Animals

[GoCubsGo]

Dayum!

[billy.pilgrim]

There you are, GoCubsGo, to conquer Australia you just have to evoke your inner 12-year-old girl.

I may not have the Right Stuff.

How about Amazonia?

New anaconda species said to be largest ever found during filming of Will Smith docuseries


Northern green anaconda on a riverbank.

A giant anaconda species thought to be the largest in the world has been captured deep in the Amazon of Ecuador by a team of scientists from The University of Queensland.

The group of scientists, led by professor Bryan Fry, uncovered the nearly 10 million-year-old species with help from the indigenous Huaorani people while filming "Pole to Pole with Will Smith," a National Geographic series streaming on Disney+ and hosted by the Oscar winner.

“The size of these magnificent creatures was incredible," Fry said in a news release. "One female anaconda we encountered measured an astounding 6.3 meters (20.8 feet) long."...


A northern green anaconda eating a deer.

“There are anecdotal reports from the Huaorani people of other anacondas in the area measuring more than 7.5 meters long (24.6 feet) and weighing around 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds)," Fry said, sharing with USA TODAY that Chief Baihua's son, Marcelo Tepeña Baihua, has scars from a snake about that size.

"The scars were clearly from a truly massive snake. They say that one wasn’t even the biggest they’ve ever seen," Fry said. "So its clear that the snakes in the Huaorani lands are indeed the biggest of all anacondas."...

Way cool, but I immediately thought of one thing. "Great" minds? Third top comment:

I came looking for references to Will Smith daring to slap one of these things and I was not disappointed.

Keep my wife's head out your mouth!

Mess with my wife and I will smith you.

Soon to become another profitable species imported by Florida pet shops in spite of all manner of evidence and rational thought against any measures to prevent the inevitable return to the wild by these “pet” owners.

[Vrede too]

Soon to become another profitable species imported by Florida pet shops in spite of all manner of evidence and rational thought against any measures to prevent the inevitable return to the wild by these “pet” owners.

Do they eat Burmese Pythons?

[billy.pilgrim]

Soon to become another profitable species imported by Florida pet shops in spite of all manner of evidence and rational thought against any measures to prevent the inevitable return to the wild by these “pet” owners.

Do they eat Burmese Pythons?

The Florida Everglades, more commonly known as the Melting Pot of pet store invasive animal species.
Rah rah capitalism, Go profits Go

[Vrede too]

Raccoons!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/ ... age-canada

A lone Toronto raccoon was able to cut power to nearly 7,000 people in the city’s downtown core on Thursday night, highlighting the fraught coexistence between residents of Canada’s largest urban centre and the divisive “trash pandas”.

Eagles!
https://www.friendsofbigbearvalley.org/

San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California - 2 eagles, an unusual 3 eggs, two 24/7 live feed cams, pips (hatches) expected any day now

Do eagles catch and eat raccoons or are the latter too big?

[O Really]

Mountain Lion in Oceanside

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ ... e/3455526/

[Vrede too]

Mountain Lion in Oceanside

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/ ... e/3455526/

Likely eating pets or whatever now, but what brought them in? Do you have deer, feral pigs, etc?

[O Really]

No deer feral pigs maybe some raccoons and coyotes. But the 200 square mile Camp Pendleton is mostly open space and there are a couple other open space parks where we've seen signs warning of mountain lions and rattlesnakes. Seen several rattlers, no mountain lions.

[Vrede too]

No deer feral pigs maybe some raccoons and coyotes. But the 200 square mile Camp Pendleton is mostly open space and there are a couple other open space parks where we've seen signs warning of mountain lions and rattlesnakes. Seen several rattlers, no mountain lions.

Gotcha. In my experience there is always some prey animal that uses the urban interface that attracts the cats. It was deer munching on lawns and gardens in Missoula. Guess it works differently in SoCal - the pets are the lure. Oh wait, any animal ag there - cows, sheep, fowl, pigs, koi?

[O Really]

Closest animal ag in any direction would probably be 20 miles, unless they're growing something on Camp Pendleton. I don't remember the last time I saw a dog that looked stray or loose, but there are undoubtedly some idiots that let their cats out. Apparently the mountain lion has one of the largest ranges of any animal, up to 100 sq miles. That would be enough to get this cat to some open space - or the Safari Park for that matter. Somebody will offer a theory, I'm sure. But one of the places he was seen was about a half mile from our door.

