On New Year’s Day, a 3-year-old dog named Leo fell off a 300-foot seaside cliff in Ecola State Park, along the Oregon coast. According to CBS News, the dog slipped after running off from his owners during a walk. 

Firefighters from three local departments arrived on the scene and were preparing to rappel down the cliff when an aircrew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Astoria arrived via an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter.

  The tides were rising, so the rescue team had to act fast to save the poor dog’s life. The crew lowered a rescue swimmer with a hoisting basket onto the beach, and they were able to reach Leo and put him in the basket. 

Video captured the dramatic moment Leo was rescued and lifted into the helicopter, then transported back to the mainland:

  It was certainly an eventful way to kick of the new year, and the airmen were relieved by the mission accomplished: “Hugs all around,” an airmen is heard saying in the rescue footage. “Love it.” Despite the dramatic ordeal, Leo survived relatively unharmed and was reunited with his family. 

“Leo stayed overnight at an emergency vet. He has a few cuts and bruises,” Leo’s owners said, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest. “All things considered, he is doing good. We are so thankful he is alive and expected to recover.” 

 We’re so glad Leo is safe and sound! Thank you to these Coast Guard airmen for saving the day!
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The story comes from a Reddit user known as Oakenboken, who shared that his pet yellow lab Bosko found a baby calf in their feedlot who was almost dead from hypothermia. “His mother was to weak to care for him, and the cold and wet and nearly taken him,” the poster explained. “His nose was frozen stiff and his eyes looked dead, but he was breathing.. if barely.”

His mother and grandmother took the calf inside and covered him with blankets and heating pads in an effort to save his life. They also provided the cow with antibiotics. Through it all, Bosko refused to leave the calf’s side. Four hours later, the family got an inspiring sign as the baby cow began to move and his breathing became more regular. When Bosko finally decided to go inside for some rest, the family’s other dog Duke came in and “took up the night shift,” keeping the cow company. 

Over time, the calf’s condition continued to improve. By day three, he was “up and about” and eating with no problems. After a few weeks of bottle feeding, the calf was well enough to rejoin the rest of the cows. The cow was named Zeke. While he was a little smaller than normal after his health scare, he was in solid health and described as “one of the friendliest cows you’ll find.” 

 On Reddit, the poster reassured readers that they weren’t going to eat the cow, and that Zeke had “become a mascot of sorts” and a sidekick to one of their bulls. Zeke survived, all thanks to the sweet dog who rescued him from the rain. The owner says that Bosko was also a rescue, so it’s as if he’s paying it forward to another animal in need. “He was a [rescue] case himself,” u/Oakenboken wrote. 

What an inspiring story! We’re so glad Zeke survived, thanks to these humans and caring dog Bosko!
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However, genetic evidence places it with the Pelecaniformes. The adult is mainly grey while the juveniles are browner. Shoebill lives in tropical east Africa in large swamps from South Sudan to Zambia. Shoebills are often silent birds that don’t produce a lot of noise. They are experts at patience and can spend endless hours standing motionless in the water while they wait for their next prey to swim by. They only make sounds during mating season. It has a hippopotamus call-like quality to it but is louder. To entice a partner, the birds make a loud interjection and exhibit with their bills. This noise is quite loud and unnerving. 

A loud, hollow sound is produced when the shoebill smacks its upper and lower jaws together. These are short, repeated bursts that sound like machine guns or indigenous percussion. When shoebill chicks cry out for food, they emit a sound resembling a human when we hiccup. They eat big fish like lungfish, eels, and catfish, and also crazy stuff like Nile monitor lizards, snakes, and baby crocodiles. Shoebills might be just as vicious as they appeared, as Victorian photographers discovered the hard way. 

19th-century zoologist Stanley S. Flower wrote, “The shoebill is capable of inflicting a very powerful bite and is by no means a safe bird for a stranger ignorant of its ways to approach.” 

