By Simon Tomlinson


Race for life: Sunbathers frantically drag a pod of around 30 dolphins back into deeper waters after they became perilously stranded on a Brazilian beach

Dragging them desperately by their tails, this is the dramatic moment beachgoers leapt into the sea to save around 30 dolphins from certain death.

The rescuers had been sunning themselves on the Rio de Janeiro coastline in Brazil when the dolphins appeared out of nowhere and suddenly beached en masse.

Initially stunned, the sunbathers soon realise the impending danger and race into the surf as the mammals let out piercing squeals of distress.

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Minutes from death: The marine mammals suddenly beached en masse on Monday after being pulled to shore by strong currents

Collective effort: Dozens of people dashed into the water as the dolphins let out high-pitched squeals in their distress


As this video shows, they make frantic efforts to grab the animals by the tails to pull them into deeper waters.

And it appears their attempts were successful as all the dolphins were rescued to rapturous cheers from onlookers.

The footage, filmed on Monday by a German tourist, has received more the one million hits on YouTube.

The dolphins were apparently caught in a strong current which meant they were unable to swim to safety.


Shock: The rescuers hjad been sunning themselves no the beach when the dolphins appeared out of nowhere


Pitching in: A man strips down to his swimming costume as he goes to lend a hand. The beachgoers were shocked to find the sudden mass arrival on the shoreline


Success: All the dolphins appeared to survive after being dragged back into the ocean, where they were able to swim off

One viewer, edpati1, said: 'Very good job! Congratulations to all involved! I wish I was there too.'

Rombilly1 added: 'Humanity at it best. Everyone who helped rescue should be very proud of themselves.

'Warmed my soul this morning.there is hope for us yet.'




source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Following your lead: The mother is trailed by her two six-month-old baby cubs

Under the watchful eye of their mother, two adorable cubs have found a bear necessity for life.

The adorable siblings were caught amusing themselves, first through peekaboo, before playing a full-on game of hide and seek.

British biologist Brett Lewis travelled to Finland to take these heart-warming but informative shots in Taiga Forest, Finland.

Standing tall: The cub leans against one tree, left, before, right, reaching for dangling twig

Brett explained: 'The two cubs had become affectionately known as the ʻAsbo Twinsʼ among visitors to the area.

'On this occasion this young bear rose up on his hind legs and through my lens it looked as if he was playing ʻhide-and-seekʼ with his sibling.

'They will often stand on their hind legs to get a better view of what is going on in the distance, especially when there is an unfamiliar bear in the territory.

'This bear also spent time just scratching his back on the same tree.'

I can't see you: One cub covers his eyes, while the other climbs a tree in an attempt to hide


When fully grown brown bears can reach eight-foot in height and weigh up to 800 pounds.

European brown bear are found in parts of Scandinavia, Russia and central Asia.

Despite their alert nature this Finish bear family was not worried about Brett’s presence.

'The bears were totally relaxed since we were in small hides within the wilderness areas.

'When we did come across bears en route to the hides they would just slowly move away without any threat at all.

'We always offered them the distance and respect they deserved, and conducted ourselves in the best way possible when in their environment,' added Brett.

Despite the seemingly light-hearted nature of their stroll, the three-feet tall brown bear cubs will soon be forced to hone their survival skills ahead of their release out in to the wild.

For now tough, they will remain with their 500 pound mother, and as these photos show, they're putting their time to good use.



source:dailymail

Daisy was spotted foraging for scraps 40 MILES from home
She wagged her tail as soon as she saw delighted owners Colin and Margaret Froggatt


By Rob King


When Colin Froggatt heard his beloved springer spaniel Daisy had been found after more than five years, he thought it was nothing more than a shaggy dog story.

But the call he had been waiting so desperately for was true.

Now the pair have been reunited after the missing dog was discovered wandering the streets 40 miles from home.

And Daisy immediately showed that she recognised her owner by wagging her tail.

