They were arrested after tossing each other’s toothy reptile from an apartment window. An alligator was rescued, but the croc is missing.
Two adult brothers were charged with animal cruelty last week in Alaska after getting into a quarrel and tossing each other’s pet reptile from an apartment window into the snow.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, the pets were an 18-inch alligator and 24-inch crocodile. The alligator was rescued but the crocodile was not recovered and is presumed dead.
While some might consider the men’s actions an odd way to settle their differences, some might also wonder if it’s legal to own alligators and crocodiles in Alaska.
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, it is legal to keep both species, just as it’s legal to keep snakes and lizards as pets.
However, releasing exotic pets into the wild, where they must try to fend for themselves, is illegal and could pose threats to native species. (Presumably, tossing an animal from a window and failing to retrieve it is a form of illegal release.)
Alligators and crocodiles prefer tropical climates and could not survive in the Alaska wilderness, especially during the winter.
Both men are in their early 30s and the incident occurred outside Wasilla.
Footage shows the woman standing and pleading with the driver to leave, while others in the vehicle remained calm – and for good reason.
Imagine that you’re on safari observing a tiger at close range and one guest stands in the vehicle and loudly pleads with the driver to back away.
“Please, can you go?!” the woman insists in the accompanying footage, using a hand gesture for emphasis. Later in the footage, the woman again stands and demands that it’s time to leave.
The footage was captured last year in India’s Ranthambore National Park. It was reposted Tuesday by Ranthambhore Wildlife, titled, “Tiger scares lady or lady scared tiger.”
The video inspired lots of social-media commentary and one follower remarked that “yelling like an idiot” could have provoked an attack.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0Woobly6Hw/
Another chimed in: “This woman is more aggressive than the poor tiger! What’s wrong with her?”
It’s worth noting that tigers in India’s wildlife reserves are accustomed to the presence of safari vehicles and typically do not become aggressive if tourists and guides remain quietly seated.
If a tiger approaches, it’s essential that everyone remains calm.
A few comments were somewhat in defense of the woman, but many were critical and several people pointed out that tourists pay lots of money for the chance to observe wild tigers.
While some might question whether the driver allowed this to become too close of an encounter, Ranthambhore Wildlife implied that the woman was the only person violating protocol:
“It’s essential to remember that tigers are wild animals and deserve our respect. As we venture into their natural habitat, we must prioritize our safety and theirs.
“A calm and composed demeanor is crucial in such situations. By following the guidelines and exercising self-control, we can ensure a thrilling yet safe experience for both humans and animals alike.”
Ranthambore National Park is in the state of Rajasthan. The forested region is home to more than 80 Bengal tigers and other large animals, such as leopards, sloth bears, and crocodiles.
Ranthambhore Wildlife (note difference in spelling) operates safaris twice-daily in the park.
Wildlife photographer Henri Olckers had nearly given up on spotting a leopard until he turned his head and saw some spots.
Editor’s note: A version of this post was first published on April 10, 2024.
Wildlife photographer Henri Olckers and his father were driving down a dirt road in Kruger National Park hoping to spot a leopard relaxing on a branch.
“But it wasn’t meant to be,” Olckers recalled to USA Today/For The Win Outdoors. “Or so it felt.”
They were driving on S125 for the first time in the iconic South African park.
“It is a beautiful, quiet 20-kilometer road, running parallel to a dry riverbed on the one side and dense bush on the other,” he told FTW Outdoors. “We were both scanning every tree next to the riverbed.
“Approximately 1 kilometer before the end of the road, we had almost given up all hope when I turned my head away from the riverbed and looked to the right. All I remember was seeing a few spots in the dense foliage, and I slammed on the brakes. I just remember yelling to my dad, ‘Leopard, leopard, leopard.’
“I grabbed my camera with my one hand and steered with the other. I couldn’t decide if I should reverse quickly and risk scaring it off or reverse slowly and miss a photo opportunity.”
