Funniest Animal Video on Youtube

This might be the funniest animal video compilation on Youtube. Mostly cats, and some of them are pretty old, but you'll be lol-ing, guaranteed. Enjoy!

Squirrel Photobomber Steals the Scene

Melissa Brandts and her husband stopped to take a photo using their camera's self-timer while vacationing in Canada. Intrigued by the sounds of the camera, a curious ground squirrel came over to check things out and popped into the frame right at the perfect moment.

Urlesque

Leopard Seal Face-Off

Pony gives birth to twins, overcoming odds of 10,000-to-1

Running through the fields with her newly-born foals, mare Royal Beatrice has good reason to celebrate - after managing the astonishingly rare feat of producing twins.

The 22-year-old New Forest Pony has shocked equine experts with the surprise birth of healthy twin foals because the chances of both surviving are so slim.

In nearly all cases, one or both foals die in a twin pregnancy because the mother's uterus cannot support two babies.

Horseplay: Newborns Bess and Royal go for a trot with mum Royal Beatrice

The chances of a mare giving birth to healthy twin foals are about 1 in 10,000, experts said today.

But little filly Bess, and colt Royal, have defied the odds by becoming the first twins to be born in the New Forest, Hampshire for many years.

And at just a few weeks old, the playful pair are lapping up all the attention they are attracting from horse lovers across the country.

Royal Beatrice gave birth to the pair at St Leonards Farm near Beaulieu after mating with a spotted Appaloosa Cockaroost Pazaz stallion.

The inquisitive foals survey their new home side-by-side

Bess and Royal can thank their father for their distinctive white markings and have been registered as First Cross New Forest/Appaloosa ponies.

Secretary of the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society, Jane Murray, said: "It is extremely unusual for horses to give birth to twins like this.

"To get both foals surviving to full pregnancy is a very rare feet indeed and we only have a couple of examples in our stud book of it ever happening before.

"But it is even more rare when the mare is so old. At 22, I think it's fair to say that Royal Beatrice has done extremely well to have healthy twins.

"Her owners can be well and truly chuffed."

Owner Stacey Gulliver from Beaulieu added: "Although my dad did mention she looked a bit fatter than is usual, it was a total surprise that it was twins, especially as they are so rare."

Happy families: The foals were unexpected

The British Horse Society's senior executive of welfare, Lee Hackett, said the overall chances of a mare giving birth to healthy twins are 1 in 10,000.

He said: "This is incredibly rare and it is wonderful news that both these foals have been born healthy.

"In most cases both of the foals will die during pregnancy, or if you are lucky one might manage to survive.

"Most owners will choose to abort as soon as they realise that the mother is expecting twins because they don't want to risk losing the mare as well.

"Horses are just not designed to carry twins. The mother's uterus is not large enough or well enough equipped to cope with them."

He added that a mare's placenta cannot support the needs of two growing foals once they reach a larger size in the later phases of pregnancy and therefore one or both die.

Twins account for around 15 per cent of all pregnancies in thoroughbred horses but in only 10 per cent of those cases will both foals survive to the point of birth.

And even if they make that far, only 15 per cent of those will result in a successful birth of two live foals.

The odds are even slimmer in cross-bred horses, Mr Hackett said.

HIPPO vs. ALLIGATOR

One is a dangerous big-mouthed sharp-toothed killer who it is not wise to mess with... the other is an alligator.

Top 10 Endengered Species

Endangered, hunted, smuggled and now some would say abandoned, these animals have the smallest chances of recovery out off all the Earth’s creatures. Last year, studies shown that there are at least 35 different animals with world populations of under 1000. But which are the rarest, the animals on the brink of extinction? We have rounded up a list of 10 of the rarest animals in the wild. These animals are so rare, they might disappear forever, and they’re not alone!

1. The Pinta Island tortoise - Without argument, this turtle is one of the few species of Giant Galapagos tortoises and the rarest animal in the world since there is only one left alive. Lonesome George is the sole surviving member of the Pinta Island race, the giant tortoise being a symbol for the fragility of the Galapagos islands, and a constant reminder for vigilence and conservation of the species. The species was considered extinct until 1971, when a lone example was located by rangers. Since then, the Charles Darwin Research Station has been searching for a female tortoise, even posting a reward of $10,000 to those that find one.

