The bee’s knees? Chinese contestants cover themselves in insects for ‘bee bearding’ competition

By BY DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Daredevil: Beekeeper Wang Dalin, 42, stands with bees covering his body on a weighing scale during a 'bee-bearding' competition.


Chinese farmer Wang Dalin will certainly 'bee' happy after winning this incredible competition.

The 42-year-old beekeeper was competing in a daring 'bee bearding' contest in Shaoyang, Hunan Province of China, against 20-year-old farmer Lv Kongjiang.

The pair competed by standing on a scale wearing only a pair of shorts.

They then used queen bees to attract other bees onto their bodies.

Fearless: Wang Dalin shortly before the bees completely covered his body


Mr Dalin was crowned the winner after attracting 26.86kg of bees onto his body in 60 minutes, according to local newspaper reports.

Mr Kongjiang managed to attract a slightly lower 22.9 kg.


Second place: Lv Kongjiang waves at onlookers watching the 'bee bearding' contest


The event attracted a large crowd of fascinated onlookers.

However, unlike the competitors, many of them took the more sensible option of wearing protective clothing.


Support: Crowds watch as bees cover Wang Dalin

source: dailymail

Save my lion! Desperate plea from woman who is looking after paralysed Ariel in her living room

By LEE MORAN

Caring: Ariel's owner Raquel Borges launched the Facebook campaign to raise money to care for her paralysed lion


Stretched across a mattress, Ariel the lion dozes as four people gently clean and massage his body.

Under usual circumstances his carers would be at risk of a serious mauling from the 140kg beast.

But three-year-old Ariel is no ordinary animal - because just over a year ago he was struck down by a debilitating virus which paralysed all four of his legs.


Routine: Vet Livia Pereira has taken Ariel into her home so she can care for him full-time


An internet campaign has now been launched by his owner Raquel Borges and vet Livia Pereira to raise the $11,500 needed each month to pay for his treatment.

A staggering 35,000 people have already clicked the 'like' button on Ariel's Facebook page and sent in donations to help fund his daily caring routine.

Pereira said: 'When the Facebook campaign began in May, we had less than five followers, because it was designed to inform people of Ariel's case not to ask for help.


Kindness: Vet Livia Pereira snuggles in to paralysed lion Ariel


'But then we started asking for donations and the number of people following Ariel's case soared.'

Pereira, who cares for Ariel at her home, said that for unknown reasons his white blood cells were attacking his healthy cells due to a degenerative disease affecting his medulla.

This is a portion of the brainstem involved in motor functions.


Passed out: Ariel lies on a mattress, propped up by packets of toilet rolls


She believed Ariel's symptoms were similar to those of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and Guillain-Barre syndrome - an autoimmune disorder that can cause paralysis.

A team of Israeli veterinary neurologists from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who tested Ariel to see what degenerative disease was involved, will publish their results later this month.

Their trip to Brazil was paid for by Graziela Barrette, a Brazilian model living in New York, who had been moved after hearing of Ariel's plight.

Ariel was born in the shelter that Borges and her husband run in the southern city of Maringa, where they care for sick or abandoned animals.

She said: 'He was a perfectly normal and docile lion that slept with me until he was 10-months-old.'



Loving: Vet Livia Pereira kisses paralysed lion Ariel who has lost the use of his legs


But last year, after spending hours leaping and chasing balloons, Ariel started limping. 'I could tell he was in pain,' she added.

Days later he was unable to move his two hind legs and after surgery to remove a herniated disc he lost control of his front legs.




source :dailymail

The orangu-twins! Dozy pair are tired of the attention after rare feat of birth in capitivity

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Handful: The first Bornean orangutans twins ever to be born in captivity at Hong Kong's Zoological and Botanical Gardens


This pigeon pair of Bornean orangutans look too tired to be worried about the excitement, but their birth could be good news for conservation efforts.

The twins were born in the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens last Friday, with the male baby weighing 2 kg and the female about 1.4 kg.

This is the first-ever successful breeding of Bornean orangutan twins in Hong Kong, bringing to five the total number of this primate in the Zoo.


