing the ocean noise is complicated, given that the background noise is often generated outside U.S. waters and most of the vessels that transit into U.S. ports are based in foreign countries with various regulations.
In the past, shipping companies have expressed interest in quieting vessels, and Hatch said developing more efficient propellers is an example of a change that could also benefit the industry. But other steps, such as slowing down ships or retrofitting them with quiet propellers, would be too costly and likely rejected by the industry. So it's unclear exactly what can be done.
'It gets much more complicated, very quickly,' Hatch said.
This news article is brought to you by MOVIE GOSSIP NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Review: Hong Kong has some bite in 'Sleeping Dogs'
You've just planted a surveillance bug on orders from your superior officer. As you sneak away you receive a text message. Your connection at the chop shop needs a high-end sports coupe. You spot the car and tear the driver from the front seat, kicking him in the midsection before speeding off to claim your money.
The line between hero and villain is wonderfully blurred in the action role-playing game 'Sleeping Dogs' (Square Enix for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99; for PC, $49.99).
As undercover mole Wei Shen you are tasked with infiltrating the Sun On Yee triad in a fictionalized and fantastically rendered version of Hong Kong. This simple premise sets up a series of moral dilemmas: Can you push yourself to the limit to gain trust and rise in the triad's hierarchy? Or will you waver and risk blowing your cover?
'Sleeping Dogs' is played in the traditional over-the-shoulder view of similar sandbox games such as 'Grand Theft Auto' and 'Saints Row.' While I could stoop to calling this a 'GTA' clone - the similarities are legion - the fluid combat, a few nice touches in the shooting mechanic and the exotic locale help it stand out quite a bit.
Finding the right balance to help the story progress is key, and the great voice acting - including Tom Wilkinson and Emma Stone, among others - and a solid script keep you engaged through a few clever twists and turns. Wei Shen's moral ambiguity and his personal stake in taking down the Sun On Yee begin to weigh on him as the game moves forward, making him one of the more well-drawn characters in the genre.
The role-playing elements consist of upgrades that fall under both police and triad skill trees. The more police tasks you complete, the more experience you gain to improve those skills; the same for triad tasks. This design forces you to choose certain skills at the expense of others, but you also need to maintain balance to throw off suspicion on both ends.
Completing minor tasks builds your 'Face' meter, which determines how people respond to you and earns you passive abilities such as hints on the minimap and a lackey who will bring you a car whenever you want. Increasing your face level unlocks new apparel and vehicles, giving you great incentive to bolster your street cred and bag that sweet ride.
You can travel to various martial arts schools scattered throughout the city to fight, join the street racing circuit or just drive around listening to one of several radio stations. Kerrang Radio, featuring British alt-rock, was my personal favorite.
There is money to be earned betting on cockfights, and you can visit a massage parlor to, um, ease the tension. (Yes, this game is rated Mature.) And then there's a hysterical karaoke minigame: Let's just say there's nothing like a heavily tattooed mob enforcer belting out Air Supply's 'All Out of Love.'
The melee action, which borrows heavily from the free-flow combat of Rocksteady's Batman games, will make you feel like a martial arts master as you unlock skills such as spinning heel kicks and flying roundhouses. And without question the coolest outfit you can earn is Bruce Lee's yellow jumpsuit from the film 'Game of Death.'
The shooting is tight and features some John Woo-inspired touches, including an upgrade that gives you the ability to leap from a moving car in slow motion with handguns blazing. 'Hard Boiled,' indeed.
'Sleeping Dogs' is not breaking any new ground in the action-RPG genre, but with an engrossing story line and plenty of wild things to do around Hong Kong, it's an excellent title that shouldn't be missed. Three and a half stars out of four.
___
Online:
http://www.sleepingdogs.net/
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.
The line between hero and villain is wonderfully blurred in the action role-playing game 'Sleeping Dogs' (Square Enix for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, $59.99; for PC, $49.99).
As undercover mole Wei Shen you are tasked with infiltrating the Sun On Yee triad in a fictionalized and fantastically rendered version of Hong Kong. This simple premise sets up a series of moral dilemmas: Can you push yourself to the limit to gain trust and rise in the triad's hierarchy? Or will you waver and risk blowing your cover?
'Sleeping Dogs' is played in the traditional over-the-shoulder view of similar sandbox games such as 'Grand Theft Auto' and 'Saints Row.' While I could stoop to calling this a 'GTA' clone - the similarities are legion - the fluid combat, a few nice touches in the shooting mechanic and the exotic locale help it stand out quite a bit.
Finding the right balance to help the story progress is key, and the great voice acting - including Tom Wilkinson and Emma Stone, among others - and a solid script keep you engaged through a few clever twists and turns. Wei Shen's moral ambiguity and his personal stake in taking down the Sun On Yee begin to weigh on him as the game moves forward, making him one of the more well-drawn characters in the genre.
The role-playing elements consist of upgrades that fall under both police and triad skill trees. The more police tasks you complete, the more experience you gain to improve those skills; the same for triad tasks. This design forces you to choose certain skills at the expense of others, but you also need to maintain balance to throw off suspicion on both ends.
Completing minor tasks builds your 'Face' meter, which determines how people respond to you and earns you passive abilities such as hints on the minimap and a lackey who will bring you a car whenever you want. Increasing your face level unlocks new apparel and vehicles, giving you great incentive to bolster your street cred and bag that sweet ride.
You can travel to various martial arts schools scattered throughout the city to fight, join the street racing circuit or just drive around listening to one of several radio stations. Kerrang Radio, featuring British alt-rock, was my personal favorite.
There is money to be earned betting on cockfights, and you can visit a massage parlor to, um, ease the tension. (Yes, this game is rated Mature.) And then there's a hysterical karaoke minigame: Let's just say there's nothing like a heavily tattooed mob enforcer belting out Air Supply's 'All Out of Love.'
The melee action, which borrows heavily from the free-flow combat of Rocksteady's Batman games, will make you feel like a martial arts master as you unlock skills such as spinning heel kicks and flying roundhouses. And without question the coolest outfit you can earn is Bruce Lee's yellow jumpsuit from the film 'Game of Death.'
The shooting is tight and features some John Woo-inspired touches, including an upgrade that gives you the ability to leap from a moving car in slow motion with handguns blazing. 'Hard Boiled,' indeed.
'Sleeping Dogs' is not breaking any new ground in the action-RPG genre, but with an engrossing story line and plenty of wild things to do around Hong Kong, it's an excellent title that shouldn't be missed. Three and a half stars out of four.
___
Online:
http://www.sleepingdogs.net/
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.
South Africa goes big on birth control for elephants
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - A South African province home to thousands of elephants is planning a birth control campaign for the pachyderms to prevent a population explosion that could threaten plants and wildlife.