[GoCubsGo]

I hope this is true because elephants are awesome.

[Vrede too]

I hope this is true because elephants are awesome.

https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/1767980503389339764

https://www.tiktok.com/@maggieclark719/ ... 5109472554

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvMNpvB5M

Article

[GoCubsGo]

https://www.tiktok.com/@maggieclark719/ ... 5109472554

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMvMNpvB5M

Article

Dude was seriously lucky, barracudas have razor sharp teeth and can do damage.

First time I heard that song a buddy got out of his car screaming "I just heard the coolest song!" We sat around his radio (probably smoking something) until it was played again.

[Vrede too]

Dude was seriously lucky, barracudas have razor sharp teeth and can do damage.

First time I heard that song a buddy got out of his car screaming "I just heard the coolest song!" We sat around his radio (probably smoking something) until it was played again.

More lucky (and compassionate) dudes in the sea:


Brave Fishermen Approach Distressed Whale

[GoCubsGo]

Dude was seriously lucky, barracudas have razor sharp teeth and can do damage.

First time I heard that song a buddy got out of his car screaming "I just heard the coolest song!" We sat around his radio (probably smoking something) until it was played again.

More lucky (and compassionate) dudes in the sea:


Brave Fishermen Approach Distressed Whale

[O Really]

Recently met a woman walking her Doberman. As we usually do, we commented on her "beautiful dog" and asked what was his name. "Security."
When she says she'll "call Security", she means it.

[Vrede too]

Recently met a woman walking her Doberman. As we usually do, we commented on her "beautiful dog" and asked what was his name. "Security."
When she says she'll "call Security", she means it.

Is her name Karen?


Tired of Doomscrolling? Try Ringing a Doorbell for Fish.

It alerts officials to open a boat lock for migrating fish. Anyone can watch and ring the bell. The Doorbell:
https://visdeurbel.nl/en/the-fish-doorbell/
Press play on the video in order to make the Fish Doorbell appear. I have not seen any fish
"There are currently 909 viewers"
Nicest photos

[GoCubsGo]

Speaking of fish.

'Spinning and whirling': Strange fish behavior sparks emergency government response

The details are strange. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Wednesday that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had received reports of “abnormal fish behavior, including spinning and whirling” affecting roughly 40 species of fish, and that there had also been reports of fish deaths.

Concerns center on the smalltooth sawfish, a species that is part of the ray family and known for its long, flat nose, which is accentuated by sharp teeth and looks much like a saw (hence the name). It is listed by NOAA as an endangered species, and was “the first marine fish to receive federal protection,” according to the agency. Sawfish can grow up to 16 feet in length.

The cause of the bizarre behavior and deaths remains undetermined.

[Vrede too]

Speaking of fish.

'Spinning and whirling': Strange fish behavior sparks emergency government response

Short video at your link
"28 smalltooth sawfish have died, probably more"



Found elsewhere: "There may be as many as 5,000 adults left in the world—or as few as 200."

[Vrede too]

"Warning: This article contains disturbing content"

Horrid:

Ringleader of global monkey torture network, 'The Torture King', is charged

Revealing pic.

... Michael Macartney, 50, who went by the alias "Torture King", was charged in Virginia with conspiracy to create and distribute animal-crushing videos.

Mr Macartney was one of three key distributors identified by the BBC Eye team during a year-long investigation into sadistic monkey torture groups....

The groups were used to share ideas for custom-made torture videos, such as setting live monkeys on fire, injuring them with tools and even putting one in a blender.

The ideas were then sent, along with payments, to video-makers in Indonesia who carried them out, sometimes killing the baby long-tailed macaque monkeys in the process.

According to charging documents, Mr Macartney, who lives in the US state of Virginia, is accused by prosecutors of collecting funds from his chat groups and distributing videos depicting the "torture, murder, and sexually sadistic mutilation of animals, specifically juvenile and adult monkeys".

Mr Macartney has cooperated with investigators from the Department of Homeland Security and agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges. He will formally make a plea later this month and is facing up to five years in prison.

Not long enough

... In the US, two others have been charged with the same counts as Mr Macartney.

David Christopher Noble, 48, a former US Air Force officer who was previously court-martialed and dismissed from the military, and Nicole Devilbiss, 35. They are both facing up to five years in prison.

I feel slimy just for having read the article.