Viral Tab Animals

This is the moment a baby giant panda rolls around on the floor while playing with its mum in a Japanese zoo. The footage of the adorable black and white bear was uploaded to social media by Wakayama Adventure World located in Japan on Monday, 18th October. The giant male panda cub 'Kaedehama' seen in the video is 331 days old and has already grown to weigh 24 kilogrammes (52.9 lbs) after being born weighing just 157 grammes. In the footage, Kaedehama is playing with his mum 'Ryohama' who has given birth to nine other cubs during her 20 years at the zoo. Kaedehama's dad 'Eimei' broke his own record by becoming the oldest (28 years old) male panda in the world to successfully produce offspring in captivity, said the zoo in a statement. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is native to South Central China and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as 'vulnerable'. According to Wakayama Adventure World, they have so far seen the birth of 17 giant pandas all of which have successfully bred into adulthood. ADVENTURE WORLD/CZ/Peter Barker

This bird of prey was found badly injured by a fishing line on a beach by Australian vets but has now fully recovered thanks to their treatment and is preparing to be released back into the wild. The whistling kite was saved by staff from the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital who posted the footage detailing the story last Saturday, 16th October. Doctor Emily Kay said in the video that the kite that they named 'Django' was saved from Australia's Frazer Coast area. The whistling kite (Haliastur sphenurus) is a medium-sized diurnal raptor, also known as a bird of prey, that can be found throughout Australia. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) does not consider the kite to be at risk of extinction and has ranked them as a 'least concern' species. Kay explained that Django was found along the coast with a bit of fishing line wrapped around one of his talons. The fishing line injured the kite and as a result, one of its talons had curled underneath its foot stopping Django from hunting effectively. The team of vets started a rehabilitation process to make sure that Django would be able to get back out into the wild and hunt as soon as possible. Django was kept in the rainforest enclosure until the vets felt that his injuries had healed sufficiently for him to return to the wild. Kay ended the video by saying that she is confident that Django is ready to be released. The zoo did not state exactly when Django will be returned to the wild. Australia Zoo/CZ/Peter Barker

This is the viral moment a baby elephant sprints past its grandmother to get to her special fruit cake before diving in headfirst and rolling around in the juicy mess. The incident, viewed nearly 4 million views on Instagram and Twitter, was filmed at the Samui Elephant Haven, which first opened in 2018 to welcome rescued elephants exploited by tourism, located on the island of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. The footage shows an elderly elephant and her cute grandson approaching a cake that was made for them by staff with the help of donations from animal lovers who can pay up to THB 5,000 (USD 150; GBP 110) for the animals to be given a juicy cake made of pumpkins, watermelons, bananas and other tasty morsels, according to the elephant sanctuary. The footage is then uploaded on social media so donors can watch the elephants enjoying the meal they helped to fund. But in this video, just as the elderly elephant eyes up the juicy treat, the little calf sprints past and tramples on it, tossing some of it in the air with its trunk and rolling around in the mess. The elderly elephant, reportedly named Khun, was gifted the 80-kilogramme (176-lb) 'cake' by animal lovers. Despite the younger elephant's antics, some of the cake was preserved and the grandma elephant was able to a large helping, as seen in the video. @samuielephanthaven/NF/Joe Golder

This is the viral moment a woman arrives home late from work and finds her dog standing behind the door with a stern look on its face. The cute scene was filmed in the city of Nantong in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu on 17th October. The female owner, name not reported, shared the video on the Chinese social network Douyin where it has gone viral with over 200,000 ‘likes’ and over 11,000 comments. The dog owner, called ‘Xiaonan Maple Duck’ on Douyin, also known in many countries as TikTok, said she arrived home late from work that day. Apparently expecting to find her loving dog waiting for her, she filmed the moment she opened the front door and was instantly greeted by the pooch standing right at the entrance. In the video, the dog is seen staring intently at its owner with an apparently grumpy expression on its face. However, the wagging tail gives the dog away, and it seems to indicate that secretly the dog is happy at seeing its owner despite the stern look. The owner said that she felt both sadness and warmth in her heart when encountering her beloved pooch after arriving home late, with the serious-looking animal possibly hungry for its dinner. It was reported that the dog's world was soon put to rights when the lights were switched on in the darkened room, the disapproving pooch was given a good feed, and it also got taken for a good walk by its amused owner to make up for the longer than expected wait. LAnanfeng/AsiaWire/Lee Bullen

