ANIMAL FORTEANA


In the beginning of things men were animals and animals men. ~ Algonquin saying

"For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much — the wheel, New York, wars and so on — whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man — for precisely the same reasons." ~ The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Cryptomundo:New Musk Deer Discovered in Nepal

Cryptomundo: New Musk Deer Discovered in Nepal

A new species of endangered Musk deer—differed from all three species found in the country—has been discovered in Mustang district.

Interestingly, the genetic testing (DNA test) conducted to identify the new species found that the gene sequence significantly differed from all other musk deer gene sequences in the global genetic database, indicating that the new member of the Musk deer family is a unique species discovered so far.

“The new species has brown body part with white portion towards the lower side and legs,” said Joshi, the researcher who used genetic tools on the pellets and tissue samples collected from Lupra village as a part of her Master thesis.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Spider Goats, Bullet-proof Skin, Meat from a Petri Dish and Transhumanism – Oh My! | Farm Wars

Spider Goats, Bullet-proof Skin, Meat from a Petri Dish and Transhumanism – Oh My! | Farm Wars:
In what appears to be a case of the rich experimenting on their version of life for a transhumanist agenda, the UK Telegraph reports that by sometime in the fall of 2012, we will be happily munching on burgers made from meat grown in a lab. Yes, that’s right.

Pro. Post said his team has successfully replicated the process with cow cells and calf serum, bringing the first artificial burger a step closer. He said: “In October we are going to provide a proof of concept showing out of stem cells we can make a product that looks, feels and hopefully tastes like meat.”

Why should we be concerned with this? After all, benefits would include slaughtering fewer animals. What could possibly be wrong with that?

Well there's a hell of a lot wrong with that, and for more, read here.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

OH NO….The Idaho Live Bait Kill Wolves Bill…Voted Out of Committee..Goes To Senate For Vote!!!! � Howling For Justice

From Howling For Justice blog, this news about a horrifying bill. Let's hope it doesn't succeed. Live bait? Jesus fucking Christ what's wrong with people? The irony of killing wolves because they're killing the animals we kill to eat by using live animals to lure the wolves that we're killing... OH NO….The Idaho Live Bait Kill Wolves Bill…Voted Out of Committee..Goes To Senate For Vote!!!! � Howling For Justice

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Kithra's Krystal Kave: Global Bigfoot Names

Kithra has put together a very nice article with bits of history and little boxes of   global names for Bigfoot. A useful thing -- thanks kithra! globalbigfootnames

Animal rights group says drone shot down

A remote-controlled aircraft owned by an animal rights group was reportedly shot down near Broxton Bridge Plantation Sunday near Ehrhardt, S.C.

Steve Hindi, president of SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness), said his group was preparing to launch its Mikrokopter drone to video what he called a live pigeon shoot on Sunday when law enforcement officers and an attorney claiming to represent the privately-owned plantation near Ehrhardt tried to stop the aircraft from flying.

"It didn't work; what SHARK was doing was perfectly legal," Hindi said in a news release. "Once they knew nothing was going to stop us, the shooting stopped and the cars lined up to leave."

Read more: http://thetandd.com/animal-rights-group-says-drone-shot-down/article_017a720a-56ce-11e1-afc4-001871e3ce6c.html#ixzz1mmR6g5f6
Animal rights group says drone shot down

[thanks to piglipstick for link.]

Ghost Hunting Theories: Crows Invade a Pennsylvania Town!

Ghost Hunting Theories: Crows Invade a Pennsylvania Town!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

About a hundred dead birds block I-95 traffic - WTOP.com

About a hundred dead birds block I-95 traffic - WTOP.com

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of dead birds blocked traffic for hours Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 95 in Laurel.
The heavy congestion clogged the highway back to Route 212, but the real trouble happened just north of the Intercounty Connector near MD-198 (exit 33).
Inspectors from the Maryland Highway State Administration think the birds were killed after flying into huge power lines that cross the highway and are secured by large towers on either side.

Howling For Justice:No Justice For Journey’s Brother, OR9? � Howling For Justice

From Howling For Justice, a blog I recently discovered that is focused on informing us about wolf: (protection, activism, news, etc) this item on the sad news of the harvesting murder of OR-9 in Idaho.No Justice For Journey’s Brother, OR9? Howling For Justice

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

sisu: "We haven't seen any purple baby squirrels yet"

Recent news of a purple squirrel had me trying to remember an item I blogged about a couple of years ago about a purple squirrel. I can't find the blog item, but did find this article from 2009:sisu: "We haven't seen any purple baby squirrels yet" Here's another from January of 2009. There have been albino and white squirrels, which are natural characteristics. Not so sure about the purple squirrels. I just had a horrid thought: that purple squirreling will become a sport.

