Secrets of the honey bee revealed in genome code

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have unraveled the genetic code of the honey bee, uncovering clues about its complex social behavior, heightened sense of smell and African origins.

It is the third insect to have its genome mapped and joins the fruit fly and mosquito in the exclusive club.

The honey bee, or Apis mellifera, evolved more slowly than the other insects but has more genes related to smell.

"In biology and biomedicine, honey bees are used to study many diverse areas, including allergic disease, development, gerontology, neuroscience, social behavior and venom toxicology," said Gene Robinson, director of the University of Illinois Bee Research Facility and one of the leaders of the project.

"The honey bee genome project is ushering in a bright era of bee research for the benefit of agriculture, biological research and human health," he added.

With its highly evolved social structure of tens of thousands of worker bees commanded by Queen Elizabeth, the honey bee genome could also improve the search for genes linked to social behavior.




But the consortium of scientists, who reported the findings in the journal Nature, said a comprehensive analysis of the honey bee and other species will be needed to understand its social life.

Queen Elizabeth has 10 times the lifespan of workers and lays up to 2,000 eggs a day. Despite having tiny brains, honey bees display honed cognitive abilities and learn to associate a flower's color, shape and scent with food, which increases its foraging ability.

The scientists who analyzed the genetic code have discovered the honey bee originated in Africa and spread to Europe in two ancient migrations.

"The African bees' spread throughout the New World is a spectacular example of biological invasion," the scientists said in the Nature report.

The number of genes in honey bees related to smell outnumber those linked to taste. The insects also have fewer genes than the fruitfly or mosquito for immunity.

Honey bees use pheromones, substances secreted by glands, to distinguish the gender, caste and age of other bees, according to the scientists.

"This DNA sequence is a major step toward answering a basic question of social evolution: at the genomic level, what does it take to engineer an advanced colonial insect?" said Edward Wilson, of Harvard University in a commentary on the research.

Reference:reuters

Burning of kittens investigated

An investigation into an incident in which four kittens were found burned to death in County Londonderry is continuing, police have said.

The remains of three of the kittens were found after a grass fire at a house in Freehall Road in Castlerock last Friday. A fourth was found nearby.

It is understood a fifth was rescued, and although badly injured, rehomed.

Police have appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact them at Coleraine station.

A spokeswoman for Oak Tree Animal Rescue Centre told the Coleraine Times newspaper that the incident was "an appalling act of cruelty".

"A neighbour, who reported the incident to us, actually heard the animals screaming and managed to rescue one of the kittens.

"She was unable to go back to try and rescue more of the kittens because of the intensity of the blaze," she said.




The spokeswoman said the penalties for animal cruelty were too lenient in Northern Ireland.

"In America you can get up to seven years in prison for causing cruelty to animals," she said.

"We see a lot of cruelty to animals, but these were helpless little kittens that couldn't escape. It is senseless."


Reference:
bbc

Canadian polar bear may be West Nile victim

TORONTO (Reuters) - A polar bear at the Toronto zoo could be the first of its kind to die of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus, and zoo officials say the thick-skinned animal could have been bitten on the nose.

"It is bizarre because (polar bears) have very thick fur and thick skin, so a mosquito would have had to land on his nose or his eyeball or somewhere where it could get through," Shanna Young, executive director of communications at Toronto Zoo, said on Wednesday.

She said the zoo believed it was the first time that a polar bear had died of the tropical disease, although there has been evidence that the virus has turned up in black bears.

The zoo euthanized the bear, named Kunik, last month after it had trouble using its hind legs. The symptoms pointed to West Nile encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, and Young said postmortem tests came up strongly positive.

A sample of the bear's brain tissue has been sent to Health Canada, which is responsible for national public health, and a confirmation of the cause of death is expected within weeks.




West Nile virus was first isolated nearly 70 years ago in Uganda. It is mainly transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, which itself became infected by feeding on the blood of infected birds.

Toronto has seen only six human cases of West Nile this year, down from 38 in 2005. The zoo, Canada's biggest, conducts mosquito eradication programs and tests vaccinations on its animals, but there is no vaccine for polar bears, Young said.

Kunik was 26 years old and came to the zoo after it was orphaned in Canada's Northwest Territories, Young said. "He was huge, over a thousand pounds. He loved to swim and was very playful."

Only one polar bear remains at the zoo. Another died earlier this year of old age.

Reference:reuters

Crabs Change Color to Avoid Hungry Birds

By Stephen Pincock, ABC Science Online


Tiny blue-shelled fiddler crabs change their color to avoid being eaten by predatory birds, researchers have discovered.

Scientists have long been intrigued by the crabs' ability to change the color of their top shell from bright blue to a more subdued, muddy shade.


AP Photo/Australian National University


Brighter Color, Less to Fear
Certain species of fiddler crab, as seen in this undated handout photo, can alter their coloring from bright to dull if they sense predators are near, finds new research from Australian National University.


But exactly why the crabs change their color hasn't been clear.



"When you catch them, for instance, they go dull," said Jochen Zeil of the Australian National University in Canberra. Zeil's research appears in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

To find an answer, Zeil and his colleagues studied a particular species of fiddler crab, Uca vomeris, on the mud flats of Australia's northeast coast, south of Townsville.

"Some populations of these crabs are all very dull, but in other places they are very colorful," Zeil said. "We wanted to understand how this happens."

The scientists looked at variations between crabs from three different areas: one group was dull colored, another was colorful and a third group mixed.

They found differences in the numbers of crab-eating birds near the dull colored populations.

"In the places where the crabs were colorful, there were few birds," Zeil says. "But in the others there were more birds actively hunting crabs."



To confirm these findings, the scientists set up an experimental model to test whether the crabs changed their shell color in direct response to the threat of being eaten.

They found two very colorful crabs living close together and set up a kind of wooden screen between them.

One crab was left to go about its life as normal. But the other was subjected every couple of minutes to the attentions of a pretend bird. In reality, it was a small foam ball suspended on fishing wire.

Crabs have poor vision, so the approach of the black ball was enough to convince it a bird was coming, Zeil explained.

Within days, that crab had changed its color to the muddy shade, while the other remained colorful.

"We could observe that over a couple of days, the crabs did change their color when they are confronted with this dummy bird," the researcher said.

Scientists suspect the blue color of the crabs is normally used to help them identify others living close by, and avoid fights, Zeil said.

The next step in his research will be to see whether staying dull all the time has any effect on neighborly relations.

