The mouse that tweets like a bird: Japanese scientists create genetically-modified animal

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER A mouse genetically engineered to tweet like a bird has been created in JapanJapanese scientists have produced a genetically-engineered mouse that tweets like a bird, it was revealed today.A team of researchers at the University of Osaka are breeding genetically modified mice that are prone to miscopying DNA and are more likely to develop mutations.The 'tweeting' mouse was created as part of the team's ‘Evolved Mouse Project. They hope it will shed new light on how languages evolve. ‘Mutations are the driving force of evolution. We have cross-bred the genetically modified mice for generations to see what would happen,’ lead researcher Arikuni Uchimura said.‘We checked the newly born mice one by one... One day we found a mouse that was singing like a bird,’ he told AFP.He...

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Pregnant young woman suffers horrific injuries as leopard attacks her in middle of bustling city

By TOM GARDNER Caged: The fully grown leopard is now kept safely at Assam state Zoo following capture after it had mauled two people in Lalunggaon in Lakhara area of Guwahati.A pregnant woman suffered serious injuries after being badly mauled by a leopard in India - the third such attack there in as many weeks.The big cat clamped its jaws around Akila Bibi's head and arms, leaving her with deep wounds to her scalp, after it when it strayed into the largest city the country's north-east Assam state.The woman, who is in her early twenties, is currently recovering in hospital. Her unborn child, due in three months, was unharmed by the ordeal. Savaged: Akila Bibi, who is in her 20s, is being treated for serious injuries after being attacked by a leopard in GuwahatiHer husband, labourer Abid...

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Tutan-CAT-mun: 18th Century mummified kitty falls out of ceiling as house is being renovated

By DAVID BAKER Petrified: George Hartley and the mummified cat found in an 18th century home during renovationsBringing old homes up to scratch is nothing out of the ordinary for property renovators Andrew and George Hartley,But this professional couple nearly jumped out their skin when greeted by their most recent form of preservation - as a mummified cat fell on them.The couple got a face full of the ancient feline as they removed ceilings from an 18th century property in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. Mummified: Much like the Hartley's discovery, workers at Woburn Abbey were shocked to discover this mummified cat, believed to have been buried to protect the AbbeyMr Hartley was removing plasterwork and ceilings, to assess what work was needed, when the strange discovery fell from within...

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What's up doc? Meet the tubby bunny that guzzles BANANAS

By NINA GOLGOWSKI Bunny hug: The giant white rabbit lies back in its owner's arms in the YouTube video while munching a banana Carrots are a more usual treat for a rabbit, but this oversized bunny clearly prefers bananas. A YouTube video captures the enormous white rabbit cradled in its owner's arms while greedily munching an equally large banana.At times a nibbling and smacking sound can be heard - along with the cameraman's muffled laughter - as the New Zealand White nibbles away happily. Going bananas: Smacking and munching sounds can be heard on the video as the New Zealand White rabbit tucks inThe woman cradling the rabbit speaks to the cameraman in what appears to be Slovenian and holds the peeled banana for her pet. After about a minute's guzzling, the giant rabbit squirms out of her...

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Who's apeing who? The incredible images that show us jus

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Me? Bored? What gives you that idea? The look in his eyes says it all and how like a human this little fella is as he takes it easy in his home habitat of The CongoIt's been proven that humans are 97 per cent similar to our primate cousins .. but these amazing photographs seem to underline that statistic.British wildlife photographers Anup Shah and Fiona Rogers captured the intriguing portraits while on assignment in Borneo and Indonesia.And the lighthearted collection, which captures the likes of chimpanzees, orangutans, baboons and bonobos in the wild, shows that it's not just use humans who like to monkey around. I feel a little .. sleepy: Bornean Orangutan Petra looks just like a tired baby underlining our similarities with primatesThe photographers have spent...

