Viral Tab Animals

This is the chilling moment an elk that fell through the icy surface of a frozen pond gets rescued by firefighters. The 'cool' rescue operation reportedly took place in the town of Evergreen, in the US state of Colorado on 8th March. Thoughtful witnesses called emergency services after spotting the fallen elk and fearing it might freeze to death. In this footage that Newsflash obtained from the Evergreen Fire/Rescue department, crews can be seen attempting to haul the creature out of the ice-cold water. Two rescuers are seen using long metal rods as a lever to push its body out as three others pull it by the front legs. Incredibly - during this - the animal seems completely calm and apparently aware that the men yanking its legs are its saviours. A short struggle later, they were able to get it safely back on dry land. Evergreen Fire/Rescue said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Another elk ignored warnings, and fell through the ice on a pond this afternoon. Firefighters rescued the elk after neighbours called 911." The department said the elk was not injured and was quickly able to rejoin its herd. The statement added: "Ice safety is simple: Stay Off the Ice. We can learn from this elk’s harrowing brush with hypothermia and death. "Fortunately, neighbours did the right thing and called 911."

This fisherman's catch of the day was really speaking to him when he picked up a fish that began making strange - and almost unheard of - noises. Footage obtained by Newsflash from the Colorado Parks And Wildlife's Southeast Region (CPW SE) shows a man fishing out the lively creature from a water tank and showing it off to the camera. It wriggles around in an apparent attempt to escape his grip - and lets out what almost sounds like a disappointed sigh when it fails. The trout, which appears to have been freshly fished out of a nearby lake, made the man visibly happy. He puts on a huge smile as he holds up the nearly 15-inch-long 'talking' fish in front of the camera. Although it is not highly uncommon for an underwater creature to be making noises, it is still an incredibly rare thing to witness. CPW said in a short statement obtained by Newsflash: "You can't buy happiness, but you can get a fishing license and that's pretty much the same thing."

An alligator named Tewa that was believed to have been stolen from the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in Texas 20 years ago has been found and returned to the zoo. The gator was able to make its way back home thanks to the Texas Game Warden who found it near Austin and returned it to New Braunfels, where the zoo is located. It was likely taken as an egg or a hatchling and kept as a pet by an individual who lacked the necessary permits to do so. The person was issued with two citations, while Tewa has been reintroduced to the other alligators at the zoo and is said to be adapting well to her new environment.

This footage taken off the Spanish coast shows a huge whale with a crooked body bent at about 70 degrees. The 40-tonne rorqual - spotted two miles off the coast of the city of Cullera in the Valencia Region - is believed to suffer from scoliosis, a sideways curvature of the spine. It was swimming poorly due to its condition. The captain of a boat reported the find to the Civil Guard on 4th March, believing the whale was entangled in a net. Veterinarians and biologists from the Oceanografic de Valencia - Europe's largest aquarium - approached the 17-metre- (56-foot) long rorqual on a patrol boat belonging to the Civil Guard. They realised the whale was not entangled but had a spine problem of unknown origin. The Oceanografic Foundation said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "The dimensions of the rorqual and the work in open sea, combined with the malformation it was suffering from, prevented veterinarians from remotely attaching a tracker to obtain more detailed data on its condition, biology, and trajectory. "A few hours later, the rorqual headed out to open sea and moved away from the coast. However, professionals warn that it may appear again in the coming days due to its general condition and swimming difficulties. "Therefore, different recovery centres and institutions involved in these operations have been alerted and co-ordinated in case it reappears." The common rorqual (Balaenoptera physalus) is the second-longest whale on the planet, after the blue whale, and is often spotted in the waters of the Spanish Mediterranean during the summer months. The International Union for Conservation of Nature categorises it as a vulnerable species.

