The North Carolina Zoo has received three more African elephants, bringing its total to seven.

The three elephants — Artie, Tonga and Batir — traveled to Asheboro via truck from Riddle’s Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary, an elephant facility near Greenbrier, Ark.

The move was part of the zoo’s goal to promote long-term preservation of elephants and its elephant breeding program. The three new arrivals are now in a $2.5 million, 12,000-square-foot elephant holding barn within the “Watani Grasslands Reserve.” The zoo also expanded its outdoor elephant enclosure to seven acres for the new animals.

The upgrades are part of an $8.5 million renovation and expansion of the zoo’s elephant and rhinoceros facilities. Since November 2006, the Watani Grasslands Reserve project has raised $7.5 million in private contributions through the N.C. Zoological Society. The reserve’s grand opening is scheduled for April.

A Valley cat can surely cross off one of its nine lives after being trapped next to a car’s engine and taken around town Friday.The cat was picked up by a driver who spotted it on Loop 101 near McDowell Road and thought it had been fatally hit by a car.

The cat, however, turned out to be alive. The driver brought it to an animal shelter.

The cat’s injuries suggest it was most likely trapped in the engine of a vehicle, and after traveling for an unknown distance and time, fell out of the compartment and into traffic, said Kimberly Noetzel of the Arizona Humane Society.

Despite a large burn on its side, the cat is expected to be fine. It’s male, about 8 years old and friendly. Humane Society staff think it’s a pet, although there was no identification

It is about 8 years old and friendly, leaving the Human Society to believe it is someone’s pet.

Preliminary information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reveals more than 71 million people watched, fed, or photographed wild birds in 2006, the latest figures available. They spent $45 billion pursuing their hobby.

That makes feeding wild birds one of the most popular outdoor activities in the United States, with widespread and evenly-distributed fans among all age groups.

And the popularity is growing. From 2001 to 2006, the number of wildlife watchers increased by 8 percent in the U.S. The most popular activity was feeding wildlife close to home. You don’t need a license or any special skills n just an interest and a commitment to doing it right.

Wildlife professionals with the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks offers the following advicde for people who would like to participate in winter bird feeding.

Place feeders where you can watch, enjoy and photograph feeding visitors. If bothered by squirrels at feeders, place your feeder on a pole away from trees. Place feeders near cover to protect feeding birds from weather and predators, such as free-roaming cats.

Move feeders if you notice birds striking windows. Some birds, such as sparrows, juncos, doves and pheasants feed on the ground or on a flat platform. Offer several feeding sites to avoid overcrowding and disease transmission.

If you’re only offering one menu item, black oil sunflower seed appeals to many birds. Ground-feeding birds may prefer corn, milo or millet to sunflower seed. Pine siskins, goldfinches and redpolls prefer niger seed (also called finch or thistle seed), which you can offer in feeders designed for this seed. Suet or peanut butter may attract woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches and brown creepers. Offer year-round water by adding a bird bath heater. Avoid offering human “table scraps,” which may attract rodents or raccoons.

Remember to keep feeders and feeding areas clean by regularly raking up seed hulls and cleaning feeders by scrubbing them with soapy water and rinsing in water diluted with a small amount of bleach. Store seed in tight, waterproof containers to prevent mold and to discourage rodents that may be attracted to accessible seed.

Once you begin feeding, try to continue through the winter, but don’t worry about missing a few days, since feeding birds typically visit other feeding stations besides yours. If you notice sick or diseased birds, disinfect your feeders and stop feeding for 10 to 14 days to avoid further spreading diseases.

India — Presenting a unique bond of love between simians and human beings, a monkey in Orissa’s Dhenkanal area has adorned a baby-sitter’s role by taking care of an infant human baby when its mother is busy doing household chores.

Every morning, the monkey arrives at the 21-day-old baby’s house and spends rest of the day taking care of the baby boy. At times, the monkey goes asleep with the infant in the house.

“Initially, I was scared by this unusual affection shown by the monkey towards my baby. But today, the monkey takes care of him the whole day when I am busy with my household work. Sitting next to my baby son, the monkey looks after him as a mother and never harms,” said Kamalini Khuntia, the mother.

Rohit Khuntia and Kamalini Khuntia, the parents of the infant were scared and reluctant to allow a monkey to come near the child. They even tried to shoo the simian away. But it did not stop the monkey from visiting their house and play with the baby.

Both of the parents have now given up their fear and now treat the monkey as family.

The unique incident showcasing an astonishing relation of love and care between a monkey and human child has become the talk of the town.

“Look this is an animal but showers love and affection like a real mother to a human baby. For the past 15-16 days, it is taking care of the baby as a mother would do,” said, Shantanu Das, a neighbour

Khuntia’s home has today become a favourite tourist spot of sorts, as several curious people keep visiting to witness the unique bond. Who knows the sight may influence the general mindset that usually perceives the presence of monkeys to be a menace for the human world?