Three rare owls have found a new home at a Swiss zoo that is reintroducing the nocturnal birds to Austria where they have been considered extinct for decades. There have been efforts for up to 10 years to reintroduce the Ural owl (Strix uralensis) species to Austria, where they have been considered extinct since the mid-20th century and Zurich zoo in Switzerland says that it "is stepping up its commitment to protecting the species". In a statement obtained by Newsflash, the zoo said: "The owl embodies the fascinating characteristics of many owl species in its behaviour, anatomy and biology." The zoo said that owls are nocturnal hunters and that "by shifting their phases of activity primarily to twilight and night, owls have gotten rid of their food competition that was active during the day. "There were many physical adaptations associated with the nocturnal lifestyle. Owls have excellent ears, sometimes even with asymmetrical ear openings, in order to be able to locate the prey animals better through their noises. The broad head and a face veil, which directs the sound towards the ears, also support sound perception. "Owls' eyes are forward-facing, which enables binocular vision. Although the eyes themselves are immobile, owls can turn their head with 14 cervical vertebrae by up to 270 degrees, which greatly increases their field of vision." The zoo explained that Ural owls are silent hunters, saying: "In order to be able to fly to the prey unnoticed, the owls resort to another trick: a silent flight. "The feathers of the owls are velvety and fine and the edges of the hand feathers are frayed. Together with the ability to fly slowly, this ensures that the air around the feathers is little swirled and the flight is almost noiseless. "Forest owls such as the Ural Owl are mostly hunters who stalk their prey. Once spotted, the owl flies towards the prey at a low altitude and grabs by strong claws. Species of owls that prefer open landscapes often go on stalking flights to spot prey. They spot the prey during the flight and then hunt it down." The zoo explained that while they can easily be found from northern Europe to Russia and Japan, there are some places where the animals have become extinct. The statement said: "The Ural owl has a continuous distribution from Northern Europe via Russia to Japan. While there are still populations of Ural owls in Eastern Europe, they have become extinct in our neighboring countries Austria and Germany. Ural owls were never native to Switzerland." Speaking about the reintroduction programme, the zoo said: "With the owls that have just arrived at Zurich Zoo, the zoo hopes to have young animals in the future. These are then handed over to the reintroduction project in Austria." Zurich Zoo, who released this footage showing a Ural owl, added that Ural owls were native to Austria until the mid-20th century, but since then, "they have been considered extinct." The zoo said that there had been attempts for over a decade to reintroduce the species to Austria, saying: "A reintroduction project has been attempting since 2009 to re-establish a stable population of owl owls. However, this requires many young birds. "Forty-nine breeding pairs are currently breeding in 32 zoos and breeding stations for these releases. By September 2019, 428 birds had already been released in the Vienna Woods Biosphere Park and in the Duerrenstein wilderness area. "Successful natural broods have also been observed again since 2011." The zoo added that "2017 was the most successful breeding year so far with 18 proven pairs. The young animals from Zurich Zoo will expand the local population and contribute to the long-term survival of the species." Zoo Zurich, Nicole Schnyder/NF/Joe Golder

This is the moment three adorable dwarf mongooses make one of their first excursions out of their den. The southern dwarf mongooses (Helogale parvula) were born in mid-September at the Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria. In the footage, the nearly two-month-old mongooses can be seen playing with each other and messing around outside of their den whilst their mum keeps a close eye on them. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck, the zoo director, said in a statement yesterday, 20th October, that: "The young animals are curious and they explore the facility, dig in the sand and play with each other." "If one of the little ones moves too far, the adult animals carry it back into the protective burrow in their mouths." The souther dwarf mongoose is amongst the smallest of its species only weighing around 300 grammes. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) does not consider the mongooses to be at risk of extinction and has ranked them as a 'least concern' species. These mongooses are native to the savannahs of eastern and southern Africa and have a fur coat that can vary in colour ranging from a very dark brown to a yellowish red. According to Schonbrunn Zoo, they like to colonize abandoned termite mounds, which gives them protection at night and a good view of the surrounding area during the day. They feed primarily on insects and have a complex social system as they rely heavily on teamwork to survive. Hering-Hagenbeck said: "Pygmy mongooses live socially in small groups and rely on teamwork when they live together. Only the highest-ranking female gets the offspring, but everyone helps with the rearing." The sex of younglings in the footage is not yet known and for the first seven weeks of their life they have been suckled but now they are slowly starting to eat more solid foods such as grasshoppers, mealworms and minced meat. Tiergarten Schonbrunn/NF/Peter Barker

Researchers have found a unique group of jaguars deep in the Brazilian wetlands that primarily survive by fishing and lead very social lives, unlike other members of the species. Wikipedia notes that "The jaguar is solitary except for females with cubs" and eats mainly deer and other medium to large mammals, which reflects the common belief. Yet the Oregon State University researchers and a team of international scientists appear to have found the opposite after they published the results of a study looking at a group of jaguars (Panthera onca) in the wetlands of Northern Pantanal, Brazil, earlier this month. The jaguars documented in the study showed contrary behaviour with diets that consisted mainly of fish and reptiles, that they skilfully catch themselves in the flooded wetlands. And motion-sensing cameras found that the big cats spent most of their time socialising, often by swimming together and relaxing on the river bank with members of their group, known collectively as a prowl or a leap. Charlotte Eriksson, a doctoral student at Oregon State and the lead author of the paper, said that the findings contradict what was known so far that jaguars are solitary mammals whose social interactions are limited to courting or disputes over territory. The researchers carried out almost all their work from boats as the wetlands inhabited by the jaguars are isolated, with no roads and no settlements in the region. The researchers not only had to deal with the difficulty of working in a flooded region, but also had to cover themselves from head to toe because of the blood-sucking insects there. Eriksson said: "Everything is boat-based. We obviously can’t drive. And we can’t really walk because there is water and there’s a ton of jaguars." Taal Levi, an associate professor at Oregon State, said the region had an unusually high density of jaguars. Levi initiated the project in collaboration with Brazilian researchers in the region in 2014. The study found that the jaguar's diet was made up of 55 percent reptiles, 46 percent fish, and just 11 percent mammals. The researchers said: "This finding indicates jaguars in this region have by far the most aquatic diet and the least mammal consumption of any previously studied jaguar. "Even tigers in the Sundarbans mangrove forest in India, which may be the most comparable large family of cats in a similar habitat to the jaguars in the Brazilian region, consume mostly land-based mammals." The researchers believe the density of jaguars in the area is so high because of the abundance and distribution of aquatic prey. The abundance of food may also encourage the jaguars to be more sociable and playful as competition for food is less of a concern. Eriksson added: "If there is a lot of food around, there is less of a need to fight over it. "Typically, you rarely see an apex predator on camera because they move over really large areas. "Jaguars were the most frequently seen mammal on camera, which is really unusual." Researchers documented 80 independent social interactions between adult jaguars with one of the most impressive moments being when two male jaguars spent over half an hour sitting in front of a camera playing together. The jaguar is a large felid species and the only living member of the genus Panthera native to the Americas. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the big cat as 'Near Threatened'. The study was published under the title 'Extensive aquatic subsidies lead to territorial breakdown and high density of an apex predator' in the journal Ecology. Oregon State University/NF/Peter Barker

