Pet Scoop: Dolphin Beachings Baffle Scientists on Cape Cod, Katherine Heigl’s a Mad Dog Lady
Published on January 24, 2012
January 24, 2012: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.
Katherine Heigl Dubs Herself One "Mad Dog Lady"
It’s a nickname that the actress has given herself because the animal activist has seven dogs. She choked up talking to USA Today about the death of her 15-year-old German Shepherd mix, Mojo. "I always want animals in my life,” said Heigl. — Read it at USA Today
33,000-Year-Old Canine Skull Discovered in Siberian Cave
The find comes around the same time as equally ancient remains were unearthed in a cave in Belgium, indicating that modern domesticated dogs may have originated from different ancestors, which is contrary to what previous DNA evidence has suggeste. — Read it at Science Daily
Monkey Believed to Be Extinct Is Spotted in Borneo
The Miller’s grizzled langur species was found in the Wehea Forest on the Indonesian island of Borneo. The 13-pound monkey had never been seen in that area before, so the discovery extends its range. — See the photos at National Geographic
Dozens of Dolphins Wash Up on the Coast of Cape Cod
It’s not unusual for dolphins to become stranded on the beaches of Cape Cod, Mass., but the amount that have beached themselves so far this year — 85 in just two weeks — has left scientists confused. “It’s driving us crazy that we don’t know,” said Katie Moore of the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
While they try to figure out the cause, volunteers are working feverishly to save as many of the wayward dolphins as possible. — Read it at The New York Times and watch the rescue video at the Washington Post
Plus: Captive dolphins in France were recorded making whale-like noises at night. — Read it at Live Science
Bowerbirds Use Illusion to Impress Females
The Australian birds build elaborate structures to attract mates, but scientists have found that they also use illusion to make their displays look even more impressive. When researchers moved around objects within the structures, the birds put them back in place within three days. — Read it at The New York Times