Reference:discovery

Copy-cat cloning firm goes out of business

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A California company set up to clone beloved pets has gone out of business after cloning just two cats.

A spokesman for Genetic Savings & Clone on Thursday said the Sausalito, California-based company had closed and its tissue bank was being sold to livestock cloning firm ViaGen Inc., based in Austin, Texas.

The company had cloned just two cats, in 2004, but offered to do more at prices of up to $50,000.

The Humane Society of the United States, which campaigned against the business from the start, celebrated the news.

"It's no surprise the demand for cloned pets is basically nonexistent, and we're very pleased that Genetic Savings & Clone's attempt to run a cloning pet store was a spectacular flop," Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society president, said in a statement.





"Rather than spending millions of dollars on developing a technology with no redeeming social purpose, those resources could be aimed at reducing pet overpopulation, including pet adoption outreach efforts and spay/neuter education," Pacelle said.

Calls to Genetic Savings & Clone's CEO, Lou Hawthorne, were not answered and the company's office line was disconnected.

In 2005, California lawmakers rejected a proposal aimed at the company that would have banned sales of cloned pets.

Reference:reuters

Family may sue vet after dog's death from shot

Death shocks family
By ROBERT MARCHANT

Mack, a proud and frisky little English bulldog, went for a trip to the vet's office recently.
But a routine visit for a vaccination turned deadly, leaving an Ossining family angry, upset and ready to sue.
"My husband left with the dog, and he came back with the collar, that's all. How do you explain that?" asked Theresa Marino, who recently gave birth to a daughter, Joie.
"He was our dog, not even a year old, like a baby. I wanted him to grow up with my daughter. He was great with her," said Marino, who works in sales and has a stepdaughter with her husband, Joseph.
Mack was taken for a vaccination against rabies, Lyme disease and bordetella (kennel cough) at the Yorktown Animal Hospital on Sept. 30. Joseph Marino said he was wary and watchful about the procedure since another bulldog of his had died after receiving a vaccination 10 years ago.
After the dog was vaccinated, he suffered an allergic reaction, known technically as anaphylactic shock. His airways were constricted, and he suffocated.
Joseph Marino, a union steward, said he couldn't eat or sleep over the weekend after his dog died. "Every time I think about it, I feel like crying," he said, and the case is likely to end up in small claims court in Yorktown. The Marino family wants the hospital to pay for the $3,900 it cost them to purchase the purebred bulldog from a breeder.
Joseph Marino said he was upset at the handling of the matter at the animal hospital. He questioned why the dog was not weighed before he was given an injection in order to determine the dosage, and he said he pointed out a large lump on Mack's hip that should have raised an alert that trouble was coming in the form of an allergic reaction.




Dr. Phillip Raclyn of the Yorktown Animal Hospital said the hospital had done everything it could for Mack, that all the proper procedures were followed and his staff was not at fault. He noted that the same dose is given to every animal, regardless of a dog's size or weight, and added that a lump under the skin after an injection is not uncommon or unusual.
"Any dog, any cat, any human can suffer an anaphylactic reaction, and you can get a reaction in many ways," he said. "He (Marino) lost his dog, and we feel terrible about it. He wants to blame us, but we're not to blame. He doesn't want to accept that bad things happen. Bad things can happen to good dogs."
Raclyn continued, "We recognized the anaphylactic shock and did all the necessary steps you need to do." He urged people to vaccinate their dogs, since New York state has the second-highest rate of rabies in the U.S., after Texas.
An expert on bulldogs, Lita Eitner-England, notes they pose a number of medical challenges, along with many virtues.
"They have a noble, regal appearance, they're pretty good with kids, they're quiet and they don't need a tremendous amount of exercise. They have so much character and personality," she said, "But there are a lot of health issues: eye problems, elongated soft palates, allergies. The list goes on and on. There can be a lot of vet bills."
They are also an expensive dog, she said, because of the difficulty in breeding them, almost always via Caesarean section.
Eitner-England, a resident of the San Francisco Bay area, notes allergies are a particular hazard to bulldogs because their short muzzles can cause difficulty in breathing. She said she had never heard of a bulldog dying at a veterinary office but noted there were always unusual health risks involved with the breed's vulnerabilities. She also stressed the need for vaccinations.
There have been no disciplinary proceedings brought against the Yorktown Animal Hospital since it opened in 1980, said spokeswoman Mary Weber of the state Education Department's Office of Professions. The last time the animal hospital was taken to small claims court was in 1999, according to Yorktown Town Court records.
The Marino family is still adjusting to the loss. "There's a big hole," said Theresa Marino.

Reference:lohud

Raped pit bull terrier Being Put To Death

Prosecutors say a man’s wife caught him having sex with their dog. He might be the first in the state charged under a new animal cruelty law.

A Spanaway man is the first person in Pierce County – and possible the first in the state – charged under a new section of the state’s animal cruelty law that makes bestiality a felony.
Pierce County prosecutors say Michael Patrick McPhail, 26, had sex with his family’s dog Wednesday.

Deputy prosecutor Karen Watson charged the father of two Thursday with one count of first-degree animal cruelty – a crime that could mean up to a year in jail if he’s convicted.

McPhail was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Pierce County Superior Court and a not-guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Judge Katherine Stolz ordered him held in the Pierce County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Stolz set trial for Dec. 11.

According to a Pierce County Sheriff’s Department report, McPhail’s wife told investigators that she caught her husband on the back porch about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday having intercourse with their 4-year-old female pit bull terrier.

She took photos of the act, the report says.

The bestiality law, which took effect in June, was prompted by a case near Enumclaw in which a man died after having sex with a horse.

Before the law was enacted, Washington was one of 14 states where bestiality had not been explicitly prohibited.


This animal cruelty case has caught the eye of many animal rights activist, animal rescuers and pet owners who are trying to save this pit bull terrier.

Founder of NOkillNetwork.com stated "Absolutely disgusting and horrifying...."

Animal rights activist, animal rescuers and pet owners stated "This poor little girl is going to be PUT TO SLEEP!!! The wife put her into a shelter where they do not allow rescues for Pits!! She did nothing wrong!!!! She was RAPED by her monster/owner!!! Now She is going to be killed because she was a victim???? Please please PLEASE help her!!!!!

