Unusual sighting - A pink grasshopper

August 2011. The rare grasshopper was spotted at Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory in Kent by Sue North. 
The Pink grasshopper is probably an unusual colour form of a common grasshopper - A few pink specimens are spotted every year - In fact this is the second one Wildlife Extra has been made aware of in the last few weeks.

They can be variable in colour with green, brownish, purple-red and pink forms recorded, although green forms are most common. Colour forms are genetically determined and some populations can show high frequency of pink grasshoppers.

Our thanks to Sue North for the image.
http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/pink-grasshopper.html

White kiwi chick hatched

Manukura - the little white kiwi. from Mike Heydon on Vimeo.

Last updated 11:46 24/05/2011

A rare white kiwi chick has been born - the first to be hatched in captivity.

The chick, named Manukura, is not an albino but the rare offspring of some North Island brown kiwi from Little Barrier Island.

He was born at the Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, 24km north of Masterton, on May 1, weighing approximately 250 grams.

The Little Barrier Island kiwi were transferred to Pukaha in May last year.

Elders from the Rangitane o Wairarapa iwi gave the chick his name, which means "of chiefly status".

Rangitane chief executive Jason Kerehi said tribal elders saw the white chick as a "tohu" or "sign" of new beginnings.

"Every now and then something extraordinary comes along to remind you of how special life is," Kerehi said. "While we're celebrating all 14 kiwi hatched this year, Manukura is a very special gift."

Manukura is being hand-reared in Pukaha Mount Bruce's new kiwi nursery. He will remain in the nursery until the end of May, where visitors can view him in his nocturnal brooder box and at his daily weigh-in at 2pm.

The white chick will then remain in captivity with other chicks at Pukaha for at least four to six months. When it is old enough to protect itself, it could potentially be released into the sanctuary.

Department of Conservation (DOC) rangers, who manage the kiwi programme at Pukaha, will ensure the best interests of the bird remain a priority.

"A white kiwi might really stand out making it more vulnerable," said DOC area manager Chris Lester.

"We want to ensure that as many people as possible get a chance to see it, and that we keep it as safe as possible."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuff/5047359/White-kiwi-chick-hatched

The real Pink Panther: The kittens whose fur changed colour after being bathed in cement

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 5:35 PM on 18th May 2011

This adorable sight is one that could have easily been a tale of tragedy.

Four kittens were found abandoned in a concrete factory in Redruth, Cornwall, weak and malnourished.

But they are now being nursed back to health and are very much in the pink - in more ways than one.

Staff at the Cats Protection charity were given quite a shock when they tried to wash the four-week-old cats and they couldn't remove the reddish hue from one, earning it the nickname 'Pink Panther'.

She was rescued by workers along with her two sisters and a tom cat - called Clouseau, Dusty and Cerise. It is thought that they came into contact with red pigment used in concrete manufacturing which had caused their unusual appearance.

The dying is less obvious in three of the cats but Pink Panther has a creamy fur so she appears bright pink.

Attempts have been made to wash the dye out because different variations of red are seen as 'danger colours' to animals but they failed.

Instead, Cats Protection manager Claire Rowe says they will have to wait until the pink fur has grown out.

She said:'They are absolutely adorable, but Pink Panther is probably the pick of the bunch. It's amazing. Until we washed her we had no idea what her natural colour was.

'As we shampooed her, the pink has slowly started to fade, although it may be that the fur has to grow out before we see her full colour, which could take months.

'It appears as though she's actually a creamy beige, and she has been dyed by the red pigment used in the concrete.

'We think the kittens were abandoned by their mum but we're hopeful they will fully recover and be able to enjoy a bright, but preferably not pink, future.'

The kittens were rescued from Ladds Concrete Factory in Redruth after staff heard their faint meows. They were spotted cowering between a set of pallets and have been temporarily fostered until they are strong enough to be rehomed.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1388227/Pink-kitten-The-real-Pink-Panthers-fur-changed-colour-bathed-cement.html
(Submitted by Dawn Holloway)

Cub's all white now

Casper was found starving to death in Flackwell Heath

Thursday May 5,2011
By Daily Express reporter

THIS rare “one in a million” white fox cub has been nursed back from the brink of death on a diet of dog food.

The four-week-old cub, named Casper after the all-white cartoon ghost, was found starving to death in Flackwell Heath near High Wycombe, Bucks.

He was cared for at St Tiggywinkles wildlife hospital in Bucks where staff now plan to give the cub a home for life.

“We managed to save him just in time and he’s doing great now,” said Les Stocker, founder of the hospital.

“Casper is so rare he has got to be one in a million.

“In 30 years, I’ve only ever heard of one other white fox and that had been shot and stuffed!

“I don’t think we’ll release him back into the wild – we don’t want him to get shot.

“We plan to build him a special fox enclosure as he really is special.”

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/244788/Cub-s-all-white-nowCub-s-all-white-now

Orange Gator Discovered in Florida, But Is It a Dye Job?

Sylvia Mythen, a 74-year-old woman from Venice, Fla., snapped the photo of this orange alligator sunning itself by a pond near her home. Florida Wildlife Commission experts have analyzed the photo and determined that the reptile's coloring is not genetic. Officials suspect the animal might be the victim of a prank but won't know for sure until they can examine it. Sylvia Mythen, AP.

