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By Daily Mail Reporter


It is not every day that you come face to face with a real lion, but that is exactly what happened to a little girl posing for a picture in a zoo.

The adorable, blonde girl in a pink bandana was standing in front of the lions' enclosure and waiting for her parent to take a picture when one of the animals decided to photo-bomb her.

A brief video of the incident captured in what appears to be a French zoo shows the girl turning around after being alerted by an adult, only to discover the curious female cat staring directly at her.

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Photo-bombed: A little girl was posing for a picture in a European zoo when a lion sneaked up behind her

Close encounter: The little girl turned around after being alerted by her parent and discovered the lion intently staring her in the face from behind the glass

Running scared: The little girl in a pin bandana scampered away with a nervous smile on her rosy-cheeked face

The girl lets out a startled shriek before skipping away, with the feline still looking at her from behind the glass with intent.

The rosy-cheeked child, who appears to be seven or eight years old, was not harmed in any way and walked away from the wild encounter with a smile on her face.

The lion, on the other hand, looked vaguely disappointed.

Crestfallen: The lioness appeared vaguely disappointed after his young visitors ran away

Gloating: the girl's young friend mocked the lioness who let her 'prey' get away

The girl's parent who posted the video, set to ominous music worthy of Jaws, wrote in the description: ‘hungry lion? he seems to be very interested by my little girl... fortunately, there's a glass wall.’

Other commenters observed that the large cat seemed more curious ‘in a friendly way’ than hungry for human flesh.

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source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


It was the moment he had spent two cold, grueling, and solitary weeks waiting for.

But when Paul Souders finally came face to face with a polar bear his patience paid off beautifully - as these stunning snaps show.

The 51-year-old photographer managed to keep his cool to capture these incredible close-up images of a swimming polar bear.

Ready for her close up: Photographer Paul Souders captures an adult polar bear up close in Hudson Bay in Churchill, Canada

Incredible: Souders says he knew he had 'no margin for error' when taking such close-up photos of the female bear

Patience pays off: Souders spent two weeks looking for polar bears during the trip - this was the second bear he saw and the only one he could get up close to

Standing in his 11-foot inflatable zodiac, Souders drifted up to the female bear he spotted roaming on the ice capped shores of Churchill, Canada.

He followed her as she paddled up the coast until she was relaxed enough to venture right up to his boat.

Wildlife photographer Souders, from Seattle, USA, said: 'It took her some time to settle down. I really felt like I had to earn her trust.

'I didn't feel threatened, but I knew that I was on a razor's edge - I had no margin for error.

'I watched her reaction very closely looking for any sign of aggression.'

Adrenaline rush: Standing in his 11-foot inflatable zodiac, Sounders drifted up to the female bear he spotted roaming on the ice capped shores of Churchill

Adorable: The bear was relaxed enough to swim right up to Souders' inflatable boat

Stunning: The Seattle photographer says his two-week wait was 'worth it' thanks to this encounter

Souders spent two weeks in Canada looking for polar bears during the once-in-a-lifetime trip.

He spotted just two bears, only one of which he was able to get close to.

He carried 226kgs of kit - including a boat motor, camera equipment and shotgun for protection - up to 30 miles off shore.

Souders added: 'It was exhausting work, hour after hour staring at the ice trying to find that white figure against the snow white background.

'But it was worth it when you get such an encounter as I did.'

He continued: 'I didn't want to stress or injure the bear, and I didn't want to get hurt out there so far from shore.'

Souders used a remote camera on a seven-foot pole and a camera in a special underwater housing to capture the shots.

Exhausting: Souders said: 'It was exhausting work, hour after hour staring at the ice trying to find that white figure against the snow white background'

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-Ringtailed lemurs and monkeys had fun messing around with scary masks
-The monkeying around went down a treat at Woburn Safari Park


By STEVE NOLAN


Cheeky monkeys got into the spirit of Halloween early as they gave each other a playful fright messing around with masks and disguises at a Bedfordshire safari park.

Ring-tailed lemurs had fun scaring their friends with ghoulish Frankenstein and vampire masks.

Meanwhile a brave Patas monkey proves he’s not scared of monsters by eagerly tucking into this sorrowful jack-o-lantern pumpkin.