SHE WILL BE KILLED BY THE SHELTER NOW...THEY DO NOT ADOPT OUT PIT BULLS AND THE FAMILY DOES NOT WANT HER ANYMORE AFTER WHAT HAPPENED"

Letter from Laura Enneian who is trying to help her "Hello,

I am writing this email because of animal cruelty that happened in Washington, and because of what was done to this dog, which wasn't her fault, she may now be put to death. I am reaching out to anyone that has any ideas or suggestions for me to help this dog.

I am from Florida , and recently heard of a man from Spanaway, WA, that had been arrested because he had sex with his 4-year-old female pit bull terrier.

I contacted the Pierce County Human Society (253-383-2733), where she is being held, and the woman told me that the wife of the man that reported it does not want her. They also told me that they don t adopt out pit bulls, and that she would probably be euthanized. She then told me to call the Pierce County Animal Control at: 253-798-7387.

I called them, and they told me that they would give my name and number to the officer that was investigating the case.

I am contacting you because I am hoping that a group will fight for this poor little dog. She did nothing wrong, and because of this beast, she may be put to death.

Please, please help her. My cell phone is 954-261-1346. I will do anything in my power to help."

Try to help save this poor baby's life.
Contact Information of the humane society where the 4 year old pit bull terrier is being held:

Humane Society (where dog is: 253-383-2733

Animal Control (Amanda) 253-798-7387

UPDATE ON THE JUDGE PHONE #
Superi Organization.htm
The judge involved, is in animal rescue. Her picture and Phone # are here.


Here is the main page for Prosecutors. Will send more specifics for the one involved as soon as I get it.
http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/Abtus/ourorg/pa/feldiv.htm

Dog Health Insurance


TRIAL Is set for Dec. 11th

Reference:PetVersatility-DurbyPawsCrosspostingGroup

Authorities Rescue 400 Dogs From Breeder

BETHPAGE, Tenn. -- Sumner County Sheriff's Deputies were at the scene Friday of a large animal rescue in middle Tennessee.
Slideshow: Authorities, Volunteers Rescue 400 Dogs From Home

Workers from 12 different agencies were in the Bethpage community where they were rounding up as many as 400 dogs from a local breeder.


Officials said the breeder of the dogs let the number of dogs she kept get out of hand.

The dogs belong to Irene Muser. Authorities said she has been cited because she let her breeding business get out of hand.

“There’s just so many animals. They are in such a precarious position that really the best thing for them is to be removed from the property and really taken care of somewhere else while they figure out what they want to do criminally,” said Laura Bevan of the U.S. Humane Society.

Workers from 12 agencies suited up for what they were calling “Operation Animal Hope.”



“Because of the close conditions of the animals and the time that they have been there, the sanitation issues and the aromas are pretty pungent,” Bevan said.

Workers said they found four to five dogs per cage and many were sick with diseases, and some were already dead.

Peggy Olea went to the kennel disguised as someone looking for a dog and alerted authorities to the situation.

She said she has been telling authorities about the conditions for years.

“She brought out a little puppy, I think it is dead now. It was a poodle puppy. We only touched it for a second and our hands were covered in animal lice. We had to shower when we got home,” Olea said.

“Our clothes smelled just from standing in the driveway. There were rows of cages. There were dogs piled on top of cages. When they urinate and defecate it goes between the cages and hits the other animals. We saw a few animals covered in feces and urine,” she said.


Olea and others expressed concern about the hundreds of other animals that Muser has sold from her diseased kennel.




Investigators said they would look into that as well.

“She generally sells within the community and probably within southern Kentucky and all over Tennessee. People have come to the house to buy animals so they are probably somewhat in the radius,” Bevan said.

“How could you come to this property and look at this and go, ‘This is OK’?” Olea said.

Most of the dogs were small breeds -- Pomeranians, Dachshunds and Shih Tzus and other types of small dogs.

The animals were to be loaded up and taken to a warehouse in Gallatin where veterinarians can examine them, officials said.

The healthy dogs will be separated from the sick dogs while at the warehouse.



Authorities said that all of the dogs are not sick and not all of them had parvo and that some would be adoptable.

They also said that a lot of the dogs would not survive.

To Make Donations Or To Volunteer In The Care Of The Dogs



The Hendersonville Animal Shelter said they would play a big role in the care of the animals and they said if people would like to donate they could do so at the following address:


Operation Animal Hope
P.O. Box 962
Hendersonville, TN 37077


Phone: 615-822-0061

Reference:wsmv

Emus Offer Clues to How Dinos Walked

Larry O'Hanlon, Discovery News

Dino Model?

AP Photo/Lance Moler

Irma Quintero pets some of the emus that she raises on her farm outside Lubbock, Texas. Scientists recently watched emus walk to understand how dinosaurs walked thousands of years ago.

The mysterious moves of two-footed Jurassic dinosaurs traveling along a long-lost beach have been brought to life with emus.

Unlike computer models that have been developed to simulate the gait, and therefore the possible trackways of specific dinosaurs, live emus allow for direct comparisons of complex tracks to specific behaviors, say researchers looking at the thousands of tracks left behind 165 million years ago by dinosaurs at Red Gulch in northern Wyoming.

Among the surprises they’ve found is that tracks once interpreted as steady walking may actually be created by the animals stopping at mid-stride.

Another enigmatic type of trackway that now makes sense is where the dinos appear to have crossed one leg over the other. The motion is a seemingly weird thing to do, until you watch an emu making the same sort of track, explains Brent Breithaupt, director and curator of the University of Wyoming’s Geological Museum.


Emus, it turns out, have legs that are close together — like many dinos — and tend to look around a lot as they walk, Breithaupt explains. This scanning behavior causes emus to often cross the left foot over the right leg and the right foot over the left, making the same confusing pattern seen in the dinosaur trackways.


"Sure enough there are wonderful comparisons," said Breithaupt. "Emus are our biological Rosetta Stone."

He presents the latest on emus as proxies for dinosaurs on Oct. 25 at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Philadelphia.


The search for a modern animal to act as a proxy for dino tracks started, says Breithaupt, because he was getting a little impatient with all the speculation about the trackways. There was too much of what he calls "prehistoric hyperbole."

So after passing on ostriches, which have only two toes, or rheas, which have three-toes but overly rambunctious personalities, emus remained as the best alternative. Plus there was an emu ranch just across the state line in Colorado.






Breithaupt and his team now think that the Red Gulch dinosaurs were probably man-sized meat-eaters, or theropods, which were traveling along in groups. The groups may have included families, since there are juvenile and adults tracks together, implying some sort of parental care.

Exactly what the dinosaurs looked like, however, is a mystery because the mid-Jurassic Period is particularly poor in dinosaur fossils in North America.