Unlike other parts of Africa where elephant stocks have dwindled to dangerously low levels due to poaching and a loss of habitat, South Africa has seen its populations steadily grow through conservation, with the country pressed for room to house the massive animals with hefty diets.
KwaZulu-Natal province, in the southeast, is looking to expand a project running for more than a decade where elephants populations have been controlled by injecting cows with a vaccine that triggers an immune system response to block sperm reception.
'Slowing the growth rate will allow time to be gained to achieve other biodiversity objectives, such as land expansion, without having to cull the elephants,' said Catherine Hanekom, an ecologist for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
South Africa, which had just over 100 elephants nearly a century ago, now has more than 20,000, studies said.
The overpopulation problem is the most dire in neighboring Botswana, home to at least 133,000 elephants, where vast forests have been lost to satiate their appetites. With a human population of 2 million, it has the highest elephant-to-people ratio in Africa, at one for every 14 people.
Adult elephants consume about 100 to 300 kgs (220 to 660 pounds) of food a day and most elephants in South Africa are in fenced-in reserves where vegetation could be decimated if populations grow too large.
'Because we have taken away opportunities, they don't have the chance to remedy the overpopulation naturally as they would through migration,' said Audrey Delsink Kettles, an elephant ecologist who has been leading studies for years on contraception at Makalali Private Game Reserve.
Testing of the vaccine, administered by dart and requiring an annual booster, has been conducted at 14 small reserves. Studies have shown it is reversible, nearly 100 percent effective and has no adverse impact on elephant health or behavior, Kettles said.
Contraception is seen as a humane alternative for controlling populations over the other main options of culling herds or moving them vast distances to areas with more food.
The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International have backed the vaccine.
'Failure to control the reproduction of the species ... leads to a population that exceeds the carrying capacity of the reserve and to habitat degradation,' they said in statement.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by FREE PERSONALS.
Unlike other parts of Africa where elephant stocks have dwindled to dangerously low levels due to poaching and a loss of habitat, South Africa has seen its populations steadily grow through conservation, with the country pressed for room to house the massive animals with hefty diets.
KwaZulu-Natal province, in the southeast, is looking to expand a project running for more than a decade where elephants populations have been controlled by injecting cows with a vaccine that triggers an immune system response to block sperm reception.
'Slowing the growth rate will allow time to be gained to achieve other biodiversity objectives, such as land expansion, without having to cull the elephants,' said Catherine Hanekom, an ecologist for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
South Africa, which had just over 100 elephants nearly a century ago, now has more than 20,000, studies said.
The overpopulation problem is the most dire in neighboring Botswana, home to at least 133,000 elephants, where vast forests have been lost to satiate their appetites. With a human population of 2 million, it has the highest elephant-to-people ratio in Africa, at one for every 14 people.
Adult elephants consume about 100 to 300 kgs (220 to 660 pounds) of food a day and most elephants in South Africa are in fenced-in reserves where vegetation could be decimated if populations grow too large.
'Because we have taken away opportunities, they don't have the chance to remedy the overpopulation naturally as they would through migration,' said Audrey Delsink Kettles, an elephant ecologist who has been leading studies for years on contraception at Makalali Private Game Reserve.
Testing of the vaccine, administered by dart and requiring an annual booster, has been conducted at 14 small reserves. Studies have shown it is reversible, nearly 100 percent effective and has no adverse impact on elephant health or behavior, Kettles said.
Contraception is seen as a humane alternative for controlling populations over the other main options of culling herds or moving them vast distances to areas with more food.
The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International have backed the vaccine.
'Failure to control the reproduction of the species ... leads to a population that exceeds the carrying capacity of the reserve and to habitat degradation,' they said in statement.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz, editing by Paul Casciato)
This article is brought to you by FREE PERSONALS.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Wet Mammals Prove Masters of Shake 'n' Dry Technique
Next time the family dog bounds out of the nearest body of water and shakes itself off right beside you, don't get irritated: You're witnessing a feat of evolution that engineers can only dream of re-creating.
Furry mammals can shake themselves 70 percent dry in just a fraction of a second, according to new research. The study, which looked at the shaking speeds of 16 species of mammals, from mice to lions to bears, found that the smaller the animal, the faster it must shake to dry its fur.
'We think this has been evolving over millions of years of time to become so good,' said study researcher David Hu, who studies biolocomotion at Georgia Tech. 'Imagine if you could come out of the shower and, instead of using a towel, you could just press a button and in one-thirtieth of a second you're 70 percent dry.'
The findings could provide inspiration for self-cleaning and self-drying robotics, Hu told LiveScience. [Video: Watch the Animals Shake Dry in Slow-Motion]
Shaking to survive
For mammals, drying off is a matter of life and death, Hu said. A relatively hairless human emerging from a bath can carry up to a pound of water on his or her body. An immersed rat will emerge with 5 percent of its body mass in water clinging to its fur. And a wet ant can find itself staggering under three times its body weight in liquid. (Hu previously studied how mosquitoes can survive direct hits by raindrops during a storm.)
Drying off quickly is particularly critical in winter. Hu and his colleagues calculate that a 60-pound dog with a pound of water on its fur would use a full 20 percent of its daily caloric intake staying warm as it air-dried.
'Imagine you fell into the lake in the winter and had wet clothes all around you and couldn't dry,' Hu said.
Water would also be a challenge for autonomous robots that traipse around outdoors. Dust poses similar problems for electronics, Hu noted, citing NASA's Mars rovers. Modern Earthbound electronics often include internal shakers to dislodge dust, he said.
To find out how biology solved the self-cleaning problem, Hu and his colleagues went to the zoo and the park, as well as to the lab. They measured body sizes and shake speeds in 33 mammals from 16 species, ranging from guinea pigs and tiny juvenile mice to bears and lions. They also tested five breeds of dog.
'My graduate student had the pleasure of dousing them with a hose and measuring the frequency' of their shakes, Hu said, adding that no animals were harmed beyond momentary dampness in the process of the study.
To test drying speeds, the researchers also set up a 'wet-dog simulator,' a device that shook tufts of wet fur.
Shake it up
The researchers found that the bigger the animal, the slower it could shake to dry off. That's because the fur of a large animal shaking travels farther and is subject to more centripetal force than the fur of a small animal shaking. Centripetal forces are those that move an object in a circle. It's a bit like being on a merry-go-round: If you're at the edge of the merry-go-round, you're subject to greater force than if you're at the center.
So while a bear shakes about four times a second and a typical dog shakes four to six times per second to dry off, mice and rats have to move up to 10 times as quickly, the research revealed.
'They have to shake 30 times per second, which is unimaginable because their whole body is whipping back and forth,' Hu said.
The researchers also found that loose skin helped the drying process immensely, because the extra movement resulted in nine times the force than if the skin were tight. That could explain why hairy mammals tend to have some give in their skin, Hu said. [10 Things You Didn't Know About Dogs]
No matter their size, all of the mammals were about as efficient as possible as drying off quickly, Hu said.