Cheeky monkeys gave each other a fright messing around with spooky disguises ahead of Halloween at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire

Ring-tailed lemurs had fun scaring their friends with ghoulish Frankenstein and vampire masks

A black-and-white ruffed lemur shows off his pumpkin head wear as animals at the safari park, close to Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, got into the Halloween spirit early

Park spokeswoman Abi Crowley says the Halloween fun went down a treat at Woburn Safari Park, which is close to Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

She added: 'All the lemurs and monkeys were running around teasing each other with the masks.As the lemurs held the masks up to eat they looked like they were trying to spook each other out.

'And the sad face carved on the pumpkin was priceless as one of our monkeys munched straight into it.

Despite some of the animals getting spooked by the Halloween paraphernalia, others got to grips with pumpkins and Jack o' lanterns

'They are usually fed a lot of cabbage, carrots, tomatoes and squash so this was a nice treat.'

Staff at Woburn put mashed banana on the back of the Halloween masks to tempt the lemurs, who live in a ‘walk-through’ section of the park.

Ring-tailed and red fronted lemurs can even be seen sticking their heads into pumpkins dangling from climbing ropes to steal the yummy snacks inside.

Ms Crowley said: 'A lot of our visitors stopped to have a good look and enjoyed watching the animals’ antics.'

This brave Patas monkey proves he's not scared of monsters by eagerly tucking into a pumpkin

Woburn Safari Park spokeswoman Abi Crowley says the Halloween fun went down a treat


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Baby otters at a Bournemouth aquarium have been christened Jess, Mo and Sophie after three of Britain's Olympic gold medalists


By Kerry Mcdermott


Their Olympic namesakes inspired scenes of jubilation across the country with gold-medal winning performances at the London Games.

But these adorable baby otters - named Jess, Mo and Sophie after three of Britain's 2012 Olympic superstars - all sport less than enthusiastic expressions.

The tiny oriental small-clawed pups, weighed less than half a pound and were just three inches long when they were born at Bournemouth Oceanarium in Dorset.

Olympic inspired: The adorable baby otters have been named Jess, Sophie and Mo after Britain's Olympic champions

Enchanted staff named the cute creatures after three of Britain's Olympic gold medal winners; heptathlete Jess Ennis, distance runner Mo Farah, and rower Sarah Hosking.

The oriental or Asian small-clawed otter is the smallest otter species in the world, and is distinctive for its forepaws, which give the creatures a high degree of manual dexterity allowing them to feed on molluscs and crabs.

Why so glum? The cute baby otters sport identical sorrowful expressions at Bournemouth Oceanarium

Playful: the baby otters weighed less than half a pound and were just three inches long when they were born at Bournemouth Oceanarium

Namesakes: The otters have been named after heptathlete Jess Ennis, distance runner Mo Farah and rower Sophie Hosking

Solemn: One of the solemn faced otters, left, is cuddled by a member of staff (right) at Bournemouth Oceanarium in Dorset


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By Steve Nolan


These adorable pictures show the moment two cuddly red panda cubs take their first look at the outside world as they emerge from their den for the very first time.

Not only are the little pair super cute but they are also extremely rare and the first creatures of their kind to be born at Cotswold Wildlife Park in a decade after mother Scarlet gave birth back in June.

Keepers at the park were stunned at the birth as they had no idea that first-time mother Scarlet was pregnant with the male cubs.

A close up of one of the creatures. The twins are the first of their kind to be born at the Cotswold centre for a decade

This is the moment two rare red panda cubs emerge from their den for the first time at Cotswold Wildlife Park

The pair, who are yet to be named, were pictured snuggled in their box at just four weeks old. Keepers were unaware that mother Scarlet was pregnant until she gave birth

One of the rare red pandas strikes a pose for the camera as it checks out its surroundings

Staff had not observed any signs of mating between two-year-old Scarlet and father Doodoo, five, and the mother's thick fur hid any growing signs of pregnancy.

Red pandas are also secretive and shy by nature and only have a small window of opportunity for breeding every couple of years when the female is receptive.

The creatures are regarded as as 'vulnerable' by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which means the species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Cotswold Wildlife Park has kept red pandas for 40 years but, due to a combination of habitat loss and hunting, it is thought there are less than 2,500 of the gentle species left in the wild.

One of the rare red panda cubs in its box following his birth back in June. The species grows to slightly larger than a domestic cat and has reddish-brown fur

Red pandas are also secretive and shy by nature and only have a small window of opportunity for breeding every couple of years when the female is receptive

The species normally live in mist shrouded, temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan and Myanmar, and the isolated mountain ranges in western China

While classified as a relative of the giant panda and the raccoon, the rigid tailed animal is considered as its own unique family - the Ailuridae.