Check out how wild this animal sounds in the video below!

 

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According to a press release, 22-year-old rhino mom Kiazi gave birth to her calf on December 24, marking a historic first for Zoo Atlanta right in time for Christmas. Veterinary teams are monitoring the mother and calf, and say the newborn appears to be healthy and strong, and that Kiazi is providing appropriate maternal care. 

While it marks her first birth at Zoo Atlanta, Kiazi has previously given birth to two offspring at other organizations.

 

“The Zoo Atlanta family is beyond excited about the birth of Kiazi’s calf. This birth has been long-awaited news for many months,” zoo president and CEO Raymond B. King said in a press release. Zoo staff first detected Kiazi’s pregnancy in the spring. 

White rhinos have some of the longest pregnancies in the animal kingdom, ranging from 16 to 18 months. The newborn’s father is a 12-year-old named Mumbles, who was paired with Kiazi in 2022 under a recommendation by the AZA White Rhino Species Survival Plan, which aims to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population for the species.

  Southern white rhinos are the largest species of rhino, and newborns can weigh between 100 and 150 pounds at birth. 

Despite their name, white rhinos are not actually white. While the southern white rhinoceros is not endangered, the species is listed as “Near Threatened” by the IUCN, and are a vulnerable target of poachers for their coveted horns. They were nearly hunted to extinction by the end of the 19th century, but have made a comeback thanks to conservation efforts. Other rhino species are critically endangered and threatened with extinction, and the zoo hopes the newborn will inspire awareness about rhino conservation. 

“If there is a special connection that our Members and guests can make with Kiazi and her calf, this is a connection that can translate to conservation action. All rhino species are currently in peril, and as stewards of this brand-new ambassador here in Atlanta, we also have a responsibility to do all we can to raise awareness of the status of wild rhinos.” Kiazi and her newborn have been bonding privately behind the scenes; they will later enter the rhino habitat. The birth is very exciting news for Zoo Atlanta, who has had just one rhino calf birth in their 134-year history: an eastern black rhino who arrived in 2013. 

The zoo also recently received another southern white rhino, a 17-year-old female named Dakari, in October. She will also be introduced to Mumbles under a recommendation of the species survival plan — so more rhino calves could be in store for the future.

  Congratulations to Kiazi and Zoo Atlanta on the arrival of this adorable baby southern white rhino!
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Tattoo is a leopard Appaloosa, and his dazzling and unique coat is surely a sight to be seen. I caught up with his owner with some questions I had for her truly stunning horse, so keep reading to learn all about Tattoo! How did Tattoo come into your life? 

I was a sophomore in college, and my riding trainers (John and Debbie Letham at Letham Stables) let me intern at their breeder barn for my equestrian riding team and equine classes major requirements. I could watch over the mares that were about to give birth that spring. I was able to bond with each of the five mares, check their behaviors and watch for signs of labor. Tattoo came into this world on May 18th, and his mama gave birth to him early in the morning. 

I met baby Tattoo when he was only one hour old, soaking wet and learning to stand. When he was standing and nursing, it was then my job to go into the stall and get used to people! My parents came to the barn to the see baby Tattoo later that day, and they still say to this day that when they entered the barn I was in the stall, holding Tattoo in my lap, crying my eyes out. I was madly in love at first sight. They both said “oh, no…” We all knew that raising and training my own horse was my dream, but this foal was not mine, but deep in my heart I knew that I wanted him to be. My internship was a dream, and not much later in the week the other mares all gave birth to healthy babies. I worked with each one but Tattoo was always the first one I would play with every minute I could be at the barn. He would let me cuddle him while he napped and he even let me halter him at three weeks old. His mother trusted me so much and so did baby Tattoo. 

When he was only six months old, I was told by my trainers that Tattoo had been sold, and I should prepare myself and him to say good-bye. That was the hardest two months of my life because not only was I in love with the babies, but Tattoo had become a favorite. 