2. Baiji (Yangtze River Dolphin) - With no more than a few tens of individuals, the dolphin is one of the world’s rarest mammals, and a victim of China’s breakneck economic growth, competing for food with the human beings. It has been driven to extinction due to the activity in 50 years, this being the fourth time when an entire evolutionary line of mammals has vanished from the face of the Earth since the year 1500. The main reason for this fact are the numerous dams and barrages, built starting in the 1930’s, that have fragmented the population and reduced the amount of available habitat. There are news that the species is functionally extinct, experts still searching for members of the species. Fingers crossed!

3. The Vancouver Island Marmot - This marmot is found only in the high mountainous regions of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, the Canadian Species at Risk Act listing it as endangered in May 2000. In 1998, the population reached an all-time low of 75 individuals, a captive breeding programme being started during that time. In captivity, there are around 90 Vancouver Island marmots in four breeding facilities, while an estimated 30 members of this species live in the wild ibn 2004. The ultimate goal is to restore a sustainable population of 400-600 Vancouver Island marmots in the wild, so there’s still much to be done. 2005 was a successful year, with 150 individuals in captivity and over 44 pups born.

4. Seychelles Sheath-tailed Bat - Inhabiting the central granitic islands of the Seychelles Islands north of Madagascar, the bat is part of our list, being one of the most endangered animals since fewer than 100 are believed to exist in the world. It was once commonly found in Seychelles, but the species has undergone a dramatic decline in population during the mid to late 20th century. More research needs to be done in order to understand how the species behave and what needs to be done in order to save them. Scientists believe that, with a heavy amount of effort, 500 individuals may be sufficient to guarantee long-term persistence of the population.

5. Javan Rhino - This scarce animal is one of the rhino species with fewer than 60 animals surviving in only two known locations: one in Indonesia and the other in Vietnam. Though once widespread throughout Asia, by the 1930’s the rhinoceros was nearly hunted to extinction in Peninsular Malaysia, India, Burma and Sumatra. It was poached for its horn, that is believed to have medicinal uses, and driven to extinction to the intense agricultural practices. Even with all the conservation efforts, the Javan rhinoceros’ chance of survival is small: the population is reduced, hence there are risks of disease and inbreeding.

6. Hispid hare - Also called the “bristly rabbit”, this hare has been recorded along the southern foothills of the Himalayan mountain chain, Nepal, , Bengal, and Assam. Deforestation, cultivation, and human settlement had the most negative impact on the species, isolating the rabbits in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam. This animal was feared extinct in 1964, but in 1966, one was spotted. There were an estimated 110 hispid hares worldwide in 2001, numbers continuing to plunge due its unsuccessful adaptation to captivity.

7. Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat - In the 19th century this species of wombat was present in New South Wales and Victoria but now can only be found in a small national park near Epping Forest Station in tropical Queensland. While this area has been protected as a National Park, the native grasses that the wombat eats are overtaken by non-indigenous plants. The Northern hairy-nosed wombat is the rarest Australian marsupial, and probably the world’s rarest large mammal. In the latest population study, there are an estimated 113 (range 96 to 150) individual. A major recovery program is underway, funded by the Queensland and Commonwealth governments to the tune of $250,000 per year.

8. Tamaraw (Dwarf Water Buffalo) - Found in the the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, the tamaraw is the only endemic Phillipine bovine. In 1900 there were an estimated 10,000 tamaraw on Mindoro, 120 in 1975, 370 in 1987 . It was declared critically endangered species in 2000 by the World Conservation Union and remained so until today, being threatened by agriculture, hunting or disease brought by domestic species. The current population was estimated in 2002 at a number between 30 and 200 individuals. Although protected by law, the illegal capture and killing of this species continues to occur.

9. Iberian Lynx - The Lynx, the most endangered of the world’s 36 cats, stands on the edge of extinction. This lynx was once distributed over the entire Iberian Peninsula but now its area is severely restricted in Andalusia. Threatened by destruction of habitat and of its prey, the cat was killed by traps set for rabbits or hit by cars as the number of roads increase. The Spanish Government is now in the process of developing a national conservation effort to save the Iberian Lynx. Studies from March 2005 have estimated the number of Lynx to be as few as 100, down from about 400 in 2000. On March 29, 2005, the birth of 3 cubs, the first born in captivity, was announced, a hope for the future reintroduction of the species.

10. Red Wolf - This wolf is a smaller and a more slender cousin of the gray wolf, historically ranging from southeastern United States to Florida and Texas. Now, their home is the 1.7 million acres throughout northeastern North Carolina, including Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Only 20 pure red wolves were estimated in 1980, however the number increased to 207 captive red wolves, found in 38 captive breeding facilities across the United States. With the successful breeding programs, over 100 red wolves currently live in the wild.

