The aye-aye is a creature thought so ugly that in its native jungle superstitious villagers beat it to death - but it has become the pride and joy of Bristol Zoo.
At first keepers wanted to call this baby Gollum, after its striking resemblance to the anti-hero of The Lord of Rings, but instead decided on Kintana, which means star in Madagascar, where the aye-aye originates.
These extraordinary nocturnal creatures are so rarely seen that they were once thought to have become extinct. Numbers are uncertain and they are listed in the international "red book" of endangered species.
Bristol is only one of two zoos in the world which have bred aye-ayes successfully and hopes the lessons learned will help to ensure the species' survival.
"They do look like gremlins, and at first sight it is hard to believe they are real," said Caroline Brown, senior keeper of small mammals at the zoo's Twilight World. "Initially we were wary of getting too attached to Kintana but when he comes ... across the cage in welcome and sits in your hand it is very hard not to."
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
The Aye-Aye.
New Bigfoot Video Alleged.
"Residents have been flocking to Georgina Henry's house to watch two minutes and 49 seconds of video shot by her son, Bobby Clarke, on the banks of the Nelson River shortly after dawn Saturday morning. "It's pictures of Bigfoot," she said. "It's black and it's big. Oh god, it's huge - seven or eight feet high," Henry said. "We can see him walking, and then turning to look at him (Clarke). Clarke said he was on duty at his job as a car ferry operator when he saw a "big, black figure" on the opposite bank, about 250 to 300 metres away. He grabbed his camcorder, which he said he always has with him. "It was just massive, standing tall. I'm freaked out," Clarke said Monday in an interview from the ferry at an uninhabited bush area 40 kilometres from Norway House. ... He said the creature walked upright on two legs back into the bush, barely 200 metres away from the ferry dock." -azcentral
For more, including video, sounds, photos and links to thousands of eye-witness sightings, see our Bigfoot Article.
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Reader Feedback: Deep sea hoax photos?
About your news: "Phuket deep sea creatures found on the seaside after the tsunami." As a former student in marine biology, i've found it weird, most of these species belonging to bathypelagic depth... Hmm... It's a hoax, please check it at: http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=546 However, the PHOTOS ARE REAL and come from: http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/about/fieldwork/norfanz/index.htm
Please, have a look at Mr Blobby! ;) Nice "eclectic" site, your report on the "chupacabra" is interesting, especially with the poor dog: did you show these pics to a veterinarian? Keep it skeptic, have a nice day, Blob
Thanks! Good to know, I'll update my Cryptozoology news archives asap. For the curious, "The bathypelagic zone refers to water of a depth deeper than 1000m ( 3,280 feet or 0.62 miles). 74% of the volume of the worlds oceans are bathypelagic ." -mrothery
About the dog in my chupacabra article, I had a bird scientist look at the photos, but not a vet. Good idea! Will do if the opportunity comes up.
Reader Feedback: Deep sea hoax photos?
About your news: "Phuket deep sea creatures found on the seaside after the tsunami." As a former student in marine biology, i've found it weird, most of these species belonging to bathypelagic depth... Hmm... It's a hoax, please check it at: http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=546 However, the PHOTOS ARE REAL and come from: http://www.amonline.net.au/fishes/about/fieldwork/norfanz/index.htm
Please, have a look at Mr Blobby! ;) Nice "eclectic" site, your report on the "chupacabra" is interesting, especially with the poor dog: did you show these pics to a veterinarian? Keep it skeptic, have a nice day, Blob
Thanks! Good to know, I'll update my Cryptozoology news archives asap. For the curious, "The bathypelagic zone refers to water of a depth deeper than 1000m ( 3,280 feet or 0.62 miles). 74% of the volume of the worlds oceans are bathypelagic ." -mrothery
About the dog in my chupacabra article, I had a bird scientist look at the photos, but not a vet. Good idea! Will do if the opportunity comes up.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Rancher Dissatisfied with Chupacabra DNA Results.
Bexar County? The man who found it is hoping to get new DNA results. Devin MacAnally says he has received the results of a DNA test, but he won't reveal them. He says he's not happy with the results. Representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife speculate that it's a coyote with mange. The hairless beast with sharp teeth sparked speculation that the animal was a Chupacabra of South Texas folklore. MacAnally says he plans to look for someone else to do a new DNA test. He hopes to make those arrangements in the next couple of weeks. We'll let you know what he finds out."See our Chupacabra article for more photos and the story of a sighting in California.