"There is virtually nothing known about dinosaurs in North America from that time," said geologist Erik Kvale, who discovered the tracksite and did a great deal of the first geological work there. "Chances are there were some very gregarious behaviors of dinosaurs (at Red Gulch), but it's only a snapshot."


What can be said with more certainty is that the dinosaurs were walking in a very different landscape than today, says Kvale. The sands beneath their feet were carbonate sands like those found in the Bahamas or the Florida Keyes, but the climate of the ancient shoreline was probably a lot drier.


"The Persian Gulf is a better analogue," said Kvale.

BLM Wyoming

Ancient Print
The angular shapes in this image are salt crystals formed when the beach dried after the dinosaur tracks were made. These crystals give scientists information about the air temperature and relative humidity which help with the environmental reconstruction.





Reference:Discovery

$72 Sponsorship to Save a Small Girl!

This 30 -35 pound, 1 1/2 year old chow mix baby was dumped at the pound by her family when they moved. She has no idea why she was abandoned, nor does she know that she could die next week if no one helps her! She is located in the Mercer County Pound in Celina, Ohio. There is a sponsor for her $22 pull fee, and an additional $50 sponsor for a reputable rescue to help cover expenses.

Please contact the dog warden at 419-942-1550 to save her!

See all the dogs in need of help here:
Mercer County Pound

Reference:PetVersatility-DurbyPawsCrosspostingGroup

Crops at Risk as Birds and Bees Decline

Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press

This is a story about the birds and the bees and reproduction. No, not that story. It's about plants. Most plants need to be pollinated by birds, bees, bats and other animals and insects to reproduce. And scientists say a decline in pollinators may spell trouble for crops.
Honeybees and bumblebees have been infected by the introduction of a parasite, while destruction of cave roosts has led to a decline in the bat population, according to a report released Wednesday by the National Research Council.
Other pollinator declines may also be associated with habitat loss but more research is needed to make sure, according to the council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences.

More detailed research has been done in Europe, where declines and even extinctions of pollinators have been documented.
The report pointed out that in order to bear fruit, three-quarters of all flowering plants — including most food crops and some that provide fiber, drugs, and fuel — rely on pollinators for fertilization.
Farmers often lease colonies of bees to ensure pollination.
Yet honeybees, which pollinate more than 90 commercially grown crops, are one of the most affected pollinators. Indeed, honeybees had to be imported from outside North America last year for the first time since 1922, the report said.

The report urged the Agriculture Department to increase research into pest management and bee breeding practices.

In addition, long-term studies must be done on the populations of wild bee species and some butterflies, bats and hummingbirds, it said.

The United States should collaborate with Canada and Mexico to form a network of long-term monitoring projects, the council recommended.

Landowners, meanwhile, can take simple steps to make habitats more "pollinator friendly," for instance by growing native plants, the report suggested.

The research was funded by the Department of Agriculture, U.S. Geological Survey, National Academies and the Research Council's Division on Earth and Life Studies.

The study was requested by The North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, representing agencies and organizations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Animal Den - Gift Shop for Bird Lovers!


Reference:Discovery

Iceland Resumes Commercial Whaling

Paul Nikolov , AFP

Iceland has said it would resume commercial whaling, making it only the second country to do so after Norway, in a decision that is expected to spark protests from around the world.
Iceland's fisheries ministry said Tuesday it had authorized whalers to hunt 30 minke whales and nine fin whales — on the endangered species list — in the period from Sept. 1, 2006 until Aug. 31, 2007.
"I don't think they'll start the hunt today ... they can start tomorrow (Wednesday) if they like," said Bjoern Brynjolfsson, an assistant to Fisheries Minister Einar Kristinn Gudfinnson.

"The meat will be exported," he added.

Environmental group Greenpeace immediately blasted the decision, saying it "doesn't make any sense whatsoever."

Iceland's fisheries ministry insisted in a statement that "none of the planned catches involve any endangered or threatened stocks of whales.

"They only involve abundant stocks and are linked to Iceland's overall policy of sustainable utilisation of marine resources."

The fin whale is the second largest species of whale after the blue whale.

In the case of minke whales, the proposed commercial catch and the existing planned catch for scientific purposes — numbering 39 — would represent less than 0.2 percent of the minke stock in Icelandic waters, the ministry said.

According to estimates agreed on by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), there are close to 70,000 minke whales in the central North Atlantic Ocean, of which around 43,600 are in Icelandic waters.

Fin whales in the central North Atlantic number around 25,800, according to IWC estimates referred to by the ministry.

Iceland halted whaling altogether in 1990 but in 2003 resumed for what it called scientific reasons.

Marine experts say the scientific value from whale catches is negligible, while environmentalists claim Iceland and Japan invoke scientific reasons in order to exploit a loophole in the IWC's provisions.

As a condition for re-joining the IWC in 2002, Iceland pledged not to authorize a resumption in commercial whaling before 2006. Thereafter it would not be allowed while talks within the IWC regarding sustainable whaling were deemed to be making progress.

At the IWC's 2005 meeting Iceland warned that these discussions were not making sufficient progress and said the 2006 talks had reached a deadlock.

At the June meeting the IWC narrowly passed a resolution declaring that a 20-year moratorium on commercial hunting was "no longer necessary."

However, the moratorium is not in immediate danger as it needs a currently unobtainable 75 percent majority to be overturned.

Reykjavik took the vote to mean it had a legal right to resume commercial whaling.

While the meat from the commercial hunt was to be exported, whale meat caught for research purposes by Iceland is finding a growing home market.



"We have seen a great change in the past two years regarding public attitudes towards eating whale... Restaurants (are) coming up with all kinds of new recipes, from sashimi to barbeque," fisheries ministry lawyer Asta Einarsdottir told AFP.

The meat from this year's catch has been "all but ordered up," she said.

This argument was however rejected by Greenpeace.

"Iceland has virtually no market for whale meat. Whale tourism is worth much more in economic terms," a spokesman for the group said.

He disputed Iceland's argument that it was within its rights to conduct commercial whaling, stressing that the country was "clearly in breach of the intentions of the ban on whaling."



He claimed the IWC vote in June "was a result of bribery ... by Japan... The decision needs to be seen in that light."

Icelandic media reported that a newly-built whaling ship, Hvalur 9, left Reykjavik on Tuesday, but only to test its engines.

According to an Icelandic daily however, the vessel had a full crew of whalers on board.