'I don't think we're going to make a Mars rover in the shape of a dog or anything like that,' he said. 'But if people can think about how animals do this so quickly, they'll get an idea of what is possible.'
Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience@livescience. We're also on Facebook &Google+.
This news article is brought to you by PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Furry mammals can shake themselves 70 percent dry in just a fraction of a second, according to new research. The study, which looked at the shaking speeds of 16 species of mammals, from mice to lions to bears, found that the smaller the animal, the faster it must shake to dry its fur.
'We think this has been evolving over millions of years of time to become so good,' said study researcher David Hu, who studies biolocomotion at Georgia Tech. 'Imagine if you could come out of the shower and, instead of using a towel, you could just press a button and in one-thirtieth of a second you're 70 percent dry.'
The findings could provide inspiration for self-cleaning and self-drying robotics, Hu told LiveScience. [Video: Watch the Animals Shake Dry in Slow-Motion]
Shaking to survive
For mammals, drying off is a matter of life and death, Hu said. A relatively hairless human emerging from a bath can carry up to a pound of water on his or her body. An immersed rat will emerge with 5 percent of its body mass in water clinging to its fur. And a wet ant can find itself staggering under three times its body weight in liquid. (Hu previously studied how mosquitoes can survive direct hits by raindrops during a storm.)
Drying off quickly is particularly critical in winter. Hu and his colleagues calculate that a 60-pound dog with a pound of water on its fur would use a full 20 percent of its daily caloric intake staying warm as it air-dried.
'Imagine you fell into the lake in the winter and had wet clothes all around you and couldn't dry,' Hu said.
Water would also be a challenge for autonomous robots that traipse around outdoors. Dust poses similar problems for electronics, Hu noted, citing NASA's Mars rovers. Modern Earthbound electronics often include internal shakers to dislodge dust, he said.
To find out how biology solved the self-cleaning problem, Hu and his colleagues went to the zoo and the park, as well as to the lab. They measured body sizes and shake speeds in 33 mammals from 16 species, ranging from guinea pigs and tiny juvenile mice to bears and lions. They also tested five breeds of dog.
'My graduate student had the pleasure of dousing them with a hose and measuring the frequency' of their shakes, Hu said, adding that no animals were harmed beyond momentary dampness in the process of the study.
To test drying speeds, the researchers also set up a 'wet-dog simulator,' a device that shook tufts of wet fur.
Shake it up
The researchers found that the bigger the animal, the slower it could shake to dry off. That's because the fur of a large animal shaking travels farther and is subject to more centripetal force than the fur of a small animal shaking. Centripetal forces are those that move an object in a circle. It's a bit like being on a merry-go-round: If you're at the edge of the merry-go-round, you're subject to greater force than if you're at the center.
So while a bear shakes about four times a second and a typical dog shakes four to six times per second to dry off, mice and rats have to move up to 10 times as quickly, the research revealed.
'They have to shake 30 times per second, which is unimaginable because their whole body is whipping back and forth,' Hu said.
The researchers also found that loose skin helped the drying process immensely, because the extra movement resulted in nine times the force than if the skin were tight. That could explain why hairy mammals tend to have some give in their skin, Hu said. [10 Things You Didn't Know About Dogs]
No matter their size, all of the mammals were about as efficient as possible as drying off quickly, Hu said.
'I don't think we're going to make a Mars rover in the shape of a dog or anything like that,' he said. 'But if people can think about how animals do this so quickly, they'll get an idea of what is possible.'
Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience@livescience. We're also on Facebook &Google+.
- Gallery: Dazzling Photos of Dew-Covered Insects
- Twisted Physics: 7 Mind-Blowing Findings
- Liquid Sculptures: Drop-Dead Gorgeous Photos of Falling Water
This news article is brought to you by PERSONAL FINANCE BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Dog treadmill sales brisk as pets shape up
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Like any true celebrity, Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from 'The Artist' and 'Water for Elephants,' puts in his time on the treadmill.
At 10, Uggie doesn't do a heavy workout, just a light trot and walking, said owner-trainer Omar Von Muller of Los Angeles. But Von Muller bought Uggie a DogPacer for those times when he can't go out because of weather, work or paparazzi.
'It's important to keep him in shape,' Von Muller said. 'If they don't get their exercise, they get old too fast, just like people.'
Some 3 million dogs across the country were using treadmills in 2010, according to a survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association. The group asked about treadmills for the first time in its 2011/2012 survey because the machines were selling so briskly, APPA President Bob Vetere said.
It may look like the dog is going nowhere. But pet owners with fat, old or misbehaving dogs say they measure the benefits of canine treadmills in pounds, years and sleep.
Heather Chau borrowed a DogPacer when her rescue dog Heidi arrived weighing 115 pounds. Heidi is now down to 80 pounds, and Chau, a Las Vegas bookkeeper, was so impressed, she returned the donated DogPacer and bought her own.
Now all four of her dogs use the treadmill. Chau explains that she can't walk four dogs at a time, and summer in Las Vegas heats up early and winds down late.
'I want to make sure the rest of their lives are the healthiest we can make them. If the treadmill promotes a longer life, then it's easy to do it each day. Whatever they have been through is in the past. Whatever we can do now to help them lead a healthier, better life is worth it,' Chau said.
Treadmills come in a range of sizes and prices.
At LA Dog Works in Los Angeles, owner Andrew Rosenthal has a DogPacer, one of the newest and least expensive on the market at $499, that his Alsatian German shepherd Josh likes to use.
Rosenthal's 24-hour dog care center, which includes boarding, grooming, training, daycare, hydrotherapy, massage therapy and a retail store, also uses a $3,000 Jog A Dog and a $40,000 underwater treadmill.
The most visible difference between a human treadmill and a canine treadmill is the size, because a dog's stride is longer and his body shorter than a human's, said David Ezra, the owner of Las Vegas-based DogPacer. DogPacer plans to release a treadmill for toy dogs in September and the price will be smaller too, Ezra said.
The Pooch Hotel in Los Angeles, owned by Petco Animal Supplies Inc., offers a treadmill to help keep pets in shape. About half the dog population has some kind of weight problem, so it was a no-brainer, said Jason Michal, who runs the hotels as Petco's vice president of pet services and hospitality.
For home use, Pennsylvania-based GoPet has canine treadmills and a treadwheel, which looks like a giant hamster wheel, for small to large breeds, ranging from $475 to $1,225.
Dog trainer April Suhr of Las Vegas believes shelters across the country could make animals more adoptable if the animals used treadmills just two or three days a week.
It's easy for a dog in a shelter to go cage crazy, she said. 'They pace. They don't focus. They bark. They won't eat. They won't make eye contact.'
The answer is exercise, she said. 'It's why the gym is so good for us when we are stressed out. It puts our endorphins to good use.'