Jan 7, 2011 – 6:51 PM
Dave Thier
Contributor

College football fans know the Florida Gators are orange and blue, but that, of course, is just a uniform.

In the wild, Florida alligators are a grayish black on top, with a lighter-colored belly. Usually.

One alligator in Venice, Fla., defies that rule. On Tuesday, 74-year-old Sylvia Mythen discovered an orange alligator sunning itself in a pond near her home, and it was so surprising that she had to get her camera.

After Mythen snapped the photo, she contacted her local news station and a biologist. But really, she just wanted to show her grandkids in Indiana.

"I thought, 'This is great. ... I'm going to snap a picture and send it to my grandkids so they think I'm one of the coolest grandmas in Florida,' " she told ABC 7.

Originally, the biologist thought the alligator could be part albino, but experts with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have analyzed the images, and they have determined that the animal's coloring is not genetic. They suspect that the gator's coloring came from something in the environment.

Mud is a possibility, but Mythen is skeptical.

"If it was mud, he did a good job of covering himself ... every nook and cranny," she says.

Geoff Isles, district manager for an wildlife control company in Sarasota, Fla., is stymied.

"I would have no idea how to dye an alligator -- especially a normal skin-toned alligator in his natural state," he told AOL News. "Their skin is just so extremely thick that I don't know how, short of tattooing, you would get it that color."

He suspects a prank, especially considering the animal's strangely similar tone to the university mascot. The only way he said he could think of getting that done would be by using spray paint.

Theories abound, but until experts get their hands on the animal itself, it seems unlikely they'll be able to say anything definitive. Until then, maybe look for a UF fan with a few missing fingers and some empty cans of orange spray paint.

Orange Gator Discovered in Florida, But Is It a Dye Job?

Sylvia Mythen, a 74-year-old woman from Venice, Fla., snapped the photo of this orange alligator sunning itself by a pond near her home. Florida Wildlife Commission experts have analyzed the photo and determined that the reptile's coloring is not genetic. Officials suspect the animal might be the victim of a prank but won't know for sure until they can examine it. Sylvia Mythen, AP.

Jan 7, 2011 – 6:51 PM
Dave Thier
Contributor

College football fans know the Florida Gators are orange and blue, but that, of course, is just a uniform.

In the wild, Florida alligators are a grayish black on top, with a lighter-colored belly. Usually.

One alligator in Venice, Fla., defies that rule. On Tuesday, 74-year-old Sylvia Mythen discovered an orange alligator sunning itself in a pond near her home, and it was so surprising that she had to get her camera.

After Mythen snapped the photo, she contacted her local news station and a biologist. But really, she just wanted to show her grandkids in Indiana.

"I thought, 'This is great. ... I'm going to snap a picture and send it to my grandkids so they think I'm one of the coolest grandmas in Florida,' " she told ABC 7.

Originally, the biologist thought the alligator could be part albino, but experts with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have analyzed the images, and they have determined that the animal's coloring is not genetic. They suspect that the gator's coloring came from something in the environment.

Mud is a possibility, but Mythen is skeptical.

"If it was mud, he did a good job of covering himself ... every nook and cranny," she says.

Geoff Isles, district manager for an wildlife control company in Sarasota, Fla., is stymied.

"I would have no idea how to dye an alligator -- especially a normal skin-toned alligator in his natural state," he told AOL News. "Their skin is just so extremely thick that I don't know how, short of tattooing, you would get it that color."

He suspects a prank, especially considering the animal's strangely similar tone to the university mascot. The only way he said he could think of getting that done would be by using spray paint.

Theories abound, but until experts get their hands on the animal itself, it seems unlikely they'll be able to say anything definitive. Until then, maybe look for a UF fan with a few missing fingers and some empty cans of orange spray paint.

Elusive Scottish wildcats filmed (via Chad Arment)

Two Scottish wildcat kittens have been filmed by a BBC crew.

The notoriously shy animals were filmed at night in the highlands of Scotland.

One of the kittens had an unusual black coat, suggesting that it could have been an incredibly rare dark or "melanistic" genetic form.

The crew, including wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin, had set out to catch a glimpse of the scarce Scottish wildcat. Their footage will be broadcast on the BBC series Autumnwatch.

They spent two chilly hours "lamping", shining a lamp to catch the reflection in animals' eyes, without success.

But as it approached midnight Frank Law, sporting manager for the Seafield and Strathspey Estates where the search took place, recognised the distinctive "eyeshine" of a cat.

The crew identified a black cat that did not move away as they approached, suggesting it was inexperienced and young.

"The kitten, because it was so young, wasn't looking fearful," said presenter and cat expert Liz Bonnin. Adult wildcats, she explained, are much more wary of humans.

The crew saw another kitten nearby, which had the distinctive striped coat and blunt tail of a Scottish wildcat.

Since the two young kittens were seen together, the team assumed they were from the same family and were waiting at the den for their mother to return from hunting.

Presenter Liz was able to get within 20m of the kittens while the team captured the rare sighting on film.

"It's one thing going out lamping and seeing an adult wildcat - it's quite another to come across a den," she said.