I had told myself that he was not mine, even from the beginning. So, I vowed to end my internship, it had gone on for longer than it should anyway, and I said good-bye to the almost yearlings. Only 3 months later, Christmas morning, I sat with my family around the tree, and the last box was given to me. It was from “all of them” and when I opened it up it was a picture of Tattoo, a tiny model horse with spots. I cried so hard, knowing that I had said goodbye and that I would remember him. 

Then my parents urged me to look under the paper at the bottom, and there was the words “Transfer Ownership” in bold letters. Then, the Appaloosa Horse Club words glittered at me with Tattoo’s show name written in black (Shining Royse). 

My parents had bought Tattoo over six months before! I had no idea. Owning a young horse was terrifying, because I felt I wasn’t good enough as a trainer since I had never done it, and I was in college! But, my parents and my sister believed in me, and to say we all cried is in understatement. I cried for weeks! 

Even when I went to the barn as his owner that Christmas Day, I cried and hugged him so many times! I admit I still do to this day. He is my dream come true and I have experienced many “firsts” with him at big shows I never dreamed of competing at with my own trained horse. How did Tattoo get his name? 

His name "Tattoo" means "a rhythmic tapping or drumming" and we named him that because the sight of him literally throws my heart into drumming, ever since I met him. My mother is actually the one who named him that. 

What are Tattoo’s favorite hobbies? 

Getting into things! He is the noisiest horse I have ever met. If he can touch it with his nose, then he is going to get into it. His other favorite things are running the fence with his pasture neighbors, and he loves to play chase with me. It's like a cat-and-mouse game we play where I run and hide behind the hay bales. He comes running over where I jumped out and scare him. 

Then we circle the hay chasing each other in turns. It's surprising that he keeps coming to investigate my hiding spot, snorting, when he knows I am going to jump out. It's all safe fun.

What is his personality like? Completely chill, goofy and mischievous. I was taught growing up that young horses are very spontaneous and can be dangerous, but Tattoo is one of the coolest horses I have ever ridden and been around. 

Ever since he was a baby learning to halter, he has been insanely curious so even now when we are riding or leading, he wants to investigate everything he can. His eyes will be wide, his body relaxed and his ears perked at whatever has caught his attention. Its surprising to say that he is not spooky, just really curious and he wants to touch things with his nose and sniff it! It surprises many people to see how goofy, antsy and awkward he is when I am on the ground next to him, but the minute I sit into the saddle, he is a completely different horse. 

His mellow, curious side comes out and he is ready to work, but is calm, collected, and concentrated. His mind is going so fast, that there is no “rests”, he wants to keep working and trying new things under saddle. His favorite riding class is trail, he loves to smell and touch every obstacle and watch where his feet are going, even though we would get penalties for touching obstacles! Does Tattoo share the spotlight with any other horses? 

Yes, although Tattoo is the most “popular” in our barn on the internet, I have 2 other horses. I have a 28 year old Tennessee Walking horse named Sunny Boy, who was my first horse when I was 7. Skip Dancin’ Tango is 26 and was my first “real” show horse. 

Tango taught me to ride competitively at 15. The two seniors horses taught me so much, but Tattoo is my first “home raised”. These horses have all taught me in so many different ways and each have taken me further than I ever dreamed. Without them, I would not be the person I am. What’s something special you’d like people to know about Tattoo? 

Hmm… he is obsessed with miniature horses and donkeys! Many horses are terrified, but not Tattoo. At shows, his eyes go wide, his nose flares and he almost drags me to the mini so he can try to become friends. He is oddly obsessed! His neighbor at home is a mini donkey we call “Peter”. 

He also has had a girlfriend horse! Usually, at shows, he is calm and curious, not really interested in other horses unless they get too close, but at a particular show, a roan quarter horse mare caught his attention. 

