Botswana gifts India eight Cheetahs, lauds India's landmark wildlife conservation initiative

PIB Photo

Gaborone, (IANS): Beginning a new chapter in India-Botswana cooperation in wildlife conservation, Botswana on Thursday donated eight cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah. The symbolic donation event took place during the visit of President Droupadi Murmu and her Botswana counterpart Duma Gideon Boko to the Mokolodi Nature Reserve during which the two leaders witnessed release of captured cheetahs originating from the Ghanzi region into the quarantine facility by experts from India and Botswana.

"This event marks Botswana’s symbolic donation of eight cheetahs to India under Project Cheetah. This event signifies the beginning of a new chapter in India-Botswana cooperation in wildlife conservation," the President's Secretariat stated.

According to Cheetah Conservation Botswana (CCB), Botswana hosts one of the world’s largest populations of cheetahs, with an estimated population of approximately 1,700 individuals. This accounts for approximately 25 per cent of the world’s remaining wild cheetahs. Due to Botswana's location in the centre of southern Africa, this population is also crucial to facilitate connectivity between other regional populations.

India's Project Cheetah is a landmark wildlife conservation initiative launched on September 17, 2022 aimed at reintroducing cheetahs to India after their extinction in the late 1940s and early 1950s. As the world's first intercontinental large wild carnivore translocation project, it operates under the umbrella of Project Tiger and aligns with the Cheetah Action Plan to restore and conserve the species. Efforts are underway to expand suitable habitats, ensuring long-term survival and ecological balance in India's grassland ecosystems.

Later, Botswana Vice President Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe and Minister of International Relations Phenyo Butale called on President Droupadi Murmu in Gaborone, commending India on its notable development journey.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed strengthening the enduring collaboration of two nations in strategic sectors.

"In separate meetings, His Honor Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe, Vice President of Botswana and Hon’ble Dr. Phenyo Butale, Minister of International Relations, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Gaborone," the President's Secretariat posted on X.

"They both commended India on its notable development trajectory. Several issues of mutual interest were discussed in these meetings to further strengthen and deepen the enduring collaboration of India-Botswana in strategic sectors," it added.

Earlier in the day, President Murmu addressed the members of Indian community and stressed that the ties between two nations are based on trust, respect and shared democratic values.

While addressing members of Indian community, President Murmu said, "The relationship between India and Botswana is based on trust, respect, and shared democratic values. Today, I had a very productive discussion with President Boko of Botswana. We have decided that our countries will further cooperate in areas such as trade, education, health, digital technologies, agriculture, and renewable energy."

"Human resource development is a strong pillar of our cooperation. Many Botswana citizens have received training in India under India's ITEC and ICCR schemes. They are today playing a leading role in Botswana's development – ​​a testament to the depth of our relationship. India and Botswana are also close partners in the diamond sector, and we are expanding cooperation in new areas such as technology, defence and digital connectivity," she added.

She thanked Indian community for the warm welcome in Botswana and said that the people of India living in Botswana are connected to India's soil, culture and values.

Calling Indian community as living bridge of friendship between two nations, President Murmu said, "Despite staying away, you all remain deeply connected to India's soil, culture, and values...You are living bridges of friendship between India and Botswana. I am told that nearly 10,000 Indians are active here in various fields—education, health, accounting, business, and industry.""Your hard work, honesty, and dedication have earned you respect and affection in Botswana society. You have also played a vital role in local employment and skills development. I congratulate all of you for being proud representatives of India. Your spirit of social service and philanthropy is admirable. I am told that almost every week, the Indian community in Botswana gathers to organise social service or charitable events, whether supporting schools, organising health camps, or helping those in need – your compassion embodies the spirit of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' she added. Botswana gifts India eight Cheetahs, lauds India's landmark wildlife conservation initiative | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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New discovery reveals chimpanzees in Uganda use flying insects to tend their wounds

Kayla Kolff, Osnabrück University

Animals respond to injury in many ways. So far, evidence for animals tending wounds with biologically active materials is rare. Yet, a recent study of an orangutan treating a wound with a medicinal plant provides a promising lead.

Chimpanzees, for example, are known to lick their wounds and sometimes press leaves onto them, but these behaviours are still only partly understood. We still do not know how often these actions occur, whether they are deliberate, or how inventive chimpanzees can be when responding to wounds.

Recent field observations in Uganda, east Africa, are now revealing intriguing insights into how these animals cope with wounds.

As a primatologist, I am fascinated by the cognitive and social lives of chimpanzees, and by what sickness-related behaviours can reveal about the evolutionary origins of care and empathy in people. Chimpanzees are among our closest living relatives, and we can learn so much about ourselves through understanding them.

In our research based in Kibale National Park, Uganda, chimpanzees have been seen applying insects to their own open wounds on five occasions, and in one case to another individual.

Behaviours like insect application show that chimpanzees are not passive when wounded. They experiment with their environment, sometimes alone and occasionally with others. While we should not jump too quickly to call this “medicine”, it does show that they are capable of responding to wounds in inventive and sometimes cooperative ways.

Each new insight adds reveals more about chimpanzees, offering glimpses into the shared evolutionary roots of our own responses to injury and caregiving instincts.

First catch your insect

We saw the insect applications by chance while observing and recording their behaviour in the forest, but paid special attention to chimpanzees with open wounds.Insect application by subadult Damien.

In all observed cases, the sequence of actions seemed deliberate. A chimpanzee caught an unidentified flying insect, immobilised it between lips or fingers, and pressed it directly onto an open wound. The same insect was sometimes reapplied several times, occasionally after being held briefly in the mouth, before being discarded. Other chimpanzees occasionally watched the process closely, seemingly with curiosity.

Most often the behaviour was directed at the chimpanzee’s own open wound. However, in one rare instance, an adolescent female applied an insect to her brother’s wound. A study on the same community has shown that chimpanzees also dab the wounds of unrelated members with leaves, prompting the question of whether insect application of these chimpanzees, too, might extend beyond family members. Acts of care, whether directed towards family or others, can reveal the early foundations of empathy and cooperation.