Suhr, who volunteers at Adopt a Rescue Pet and has her own business, 4 Pawz On The Floor, also works part-time in a pet superstore. She brought a rescue dog, Max, to the store every week to use the machine.
'Not only did he calm down, but he was using the treadmill one day when a woman came in, saw him, fell in love with him and adopted him,' she said.
Suhr has one at her home for her three pets and her foster dogs. Suhr figures she would have to run miles and miles and spend hours and hours to get all her dogs as much exercise as they get on the treadmill in minutes.
Marie Czarnecki, 73, of Las Vegas is having her left knee replaced in a few weeks and will be out of commission for a few months.
She ordered a DogPacer the first day she saw one at her trainer's office. Her shelties, Dee Dee, 6, and Sundance, 3, have been using it for several months. She calls it the best thing in her garage besides her car.
'Now I take them out with a leash, they get on, I set it and they go twice a day for 10 minutes,' she said. 'They run over a mile a day and they do like it.'
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
At 10, Uggie doesn't do a heavy workout, just a light trot and walking, said owner-trainer Omar Von Muller of Los Angeles. But Von Muller bought Uggie a DogPacer for those times when he can't go out because of weather, work or paparazzi.
'It's important to keep him in shape,' Von Muller said. 'If they don't get their exercise, they get old too fast, just like people.'
Some 3 million dogs across the country were using treadmills in 2010, according to a survey of pet owners by the American Pet Products Association. The group asked about treadmills for the first time in its 2011/2012 survey because the machines were selling so briskly, APPA President Bob Vetere said.
It may look like the dog is going nowhere. But pet owners with fat, old or misbehaving dogs say they measure the benefits of canine treadmills in pounds, years and sleep.
Heather Chau borrowed a DogPacer when her rescue dog Heidi arrived weighing 115 pounds. Heidi is now down to 80 pounds, and Chau, a Las Vegas bookkeeper, was so impressed, she returned the donated DogPacer and bought her own.
Now all four of her dogs use the treadmill. Chau explains that she can't walk four dogs at a time, and summer in Las Vegas heats up early and winds down late.
'I want to make sure the rest of their lives are the healthiest we can make them. If the treadmill promotes a longer life, then it's easy to do it each day. Whatever they have been through is in the past. Whatever we can do now to help them lead a healthier, better life is worth it,' Chau said.
Treadmills come in a range of sizes and prices.
At LA Dog Works in Los Angeles, owner Andrew Rosenthal has a DogPacer, one of the newest and least expensive on the market at $499, that his Alsatian German shepherd Josh likes to use.
Rosenthal's 24-hour dog care center, which includes boarding, grooming, training, daycare, hydrotherapy, massage therapy and a retail store, also uses a $3,000 Jog A Dog and a $40,000 underwater treadmill.
The most visible difference between a human treadmill and a canine treadmill is the size, because a dog's stride is longer and his body shorter than a human's, said David Ezra, the owner of Las Vegas-based DogPacer. DogPacer plans to release a treadmill for toy dogs in September and the price will be smaller too, Ezra said.
The Pooch Hotel in Los Angeles, owned by Petco Animal Supplies Inc., offers a treadmill to help keep pets in shape. About half the dog population has some kind of weight problem, so it was a no-brainer, said Jason Michal, who runs the hotels as Petco's vice president of pet services and hospitality.
For home use, Pennsylvania-based GoPet has canine treadmills and a treadwheel, which looks like a giant hamster wheel, for small to large breeds, ranging from $475 to $1,225.
Dog trainer April Suhr of Las Vegas believes shelters across the country could make animals more adoptable if the animals used treadmills just two or three days a week.
It's easy for a dog in a shelter to go cage crazy, she said. 'They pace. They don't focus. They bark. They won't eat. They won't make eye contact.'
The answer is exercise, she said. 'It's why the gym is so good for us when we are stressed out. It puts our endorphins to good use.'
Suhr, who volunteers at Adopt a Rescue Pet and has her own business, 4 Pawz On The Floor, also works part-time in a pet superstore. She brought a rescue dog, Max, to the store every week to use the machine.
'Not only did he calm down, but he was using the treadmill one day when a woman came in, saw him, fell in love with him and adopted him,' she said.
Suhr has one at her home for her three pets and her foster dogs. Suhr figures she would have to run miles and miles and spend hours and hours to get all her dogs as much exercise as they get on the treadmill in minutes.
Marie Czarnecki, 73, of Las Vegas is having her left knee replaced in a few weeks and will be out of commission for a few months.
She ordered a DogPacer the first day she saw one at her trainer's office. Her shelties, Dee Dee, 6, and Sundance, 3, have been using it for several months. She calls it the best thing in her garage besides her car.
'Now I take them out with a leash, they get on, I set it and they go twice a day for 10 minutes,' she said. 'They run over a mile a day and they do like it.'
This news article is brought to you by RELATIONSHIPS ADVICE - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Lady Gaga blasted by PETA over fur photos
LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - PETA is really letting the fur fly over Lady Gaga's wardrobe.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals senior vice president Dan Mathews penned a scathing open letter to the 'Poker Face' singer Monday, accusing the chanteuse of backing down from her anti-fur stance by sporting animal pelts in recent photos.
'Many of your gay fans, I among them, have long admired what you told Ellen: 'I hate fur and I don't wear fur,' Mathews' letter begins, referring to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. ' these recent photos of you in fox and rabbit and with a wolf carcass make it appear that you have amnesia.'
Mathews goes on to ask Gaga if she's done an about-face on the subject of animal fur and suggests that the singer just might be targeted by the group when it cranks up its new awareness campaigns this fall.
'What happened? Are your stylists telling you that it's fake, or are you a turncoat?' Mathews wonders. 'Many gays are animal advocates because we recognize that the same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animal suffering has at times been directed toward us personally because of our orientation. PETA has long participated in Pride events around the country, and just last week, we helped lead protests against Chick-fil-A. But by wearing those dumb furs in a heat wave, you're making yourself a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian.
'As we plan our fall campaigns, please tell us whether what you gracefully told Ellen was heartfelt or just a pose,' Mathews concludes.
Odd, one would think, that after Gaga sported an outfit made of animal flesh at the MTV Video Music Awards a couple of years ago, there would be precious little left for PETA to complain about.
A spokeswoman for the singer has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.
This news article is brought to you by TAXES BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals senior vice president Dan Mathews penned a scathing open letter to the 'Poker Face' singer Monday, accusing the chanteuse of backing down from her anti-fur stance by sporting animal pelts in recent photos.
'Many of your gay fans, I among them, have long admired what you told Ellen: 'I hate fur and I don't wear fur,' Mathews' letter begins, referring to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres. ' these recent photos of you in fox and rabbit and with a wolf carcass make it appear that you have amnesia.'
Mathews goes on to ask Gaga if she's done an about-face on the subject of animal fur and suggests that the singer just might be targeted by the group when it cranks up its new awareness campaigns this fall.