Wide-eyed: The male orangutan, right, and his sister were born to father Vandu and mother Raba on July 8, 2011


Born in the morning of last Friday, the twins are the two little darlings of Vandu and Raba, the adorable and popular stars of the gardens.

They are both in good health and are being well taken care of by the veterinarian and staff of the HKZBG.

The baby twins have yet to be named. They are still adapting to their new life in the gardens before they will meet with visitors.


Feeding time: Zoo staff make sure the baby orangutans get a good breakfast


The twins' father, the 16-year-old Vandu, was transferred from a zoo in Hungary to Hong Kong in January last year through a conservation breeding program.

Mother Raba, now 15 years of age, was born in the zoo in 1996.

The Bornean orangutan is an endangered primate. With its huge body and lovely appearance, it has always been the most popular animal in the zoo.


Mum: Raba, mother of the Bornean orangutans twins


Big daddy: Vandu, the impressive father of the Bornean orangutans twins born Hong Kong Zoo

source: dailymail

The real Deputy Dawg: Mayor makes Miniature Schnauzer pet her second in command complete with robes and cravat

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Right hand man: An animal loving mayor Joan Holmes has appointed her pet pooch as the deputy dog


Residents will no doubt be delighted to learn that their newest council official has a reputation for working like a dog.

But unfortunately that's not because of her love of hard graft - rather the mayor has appointed her pet dog as her deputy.

Joan Holmes, 62, was elected mayor in Brentwood, Essex, and nominated her eight-year-old Miniature Schnauzer Abi to be her official consort on official visits and trips - complete with her own miniature robes.


Deputy Dawg was a cartoon character on the animated TV series, by the same name, in the 1960s


The fluffy grey pooch is taking her new role very seriously and wears a miniature version of her owner's red-fur trimmed ceremonial robes and a tiny white lacey cravat.

Ms Holmes said: ‘She seems to like her mayor's outfit, and it really suits her.

‘It takes a while to realise that people do think the role of mayor is important, and Abi will hopefully be treated the same way in her new role.

‘She's very sociable, like me, she loves her food, like me, and when the day is over she likes nothing more than putting her feet up.



Animal lover: Joan Holmes, 62, was elected mayor in Brentwood, Essex, alongside her pooch


‘I don't, however chase squirrels,’ she joked.

Conventionally the Mayor will appoint their husband, wife, a relative or a close friend as their consort for official engagements but Ms Holmes intends to take her ‘deputy dawg’ on as many official visits as possible - especially to schools.

She said: ‘She loves children and they love her. She loves having her tummy tickled and makes a fuss of people.’

source: dailymail

Sleeping with the fishes: Alaskan bear nods off in river after catching salmon

By LEE MORAN

Dozy bear: Rick Sheremeta snapped Yolanda falling asleep after she had caught a salmon


It's usually a case of 'You Snooze, You Lose' - but not for this brown bear who managed to grab 40 winks after landing a salmon.

Yolanda, as she has been named, could bear-ly keep her eyes open when she was snapped by wildlife photographer Rick Sheremeta.

This incredible picture shows her nodding off in a river, unchallenged by other bears, while still clutching her tasty snack.

Sheremeta had spent four days watching brown coastal bears at McNeil River Falls, on the Alaskan Peninsula, 290 miles south west of Anchorage.

He said: 'Yolanda was particularly interesting to watch. Not only was she fairly high up the bear pecking order, allowing her unchallenged access to her favourite spot, she was an excellent fisherwomen snatching fish time after time.'

'She would snare a large fish and walk it into the shallows where she would sit and consume it at her leisure. '


Snapped: Rick Sheremeta spent four days watching brown coastal bears at McNeil River Falls, on the Alaskan Peninsula, 290 miles south west of Anchorage


He added: 'She did this time and time again but we never saw her leave the water to take a nap break like all the other bears routinely did.

'I guess all this frantic activity finally got the best of her. She finally wandered into the calm pool just as she had done numerous times before, sat down, cradled her catch under her arm and promptly nodded off.

'Unfortunately, her nap was fairly short lived since her little slumber pad also happened to be an active byway for other bears travelling to and from the River.