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There's something p-p-peculiar about him: Rare white penguin spotted in Antarctica

By DANIEL MILLER This rare all-white Chinstrap penguin stands out against his friends as he takes his morning waddle around Antarctica This rare all-white Chinstrap penguin stands out against his friends as he takes his morning waddle around Antarctica.The unusual bird was photographed by naturalist David Stephens during a nature expedition to the Aitcho Islands.Chinstrap penguins' normal black-and-white colouring provides them with camouflage while they dive for fish. All white: The penguin was spotted during a nature expedition to Antarctica Rare: The condition known as leucism only occurs in around 1 in 146,000 penguinsThe condition which causes the whiteness is known as leucism. It differs from albinism which is a total lack of skin pigment.Mr Stephen, who works aboard Lindblad Expeditions'...

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Man's best friend for 30,000 years: Canine skulls discovered in two separate digs reveals historic relationship

-Teeth and jaws show animal was domesticated-One of the oldest domesticated dogs ever found-Hints that man may have domesticated dogs in several places - all dogs aren't evolved from one ancestorBy ROB WAUGH The Altai skull was particularly well preserved, and allowed researchers to measure its teeth, jaws and snout for evidence it was domesticatedDogs have been a loyal companion to mankind for more than 30,000 years, findings reveal. Scientists believe that two 33,000-year-old skulls unearthed in digs in Siberia and Belgium show dogs were domesticated long before any other animal, such as sheep, cows or goats.Researchers from the University of Arizona said the skulls had shorter snouts and wider jaws than undomesticated animals such as wolves, which use their longer snouts and narrower jaws...

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Give us a kiss: Monkey mama plants a smacker on the lips of the orangutan baby that's becoming a star

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Mummy's boy: Orangutan baby Chang kisses his mother 'Lea' at the zoo in Krefeld, GermanyThis little swinger proves he's not too old to give his mother a great big kiss.Adorable one-year-old orangutan Changi was only too happy to take a break from playtime to plant a tender smacker on doting mother Lea.But then it was back to business as usual - aping around his enclosure at Krefeld Zoo in western Germany.Changi, who loves performing to the crowds, was born in 2010 and has quickly become one of the zoo's star attractions. Time for a cuddle: Curious Changi takes a long hard look at the cameraman as he snuggles up to the warmth of his mother's coat Just hanging out: The one-year-old ape shows off some of his gymnastic skills Looking good: Changi was born in July 2010...

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Pipsqueak's big adventure! Pet hamster dragged through catflap by predatory puss is found hiding 100 yards away... in pest controller's home!

By EMMA REYNOLDS Rodent's return: Delighted Callum Chalkley, eight, is reunited with his pet hamster PipsqueakWhen a family's pet hamster went missing and they found his cage ripped open by a cat, they feared the worst. But adventurous Pipsqueak had escaped the clutches of the predatory puss and run down the street to find refuge.The Chalkleys were amazed when the brave furball turned up in the most unlikely of hideouts - a pest controller's garage.Eight-year-old owner Callum had given up hope of seeing his hamster again when he went missing from the family home in Clifton, Herts.But the Siberian hamster, had wriggled free from his feline abductor's claws and raced down the main road, dodging traffic and the dangerous presence of six more cats and a dog. Callum said: 'A cat got Pipsqueak...

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Millions of untrained pet dogs showing signs of aggression warns PDSA as youngster is mauled by bull terrier

By NICHOLA JONES The PDSA found dogs with behavioural problems were biting, snarling and growling at humans and other animals on a weekly basisA million dogs in the UK display signs of aggression towards people because of a lack of basic training, a leading veterinary charity warned last night.The worrying conclusion from a survey by the PDSA comes after a six-year-old girl was mauled on Saturday in a park in Chingford, Essex.Gary Hindley, 56, from Chingford, yesterday admitted allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control and causing injury. Attack: A six-year-old girl has been left scarred for life after she was bitten by a dog at this park in Chingford, Essex The PDSA surveyed 11,000 dog owners and found 87 per cent believe there should be tougher penalties if pets attack a person or...

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A real sting operation: Heritage bosses plan to use bee hives to protect ancient buildings from vandals

By NICK ENOCH The team at Greenfield Valley Heritage Park in Flintshire, North Wales, intend to use hives filled with 'security bees' to scare off would-be vandalsHeritage bosses have unveiled their new weapon in the battle against vandals - swarms of honey bees. Conservation chiefs at Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, in Flintshire, North Wales, are planning the sting operation to deter yobs who repeatedly vandalise their ancient buildings.The park houses a collection of original and reconstructed local buildings - including mills and factories from the 18th century.And if the plans are approved, hives will be filled with 'security bees' to scare off the would-be raiders.Chris Wright, manager of the park, said: 'The idea to use bees seems sensible. The heritage park houses a collection of...