'What happened? Are your stylists telling you that it's fake, or are you a turncoat?' Mathews wonders. 'Many gays are animal advocates because we recognize that the same arrogance and indifference that some have toward animal suffering has at times been directed toward us personally because of our orientation. PETA has long participated in Pride events around the country, and just last week, we helped lead protests against Chick-fil-A. But by wearing those dumb furs in a heat wave, you're making yourself a target just like the mindless Kim Kardashian.
'As we plan our fall campaigns, please tell us whether what you gracefully told Ellen was heartfelt or just a pose,' Mathews concludes.
Odd, one would think, that after Gaga sported an outfit made of animal flesh at the MTV Video Music Awards a couple of years ago, there would be precious little left for PETA to complain about.
A spokeswoman for the singer has not yet responded to TheWrap's request for comment.
This news article is brought to you by TAXES BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Dolphins say decision to cut Johnson was "not reactive"
(Reuters) - The decision to release Chad Johnson shortly after the six-times Pro Bowl wide receiver was arrested in a domestic violence case was not a reactionary one, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins said on Monday.
The move brought a swift end to Johnson's tenure with the Dolphins, where he was hoping to rejuvenate his National Football League (NFL) career, after a dismal season spent with the New England Patriots.
'As with any type of these decisions, it was not an easy one, it was not reactive, nor was it based on one single incident,' Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin told reporters.
'In making these decisions we base our evaluations on a set of criteria that support our organizational goals and include a player's performance both on and off the field.'
Johnson signed with the Dolphins on June 11, seeking a fresh start following a season in which he had 15 receptions for 276 yards and one touchdown, considerably off his career highs.
The Dolphins issued a one-sentence statement late on Sunday to say they cut Johnson, about 24 hours after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after he allegedly head-butted his wife during an argument at their home.
Questions about Johnson dominated Philbin's Monday media briefing, where the head coach insisted the decision was based on the receiver's time with the team and not just the developments over the weekend.
'It was more a body of evidence from June 11th forward,' said Philbin.
'When he came in on June 11, we sat down and we talked and I was very clear as to the expectations of the program. It just didn't work out.
'It's more about the fit; in my gut I didn't think the fit was going to be beneficial to either party moving forward, whether in the short-term or the long-term.
'That's really what it was all about. It wasn't about one specific thing.'
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Matt Barker)
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The move brought a swift end to Johnson's tenure with the Dolphins, where he was hoping to rejuvenate his National Football League (NFL) career, after a dismal season spent with the New England Patriots.
'As with any type of these decisions, it was not an easy one, it was not reactive, nor was it based on one single incident,' Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin told reporters.
'In making these decisions we base our evaluations on a set of criteria that support our organizational goals and include a player's performance both on and off the field.'
Johnson signed with the Dolphins on June 11, seeking a fresh start following a season in which he had 15 receptions for 276 yards and one touchdown, considerably off his career highs.
The Dolphins issued a one-sentence statement late on Sunday to say they cut Johnson, about 24 hours after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence after he allegedly head-butted his wife during an argument at their home.
Questions about Johnson dominated Philbin's Monday media briefing, where the head coach insisted the decision was based on the receiver's time with the team and not just the developments over the weekend.
'It was more a body of evidence from June 11th forward,' said Philbin.
'When he came in on June 11, we sat down and we talked and I was very clear as to the expectations of the program. It just didn't work out.
'It's more about the fit; in my gut I didn't think the fit was going to be beneficial to either party moving forward, whether in the short-term or the long-term.
'That's really what it was all about. It wasn't about one specific thing.'
(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Matt Barker)
This news article is brought to you by STOCK MARKET BLOG - where latest news are our top priority.
Police end first PETA protest in Cambodia
Baffled police broke up animal rights group PETA's first protest in Cambodia Monday, saying activists who sat in a cage outside a KFC outlet had disturbed 'public order' with their 'strange' actions.
The two foreign campaigners from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the protest in the capital Phnom Penh was meant to raise awareness of the alleged cruel treatment of chickens by the fast food chain, which has 10 restaurants in the country.
Preap Borei, a deputy police chief of the capital's Daun Penh district, said the duo were asked to stop their protest because it 'affected public order' and were briefly taken in for questioning before being let go.
'We wanted to know the reason for the protest because it's strange. In Cambodia, no one wants to be caged, but they got into the cage by themselves,' he told AFP.
One of the protesters, PETA Asia director Jason Baker, said the lives of the poultry went from 'shell to hell'.
'Most people don't realise the chickens' beaks are cut off, that they are crammed into spaces so small they can't spread their wings,' he told AFP from inside the coop, shortly before he and his colleague were escorted to a local police station.
The short-lived stunt, a novelty in a country where animal welfare issues get little attention, attracted several dozen curious onlookers.
'We don't have much knowledge about animal rights. Mainly we're concerned about chemicals in animals that can affect our own health,' KFC customer Khuon Daroeurn said.
The 32-year-old travel agency employee added that PETA's protest was likely too small to have much impact. 'I don't think many people will think about it,' she said.
Benjamin Jerome, general manager of Cambodia's KFC restaurants, said KFC got its chicken from 'reliable' US suppliers who met 'international standards'. He said he did not believe the animals were subject to cruelty.
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The two foreign campaigners from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said the protest in the capital Phnom Penh was meant to raise awareness of the alleged cruel treatment of chickens by the fast food chain, which has 10 restaurants in the country.
Preap Borei, a deputy police chief of the capital's Daun Penh district, said the duo were asked to stop their protest because it 'affected public order' and were briefly taken in for questioning before being let go.
'We wanted to know the reason for the protest because it's strange. In Cambodia, no one wants to be caged, but they got into the cage by themselves,' he told AFP.
One of the protesters, PETA Asia director Jason Baker, said the lives of the poultry went from 'shell to hell'.
'Most people don't realise the chickens' beaks are cut off, that they are crammed into spaces so small they can't spread their wings,' he told AFP from inside the coop, shortly before he and his colleague were escorted to a local police station.
The short-lived stunt, a novelty in a country where animal welfare issues get little attention, attracted several dozen curious onlookers.
'We don't have much knowledge about animal rights. Mainly we're concerned about chemicals in animals that can affect our own health,' KFC customer Khuon Daroeurn said.
The 32-year-old travel agency employee added that PETA's protest was likely too small to have much impact. 'I don't think many people will think about it,' she said.
Benjamin Jerome, general manager of Cambodia's KFC restaurants, said KFC got its chicken from 'reliable' US suppliers who met 'international standards'. He said he did not believe the animals were subject to cruelty.
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING SITE.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
WR Chad Johnson released by Dolphins
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - As the Miami Dolphins took the field for practice Sunday, Chad Johnson was getting out of jail.
Hours later, he was out of work.
The Dolphins terminated the six-time Pro Bowl receiver's contract about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife.