This is the moment a zoo otter dives down to recover a woman's mobile phone after she dropped it in a pool of water while filming the playful animal. The incident was filmed at Shanghai Wild Animal Park in the eastern Chinese city of Shanghai earlier this month, and the female zoo visitor has reportedly sent a specially-made pennant to the zoo to honour the little otter. The animal, named ‘You Tiao’, was performing tricks with a zookeeper while the woman, surnamed Zhao, filmed with her phone. However, she dropped her phone in the pond and it captured the moment the otter caught it underwater and returned it to the laughing zookeeper, who has not been named, who in turn gave it back to the visitor. At the time, Zhao, who lives in the Chinese capital Beijing, promised to send a pennant to the Shanghai Wild Animal Park to honour the bright little otter. True to her word, the woman sent the award to staff at the Shanghai zoo who said they received it last week. The pennant means You Tiao is the first animal at the zoo to ever receive an award, according to reports. Zhao said about the video of the otter saving her phone: “It is so cute. I just want to laugh whenever I see it. I am so happy... I will make a special trip to see that little guy again soon!” The zoo said that they also rewarded little You Tiao with extra fish due to the animal’s quick actions. According to reports, the incident has turned the otter into a local celebrity with Chinese netizens dubbing it the ‘Lei Feng Otter’. Lei Feng was a soldier in the People's Liberation Army who died while on-duty and became a symbol of selflessness, hard work and devotion to China. shysdwy/AsiaWire/Lee Bullen

This is the touching moment a huge endangered leatherback sea turtle is released back into the wild after it was rescued by animal lovers. The footage shows the massive sea creature slowly inching its way towards the water and back to freedom as well-wishers quietly look on. The heartwarming images was shared online by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), who said: "This week, an endangered leatherback sea turtle was discovered stranded alive in Wellfleet, Massachusetts - an area where IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue & Research team often responds to stranded marine mammals. "The local response organization for stranded sea turtles in the area, Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, quickly jumped in to rescue him and called for support from IFAW and New England Aquarium (NEAQ)." They also said that leatherback sea turtles are the largest turtle in the world, with adults able to reach weights ranging from 550 to 1,500 lbs (250 to 680 kilogrammes). They said that this particular specimen was estimated to "be close to 600 lbs - which meant the team needed all hands on deck to transport the animal off the beach." They explained that in order to deal with the massive reptile, they used a stretcher on which they usually carry dolphins, as well as a "dolphin cart" onto which the reptile was then placed from the stretcher. They said that these tools as well as their expertise "made all the difference during the rescue". After they rescued the sea turtle, the organisation said that they relocated it to "a beach in Provincetown where he could be released safely." Before releasing it back into the ocean, they said that NEAQ gave it a full health checkup and tied it with tracking devices so that they could monitor its movements in the wild. They added: "Soon, the turtle was brought to the water’s edge, where he slowly, but surely made his way back to safer, deeper waters." They also said : "Every individual leatherback sea turtle is vital to the survival of this endangered species and we were proud to be part of such an important rescue alongside two incredible organizations." Leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN's Red List of Endangered Species. Despite not having many natural predators once they reach adult size, the main threats to its survival include human -related activities with some being caught for their meat. Their nests are also often targeted by humans in Southeast Asia and many end up stranded in Florida, for example, where they are often hit by boat propellers causing them to wash up on shore. They are often victims of by catch and light pollution can seriously impede their ability to ensure the survival of young turtle hatchlings, which are naturally attracted to light and which often heads towards the light instead of remaining on the beach and going into the sea. IFAW/CZ/Joe Golder

This is the moment a proud Chinese dad picks up his excited young daughter from nursery school in her very own carriage pulled by the family’s beloved huskies. The dad, name not disclosed, then also painted his daughter’s carriage pink and added a roof as well as fairy lights after netizens suggested the changes. The father, who comes from the city of Xiangyang in the Chinese province of Hubei, wanted to make a ‘dog-drawn’ cart for his young daughter and he shared images of him constructing the vehicle on social media. He also reportedly upgraded the cart following suggestions from helpful netizens. In the first clip, the father is seen waiting outside his daughter’s kindergarten in the cart, still yet unpainted, as two huskies sit on the ground waiting for her to arrive. When the excited tot appears, she skips over to her awaiting carriage and takes a seat with a big smile on her face. In front of curious parents and kids, the father then leads the huskies away and they are seen pulling the cart along the road as he guides it from behind on foot. The second video apparently shows the dad making modifications to the cart, including adding a roof and painting it pink with the addition of fairy lights. In the third clip, the dad is seen taking his two huskies for a night stroll as they sit in the cart under the lights and he pulls from the front. At the end of the video, the girl is seen enjoying a ride with a pal while accompanied by the two huskies and the family labrador. 577227839/AsiaWire/Lee Bullen