This video shows two rare bald eagles getting ready for the new nesting season as they bring in nest-building material to get things ready for the arrival of the young. Two eggs have already been laid, indicating that the eagles are getting ready for their next generation, according to the USA Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). The peaceful scene shown here of the eagles sharing the task facing yet another tweet in place follows a drama of another eagle appearing to be trying to take over the nest. However, the resident eagles quickly drove off the invader from their territory, and things quickly returned to normal. Newsflash obtained this video from the USFWS where this is the eagles were performing their "branch manager" duties. A spokesman said: "The video showcases the beauty and majesty of these magnificent birds as they work together to maintain their home." Bald eagles symbolise America's natural heritage and are protected under federal law. The NCTC added that bald eagles are just one example of the successful conservation efforts that have helped to increase the population of these birds over the years.

US rescuers have celebrated the successful release of an unprecedented dozen manatees back into the sea in just one day. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) released the adorable animals at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, Florida State, USA, on Monday, 13th February, following their successful several-year-long rehabilitation. The 12 manatees involved were Asha from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Scampi, Ferret and Finch from the Miami Seaquarium, and Artemis, Bianca, Indigo, Lilpeep, Maximoff, Alby, Manhattan and Swimshady from SeaWorld Orlando. Most of them were reportedly rescued after they became orphans due to the ongoing unusual mortality event (UME) which has left thousands of individuals malnourished and starving. Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Monica Ross said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Over the past several years, we have been called upon to rescue an alarmingly high number of injured, sick and starving manatees off the Florida coastline. "Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day." Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Andy Garrett said: "Today we want to recognize the outstanding dedication and efforts made by the stranding network partners and the MRP organizations who worked together to rescue and rehabilitate these 12 manatees. "We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery." All of the animals will reportedly wear GPS tracking devices in order to allow researchers to monitor their movement and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year. The experts plant to use the collected data to better understand how orphan manatees adapt to the natural habitat and how they search for warm water for winter survival without the skills they should have learnt from their mothers. Due to its famous Volusia Blue Spring, Blue Spring State Park has become one of the largest winter gathering sites for the species in the area.

US rescuers have celebrated the successful release of an unprecedented dozen manatees back into the sea in just one day. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) released the adorable animals at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, Florida State, USA, on Monday, 13th February, following their successful several-year-long rehabilitation. The 12 manatees involved were Asha from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Scampi, Ferret and Finch from the Miami Seaquarium, and Artemis, Bianca, Indigo, Lilpeep, Maximoff, Alby, Manhattan and Swimshady from SeaWorld Orlando. Most of them were reportedly rescued after they became orphans due to the ongoing unusual mortality event (UME) which has left thousands of individuals malnourished and starving. Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Monica Ross said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Over the past several years, we have been called upon to rescue an alarmingly high number of injured, sick and starving manatees off the Florida coastline. "Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day." Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Andy Garrett said: "Today we want to recognize the outstanding dedication and efforts made by the stranding network partners and the MRP organizations who worked together to rescue and rehabilitate these 12 manatees. "We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery." All of the animals will reportedly wear GPS tracking devices in order to allow researchers to monitor their movement and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year. The experts plant to use the collected data to better understand how orphan manatees adapt to the natural habitat and how they search for warm water for winter survival without the skills they should have learnt from their mothers. Due to its famous Volusia Blue Spring, Blue Spring State Park has become one of the largest winter gathering sites for the species in the area.

US rescuers have celebrated the successful release of an unprecedented dozen manatees back into the sea in just one day. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) released the adorable animals at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, Florida State, USA, on Monday, 13th February, following their successful several-year-long rehabilitation. The 12 manatees involved were Asha from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Scampi, Ferret and Finch from the Miami Seaquarium, and Artemis, Bianca, Indigo, Lilpeep, Maximoff, Alby, Manhattan and Swimshady from SeaWorld Orlando. Most of them were reportedly rescued after they became orphans due to the ongoing unusual mortality event (UME) which has left thousands of individuals malnourished and starving. Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Monica Ross said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Over the past several years, we have been called upon to rescue an alarmingly high number of injured, sick and starving manatees off the Florida coastline. "Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day." Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Andy Garrett said: "Today we want to recognize the outstanding dedication and efforts made by the stranding network partners and the MRP organizations who worked together to rescue and rehabilitate these 12 manatees. "We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery." All of the animals will reportedly wear GPS tracking devices in order to allow researchers to monitor their movement and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year. The experts plant to use the collected data to better understand how orphan manatees adapt to the natural habitat and how they search for warm water for winter survival without the skills they should have learnt from their mothers. Due to its famous Volusia Blue Spring, Blue Spring State Park has become one of the largest winter gathering sites for the species in the area.