Here's the current story of a purple squirrel found in Jersey shore, PA.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

'We are trying to re-establish an animal that is native to the US' | Politics | Eugene News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | KVAL CBS 13

Pretty cool but also disturbing. One question is: why? 'We are trying to re-establish an animal that is native to the US
Woodland caribou, rarely-seen creatures that with their antlers stand as tall as a man, are struggling to survive in the United States, precariously occupying one remote area of the Northwest as a final toehold in the Lower 48.

The federal government has proposed designating about 600 square miles in Idaho and Washington — roughly half the size of Rhode Island — as critical habitat in an effort to save this last U.S. herd of fewer than 50 animals.

Locals are for the most part angry over the introduction of caribou into Idaho, Washington and other states. If the caribou are protected at the cost of jobs and monies going to humans, then the animals are not seen as a precious thing, but an intrusive and disruptive element. Jobs,tourism, etc. affected by laws in place to protect caribou. Understandable.

On the other hand...

It's a wait and see situation right now; will the government designate areas for protection of the species or not?

Wolf Brother Killed: OR-7's sibling killed by Idaho "Hunter"

Very sad; the lone wolf that has made its way through Oregon and down into California had a sibling. OR-9, brother of OR-7 or Journey, as he's been named, was shot and killed by an Idaho hunter.

Fish and Game don't call this killing or murder, but "harvesting." Killing and murdering carry obvious meaning, while harvesting implies something good -- a reward, a reaping of a benefit. Interesting use of language. In Idaho, it's legal to kill wolves. The hunter murderer didn't have proper tags but he wasn't cited; according to Fish and Game the "hunter" had erroneous information as to renewal dates.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a kill order for two members of the pack, but a federal judge has blocked it. The Legislature is considering a bill backed by ranchers that would give the state explicit authority to kill the wolves.
The bastard ranchers have lots of money and power, let's hope they don't succeed in this.

Idaho hunter kills brother of lonely Oregon wolf - California State Wire - fresnobee.com

Monday, February 6, 2012

Eating the dog; "She'd Have Done It, Too"

Some people are fucking idiots:Three lost in woods considered eating dog | The mushroom pickers who were found after six nights in the forest stayed in what they described as a “bear’s nest”
GOLD BEACH — Three mushroom pickers lost six nights in the rugged forest of Southwest Oregon with no food considered eating their dog, and they used their dead cell phone and a sheath knife to flash a signal at the helicopter pilot who found them.

Dan Conne said Sunday from his hospital bed in Gold Beach that he and his wife and son spent the nights huddled in a hollow log with nothing to eat, and considered sacrificing their pit bull, Jesse, for food.

“She’s that good a dog, she’d have done it, too,” Conne said
.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Grey

I really dislike rants about books or film where the ranter hasn't read the book or seen the film. But I'm breaking my own rule. Furthermore, I love Liam Neeson. Love him, and I've forgiven him for getting that glazed, empty-eyed plastic surgery job that he got a few years ago. In spite of that awful eye job, he's still dreamy. However, it's impossible to forgive him for starring in a movie like The Grey, which is --  I assume, based on the previews -- basically, Moby Dick. Only on land, and with a wolf and not a whale. No, I haven't seen the movie, and I probably won't, unless it's late and it comes on cable and I think "what the hell..."

I am intrigued by Roger Ebert's review of the film. I respect Ebert, and often agree with him (except with his review of Blue Velvet, though  I might feel differently if I were to see the film again after so many years.) Did Ebert mean the The Grey isn't what we who haven't seen the film and assume it's about big evil meanie wolves killing people isn't that at all? Or that, in spite of the former -- it being exactly that -- there are redeeming qualities? I'm sure the acting and direction are excellent; but in film, like literature and art, that's not enough.

Wolves are not the enemy. Exploiting animals -- using them as allegories for human anxieties and fears, unease and dissatisfactions -- is a tradition in human artistic expression. It's more creative, fun, silly, and interesting, to make up fantastical creatures or frightening monsters, to make up weirdness to scare, creep out, amuse, than it is to feed the greed gene and titillate with supposed horrors from the animal kingdom. 


Astonishing discovery of 'supergiant' crustaceans made off New Zealand

Yewwwwww.... something from a monster sci-fi movie for sure! Astonishing discovery of 'supergiant' crustaceans made off New Zealand.

OR-7: Oregon's Lone Wolf

OR - 7, or Journey, as he's been named, is a wolf that has moved through eastern Oregon and down into California, where he is currently.  Journey's movements are followed by wildlife authorities -- Journey is searching for a mate, it is believed. California has a web page devoted to Journey, and educating the public about wolves.

It's against the law to kill a wolf, at least in California and Oregon. Though there are those in Oregon who are working hard to get that changed, like the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. I literally pray every day that they are utterly unsuccessful. Here's more in an item that appeared in today's local paper, The Register Guard.