The observed sequence closely resembles the insect applications seen in Central chimpanzees in Gabon, Africa. The similarity suggests that insect application may represent a more widespread behaviour performed by chimpanzee than previously recognised.

The finding from Kibale National Park broadens our view of how chimpanzees respond to wounds. Rather than leaving wounds unattended, they sometimes act in ways that appear deliberate and targeted.

Chimpanzee first aid?

The obvious question is what function this behaviour might serve. We know that chimpanzees deliberately use plants in ways that can improve their health: swallowing rough leaves that help expel intestinal parasites or chewing bitter shoots with possible anti-parasitic effects.

Insects, however, are a different matter. Pressing insects onto wounds has not yet been shown to speed up healing or reduce infection. Many insects do produce antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory substances, so the possibility is there, but scientific testing is still needed.

For now, what we can say is that the behaviour appears to be targeted, patterned and deliberate. The single case of an insect being applied to another individual is especially intriguing. Chimpanzees are highly social animals, but active helping is relatively rare. Alongside well-known behaviours such as grooming, food sharing, and support in fights, applying an insect to a sibling’s wound hints at another form of care, one that goes beyond maintaining relationships to possibly improving the other’s physical condition.

Big questions

This behaviour leaves us with some big questions. If insect application proves medicative, it could explain why chimpanzees do it. This in turn raises the question of how the behaviour arises in the first place: do chimpanzees learn it by observing others, or does it emerge more spontaneously? From there arises the question of selectivity – are they choosing particular flying insects, and if so, do others in the group learn to select the same ones?

In human traditional medicine (entomotherapy), flying insects such as honeybees and blowflies are valued for their antimicrobial or anti-inflammatory effects. Whether the insects applied by chimpanzees provide similar benefits is still to be investigated.

Finally, if chimpanzees are indeed applying insects with medicinal value and sometimes placing them on the wounds of others, this could represent active helping and even prosocial behaviour. (The term is used to describe behaviours that benefit others rather than the individual performing them.)

Watching chimpanzees in Kibale National Park immobilise a flying insect and gently press it onto an open wound reminds us how much there is still to learn about their abilities. It also adds to the growing evidence that the roots of care and healing behaviours extend much further back in evolutionary time.

If insect applications prove to be medicinal, this adds to the importance of safeguarding chimpanzees and their habitats. In turn, these habitats protect the insects that can contribute to chimpanzee well-being.

Kayla Kolff, Postdoctoral researcher, Osnabrück University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Family’s Escaped Parakeet Found More Than a Hundred Miles Away from Home: ‘That’s Unheard of!’

Yianoulla Evangelou reunited with Rambi the large green Alexandrine parakeet – SWNS photofoun

A much-loved parakeet has been found in Dorset, England after going missing from its London home more than 100 miles away.

After having never left home before, the large green 7-year-old Alexandrine parakeet named Rambi took off on a Sunday when his cage was left open during a family barbecue.

They launched an extensive search for him in their neighborhood, leading to half of Islington on the lookout for the parakeet.

“Because he’s never really flown before—other than around the house—we thought he’d be nearby,” said owner Yianoulla Evangelou. “We all went to bed that night devastated.

“We searched every street, knocked on every neighbor’s door, put posters up, contacted every vet and pet shop, everything you can think of,” the 50-year-old explained.

They had no luck until weeks later when they received a call from animal charity Wildlife in Need on the south coast of England, near Bournemouth, saying they’d found a parakeet that looked similar to theirs.

The charity was quite doubtful that it was the right bird—even after the number on Rambi’s ankle tag was matched—because they’d never heard anything like it happening before. They were so incredulous that Evangelou had to keep sending photos and videos of Rambi, in order to convince them it was hers.

“It’s a miracle,” Evangelou told SWNS news agency. “We’re so happy now that Rambi’s back. It’s just so amazing.

“But we’re baffled as to how he got to Bournemouth and his journey. We just can’t wrap our brains around it. He’s a domestic bird.”

Yianoulla Evangelou with her Alexandrine parakeet named Rambi SWNS

It’s believed that the bird, which is native to Southeast Asia, may have hitched a ride in, or on, someone’s vehicle to get from the capital to the sunny south coast.

Ms. Evangelou explained that during a family backyard barbecue they brought out their birds to join them, and while giving Rambi some food, she must have inadvertently left his door ajar—and, possibly scared by loud construction going on next door, he fled his cage.

“It was hot so we thought he would be bound to come down into someone’s garden.”

The family later learned that the lost bird was brought into a charity, Wildlife in Need, in Dorset, after landing on a random woman’s shoulder in a Sainsbury’s car park.

“We don’t understand how he got to where he did. He travelled over a hundred miles in the space of six days. That’s unheard of.”

“The only way we will find out exactly what happened is if he tells us at some point—because he does talk,” she joked.

“The woman who took him in said she would’ve loved to have kept Rambi, but she knew he had an owner.”

“We drove for more than two-and-a-half hours the day after we got the call to pick him up,” Ms Evangelou continued.

“It was the best feeling in the world. We thought he was gone forever.

“The community were amazing. There were people out in parks at night, walking their dogs and looking for Rambi.

Ms. Evangelou says her sister, Sheniz, is now even thinking of writing a children’s book about his adventure, called #BringRambiHome.

“He’s such a loving bird, and he loves to dance,” said Sheniz.“We were worried that a cat or a bird of prey would get to him, because he’s obviously not very streetwise.” Family’s Escaped Parakeet Found More Than a Hundred Miles Away from Home: ‘That’s Unheard of!’

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A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia's economy

ADDIS ABABA - At a clinic in Ethiopia's capital, a donkey is complaining as a vet tries to trim his nails.