US rescuers have celebrated the successful release of an unprecedented dozen manatees back into the sea in just one day. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) released the adorable animals at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, Florida State, USA, on Monday, 13th February, following their successful several-year-long rehabilitation. The 12 manatees involved were Asha from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Scampi, Ferret and Finch from the Miami Seaquarium, and Artemis, Bianca, Indigo, Lilpeep, Maximoff, Alby, Manhattan and Swimshady from SeaWorld Orlando. Most of them were reportedly rescued after they became orphans due to the ongoing unusual mortality event (UME) which has left thousands of individuals malnourished and starving. Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Monica Ross said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Over the past several years, we have been called upon to rescue an alarmingly high number of injured, sick and starving manatees off the Florida coastline. "Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day." Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Andy Garrett said: "Today we want to recognize the outstanding dedication and efforts made by the stranding network partners and the MRP organizations who worked together to rescue and rehabilitate these 12 manatees. "We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery." All of the animals will reportedly wear GPS tracking devices in order to allow researchers to monitor their movement and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year. The experts plant to use the collected data to better understand how orphan manatees adapt to the natural habitat and how they search for warm water for winter survival without the skills they should have learnt from their mothers. Due to its famous Volusia Blue Spring, Blue Spring State Park has become one of the largest winter gathering sites for the species in the area.

US rescuers have celebrated the successful release of an unprecedented dozen manatees back into the sea in just one day. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) released the adorable animals at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, Florida State, USA, on Monday, 13th February, following their successful several-year-long rehabilitation. The 12 manatees involved were Asha from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Scampi, Ferret and Finch from the Miami Seaquarium, and Artemis, Bianca, Indigo, Lilpeep, Maximoff, Alby, Manhattan and Swimshady from SeaWorld Orlando. Most of them were reportedly rescued after they became orphans due to the ongoing unusual mortality event (UME) which has left thousands of individuals malnourished and starving. Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Monica Ross said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Over the past several years, we have been called upon to rescue an alarmingly high number of injured, sick and starving manatees off the Florida coastline. "Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day." Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Andy Garrett said: "Today we want to recognize the outstanding dedication and efforts made by the stranding network partners and the MRP organizations who worked together to rescue and rehabilitate these 12 manatees. "We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery." All of the animals will reportedly wear GPS tracking devices in order to allow researchers to monitor their movement and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year. The experts plant to use the collected data to better understand how orphan manatees adapt to the natural habitat and how they search for warm water for winter survival without the skills they should have learnt from their mothers. Due to its famous Volusia Blue Spring, Blue Spring State Park has become one of the largest winter gathering sites for the species in the area.