He slowly got the vehicle into position. Luckily the leopard remained stationary and he started taking photos.
“It clearly wasn’t used to cars or people because it immediately lowered its head and ears as if trying to hide. Once we switched off the car, it relaxed a bit more, later seeming quite interested in us. After about 3-4 minutes, he got up and walked deeper into the bush where we lost visual.”
Several people viewing the image on Olckers’ Facebook page never could spot it. Among the comments:
“I would have driven straight past. Blissfully unaware.”
“Can’t see any animal, but just love the beautiful vegetation—especially the golden grasses.”
“I couldn’t find.”
“Took a while. I thought I was getting goofed on. I would not survive long in the jungle.”
Photo credit: Henri Olckers
The spots are what stand out the most, just as they did when Olckers first spotted them.
“It was the highlight of our trip,” Olckers told FTW Outdoors.
Leopards have incredibly good camouflage. It’s amazing the photographer saw this one blending in with the grass.
Editor’s note: A version of this post was first published on April 5, 2022.
Leopards are so good at blending in to their environment that they are often difficult to spot in the wild, as is the case in this photo posted on Facebook by “Africa, this is why I live here.”
It isn’t an easy spot, as evidenced by the reactions by commenters on the Facebook post, a sampling we present here:
Two dogs encounter a stalking leopard in an Indian village, and security camera footage shows each reacting quite differently.
In a village in India, two dogs encountered a stalking leopard, and each reacted quite differently.
The incident occurred in the northern part of Nashik in a suburb called Makhmalabad, and was captured on a security camera around 11 p.m. on a rainy night at the end of September.
The footage shows the first dog obviously noticing the approaching leopard. It nearly ran into the parked motorcycle in its haste to get away.
The second dog, a bit smaller than the first, came out of a storage shed to watch its friend high-tail it out of there, unaware of the approaching leopard.
But the dog soon discovered why its friend ran away so quickly. When it turned, it saw the predator and reacted quite differently.
Instead of running away, the second dog retreated into the storage shed and fought back the only way it could: with its bark, a high-pitched screech. It was a panicked bark if ever there was one.
The leopard reacted by turning around and taking off.
Indian leopards can run up to 36 mph, can jump nearly 10 feet and can leap over 20 feet horizontally. So, the second dog probably would not have outrun the hungry leopard and did the correct thing.
Thankfully, its bark proved more threatening than its bite.
Numerous crocodiles were sharing a meal along a shoreline in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia when a leopard decided to join them.
Numerous crocodiles were sharing a meal along a shoreline in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia when a leopard decided to join them.
Wildlife photographer Stefan Cruysberghs was on an early morning safari when his group came upon the feeding frenzy as some 10-plus crocodiles fed on a puku antelope, as reported by Latest Sightings.
It was quite a scene, but the excitement level increased when another predator was added to the mix.
“It was a huge surprise for everyone at first, but then it was assumed that the leopard had originally caught the puku and was forced to abandon it,” Latest Sightings stated. “Now, it returned only to find that it had been claimed by a bask of crocodiles.
“That would normally be the end of the story. After all, when crocodiles steal your meal, there really isn’t anything that can be done about that. However, this leopard wouldn’t have it! If it was going to lose its food, it wasn’t losing everything.”
So the leopard, risking its life, attempted to join them.
“The leopard zigged and zagged its way through the pile of crocodile bodies,” Latest Sightings said. “It even had to dodge a couple of snaps, but that wasn’t enough to deter it.
“It did end up finding the space it was looking for.”
But was it worth it? It only managed to get two small chunks of the puku before walking away.
Latest Sightings suggested that the leopard had an injured eye or possibly had a blinded eye, which might explain its risky behavior.
Trail-cam footage captured in Minnesota shows a black bear that is obviously ready for hibernation wandering through the forest.
A Minnesota group that studies wolves on Saturday shared trail-cam footage of an incredibly fat black bear that looked beyond ready for hibernaiton.