Reunited: Daisy the English springer spaniel is back at home with owner Colin Froggatt five years after she went missing

Mr Froggatt, 62, and his wife Margaret, 60, feared the worst after Daisy and her brother Flynn ran off while going for a walk in a park in 2007.

They found Flynn nearby but there was no trace of Daisy - until she was seen foraging for scraps on a street in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, two weeks ago.

Daisy had been micro-chipped in case she got lost which meant her owners, from Toton, Nottingham, could be traced.

Mr Froggatt, a retired plumber, said: 'We were over the moon when we got the phone call.

'We were on the way home and got a mobile call from a couple in Doncaster who had found Daisy wandering with another dog.

'We were wondering if it was a hoax at first but when we got back home there was a message from the dog warden.

'After the couple phoned him, he had checked Daisy’s microchip and got in touch with us.

'We phoned the kennels where she had been taken and arranged to collect her the next day.

'Margaret couldn’t stop crying, she was astonished.'

Daisy is already settling in at home and preparing herself for more adventures with Flynn.

Mr Froggatt said: 'When Daisy was back, she was really obedient and really friendly and she got on with Flynn as if nothing had happened.

Roaming: Daisy was found wandering with another dog in Doncaster, South Yorkshire - 40 miles from where she went missing

'After a couple of days they were inseparable again. It was like she had never been away.'

The couple, who have been married for almost 23 years, gave up hope of finding Daisy after she vanished during a walk in April 2007.

Daisy was only a year old then and, because she and Flynn could be lively, the Froggatts would put one of them on a lead and let the other run free for a while.

Mr Froggatt said: 'On that particular day I had Flynn on the lead and Daisy off, but Flynn managed to back out of his collar.

'The both of them just looked at each other as if they were telepathic and did a bee-line for the exit of the park. They just disappeared.

'A couple of hours later we found Flynn but Daisy was nowhere to be seen.

'Every time someone rang with a sighting of her we would go off in the car and look but there was never any sign of her, until the phone call.'

Best behaviour: Daisy, right, has been more obedient since her return and gets on with her brother Flynn, left, as if nothing happened

Mr Froggatt said it was an 'amazing feeling' to have Daisy back.

'She had certainly not been living wild for five years, somebody had been looking after her,' he added.

'I think she was picked up by somebody shortly after she went missing. She is a very pretty dog.

Cosy: Daisy and Flynn were inseparable as puppies, as these pictures, taken before the ran away from their owners, show

'Whether she was sold on or kept, and then ran off again, I don’t know.

'She is very lively so she could have been working on a farm.

'I can’t see how she could get to Doncaster by her own power.

'
Mr and Mrs Froggatt run company Animals at Home, which cares for pets while their owners are on holiday.

Mrs Frogatt, a retired nurse with two children from a previous relationship, said they 'searched everywhere' after Daisy went missing.

'We made up posters, did a door-to-door hunt, went online and even asked the local radio station to ask if anyone had seen her,' she said.

'We thought we would never see her again and just hoped that someone kind had got her and was looking after her.

'It was a very emotional reunion. We took her home feeling as if we had won the lottery.

'We have no real idea about her life up to the time she was found.'

Mrs Froggatt said Daisy was 'truly part of the family once more'.

'Flynn realised that the boss was back but, despite a few moments early on, they get on well now.'



source:dailymail

By Emine Sinmaz


A video of Ratatouille the snowboarding opossum has become an internet sensation with almost 5,000 hits on YouTube in one day.

Ratatouille shot to fame after employees at Liberty Ski Resort in Emmitsburg uploaded a video of the snowboarder showing off his skills.

In the video, the opossum can be seen speeding past other skiers, while occasionally pausing to pose by his snowboard.

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Poser: Ratatouille the snowboarding opossum strikes a pose before he hits the slopes

Spectators take pictures and videos of the opossum as he hits the slopes and flaunts his 2011 to 2012 ski pass, which is registered under the name Ratatouille Bowers.

Ratatouille, who has been described as ‘the world’s greatest snowboarding opossum’, dons a green stripy jumper in the one-minute video which has already attracted a keen following.