Ethiopia is thought to have the most donkeys in the world, one in five of the global total according to the United Nations, and they form a vital part of the economy.

So the Donkey Sanctuary, run by a British charity that operates around the world, has its work cut out at its free clinic near Merkato, Addis Ababa's vast open-air market.

On a recent visit by AFP, several dozen donkeys were gathered in pens, some agitated and kicking their feet, while others eagerly pounced on food.

Caregivers and veterinarians were taking turns treating injuries, colic and eye problems.

Guluma Bayi, 38, walked more than an hour and a half with his two donkeys to reach the clinic.

"It has been three weeks since my donkeys became sick," he told AFP. "One has a leg problem and the other has a stomach issue."

Like the others making the trip, Guluma relies heavily on his donkeys to make a living. He uses them to transport jerrycans of water to sell to his fellow villagers.

"After they became ill, I couldn't buy bread for my children," he said. "I begged a guy to bring me here."

After successful treatment, Guluma was able to go home with both donkeys.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation says Ethiopia had some nine million donkeys as of 2018.

AFP | Amanuel Sileshi

They play a major economic role in the East African country of around 130 million people, ploughing fields and transporting goods, offering a cheaper alternative to vehicles at a time when petrol prices have risen sharply.

"There is a proverb in Ethiopia: if you don't have a donkey, you are a donkey yourself," said Tesfaye Megra, project coordinator for the Donkey Sanctuary, laughing.

The charity operates in several regions across the country and opened its Addis Ababa centre in 2007.

"They are invaluable animals... and they are suffering while they are providing different services to the community," said Tesfaye.

The daily life of donkeys is no picnic.

Urban sprawl in the Ethiopian capital has made green spaces increasingly scarce.

The loads they carry can be heavy, and many are beaten and badly treated.

Another visitor to the clinic, Chane Baye, said he used his two donkeys to carry sacks filled with grain for clients across the city.

They allow him to earn between 200 and 400 birr per day (around $1.50 to $3) -- not bad in a country where a third of the population lives below the World Bank's poverty line of $2.15 per day.

The 61-year-old comes roughly every three months to have his donkeys checked -- "whenever they start limping or have a stomach problem," he said.

"Before this clinic, we used traditional ways to treat them," he added, referring in particular to nails roughly removed from the animals' legs with a knife.

He is pleased his donkeys now get professional treatment for wounds and infections.

Derege Tsegay, a vet at the sanctuary, performs a routine but unsavoury operation, inserting his gloved-up arm deep into a struggling donkey's rectum.

AFP | Amanuel Sileshi

Derege pulls out the large chunk of feces that had accumulated in the animal's stomach.

"It happens often," he said.

A shortage of food in the city means donkeys eat whatever they find, often including plastic which can block their digestive system.

It's not always pleasant, but he knows how important the work can be for local people.

"I am proud of what I am doing... because I am trying to solve the problem of so many owners that rely on their donkeys," he said with a smile. By Dylan Gamba A free clinic for donkeys, vital to Ethiopia's economy

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England’s Largest Bird Sanctuary Grows by 30%: ‘It’s incredible, the place just swarms with birdlife’

RSPB Geltsdale Reserve – credit: Ian Taylor CC 2.0.

The British equivalent of the Audubon Society has just announced that what was already England’s largest bird reserve will be increased by 33% after a recent land purchase.

Described as a place that “swarms” with life, the Geltsdale Reserve in the North Pennines range of Cumbria, northern England, will now cover 13,590 acres of moorland, meadows, blanket bog, and woodland.

Owned and operated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Geltsdale is one of the last places in Britain where one can see the hen harrier in its natural habitat. Birds of every description and conservation status inhabit the reserve, and it’s also a UNESCO Geopark for its unique geological formations.

“This is going to be a reserve on a different scale from many of our other sites in England,” said Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s chief executive.

“We are going to achieve an abundance of species and a size that will be unmatched for bird reserves elsewhere. It is going to demonstrate what is possible when it comes to rewilding and protecting birds.”

A hen harrier in Baltisan, Pakistan – credit Imran Shah CC 2.0.

For birdwatchers reading, Geltsdale abounds in black grouse, redshank, nightjar, snipe, whinchat, curlews, ospreys, short-eared owls, and lapwings, dispersed across a vertical rise of 650 meters from an achingly green valley bottom up stately moorland and pasture at an elevation similar to the lower-peaks of the Appalachian range.

“Geltsdale is now the biggest in England,” said Speight. “And that size makes such a difference. When you walk through the reserve during breeding season, it is incredible. The place just swarms with birdlife.”

While Geltsdale is by appearance a slice of old-fashioned and natural England, the RSPB says it has some hi-tech solutions in mind for tackling conservation challenges like vagrant livestock grazing.

Speaking with the Guardian, Dave Morris, the RSPB’s area operations manager for Cumbria and Northeast England, said that the society will work with local ranchers whose properties overlap with the reserve to implement a GPS-monitored ‘invisible’ fencing system.

Because traditional wooden fencing is actually a hazard for low-flying birds like black grouse, cattle and calves will be fitted with collars that emit a high-pitched tone if the animal comes too near a boundary line.

The closer the animal comes, the louder the tone will grow until eventually, the cattle will receive a low-level electric shock.Additionally, a lot of age-old practices such as heather burning and moorland draining have been halted to ensure the area can get back to its absolute natural best. England’s Largest Bird Sanctuary Grows by 30%: ‘It’s incredible, the place just swarms with birdlife’

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The Emotional Moment Dog was Returned to Owners 7 Years After Being Stolen

RSPCA inspector Kim Walters (left), pictured with colleague Andy Cook – credit: RSPCA, supplied

An English family has been reunited with their beloved Labrador Daisy who was stolen from their front lawn 7 years ago.

Their tireless search and advocacy for their lost family member attracted the attention of British celebrity and even helped steer a law through Parliament, but the ultimate reward for the devotion to their lost dog was the chance to see her again, elderly and slightly battered, but alive and loving.