US rescuers have celebrated the successful release of an unprecedented dozen manatees back into the sea in just one day. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) released the adorable animals at Blue Spring State Park, in Orange City, Florida State, USA, on Monday, 13th February, following their successful several-year-long rehabilitation. The 12 manatees involved were Asha from Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Scampi, Ferret and Finch from the Miami Seaquarium, and Artemis, Bianca, Indigo, Lilpeep, Maximoff, Alby, Manhattan and Swimshady from SeaWorld Orlando. Most of them were reportedly rescued after they became orphans due to the ongoing unusual mortality event (UME) which has left thousands of individuals malnourished and starving. Chairman of the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership and Director of Manatee Research and Conservation for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute Monica Ross said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Over the past several years, we have been called upon to rescue an alarmingly high number of injured, sick and starving manatees off the Florida coastline. "Through the efforts of the MRP partners, I am thrilled that we were able to return the highest number of manatees to their natural environment in a single day." Manatee Rescue Coordinator from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Andy Garrett said: "Today we want to recognize the outstanding dedication and efforts made by the stranding network partners and the MRP organizations who worked together to rescue and rehabilitate these 12 manatees. "We are excited that those who safely rescued, transported and cared for these manatees are here now as we return them into Blue Spring to start the final phase of their recovery." All of the animals will reportedly wear GPS tracking devices in order to allow researchers to monitor their movement and ensure their acclimation to their natural habitat for the next year. The experts plant to use the collected data to better understand how orphan manatees adapt to the natural habitat and how they search for warm water for winter survival without the skills they should have learnt from their mothers. Due to its famous Volusia Blue Spring, Blue Spring State Park has become one of the largest winter gathering sites for the species in the area.

This adorable footage shows two elephants finding love with each other at a wildlife sanctuary after being rescued from abusive circuses. Elephants Big Boy and Bireki once again found joy in life while sharing a romantic meet-and-greet at their enclosures in Ostok Sanctuary in Sinaloa, Mexico. The two were caught being very affectionate with each other by intertwining their trunks as they reached through the metal fence that separates them. Experts with the sanctuary claim elephants will often use their trunks to greet each other, and Bireki and Big Boy are no exception. Their keepers were apparently touched that the two are finally able to have peaceful lives and seemingly being in love after years of alleged abuse while being circus animals. The two elephants in love have become famous in Mexico, Big Boy for experiencing alleged mistreatment while living with the Rolex Circus, and Bireki for being the first Asian elephant to be born on Mexican territory.

This is the moment a massive Russian nuclear powered icebreaker bears down on a pair of terrified Arctic foxes that are seen running backwards and forwards on the ice in order to get out of the way. The footage was shot by a crew member on board the Ural, a massive Russian nuclear powered icebreaker built by the Baltic shipyard in St Petersburg that started active service last year. The ship was built as part of the Project 22220 to create a series of nuclear powered icebreaker's. So far three have been delivered, with another four almost completed or under construction. The video was shot in the Yenisey Wwhich is the fifth longest river system in the world that starts off in Mongolia and then passes down through Lake Baikal before draining into the Kara Sea in northern Siberia, where it is covered with ice for three quarters of the year. But important trade routes pass through its icy cold waters and there are several ports, as a result the massive icebreaker is needed to keep the areas clear. The Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus) and had apparently been exploring their Arctic tundra home when the massive icebreaker started bearing down on them. Despite its white camouflage the foxes can be clearly seen running left and right as they attempt to dash out of the way of the massive ship. A spokesman for Atomflot getting dark but they had been forced to turn off their lights so that the foxes could orientate themselves instead of simply running ahead to try and escape the ship. The organisation then shared the video, saying it was taken by Nikita Boev, the senior assistant to the captain of the Ural icebreaker, before being shared on their official telegram channel. Arctic foxes at this time of year form breeding pairs and unfortunately for these two, one ends up on one side of the massive canal and the other dashes to the other side. With their thick fur, unlike commentators speculated that they probably could have swung back to join each other rather than being permanently divorced by the channel left by the massive ship.

