Meet the Ligers - Lion-Tiger Hybrid

This morning, I was surfing around randomly when I came across this article on China Daily. It's on the first public appearance of three lion-tiger hybrid cubs known as "liger" at the Hongshan Zoo in Nanjing, East China's Jiangsu Province on 11th September, 2008.

These "ligers" were born to a white Bengal tigress and an African lion. While they look totally normal physically, even cute, I fear that like in many cases of cross-breeding, there may be genetic mutation or there may be something wrong with them mentally. It will take some time to detect any abnormal behavior.

I understand that these cubs were conceived naturally and not through artificial insemination but I still think that the zoo should have kept the "beasts" separate. We surely would not want another mutated animal on our hands!

Source: China Daily

Oldest Gorilla In Captivity Dies

Jenny, the oldest gorilla in captivity, a Western Lowland primate, has been put to sleep due to an inoperable tumour in her stomach. It had been a tough decision for officials at the Dallas Zoo because they have had her for 55 years and that's a LONG time!

Jenny at her 55th birthday party in May, 2008
Photo credit: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Jenny, who weighed 218 pounds, just celebrated her 55th birthday this past May where the Zoo threw a birthday party for her. Gorillas in the wild normally live up to 30 - 35 years old but gorillas in captivity could live longer due to a protected environment and access to veterinary care. Even so, according to records, of the approximately 360 gorillas in zoos in North America right now, only four were over fifty years old this spring, including Jenny.

The distinction of being the oldest gorilla in captivity has gone to Colo, a 51-year-old female gorilla at Columbus Zoo.

Sources:
Chron.com
USA Today
WDTN.com

Zoya & Frida: Friends Forever

I was looking at some animal photos online, which I seem to do ever so often when I came across this photo of Zoya the tiger cub and Frida the puppy.

Photo credit: Alik Keplicz/AP Photo

Zoya and Frida are three months old. Frida, an Alsatian, was introduced to Zoya after being rejected by her mother. Zoo employees in Warsaw, Poland, thought that it would be better for Zoya to have a companion, even though they are of different species! Frida is owned by one of the zoo employees.

For more photos of Amazing Animals, check out ABC News.

One-Dog Policy In Jesus Maria, Lima, Peru

While China has the one-child policy, a report on Reuters mentioned that local authorities in Lima has passed a new law stating that residents of the middle-class Jesus Maria in Lima could only keep one dog if they are living in an apartment. Families who live in houses would be allowed to keep two dogs.

I am a little surprised by this because here in Ipoh, Malaysia, we have a city council ruling, I believe, that allows us to keep the number of dogs according to the size of our compound and size of the dogs.

However, here in Ipoh, like in Jesus Maria, there is no law to restrict cat owners on the number of cats that one could keep. I am not sure why because cats could also be a nuisance just like dogs, especially during mating season.

Residents in Jesus Maria say that noisy, barking dogs disrupt the peace and harmony. I find that people who make their dogs wear "bark control" collars or worse, remove the voice box of their pet dogs, absolutely cruel. Barking is a form of expression for dogs. If they are not allowed to bark then who would know if they are hurt or threatened?

Authorities in Lima say that they would impose hefty fines on families who do not abide by this law, and may even resort to removing the dogs. I think that most dog lovers would rather change their lifestyle, like moving to another place that would allow more pet dogs in the premises, than let the authorities confiscate them.

What are your thoughts?

For the full report, click HERE.