In 2017, a truck arrived in front of Rita and Philip Potter’s Norfolk house. Two men hurriedly lept out, grabbed Daisy, and stuffed her into the back—a despicable act seen by neighbors.

Ruling out the possibility that Daisy got lost in the woods somewhere, the Potters contacted the police and urged a response. An RSPCA search in Somerset—200 miles and 7 years later—has recovered a 13-year-old Daisy, who was likely the victim of an illegal pet breeding operation.

A quick microchip scan, and Daisy was on her way home.

“We kept a photograph on the mantlepiece and would look at it every day thinking of her, and where she might be,” Mrs. Potter told the BBC. “It is an absolute dream come true that the RSPCA found her and returned her to us—where she belongs—we are so, so grateful,” said Mrs Potter.

Following Daisy’s abduction, the Potters were active in the press and social media trying to ensure anyone who might have seen the dog understood where she had come from. Tom Hardy, the A-list action star from Dark Knight Rises and Inception, shared their post on his X account.

The Potters then collected 100,000 signatures on a petition for greater government action to fight pet crime. The Pet Abduction Act changed the UK sentencing guidelines, making it a criminal offense with a prison sentence of up to 5 years. Previously, pets were considered property, and abducting them was punished under the UK’s 1986 Theft Act.

During the RSPCA’s investigation, the owner agreed to turn Daisy over to the organization, explaining they had only had her for a few years and didn’t know she could have been stolen. At their facility, a microchip scan revealed Daisy’s provenance and the call to the Potters was an emotional one.

“They were obviously shocked—but elated at the same time,” said RSPCA inspector Kim Walters. “I was a bit choked from listening to them, and clearly how much they loved her, so it was great telling them that we could get her back home soon.”Now in her golden years, and with several health issues from a half-decade of maltreatment, the Potters look forward to loving, spoiling, and caring for her. The Emotional Moment Dog was Returned to Owners 7 Years After Being Stolen

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New Zealand plans to ban greyhound racing, citing high injury rates

New Zealand has announced plans to ban greyhound racing, citing an unacceptably high rate of injuries. The government plans to wind down the industry over the next 20 months to allow time for the rehoming of racing dogs and for those in the industry to transition to other jobs. The sport has long faced criticism in the country, with some breeders accused of mistreating or doping the animals. Apart from New Zealand, commercial greyhound racing is permitted in Australia, Ireland, the UK, and the US. New Zealand plans to ban greyhound racing, citing high injury rates

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After a Shark Attack Doctors Found a Tooth in His Arm–He Now Wears it as an Earring ‘Trophy’

After a shark bite, Angus Kockott used the embedded shark tooth to make an earring – via SWNS

A diver who was attacked by a shark has turned one of its teeth into an earring—and says wearing the ‘trophy’ has given him closure.

Angus Kockott was freediving in the shallow water off a French Polynesian island in May when, out of nowhere, a 7-foot grey reef shark appeared from behind the coral and clamped its jaws on his arm.

The 20-year-old fought off the shark by stabbing it in the gills using a 4-inch knife used for cutting dive lines.

Angus managed to swam back to the boat and tied goggles around his arm to create a makeshift tourniquet.

“If I hadn’t blocked the shark with my arm, it could have gone for my neck,” said the sailor from South Africa. “I would’ve been toast.”

He was rushed by military aircraft to a hospital in Tahiti where, during a six-hour surgery, doctors found a tooth in his arm—and now he wears it with pride.

“It’s been a defining experience in my life,” said the young diver. “And that’s why I got the tooth made into an earring.”

“Wearing it feels like the close of this chapter. I got through it, and I’ve got my trophy hanging on my ear.”

But, he doesn’t blame the animal. “My assumption was it was a territory thing. You can’t blame the animal.”

Angus Kockott with shark tooth earring – via SWNS

After a nerve graft and skin graft to try to repair the damage, and three weeks recovering in Tahiti, he flew home to South Africa, where he is undergoing physical therapy and nerve treatments.

Due to the nerve damage Angus was left with little movement or feeling in his arm, but hopes with continued treatment and therapy it will improve.

He said the incident hasn’t deterred him—and he’s itching to get back in the ocean.

The earring, which came out much better than expected, is a vivid reminder that he emerged as a survivor from a near-death encounter.

It’s like a souvenir of what I went through—and it’s going to be a life-long conversation starter!”After a Shark Attack Doctors Found a Tooth in His Arm–He Now Wears it as an Earring ‘Trophy’

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Indian pets owners highly aware of viruses, few clean homes daily: Report

New Delhi,  (IANS) While pet owners in India have a high level of awareness about the potential presence of viruses in their homes, only 27 per cent of them consistently engage in cleaning every day, according to a report.

The Dyson Global Dust Study 2023, based on an online survey undertaken by 33,997 respondents across 39 countries, sheds light on the correlation between being a pet owner, household dust, cleaning habits and the potential implications on our overall well-being.

India’s pet care industry is experiencing remarkable growth at 16.5 per cent yearly. In fact, almost one in every six Indians now has a pet, with dogs being the most beloved companions. It is estimated that the Indian market will grow to a big $1,932.6 million by 2030.

But with pets come pet hair, dander (dead skin flakes), and skin flakes -- all which can cause allergic reactions in humans. Even for those without allergies, excessive pet hair and dander can cause discomfort and respiratory issues due to the dust particles they carry.

However, the report highlights a disconnect between acknowledging the importance of cleaning and implementing regular cleaning habits.

Only 28 per cent of pet owners take complete responsibility for cleaning their homes. Only 21 per cent of pet owners include cleaning their pet baskets as part of their general cleaning routine. Just 41 per cent pet owners believe that household dust can contribute to allergies such as pet allergens, pollen, and dust mites.