The adorable footage shows two rescued bear siblings forced to live together in a tiny cage that became such good friends – they now spend their their hibernation period together in the same den in a sanctuary in Switzerland. Amelia and her brother Meimo were caught sharing their den at the Arosa Bear Sanctuary in Graubuenden, Switzerland, on Friday, 10th February. Arosa Bear Sanctuary officials claimed that the two furry roommates have enjoyed spending time together at the Alpine resort village after they moved from an Albanian mini zoo in January 2018. The two 15-year-old European brown bears were reportedly given to an Albanian mini zoo in a restaurant complex when their mum became the victim of poachers . As the restaurant owner had kept them in an extremely small concrete grid cage for 13 years, the two reportedly formed a very close social bond over the period. Now showing their exceptionally strong connection the Arosa Bear Sanctuary said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Naturally, bears develop a close sibling relationship in the first two to three years of life. "After that, they leave their mother's patrol area, [and] they then travel individually and know each other throughout their whole lives." But putting an emphasis on the amount of time they had spent together, the sanctuary explained that Meimo and Amelia can always be seen together from spring to autumn. The sanctuary added: "This year, they decided to spend the winter hibernation period together in the same den." The adorable footage was viewed over 5,000 times after it was posted on the sanctuary's Facebook page last week. Facebook user Susanne Maxim said: "This is true bear love." User Marion Kehrli commented: "Sad and beautiful all at the same time." Then another user named Doris Luescher added: "How sweet the two are. Thanks for letting us be part of it!"

A Swiss zoo has successfully bred the most poisonous animal on the planet, a yellow frog that is native to the Colombian rainforest. Experts at Zurich Zoo, in Switzerland, were thrilled to welcome golden poison frog offspring, which they successfully developed for nearly four months under controlled conditions since October 2022. They said that the new individuals have hatched from more than 100 eggs as of Wednesday, 15th February. Also dubbed the golden dart frog or golden poison arrow frog (Phyllobates terribilis), the endangered species is known for its poison - batrachotoxin - which individuals synthethise by eating small insects or other arthropods. Sources claimed that its toxin in the amount equivalent to just two grains of salt is enough to kill a person within less than 10 minutes, with no cure being found up to date. The poison reportedly permanently prevents nerves from transmitting impulses, which leads to heart failure. Due to its properties, the toxin was also used by indigenous cultures such as the Embera and Cofan people in Colombia's rainforest, to hunt their food. But frogs kept in captivity are considered non-poisonous as they lose their toxicity due to feeding predominantly on commercially available feeder insects. Reports claimed that their endangered conservation status comes from habitat destruction of their habitat within its already limited range. Thus the breeding accomplishment was a part of a new conservation project at Zurich Zoo, aiming to protect the species from going extinct. Following the breeding success, Zurich Zoo officials revealed more about the frog's reproduction process and said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "The way golden poison frogs take care of their offspring differs from other amphibians. "After the eggs hatch, in many species and same as the golden poison frogs, the male carries the tadpoles to a place permanently filled with water. In some species, brood care goes even further. "This is also the case with the Strawberry poison-dart frog in Zurich Zoo: the male guards the clutch laid on a bromeliad leaf and keeps it moist until it hatches. "Then the female usually carries each tadpole individually into a bromeliad hopper filled with water. "For the next few weeks, the female comes by every few days and feeds the tadpoles unfertilised eggs." The zoo added: "There are currently young frogs in various developmental stages at Zurich Zoo, from eggs, to tadpoles, to adult frogs."

This is the Bambi moment a confused young deer bursts through the window of a primary school. The deer had crashed in over a weekend and stayed at the classroom in southern Alabama, USA, for several hours to explore. Its visit was not discovered until 13th February when staff checked the Evergreen Elementary School 's CCTV. In this footage, the unsteady deer puts on a perfect imitation of Bambi's classic scene when it wobbles about on the ice. The school said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "OH DEER! Yes, that’s what we said when we arrived at school this morning (Mon)! "We had an unexpected intruder this weekend that undoubtedly wanted to see all the GREAT things that were going on in our school. "Once acclimated with the new environment, it jumped out of the window as fast as it entered."