She was only 4, still learning about being under saddle and her first show, but he was completely infatuated with her. I am not sure if it was her age, or what, but he wanted to stand by her, touch her with his nose and follow her. It was so strange, but the owner was very amused and let them stand together when we were waiting for classes. He calmed her down, and he didn’t pay attention to any other horse but her. He was very much in love with her!
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In an amazing video, this family’s cat mom shows incredible intelligence in this area as she introduces her kitten to the newborn baby.

His wife, however, thought that the children were watching Cleo. These costly mistakes resulted in catastrophe. In the hustle and bustle and goodbyes to neighbors and friends, Cleo was forgotten. The poor pup was left behind as the family drove away. As they drove off, they made a pit stop a few hours away. They gathered around to eat and that is when Mike’s wife asked, “Where is Cleo?” Realizing she wasn’t with them, panic set in. Mike jumped back into the car and raced back home. 

When he arrived, Mike searched inside the house and the backyard, but Cleo was nowhere to be found. Mike didn’t hesitate. He called local shelters and vet offices and made ‘missing Cleo’ posters. Days turned to weeks and the phone didn’t ring. All the heartbroken family could do was wait. Meanwhile, the loyal dog had her own plan. She set out on a personal mission as soon as the family left the home. 

Cleo followed the car and moving van through rain and rough terrain with aching paws. She walked a whopping 62 miles to the new family home. When Cleo climbed onto the porch, everyone was in disbelief! Cleo had made the entire journey on foot using her skillful nose. A dog’s loyalty truly knows no bounds.

 
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  Now, scientists have discovered a Patagonia cypress tree in Chile known as “Great Grandfather” or Alerce Milenario is even older. 

Recent analysis of a segment of tree rings shows the giant is an estimated 5,484 years old—likely taking the award for oldest living tree. Deep in the Chilean forest about 500 miles south of Santiago, the cypress tree stands amid dense foliage, sheltered from the elements in a ravine. A member of the Fitzroya cupressoides species, the magnificent tree is 13 feet in diameter and 92 feet tall. Moss flourishes on its surface and smaller trees have even taken root in its cracks. 

“It's a survivor, there are no others that have had the opportunity to live so long,” Antonio Lara of Austral University and Chile's center for climate science and resilience, noted to AFP. With her colleague Jonathan Barichivich of the Parisian Climate and Environmental Science Laboratory, she took a sample of the core (interior wood) of the tree using a thin borer to not harm the ancient creature. The team counted 2,400 growth rings in the section of core. However, they were not even able to reach the center of the enormous tree. 

Therefore, they turned to a computer model to complete the ring count. By comparing to other alerce trees and taking into account what they know about variables affecting tree growth, they came to an 80% confidence estimate that Great Grandfather is over 5,000 years old. 

This makes him older than Methuselah, the former record holder. This discovery is exciting, as ancient trees contain a lot of “records” of climate change over he millennia within them. “The ancient trees have genes and a very special history because they are symbols of resistance and adaptation. They are nature's best athletes,” Barichivich explains. “If these trees disappear, so too will disappear an important key about how life adapts to changes on the planet.” 

Publishing their findings and protecting the tree from trophy-seeking vandals are the next steps. A wooden platform has already been built to help prevent the trampling of the trees roots. Certainly at his age, Great Grandfather has earned respect. 

While he seems to be poised to take the title of oldest living tree, many others around the world—including even more ancient “clonal” trees—must be preserved, so their stored secrets are not lost forever.

 
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  In the middle of the vast lake, Harley was swimming, but he wasn’t alone. At first, Ralph had no idea what the creature was, swimming beside him, but as got closer, the dog dad was in awe! Harley was accompanied by a tiny, fragile fawn struggling to stay afloat in the deep water. 