This is when the report showed that Indians possess the highest level of awareness regarding the presence of viruses in dust, with a staggering 50 per cent of the population being knowledgeable about this fact.

"Many people think that pet hair is the biggest problem as it is the most visible. Unsurprisingly, people are unaware of the other particles that may reside on their pets because these particles tend to be microscopic in size,” said Monika Stuczen, Research Scientist in Microbiology at Dyson, in a statement.

While regular vacuuming only reduces the amount of pet hair they shed around the home, microscopic particles remain on their pets that can potentially be spread around the home. It’s also important to remember that short-haired or hairless animals contribute dander and allergens to indoor air pollution just as effectively as long-haired animals Indian pets owners highly aware of viruses, few clean homes daily: Report | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Meet Bao Li and Qing Bao–the National Zoo's Returning Pandas After a Panda-less Year in D.C.

Qing Bao, the female giant panda soon to grace the National Zoo – credit, Smithsonian National Zoo, and Conservation Biology Institute.

In an elaborate announcement video, First Lady Jill Biden broke the news that she’s expecting—the return of giant pandas to the National Zoo.

Following a prolonged period of diplomatic tension with China, all but one zoo in the country was panda-less, but after signing a new 10-year lease agreement for the purpose of scientific research, improving relations, and delighting visitors, D.C. is set to have a new pair of pandas by the end of this year.

2-year-old Bao Li is the son of Bao Bao, the female panda born at the zoo in 2013 to parents who left last year after tensions between the US and China reached a fever pitch.

Bao Li will be joined by Qing Bao, a 2-year-old female who is believed to be a possible breeding partner.

Arriving via FedEx’s special ‘Panda Express’ airline which has been transporting pandas across the world for 15 years, Chinese ambassador Xie Feng dubbed the duo “our new envoys of friendship.”

Washingtonians and visitors to our nation’s capital from across the country will have 10 years to see them under an agreement that will see the National Zoo pay a $1 million per annum lease fee—100% of which goes to panda conservation in China.

“We’ll have a few years just to enjoy these two, and then people can start asking about cubs,” National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute director Brandie Smith told Axios.

‘Panda Diplomacy’ by China dates back to late Maoist rule in China, when First Lady Pat Nixon told the country of the arrival of the first giant pandas in an American zoo in 1972 after she and her husband’s historic visit to Beijing.Far from being just a method of warming relations, China’s cooperation with zoos across the world has yielded some of the most important discoveries in panda biology, that have informed conservation and captivity strategies at home.Meet Bao Li and Qing Bao–the National Zoo's Returning Pandas After a Panda-less Year in D.C

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John, Jacqueliene, Sunny, Raveena call for stricter laws to end cruelty against animals

New Delhi, May 27 (IANS) Animal abuse has reached a crescendo, with many cases remaining unreported. Ardent animal lovers such as John Abraham, Sunny Leone, and Jacqueliene Fernandez have voiced their opinions and called for "stricter laws" to safeguard the four-legged friends.

From February to May, numerous cases of animal abuse have been reported, including running over animals, throwing them from great heights, starving, beating, and using them for entertainment.

The most recent case was reported from a society in Greater Noida, where a stray dog was thrown from the 15th floor of a residential tower. The remains were found outside the building by a resident on May 11.

Bollywood star John Abraham, who is a doting dad to his fur babies, Sia and Bailey, stated that the surge in “cruelty to animals deeply wounds our collective conscience.”

“It’s a stark reminder of the urgency to take action. Let’s unite in vigilance, reporting every instance of animal abuse and supporting grassroots organisations at the forefront of the fight for animal rights,” John told IANS.

Stricter laws must be implemented for the perpetrator, he said.

“Governments must not falter; they must implement stringent penalties to deter perpetrators and invest in comprehensive educational programmes to foster empathy and reverence for all life forms, and we all must do what we can to safeguard our community animals,” he said.

In India, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, outlines punishments for animal cruelty, including penalties such as a maximum fine of Rs 50 for convicted first-time offenders (although the IPC prescribes stronger punishments), according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). However, enforcement of these laws varies, as many cases go unreported.

Actress Sunny Leone said that the alarming rise in animal abuse cases is an affront to shared humanity.

“The government holds the key – it must enforce strict laws that leave no room for impunity. As individuals, we can each play our part by reporting any acts of cruelty to the police,” she told IANS.

Empathy should be taught to children at an early age.

“Children should be taught to be kind to animals to help them grow into adults who will be kind to everyone. Together, we can build a world where every animal is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve,” she said.

Jacqueliene Fernandez told IANS: “We, as individuals, have a great deal of power to create change by using our voices to stand up for animals by opening our doors to animals in need. The government must also prioritise animal protection by introducing legislation to safeguard animals and ensuring its robust enforcement to build a future where all members of our society, whatever the species, is able to live in peace."

Actress Raveena Tandon, who is vocal about animal rights, told IANS that, as a society, we must not turn a blind eye when animals are suffering at human hands.

“We must be vigilant neighbours, keeping a watchful eye and speaking out against any form of abuse. By reporting acts of cruelty, we send a clear message: animal abuse will not be tolerated,” she told IANS.

Raveena added: “Research shows that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals are often repeat offenders who move on to hurting others, including humans, so it’s imperative for the safety of all of society – humans and other animals alike – that perpetrators are caught and punished to the greatest extent of the law.”

On how to minimise abuse, Sachin Bangera from PETA India, said: “We collaborate closely with local enforcement agencies, offering rewards, registering first information reports, and mobilising our activist network to identify and apprehend those who hurt or neglect animals.”

“Through our concerted efforts, we leave no stone unturned in holding animal abusers accountable for their actions.” John, Jacqueliene, Sunny, Raveena call for stricter laws to end cruelty against animals | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Watch a Dog Mimic a Weightlifter By Doing Squats and Lifting Invisible Barbells (Sunday Funnies)

Dooma copying her owner Dr. Evan Strahl as he squats – SWNS

It’s not AI…

Apparently, this Seattle dog is simply athletic and into sports. (Maybe owns a Subaru?)

