A Scottish MEP has called for a proposed ban on primate testing to be extended to include monkeys used in Scottish laboratories.
Labour MEP David Martin said Scotland runs proportionately more tests on primates than any country in the EU.
He said testing on monkeys was immoral when other options could be developed.
But scientists funded by the Medical Research Council said primates were only used when there was no alternative.
Source:
BBC
Gu Gu, a panda at the Beijing Zoo has attacked an intruding tourist for the third time.
In the latest incident Gu Gu went ga ga after mauling a visitor who jumped a barrier to retrieve a child's toy. The tourist leapt over barrier surrounding the panda's outdoor exercise area to retrieve the toy dropped by his 5-year-old son, said a zoo spokeswoman.
Gu Gu bit the intruder's legs and refused to let go until zookeepers pried his jaws open with tools.
Gu Gu first made news in 2007 when he bit a drunken tourist who jumped into his pen and tried to hug him. The tourist retaliated by biting the panda in the back.
In October, Gu Gu viciously bit a teenager who climbed into his exercise area out of curiosity.
This weekend the
Cesar and Ilusion Millan Foundation is participating in an event in Seattle.
Winterfest 2009 event includes:
• Appearance by Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan
• Singing performance by American Idol Blake Lewis
• Fashion Show
• Talent Competition “Next Dog Star” to compete for the most talented Dog Star in America, kicking off the entire competition in Seattle, Washington
• Vendor booths displaying products and services
• Guest Speakers on Dog Related Topics
How sad - I love these birds!
Wildlife experts in California, US, are concerned about a mysterious illness affecting brown pelicans from San Diego to San Francisco.
Dozens of the birds - bruised and disoriented - have been landing on highways, airport runways, farm fields and house backyards.
The pelicans have been coming down many kilometres from their normal habitats.
The International Bird Rescue Research Center, which is dealing with the sick animals, says the cause is unknown.
One theory is that the birds may have ingested chemicals from fire retardants used widely by emergency services recently to tackle severe blazes that ravaged the state.
Source:
BBC
The brownsnout spookfish has been known for 120 years, but no live specimen had ever been captured.
Last year, one was caught off Tonga, by scientists from Tuebingen University, Germany.
Tests confirmed the fish is the first vertebrate known to have developed mirrors to focus light into its eyes, the team reports in Current Biology.
"In nearly 500 million years of vertebrate evolution, and many thousands of vertebrate species living and dead, this is the only one known to have solved the fundamental optical problem faced by all eyes - how to make an image - using a mirror," said Professor Julian Partridge, of Bristol University, who conducted the tests.
Source:
BBC
Jolene Solomon of Tennessee is beginning the new year with her life, her mule named Lou and little else.
Solomon had just finished eating supper on New Year's Day when Lou's braying and acting up got her attention.
Solomon, 63, who lived alone, stepped outside, she saw her house was on fire. She called 911 and as she waited for firefighters, her home and everything in it burned to the ground.
Solomon said she has 'lost it all', but credits Lou with saving her life.
(Source:
Yahoo News)