Johnson had been released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor.
The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show 'Basketball Wives.' The 34-year-old Johnson had been battling for a spot on the team after a disappointing season with the New England Patriots in 2011.
Following Sunday's practice, coach Joe Philbin said he would meet soon with Johnson.
'We're going to deal with this,' Philbin said. 'We're not going to waste time. ... We're all in this thing together. Everybody that sets foot in this building, we're all held to a high standard.'
Only five days earlier, Philbin said Johnson's roster spot could be in jeopardy if he didn't temper his freewheeling behavior. Johnson annoyed the coach by frequently using profanity during a session with reporters.
Johnson's defense attorney, Adam Swickle, said an order has been issued that prevents Johnson from contacting Lozada. Swickle declined to comment further.
Johnson - who recently changed his name from Chad Ochocinco - was arrested Saturday after Lozada confronted him about a receipt she found for a box of condoms, police said. According to an arrest affidavit, Lozada said she was taking groceries into their home when she found the receipt in the car trunk.
When the two were seated back in the car, they began talking about the receipt and their marriage. That's when Johnson got upset and head-butted his wife, the report said.
Lozada ran to a neighbor's house and called police. A responding officer said Lozada had a 3-inch cut on her forehead, according to the affidavit, while Johnson did not have any visible marks or bruises. When questioned by police, he confirmed there was an argument over the receipt, but said his wife had head-butted him.
Even before his arrest, Johnson was battling to salvage his career. He was released by the Patriots after totaling only 15 receptions last season. He dropped the lone pass thrown his way Friday night in the Dolphins' first exhibition game.
News of the arrest spread quickly Saturday, an off day for the team.
'I was shocked,' tight end Charles Clay said. 'Of course, you don't want things like that to happen.'
Johnson has long been known for outlandish antics that annoyed his teammates as well as coaches. Philbin, a first-year head coach, talked with his players about Johnson's arrest before the player was released.
'I reminded them that on April 10 in our first team meetings, I said, 'Guys, I'd love to stand up here and tell you we're never going to have a problem here in Miami,'' Philbin said. 'Do we want high-character guys? Yes. All 31 other coaches are going to say the same thing. But I specifically told them on April 10 that there will be problems that arise and you have to deal with them honestly and openly and directly. You've got to learn from mistakes and move on, and you can't hide from the problem.'
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He could also receive community service, probation or anger management classes.
Johnson was known as Ochocinco for the past four seasons but changed his name back to Johnson after his July 4 wedding. The name was a playful reference to his uniform No. 85.
Johnson and Lozada were prominent in the recent first episode of HBO's 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins.'
VH1's 'Basketball Wives' is filmed in Miami and also features Shaunie O'Neal, the former wife of former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Lozada is the former fiancee of NBA player Antoine Walker.
This news article is brought to you by GAMING NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Hours later, he was out of work.
The Dolphins terminated the six-time Pro Bowl receiver's contract about 24 hours after he was arrested in a domestic battery case involving his wife.
Johnson had been released from jail on $2,500 bond earlier Sunday after his wife accused him of head-butting her during an argument in front of their home. Johnson was charged with simple domestic battery, a misdemeanor.
The confrontation came barely a month after Johnson married Evelyn Lozada, who is on the reality TV show 'Basketball Wives.' The 34-year-old Johnson had been battling for a spot on the team after a disappointing season with the New England Patriots in 2011.
Following Sunday's practice, coach Joe Philbin said he would meet soon with Johnson.
'We're going to deal with this,' Philbin said. 'We're not going to waste time. ... We're all in this thing together. Everybody that sets foot in this building, we're all held to a high standard.'
Only five days earlier, Philbin said Johnson's roster spot could be in jeopardy if he didn't temper his freewheeling behavior. Johnson annoyed the coach by frequently using profanity during a session with reporters.
Johnson's defense attorney, Adam Swickle, said an order has been issued that prevents Johnson from contacting Lozada. Swickle declined to comment further.
Johnson - who recently changed his name from Chad Ochocinco - was arrested Saturday after Lozada confronted him about a receipt she found for a box of condoms, police said. According to an arrest affidavit, Lozada said she was taking groceries into their home when she found the receipt in the car trunk.
When the two were seated back in the car, they began talking about the receipt and their marriage. That's when Johnson got upset and head-butted his wife, the report said.
Lozada ran to a neighbor's house and called police. A responding officer said Lozada had a 3-inch cut on her forehead, according to the affidavit, while Johnson did not have any visible marks or bruises. When questioned by police, he confirmed there was an argument over the receipt, but said his wife had head-butted him.
Even before his arrest, Johnson was battling to salvage his career. He was released by the Patriots after totaling only 15 receptions last season. He dropped the lone pass thrown his way Friday night in the Dolphins' first exhibition game.
News of the arrest spread quickly Saturday, an off day for the team.
'I was shocked,' tight end Charles Clay said. 'Of course, you don't want things like that to happen.'
Johnson has long been known for outlandish antics that annoyed his teammates as well as coaches. Philbin, a first-year head coach, talked with his players about Johnson's arrest before the player was released.
'I reminded them that on April 10 in our first team meetings, I said, 'Guys, I'd love to stand up here and tell you we're never going to have a problem here in Miami,'' Philbin said. 'Do we want high-character guys? Yes. All 31 other coaches are going to say the same thing. But I specifically told them on April 10 that there will be problems that arise and you have to deal with them honestly and openly and directly. You've got to learn from mistakes and move on, and you can't hide from the problem.'
If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. He could also receive community service, probation or anger management classes.
Johnson was known as Ochocinco for the past four seasons but changed his name back to Johnson after his July 4 wedding. The name was a playful reference to his uniform No. 85.
Johnson and Lozada were prominent in the recent first episode of HBO's 'Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Miami Dolphins.'
VH1's 'Basketball Wives' is filmed in Miami and also features Shaunie O'Neal, the former wife of former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal. Lozada is the former fiancee of NBA player Antoine Walker.
This news article is brought to you by GAMING NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Dolphins receiver Chad Johnson arrested on domestic violence charge
(Reuters) - Miami Dolphins wide receiver Chad Johnson was arrested on Saturday and charged with domestic violence after his wife accused the former All-Star of head-butting her, police said.
The arrest comes just over a month after Johnson married VH1 reality star Evelyn Lozada of the show 'Basketball Wives.'
The couple were sitting in a car in front of their house in Davie, about 20 miles north of Miami, and having an argument over a receipt for condoms that his wife found, said Davie Police spokesman Captain Dale Engle.
'The argument got pretty heated, to the point where she claims he leaned over and head-butted her,' Engle told Reuters. 'He claims she leaned over to the point where they banged heads.'
Lozada suffered a cut to the forehead and was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital, police said.
It was not immediately clear if Johnson has an attorney to represent him in the case.
