This is the dramatic moment a mother elephant refused to leave her trapped baby for 11 HOURS as she desperately battled to save the infant.

The determined mother was seen frantically using her trunk to haul the youngster from a mud-filled well.

Unfortunately, the distraught mammal made matters worse by accidentally pushing more mud into the well - almost smothering the baby in the process. The tiny elephant was trapped from 9pm until it was finally rescued at 8am the next morning.

The youngster was freed when people living near the Chatra district in India, where the incident happened, rushed to the scene after hearing distressed cries.

Kind-hearted villagers deterred the mother and used the time to remove some of the soil preventing her from grabbing the calf. Jitendra Tiwari, who filmed the drama and helped with the rescue, said: "We chopped off a few banana trucks and put it near the well so that the mother elephant moved away for sometime.


"The plan worked and we used the time remove the heap of sand deposited near the well that was making it difficult for her to rescue the baby." With the majority of the soil cleared, the mother was then able to tightly wrap her trunk around the baby's slippery, mud-caked body. The duo were later seen happily walking side-by-side as they continued their journey.
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A study has been done that poses the idea that you may actually have more Neanderthal DNA in you if you’re not a dog lover. Apparently that’s a big deal. Homo sapiens, or humans as we are today, could have gained that edge on Neanderthals because of dog domestication.

 To be a bit “black or white” about it, we survived because we embraced the idea of dogs and man living together. Sadly, Neanderthals did not. Scientists believe this gave homo sapiens the ability to survive and thrive through things Neanderthals were ill equipped for, and that’s why we don’t have two species of humans wandering the lands.

The following is a very interesting article from National Public Radio’s WBUR in Boston, Mass. It gives some very interesting evidence to support this line of thought, and some clearly definable distinctions between humans and neanderthals. Give it a read, and you may just find yourself going, “Now that makes sense!”

From NPR station WBUR, done for the The Wild Life by Vicki Croke

Is it possible that along with being happier and healthier, we dog lovers are also more evolved than those who don’t like dogs? Probably not, but for fun, lets use some emerging science to make the case.

First of all, new fossil discoveries, genetic data, and a hot new book by anthropologist Pat Shipman are giving real lift to the idea that modern humans out competed Neanderthals in part because we had wolf/dogs and they didn’t. That alone would make us dog lovers gleeful, but then, there’s a possibility that we could be downright smug. Because if you add in the fact that most of us humans today have anywhere from one to four percent of Neanderthal genes in our systems, depending on the individual, you might just wonder if dog loving might be an indicator of the ratio of Neanderthal genes you’ve got.

The second part is pretty sketchy, actually, but I liked it when I first heard of it three years ago, while reviewing the book “The $60,000 Dog,” by Lauren Slater. She wrote, with some humor, that theories about Neanderthals and dogs might tell us something about the people around us today: “What this may mean: all those ‘not dog’ people, the ones who push away the paws and straighten their skirts after being sniffed, well, they may have one foot in the chromosomally compromised Neanderthal pool.” We dog lovers, she asked? “Well, we may be displaying not idiocy or short-sighted sentimentality, as our critics would call it, but a sign of our superior genetic lineage.”

Those words have really come back to me this month as Pat Shipman’s new book–“The Invaders: How Humans And Their Dogs Drove Neanderthals to Extinction” –is getting a lot of buzz. She makes a very persuasive and full case that early dogs were critical to modern humans beating out Neanderthals in the game of life.

According to The Atlantic:

“One of the most compelling — and enduring — mysteries in archaeology concerns the rise of early humans and the decline of Neanderthals. For about 250,000 years, Neanderthals lived and evolved, quite successfully, in the area that is now Europe. Somewhere between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, early humans came along. They proliferated in their new environment, their population increasing tenfold in the 10,000 years after they arrived; Neanderthals declined and finally died away.”