These giant armoured lizard babies that bite their tails and curl up into a ball to protect themselves from predators have been born at the world's oldest zoo in Vienna. The footage shows a newborn armadillo girdled lizard (Ouroborus cataphractus), that looks somewhat like a scaly, wingless dragon, biting its own tail and curling up into a ball while resting in the palm of a zookeeper's hand. The reptiles instinctively do this to protect their soft underbelly from potential predators. The baby lizards are endemic to the desert areas on the western coast of South Africa, but these newborns have been born at Vienna Zoo in the Austrian capital, which claims to be the oldest in the world. Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said in a statement: "In Europe there are currently only five zoos in which armadillo girdled lizards live. That the offspring are successful is something very special.” He added: "There have been two young animals since September 27th. With these lizards, the eggs develop in the mother's body, where the young hatch and are born." The zoo said in its statement: "Their spiky scales and defence strategy protect armadillo girdled lizards from natural predators such as birds of prey and jackals, but not from humans. "In 2016, for example, the adult animals were confiscated from a smuggler by customs at Vienna Schwechat Airport. For long-term care, the animals were brought to the Schoenbrunn Zoo together with poisonous snakes, turtles and geckos." The zoo director added: "The armadillo girdled lizards, which are up to 20 centimetres (7.87 inches) in size, inhabit rocky mountain slopes on the west coast of South Africa. It is currently not known how large their population is in the wild. "The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) assumes, however, that illegal trade represents an enormous threat and sees an urgent need for action." Armadillo girdled lizards primarily feed on insects and spiders although they do sometimes also eat plants. They are often fed crickets in captivity but their most common prey when they are in the wild are termites. Like most lizards, they are most active during the day, hiding between cracks in rocks and small crevices. They tend to live in groups that range from 30 to 60 members, if not fewer, and the males are known to be territorial towards other males who might challenge them for mating rights with the females. The 'armadillo' part of its name comes from the fact that it has scales along its back that are almost square and spines on its tail that helping protect itself from predators when it rolls itself into a ball, just like an armadillo. Tiergarten Schonbrunn/NF/Joe Golder

This is the moment an eastern indigo snake is released into the Conecuh National Forest. The footage was shared online by Atlanta zoo who said: "Eastern indigo snakes were released into the wild in Alabama’s Conecuh National Forest in summer 2021 as part of a longtime conservation partnership to protect this valuable native species. "Zoo Atlanta works with multiple state, federal, zoo, non-governmental, and educational organizations on the project, which has successfully released more than 150 eastern indigo snakes into the forest since 2010." "Zoo Atlanta’s primary contribution is raising young indigo snakes for one or two years until they grow large enough to avoid most predators; the snakes are then released into protected habitat." The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) is listed as threatened on the IUCN's Red List of Endangered Species. Zoo Atlanta/CZ/Joe Golder

These four adorable giant guinea pig-like rodents called capybaras have been born at a zoo in Switzerland. The birth took place at Zurich Zoo in Switzerland and the four pups were born to mum Sissi and dad Mo. the latter was also born in Zurich as well, the zoo said in a statement. Their mum Sissi comes from the Hellabrunn Zoo in the German city of Munich, which is located in the southern German state of Bavaria. Sissi spent almost three years at Zurich Zoo who explained that they do not know yet if the new babies are male or female, saying: "The sex of the young is not yet known. It is determined around three months of age when the pups are examined and chipped for the first time. "Even in adulthood, Capybara females and males are quite difficult to distinguish from one another because they look very similar and their sexual organs are located inside the body." The zoo said that they mainly live off milk and grass at the moment, adding: "As they flee the nest, the young capybaras are already nimble around the facility and follow their parents. The mother provides the young animals with milk for about three to four months. The baby capybaras also start eating grass very quickly, in addition to drinking milk. "Together with aquatic plants, grasses form the main food of the largest and heaviest rodent living today. Adult capybaras can weigh up to 60 kilogrammes. It is no coincidence that they look like oversized guinea pigs, they belong in the same family as house guinea pigs." The zoo explained that they are very skilled swimmers as well, saying: "Capybaras are widespread in South America east of the Andes. They are also called water pigs. While they have nothing to do with pigs, they are actually superbly adapted to water. "They have little webbed toes and, like the crocodile, the capybara's nose, eyes and ears are lined up. The rodents can submerge themselves almost completely in the water and still smell, see and hear everything." The zoo said that they are planning to build a new home at the zoo for the capybaras. The plan is to allow visitors to observe the animals at "lofty heights and diving underwater" and "experience all the dimensions of the South American wetland". Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are highly social and usually live in groups that can reach up to 100 members although most tend to stick to groups that number between 10 and 20 members. The rodent species is not considered to be threatened but it is often hunted in South America for its meat and hide. Zurich Zoo, Nicole Schnyder/NF/Joe Golder