This amusing video captures three-year-old Dooma copying her owner, Dr. Evan Strahl, working out at an LA Fitness gym in Seattle, Washington.

During Evan’s exercise session, the pup begins performing a set of squats.

“Dooma is a highly-trained service dog,” explained the physician.

“She competes in many dog sports, and also loves swimming and hiking.”

(Dooma belongs on a dating app for dogs.)Watch the super cute scene below. You might want to mute the music, though… Watch a Dog Mimic a Weightlifter By Doing Squats and Lifting Invisible Barbells (Sunday Funnies)

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Can animals give birth to twins?

Michael Jaffe, Mississippi State University and Tracy Jaffe, Mississippi State University 

Ask any parent – welcoming a new baby to the family is exciting, but it comes with a lot of work. And when the new addition is a pair of babies – twins – parents really have their work cut out for them.

For many animal species it’s the norm to have multiple babies at once. A litter of piglets can be as many as 11 or more!

We are faculty members at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. We’ve been present for the births of many puppies and kittens over the years – and the animal moms almost always deliver multiples.

But are all those animal siblings who share the same birthday twins?

Twins are two peas in a pod

Twins are defined as two offspring from the same pregnancy.

They can be identical, which means a single sperm fertilized a single egg that divided into two separate cells that went on to develop into two identical babies. They share the same DNA, and that’s why the two twins are essentially indistinguishable from each other.

Twins can also be fraternal. That’s the outcome when two separate eggs are fertilized individually at the same time. Each twin has its own set of genes from the mother and the father. One can be male and one can be female. Fraternal twins are basically as similar as any set of siblings.

Approximately 3% of human pregnancies in the United States produce twins. Most of those are fraternal – approximately one out of every three pairs of twins is identical.

Multiple babies from one animal mom

Each kind of animal has its own standard number of offspring per birth. People tend to know the most about domesticated species that are kept as pets or farm animals.

One study that surveyed the size of over 10,000 litters among purebred dogs found that the average number of puppies varied by the size of the dog breed. Miniature breed dogs – like chihuahuas and toy poodles, generally weighing less than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) – averaged 3.5 puppies per litter. Giant breed dogs – like mastiffs and Great Danes, typically over 100 pounds (45 kilograms) – averaged more than seven puppies per litter.

When a litter of dogs, for instance, consists of only two offspring, people tend to refer to the two puppies as twins. Twins are the most common pregnancy outcome in goats, though mom goats can give birth to a single-born kid or larger litters, too. Sheep frequently have twins, but single-born lambs are more common.

Horses, which are pregnant for 11 to 12 months, and cows, which are pregnant for nine to 10 months, tend to have just one foal or calf at a time – but twins may occur. Veterinarians and ranchers have long believed that it would be financially beneficial to encourage the conception of twins in dairy and beef cattle. Basically the farmer would get two calves for the price of one pregnancy.

But twins in cattle may result in birth complications for the cow and undersized calves with reduced survival rates. Similar risks come with twin pregnancies in horses, which tend to lead to both pregnancy complications that may harm the mare and the birth of weak foals.

DNA holds the answer to what kind of twins

So plenty of animals can give birth to twins. A more complicated question is whether two animal babies born together are identical or fraternal twins.

Female dogs and cats ovulate multiple eggs at one time. Fertilization of individual eggs by distinct spermatazoa from a male produces multiple embryos. This process results in puppies or kittens that are fraternal, not identical, even though they may look very much the same.

Biologists believe that identical twins in most animals are very rare. The tricky part is that lots of animal siblings look very, very similar and researchers need to do a DNA test to confirm whether two animals do in fact share all their genes. Only one documented report of identical twin dogs was confirmed by DNA testing. But no one knows for sure how frequently fertilized animal eggs split and grow into identical twin animal babies.

And reproduction is different in various animals. For instance, nine-banded armadillos normally give birth to identical quadruplets. After a mother armadillo releases an egg and it becomes fertilized, it splits into four separate identical cells that develop into identical pups. Its relative, the seven-banded armadillo, can give birth to anywhere from seven to nine identical pups at one time.

There’s still a lot that scientists aren’t sure about when it comes to twins in other species. Since DNA testing is not commonly performed in animals, no one really knows how often identical twins are born. It’s possible – maybe even likely – that identical twins may have been born in some species without anyone’s ever knowing.

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Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

Michael Jaffe, Associate Professor of Small Animal Surgery, Mississippi State University and Tracy Jaffe, Assistant Clinical Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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New brain implants help paralysed monkeys walk again

Swiss scientists have helped monkeys with spinal cord injuries regain control of non-functioning limbs in research, which might one day lead to paralysed people being able to walk again.

The scientists, who treated the monkeys with a neuroprosthetic interface that acted as a wireless bridge between the brain and spine, say they have started small feasibility studies in humans to trial some components.

"The link between the decoding of the brain and the stimulation of the spinal cord - to make this communication exist - is completely new," said Jocelyne Bloch, a neurosurgeon at the Lausanne University Hospital who surgically placed the brain and spinal cord implants in the monkey experiments.

"For the first time, I can imagine a completely paralyzed patient able to move their legs through this brain-spine interface."

Gregoire Courtine, a neuroscientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) which led the work, cautioned that there are major challenges ahead and "it may take several years before this intervention can become a therapy for humans."

Publishing their results in the journal Nature on Wednesday, the team said the interface works by decoding brain activity linked to walking movements and relaying that to the spinal cord - below the injury - through electrodes that stimulate neural pathways and activate leg muscles.

In bypassing the injury and restoring communication between the brain and the relevant part of the spinal cord, the scientists successful treated two rhesus monkeys each with one leg paralysed by a partial spinal cord lesion.

