Kathmandu Is Cowed By Abandoned Cattle
In the post-earthquake chaos, farmers are turning loose old cows and baby bulls. The city doesn't have the resources to deal with the wandering bovines.
Animals
After Sketchy Science, Shark Week Promises To Turn Over A New Fin
Shark Week is here, and scientists are afraid. Not of the toothy swimmers — but of inaccuracies, bad science and the demonization of animals that aren't as ferocious as Discovery Channel has made out.
The Blog Ewe Didn't Know Ewe Needed: Google Sheep View
It's the year of the sheep, so it follows that a new blog would celebrate the woolly four-legged creatures. Readers submit sheep spottings from around the world, with the help of Google Street View.
Millions Of Mummified Dogs Found In Ancient Egyptian Catacombs
Researchers have uncovered 8 million mummified animals dating back 2,500 years. Most are dogs. Archaeologist Salima Ikram says the huge number points to the likely existence of ancient puppy mills.
Don't Blame The Sharks For 'Perfect Storm' Of Attacks In North Carolina
The state's beaches usually see one shark attack a summer, if any. This year, there have already been seven. But this uptick in attacks is likely not tied to shark populations so much as to our own.
Wildlife Forensics Lab Uses Tech To Sniff, Identify Illegal Wood
International timber trafficking is an estimated $100 billion business. A lab that usually focuses on endangered animal cases is using a sophisticated machine to identify contraband wood shipments.
On The Rebound, Panthers Prowl Expanding Swath Of Land In Florida
From a low of about 20, the population of Florida's state animal has grown to about 200 — enough, wildlife officials say, to warrant taking them off the endangered species list. Not everyone agrees.
Checking DNA Against Elephants Hints At How Mammoths Got Woolly
A clump of a mammoth's fur bought on eBay led scientists to a long list of ways the extinct species was special. One specific gene likely played a role in helping mammoths thrive in icy weather.
Parrot On A Winning Streak Picks Japan To Win Women's World Cup
Olivia, a gray parrot at a Japanese zoo, has correctly predicted the past six games for Japan. And today she picked Japan to win on Sunday.
Thousands Attend Funeral For Japan's Feline Stationmaster
A decade ago, a struggling train station in Japan anointed its calico cat Tama the stationmaster. The cat attracted so many tourists that she was credited with saving the station from bankruptcy.