Normally slightly larger than the average domestic cat and with reddish-brown fur and waddling gait due to its short front legs, the species feeds mainly on bamboo.

They normally live in mist shrouded, temperate forests of the eastern Himalayas, including parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan and Myanmar, and the isolated mountain ranges in western China.


source:dailymail

-Stanley, who lives at a Devon home, faced being put to sleep after test fail
-But he was rescued from death by police inspectors Anne and Mike Higgins
-Stanley has also nearly died twice from choking and getting food poisoning

By Mark Duell


He was almost put to sleep after failing a police dog induction test, and nearly died twice after getting a piece of bone wedged in his throat and eating a rotten chicken carcass.

But Stanley, who never managed to become a police sniffer dog, has reached the final of a dog agility competition at the Crufts competition next March in Birmingham after four years of training.

He now hands the washing to his owner Anne Higgins - who is a police inspector, along with her husband Mike - and even selects the pegs for the washing line at his home near Tiverton, Devon.

Taking a leap: Stanley, who never managed to become a police sniffer dog, has reached the final of a dog agility competition at the Crufts competition next March in Birmingham after four years of training

Helpful: Stanley now hands the washing to his owner Anne Higgins (left) - who is a police inspector, along with her husband Mike - and even selects the pegs for the washing line at his home near Tiverton, Devon

After the couple rescued Stanley from being put down, they put in huge amounts of dedication and patience to train up the dog, which will show off his ability in the world’s most prestigious dog show.

But life could have been so different for Stanley, who failed the police induction because he had no interest in toys or any play drive. Now he is an exceptionally-trained and fun-loving pooch.

Mrs Higgins said: ‘As a pair of new and naive dog owners we did not really understand about socialisation, training and the importance of puppyhood.

‘What we did know was this little dog needed a home and that we could not let him go to the council kennels, where there was a high chance he would be put to sleep.

Part of the family: After the couple rescued Stanley from being put down, they put in huge amounts of dedication and patience to train up the dog

Two escapes: Stanley almost died five years ago when he bolted down a piece of bone and got it wedged in his throat, before suffering poisoning in 2010 after wolfing back some rotten chicken

‘So, home he came and there it started. Four years of hard work, sheer determination on his part and ours, sleepless nights and tears.’

Stanley nearly died in 2007 when he bolted down a piece of bone and got it wedged in his throat, before suffering poisoning three years later after wolfing back a rotten chicken carcase.

Mrs Higgins added that Stanley had not been exposed to normal human events and was scared by sounds such as sneezes, clapping, zips, screams, laughter, cats fighting and bells.

‘He had quite clearly never been allowed to explore his environment and knew no cues, except perhaps “away” – which, if he ever got the chance, he executed to perfection,’ she said.


source:dailymail

-The encounter was photographed by a visitor at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre in Barnes, south-west London

By David Wilkes


As he splashed into a pond full of geese, this hungry fox no doubt thought he was in for an easy lunch.

But he had chosen the wrong flock for that. The brave birds banded together – and outfoxed him.

The Canada geese even recruited passing ducks, coots, moorhens and cormorants for their cunning plan.

Outnumbered: As the fox wades through the water looking for an easy meal, the geese surround him

They ganged up on the would-be predator to prevent him picking them off one by one and followed him along the pond.

Eventually, the fox gave up and returned to dry land still hungry and probably rather baffled.

The encounter was photographed by a visitor at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre in Barnes, south-west London.

Safety in numbers: Other birds join in to defend themselves and their offspring

A spokesman for the centre said: ‘They will be used to seeing foxes and have developed strategies to deal with their presence and protect themselves. It is typical behaviour in the wild but rarely seen.

These are fascinating pictures.’ Tim Webb, of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said it was an example of ‘mobbing’, a form of behaviour that birds engage in to defend themselves or their offspring from predators.

They aim to divert a predator’s attention through their behaviour and to blow its cover, thus reducing its chances of success.

Better luck next time: Defeated, the fox begins slink away

Although more commonly associated with crows and gulls swooping in flight at their target, it is common among many species of birds and can take place on land or on water.