He has been charged with domestic violence simple battery and will remain in jail until he can be brought before a judge on Sunday or Monday, Engle said.
Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, is a colorful wide receiver who formerly went by the name Ochocinco.
Before joining the Miami Dolphins in advance of the 2012 season, he played last season for the New England Patriots and 10 years before that for the Cincinnati Bengals.
(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis)
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The arrest comes just over a month after Johnson married VH1 reality star Evelyn Lozada of the show 'Basketball Wives.'
The couple were sitting in a car in front of their house in Davie, about 20 miles north of Miami, and having an argument over a receipt for condoms that his wife found, said Davie Police spokesman Captain Dale Engle.
'The argument got pretty heated, to the point where she claims he leaned over and head-butted her,' Engle told Reuters. 'He claims she leaned over to the point where they banged heads.'
Lozada suffered a cut to the forehead and was treated at the scene and taken to a hospital, police said.
It was not immediately clear if Johnson has an attorney to represent him in the case.
He has been charged with domestic violence simple battery and will remain in jail until he can be brought before a judge on Sunday or Monday, Engle said.
Johnson, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, is a colorful wide receiver who formerly went by the name Ochocinco.
Before joining the Miami Dolphins in advance of the 2012 season, he played last season for the New England Patriots and 10 years before that for the Cincinnati Bengals.
(Reporting By Alex Dobuzinskis)
This article is brought to you by FREE DATING.
Pod of Dolphins Get Up Close With Camera
A pod of dolphins showed their playful and curious personalities, seemingly mesmerized by an underwater camera that captured them 20 miles off the coast of Santa Cruz, Calif.
The footage of the dolphins, which appear cartoon-like as they swim through clear water, has more than 100,000 views since tuna fisherman Mark Peters, 42, posted the video three days ago.
'It's a unique perspective, eye to eye,' Peters said. 'I am blown away by the number of views.'
He intended to capture images of tuna striking lures from his GoPro underwater camera, which he towed from his boat, but when Peters and his friends encountered a pod of dolphins, they slowed their boat down and allowed the mammals to interact with the camera.
'They were following the camera and looking at it head on,' Peters said. 'That pod probably had 500 dolphins in it. It was half a mile long, but you see about 15 in the video.'
The recreational fisherman, said he has played around with his GoPro underwater cameras in the past and posted videos on a fishing forum, but he never expected his audience would go beyond the fishing community.
Peters said he plans to take his camera on future fishing trips and hopefully capture more footage of marine life.
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Thursday, August 9, 2012
Seven rare rhinos spotted in Indonesian jungle
Seven Sumatran rhinos have been captured on hidden cameras in an Indonesian national park where the critically endangered species was feared extinct, a conservationist said Thursday.
The Sumatran rhino had not been sighted in the Mount Leuser National Park on the northern tip of Sumatra for 26 years, the project's team leader Tarmizi of the Leuser International Foundation said.
'This discovery can allay doubts over the rhino's presence in the park,' Tarmizi told AFP, adding he hoped the discovery would encourage more efforts to conserve the species.
Images of the rhinos were captured by 28 infrared cameras set up between June 2011 and April this year and confirmed six female and one male rhino appearing in 1,000 photo frames.
The Sumatran rhino population has dropped 50 percent over the past 20 years, and there are now believed to be fewer than 200 left in the world.
The rhinos are commonly targeted by poachers and rampant illegal logging has destroyed much of their habitat.
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The Sumatran rhino had not been sighted in the Mount Leuser National Park on the northern tip of Sumatra for 26 years, the project's team leader Tarmizi of the Leuser International Foundation said.
'This discovery can allay doubts over the rhino's presence in the park,' Tarmizi told AFP, adding he hoped the discovery would encourage more efforts to conserve the species.
Images of the rhinos were captured by 28 infrared cameras set up between June 2011 and April this year and confirmed six female and one male rhino appearing in 1,000 photo frames.
The Sumatran rhino population has dropped 50 percent over the past 20 years, and there are now believed to be fewer than 200 left in the world.
The rhinos are commonly targeted by poachers and rampant illegal logging has destroyed much of their habitat.
This news article is brought to you by TECHNOLOGY NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Andy Murray's Olympic Win Goes to His Dogs, on Twitter
Andy Murray sent all of England into a patriotic frenzy Sunday when he beat rival Roger Federer in straight sets to capture the gold medal in men's tennis at the London Olympics, and then did it again when he partnered with Laura Robson to take home the silver in mixed doubles.Barely a day later, however, Murray's victory has already gone to the dogs.
The 25-year-old tennis star, who, with his victory became the first Briton to take home a men's singles gold medal, adorned his hard-earned medals on the necks of his pooches, Maggie May and Rusty, in a picture sent out on Twitter by his girlfriend, Kim Sears.
Sears was in the stands Sunday at the All-England club for Murray's gold-medal win, occupying the same perch from which she watched her boyfriend lose to Federer last month in the final of Wimbledon as all of England's eyes were watching.
With Murray's loss avenged, his decorating the dogs with his Olympic medals shouldn't be a sign that he doesn't take the awards seriously. It's more a sign that longtime couple Murray and Sears take their dogs very seriously.
Sears, an artist, tweeted the photo under @maggiemay_hem, the Twitter handle she created for the couple's pooch last year, according to the Daily Mail.
"Here we go folks. Just checking to make sure Rusty definitely has the silver, obviously," the caption that accompanied the photo read.
This is not the first time Sears has tried to gain attention for her dog.
Earlier this year, when the new dog belonging to the country's most famous newlyweds, Kate Middleton and Prince William, started to steal the headlines, Sears quipped under Maggie May's Twitter handle, "Kate Middleton's dog is stealing column inches. This has not gone unnoticed, and I'll step out without underwear tomorrow to compensate."
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Ferry 'hits whales' in Sydney Harbour
A humpback whale and its calf were injured on Monday after apparently being hit by a ferry in Sydney Harbour, with witnesses saying the animals had ugly gashes and cuts.
The ferry 'Collaroy' was sailing from Circular Quay to the beachside suburb of Manly when the whales 'just popped up'.
'There was nothing the ferry could do,' said Richard Ford from Sydney Whale Watching, whose boats were on the water monitoring the whales at the time.
'Obviously if you get hit by a Manly ferry you are going to be in distress, but we watched afterwards and they seemed to be swimming in a normal pattern,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Aerial photos showed a female humpback with a gaping wound near its dorsal fin and its calf with a long gash.
The New South Wales Department of Transport said one of its ferries struck an unknown object and had been taken out of service for assessment, with reports saying it had a bent propeller.
The state Department of Heritage and Environment said on its Twitter feed that the whale and her calf had since left the harbour for the open ocean.
'Injured humpback calf with mother making way out of Sydney Harbour. Injury serious but calf moving well which is a positive sign,' it said.
The department added in a second tweet: 'Hopefully will survive with just a nasty scar.'