But, according to The Guardian, the question is: what killed off those Neanderthals?:

“Some scientists blame climate change. Most argue that modern humans – armed with superior skills and weapons – were responsible. Shipman agrees with the latter scenario, but adds a twist. We had an accomplice: the wolf. Modern humans formed an alliance with wolves soon after we entered Europe, argues Shipman. We tamed some and the dogs we bred from them were then used to chase prey and to drive off rival carnivores, including lions and leopards, that tried to steal the meat.”

The timing of the human-dog bond is critical to this theory. We used to think that wolves were domesticated only about 10,000 or 15,000 years ago, and that would mean dogs weren’t around for the great modern human vs. Neanderthal competition. But new data is pushing back the timing of our first associations with early dogs.

We’ve got that evidence from biologists and archeologists now. For me, these little glimpses of our earliest associations with wolf dogs, told in fossils and ancient imprints, are always so evocative. For instance, from a cave in Southern France, there are footprints made in mud and preserved for thousands of years—one set those of a child walking along barefoot and right next to them, step for step, are the paw prints of a large dog or wolf. They date back 26,000 years.

There are other recent fossil discoveries from the Czech Republic, Siberia, and Belgium indicating a dog-wolf/human bond starting at least back 33,000 years ago. And some doggie DNA analysis says wolves could have started becoming dogs 135,000 years ago. Mark Derr has written eloquently about this ancient dog-human bond framed not as us taming them, but as an “alliance,” and an “evolutionary inevitability.”

But even if there’s a good argument to be made that modern humans beat out Neanderthals because of a love of dogs, what about the notion that people who don’t like dogs have more Neanderthal in them? Well, as it turns out, our ancestors did have sex with Neanderthals, and parts of Neanderthal genetic code is alive and well in many people.

According to National Geographic’s “Genographic Project”:

Everyone living outside of Africa today has a small amount of Neanderthal in them, carried as a living relic of these ancient encounters. A team of scientists comparing the full genomes of the two species concluded that most Europeans and Asians have between 1 to 4 percent Neanderthal DNA. Indigenous sub-Saharan Africans have no Neanderthal DNA because their ancestors did not migrate through Eurasia.

Intriguingly, “Levels of Neanderthal ancestry differ in European and Asian groups,” according to a study cited by Discovery News. “Han Chinese people in Beijing, for example, have the most such ancestry while Puerto Ricans have the least.”

If that makes you wonder how high you score for Neanderthal ancestry, you’re not alone. An Associated Press story included a quote from New York University anthropology professor Todd Disotell, who says he did something about his curiosity. “Disotell recently had his genome tested by a private company and found he’s got more Neanderthal DNA than most people, about 2.9 percent: ‘I’m quite proud of that.’ ”

Here was my chance to test the theory at least with a sample of one. I emailed Professor Disotell to ask if he likes dogs. He responded: “I have a Golden retriever who I love.” Oops. So much for the theory that a higher amount of Neanderthal DNA makes people dislike dogs.
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Autumn Dizhon Clah, 2, from Lukachukai, Ariz., sings the national anthem in Navajo Language with her mother Roxyanne Harvey by her side.

The Navajo Nation Fair was established in 1938 to stimulate livestock improvements and management through exhibits for the Navajo people.

The Navajo Nation Fair has become a world-renowned event that showcases Navajo Agriculture, Fine Arts and Crafts, with the promotion and preservation of the Navajo heritage by providing cultural entertainment.

The Navajo Nation Fair is the largest American Indian Fair and Rodeo within the Southwest United States, with a daily average attendance of 15,000 visitors.


The Navajo Nation Fair starts each year after the Labor Day weekend and ending on the following Sunday. The Navajo Nation Fair consists of 25 coordinated events that extend over the seven days.

Considering traditions, language and ceremony have been passed down for many generations in many tribes, there is a lot to learn in the way of culture.

To young people today, there may be a bit of a disconnect in terms of learning about the traditions of our ancestors—or maybe they don’t have a clear idea of how to go about learning traditional ways.

In an attempt to help bridge this gap, here are 10 ways young people (or anyone wanting to learn more about their own tribe) can go about learning, connecting and practicing the ways of their own Indian culture.