Mr Webb said: ‘It’s instinctive behaviour. At first, the birds will have acted out of fear for their young, but they will have become emboldened by the number of birds that were there and acted as a group.

‘Normally mobbing involves one species. What is quite unusual here is that they are all joining together to defend themselves against a fox coming into their patch – it’s like an avian

Neighbourhood Watch. They are being intimidating by patrolling up and down wherever the fox goes.’


source:dailymail

By Sarah Johnson


This baby orangutan may have been born in captivity but that hasn't stopped her mother from holding her close.

Emma, the Sumatran orangutan, gave birth to her daughter three days ago and has not let her out of her sight since.

The, as yet unnamed, newborn is the latest addition to the Realm of the Red Ape exhibit at Chester Zoo which houses a group of the critically endangered Sumatran orangutans.

Proud mother: Emma, a Sumatran orangutan, looks at the camera as she cradles her newborn daughter

These adorable images show the tenderness and love that Emma bestows on her daughter.

She cradles her newborn in her arms while looking proudly at the camera before another photograph captures her gazing lovingly at the baby orangutan.

Not one for missing the action, however, the infant manages to poke her head out from underneath her mother's fur to see what is going on around her.

She looks straight at the lens before something catches her attention and she looks away.

Emma who was also born at the zoo, in 1987, gazes lovingly at the newest addition to the family

Sumatran orangutans originally come from the Island of Sumatra in Indonesia and live in tropical and subtropical forests in the lowlands as well as in mountainous areas up to a height of 1500m.

When fully grown, they can measure up to 1.4 metres tall and weigh up to 90 kilogrammes.

Orangutans are the only great ape found outside of Africa.

Their numbers in the wild have decreased from more than 12,000 in the mid 1990s to just 6,500 in recent years.

Peek-a-boo! Emma holds her unnamed three-day-old baby close to her body at Chester Zoo

A mother's love: The unnamed baby orangutan gazes up at the camera from the safety of it's mother's protective embrace

Wide-eyed: Enveloped in its mother's fur, the three-day-old orangutan catches sight of something up above

They are threatened by habitat loss with land being used for agricultural development and logging. Severe droughts and forest fires also play their part.

The animals are hunted for meat, traditional medicine and the pet trade.

With less than 900,000 hectares of suitable habitat remaining, it’s possible that this could be the first great ape to become extinct in the wild.


source:dailymail

Amboseli Trust sent two jeeps to the scene in a national park in Kenya

By Nick Enoch


Perhaps it’s because many of us watched the Disney classic Dumbo as a child that we all seem to have a special place in our hearts for elephants, especially baby ones.

That’s what makes this latest video from elephant research and conservation project Amboseli Trust for Elephants - which has now started to trend on the internet - so special.

An eight-month-old calf became stuck in a shallow well in the parched grounds of Amboseli national park in Kenya - while its increasingly anxious mother, Zombe, looked on, powerless to help.

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This baby elephant was found stuck in a well in the Amboseli national park in Kenya

The baby's increasingly anxious mother, Zombe, looked on, powerless to help

Luckily, the Trust got word of the incident in the Rift Valley Province earlier this week and sent two jeeps to assist.

The rescue operation began early in the morning - before the mother would have been forced to leave by herders who would soon arrive to water their cattle.

At first, the team struggled to attach a rope around the calf in the 5ft-deep hole as the low-lying water caused the cord to float to the surface.

Finally, they managed to secure it and, with the other end of the rope attached to a jeep, hauled the animal to safety.

Helping hand: One of the rescuers tries to assist the baby elephant

Luckily, the Amboseli Trust for Elephants got word of the incident in the Rift Valley Province earlier this week and sent two jeeps to assist

At first, the team struggled to attach a rope around the calf as the low-lying water caused the cord to float to the surface

Finally, they managed to secure it and, with the other end of the rope attached to a jeep, hauled the animal to safety

What followed was truly tearjerking.

The calf thundered across the barren plain, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

In the distance, the cries of Zombe could be heard as she came running in the opposite direction.

And then they were reunited, embracing each other with their trunks.

They then turned to the camera, perhaps as a sign of gratitude to the little one's saviours.

After it was free, the calf thundered across the barren plain

In the distance, the cries of Zombe could be heard as she came running in the opposite direction

And then Zombe, her partner and calf were reunited, embracing each other with their trunks

Members of the Trust were all smiles after releasing the baby elephant




source:dailymail