That woke him: Tempers get out of control at times as these large bears vie for the best Salmon fishing spots


'After a few moments of blissful slumber she was rudely awakened by other some other denizen splashing through the water.

'Even though the scene was short-lived, it was a once in a million moment that I was lucky enough to document and capture with my camera.'

source: dailymail

Now that’s a holiday snap and a half! Giant crocodile gives tourists a shock as he leaps from water

By RICHARD SHEARS

Snap! This monster crocodile sent tourists rearing back as it soared out of the water in Australia to grab a chunk of meat offered on a stick by a ranger


This monster crocodile soared out of the water in northern Australia to grab a chunk of meat offered on a stick by a ranger.

Tourists on the boat, cruising along the Adelaide River near Darwin, reared back as the giant 80-year-old crocodile suddenly leaped up to grab the titbit.

Feeding the crocs is a daily tourist attraction but usually they're much smaller than this 18ft fellow, nicknamed Brutus by rangers who have been aware of his presence over the years.


The picture was taken by Katrina Bridgeford, a photographer with the Northern Territory News, who was on the cruise with sons Jordan, 14, and Dylan, 11.

She recalled that when Dylan saw the massive creature rise out of the water he had only two words to utter - 'Holy crap!'

Brutus is missing his front leg following what is believed to have been a confrontation with a shark in the river's estuary - leaving many people to wonder just how big the shark was.

'When it came up out of the water there were a lot of "Oos" and "Ahs",' said Miss Bridgeford.

'I wasn't expecting anything like this. I couldn't believe how close it got to us.

'If you had put your hand out you would have been able to touch it - if you'd dared.'


source: dailymail

Get out of my way! The bulls of Pamplona go running… over the backs of revellers

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Ouch! Revellers crouch for cover as a bull jumps over them to get into the arena


Thousands of thrill-seekers dashed ahead of six fighting bulls in the streets of the northern Spanish city of Pamplona today in the first running of the bulls in this year's San Fermin festival.

Miraculously no one was gored, but one person was hospitalized after falling in the sprint, said Spanish Red Cross spokesman Jose Aldaba. In all, four people needed treatment by medical staff.

The bulls, from the Torrestrella farm, accompanied by six guiding steers charged down the 849 metre course from a pen to the city's bull ring in two minutes and 30 exhilarating seconds.


That's got to hurt! A 'mozo' or runner is painfully flipped over when a young bull catches him with a horn between the legs


Runners, wearing traditional white clothing and red handkerchiefs around their necks, tripped over each other or fell in the mad rush but avoided getting caught out by the charging bulls.

There were some unexpected moments as one of the steers separated from the pack and charged back towards the starting gate, sending runners scattering after they thought their dash was over.

Another steer stopped and laid down on the pavement near the end before eventually being guided into bullring, where the six bulls will take part in the afternoon's bullfight.



Stampede: The fighting bulls charge round a corner on their way to the ring as the runners try to keep up


Hoofed: a reveller winces as he is trampled after falling on the street


'The truth is there were very few people for the first running, so it was quite comfortable,' said 20-year-old Julen Iruzun, who was taking part in his third 'encierro,' the Spanish term for the run.

'That must be one odd steer' Iruzun said about the wandering one, 'but these things happen.'

The runs take place each morning at 8 a.m. and are televised across Spain.

People come from all over the world to test their bravery and enjoy the festival's nonstop street parties which last until July 14.

The festival was immortalized by author Ernest Hemingway in his 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises'.


Taking it easy: Runners are forced to wait while a cow that took a tumble on the cobbled street gets to its feet. Right, locals cheer from their balconies as the the bull run rushes past on the way to the town arena


Steer crazy: The angry animals rampage down the street as festival goers, dressed in traditional red and white, urge them on


A sangria-soaked runner is pressed up against a wall by a bad-tempered bull


At the end of each run, that last around two and a half minutes, the animals are led into the city's bullring


Spain bull running festival gets underway


source: dailymail

Get out of my way! The bulls of Pamplona go running… over the backs of revellers

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Ouch! Revellers crouch for cover as a bull jumps over them to get into the arena


Thousands of thrill-seekers dashed ahead of six fighting bulls in the streets of the northern Spanish city of Pamplona today in the first running of the bulls in this year's San Fermin festival.