"We got a really good chance to observe this beautiful kitten basically posing for us on a pile of rocks."

Filming Scottish wildcats is a considerable challenge because they are nocturnal and their numbers are decreasing.

Mysterious black cat
Dr David Hetherington, manager of the Cairngorms Wildcat Project, was called in to confirm the kittens' identification.

The expert agreed that the "tabby-like" kitten was a wildcat but the black kitten presented more of a mystery.

"There is a remote possibility that it is a melanistic pure wildcat," said Dr Hetherington.

Melanistic wildcats are incredibly rare and cannot be identified without genetic testing.

An alternative, and probably more likely explanation for the black kitten found by the BBC crew is that it may be a hybrid of a Scottish wildcat and domestic cat.

Wildcats are known to mate with domesticated felines. In this instance the kitten's black coat could be inherited from a black domestic cat.

This interbreeding or hybridisation threatens the future existence of pure Scottish wildcats, Felis silvestris grampia.

Their population is estimated at fewer than 400 animals in the wild, making them critically endangered.

Habitat loss, transferral of diseases from domestic cats and traffic collisions also contribute to their rarity.

"They're dealing with a lot of cards against them," said Liz Bonnin.

"Very few people are even aware of the Scottish wildcat. It's hugely important that we conserve them."

Detailed footage of the kittens will be broadcast on Autumnwatch on Thursday 14 October at 2000BST on BBC Two.

Ella Davies

Earth News reporter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9085000/9085644.stm

Elusive Scottish wildcats filmed (via Chad Arment)

Two Scottish wildcat kittens have been filmed by a BBC crew.

The notoriously shy animals were filmed at night in the highlands of Scotland.

One of the kittens had an unusual black coat, suggesting that it could have been an incredibly rare dark or "melanistic" genetic form.

The crew, including wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin, had set out to catch a glimpse of the scarce Scottish wildcat. Their footage will be broadcast on the BBC series Autumnwatch.

They spent two chilly hours "lamping", shining a lamp to catch the reflection in animals' eyes, without success.

But as it approached midnight Frank Law, sporting manager for the Seafield and Strathspey Estates where the search took place, recognised the distinctive "eyeshine" of a cat.

The crew identified a black cat that did not move away as they approached, suggesting it was inexperienced and young.

"The kitten, because it was so young, wasn't looking fearful," said presenter and cat expert Liz Bonnin. Adult wildcats, she explained, are much more wary of humans.

The crew saw another kitten nearby, which had the distinctive striped coat and blunt tail of a Scottish wildcat.

Since the two young kittens were seen together, the team assumed they were from the same family and were waiting at the den for their mother to return from hunting.

Presenter Liz was able to get within 20m of the kittens while the team captured the rare sighting on film.

"It's one thing going out lamping and seeing an adult wildcat - it's quite another to come across a den," she said.

"We got a really good chance to observe this beautiful kitten basically posing for us on a pile of rocks."

Filming Scottish wildcats is a considerable challenge because they are nocturnal and their numbers are decreasing.

Mysterious black cat
Dr David Hetherington, manager of the Cairngorms Wildcat Project, was called in to confirm the kittens' identification.

The expert agreed that the "tabby-like" kitten was a wildcat but the black kitten presented more of a mystery.

"There is a remote possibility that it is a melanistic pure wildcat," said Dr Hetherington.

Melanistic wildcats are incredibly rare and cannot be identified without genetic testing.

An alternative, and probably more likely explanation for the black kitten found by the BBC crew is that it may be a hybrid of a Scottish wildcat and domestic cat.

Wildcats are known to mate with domesticated felines. In this instance the kitten's black coat could be inherited from a black domestic cat.

This interbreeding or hybridisation threatens the future existence of pure Scottish wildcats, Felis silvestris grampia.

Their population is estimated at fewer than 400 animals in the wild, making them critically endangered.

Habitat loss, transferral of diseases from domestic cats and traffic collisions also contribute to their rarity.

"They're dealing with a lot of cards against them," said Liz Bonnin.

"Very few people are even aware of the Scottish wildcat. It's hugely important that we conserve them."

Detailed footage of the kittens will be broadcast on Autumnwatch on Thursday 14 October at 2000BST on BBC Two.

Ella Davies

Earth News reporter

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9085000/9085644.stm

Shellfish Surprise: Aquarium Unveils Blue, Calico and Pumpkin Lobsters

There's a rainbow of rarity on display at a Connecticut aquarium, as lobsters of some truly different hues share a tank for perhaps the first time ever.


There's a blue one, a pumpkin-colored one and even a calico critter just to spice things up.

"It's the colors of fall," said Dave Sigworth, spokesman for the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Conn., which has the unique trio on display.

The odds of seeing these three together are roughly 1 in 900 quintillion -- but a series of timely donations has allowed Connecticut's Maritime Aquarium to put together one of the most unusual lobster displays ever. While the blue lobster is a one in a million catch, the orange and calico are even rarer -- with the odds of finding them roughly 1 in 30 million.

The blue lobster is the most common of the lot -- the odds of finding one of those are merely 1 in a million. Sigworth says the aquarium is offered a blue lobster roughly once a year.

But the odds of finding an orange or calico lobster are around 1 in 30 million -- each.