Start Learning Your language

The first step to bridging the gap between young people and their ancestors is by speaking the language that was spoken by their tribe before the arrival of settlers. English is considered to be one of the least expressive languages and native languages have a depth of meaning that can serve as a true connection to your heritage.

Start a Native Group or Club at School

This is not as hard as it seems, but going to your school’s office and asking if you can have permission to meet once a week after school or during lunch is the first step to meeting other Native students. In such a group, you can invite elders to speak, share stories and even learn about other tribes. Use your imagination.


Speak to a Tribal Official

By meeting with a tribal chief, chairman, president or tribal council member, you can learn about how your tribe deals with day-to-day business. You can learn about the importance of politics, or how your tribe deals with handling of the issues, needs, problems and assets of your people. Perhaps you can learn ways to contribute or volunteer.

Visit With an Elder

Never underestimate the incredible power of a conversation with an elder. Ask questions and take the time to listen with an open heart. Ask them to tell you stories and/or ask them about the traditions of your tribe. By showing interest you are stepping up as a young warrior.


Share Your Culture

Even if you are not fully informed about your own culture and traditions, offering to share your culture with another group or school will influence you to ask questions and learn more about yourself. You would be creating a win-win situation for everyone involved.


Meet With the Tribal Historian

Some tribes have a tribal historian on staff whose job it is to ensure that tribal history, culture and traditions will continue to be shared with the generations to come. Meet with them, ask them questions—and if you start a club or group at school—ask them to visit with the group. If you don’t have a historian, ask around and find a knowledgeable elder, they often enjoy sharing stories.

Join a Social Media Group

There are a number of groups on social media focused on Native culture. You could even create a group focused on learning about your tribe’s culture. Invite elders to join and swap knowledge. While you show an elder how to use Facebook, Google+, Twitter or other forms of social media, the elders can teach you about your culture—another win-win for bridging the generation gap.

Make a YouTube Video

Much like when you are preparing to talk to a class—when preparing to put something on YouTube—you have to learn in order to share a message. Here is another way to learn and create at the same time while sharing the message with others. Use lessons taught by your elders to create the video.

Learn About Shared History

A lot can be learned from not just your tribe’s history, but how your tribe and ancestors were seen by other tribes. Again, ask questions and take time to listen and learn.


Ask to Take Part In Ceremony

If it is appropriate ask an elder, or the right person in your tribe, if you can take part in an upcoming ceremony. Every tribe is a bit different in the approach, so this is a great opportunity to learn about practicing the traditions and ceremonies of your ancestors.
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A quadruple amputee Rottweiler named Brutus is getting the chance to walk again thanks to a new set of artificial limbs.

Brutus, who lives in Loveland, Colorado, is only the second dog to ever have four prosthetic limbs. The dog became disabled after he got frostbite on all four paws and was maimed by his breeder, who tried to amputate the damage himself.

But now Brutus has a loving foster mother in Laura Aquilina, who is training the dog so he can get used to a life with artificial limbs.

'You can't explain to an animal why you are putting these contraptions on their feet,' she told Fox 31 Denver. 'You can't explain it to them, that it's to help them.' Brutus' new limbs, which he was outfitted with in September 2014, gives him a high step that resembles a 'bucking bronco'.


Although Brutus can now take walks outside, Aquilina wants more for the two-year-old dog. 'It's not always pretty,' she said. 'We want to be able to give him a higher function where he can run and play with other dogs, go on hikes.'


Aquilina has Brutus do exercises and play outside so that he can become better at balance. And the dog will soon undergo physical therapy and get an improved set of prosthetics to boot. Brutus' artificial limbs were made by OrthoPets of Denver, which makes prosthetics for about 250 animals around the world every year.
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Jim and Jamie Dutcher spent six years living with wolves. What they learned might surprise you.