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The ultimate cat scan! 'My kitten alerted me to my cancer because she kept jumping on my breast'

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Talented: Fidge's owner is convinced she sniffed out her cancerA woman claims her pet cat saved her life - by alerting her to her breast cancer when she was just a whisker from death.Wendy Humphreys, 52, was bemused when her black-and-white kitten Fidge leapt up and sat on her right breast every night for two weeks while she lay on the sofa.She went to her GP and was told she had a cancerous pea-sized lump in her breast - which would have killed her if left undiagnosed. Life-saver: Wendy Humphreys of Wroughton with her cat Fidge who she said detected her breast cancer The brave mother-of-two is now set to have the breast removed after undergoing chemotherapy and says she owes her life to her 10-month-old kitten.Wendy said: 'I just couldn't believe it because I didn't...

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He's no scaredy-cat! Angry feline who took on an alligator

By MIKE O'BRIEN Menacing: The cat and the alligator faceoff over a pile of tasty chicken at a wildlife park in New OrleansIt looks like a good way for this cat to become a tasty snack.But when the bold feline decided to take on an alligator in New Orleans, he came out remarkably intact. He chose to take on the reptile at an wildlife park just as it was trying to eat some chicken, and began raining blows on its snout. Growl: The gator flashes its bone-crushing jaws but the cat remains gloriously unimpressedTourists on a Cajun Pride Swamp Tour, looked on stunned as the moggy took offence to an alligator trying to eat some chicken.It begins with the cat firing off three right jabs before the gator steps back to flash its most menacing stare down ever.After the tense face off, the gator moves...

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We'll never forget you: Elephants say a sad farewell to baby who died of a heart defect

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER Goodbye little one: An adult elephant tenderly nuzzles the lifeless body of baby Lola at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich, Germany. The three-months-old calf was due for an operation on her defective heart but sadly died during a preliminary scanA herd of grieving elephants gathers round the lifeless body of a little calf after she died of a heart defect. Three-month-old Lola was due to receive groundbreaking surgery for her condition but passed away during a preliminary scan.Keepers at Munich's Hellabrunn Zoo decided to return her body to the enclosure so mother Panang, 22, could say her goodbyes in peace. Afterwards the rest of the herd gently nuzzled Lola's body with their trunks before taking their leave of her. Zoo director and veterinarian Dr Andreas Knieriem explained...

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Who's baarmy idea was that? Keepers dye sheep pink (but luckily they're practically colour blind so don't mind too much!)

By JILL REILLY Pink and proud: Park bosses originally dyed the animals as part of breast cancer awareness week, but they proved to be such a hit with visitors, that they decided to keep them as a permanent featureParents should prepare for some tricky questions from their confused children if they head to a a New Zealand nature park and find this flock of pink wooly mammals grazing on the hills.The extraordinary sight is causing a sensation at SheepWorld, near Auckland. Park bosses originally dyed the animals as part of breast cancer awareness week, but it proved to be such a hit with visitors that they decided to keep them as a permanent feature. Mother and baby alike: They are dyed with harmless food colouring and the dye washes out in the rainOnly five sheep are coloured at one time...

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Father watches in horror as daughter, 10, is grabbed and eaten by crocodile

By DAVID BAKER Horror: A saltwater crocodile snatched and killed a 10-year-old girl in Indonesia as her father and brother watched helplessly (file pic)A father watched helplesssly as his 10-year-old daughter was snatched and killed by a crocodile in Indonesia.The pair, along with the girl's brother, had been hunting for turtles in the East Nusa Tenggara province when the girl, Juraida, was dragged in to the water by a giant saltwater crocodile.Indonesian official Viktor Mado Waton, speaking to the Jakarta Post, said: 'Juraida was seized when she was in about half a metre of water at the river’s mouth.'Juraida's body has yet to be found.Locals had already told officials they had seen several crocodiles sunbathing at the river mouth a few days before the incident. Fatal: The attack happened...

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