A 49-year-old orangutan who had a brush with fame when his mate became an international artist has been put down by vets at his zoo. Vladimir became a celebrity when his partner Nonja was encouraged to take up painting by keepers at Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, the Austrian capital. Then Nonja clicked with Facebook fans when she was given her own camera to take snaps for her own social media page. Vladimir was euthanised on 14th February after vets - who had been monitoring his health - decided he was too poorly to go on without suffering. Keepers had originally set up both Nonja - who died after kidney failure nearly five years ago - and Vladimir with paints, brushes and canvases, But as Nonja thrived as an artist - with works selling for GBP 5,000 a time - Vladimir hated it and smashed up his own and his mate's equipment. Nonja's keeper Claudia Kment said at the time: "Vladimir is very jealous, and if she starts painting, he grabs her work and smashes it up. "It's because he tried it himself but he wasn't very good. He doesn't have the patience." Following Nonja's death, Vladimir reportedly found another partner named Sari, with whom he had a daughter Kendari, named after the capital of the Indonesian province of Southeast Sulawesi, in June 2022. Vladimir was the oldest orangutan breed under the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) and had been living at Schoenbrunn Zoo since 1991. Zoo officials claimed that they made the difficult decision to end his life after Vladimir's health significantly worsened in the past few weeks. The zoo's head Vet Thomas Voracek said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Unfortunately, there was absolutely no reason to hope that his condition could improve again. "Few orangutans reach such an old age. This is only possible with the best care. "Due to his advanced age, we have been following him closely from a veterinary perspective over the past few years." Orangutans which can now only be found in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, but ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China in the past, are considered critically endangered. The zoo explained: "Because of large-scale clearing and the resulting destruction of the habitat on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, these fascinating animals are on the brink of extinction. "Since 2021, the zoo has been supporting the Hutan project in the Kinabatangan region in Malaysian Borneo, where orangutans and many other endangered species live."

A 49-year-old orangutan who had a brush with fame when his mate became an international artist has been put down by vets at his zoo. Vladimir became a celebrity when his partner Nonja was encouraged to take up painting by keepers at Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, the Austrian capital. Then Nonja clicked with Facebook fans when she was given her own camera to take snaps for her own social media page. Vladimir was euthanised on 14th February after vets - who had been monitoring his health - decided he was too poorly to go on without suffering. Keepers had originally set up both Nonja - who died after kidney failure nearly five years ago - and Vladimir with paints, brushes and canvases, But as Nonja thrived as an artist - with works selling for GBP 5,000 a time - Vladimir hated it and smashed up his own and his mate's equipment. Nonja's keeper Claudia Kment said at the time: "Vladimir is very jealous, and if she starts painting, he grabs her work and smashes it up. "It's because he tried it himself but he wasn't very good. He doesn't have the patience." Following Nonja's death, Vladimir reportedly found another partner named Sari, with whom he had a daughter Kendari, named after the capital of the Indonesian province of Southeast Sulawesi, in June 2022. Vladimir was the oldest orangutan breed under the EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP) and had been living at Schoenbrunn Zoo since 1991. Zoo officials claimed that they made the difficult decision to end his life after Vladimir's health significantly worsened in the past few weeks. The zoo's head Vet Thomas Voracek said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Unfortunately, there was absolutely no reason to hope that his condition could improve again. "Few orangutans reach such an old age. This is only possible with the best care. "Due to his advanced age, we have been following him closely from a veterinary perspective over the past few years." Orangutans which can now only be found in parts of Borneo and Sumatra, but ranged throughout Southeast Asia and South China in the past, are considered critically endangered. The zoo explained: "Because of large-scale clearing and the resulting destruction of the habitat on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, these fascinating animals are on the brink of extinction. "Since 2021, the zoo has been supporting the Hutan project in the Kinabatangan region in Malaysian Borneo, where orangutans and many other endangered species live."

