Beijing, China - A Chinese man sued local government officials over an attack by a wild panda. He won more than $80,000 in compensation. The animals are known for their lovable appearance but despite their placid, bamboo-chewing image they are members of the bear family and have a fearsome bite. The animal wandered into Liziba village, in the northwestern province of Gansu, where local officials trying to capture it chased it onto Guan Quanzhi's land. "I saw a panda jump out in front of me, its body completely covered in mud," he told the newspaper. The creature bit him in the leg and only released its grip when another villager covered its head with a coat. The incident in March last year, left Guan with injuries requiring seven hours of surgery. The panda escaped. Guan's son sued local forestry officials and the nearby Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve, which is home to more than 100 wild pandas. Following "negotiations", officials agreed to pay compensation of 520,000 yuan ($83,000). Guan is "satisfied with the amount", which will cover his medical bills, he said, adding that he may need further operations. The number of wild giant pandas rose nearly 17 percent over the decade to 2013 to reach 1,864, state media cited an official survey data as saying this month, with a government agency crediting conservation measures for the increase. Pandas are a major generator of tourist revenue in several parts of China and for Beijing, which capitalises on the global fascination with the animals by renting them to foreign zoos. They have been known to attack humans. The nature conservation organization, World Wide Fund (WWF) says on its website: "As cuddly as they may look, a panda can protect itself as well as most other bears," using its heavy weight, strong jaw muscles and large molar teeth. It cautions: "Although used mainly for crushing bamboo, a panda bite can be very nasty."
The Smithsonian's National Zoo is asking for your help in namimg two of its newest additions. In November, the Zoo's eight-year-old Andean bear Billie Jean gave birth to two cubs and now the Zoo is crowdsourcing naming of the bear brothers. The first cub, which the Zoo describes as "rambunctious and seems to need Mom's attention a bit more than his brother," has three options to vote for: Larusiri (lah-roo-SEE-ree), which means "giggly;" Mayni (MY-nee), which means "unique;" and Kusisqa (coo-SEES-kah), which means "happy." The cub's brother is described as "playful and likes to wrestle but is more laid back than cub #1" has the following name choices you can vote for: Tusuq (too-SOOK), which means "dancer;" Muniri (moo-NEE-ree), which means "loving;" and Wayna (WHY-nah): means "young." If you're curious about the origins of the names, they're Quechua and Aymara, which are the languages of the indigenous communities in the Andes, where the bears originate. According to folklore, Andean bears were "said to protect pilgrims, especially musicians and dancers, during their pilgrimage to Q'oylluriti (a festival held high in the Andes mountains)." The Zoo describes Andean bears as a "loving and happy, seeking harmony and balance in nature," which each of the name suggestions represents. Voting ends on March 22 and the winning names will be announced on March 26. To vote, click HERE.
Meet adorable Nicholas, a 6 ½ month old, 60 lb, Yellow Lab. Nicholas has found himself in the shelter through no fault of his own. This extra special boy was being raised with a special needs child but the family had several family issues that prevented them from continuing to care for Nicholas. This is a gentle sweet boy, loves people, was living with several other dogs, and is housebroken. He would do best in a home with at least one other dog for companionship, a playmate, and to help him gain confidence in himself as he explores the world around him. Do you have room in your heart and in your home for Nicholas? If you are interested in adopting Nicholas, click here: Nicholas Operation Paws For Homes
Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. operates throughout Northern Virginia, Maryland, DC and southern Pennsylvania; OPH is devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of animals from high kill shelters in the southern region of the United States To learn more about them, clickHERE.
Website:Operation Paws For Homes General Information: operationpawsforhomes@gmail.com Adoptions: adopt@ophrescue.org Operation Paws for Homes, Inc. P.O. Box 90813 Alexandria, VA 22309 Fax: (804) 302-7975
Denver, Colorado – A family was asked to move their mailbox this week, after mail carriers complained of snakes on the property. Laurie Simmons got a letter in the mail Friday explaining that she had to either move the mailbox from the porch to the curb or she would have to get a post office box to receive mail. Simmons and her family rent the home in Denver's University Hills neighborhood. She said the two snakes that live in her flower bed are garter snakes, which are harmless. However, the United States Postal Service says it takes safety of all mail carriers seriously and if a carrier feels a property is unsafe, they can choose not to deliver mail there. The home is a rental. Simmons says her landlord will not build a new mailbox but has offered to remove the snakes. Simmons doesn't want the snakes removed, because she feels they are an important part of the ecosystem.