Miraculously no one was gored, but one person was hospitalized after falling in the sprint, said Spanish Red Cross spokesman Jose Aldaba. In all, four people needed treatment by medical staff.

The bulls, from the Torrestrella farm, accompanied by six guiding steers charged down the 849 metre course from a pen to the city's bull ring in two minutes and 30 exhilarating seconds.


That's got to hurt! A 'mozo' or runner is painfully flipped over when a young bull catches him with a horn between the legs


Runners, wearing traditional white clothing and red handkerchiefs around their necks, tripped over each other or fell in the mad rush but avoided getting caught out by the charging bulls.

There were some unexpected moments as one of the steers separated from the pack and charged back towards the starting gate, sending runners scattering after they thought their dash was over.

Another steer stopped and laid down on the pavement near the end before eventually being guided into bullring, where the six bulls will take part in the afternoon's bullfight.



Stampede: The fighting bulls charge round a corner on their way to the ring as the runners try to keep up


Hoofed: a reveller winces as he is trampled after falling on the street


'The truth is there were very few people for the first running, so it was quite comfortable,' said 20-year-old Julen Iruzun, who was taking part in his third 'encierro,' the Spanish term for the run.

'That must be one odd steer' Iruzun said about the wandering one, 'but these things happen.'

The runs take place each morning at 8 a.m. and are televised across Spain.

People come from all over the world to test their bravery and enjoy the festival's nonstop street parties which last until July 14.

The festival was immortalized by author Ernest Hemingway in his 1926 novel 'The Sun Also Rises'.


Taking it easy: Runners are forced to wait while a cow that took a tumble on the cobbled street gets to its feet. Right, locals cheer from their balconies as the the bull run rushes past on the way to the town arena


Steer crazy: The angry animals rampage down the street as festival goers, dressed in traditional red and white, urge them on


A sangria-soaked runner is pressed up against a wall by a bad-tempered bull


At the end of each run, that last around two and a half minutes, the animals are led into the city's bullring


Spain bull running festival gets underway


source: dailymail

Totally conkers! Amazing squirrel acrobatics show there is more than one way to crack a nut

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Natural acrobats: Squirrels have the ability to pull off amazing stunts with minimal effort


They are the natural acrobats of the animal kingdom and have the ability to pull off amazing stunts with minimal effort.

But as these extraordinary images show Britain's barmy squirrels show no signs of slowing down.

The amazing acrobatic antics, which show the lengths squirrels will go to in a bid to nab their nuts, were captured on camera by professional wildlife photographer, Brian Bevan.

The set, taken last Autumn near Brian's house in Bedfordshire, includes a unique shot of one of Britain's iconic grey squirrels jumping over the camera.


Mirror image: The images show the lengths squirrels will go to in a bid to nab their nuts


There are also images of the agile rodents flying impressively through the air and balancing tentatively on branches.

Brian, who is also an art teacher, started photographing wildlife when he inherited his first camera from his grandfather more than 50 years ago.

The 61-year-old said he was inspired to do the shoot as a way of showing grey squirrels, which are often considered to be nuisance, in a different light.

He said: 'I absolutely love wildlife but we've all seen pictures of squirrels just sitting around time and time again and I wanted to do something different.

'I was trying to capture a moment frozen in time, which people don't normally get to see and hopefully I've managed that.


Leap of faith: Brian Bevan started photographing wildlife when he inherited his first camera from his grandfather more than 50 years ago


'It takes patience but it wasn't really difficult getting the pictures because squirrels are much more co-operative when they have something to do.

'Autumn is the ideal time to do this sort of thing because they are busying collecting and burying nuts so they are very active which potentially makes for great photographs.'