Bioparc Valencia/NF/Joe Golder

These heartwarming images show how a female chimpanzee has adopted her ill sister's newborn infant at a zoo in Switzerland. Kitoko the chimpanzee is currently looking after her own baby but she has also apparently adopted her sister Fifi's son after she suffered from mysterious health issues at Basel Zoo in Switzerland. The zoo said in a statement that the birth of Fifi's son had gone well but noted the mother had "handed her baby over to other members of the group unusually early". Despite continuing to suckle her newborn, after about two weeks, "Fifi became weak and developed a limp in her hind legs. Although the zoo vet gave Fifi intensive care, she showed no signs of improvement. The vet could not find any cause for Fifi’s symptoms. "At the end of July, the zookeepers noticed that Kitoko, Fifi’s sister, was caring for the newborn the majority of the time and had even begun to suckle it. A few days later, Kitoko gave birth to her own baby boy, who she initially appeared to ignore. "However, father Kume, 18, and other members of the group insisted that Kitoko should look after the young male. Experienced mother Kitoko has been taking care of the two little ones ever since. Both are doing well and developing normally. The young female is called Sangala and Kitoko's son is named Sabaki." The zoo said that they are working with veterinarians, as well as gynaecologists and cardiologists who work in human medicine, in a bid to find out what is wrong with Fifi. The zoo said that "the veterinary team is still working to establish a diagnosis”. It is not all that uncommon for a chimpanzee to adopt another's baby, and this also occurs in the wild, according to the zoo. They explained: "Chimpanzees will sometimes also adopt babies in the wild. Baby chimpanzees are dependent on their mothers for the first six years of their lives. "If the mother dies prematurely, the young animal’s chances of survival in the wild fall dramatically. If other members of the group adopt the orphaned little one, their chances of survival remain high." But they also said that orphans who are adopted in the wild are often older than Fifi's son. They said: "There are only two known instances in the wild of young aged under two being adopted." They added: "Scientific studies have shown that the chances of adoption in the wild are higher among related animals, and that adoptions by sisters of the deceased mother are particularly successful." But they also said that the fact that Sangala was adopted by Kitoko "is most likely thanks to the circumstances in the zoo. In the wild, the dying mother would have distanced herself from the group and taken her little one with her. "The available resources and group dynamic at Basel Zoo enabled Kitoko to take on her sister’s baby. As Kitoko was expecting a baby of her own, she was prepared to look after the little one." Zoo Basel/NF/Joe Golder

A Louisiana zoo has begun vaccinating its gorillas and orangutans against COVID-19 using a shot developed specifically for animals. Audubon Zoo located in New Orleans in the US state of Louisiana released a press statement on Tuesday, 12th October, detailing its plan to vaccinate gorillas and orangutans at the zoo before moving onto other mammals. Bob MacLean, Audubon's Senior Veterinarian, said: "It's very important to us to protect our animals against COVID-19 and the Delta variant.” The vaccine that is being used to protect the animals from COVID was donated to the zoo by Zoetis. Zoetis Inc, a former Pfizer subsidiary whose research team is based in Michigan, donated 11,000 doses of its vaccine to over 70 zoos in the US. The vaccine has been authorised for use on a case-by-case basis by the United States Department of Agriculture. Zoetis said in a statement: "Zoetis’ COVID-19 vaccine is uniquely formulated for animal species. Although the virus – or antigen – is the same as in human vaccines, vaccines for animals vary based on the carrier – or adjuvant – that is used. "The unique combination of antigen and carrier ensures safety and efficacy for the species in which a vaccine is used." MacLean said: "We have been evaluating the scientific literature on animal susceptibility throughout the pandemic, and we are eager to protect our animals." Audubon Zoo first plans to give the vaccine to gorillas and orangutans and then move on to cats and mustelids. The zoo explained that the animals are being trained using positive reinforcement to participate voluntarily, meaning they're not sedated when getting jabbed. All staff working in close proximity with the animals have been following PPE protocols since the start of the pandemic. MacLean added: "This proactive measure is an additional layer of protection. The health of the animals in our care, staff and guests is our top priority.” MacLean said: "Although there are no long-term studies since the virus emerged less than two years ago, development studies by Zoetis demonstrated the vaccine to be safe and have a reasonable expectation of efficacy in mounting an immune response in animals." The first documented case of an animal being infected with COVID-19 was a dog in Hong Kong last year, 2020, since then several other cases have been documented including three gorillas at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in January. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the risk of animals spreading the virus to humans is low but humans can infect animals in some situations. Audubon Nature Institute/NF/Peter Barker

Spanish police have saved 150 tropical birds in a house that was evacuated due to the ongoing volcanic eruption in La Palma in the Canary Islands. The incident took place near the beach of Puerto Naos in the commune of Los Llanos de Aridane, on the western side of La Palma in the Spanish Canary Islands. The ongoing volcanic eruption has caused over 1,000 homes to be destroyed, with evacuations becoming more regular as the eruption intensifies. Spanish police have announced that they found 150 tropical birds in one home that was evacuated because it was too close to the lava flow emanating from the volcano that started erupting on 19th September. They said that they have successfully relocated the birds for the time being at the Maroparque Rescue Centre. Animal rights organisations on the island are reported as saying that they are being overwhelmed as evacuated residents often have to leave their pets behind. Many animal activists have reported that they are taking in numerous animals in a desperate bid to keep them safe. Local media said hundreds of firefighters and police officers are combing areas surrounding the volcano in a desperate bid to rescue animals left to fend for themselves. They are trying to capture stray animals so that they do not venture too close to the flowing magma. It is currently unclear if any of the birds are endangered or protected, or indeed if they are illegal to keep. It is also unclear if the owner, who has not been named, faces any charges. @guardiacivil/Nf/Joe Golder