"I wasn't even aware you could have an orange one," Sigworth said. "The chances of seeing them together at one time in one tank are astronomical."

In fact, Norwalk Community College math professor Joe Karnowski told the Republican-American newspaper that the odds of seeing all three together are 1 in 900 quintillion -- so you might say the Maritime Aquarium hit the shellfish jackpot.

Sigworth said the lobsters were donated by local seafood markets and lobstermen who realized they had some truly special shellfish.

But like people, the colors of the lobsters run only shell deep -- inside, they're the same as any other lobster.

"They're completely normal lobsters in every other way," Sigworth said. "If you put them in a pot of boiling water, they would turn red like any other lobster. And from what I understand, they would taste the same."

Nearly 100 million pounds of lobster are caught in U.S. waters annually, with most of them -- 78 million pounds last year -- caught off Maine, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

While lobster populations are abundant in the Gulf of Maine and nearby Georges Bank, they've suffered from a combination of overfishing and warmer waters in southern New England, where just 15 million lobsters are estimated to remain, down from 35 million a decade ago.

Some experts have even proposed a five-year ban on lobster fishing from Massachusetts' Cape Cod to Virginia to help the population recover -- a move opposed by local fishermen, who say jobs would be lost.

Ed Mazza Contributor

Shellfish Surprise: Aquarium Unveils Blue, Calico and Pumpkin Lobsters

There's a rainbow of rarity on display at a Connecticut aquarium, as lobsters of some truly different hues share a tank for perhaps the first time ever.


There's a blue one, a pumpkin-colored one and even a calico critter just to spice things up.

"It's the colors of fall," said Dave Sigworth, spokesman for the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Conn., which has the unique trio on display.

The odds of seeing these three together are roughly 1 in 900 quintillion -- but a series of timely donations has allowed Connecticut's Maritime Aquarium to put together one of the most unusual lobster displays ever. While the blue lobster is a one in a million catch, the orange and calico are even rarer -- with the odds of finding them roughly 1 in 30 million.

The blue lobster is the most common of the lot -- the odds of finding one of those are merely 1 in a million. Sigworth says the aquarium is offered a blue lobster roughly once a year.

But the odds of finding an orange or calico lobster are around 1 in 30 million -- each.

"I wasn't even aware you could have an orange one," Sigworth said. "The chances of seeing them together at one time in one tank are astronomical."

In fact, Norwalk Community College math professor Joe Karnowski told the Republican-American newspaper that the odds of seeing all three together are 1 in 900 quintillion -- so you might say the Maritime Aquarium hit the shellfish jackpot.

Sigworth said the lobsters were donated by local seafood markets and lobstermen who realized they had some truly special shellfish.

But like people, the colors of the lobsters run only shell deep -- inside, they're the same as any other lobster.

"They're completely normal lobsters in every other way," Sigworth said. "If you put them in a pot of boiling water, they would turn red like any other lobster. And from what I understand, they would taste the same."

Nearly 100 million pounds of lobster are caught in U.S. waters annually, with most of them -- 78 million pounds last year -- caught off Maine, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

While lobster populations are abundant in the Gulf of Maine and nearby Georges Bank, they've suffered from a combination of overfishing and warmer waters in southern New England, where just 15 million lobsters are estimated to remain, down from 35 million a decade ago.

Some experts have even proposed a five-year ban on lobster fishing from Massachusetts' Cape Cod to Virginia to help the population recover -- a move opposed by local fishermen, who say jobs would be lost.

Ed Mazza Contributor

The slow scamper of the black squirrel

5 October 2010
By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine

The plight of the disappearing red squirrel is being highlighted in events dedicated to the native British species. But its tormenter, the American grey squirrel, is itself being slowly overwhelmed in parts of the country by the little-known black squirrel.

When Alison Thomas first saw a black squirrel dart in front of her car, she nearly swerved off the road in surprise. That was in July 2003, and as a biologist, she found this strange creature a beguiling research topic - not least to disprove the family joke that she'd imagined it.

"I decided to start my own investigations and discovered, to my great relief and to the chagrin of my family, that squirrels can indeed sometimes be black and that there is a rapidly expanding population of black squirrels in Cambridgeshire," says Dr Thomas, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

The black squirrel is of the same species as the grey bushy-tailed creatures familiar from park and woodland walks. Its dark coat is the result of a naturally occurring mutation of the gene that governs fur pigmentation.

Other than colour, black squirrels have the same size, behaviour and habitat as greys.

"It's the same specific mutation found in the black squirrels of North America. The chances of that same mutation occurring by chance in the UK, and separately in the United States, is tiny.

"This shows that at some point, black squirrels were brought into this country from North America."

The first recorded sighting of a black squirrel was in 1912 on the outskirts of Letchworth. It's thought that, like grey squirrels, a handful of black-furred specimens were imported for a private zoo and then escaped or were released.

"People speculate that it was the Duke of Bedford who imported black squirrels, but I've been unable to confirm that - even with the help of the family's archivists," says Dr Thomas.

It took another 30 years before black squirrels were spotted on the south-west borders of Cambridgeshire.

Today they are found in a ribbon across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. In some hot-spots, blacks now outnumber greys, making up an estimated three-quarters of the squirrel population in villages such as Girton in Cambridgeshire.

