Guinea pig saved from escaped snake

27 August 2010

An escaped snake has been caught just moments before it was about to eat a pet guinea pig.

Diego the boa constrictor escaped from his enclosure at his owner Aaron Waymont's house almost a month ago sparking a neighbourhood-wide search in Wickford, Essex, England.

After Diego made his escape police warned local residents to watch out for the killer reptile - which weighs around 63lbs and is capable of eating a small pet or even a baby.

Aaron was relieved to find the serpent in his own garden just as Diego was about to devour one of his beloved guinea pigs and has now promised to keep him under lock and key.

Aaron said: "I knew he'd still be around here. Everyone can relax now. I've ordered a bigger vivarium with reinforced glass and two locks on it. There's no way he's going anywhere again."

http://entertainment.stv.tv/showbiz/194340-guinea-pig-saved-from-escaped-snake/

Pig power and choosy chimps

PIG POWER: Domestication may have reduced the brain sizes of guinea pigs but not their problem-solving ability. They outperformed their wild cousins (cavies) om some tests when pitted against each other in water mazes. Domesticated ones had the advantage in orientation but cavies were stronger swimmers, German researchers found. It suggests domestic ones have adapted better to the man-made environment.

CHOOSY CHIMPS: Apes, like humans, know they may be wrong when they make a choice. They were observed as they chose between two hollow tubes - one containing food - after being given clues as to the right one. When the apes were less sure which was correct, or when the reward was more desirable, they made more visual checks before choosing. The German study is published in journal Animal Cognition.

http://e-edition.metroherald.ie/2010/03/25/ - p23.

300 guinea pigs take over flat

Friday, October 30, 2009

It was a dirty job but someone had to do it. Police officers broke into a flat to discover it was overrun by 300 guinea pigs.

There were droppings 10cm high in some rooms of the apartment in Aachen.

Police were alerted when neighbours complained about the smell after the pets' owner vanished.

The rescued animals have been sent to a local animal home.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/article.html?300_guinea_pigs_take_over_flat&in_article_id=759793&in_page_id=64

300 guinea pigs take over flat

Friday, October 30, 2009

It was a dirty job but someone had to do it. Police officers broke into a flat to discover it was overrun by 300 guinea pigs.

There were droppings 10cm high in some rooms of the apartment in Aachen.

Police were alerted when neighbours complained about the smell after the pets' owner vanished.

The rescued animals have been sent to a local animal home.

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/world/article.html?300_guinea_pigs_take_over_flat&in_article_id=759793&in_page_id=64