Internet users reacted with delight at the hilarious marsupial. One person, who posted under the name extremesnowboardvids, said: ‘That guy’s a better snowboarder than my girlfriend.’

Another, who posted under the name bbcasting, said: ‘Ha ha! Nice. It looks like he's actually carving in a few shots! Little shredder!’

Ratatouille is the second opossum to become an unlikely internet star - a video of Heidi the cross-eyed opossum amassed hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube in January last year.

Sadly, the overweight and sick animal was put down in a zoo in Leipzig, Germany, in September last year to ease her suffering.


Take off: Ratatouille is unleashed on to the slopes of Liberty Mountain Resort


Chilled: Visitors take photos of the opossum as he casually glides by


Aware: Ratatouille takes a moment to look into the camera


No looking back: The opossum turns his back on the camera and carries on snowboarding


Time out: The opossum takes a moment to chill out by his snowboard


Sleepy: Ratatouille yawns after a hard day on the slopes

Watch video here




source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Ever feel your pet is even more human than you are? Judging by the photos posted on internet site animalsthatdopeoplethings, you could well be right...

The iPurr: Kittens love chilling to the sound of the Pussycat Dolls


Peaches on the beach: They can take me walkies anytime


Is that you Bernard? They do say owners grow to look like their dogs



Feeling ruff? After a heavy night, nothing beats the hair of the dog


Cool Paw Luke: It's hard play poke if they dealing you hands


The Three Pedigrees: Not just champions, we're the Supremes


A canine online: Google? I thought they said Poodle



It's Snoop Dogg: I'm great at scratching


Pizza mutt: I definitely had one too man slices of the Margherita


Cat apps: Now which one let me order a fish supper?



Feline fed-up: Sometimes there's no pleasing Puss



source:dailymail

By Damien Gayle


This chilled out chimp doesn't give a monkey's what anyone thinks as he soaks up the sunshine in a Chinese zoo.

Lying on the ground with his legs crossed and a hand behind his head, his pose shows just how similar humans are to our closest cousins in the animal kingdom.

Normally found in the forests of West and Central Africa, chimpanzees have been found to share about 94 per cent of their DNA with humans.


Not going ape: This chilled out chimp doesn't seem to have the inclination to put on a performance for visitors to the zoo in Shijiazhuang, China, where he lives

They are notorious for their aggression, but are famously clever and have been observed to behave altruistically and even spiritually.

In the wild, they use tools - including spears, even - for hunting, dance rain dances, and appear to show appreciation for natural beauty such as sunsets over a lake.

This simian was seen slouching in his pen at a zoo in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.

He looks relaxed, but his face seems to betray a sense of melancholy. Perhaps, so far away from his native forests, he is simply missing home.


source:dailymail

By Anthony Bond


They are known for being one of the world's most feared predators.

But as this picture shows, great white sharks do not always get things right when moving in for the kill.

A shocked group of tourists in False Bay, South Africa, were left amazed when they saw this 12ft shark emerge from the water to catch a seal.


Incredible: Tourists in False Bay, South Africa, were left amazed when they saw this 12ft shark emerge from the water to catch a seal. But despite being one of the world's most feared predators, it badly misjudged its attack

But rather than carrying out a swift kill, the shark slightly misjudged its attack which resulted in the poor seal being finely balanced on the nose of the predator.

The amazing scene was captured by South African wildlife photographer Chris Fallows near Seal Island, which is home to an estimated 64,000 seals and a group of great white sharks which hunt them.

A group of tourists with the photographer were left stunned by what they saw.

Mr Fallows said: 'The guests aboard the boat were speechless with some guests even crying after the dramatic spectacle they had witnessed.'

After balancing on the nose of the shark, the seal swiftly dove back under water.

Unfortunately the shark gave chase and it is not known if the seal escaped with its life.

The largest great white sharks are known to exceed 20 ft in length and can have a life span of more than 30 years.