One of the monkeys regained some use of its paralysed leg within the first week after injury, without training, both on a treadmill and on the ground, while the other took around two weeks to recover to the same point.

"We developed an implantable, wireless system that operates in real-time and enabled a primate to behave freely, without the constraint of tethered electronics," said Courtine.

"We understood how to extract brain signals that encode flexion and extension movements of the leg with a mathematical algorithm. We then linked the decoded signals to the stimulation of specific hotspots in the spinal cord that induced the walking movement."

The brain and spinal cord can adapt and recover from small injuries, but until now that ability has been far too limited to overcome severe damage.

Other attempts to repair spinal cords have focused on stem cell therapy and on combinations of electrical and chemical stimulation of the cord.

Independent experts not directly involved in this work said it was an important step towards a potential future where paralyzed people may be able to walk again.

Simone Di Giovanni, a specialist in restorative neuroscience at Imperial College London, said EPFL's results were "solid, very promising and exciting" but would need to be tested further in more animals and in larger numbers.

"In principle this is reproducible in human patients," he said. "The issue will be how much this approach will contribute to functional recovery that impacts on the quality of life. This is still very uncertain."Source: domain-b.com

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Three year old miracle girl found alive after 11 days in Siberian taiga - thanks to her puppy

 'I carried Karina myself to the car, and she was light as a bird. She was hardly ten kilograms - but amazingly she was fully conscious.' Picture: SakhaPress

By The Siberian Times reporter, 11 August 2014: Her dog saved her by caring for Karina for nine days then returning home and guiding rescuers to her. Details are emerging today of the heroic rescue of the girl in the remote Sakha Republic, thanks to her loyal and loving dog. Karina Chikitova was huddled in tall grass after wandering away from home, apparently following her father Rodion who had left to go to his native village on 29 July. The mother believed she and her dog had gone with her father and in this part of remote Siberia had no way to check because of a lack of phone connections, discovering the awful truth only four days later, when a search was launched. The girl aged three years and seven months survived by eating wild berries
and drinking river water in territory roamed by wild bears and wolves. Little Karina made herself a bed in the grasses, which are common to the south-west of Sakha in summer, but they meant that helicopters and drones were useless in searching for her in the bear-infested taiga. Ininitally her family and the rescue teams were distraught when the dog - which has not been named despite its heroic role - returned to the girl's village of Olom in Olyokminsky district. 'Two days before we found Karina her puppy came back home,' said Afanasiy Nikolayev, spokesman for the Sakha Republic

'That was the moment when our hearts sank, because we thought at least with her dog Karina had chances to survive'. Pictures: NTV

Rescue Service. 'That was the moment when our hearts sank, because we thought at least with her dog Karina had chances to survive - night in Yakutia are cold and some areas have already gone into minus temperatures. 'If she was to hug her puppy, we thought, this would have given her a chance to stay warm during nights and survive. 'So when her dog came back we thought 'that's it' - even if she was alive - and chances were slim - now she would have definitely have lost all hopes. Our hearts truly and deeply sank.' But the puppy guided the rescuers to the stranded girl. 'It was Karina's puppy that helped the adults find the girl,' said a report by NTV news. 'When it came back home two days ago her family had lost hope, thinking this definitely meant Karina had no chance. 'But then it was the puppy that showed rescuers the way to Karina, and in the morning she was found.' The report said 'she was conscious and looked surprisingly well. 'She was given food and drinks, and then with her mother she was first sent to the district hospital and then to Yakutsk. 'She doesn't want to speak about the time she spent in taiga, or not yet. The only thing she said that she was eating berries and

'We only made 20 metres and saw Karina sitting in the grass'. ' Pictures: SakhaPress, NTV

drank water from rivers'. Nikolayev said that the rescuers saw traces of her bare feet. 'We began searches, thinking that if she had lost her shoes she would try and stay away from the deep forest, because there is a lot of sharp sticks there. In the morning, almost right after we began searches - we only made 20 metres - we saw Karina sitting in the grass. We rushed to her, got her a little tea and grabbed her to run back to the car and doctors. 'I carried Karina myself to the car, and she was light as a bird. She was hardly ten kilograms - but amazingly she was fully conscious.' Ekaterina Andreeva, a psychologist with the rescue team, said: 'We can say that the girl's mind was not hurt. She is talking, she reacts normally to everything around her. She recalls what happened to her.' Karina is now in hospital in Yakutsk where medics are seeking to build up her strength. She had no serious injuries like broken bones, only scratches, especially on her feet because she was walking without shoes for a long time. She was badly bitten by mosquitoes

Karina had no serious injuries - only scratches, especially on her feet because she was walking without shoes for a long time. Pictures: YSIA, SakhaPress

and other insects. Lyudmila Nikolaeva, head of children care department of Republican hospital Number 1, said: 'The patient was moved from intensive care to a regular ward, she is getting food in small portions'. Around 100 people had been hunting Karina, accompanied by hunters and special forces soldiers in an area especially known for bears. Source: http://siberiantimes.com/

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Tiger Temple wins case to keep 150 tigers

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Tiger Temple wins case to keep 150 tigers 

The Tiger Temple in Thailand's Kan-chana-buri town has won a last minute reprieve to keep 150 tigers, after being threatened with closure last year. The news comes as a shock to animal rights campaigners, who have complained for years that the tigers were being exploited for profit. For years it has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand. A secluded temple where you can get up close and personal with one of the great predators. The Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi, visited by hundreds of thousands who bring in over five million dollars a year in revenue. But controversy has raged for some time about the conditions at the temple, and the ability of the monks to look after their cats. So it was a considerable surprise to animal welfare groups in Thailand when the temple was recently awarded a zoo license by the department of national parks. The decision is even more confusing because the temple was raided last year, and several tigers were found to be missing, presumed trafficked. And because of the poor conditions under which the tigers are kept, the Department of National Parks removed ten tigers, and announced it would remove the other one hundred and forty six this year. This is the Department of National Parks. The organization is responsible for granting zoo licences, but rather through political implements and money. The fact that the Temple generates so much income, seems to give it protection from those who want to shut it down. The monks say that the profits are ploughed back into the upkeep of the animals, but the run down conditions inside suggest otherwise. Others are concerned the problems go even deeper, and this decision sets a poor example for others looking to generate income from the exposure of exotic animals. For the moment however, the temple has won a reprieve. The Department of National parks say if the outstanding criminal cases do return a guilty verdict then the zoo will be shut down. But for the moment, the temple appears to be above the law. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.Source: China.org.cn