The owner of the ship, Kristjan Loftson, told the newspaper Frettabladid that his fish factory in Hvalfjordur was equipped and ready to begin processing whale meat.

Reference:Discovery

Delta Society pets offer assistance

By: Lisa Chelenza

Animal-assisted therapy has helped millions of people overcome illness and disabilities and has made life a little more tolerable for those dealing with stressful emotional times.
For pet lovers it's important to learn about what it takes to become a "therapy pet" and how your own pet can join the ranks.


Sue Gilberti and her dog Tara are members of the Delta Society, an organization that screens and trains handlers and their pets to provide visiting animal programs to schools, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and nursing homes. Sue recognized Tara had a gift and wanted to share her with others.
"What really did it for me was that my husband was an oncology patient, and with his doctor's permission I took her up to visit him in the hospital," Gilberti said. "She was great in his room, very comfortable in the setting, and then the doctor and I took her around to other patients and it was just amazing."
But before heading off to work there is training involved for both the handlers as well as the pets.






Sue Gilberti said, "Tara had to learn how to not get really excited around people and how to learn how to not pick something up that drops on the floor, such as a pill."
Tara loves her work and her fans love her for it.
The Delta Society's ranks include thousands of dogs across the country as well as other animals like cats, rabbits and miniature horses. There is even a miniature donkey in Arizona participating in the program.
If you think your pet would be good at animal assisted therapy there are screening and training sessions offered throughout the year. You can find out more information on their website
Deltasociety


Reference:news10now

Rabbits blamed for penguin deaths in landslide

The landslip hit a penguin rookery at Lusitania Bay on Macquarie Island. (file photo) (ABC)



Erosion and heavy spring rains have caused a large landslip on Macquarie Island, in the Southern Ocean about 1500 kilometres south-east of Tasmania, killing penguins in an important colony.
The fragile sub-Antarctic world heritage area has been overrun with more than 100,000 rabbits in recent years, which are stripping the island bare of its plants.
Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service general manager Peter Mooney says the landslip happened late last month at Lusitania Bay, on the eastern side of the island, about 25 kilometres from Australia's research base.
He says about 500 square metres of soil gave way due to the combination of heavy spring rains and severe erosion caused by the rabbits.




"The landslide... has come down onto an area where the penguins roost, and are active," he said.
"These are large penguins, so the topsoil has come down the slope and landed on the flat surface near the ocean.
"The penguins have chicks in place next to the adults and a number of penguins were killed by the landslide.
"We can't tell how many because it's on the edge of the rookeries."
A $10 million rabbit eradication plan has not yet received funding approval from the federal or Tasmanian governments.
Mr Mooney says the eradication plan is vital.
"As you can appreciate it's a number of years the program would have to be adopted over, and a large share of the funding would have to be expended in the first few years to have the major knockdown," he said.
"Then you have the last few years in a continuous monitoring program and we certainly need a large amount of funding in the first few years and then it would scale off after that."


Reference:>abc

Doggie Days Seniors for Seniors Adoption-Oct. 21-22

The Animal Humane Association of New Mexico (AHANM) and Purina are joining forces to proclaim October as “Seniors for Seniors” month. In an attempt to communicate the life-enriching benefits of pet ownership among senior citizens, and to help homeless pets find loving homes, the Association will be hosting an adoption event.

At this event, senior citizens sixty years and older wishing to adopt a pet two years or older and who meet AHANM’s adoption requirements, will be able to adopt for free, thanks to Purina’s “Pets for Life” program and funding from a generous anonymous donor. In addition, AHANM will offer animals five years old and older for a reduced adoption fee of $35.00, to non-seniors, in an effort to find senior pets new homes.



When:October 21st and 22nd

Time:10am to 6pm

Where:615 Virginia St. SE

For more information, please visit ahanm or call 255-5523

Same Day Shipping


Reference:kobtv

Giant Pandas Have Color Vision

Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

When Zoo Atlanta’s baby panda opened its eyes for the first time last Thursday, it viewed the world in color, according to a new study that concluded all giant pandas see in color.


The find adds to the growing body of evidence that most mammals, and particularly carnivores, possess some sort of color vision. Giant pandas are classified as carnivores, even though they act like plant-loving herbivores, since they prefer to spend their days quietly nibbling on bamboo shoots and leaves.

Researchers investigated color vision in the baby panda’s mother, Lun Lun, and father, Yang Yang, and determined that while both see color, it is not fully comparable to what humans see.


Angela Kelling, who led the study, told Discovery News, "It is most likely that giant pandas are dichromats, confusing colors in the blue-green portion of the spectrum with gray."


Dichromats lack a gene and certain protein pigments in the retina that trichromats, such as humans, possess. They often have trouble distinguishing between certain colors, but they also seem to possess a keen ability for differentiating among white, black and the various shades of gray in between.







Kelling, a graduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology's Center for Conservation Behavior, presented Lun Lun and Yang Yang with PVC pipes hanging under colored pieces of paper. Eighteen shades of gray paper were used, along with green, red and blue papers. If the panda pushed a pipe under a color other than gray, it received a food reward.


Both bears performed above chance during almost every trial, which indicates they can at least determine if something is gray or colored.


Findings are published in the current issue of Learning and Behavior.


"Color vision, which tends to go along with better daylight visual acuity, would allow them to perceive bamboo patches from a distance," said Kelling, who also thinks such visual skills would aid the pandas in choosing healthy, colorful bamboo plants as opposed to dull-hued, dying ones.


Terry Maple, director of Georgia Tech’s Center for Conservation Behavior, told Discovery News that he wasn’t surprised by the study results.


"Angela deserves a lot of credit for her patience and ingenuity," he said. "Pandas can be stubborn."


Maple added, "Although most mammals appear to be dichromatic, you don't really know until you test them. Now that we know how to test them, further research may determine the full scope of their color vision."

Reference:Discovery

Cleveland TN All Urgent: 2 poodles to be PTS

Urgent Adoptable Pets Of The Day

Cleveland Animal Control Division

Cleveland, TN423 479-2122

animal@cityofclevelandtn.com

Name: Buster
Breed:Terrier,Poodle Mix
Size: Medium
Age: Adult
Gender: Male

Description:Buster is a beautiful companion dog who is looking for a loving home. He is great with other dogs and is looking for a place to share his life and love. Buster is around 5 yrs old and so very sweet! If you are the one, please contact the Cleveland Animal Shelter ASAP. 423-479-2122 or 423-559-3333 Thank you.