This adorable footage shows how baby cheetah cubs have been born at the National Zoo in the United States. The birth took place at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington DC, the capital of the United States. Footage showing the newborn cubs shortly after they were born has been shared online by the Conservation Biology Institute yesterday (Tuesday 12th October) and they said: "The Cheetah Cub Cam is back! First-time mother Rosalie birthed 5 cubs this morning at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI). They appear to be strong, active, vocal and nursing well." The zoo explained that "since 2007, 16 litters of cheetah cubs have been born at SCBI. Ten-year-old Nick, who was the first cheetah born at SCBI, sired this litter." The zoo added: "Animal care staff will leave Rosalie to bond with and care for her cubs without interference, so it may be some time before they can determine the cubs’ sexes. Keepers will perform a health check on the cubs when Rosalie is comfortable leaving them for an extended period of time." In a statement posted on its website, the National zoo said that "Carnivore keepers at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, welcomed a litter of five cheetah cubs today." Adrienne Crosier, cheetah reproductive biologist at SCBI and head of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Cheetah Species Survival Plan, said: "Seeing Rosalie successfully care for this litter - her first - with confidence is very rewarding." She added: "Being able to witness the first moments of a cheetah’s life is incredibly special. As webcam viewers watch our cheetah family grow, play and explore their surroundings, we hope the experience brings them joy and helps them feel a deeper connection to this vulnerable species." The SCBI is a member of the Cheetah Breeding Center Coalition which is a group of 10 breeding centres for cheetahs across the US that aims to "create and maintain a sustainable North American cheetah population under human care." The zoo added: "These cubs are a significant addition to the Cheetah SSP, as each individual contributes to this program." Cheetahs usually live in rather small, isolated groups, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. But the zoo said that because of human interference that includes poaching and the destruction of the cheetahs' habitats and natural prey, only 7,000 to 7,500 of them are still left in the wild. Cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN's Red List of Endangered Species. Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute /Cz/Joe Golder

This footage shows superstar baby panda Kaedehama having a cuddle with his mum and breastfeeding at a Japanese zoo. Kaedehama, the celebrity baby panda who can be found at the Adventure World theme park in Wakayama Prefecture, in Japan, can be seen in this footage having a cuddle with his mum Rauhin and breastfeeding. The theme park captioned the footage (in Japanese): "Mother panda "Rauhin" who became a little sleepy while giving plenty of milk to "Kaedehama". I wondered if I would fall asleep... Did I feel like playing? A fierce attack on Kaedehama!" ADVENTURE WORLD/Cz/ Joe Golder

These images show the adorable moment these baby penguins take their very first steps outside. The footage was shot at the Shedd Aquarium, which is located in the city of Chicago, in the north-eastern US state of Illinois. The footage, which has notched up over 1,000 likes on Facebook since it was posted just a few days ago on 7th October, shows the baby penguins, which are Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) which are native to South America, carefully sniffing the air before they take a few hesitant steps outside. Slowly, their confidence builds, and they begin to explore their surroundings. The footage then switches to them being in front of a stingray tank in the aquarium as they look left and right, taking in all the new information. The aquarium shared the footage online and said: "Can you believe how fast Magellanic penguin chicks grow? While they have already gone on a few enrichment field trips around the aquarium, this is the first time they've explored Shedd's great outdoors. On this trip, they waddled by Stingray Touch meet the cownose rays as they swim by." The aquarium explained: "This video highlights several new additions to the penguin colony at Shedd. Taking the penguins out of their habitat to explore new spaces is part of our welfare program at Shedd Aquarium – engaging their senses, encouraging physical activity and adding variety to each and every day. "The penguin chicks have begun taking field trips of their own, including this trip to the aquarium’s outdoor Stingray Touch habitat." Magellanic penguins are named after the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan who spotted the birds in 1520. They can live to the ripe old age of 25 in the wild and 30 years in captivity. Young majestic penguins often have a blotched pattern on their feet but this tends to fade away as they grow up. They also meet with the same partner for life. Back in March, penguins from the Shedd Aquarium were spotted on a field trip to a replica set of the hit 1990s TV show Friends in footage that delighted netizens. The aquarium is home to Magellanic penguins as well as Rockhopper penguins, the latter often being split into three different subspecies that includes the southern rockhopper penguin, the eastern rockhopper penguin and the northern rockhopper penguin. But the aquarium also said that it is caring for African penguin chicks (Spheniscus demersus) which are listed as endangered on the IUCN's Red List of Endangered Species. @sheddaquarium/Cz/Joe Golder