Rancher Dissatisfied with Chupacabra DNA Results.
Bexar County? The man who found it is hoping to get new DNA results. Devin MacAnally says he has received the results of a DNA test, but he won't reveal them. He says he's not happy with the results. Representatives from Texas Parks and Wildlife speculate that it's a coyote with mange. The hairless beast with sharp teeth sparked speculation that the animal was a Chupacabra of South Texas folklore. MacAnally says he plans to look for someone else to do a new DNA test. He hopes to make those arrangements in the next couple of weeks. We'll let you know what he finds out."See our Chupacabra article for more photos and the story of a sighting in California.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Vehicles: ‘Baywatch’ cop busted in bid to save electric cars.
GM is shipping EV1s to be crushed. "Baywatch" actress Alexandra Paul and another woman were arrested Monday after blocking the path of trucks hauling GM's pioneering EV1 electric cars to Arizona to be destroyed, police said.
"The company said the cars never became popular enough to turn a profit, and that they must be destroyed because there isn't a large enough supply of the car's 2,000 parts. That could make the vehicles unsafe and lead to lawsuits, GM contends. ... GM has declined the group's offer to pay a total of $1.9 million for the vehicles. "
"GM's EV1 was cute, quick and fun to drive. It could manage 70-90 miles on the energy equivalent of a half-gallon of gas in its 1200-lb lead-acid battery pack, and nearly twice that with a much more expensive NiMH pack." - carconnection
The EV1 may be gone, but the Prius is still going strong. I still want one.
"Toyota, which acknowledges that demand has been much higher than anticipated, will increase Prius production dramatically in 2005 -- from 10,000 a month to 15,000. It also will raise the price $580 to $20,875 starting in September." - aiada
Vehicles: ‘Baywatch’ cop busted in bid to save electric cars.
GM is shipping EV1s to be crushed. "Baywatch" actress Alexandra Paul and another woman were arrested Monday after blocking the path of trucks hauling GM's pioneering EV1 electric cars to Arizona to be destroyed, police said.
"The company said the cars never became popular enough to turn a profit, and that they must be destroyed because there isn't a large enough supply of the car's 2,000 parts. That could make the vehicles unsafe and lead to lawsuits, GM contends. ... GM has declined the group's offer to pay a total of $1.9 million for the vehicles. "
"GM's EV1 was cute, quick and fun to drive. It could manage 70-90 miles on the energy equivalent of a half-gallon of gas in its 1200-lb lead-acid battery pack, and nearly twice that with a much more expensive NiMH pack." - carconnection
The EV1 may be gone, but the Prius is still going strong. I still want one.
Friday, March 11, 2005
Talk to Aliens for $3.99 per minute…
"A group of engineers has offered a solution for people who want a direct line to aliens - by broadcasting their phone calls directly into space.
People wanting to contact extraterrestrial beings through www.TalkToAliens.com can dial a premium rate US number and have their call routed through a transmitter and sent into space through a 3.2-metre-wide dish in central Connecticut, US.
The service, launched on 27 February, will cost users $3.99 per minute, says Eric Knight, president of the company. He says that a large radio receiver - like the Arecibo dish in Puerto Rico - situated on a distant planet might be large enough for an alien civilisation to receive the calls.
talktoaliens
from ostatni & dish used by talktoaliens.com
The company is not aiming its antenna at specific stars with the potential to harbour life. Rather, they have opted to track across the Milky Way galaxy to cover a host of nearby stars.
... Since the alien hotline was turned on, www.TalkToAliens.com has fielded hundreds of calls, averaging about three minutes each.
Talk to Aliens for $3.99 per minute…
"A group of engineers has offered a solution for people who want a direct line to aliens - by broadcasting their phone calls directly into space.
People wanting to contact extraterrestrial beings through www.TalkToAliens.com can dial a premium rate US number and have their call routed through a transmitter and sent into space through a 3.2-metre-wide dish in central Connecticut, US.
The service, launched on 27 February, will cost users $3.99 per minute, says Eric Knight, president of the company. He says that a large radio receiver - like the Arecibo dish in Puerto Rico - situated on a distant planet might be large enough for an alien civilisation to receive the calls.
talktoaliens
from ostatni & dish used by talktoaliens.com
The company is not aiming its antenna at specific stars with the potential to harbour life. Rather, they have opted to track across the Milky Way galaxy to cover a host of nearby stars.