Breed:Poodle
Size: Small

Age: Senior

Gender: Male

Description:Little Buddy is a beautiful companion dog who is looking for a loving home. He is great with other dogs and is looking for a place to share his life and love. Little Buddy is a senior citizen who needs a warm place to call home. He has devoted his life as a faithful companion. Please, can you return the favor. He is a lap dog and only wants to be loved. If you are the one, please contact the Cleveland Animal Shelter ASAP. Thank you. 423-479-2122 or 423-559-3333

Reference:PetVersatility-DurbyPawsCrosspostingGroup

2nd -chance friendly dogs need sponsor and transport to the NE

Please help these sweet dogs, puppies!

These very petworthy dogs are from the Murray County Shelter (just north of Atlanta and just south of Chattanooga, TN) A couple here were so sweet that they were given a 2nd chance from being killed. ALL need rescue ASAP! Please say you can help them!!
NOTE: The pups must have a rescue lined up ASAP, but can stay at the shelter a couple days longer if needed. Also, free transport to Atlanta is available. Transport to the Northeast is leaving this weekend.

DM-917608 - SMALL DOGs - COME w/ SPONSOR $ - This very friendly beagle mix male weighs just 35 lbs. Has a sister who looks just like him. Both have perfect temperaments. (I'm cuter "in person!")

The sweet dog above are availible for adoption along with many other dogs and puppies.

>see our Petfinder site for many more dogs and puppies in need.

Over 1.3 Million Jobs Available


Reference:PetVersatility-DurbyPawsCrosspostingGroup

Views wanted on animal mutilation

Opinions are being sought on plans to ban acts of animal mutilation in Scotland under new laws which came into force earlier this month.

The consultation will cover issues including castrations, ear tagging, tail docking and branding.

It follows the introduction of the Animal Health and Welfare Act which gives animals more protection.

The consultation will be sent to about 3,000 groups with an interest in animal welfare and will close on 5 January.

The new act established a duty of care for animal owners and introduced a maximum prison sentence of 12 months and fines of up to £20,000 for anyone guilty of causing unnecessary suffering.

Animal Welfare Minister Ross Finnie said: "The consultation paper lists a number of procedures which we believe need to be permitted in order for normal farm animal husbandry to take place.

"No provision has been made to allow for the tail docking of puppies.

"I recognise that this has provoked a strong reaction and I would encourage those who believe they have evidence to support exemptions to take part in the consultation."

Procedures are carried out on farmed animals, working animals, animals used in sport and entertainment and pets.

They include castration, tail docking, de-horning, branding, tattooing, ear tagging, de-clawing and nose ringing.

Scottish poll

Edinburgh-based lobby group Advocates for Animals commissioned a Scottish poll of which there were 1036 respondents.

It found that that nine out of 10 people surveyed believed all or some such procedures should be banned.

Less than one in 10 of those questioned thought that all procedures should be allowed to continue.

Spokeswoman Libby Anderson said: "This consultation is an important opportunity for each of the currently practised mutilations to be re-assessed on a case-by-case basis.

"Such a re-assessment should cover the latest scientific evidence of pain, distress or disability caused to the animal and alternative solutions to the problems the mutilations were intended to solve."

"This consultation is an important opportunity for mutilations to be re-assessed on a case-by-case basis"

Libby Anderson
Advocates for Animals

FREE Zoobooks Issue and Tiger Poster!

Feel free to leave your comments and let The Retriever know what your views are on animal mutilation.


Reference:bbc

Animals killed in air gun attacks

Animal inspectors have collected the bodies of three animals all shot by air guns in the Black Country in one week.

The RSPCA said a black cat had to be put down after being left paralysed when it was shot several times in Wednesbury last Monday.

On Thursday in the same town a coloured dove was found shot dead and a swan died after being shot in the head by Effington Canal in Walsall on Sunday.

A spokeswoman said she was appalled people could be so callous.

Criminal offence

Insp Pam O'Neil of the RSPCA said: "I am appalled there are people out there who are callously targeting living creatures when firing air guns.

"To do so is a criminal offence and one which is taken seriously by the RSPCA and the police."





Air gun attacks on animals were increasing, she added.

In 2005, in Wales and the West of England the RSPCA dealt with 14 calls about shot cats, 10 relating to water birds and 22 about other birds.

"We believe these figures represent a small portion of the animals being shot each year as many more incidents are not reported to the RSPCA," she said.

Reference:bbc

Save a Life: Roicy/Lafayette, LA - Rescue needed by 10/19 at 5pm w/ PTS 10/20 am (unless held over)

All the cats were all held over today BUT rescues and adoptions are desperately needed. There were NO cat adoptions last week, which means they will have to begin euthanizing cats very soon. Our petfinder site was down like many for at least a day and a half which was VERY bad for rescue/adoption this week. There are several cats that have been held over at least 3 times. Roicy is really trying to give these cats a chance even though stray hold is full. Kissing Kitty is the sweetest grey Tabby and so full of love. She is not a fancy cat which many people go for when looking to adopt. Purring Pussycat (gray Tabby), 2 Purring Tabby kittens, and Purfect Purrer (Buff Tabby) are those in the most danger and in need of rescue. Tabby Man and Mercury (Orange Tabby) are also wonderfully sweet and loving cats. A very unusual Siamese Manx Tabby cross is a very cool & interesting looking cat. Please consider one cat and help save a precious life that otherwise does not have chance.

There were several dogs and some puppies put down this week, but many were held over. The 4 Shepherd mix puppies were rescued by an out of state rescue. Please consider the held over female Terrier (JRT looking) "Abused & Abandoned." She deserves a better life than what she has had and needs some TLC to heal her emotional scars. Sadie, the Rat Terrier, is a very sad owner surrender because she was dumped by her family. Then there is "Scared Stiff" the Heeler/Aussie mix that is also scared but warmed up quickly to a caring touch.




There is a blue Chihuahua that I can't believe is still available, as Chi's are usually adopted/rescued. The female Aussie/Border Collie is a stunning dog that looks like she may have some Setter mixed in. Just a sweetheart and very unusual looking. There are several puppies and of course, Black Labs along with a Chocolate Lab, and a Yellow Lab with a broken spirit. Please give hope to these dogs that somehow ended up on death row through no fault of their own.