The photography is stunningly beautiful and the insights that Jim and Jamie Dutcher share with us opens a world of understanding into wolf behavior." –Apogee Photo Magazine

Delve into amazingly intimate wolf photography by Jim and Jamie Dutcher, a couple who spent many years living with a pack of wolves at the edge of Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness, observing their complex social hierarchy. Here is the alpha pair, leaders of the pack, often the only couple that mate. Here are the pups, born with eyes shut in the spring, tousled by their mother through the first six weeks of life.


Here is the omega wolf, lowest ranking wolf in the pack, whose subservience, often playful, alleviates pack tension. Here are moments of cooperation and moments of snarling dominance, moments of communication and affection.


Here, too, are heartwarming moments of connection between the Dutchers and the wolves, caught in pictures that remind us how close the links are between wolves in the wild and the beloved family dog.

An Owl's eyes are large in order to improve their efficiency, especially under low light conditions. In fact, the eyes are so well developed, that they are not eye balls as such, but elongated tubes.

They are held in place by bony structures in the skull called Sclerotic rings. For this reason, an Owl cannot "roll" or move its eyes - that is, it can only look straight ahead!

The Owl more than makes up for this by being able to turn its head up to 270 degrees left or right from the forward facing position, and almost upside down.

Since Owls have extraordinary night vision, it is often thought that they are blind in strong light. This is not true, because their pupils have a wide range of adjustment, allowing the right amount of light to strike the retina. Some species of Owls can actually see better than humans in bright light.

To protect their eyes, Owls are equipped with 3 eyelids. They have a normal upper and lower eyelid, the upper closing when the owl blinks, and the lower closing up when the Owl is asleep. The third eyelid is called a nictitating membrane, and is a thin layer of tissue that closes diagonally across the eye, from the inside to the outside. This cleans and protects the surface of the eye.



2. "You must clear your mind of all distractions. There are no distractions anymore." 

Wolves often show their affectionate and merry sides by gently nibbling on each others' faces. Although it may appear to outsiders as being hostile, the nibbling is a sign of endearment.

In wolves, enthusiastic face licking not only is an indication of affection, but also sometimes one of subordination, too.

If one wolf licks the face of another, he may be making a point to convey his lower social ranking. In the world of wolf packs, "superior" animals are generally the toughest and the ones with the most seniority.

Whining: Fully mature female wolves also sometimes convey feelings of affection by making whining sounds. If you hear a whimpering wolf, she's not necessarily upset about anything.

German photographer explains in his own words how he learned to take good photographs of his favorite subject, the wolves.

"The most important thing to me are happily combined subjects. For example, my love for animals has led me to become a photographer, but the combination of animals and the camera is a challenge for me.

You can't force an animal to do something. This is both an advantage and disadvantage. With animals there is no second chance nor can you really prepare for the shoot.

What good is great weather, the perfect backdrop and an excellent image detail, when the main character is taking a nap behind a tree.

Speed and fast reflexes are needed here. A good camera and a fast lens is not absolutely necessary, but it simplifies the work immensely. To compensate for difficult animal shots, I also like to work with buildings or "models"." (Source)

Is this wolf really scared of these sheep or it is just a smart tactic?

 A lone wolf in Norway testing and precisely observing its potential prey. You might think this sheep is totally owning the wolf, while in fact this video shows normal baiting technique for a lone wolf (although he comes across as somewhat inexperienced). The wolf is trying to get the mother sheep to run, to then run behind and grab one of the lambs.

Videos usually show wolves successfully hunting down prey, while in real life they succeed only 1/10 times. A wolf will rarely go after prey that attempts putting up a fight. Wolves know ungulates have hooves that can do serious damage.

Increased wolf control meant more dead livestock, study found


Killing wolves that prey on sheep and cattle leads to the death of more livestock, according to a new study.


Prior to the Washington State University study, the practice of culling wolves to save livestock had been a “widely accepted, but untested, hypothesis,” according to the authors. But it may be that killing wolves disrupts wolf packs in a way that leads them to hunt for livestock, which are relatively stationary, rather than the more mobile deer and elk.

“The odds of livestock depredations increased 4% for sheep and 5–6% for cattle with increased wolf control,” the study found.