Runner-up. Dwarf Blue Sheep - The Dwarf Blue Sheep or Dwarf Bharal Pseudois schaeferi is an endangered species of caprid found in China and Tibet. The dwarf blue sheep population in the world has declined to a total of 70–200 individuals, currently being listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The species is hunted, and in their limited range cannot escape from humans and livestock. As of 1997, China did not recognize them as a seperate species so efforts to conserve the species have not been initiated.

Amazing bond between man and lions

Animal behaviorist Kevin Richardson has such an incredible gift with wild animals that he can spend the night curled up with lions without trepidation or fear of being attacked. Cheetahs, leopards and hyenas hold no threat to him.
Richardson is based in a wildlife conservation area near Johannesburg in South Africa, where he works his unusual gift with wild animals.

Animal behaviorists typically study the behavior of social groups of animals and the social structure within them. Kevin is so instinctively in tune with these beasts that volatile mother hyenas even allow him to hold their newborn cubs without leaping to the rescue in attack.

But lions are his favorite. He lavishes them with unconditional love, he says, treating each individual differently, speaking to them, caressing them, and above all, treating them with respect.


Here is a short video showing Kevin Richardson and some of his animals on the feature film 'White Lion-Home is a Journey'.

Japan's Amazing Living Fossils

Frilled Shark

The Frilled Shark is a truly ancient species that has changed very little since pre-historic times—fossil evidence of the shark dates back to 95 million years. The shark is rarely seen alive since its natural habitat is over 1600 feet (488 meters) below sea level. Specimens have been found scattered around the globe, but the majority of Frilled Sharks have been found in Japanese waters.

The Frilled Shark resembles a giant eel more than a shark. However, the species possesses six gill slits, which identify it as a shark rather than an eel. The Frilled Shark has an upper jaw that is part of its skull, which is unique among living sharks. Most sharks living today have a hinged top jaw.

The Frilled Shark gives birth to live young and remains pregnant for as long as 3 1/2 years—the longest gestation period of any vertebrate known on Earth.

Iriomote Wildcat

The Iriomote Cat, nearly unchanged from its primitive form, is a "living fossil" that lives exclusively on the Japanese Island of Iriomote. The wildcat is about the size of a domestic cat, with greyish brown fur, black spots, stripes, and a short bushy tail. The cat roamed the island for 200,000 years, but wasn’t discovered until 1967. The Iriomote Wildcat is one of the most endangered species of wildcat in the world. There are only about 60 cats left on the island.

The classification of the Iriomote wildcat has been debated since it’s discovery. It was initially thought to be a separate species of wildcat for at least two million years. Recent DNA studies suggest that the cat is actually a subspecies of the Southeastern Asian leopard.

Despite heavy conservation efforts to try and save the Iriomote Wildcat, the wildcat has continued to diminish in numbers. Getting hit by cars and rapid development due to the Island of Iriomote’s significant increase in tourists are among the greatest threats to the Iriomote cat.

Goblin Shark

The Goblin Shark is a deep-sea creature that we know very little about. It is rarely ever found alive. It was first discovered in the waters around Japan by a fisherman in 1897. It is a “living fossil” that is closely related to sharks of ancient times. The shark has light pink skin with blue fins. The most recognizable feature of the shark is its long trowel-shaped snout.

The globin shark has been found as deep in the ocean as 4265 feet and as shallow as 311 feet.The largest goblin shark ever recorded was 12.6 feet long

Japanese Serow

The Japanese Serow is a goat-like mammal that inhabits the dense forests of Honshu. The Japanese Serow is the most primitive species of cattle alive today. Both female and male Japanese antelopes possess two small horns, which they use to defend their territory.

The Japanese Serow was once on the brink of extinction due to overhunting. They became so endangered that the Japanese government declared the Japanese Serow as a “national treasure”. Strict conservation efforts have been a huge success, to the point where Japan now suffers from overpopulation issues with the serows and often considers them as pests.

Amami Rabbit

The Amami Rabbit, also known as the Ryukyu Rabbit, is found only on the Amami Islands of Japan. The Amami Rabbit is a living remnant of ancient rabbits and is often referred to as a "living fossil". The Amami Rabbit is so unique and has been isolated from other rabbit species for so long, that they are scarcely even related.

The Amami Rabbit has dark fur, short rounded ears, and no tail. It is nocturnal and dwells deep in forests. It is one of the few rabbits who makes calling noises.

The Amami Rabbit is threatened with extinction, with only about 3,000 rabbits believed to remain on the islands. They were overhunted in the 19th century and today they are faced with further pressure from development.