A very special thank you to Melissa, a new local volunteer who jumped right in and has helped to pull, transport, and foster. Also, to one of our long distance volunteers Trish from Minnesota who continues to coordinate rescues, transports, and so much more! Without their support and that of other volunteers we could not make a difference in the lives of the many animals that come through the doors of Roicy. And to you, thank you to the rescues and individuals that continue to care about and help these wonderful animals.





Contact Information: http://acadiana.petfinder.com;
roicyvolunteers@gmail.com
www.1-800-save- a-pet.com/ (zip code 70507)


Reference:PetVersatility-DurbyPawsCrosspostingGroup

Caribou killed by car after making surprise appearance in Colo.

The Associated Press

GREELEY, Colo. (AP) - Wildlife officials were puzzled by the rare appearance a caribou that was struck and killed by a car in Colorado this week, hundreds of miles from its normal range.


The buck, weighing an estimated 350 pounds and sporting a large rack of antlers, was spotted Tuesday grazing beside U.S. 85 about 10 miles south of Greeley and 40 miles north of Denver.

Startled by the horn of a passing train, the animal dashed into the path of a car and was struck and killed, said Gene Fisher, a state Department of Transportation employee who witnessed the incident.

Caribou normally live in the arctic regions of northern Canada, Alaska and Greenland.

"We don't know where a caribou would come from," state Division of Wildlife manager Chad Morgan told the Greeley Tribune in Wednesday's editions. "We don't know of any farms that have them in this area. I've been here four years, and I've never seen one."

The Colorado Department of Agriculture, Division of Wildlife and State Veterinarian's office said they had no records of caribou in Colorado.

The caribou was taken to a transportation department facility near Greeley.

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Reference:adn

Animal aid takes a bite of city funds

By RINDI WHITE
WASILLA -- The cost of the city's contract with Houston Animal Safety and Protection has ballooned over three years, leaving one city councilman wondering if Wasilla should look elsewhere for service.
The City Council agreed unanimously last week to renew Houston's contract for $60,000 through June 2007. That's $10,000 more than the city paid for animal service in fiscal years 2005 and 2006. In 2004, the city paid only $26,000.
Councilman Mark Ewing said Thursday he's distressed that the city pays Houston $5,000 a month, regardless of how much service is provided. In May, animal protection handled only 35 calls, he said. The call volume went up through the summer, reaching a high of 153 calls in July.
Ewing said the city might get animal service for less if its code compliance officer, who writes citations for parking in handicap zones and other property-related violations, also handled animal calls.
Matanuska-Susitna Borough officials, who used to handle animal calls for the city, say they would have liked the opportunity to bid on the service. The borough offers comprehensive animal care services, more than Houston can provide, Mat-Su Animal Care chief Dave Allison said.
"A citizen's view of the whole thing is our facility offers a vet five days a week, a vet on staff. We're able to handle a variety of species," Allison said. "We have trucks and equipment for trained, certified officers and all the stuff to deal with it."






Dennis Lords, chief officer at Houston's two-man department, said he and his deputy officer Rick Molburg don't have formal training but know how to work with animals. They also work with local veterinarians and get a lot of help from rescue groups and other agencies to give the best care they can, he said.
In the 1980s Lords worked for a private company that provided animal care service in Anchorage. Molburg learned dog care by growing up in a mushing family and, more recently, working at a musher's kennel.
"We're planning on working in training; we're just not to that point yet," Lords said. "We're still brand new, really."
Houston has been in the animal care business since July 2002, after local residents pressed city councilors to add the service. Wasilla's contract was a shot in the arm for the fledgling service. Today, Lords said, 70 percent to 80 percent of the department's calls come from Wasilla.
Lords said he believes the city would try to continue offering animal service if Wasilla cut the contract, although the department would see deep reductions.
So far, however, there's no indication Wasilla city officials want to consider other services. From Wasilla Police Chief John Glass to the city clerks, everyone at the city remarks on how few complaints they get about Houston's response to animal calls. Several, including deputy city clerk Jamie Newman, said the happiness is in stark contrast to three years ago, when Mat-Su Animal Care fielded loose-dog calls for the city.
"We had so many animal control issues," Newman said. "We got complaints continually."
Money was the root of the contract cancellation in 2003, Wasilla deputy administrator Sandra Garley told City Council members Oct. 9. For 10 years, Wasilla had paid the borough about $26,000 annually for animal care services. In 2003, borough officials asked for significantly more money: $150,000, Garley said.
Borough officials two weeks later brought back a lower number -- $90,000, she said. But by then the city had another option in the works.
Meanwhile, Houston offered to handle the city's animal calls for $26,000. Houston's was a fledgling department, with one year in operation, one officer and no animal shelter. Their price nearly doubled the next year, said Wasilla finance director Ted Leonard.
"The volume was just larger, more than they thought and more than we thought," Leonard said.
A $60,000 contract with Houston puts the contract within sight of what the Mat-Su Borough originally asked, Ewing said. He researched the 2003 negotiations and found the borough's second offer was actually $69,980, not $90,000.
Garley wasn't working at the city when the contract was discussed in 2003 and no one at the city was able last week to explain the $90,000 figure.


Reference:adn

Urgent Rescue:Franklin County, NC

Two beautiful Australian Sheperd Mixes Are

In Need Of A Home

Size:Large
Age:Adult
Sex:N/A
ID: M0249 & M0250



This male and female Aussie mixes were owner surrendered on 10/16. The male is the darker grey and has the sad look on his face. The female is lighter. They both have one blue eye and one brown eye. They are available for adoption now. For current information on pet's availability, please call the ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS DIRECTLY AT 919-496-3032 during their open hours 9-5pm Monday Thur Friday. There extended hours are on Thursday's from 5pm to 7pm. Be sure to MENTION ID number M0249 &250 when calling. Please understand that the officers may have limited information on the pet's prior history. Pets with a history of aggression are not available for adoption and would not be listed here. The animals in this shelter do not receive any vaccinations. It is highly recommend to take the animal to a vet ASAP.


Animal Shelter Contact Information
Franklin County Animal ControlLouisburg
Phone: 919-496-3032, NC919-990-1046
E-Mail:heavenscent@aimisp.com , ourfostersrock@aimisp.com

Reference:Pet Versatility:Durby Paws Cross Posting Group

More Hotels Opening Doors To Pets

Catering To Canine Needs Is On The Rise

The hotel business is a $113 billion industry and hotel owners are always looking for ways to expand their market.

Since 19 percent of Americans take their pets with them when they travel, hotels nationwide are pulling out all the stops for animal companions.