"They're not found anywhere else in the UK. But people have reported seeing black versions of red squirrels - a different species, remember - on the Isle of Skye," says Dr Thomas.

Amateur photographer Simon George, of Henlow in Bedfordshire, has been documenting the comings and goings of a black squirrel in his back garden for several years.

"We more or less adopted her, and called her Coffee. She would come if you called her and ate out of our hands; she loved Waitrose finest walnuts. She had a litter of six last summer and survived the snow of last winter, but we have not seen her, or any other squirrel, since March."

In his area, too, black squirrels have largely replaced greys - he speculates that this is because they're bigger.

But Dr Thomas says any differences in size or behaviour are probably down to age.

"Blacks and greys are the same species. Any differences people notice are likely to be age-related."

The rise of the black is the biggest change in squirrel demographics since the native reds almost disappeared 50 years ago from large parts of England.

This is not because black squirrels compete with greys in the way that greys compete with reds (the larger greys eat more, and carry a pox that is deadly to reds), but because the gene for black fur is dominant, just like the gene for brown eyes is dominant over blue in humans.

"Two grey squirrels cannot produce black-furred offspring, just as blue-eyed parents cannot have a brown-eyed baby," says Dr Thomas. "You need to have a black-furred parent to produce black offspring."

As wildlife watchers gear up for the Wildlife Trusts' population count for Red Squirrel Week, or for the start of the BBC's Autumnwatch on Thursday, Dr Thomas has a fond hope.

"I'd like there to be a count of how many black squirrels there are now. We're so programmed to expect grey squirrels that it's a shock when you first see a black one - it's startling and interesting."

More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11444893

The slow scamper of the black squirrel

5 October 2010
By Megan Lane BBC News Magazine

The plight of the disappearing red squirrel is being highlighted in events dedicated to the native British species. But its tormenter, the American grey squirrel, is itself being slowly overwhelmed in parts of the country by the little-known black squirrel.

When Alison Thomas first saw a black squirrel dart in front of her car, she nearly swerved off the road in surprise. That was in July 2003, and as a biologist, she found this strange creature a beguiling research topic - not least to disprove the family joke that she'd imagined it.

"I decided to start my own investigations and discovered, to my great relief and to the chagrin of my family, that squirrels can indeed sometimes be black and that there is a rapidly expanding population of black squirrels in Cambridgeshire," says Dr Thomas, of Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge.

The black squirrel is of the same species as the grey bushy-tailed creatures familiar from park and woodland walks. Its dark coat is the result of a naturally occurring mutation of the gene that governs fur pigmentation.

Other than colour, black squirrels have the same size, behaviour and habitat as greys.

"It's the same specific mutation found in the black squirrels of North America. The chances of that same mutation occurring by chance in the UK, and separately in the United States, is tiny.

"This shows that at some point, black squirrels were brought into this country from North America."

The first recorded sighting of a black squirrel was in 1912 on the outskirts of Letchworth. It's thought that, like grey squirrels, a handful of black-furred specimens were imported for a private zoo and then escaped or were released.

"People speculate that it was the Duke of Bedford who imported black squirrels, but I've been unable to confirm that - even with the help of the family's archivists," says Dr Thomas.

It took another 30 years before black squirrels were spotted on the south-west borders of Cambridgeshire.

Today they are found in a ribbon across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. In some hot-spots, blacks now outnumber greys, making up an estimated three-quarters of the squirrel population in villages such as Girton in Cambridgeshire.

"They're not found anywhere else in the UK. But people have reported seeing black versions of red squirrels - a different species, remember - on the Isle of Skye," says Dr Thomas.

Amateur photographer Simon George, of Henlow in Bedfordshire, has been documenting the comings and goings of a black squirrel in his back garden for several years.

"We more or less adopted her, and called her Coffee. She would come if you called her and ate out of our hands; she loved Waitrose finest walnuts. She had a litter of six last summer and survived the snow of last winter, but we have not seen her, or any other squirrel, since March."

In his area, too, black squirrels have largely replaced greys - he speculates that this is because they're bigger.

But Dr Thomas says any differences in size or behaviour are probably down to age.

"Blacks and greys are the same species. Any differences people notice are likely to be age-related."

The rise of the black is the biggest change in squirrel demographics since the native reds almost disappeared 50 years ago from large parts of England.

This is not because black squirrels compete with greys in the way that greys compete with reds (the larger greys eat more, and carry a pox that is deadly to reds), but because the gene for black fur is dominant, just like the gene for brown eyes is dominant over blue in humans.

"Two grey squirrels cannot produce black-furred offspring, just as blue-eyed parents cannot have a brown-eyed baby," says Dr Thomas. "You need to have a black-furred parent to produce black offspring."

As wildlife watchers gear up for the Wildlife Trusts' population count for Red Squirrel Week, or for the start of the BBC's Autumnwatch on Thursday, Dr Thomas has a fond hope.

"I'd like there to be a count of how many black squirrels there are now. We're so programmed to expect grey squirrels that it's a shock when you first see a black one - it's startling and interesting."