Jump around: Mr Bevan said he was inspired to do the shoot as a way of showing grey squirrels, which are often considered to be nuisance, in a different light


Hanging out: A grey squirrel hangs from a branch as he reaches to pick up a nut

source: dailymail

'Luk Chai', the calf of two Bangkok street elephants

'Luk Chai', the calf of two Bangkok street elephants which arrived from Thailand in 2006, kicks a giant soccer ball during his second birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on July 4, 2011. The 830kg infant was the first Asian elephant to be born in Australia and is considered to be a milestone in the zoo's Asian Elephant Conservation Program.



Taronga Zoo's elephant calf Luk Chai and keeper Bobby-Joe Clow take a rest from birthday celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Monday, July 4, 2011. Luk Chai, the first elephant ever born at the zoo, celebrated his second birthday on Monday with the rest of the zoo's Thai elephant clan eating fruity ice treats and playing soccer.



Bangkok street elephant 'Thong Dee', who arrived from Thailand in 2006, eats a cardboard box which contained hay during her calf's second birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on July 4, 2011. The 830kg infant 'Luk Chai' was the first Asian elephant to be born in Australia and is considered to be a milestone in the zoo's Asian Elephant Conservation Program.



Bangkok street elephants 'Thong Dee' (L) and 'Pak Boon' (R), who arrived from Thailand in 2006, look on during birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on July 4, 2011. The 830kg infant 'Luk Chai' was the first Asian elephant to be born in Australia and is considered to be a milestone in the zoo's Asian Elephant Conservation Program.



'Luk Chai' (L) and sibling 'Pathi Harn' (R), calves from two Bangkok street elephants which arrived from Thailand in 2006, are directed to carry a log by handler Bobby-Jo Clow (C) during Luk Chai's second birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on July 4, 2011. The 830kg infant was the first Asian elephant to be born in Australia and is considered to be a milestone in the zoo's Asian Elephant Conservation Program.



'Luk Chai' (L) and his mother 'Thong Dee' (R) arrive for Luk Chai's second birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on July 4, 2011. The 830kg infant was the first Asian elephant to be born in Australia and is considered to be a milestone in the zoo's Asian Elephant Conservation Program.


source: daylife
photo: Gettyimages

The blue tit gymnast: Mum watches in amazement as bird on a wire gets in a spin on the washing line

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER


Hang in there: This chick gets in a spin as it dangles upside down from the washing line


For birds on a wire, this family of blue tits looked more like they were gearing up for the Olympics than preparing to feast in someone's back garden.

It might only be a few weeks old, but this chick took its feeding time to daring new heights as it perched on a washing line with its mother and sibling.

As its mother looked on, the chick clung on to the wire with its claws and swung itself around - showing off a gymnastic

These amazing pictures were taken by bird lover Judith Wakelam, from Worlington in Suffolk, who has been watching the blue tit chicks in her garden since they fledged three weeks ago.

Miss Wakelam, a civil servant, said: 'A blue tit family had just fledged in my garden and several of them tried to perch on my linen line, this little one was a bit of a show off. I was standing at the kitchen door with a camera. It was funny to watch.'

Several birds visit the wildlife lover's garden daily, including Black birds, Hedge Sparrows, Goldfinches an many more.



Olympic hopeful: The chick seems unfazed by its acrobatic move - but could its mother be getting a little concerned?


She added: 'I am a great bird and wildlife lover. I have got several nest boxes and feeders in my garden.

'It is my main past time outside of work. I am a great wildlife watcher. It gives me hours of pleasure.'

She has been feeding the birds during the recent drought as they struggled to find their own food.

Miss Wakelam added: 'It is better now because we have had the rain but we had an awful drought. Blackbirds could not get any worms because the ground was too hard. A lot of birds had a hard time because of the ground being so hard.'



Chin up: The chick continues to flex its gymnastic prowess while the rest of the family looks on unimpressed


Grahame Madge, an RSPB spokesman, said: 'Even though these blue tit chicks have only been out of the nest for a few days, they have to sharpen their hunting skills if they are to make it to adulthood.

'Blue tits use their notorious acrobatic ability to find insects in the outermost tips of branches and leaves.

'Watched by an adult and a sibling this youngster is acquiring the skills to be a survivor, even if it's only on a washing line.'


source: dailymail