... Since the alien hotline was turned on, www.TalkToAliens.com has fielded hundreds of calls, averaging about three minutes each.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
The Dachshun that ’stares’.
"I need a favor !! My neighbor has a puppy he's giving away (FREE!). It's a Dachshund, it's house broken, and it's great with kids. He's giving it away because his wife says the dog 'stares' at her, and that gives her the 'Heebie Jeebies'. If you're interested, or know someone who is, let me know. Here's a picture of the dog."
The Dachshun that ’stares’.
"I need a favor !! My neighbor has a puppy he's giving away (FREE!). It's a Dachshund, it's house broken, and it's great with kids. He's giving it away because his wife says the dog 'stares' at her, and that gives her the 'Heebie Jeebies'. If you're interested, or know someone who is, let me know. Here's a picture of the dog."
What Is This Creature?
"It was about four feet tall, standing erect on two legs. It was disproportionately muscular in its upper body. It had glowing red eyes, a little bit of a snout like a dog, it was hairy all over and it had long claws. It's legs bent backwards, like a goat's."
What Is This Creature?
"It was about four feet tall, standing erect on two legs. It was disproportionately muscular in its upper body. It had glowing red eyes, a little bit of a snout like a dog, it was hairy all over and it had long claws. It's legs bent backwards, like a goat's."
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Vehicles: Super Electric Vespa
"Xenophilia: I was wondering if you could help get the word out about a revolutionary new EV that will be released in 2006. It cruises at over 60mph and goes up to 70 miles on a single charge would be the national average electricity cost. Of course, no noise or emissions. The website is www.vectrixusa.com , and here's an insider image of the bike's new design. I've ridden the VXe and it's amazing. ... PS: I am not a Vectrix employee, I just want the VXe to be available here."
Looks cool, and going 70 miles for around for 34 cents is amazing. Of course, you have to figure in the $8,000 price tag and the cost of replacing the fuel cell, but it still seems like a great deal for those quick hops around town.
Vehicles: Super Electric Vespa
"Xenophilia: I was wondering if you could help get the word out about a revolutionary new EV that will be released in 2006. It cruises at over 60mph and goes up to 70 miles on a single charge would be the national average electricity cost. Of course, no noise or emissions. The website is www.vectrixusa.com , and here's an insider image of the bike's new design. I've ridden the VXe and it's amazing. ... PS: I am not a Vectrix employee, I just want the VXe to be available here."
Looks cool, and going 70 miles for around for 34 cents is amazing. Of course, you have to figure in the $8,000 price tag and the cost of replacing the fuel cell, but it still seems like a great deal for those quick hops around town.
Phuket deep sea creatures found on the seaside after the tsunami.
According to snopes:
"They date from mid-2003 and were taken as part of the NORFANZ voyage, a joint Australian-New Zealand research expedition conducted in May-June 2003 to explore deep sea habitats and biodiversity in the Tasman Sea. These photographs can be viewed on Australia's National Oceans Office web site."
 |  |  |
aphyonus | basketwork_eel | blob_fish |
 |  |  |
crab | fangtooth | hatchetfish |
 |  |  |
coffinfish | chimaera_pup | chimaera_fish |
 |  |  |
umbrella_mouth | prickly_shark | lizard_fish |
Phuket deep sea creatures found on the seaside after the tsunami.
According to snopes:
"They date from mid-2003 and were taken as part of the NORFANZ voyage, a joint Australian-New Zealand research expedition conducted in May-June 2003 to explore deep sea habitats and biodiversity in the Tasman Sea. These photographs can be viewed on Australia's National Oceans Office web site."
| | |
aphyonus | basketwork_eel | blob_fish |
| | |
crab | fangtooth | hatchetfish |
| | |
coffinfish | chimaera_pup | chimaera_fish |
| | |
umbrella_mouth | prickly_shark | lizard_fish |
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Giant Eel in Melbourne Australia Frightens Tourist.
There are some really interesting monster eels out there. According to occultopedia, they have been measured up to 12 feet. Check out these strange deep sea creatures.
Giant Eel in Melbourne Australia Frightens Tourist.
There are some really interesting monster eels out there. According to occultopedia, they have been measured up to 12 feet. Check out these strange deep sea creatures.