More at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11444893

I've heard of pink elephants, but this is ridiculous: Amazing images of rare pink hippopotamus captured in Masai Mara

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:40 AM on 1st October 2010

Wading through the muddy waters this rare pink-o-pottamus stands out from the crowd.

British brothers and wildlife photographers Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas captured these images of the brightly coloured hippo in the Masai Mara, Kenya, last week.

Visiting the African country on the hunt to photograph the legendary wildebeest migration the Londoners were in for a treat when rumours of a pink hippo surfaced.

'Our guide had mentioned that he had heard rumours of this rare hippo from a fellow guide, however, he was not told where it lived and he had never come across it before,' explains 26-year-old Will.

'After a rather uneventful morning, we stopped on the banks of the Mara River for a picnic breakfast.

'After a while, to our great surprise, we spotted the pink hippo emerge on to the far bank of the river.

'We dropped everything and reached for our cameras!'

Racing up to a bank on the river, the brothers positioned themselves a few hundred yards from the young hippo, so not to disturb it.

'It was a young one as it is much smaller than the other hippos and always stayed close to its mother,' said Will.

'It was nice to see the other hippos treated it no differently to any other.

'The pink hippo seemed perfectly happy as it bumbled around on the shore and other than its skin, was no different to any other hippo.

'It was out on the shore for 10 minutes or less. After that we spotted his pink head surface above the water every few minutes as he came up for air.

'It was also very shy and after spotting us it hid behind its mother before disappearing into the water.'

Excited by their discovery the brothers returned to the UK this week, eager to find out more about the rare hippo.

Will continued: 'On returning to the UK I have spent a morning researching the condition in order to find out how rare this creature really is and what caused the extraordinary coloration.

'I found just a handful of recorded instances of pink hippos in Uganda but never in the Mara.

'It turns out the hippo is "leucistic" [a condition characterised by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans], and not an albino since it does have some pigmented spots and dark eyes.

'Usually leucistic and albino animals do not survive in the wild as they are very visible to predators and they get serious sunburn.

'However, once hippos are large enough they are rarely attacked by predators, and uniquely, their sweat acts as a sunscreen which means a pink hippo can survive perfectly well in the wild!'

For Will though, the encounter proved how wildlife can continue to surprise and amaze.

'It was very exciting, particularly in Africa, where it seems that every animal has been photographed to death,' he added.

'As we were taking the pictures were not sure if anyone else had already photographed the animal or how rare a pink hippo really is, so it wasn't until we got back to the UK and did some research that we realised how special our pictures really were.

'This was obviously a unique encounter but it never ceases to amaze me how often wildlife surprises us... no matter how much time we spend photographing animals.

'When we are out in the field there is seldom a day that goes by where we don't observe some surprising aspect of behaviour or a unique individual that we have never come across before.

'Ultimately this is one reason why we find watching and photographing wildlife so fulfilling.'

More photos: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315917/Rare-pink-hippo-images-captured-Masai-Mara-Kenya.html#ixzz11InA559S

I've heard of pink elephants, but this is ridiculous: Amazing images of rare pink hippopotamus captured in Masai Mara

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:40 AM on 1st October 2010

Wading through the muddy waters this rare pink-o-pottamus stands out from the crowd.

British brothers and wildlife photographers Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas captured these images of the brightly coloured hippo in the Masai Mara, Kenya, last week.

Visiting the African country on the hunt to photograph the legendary wildebeest migration the Londoners were in for a treat when rumours of a pink hippo surfaced.

'Our guide had mentioned that he had heard rumours of this rare hippo from a fellow guide, however, he was not told where it lived and he had never come across it before,' explains 26-year-old Will.

'After a rather uneventful morning, we stopped on the banks of the Mara River for a picnic breakfast.

'After a while, to our great surprise, we spotted the pink hippo emerge on to the far bank of the river.

'We dropped everything and reached for our cameras!'

Racing up to a bank on the river, the brothers positioned themselves a few hundred yards from the young hippo, so not to disturb it.

'It was a young one as it is much smaller than the other hippos and always stayed close to its mother,' said Will.

'It was nice to see the other hippos treated it no differently to any other.

'The pink hippo seemed perfectly happy as it bumbled around on the shore and other than its skin, was no different to any other hippo.

'It was out on the shore for 10 minutes or less. After that we spotted his pink head surface above the water every few minutes as he came up for air.

'It was also very shy and after spotting us it hid behind its mother before disappearing into the water.'

Excited by their discovery the brothers returned to the UK this week, eager to find out more about the rare hippo.

Will continued: 'On returning to the UK I have spent a morning researching the condition in order to find out how rare this creature really is and what caused the extraordinary coloration.

'I found just a handful of recorded instances of pink hippos in Uganda but never in the Mara.

'It turns out the hippo is "leucistic" [a condition characterised by reduced pigmentation in animals and humans], and not an albino since it does have some pigmented spots and dark eyes.

'Usually leucistic and albino animals do not survive in the wild as they are very visible to predators and they get serious sunburn.

'However, once hippos are large enough they are rarely attacked by predators, and uniquely, their sweat acts as a sunscreen which means a pink hippo can survive perfectly well in the wild!'

For Will though, the encounter proved how wildlife can continue to surprise and amaze.

'It was very exciting, particularly in Africa, where it seems that every animal has been photographed to death,' he added.