This cat called Fedya which has become an Internet sensation because of the permanently startled look it has on its face can earn his keep after a cat food company decided to sponsor him. Fedya's owner, Natalya Zhdanova, who lives in the city of Rostov, which is located in the south-western Russian region of Rostov, made the revelation to Newsflash in an exclusive interview, saying: "We have agreed on permanent supplies with a cat food brand. So Fedya already provides himself with food." Natalya explained that she is very protective of Fedya, who she said is shy and "afraid of filming in new places". She added: "Fedya does not like the attention of strangers." This is why she does not accept all the invitations that she receives to make videos, because it is important to her that she "protect the cat". Natalya explained that had she took Fedya in after he was apparently abandoned by his mother and left to die in her garden. She suspects that he was abandoned because he looks different or because he was dropped on his head. Discussing whether his uniqueness comes from his physical traits alone or whether he was also special mentally, Natalya said: "Fedya is not only a physically special cat, but also mentally too. He can't be offended and angry. He's a bit slow and clumsy. He has a late reaction, he is surprised by everything, afraid of unfamiliar sounds." She said that Fedya is "very kind and affectionate!" And Natalya, who writes children's books for a living, mused that it would be interesting to create a story for kids about Fedya. She said: "Perhaps his story will become the plot for a kind children's book that will teach children compassion and mutual assistance." She added: "He is curious, likes to explore the space around him, likes to walk in the yard." But she said that the feline Internet sensation was not at all mischievous, quite the opposite. She said: "Fedya always behaves well! He never climbed on the table and did not steal food. He didn't spoil things and didn't even sharpen his claws on furniture. He knows from infancy what the toilet is for. If there were mistakes, it was only because of his clumsiness. He's just an angel!" Speaking about her other cat, who is called Handsome, she said that he "is only 4 months older than his 'son', so he is now two and a half years old." Discussing where Fedya's name comes from and what it means, Natalya said that "the name Fedya is an abbreviation of the old Russian name Fedor. It is soft and cozy, like our cat himself, this name is very suitable for him." She added: "That was the name of my ancestors, and now they often call newborn boys that way." @fedja_kot/Newsflash/Joe Golder

The owners of a childcare centre in South African have complained that the tots are too scared to play outside because the neighbours keep two white tigers that peer at them over the fence. The owners of the small nursery school in the city of Boksburg in the South African province of Gauteng, names not reported, said the neighbours, identified as Matthew and Anneline Kruger, keep two fully-grown tigers just metres away. They added that the situation has led to some parents removing their children from the centre, adding: “That fence is not high enough and the tigers will jump. If they don’t jump into our school, they will jump into our other neighbour's house and, just across the road, there is an old age home. “There are approximately four schools in this street, so this is a danger to everyone living in the area.” The owners said they approached their animal-loving neighbours, the local council and the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) about the situation, but to no avail. Matthew and Anneline Kruger reportedly comply with all provincial regulations concerning the keeping of exotic animals. Meanwhile, Anneline often posts images of the two big cats playing on the premises on social media. Fiona Miles, director of the animal welfare group Four Paws, who was informed of the matter last week, said: “Tigers have very little protection under SA law, despite being considered an endangered species. This is particularly true in Gauteng, where such cases of private keeping are prevalent.” Four Paws said there are some 1,500 tigers kept in captivity in the country with fewer than 4,000 remaining in the wild. annelinematt/Newsflash/Lee Bullen

Rare rays were born for the second time in the world and for the first time in Europe! So far, only one birth of this species in the world has been documented - in Australia. Now Zoo Wrocław zoo boast of the offspring of round ribbon-tail rays. These are little-known and endangered stingrays that inhabit the Pacific Ocean. Surprise in the Afrykarium. On September 16, during the morning rounds, the keepers noticed a new baby in the rays' nursery. There would be nothing unusual about it if it were a spotted eagle ray. But it turned out to be a fish from a completely different family of rays. The newborn was quickly identified as a round ribbon-tail ray, about 30 cm in diameter. It was easy to guess that if there is one, there are probably others as well, because there may be up to seven of them in a litter. A diver was sent into the Mozambique Channel tank that holds 3.5 million liters of seawater and found three more pups. - When we caught the little rays and checked their condition, we were overjoyed. We waited 6 years for our rays to grow up and reproduce - says Jakub Kordas, aquarium manager at Zoo Wrocław. The pups were moved to a smaller tank in the backroom to keep them safe and keep caretakers in control of their rearing. The first two weeks are crucial. Today, after this period, we can already speak of success - the rays are doing well, they have adjusted their menu by rejecting shellfish in favor of herring and mackerel, and even have learned to express frustration by "blushing" on the underside! They will be available for viewing when they grow larger and are independent enough to deal with neighbors such as other rays and sharks. Meanwhile, in the Mozambique Channel tank in the Afrykarium, you can admire the parents - Emilka, Halinka, and Veder. A worldwide sensation. The round ribbon-tail ray is a bottom-dwelling species found in the Pacific Ocean - from the coasts of Africa to Japan. It is a large stingray - an adult fish reaches 3 meters across and weighs up to 150 kg. It lives mainly in coastal waters and coral reefs. It is a species difficult to breed in captivity. The reason is not only the spectacular dimensions but also the environmental and nutritional requirements. Additionally, knowledge about the species is limited and professional literature is very scarce. As a result, the round ribbon-tail ray is not a common inhabitant of zoos and aquariums. In Europe, these rays are kept in only 3 gardens and no births have been reported up until now. -In Wrocław we breed, consciously and by choice, many little-known and endangered animal species. This is our contribution to the protection of biodiversity on Earth. Already in the design phase of the Afrykarium we took into account a place for these large rays. We knew it was a challenge, but it was important. Thanks to our observations, we learn more and more about this species and share it with other gardens. And the birth of the pups is a milestone and a global sensation. Professional literature previously noted only one case of successful breeding of this species in captivity, in Australia - says Radosław Ratajszczak, president of the Wrocław zoo. A victim of the seafood popularity and climate change The round ribbon-tail ray (Taeniura meyeni) is a species with a wide range of occurrence in the natural environment, but it is little known. Life expectancy, mating habits, and even population size remain unknown. However, we know it likes sandy seafloors and the vicinity of coral reefs where it finds food. Based on declining life estimates in the Pacific Ocean, IUCN reports that this species has declined by at least 20% over the past 20 years. The main reason is people's passion for seafood. According to data from all over the Pacific Ocean, these rays get entangled in nets and die. They are a so-called bycatch, killed and dumped as a by-product. Another reason for their extinction is climate change, the symptom of which is the disappearance of their main habitats - coral reefs.