The fawn was exhausted, gasping for breath as she fought to keep her head above the surface. Harley, with his innate sense of compassion, had spotted the fawn in distress and couldn’t stand by while another living being needed help. The fawn had been stranded in the middle of the lake, unable to return to shore. Without Harley’s timely intervention, the outcome could have been tragic. With gentle determination, 

Harley swam towards the struggling fawn, nuzzling the baby deer and offering comfort and reassurance. The fawn, clearly grateful for this unexpected lifeline, allowed Harley to guide her towards the safety of the shore. It was a painstaking journey, but Harley’s unwavering dedication and the fawn’s survival instincts prevailed. Slowly but surely, they made their way back to land. Onlookers watched in awe as Harley, with the fawn in tow, finally reached the shore.

Cheers and applause erupted from those who had gathered to witness this remarkable rescue. Harley, who had once brought comfort to the elderly as a certified therapy dog, had once again shown that the desire to help was deeply ingrained in his nature. 

His heroic act had not only saved a young life but had touched the hearts of everyone who witnessed it.

 
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A video of the staffers cheering the shelter's empty cages quickly went viral on Facebook with more than 150,000 views. 

"Although we've come close to adopting out all of our available dogs before, Monday was the first time we succeeded and had our dogs kennels completely empty!" Gretchen Pressley, the shelter's community relations manager told ABC News. 

"Seeing so many pets find wonderful new homes is what makes it all worthwhile for us." Pressley added that it's not too late to adopt a pet, as the shelter still has cats, and more dogs are available daily. It is waiving pet adoption fees until the New Year. According to the shelter, they adopted out 25 cats and 23 dogs as of Monday, but the kindhearted staff and volunteers won’t be stopping anytime soon. 

“We’ll have more dogs available later tonight or tomorrow. Keep those adoptions coming!”.

 
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  During another routine hike, the “Lawn Boy” author heard the devastating sound of a baby bear crying out. Upon further investigation, he found the same cub from the day before pinned under a tree branch. “I knew I had to help the little fella,” he explained to The Dodo. 

After Jonathan picked up the tree branch, the baby bear decided that the hiker was his new best friend. “Once I freed him, he basically attached himself to me, so I walked a mile back to the cabin with the cub either right on my heels or clinging to my ankle,” he recalled. Thankfully, Jonathan was able to find the cub, now called Blackie, a home at the West Sound Wildlife Shelter. “Brave blackie is hydrated and eating, though they mentioned that the little guy was pretty small and stunted,” he wrote. “Folks at the wildlife center are too busy doing the good work to provide regular updates (they were pretty adamant about that), but they have my information, and say no news is good news . . . the plan is for re-wilding in a year or so . . .” 

 One of Jonathan’s biggest concerns was that his contact with the bear cub would make it difficult to rehabilitate him. Responding to comments on one of his posts, the author said, “for those beseeching me to pick him up, i was trying to limit my touch/human imprint, but eventually he broke down my walls and i held him . . . now, for the next year, the wildlife center will try to make him forget me and the family, which is how it ought to be.” 

After a short period, the West Sound Wildlife Shelter moved Blackie to PAWS Animal Welfare Society. There, they introduced him to another orphan cub, and the two are becoming fast friends. 

 Share the adorable story of Blackie’s rescue with an animal lover!

 
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There has now been a delay in construction on the homes as a new dig begins in October. Interesting is that not only the chariot is discovered but the horse’s skeletons are also found that pulled up the wagon and the driver’s human remains. The managing director of Persimmon Homes in Yorkshire confirmed that an archaeological discovery of significant importance had been made. That discovery is a horse-drawn chariot from the Iron Age. He went on to say that excavation is ongoing by archaeologists who will date the find along with detailing it. 