Hungry frogs trying to gobble up male wasps have found that their manhoods can carry a nasty sting in the tail, a new study has revealed. Scientists in Japan - who published a hilarious video documenting their research - have found that a third of male Anterhynchium gibbifrons have genital spikes that can be used as a weapon to fend off predators. Their short clip shows how a frog in a glass cube eventually gives up on feasting on a wasp as the insect successfully defends itself. Male wasps are all drones and unlike females have no stingers to inject venom into attackers or prey. The study - a Kobe University - took 17 tree frogs and fed each of them one live male wasp. But only the 35 per cent of wasps that fought back using their spikes - of pseudo stingers - survived and made the frogs go hungry, In a control experiment, 17 male wasps with their genitalia removed were fed to individual frogs and all of them were gobbled down instantly, the study showed, Professor Shinji Sugiura - associate professor of agriculture at Kobe University - explained: "This study highlights the importance of male genitalia as an anti-predator defence and provides a new perspective for understanding the ecological roles of male genitalia in animals." Since the Anterhynchium gibbifrons insects - which are a group of mason wasp species - were only discovered in 2015, crucial information concerning their capabilities had been missing when the Kobe University experts launched their investigation. The researchers decided to carry out the study when a student, Misaki Tsujii, felt a painful sting as he handled a male of the species. Spikes found close to other wasp species' genitals have been analysed before. They are commonly known as pseudo-stingers. While some female insects use hooks and barbs to wriggle away during mating, no such activities have been detected in the Kobe University ecologists' laboratory experiment on the Anterhynchium gibbifrons species. Science Alert magazine quotes the study authors as saying: "Although male wasps are thought to mimic the morphology and behavior of stinging female wasps, we demonstrated that the genital spines of male A. gibbifrons can function to counterattack predators." The Kobe University researchers' study entitled "Male wasp genitalia as an anti-predator defense" has been published in the Current Biology magazine. Wasps play an important part in the environment as they are engaged pollinators. The pollination of dozens of plants has been found to exclusively depend on wasps.

This is the moment a pod of dolphins washed onto a beach are saved by a rescuer as he pushes them back out to sea. The extraordinary scenes - filmed on the Arabian Sea coast of Oman - show an expert from the gulf state's Environment Authority wading in to help the stricken creatures. In a heroic rescue, only one out of eight stranded dolphins died, with the rest swimming back out to sea. Photographs show experts measuring and examining the dolphin that died on the beach in Dhofar Governorate. Newsflash obtained a statement from the Environment Authority dated 7th February, saying: "The Directorate General of Environment in the Dhofar Governorate dealt with a report stating that eight Risso's dolphins were stranded, washed up on the coast of the administrative area of Hasik. "During which seven of them were rescued in good health, while the death of the eighth dolphin was recorded, and samples and measurements were taken for it to conduct laboratory tests and analyses." It is currently unclear what caused the dolphins to beach. Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) is found all over the world, in tropical and temperate waters. Dolphins often beach themselves when they are sick or injured.

The oldest zoo in the world has given threatened penguins a heart-shaped treat made from krill for Valentine's Day. Southern rockhopper penguins were in for a huge surprise after zookeepers from the Schoenbrunn Zoo, in the city of Vienna, Austria, spread some Valentine's Day love by leaving them some frozen snacks in their enclosure. The frozen heart-shaped refreshment made from krill - small crustaceans - and covered with beetroot juice to grasp the significance of the coming holiday was delivered to them on Thursday, 9th February 2023. Zoo officials claimed it was the perfect present before the 'vulnerable' species, according to the IUCN, begin their mating season in mid-February. Additionally, the gift came in to celebrate the rockhopper penguins' faithfulness to their partners even when separated by thousands of miles. After they took their time to study the amazing ice structure, the curious little creatures devoured the tasty snack when it thawed. The zoo said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "The Tiergarten Schoenbrunn is one of the few zoos in the world where there are offspring every year. "Schoenbrunn Zoo is responsible for ensuring that each of the 137 rockhopper penguins in the European zoos finds a suitable partner." Assistant Sabine Fruehwirth, who coordinates the EAZA Ex situ programmes (EEP) for the species' conservation, said: "My job is to put together the breeding groups of southern rockhopper penguins in European zoos in such a way that a genetically healthy population is maintained in captivity." In order to do so, Fruehwirth identifies the right animals depending on their gender, age and genetic origin. She said: "Even the rockhopper penguins are not always so particular about monogamy. "It can happen once that the animal in the neighbouring nest suddenly becomes interesting. "But that is very good for the genetic diversity within the population." The zoo will reportedly organise a free Valentine's Day tour named 'The Love Lives of Animals' at 2pm on Tuesday, 14th February. Couples celebrating the holiday will have the benefit of getting two tickets for the price of one.