“Talk about a unit! This bear is clearly ready for the long nap,” the Voyageurs Wolf Project proclaimed via Instagram.
The footage was captured a month ago but only recently discovered as Voyageurs Wolf Project staff inspected footage. The bear has almost undoubtedly denned up by now.
The footage might make your skin crawl, but hornbills and other birds initiate this behavior as sort of a spa treatment.
A guide for a safari lodge in South Africa has captured extraordinary footage showing a large hornbill perched atop an ant hill while allowing the insencts to swarm over its body.
Yes, the accompanying footage might make your skin crawl. But this behavior is initiated by certain birds as sort of a spa treatment.
“This is very rarely seen but guide Zaan Snaps had an eagle eye this day and spotted a hornbill practicing a behaviour called anting!” Umkumbe Bush Lodge exclaimed Wednesday via Instagram. “This is when birds purposely sit atop an ants nest and allow ants to crawl all over and this assists with cleaning the bird of parasites.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/DCluqx2KXt3/
The lodge, which shared the footage, jokingly described the event as “next-level dust bathing.”
The lodge also explained: “Ants secrete formic acid as a form of deterring predators but some birds absolutely love it.
“It is believed that passive anting could have a few benefits: 1. Parasite control, 2. Feather maintenance, 3. Stimulation of feather growth, 4. Self Stimulation.”
Besides “passive anting,” certain birds practice “active anting,” during which birds pick up ants with their bills and rub them against their feathers.
From Britannica: “A great deal of controversy has existed over the function of anting. Some authorities have theorized that it is a form of self-stimulation, but most ornithologists conclude that anting is a type of feather maintenance.
“Formic acid and other ant fluids are known to be insecticidal; dressing the feathers with ants would thus kill or deter avian parasites, such as lice and mites.”
Footage captured in Minnesota shows a wolf pup discovering that capturing squirrels can involve painful consequences.
–The Voyageurs Wolf Project on Thursday shared a series of images titled “Trail camera gold” as part of a donation request. The Instagram images, with no description, show a wolf preying on a squirrel with what appear to be painful results.
We featured the back story and video showing this predation event last July. Both are posted below.
Trail-cam footage captured recently in Minnesota shows a wolf pup discovering that capturing squirrels can involve painful consequences.
“This wolf pup learned that squirrel bites on the nose don’t feel so good,” the Voyageurs Wolf Project stated via social media.
The accompanying footage opens with a slow-motion sequence in which the pup sends the squirrel flying after receiving a bite on the tip of its snout.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9KdXHZPgCD/
It picks up with more of the hunt, at regular speed and in slow motion, including a second bite to the snout.
One viewer described the action as a “food fight.”
The footage certainly underscores that life as a young predator includes working hard for just about every meal.
The Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem is a vast boreal forest that includes Voyageurs National Park. The Voyageurs Wolf Project studies wolves in the region.
Video showing the odd, washed-up specimen slowly crawling along the sand was captured in a U.K. nature reserve after a high tide.
A bizarre sea creature was spotted slowly crawling along the sand after a high tide at the Rye Harbor Nature Reserve in the U.K.
“While some might think it looks like something out of a sci-fi film, the marine creature was identified as a sea mouse, a type of worm which can usually be found on the seabed,” The Argus reported.
The rarely seen sea creature was captured in video on the Sussex Beach by Barry Yates of the Sussex Wildlife Trust and posted on The Argus Facebook page.
It should be noted that the video has been sped up to three times its actual speed, “as these creatures are actually quite slow,” The Argus stated on Facebook.
“[These sea creatures are] about 15cm long and rarely seen, but in winter, storms can wash them up on the high tide line,” Sarah Watson of the Rye Harbor Nature Reserve told The Argus. “This one was found at Rye Harbor Nature Reserve and put back in the sea. Look closely among its duller bristles to see a shimmering, iridescent fringe.”
Sea mice range from 3 to 6 inches long and feed on small crabs and other worms on the seabed.