During the Iron Age, it was common practice to bury chariots. What the archaeologists were not expecting to find was the remains of the rider of the chariot and the horses that pulled it. The find dated back to 500 BC and at the time it was the only find of the kind in 200 years. To date, there have only been 26 chariots excavated in the UK. Archaeologists said that it was unusual for horses to be buried along with the chariot and human remains. Paula Ware the managing director of MAP Archaeological Practice Ltd said: “The chariot was located in the final square barrow to be excavated and on the periphery of the cemetery. The discoveries are set to widen our understanding of the Arras (Middle Iron Age) culture and the dating of artifacts to secure contexts is exceptional.” 

In the Iron Age, the chariot was seen to be something of a status symbol owned by those with money. Including horses in the burial of human remains of such a person is unknown. It is something that has the researchers puzzled. 

  The Dig Revealed Numerous Artifacts 

Archaeologists found pots, shields, swords, spears, and brooches among the many findings. These all gave researchers a good look into the lives of the people who lived more than 2,500 years ago. 

Yorkshire has been a good spot to find the remains of the Arras culture, which have been very well preserved. 

Around 150 skeletons were found in the region during 2016, with researchers believing the skeletons were those of the Arras culture. The skeletons along with their possessions were found in the Yorkshire Wolds, a small market town.
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  Officer Dickman received the call and immediately went to the hiking section of the Bonneville Shortline Trail to rescue the dog. 

Fortunately, he found the dog before it was too late. According to ASO Dickman, the event shocked the dog. Thankfully, the dog was then taken by Dickman to its owner’s home! It was a very brave effort by the officer, who risked her life to save the life of an innocent soul! How awesome!
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“This is Hank,” wrote Reddit user damndirtycracker. “Hank lives in my aunt’s garage. He’s very old and has a hard time walking so she set up a warm place for him to rest and feeds him lots of treats.” While many people have tried to get possums out of their garage, this aunt has made it a welcome home for Hank. She has a big spacious garage and the possum has his own out-of-the-way space. 

Since it’s not attached to the house she can leave the door open so Hank can come and go as he pleases. This relationship has been going on since Hank showed up a few years ago, and he seems pretty happy to have a place to stay and eat cat food. “He’s not tame but also never hissed or seemed afraid,” damndirtycracker wrote. 

“As he’s gotten older, he stayed around longer until he just decided he was going to take up residency in the garage.” Although Hank can be a little grumpy, he’s won over by treats: “Moderately grumpy is pretty much his default state until the treats come out, then he’s only slightly annoyed by your existence.” Possums have short lifespans and Hank is already a few years old, but it’s nice that this possum gets to live a nice cozy life while he’s still here. And he’s convinced the internet how cute a possum can be. Many commenters on the Reddit post said they unexpectedly fell in love with the animal after seeing the photo of him curled up in the garage. 

“When she told me about Hank, my first thought was definitely not ‘aww,'” damndirtycracker wrote. “But then I saw him and realized I’d die for him.” 

Thank you to this aunt for giving this old animal a nice place to stay! It’s a nice reminder that the not-typically-cute animals deserve some love, too!
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  Recently, one police officer went viral after shielding two stray dogs with his umbrella during a downpour, helping to keep the poor pups dry. Tarun Kumar Mandal, a police constable in Kolkata, India who is in charge of the East Traffic Guard, was on duty at a seven-point crossing last week when he got some unexpected company. 

It was raining heavily, and Tarun was keeping himself dry with an umbrella — and when two stray dogs came to his side, he was happy to share, providing some momentary shelter for the street dogs:

The heartwarming scene has now gone viral. According to Indian Express, a pic was taken by photographer Sayan Chakraborty and shared by the Kolkata Police’s official Facebook page, and has been shared over 10,000 times.

 

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India also has one of the highest amounts of stray dogs in the world, with an estimated population of 35-40 million. 

According to Indian Express, Kolkata has been experiencing their highest September rainfall in 14 years, so it’s safe to say these poor dogs had been drenched over the past few weeks and were no doubt grateful for the brief respite, thanks to this kind officer. 

What a heartwarming photo. We’re so glad people are looking out for stray dogs, showing them a little kindness when they need it.
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