AAA says that pet-friendly properties have grown 28 percent since 1999 — more than 13,000 hotels nationwide.

When patrons check in at the four seasons Atlanta, they are given a newsletter that explains where there are nearby parks to take his dog, plus numbers for services like doggie daycare, grooming, even room service — just for dogs.

"People are traveling more with their families whether it be their parents their children and their pets," Denise Flanders, the general manager of the Atlanta Four Seasons told The Early Show veterinary correspondent Dr. Debbye Turner.








Chicken, filet mignon, a $120 caviar spread and salmon are among the dishes prepared at the Atlanta Four Seasons. But when the executive pastry chef David Jeffries isn't designing perfect wedding cakes, he is baking fresh doggie snacks made with ingredients like peanut butter, oats and eggs.

The Loews Regency in New York has the Loews loves pets program. Road weary hounds that stay there get a special placemat, food bowls and even a toy when they arrive.

"We go way beyond just allowing guests to bring pets," said Emily Goldfischer of Lowes Hotels. "It's about making the pets feel so comfortable, it's better than being at home. People are so passionate about their animals that I am not that surprised that the program has been such a hit."

Frequent traveler Tom Lynch chose Loews specifically because of their pet-friendly ways.

"Where else do they remember the dog's name? They don't know my name but they know Daisy's name," he said.

There are also learning vacations where your dog can surf and record an album in Tennessee. At the Peaks resort and Golden Door spa in Telluride, Colo., your dog can get "paw"dicures and massages.

Sasha Proano takes her Yorkie with her everywhere she goes. Because the W hotel averages about 50 guests and their pets per month at five New York locations, it is one of the places she chooses to frequent

"I want him to be treated the same that I do. He's my own. He's my only one and I feel like he deserves it," he said. "They also provide a big pillow, which he enjoys. He doesn't want to sleep in the bed with me. That's usually not common, not at home."

AAA's Top Ten Cities For Traveling With Pets

1. Houston
2. San Antonio
3. Austin
4. Albuquerque
5. Phoenix
6. Dallas
7. New York
8. Orlando
9. Nashville
10. Tucson

For more information, visit these sites:


Four Seasons Atlanta

Loews Hotels

The Peak Resort

W Hotels

The Benjamin

Pets On The Go

Pets Welcome

Travel Dog

Dog Friendly

Barnes & Noble


Reference:cbsnews

New Mouse With Big Ears Found in Cyprus

Thomas Wagner, Associated Press - A previously unknown type of mouse has been discovered on the island of Cyprus, apparently the first new terrestrial mammal species discovered in Europe in decades.

Big Find in a Small Size An image of a new species of mouse, Mus cypriacus. The 'living fossil' mouse has a bigger head, ears, eyes and teeth than other European mice and is found only on Cyprus. Genetic tests confirmed that the mouse was a new species and it was named Mus cypriacus, or the Cypriot mouse.

The "living fossil" mouse has a bigger head, ears, eyes and teeth than other European mice and is found only on Cyprus, Thomas Cucchi, a research fellow at Durham University in northeast England, said Thursday.

Genetic tests confirmed that the new mouse was a new species and it was named Mus cypriacus, or the Cypriot mouse, he said.

His findings appeared in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa, an international journal for animal taxonomists.

The biodiversity of Europe has been combed through so extensively since Victorian times that new mammal species are rarely found there, and few scientists had expected new creatures as large as mice to be discovered on the continent.

"New mammal species are mainly discovered in hot spots of biodiversity like Southeast Asia, and it was generally believed that every species of mammal in Europe had been identified," Cucchi said. "This is why the discovery of a new species of mouse on Cyprus was so unexpected and exciting."

Cucchi said a bat discovered in Hungary and Greece in 2001 was the last new living mammal found in Europe. No new terrestrial mammal has been found in Europe for decades, he said.

Cucchi compared the new mouse's teeth with those from mouse fossils collected by paleontologists. The comparison showed the new mouse had colonized and adapted to the Cypriot environment several thousand years before the arrival of man, the university said in a statement.

The discovery indicated that the mouse survived man's arrival on the island and now lived alongside common European house mice, whose ancestors had arrived with man during the Neolithic period, the university said.





"All other endemic mammals of Mediterranean islands died out following the arrival of man, with the exception of two species of shrew. The new mouse of Cyprus is the only endemic rodent still alive, and as such can be considered as a living fossil," Cucchi, a Frenchman, said in a telephone interview.

Shrews are small mammals that resemble mice but have a long, pointed snout and eat insects.
Cucchi, an archaeologist and expert on the origin and human dispersal of house mice, found the new species of mouse while working in Cyprus in 2004.
He was examining the archaeological remains of mice teeth from the Neolithic period and comparing them with those of four known modern-day European mice species, to determine if the house mouse was the unwelcome byproduct of human colonization of the island 10,000 years ago, the university said.

"The discovery of this new species and the riddle behind its survival offers a new area of study for scientists studying the evolutionary process of mammals and the ecological consequences of human activities on island biodiversity," Cucchi said.

Reference:Discovery

Baby Panda at Zoo Opens Its Eyes

Associated Press AP Photo/Zoo Atlanta— Zoo Atlanta's baby panda opened it eyes for the first time on Thursday.

Zoo officials made the discovery during a physical examination of the 36-day-old unnamed female cub.

"She's probably able to see now," said zoo veterinarian Dr. Maria Crane. "We noticed she's paying more attention to her environment."


Crane said it's hard to know how much Lun Lun's cub is actually seeing. The newborn appeared slightly startled at one point during her checkup when she noticed staff intently watching her.




The cub, whose name will be chosen in two months, has grown a little more than 16 inches in length in the past week and gained just under a pound, growing to 3.8 pounds.

"She's a very solid cub," Crane said. "Her growth is nice and steady, and that's really a testament to how well Lun Lun is taking care of her."

One Month, 3.8 PoundsLun Lun cares for her cub after its second health check on Oct. 5, 2006, at the zoo in Atlanta. The baby panda opened it eyes for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 12. Zoo officials made the discovery during a physical examination of the 36-day-old, 3.8-pound unnamed female cub.



The baby cub was conceived after seven years of zoo officials trying to encourage Lun Lun and Yang Yang, the father, to mate. Officials finally resorted to artificially inseminating the 8-year-old Lun Lun with semen taken from Yang Yang.

A panda cub at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., born last summer was also the product of artificial insemination.

Only four giant pandas have been born and successfully raised in a U.S. zoo.




Reference:Discovery