Whales are often seen off Australia's coast at this time of the year as they make their annual winter migration from Antarctica up to the warmer waters off Queensland, and again as they return before November.
Last week, a dead humpback whale washed up in a Sydney ocean pool.
This news article is brought to you by GOING GREEN NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
The ferry 'Collaroy' was sailing from Circular Quay to the beachside suburb of Manly when the whales 'just popped up'.
'There was nothing the ferry could do,' said Richard Ford from Sydney Whale Watching, whose boats were on the water monitoring the whales at the time.
'Obviously if you get hit by a Manly ferry you are going to be in distress, but we watched afterwards and they seemed to be swimming in a normal pattern,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Aerial photos showed a female humpback with a gaping wound near its dorsal fin and its calf with a long gash.
The New South Wales Department of Transport said one of its ferries struck an unknown object and had been taken out of service for assessment, with reports saying it had a bent propeller.
The state Department of Heritage and Environment said on its Twitter feed that the whale and her calf had since left the harbour for the open ocean.
'Injured humpback calf with mother making way out of Sydney Harbour. Injury serious but calf moving well which is a positive sign,' it said.
The department added in a second tweet: 'Hopefully will survive with just a nasty scar.'
Whales are often seen off Australia's coast at this time of the year as they make their annual winter migration from Antarctica up to the warmer waters off Queensland, and again as they return before November.
Last week, a dead humpback whale washed up in a Sydney ocean pool.
This news article is brought to you by GOING GREEN NEWS - where latest news are our top priority.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Secret to Elephants' Thundering Calls Discovered
Elephants' deepest calls can thunder up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) away. Now, researchers have learned for the first time how the massive animals produce these sounds.
It turns out that they do it in the same way that humans talk, pushing air through their vocal cords to make them vibrate. Elephants can go much lower than humans, however, because their vocal cords are eight times longer.
'The sounds the elephants make are off the piano keyboard,' said study researcher Christian Herbst, a voice scientist at the University of Vienna, Austria. In fact, at less than 20 hertz in frequency, the main components of these ultra-deep calls aren't detectable to the human ear.
Until now, researchers weren't sure how elephants produced such low sounds. In fact, it's difficult to study voice production in animals in general, Herbst told LiveScience. In humans, researchers can insert cameras through the throat into the larynx, or voicebox, while people make different sounds. Animals tend to be less cooperative on that front, Herbst said. [Elephants: Photos of Largest Land Animals]
There are two ways to produce sound by vibrating the vocal cords (or vocal folds, as scientists call them). The first is called active muscular contraction, or AMC. With this method, the throat muscles actively contract to vibrate the vocal folds. AMC is how cats purr.
The other method of sound production is called the myoelastic-aerodynamic (MEAD) mode. The MEAD mode uses air from the lungs to vibrate the vocal folds. MEAD is how humans talk and sing.
Herbst and his colleagues were able to investigate which method elephants use when they had the opportunity to investigate the larynx of an elephant that died a natural death at the Berlin Zoo. The researchers mounted the larynx on a tube and blew humidified warm air through it to mimic breath. If this method produced vibrations that matched the low-frequency calls of living elephants, the findings would bolster the argument for MEAD-produced sounds. If the vibrations didn't match up, the sounds would have to be produced by the AMC 'purring' method.
The vibrations matched. That doesn't entirely rule out AMC in elephants, the researchers report in the Aug. 3 issue of the journal Science, but it suggests that MEAD is the more likely culprit for low-frequency cries. [Video: See Elephant Vocal Vibrations]
'What is cool to me is that nature came up with a system that you can find in mammals from the very, very large - so basically we now have evidence for the largest land-based mammal - to very, very small like very tiny bats,' Herbst said.
That size range brings with it an impressive range in frequency, from elephants at less than 20 hertz to bats that can squeak at more than 110,000 hertz. The human vocal cords can produce sounds ranging from about 50 hertz to 7000 hertz, with most voice sounds falling between 300 hertz and 3,400 hertz.
'It still strikes me as fantastic what we humans, particularly, can do with this system,' Herbst said. Comparative anatomy of the same system in different animals can help researchers understand how voice evolved in the first place, he said.
'We see variations in the laryngeal anatomy,' he said, 'and usually, nature has a good reason to come up with slight variations.'
Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.
It turns out that they do it in the same way that humans talk, pushing air through their vocal cords to make them vibrate. Elephants can go much lower than humans, however, because their vocal cords are eight times longer.
'The sounds the elephants make are off the piano keyboard,' said study researcher Christian Herbst, a voice scientist at the University of Vienna, Austria. In fact, at less than 20 hertz in frequency, the main components of these ultra-deep calls aren't detectable to the human ear.
Until now, researchers weren't sure how elephants produced such low sounds. In fact, it's difficult to study voice production in animals in general, Herbst told LiveScience. In humans, researchers can insert cameras through the throat into the larynx, or voicebox, while people make different sounds. Animals tend to be less cooperative on that front, Herbst said. [Elephants: Photos of Largest Land Animals]
There are two ways to produce sound by vibrating the vocal cords (or vocal folds, as scientists call them). The first is called active muscular contraction, or AMC. With this method, the throat muscles actively contract to vibrate the vocal folds. AMC is how cats purr.
The other method of sound production is called the myoelastic-aerodynamic (MEAD) mode. The MEAD mode uses air from the lungs to vibrate the vocal folds. MEAD is how humans talk and sing.
Herbst and his colleagues were able to investigate which method elephants use when they had the opportunity to investigate the larynx of an elephant that died a natural death at the Berlin Zoo. The researchers mounted the larynx on a tube and blew humidified warm air through it to mimic breath. If this method produced vibrations that matched the low-frequency calls of living elephants, the findings would bolster the argument for MEAD-produced sounds. If the vibrations didn't match up, the sounds would have to be produced by the AMC 'purring' method.
The vibrations matched. That doesn't entirely rule out AMC in elephants, the researchers report in the Aug. 3 issue of the journal Science, but it suggests that MEAD is the more likely culprit for low-frequency cries. [Video: See Elephant Vocal Vibrations]
'What is cool to me is that nature came up with a system that you can find in mammals from the very, very large - so basically we now have evidence for the largest land-based mammal - to very, very small like very tiny bats,' Herbst said.
That size range brings with it an impressive range in frequency, from elephants at less than 20 hertz to bats that can squeak at more than 110,000 hertz. The human vocal cords can produce sounds ranging from about 50 hertz to 7000 hertz, with most voice sounds falling between 300 hertz and 3,400 hertz.
'It still strikes me as fantastic what we humans, particularly, can do with this system,' Herbst said. Comparative anatomy of the same system in different animals can help researchers understand how voice evolved in the first place, he said.
'We see variations in the laryngeal anatomy,' he said, 'and usually, nature has a good reason to come up with slight variations.'
Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.
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