'As we were taking the pictures were not sure if anyone else had already photographed the animal or how rare a pink hippo really is, so it wasn't until we got back to the UK and did some research that we realised how special our pictures really were.

'This was obviously a unique encounter but it never ceases to amaze me how often wildlife surprises us... no matter how much time we spend photographing animals.

'When we are out in the field there is seldom a day that goes by where we don't observe some surprising aspect of behaviour or a unique individual that we have never come across before.

'Ultimately this is one reason why we find watching and photographing wildlife so fulfilling.'

More photos: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1315917/Rare-pink-hippo-images-captured-Masai-Mara-Kenya.html#ixzz11InA559S

White elephant discovery 'a positive omen' for Burma

The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old.   
Photo: AP

Burma's state-controlled media hailed the capture of a rare white elephant as a positive omen for forthcoming elections, the first balloting in two decades in the military-ruled country.

Published: 10:59AM BST 25 Sep 2010

The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old.

The newspaper, a mouthpiece for the ruling junta, hailed the elephant's capture as a sign the country will be peaceful and free from all dangers, and its people will enjoy greater prosperity and progress.

"It is auspicious that a rare white elephant emerged at a time when Myanmar was going through a democratic transition and the elections will be held peacefully and successfully," it said.

White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations.
They were normally kept and pampered by monarchs and considered a symbol of royal power and prosperity.

Burma's military rulers, like many of the country's citizens, are said to be particularly superstitious.

The Nov 7 general elections will be the first in 20 years.

The National League for Democracy party of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won the last polls but was not allowed to take power by the military. It is boycotting this year's vote, charging that the election rules are unfair and undemocratic.

The New Light of Myanmar said the elephant's capture will ensure that peace, stability and prosperity will continue under the new elected government, explaining that white elephants only emerge in places where the practice of Buddhism flourishes and rulers govern justly.

It said that according to ancient treatises, it is hard to find even a single white elephant among a thousand, but five of the rare beasts have emerged from 2001 to 2010, and the latest discovery is a matter of "national pride."
The country's fourth white elephant, a 38-year-old female captured in the jungles of Rakhine state in June, was given a lavish welcome ceremony when it was taken to the administrative capital of Naypyitaw.

Three other white elephants caught earlier are kept in a special park in Yangon, where they live in an enclosure with spiralled pavilions, a man-made waterfall, ponds and trees.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/8024818/White-elephant-discovery-a-positive-omen-for-Burma.html

See also: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Burma-finds-rare-white-elephant-in-western-forest-30138736.html

White elephant discovery 'a positive omen' for Burma

The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old.   
Photo: AP

Burma's state-controlled media hailed the capture of a rare white elephant as a positive omen for forthcoming elections, the first balloting in two decades in the military-ruled country.

Published: 10:59AM BST 25 Sep 2010

The seven foot tall beast was captured on Thursday in Rakhine state in the northwest, and is the fifth white elephant caught in a decade. The elephant is estimated to be 18 years old.

The newspaper, a mouthpiece for the ruling junta, hailed the elephant's capture as a sign the country will be peaceful and free from all dangers, and its people will enjoy greater prosperity and progress.

"It is auspicious that a rare white elephant emerged at a time when Myanmar was going through a democratic transition and the elections will be held peacefully and successfully," it said.

White elephants, actually albinos, have for centuries been revered in Burma, Thailand, Laos and other Asian nations.
They were normally kept and pampered by monarchs and considered a symbol of royal power and prosperity.

Burma's military rulers, like many of the country's citizens, are said to be particularly superstitious.

The Nov 7 general elections will be the first in 20 years.

The National League for Democracy party of Nobel Peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi won the last polls but was not allowed to take power by the military. It is boycotting this year's vote, charging that the election rules are unfair and undemocratic.

The New Light of Myanmar said the elephant's capture will ensure that peace, stability and prosperity will continue under the new elected government, explaining that white elephants only emerge in places where the practice of Buddhism flourishes and rulers govern justly.

It said that according to ancient treatises, it is hard to find even a single white elephant among a thousand, but five of the rare beasts have emerged from 2001 to 2010, and the latest discovery is a matter of "national pride."
The country's fourth white elephant, a 38-year-old female captured in the jungles of Rakhine state in June, was given a lavish welcome ceremony when it was taken to the administrative capital of Naypyitaw.

Three other white elephants caught earlier are kept in a special park in Yangon, where they live in an enclosure with spiralled pavilions, a man-made waterfall, ponds and trees.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/8024818/White-elephant-discovery-a-positive-omen-for-Burma.html

See also: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/home/Burma-finds-rare-white-elephant-in-western-forest-30138736.html

'Sick prank' leaves cat dyed pink in Swindon

24 September 2010

The RSPCA have criticised a "sick prank" in which a cat had its fur dyed pink and was then thrown over a garden fence in Swindon.

Officers are looking for the owner of the cat, which was found by a man in his garden in Wesley Street on 18 September.

The two-year-old, who has been named Pink, is said to be in good health.

However, vets have not been able to wash the dye out of her fur and she will have to wait for it to grow out.

It is thought the naturally white domestic short-haired cat is either a stray or has been abandoned.