A 10-year survey that studied coral reefs across the globe found that climate change and overfishing have pushed even the most isolated reefs to the brink. Researchers, who studied over 1,000 reefs, provided a baseline to measure future progress or deterioration as the world tries to make up for the loss of almost 50 percent of all reefs in the past 40 years. After spending 10 years studying the world's coral reefs, the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (KSLOF) released its Global Reef Expedition Final Report yesterday, 7th October. The report painted a grizzly picture of the world's reefs which despite occupying less than 1 percent of the world’s oceans, are home to 25 percent of all marine species at some point during their life cycle. The report found that rapid loss of reef coverage was a product of both manmade factors and natural causes. Climate change, overfishing, extreme weather, disease and the increasing frequency and severity of coral bleaching are noted as just some of the key drivers behind the rapid decline of reefs. KSLOF's Global Reef Expedition aimed to emphasise the need to act now if it hopes to save the reefs upon which not only the planet's ecosystem depends, but which provide food and income for millions of people around the world. The study brought together scientists from 16 countries and saw over 15,000 surveys conducted on over 1,000 reefs. The report highlighted the impact of climate change stating that the reefs cannot be saved without addressing this issue. Climate change is believed to be a key driver of coral bleaching with events becoming more frequent and severe as water temperatures rise. According to United Nations Environment Programme, between 2014 and 2016, the longest recorded global bleaching events killed coral on an unprecedented scale. The average reef is being affected by bleaching every six years while in the 1980s it was between every 25 and 30 years. One of these vents killed an estimated 29 to 50 percent of all corals on the Great Barrier Reef in 2016. Renee Carlton, a Marine Ecologist at KSLOF, said another major issue facing reefs is overfishing, which disrupts the food chain damaging the reef and impacts coastal communities that depend on fishing to survive. Carlton said: "Nearly every country we studied showed signs of overfishing, even some of the most remote and well-protected reefs." "We know marine protected areas work, in most instances these reefs had some of the best coral cover and reef fish communities, but climate change, storms, and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish can still have deadly consequences to a reef, no matter how remote or well-protected it is." The collected data has been shared with the world which KSLOF hopes will encourage local communities and government to take action. Alexandra Dempsey, the Director of Science Management at KSLOF, said: "Findings from the Global Reef Expedition are already helping countries protect and preserve their reefs and coastal marine resources. "Marine protected areas, fisheries closures, and traditionally managed areas have been established in The Bahamas, Jamaica, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, using information collected on the Expedition." Sam Purkis, KSLOF's Chief Scientist, said: "The Global Reef Expedition was a monumental achievement. It owes its success to nimble planning and a common vision shared by a broad group of forward-thinking scientists, managers, and educators. "I have no doubt that the baseline determined by the Global Reef Expedition for the world's reefs will remain a reference for centuries to come." Prince Khaled bin Sultan, the Saudi Arabian prince who funded the study, said he hopes it will encourage humanity to "leave a legacy of ocean conservation, so our children, and our children's children, can also experience the beauty and wonder of a coral reef." The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is a US-based non-profit environmental organisation that protects and restores the world’s oceans through scientific research, outreach, and education.

This unsettling footage shows a dead dolphin washed up on a Spanish beach crawling with parasites. The footage was posted on Facebook by Asociacion Equinac, a marine wildlife rescue organisation in the city of Almeria in the Spanish region of Andalusia on Tuesday, 5th October. The dolphin had been found by a resident in the town of Cuevas del Almanzora around an hour's drive away from Almeria on the previous night. The resident called the emergency services, and workers pulled it from the water using a rope. A worker from Asociacion Equinac also arrived on the scene to collect data from the carcass before covering it up. According to the organisation, it was an adult striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba), which is found in temperate and tropical waters of all the world's oceans. Asociacion Equinac told Newsflash in an interview: "External and internal parasites on these marine mammals are common, due to a drop in defences and previous pathologies that make the animals swim slower, and these and other parasites can adhere to them." Replying to comments on Facebook, the organisation wrote: "This is the first one we've seen like this in 20 years. In the end, these marine mammals also get sick and die from diseases like humans." Facebook user 'Ali Ch' wrote "Pollution of the seas can't help either, right?", to which Asociacion Equinac replied: "Of course. That weakens their immune system and gives free rein to bacteria and viruses." Asociacion Equinac is the authorised entity entrusted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, a department of the Government of Spain.