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Panda twins named by Olympics president

Panda researchers named a pair of panda cub twins "Olympia" and "Fuwa", a spokesperson from Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base said in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Panda researchers in southwest China's Sichuan Province have named a pair of panda cub twins after receiving more than 3,000 suggestions. The winning names Olympia and Fuwa, posted by the president of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach, came out on top after five pairs of names were put up for a final vote, a spokesman for the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base said. Fuwa is the name of the mascots for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. After the twins were born on June 22 last year, the Chengdu base launched an appeal for names for the cubs. More than 3,000 responses, including 900 from outside the Chinese mainland, were received. The female twin panda cubs have attracted attention worldwide because of their famous family. Kelin, their mother, is famous for a photo showing her watching a video of pandas mating in a bid to encourage her to do the same. It was one of Time magazine's "Most Surprising Photos of 2013". Cobi, their grandfather, was named by former president of the IOC Juan Antonio Samaranch in 1992. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Source: China.org.cn

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White tiger cubs become one month old

White tiger cubs take rest at their habitat in a safari park in Kunming, Yunnan Province on Dec. 1, 2015. Fiver new-born white tiger cubs at the park became one month old on Monday. (Photo/China News Service/Liu Ranyang) 

White tiger cubs take rest at their habitat in a safari park in Kunming, Yunnan Province on Dec. 1, 2015. Fiver new-born white tiger cubs at the park became one month old on Monday. (Photo/China News Service/Liu Ranyang)

White tiger cubs take rest at their habitat in a safari park in Kunming, Yunnan Province on Dec. 1, 2015. Fiver new-born white tiger cubs at the park became one month old on Monday. (Photo/China News Service/Liu Ranyang) 

White tiger cubs take rest at their habitat in a safari park in Kunming, Yunnan Province on Dec. 1, 2015. Fiver new-born white tiger cubs at the park became one month old on Monday. (Photo/China News Service/Liu Ranyang) 

White tiger cubs take rest at their habitat in a safari park in Kunming, Yunnan Province on Dec. 1, 2015. Fiver new-born white tiger cubs at the park became one month old on Monday. (Photo/China News Service/Liu Ranyang). Source: China.org.cn

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Poodle walks 50 km to country house in search of missing owners

So many tears were shed. We thought that we had lost him for ever. Picture: Yenisei Channel

By The Siberian Times reporter: Krasnoyarsk captivated by dog's 23 day journey, but is it evidence man's best friend has a sixth sense or built-in compass?Olga Vinogradova, 32, left Sam with her niece in Krasnoyarsk city while she went to her dacha - or country house - to water her plants. Sensing where they had gone, the poodle ran away. A search for the missing animal failed to find him - for more than three weeks. Then he appeared - at the dacha some 50 kilometres away. Olga told local TV channel 'Yenisei': 'We needed to go to our dacha to water the plants, literally for just two hours. We left Sam with my niece but he ran away and vanished. We were searching for him for three weeks, but in vain. So many tears were shed. We thought that we had lost him for ever. 'But in about 23 days he came to our dacha. Strangely that he did not come home, where he had lived all his life, for about ten years. Now we're so happy. He came by himself, just a couple of days ago. Apparently, he was fed along the way, so it shows there are good people in this world.' But does it show something else, too? German scientists - and others - have revealed how dogs are sensitive to the Earth's magnetic field. As well as a keen sense of smell and hearing, they prefer to align themselves north to south when doing their business.  Zoologist Hynek Burda of Germany's University of Duisburg-Essen reported in journal Frontiers in Zoology that dogs use this alignment - but only when the magnetic field is calm. Now the search is on to find out how man's best friend uses this skill which is beyond our own ability. Perhaps Sam's amazing walk to the dacha gives a clue. Source: Article

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Meet the animal lovers with the 'bear necessities' in life

Spring time sees the arrival of little bears into the world but, sadly, not all of them end up being looked after by their mothers and fathers. Picture: Aleksandr Khitrov

Little orphaned cubs given fresh chance after being rescued and then adopted and nurtured with the help of zoos and vets. Bear cubs left orphaned are being adopted across Siberia by kind-hearted animal lovers. Spring time sees the arrival of little bears into the world but, sadly, not all of them end up being looked after by their mothers and fathers. But instead of being left to fend for themselves, they are being rescued from the forests and with the help of zoos and vets, they are being nurtured through their early days. In Vladivostok, three bear cubs have been taken to Sadgorod Zoo this month, the first of which had originally been left outside the Vladivostok Circus in February. Initially it was planned the furry baby would be taken to the Moscow circus led by Ivan Yarovi but problems with the airline meant it could not take the 12-hour flight.

Mitya, had originally been left outside the Vladivostok Circus in February and now he is in private zoo in the village of Borisovka. Pictures: Aleksandr Khitrov, Ekaterina Zotova

At Sadgorod, he was fed milk porridge, fruit, carrot and honey, and was joined by two other newcomers – month-old twins - who were picked up by employees of the hunting control department in Chuguevsky district. Zoo owner Alyona Asnovina said: 'They were left with no mother in sight and wouldn't be able to survive on their own. When the twins grow up, perhaps they'll be put in the forest.' The circus cub, Mitya, has since moved on now to another new home, a private zoo in the village of Borisovka.

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