This is because the fur around her neck has a pattern which suggests she has been wearing a collar fairly recently.

'Poor creature'

But the RSPCA said she could be someone's missing pet who was the victim of a prank.

Veterinary surgeon Penny Gillespie, who is caring for Pink at Cheldene Veterinary Centre and Boarding Cattery, said: "We have no idea what the dye is or how long it will last.

"It is clearly not toxic but still unpleasant.

"The person responsible has covered her thoroughly all over but avoided putting any around the animal's eyes and nose.

"Further washing would stress Pink and probably would not help to remove the colour so it will be case of waiting for it to grow out."

RSPCA officer Carl Hone said: "When I got the call I thought perhaps it would be a cat with something natural on their coat or which had rubbed against wet paint but this poor creature has been dyed completely pink, except around her eyes and nose, so she looks like she has a white mask on."

He added: "We are very keen to trace the person responsible for doing this to the cat and I would urge anyone with information, or who knows who she belongs to, to please call the RSPCA."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-11407516

'Sick prank' leaves cat dyed pink in Swindon

24 September 2010

The RSPCA have criticised a "sick prank" in which a cat had its fur dyed pink and was then thrown over a garden fence in Swindon.

Officers are looking for the owner of the cat, which was found by a man in his garden in Wesley Street on 18 September.

The two-year-old, who has been named Pink, is said to be in good health.

However, vets have not been able to wash the dye out of her fur and she will have to wait for it to grow out.

It is thought the naturally white domestic short-haired cat is either a stray or has been abandoned.

This is because the fur around her neck has a pattern which suggests she has been wearing a collar fairly recently.

'Poor creature'

But the RSPCA said she could be someone's missing pet who was the victim of a prank.

Veterinary surgeon Penny Gillespie, who is caring for Pink at Cheldene Veterinary Centre and Boarding Cattery, said: "We have no idea what the dye is or how long it will last.

"It is clearly not toxic but still unpleasant.

"The person responsible has covered her thoroughly all over but avoided putting any around the animal's eyes and nose.

"Further washing would stress Pink and probably would not help to remove the colour so it will be case of waiting for it to grow out."

RSPCA officer Carl Hone said: "When I got the call I thought perhaps it would be a cat with something natural on their coat or which had rubbed against wet paint but this poor creature has been dyed completely pink, except around her eyes and nose, so she looks like she has a white mask on."

He added: "We are very keen to trace the person responsible for doing this to the cat and I would urge anyone with information, or who knows who she belongs to, to please call the RSPCA."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-wiltshire-11407516

Rare albino 'devil crab' is caught off the Cornish coast

Friday, September 03, 2010

A fisherman was stunned yesterday after snaring this "extremely rare" albino crab off the coast of Britain.

The all white crustacean – which has bright red eyes – was caught half a mile out to sea near Mylor in Cornwall.

Experts say it is a velvet swimming crab, which is also known as a devil crab.

The crab was snared by fisherman Cameron Henry and is being cared for at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay.

Spokesman David Waines said: "Albino crustaceans are extremely rare, however no one here has ever heard of an albino swimming crab.

"Normally these types of crab are a deep blue or purple colour so to get one like this is very unusual indeed.

"As well as being rare, white or albino crustaceans do not tend to survive for long in the wild as they rely on their natural camouflage to protect them from predators.

"However, devil crabs are renowned for their extremely aggressive behaviour and it may be that – in spite of being such an obvious target – this particular crab was able to fight off would-be hunters.

"Although they rarely exceed 10cms in length they will try and attack even the largest intruder – including humans – waving their claws violently from side to side."

Velvet swimming crabs get their name because their shells are covered with dense, velvety hair and they use their paddle-like hind legs to swim away from attackers.

They are found from northern Norway to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Rare-albino-devil-crab-caught-Cornish-coast/article-2601842-detail/article.html

See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8962000/8962960.stm

Rare albino 'devil crab' is caught off the Cornish coast

Friday, September 03, 2010

A fisherman was stunned yesterday after snaring this "extremely rare" albino crab off the coast of Britain.

The all white crustacean – which has bright red eyes – was caught half a mile out to sea near Mylor in Cornwall.

Experts say it is a velvet swimming crab, which is also known as a devil crab.

The crab was snared by fisherman Cameron Henry and is being cared for at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay.

Spokesman David Waines said: "Albino crustaceans are extremely rare, however no one here has ever heard of an albino swimming crab.

"Normally these types of crab are a deep blue or purple colour so to get one like this is very unusual indeed.

"As well as being rare, white or albino crustaceans do not tend to survive for long in the wild as they rely on their natural camouflage to protect them from predators.

"However, devil crabs are renowned for their extremely aggressive behaviour and it may be that – in spite of being such an obvious target – this particular crab was able to fight off would-be hunters.

"Although they rarely exceed 10cms in length they will try and attack even the largest intruder – including humans – waving their claws violently from side to side."

Velvet swimming crabs get their name because their shells are covered with dense, velvety hair and they use their paddle-like hind legs to swim away from attackers.

They are found from northern Norway to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/news/Rare-albino-devil-crab-caught-Cornish-coast/article-2601842-detail/article.html

See also: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cornwall/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8962000/8962960.stm