These images show how a raccoon managed to evade capture from staff and animal control for almost an hour before getting fed up and locking itself up in a cage in a DIY store. The footage first shows the raccoon trapped inside the distribution centre wall as workers try to free it. It is suddenly freed and then proceeds to race around the store as workers and an animal control officer chase after it – reportedly for 45 minutes – before it is finally caught. Newsflash obtained a statement from the Boulder Police Department dated 2nd February saying: "Boulder Police Animal Protection Supervisor J. Whittle knew something was off when she heard, 'We finally found the raccoon we were looking for.' "That’s not usually how the call comes in. "Local distribution centre employees had spotted the raccoon when he hopped off their truck the night before inside their distribution centre. "The truck was hauling pallets from Louisville and the raccoon crawled up in between them. When the truck unloaded at the distribution center in Boulder, the raccoon went with them. Employees looked but could not find him again until the evening when they saw him squished—upside down—between lumber along the wall. "That’s when they called us. Supervisor Whittle spent about 45 minutes with employees trying to get him out peacefully since he was pretty agitated at that point, and we didn’t want anyone to get bitten. "But when they slid the panel up, the raccoon slipped by Supervisor Whittle and took off through the center." The statement continued: "As you can see from this video, it was team effort to keep everyone safe. We didn’t want anyone to get bitten and we wanted to get him safely into a kennel." Whittle is quoted as saying: “He slid through the catch pole once. I said, ‘I got him! I don’t got him!’” The statement added: "You can hear Supervisor Whittle telling folks to grab the kennel and not to touch the raccoon while she was in hot pursuit." Whittle said: “That’s when the one employee showed up clutch with the kennel. I grabbed the trash can and the raccoon darted away from that right into the kennel." The statement continued: "Supervisor Whittle then got the Louisville address where the truck had been and transported the raccoon back to his home." Whittle said: “He had plenty of hiding spots and trees and dumpsters.” She added: “And I hope he found his family and friends back in Louisville.” The statement said: "Now that’s great public safety service for everyone—and every animal—involved. Good job Supervisor Whittle and distribution center employees!"

Elephants may love the warm, but that did not stop this playful two-year-old from frolicking in the snow. Asian elephant Yindi, born in 2020, clearly loved the white stuff as she ran around and even used what appeared to be a rather-squashed ball as a toy to kick around. Speaking to Newsflash, a caretaker from DierenPark Amersfoort in the Netherlands said the footage was shot on 23rd January in the zoo's 'Rijk der Reuzen' elephant enclosure. The keeper, not named, said the sight of Yindi romping around in the white stuff showed she was having a great time. They said: "She couldn't get enough of it. Elephants like warmth, but she chose to explore the snow anyway. "It it is one of the challenges we face on how you keep animals active and healthy. "The answer is by challenging them to show their natural behaviour. In technical terms, this is called 'enriching their behaviour'. "In DierenPark Amersfoort, biologists and animal caretakers come up with all kinds of ideas to tempt the animals to behave naturally. "In this case, the snow also provides a nice enrichment for Yindi. She discovers the white layer in the enclosure and uses it to play in it. You can see that she is very curious." Although snow is not normal for elephants to experience, Yindi managed to see it before, in 2021. Under the watchful eyes of her relatives, she can be seen kicking the flattened object around the enclosure. The zookeeper said the elephants Yindi lives with are all female because elephant herds always consist of only females. The keeper added: "She lives with mother Kina and grandmother Indra. The boss of the herd is Indra and she is the matriarch."