As well as seals, they are also known to prey upon a variety of other marine animals including fish and seabirds.



source:dailymail

By Rob King


Anyone could be forgiven for shying away from the camera when they are old and wrinkly.

But when this adult bulldog saw a young puppy being photographed, it decided to get in on the action.

Posing like top fashion models, these cute and cuddly canines are showing their playful sides for the camera.

Mind if I rest here? An adult bulldog leans on a puppy in this adorable photograph

Some ride skateboards, others are bashful, but all are showing off the quirkiness that make them perfect for American photographer Lennette Newell, 52.

Using 19 different breeds to capture the characters that all dog owners recognise and love, she wanted the personality of each pooch to shine.

Embrace: The two dogs kiss and make up to show there are no hard feelings

The photographer, originally from San Francisco, California, said: 'Many of these dog images have been selected from commercial shoots, because they are in between moments and that is a special emotion.

'I love many of the out-takes from these type of shoots as they clearly are comical, fun loving & real expressions.

'These images are about exploring not only the inner beauty they offer up every day with their unconditional love.


Rude or thirsty? A Jack Russell Terrier looks into the camera while sticking its tongue out

Staring contest: A boxer dog, left, gazes at a tiny chick and a Jersey retriever puppy, right, looks straight at the lens, ready to pounce

'I find myself often marvelling at their shapes, textures, with or without fur.'

Working out of the Smashbox studio in Los Angeles, Ms Newell photographed the dogs during breaks for her commercial work for fashion and commercial magazines.

'These dogs are from personal friends and animal talent agencies in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area,' she said.


Adorable: Two gorgeous puppies show how cute they can be, one with its paw around the other

Mixed emotions: These three pictures appear to show dogs contemplating, left, singing, centre, and dreaming, right

'They bring you an emotion like laughter and they make you see something in a dog that you might not have noticed before walking down the street.

'The pictures are all about forming a connection with dog, discovering something visual that touches you about a dog, be that an Afghan hound or a beagle.'

Of all her adorable models, the photographer most taken by Geez, a slobbering Boston terrier.

Slobber: Geez the Boston Terrier was photographer Lennette Newell's favourite model

'I love Geez and his expression,' she said.

'He is all over the place and looks so comfortable.

'I think dogs react to people and once we are comfortable they are and that is reflected in the pictures.'


Showtime: One dog does a dance for the camera, left, while a chocolate labrador opens wide for a treat


Happy: An Afghan hound looks delighted as it stretches out while being photographed


Getting around: One dog poses on a skateboard, left, while another is happier simply running



source:dailymail

By Lyle Brennan


It was a long way down for little Violet when the branch holding her dray was cut down.

She hurt her leg and was separated from her mother when she fell from the tree - and she is not even three weeks old.

But the tiny grey squirrel is now in safe hands.

She's been in the wars: Baby Violet with a bandage on her leg at Wildlife Aid, Leatherhead, Surrey

She plunged to the ground when the branch was hacked off, but fortunately the quick-thinking couple cutting down the tree immediately phoned the Wildlife Aid Foundation for advice.

The foundation, based in Leatherhead, Surrey, took her in and have been feeding her a special milk formula similar to what her mother would have provided.

The squirrel was named by the foundation’s vets after the colour of the bandage she’s now wearing to protect her injured leg.


Surrogates: Rescuers have been feeding her a milk formula similar to what her mother would have provided

Ordeal: Violet was injured when the branch holding her dray was cut down

Lucy Kells, hospital manager at Wildlife Aid, said: 'Violet is a little fighter and is coping very well - I’m really hopeful she will be fine.

'We have such dedicated volunteers at the foundation who are all working hard to get her on the mend.

'We hope we can release her back into the wild in about 16 to 20 weeks' time.

Cradled: Violet's brother, called Fred, is also being cared for by volunteers

'It’s really sad because we have also taken in Violet’s brother, Fred, who was separated from his mother as well.

'People need to make sure they check their trees for squirrels before going ahead and cutting them down.”



source:dailymail