Elizabete Gouveia has cerebral palsy, cannot stand or sit up by herself and needs regular physiotherapy.

But for the last few months she has been enjoying horse riding as part of her treatment regime.

Her father Manuel, from Torres Vedras, Portugal, says the treatment - known as hippotherapy - is proving very beneficial to three-year-old Elizabete.

“She is not afraid of the horse and we have found she is more relaxed after the treatment.

“Her legs particularly are more relaxed and we have seen a big difference since she started the therapy.

“Now she even looks forward to having her therapy,” he said.

The therapy, which is also available in the UK, is used to help people of all ages with different physical or psychological difficulties.

Treatment involves putting patients on horseback in a variety of positions and adapting to the horse’s movements and working on co-ordination and posture.

Catia Roche, Elizabete’s physical therapist at CampoReal, in Portugal, said she had noticed that using hippotherapy increased mobility and muscle relaxation, improved tone and decreased involuntary movement as well as boosting the rider’s self-esteem.

“The temperature of the horse is about 38 degrees, so their warmth helps make the patients’ limbs easier to work with.”

She added that the three-dimensional movement of the horse’s pelvis also leads to a movement response in the patient’s pelvis, which is similar to the pattern of walking - something some of her patients cannot do.

“We have been using the hippotherapy here since January, but I have been training in it for two years,” she said.

“I have really found it helps with the co-ordination and after hippotherapy they stay relaxed for longer.

“After physical therapy I have found that they are relaxed for one to two hours, but after hippotherapy the benefits can last for up to five hours.

“I find that people are also calmer and less stressed out, following their 30 minute sessions.”

She said she was currently using hippotherapy for people with cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, people who have suffered trauma and those with neurological problem.

Lesley Furnell, a physiotherapist for Revive Scotland, which works with MS patients, said hippotherapy is very different from riding for the disabled, which has been around for over thirty years.

She said that hippotherapy, which was first used in the 90s, is growing in popularity now in the UK and she has waiting lists of people with MS wanting to use it.

“The courses have become so popular I have had to limit them to 10 weeks each, otherwise it would not be fair on the others. Everyone who does it seems to enjoy it.

“It uses the three dimensional movement of the horse’s hips, pelvis and shoulders at the walk to provide a movement challenge to the rider and I consider it to have been a success when the rider can replicate what they feel when they are on the horse to what they feel when walking.

“Hippotherapy is a unique treatment, which cannot be rivalled or reproduced by any other therapeutic method or piece of equipment,” she added.

But a spokesperson for Scope, the charity for those with cerebral palsy said that although they are aware of the benefits of hippotherapy it should not be thought of as a cure.

“As with all treatments and therapies, Scope would recommend caution and consultation.

“There are no cures for cerebral palsy; rather it is important to promote independence and equality for disabled people.

“Some people will find relaxation in horse riding, and there are benefits in the warmth and movements of the horse in improving circulation. And it can be fun and exciting for children with CP, the same as it is for non-disabled children”

For almost a year now, RNC. Const. Russ Moores has been bringing his partner home with him at the end of his shift.

His name is Rocky, and he’s a bomb-detection dog.

The demand for police service dogs trained in explosives detection increased throughout North America after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. When the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary expanded its K-9 unit last year, it decided its new dog would be trained not only in narcotic detection but also in explosives detection.

The force began a puppy rearing program several years ago, and Moores volunteered to take a potential new recruit into his care. Rocky came from the RCMP’s puppy breeding program.

“I was lucky enough to get Rocky when he was a puppy, eight weeks old,” Moores said.

When the German shepherd was 13 months old, he and Moores spent five months at the RCMP Police Dog Service Training Centre in Innisfail, Alta.

The dogs are introduced to every explosive that could be available to a bomber and trained to detect even minute amounts of the explosive substance, according to the RCMP’s website.

Explosives detection training takes two weeks’ longer than narcotic detection training, Moores said.

“It’s not that the explosive dog is any better than the drug dog, it’s just that we are tested in a lot more different environments and with a lot more scents.”

Moores and Rocky work out of RNC headquarters at Fort Townshend in St. John’s, along with Const. Mac Tucker and police dog Zack.

Const. Kevin Morgan and his dog, Ruger, are assigned to the RNC’s Corner Brook detachment.

Rocky is the force’s only explosives-detection dog, but he, Ruger and Zack are all trained in narcotic and firearm detection, apprehension, agility, tracking and all other areas of police work where K-9s are used.

“Rocky realizes when we have to put on the lights and sirens that we’re going somewhere and there’s a good chance he’s going to be getting out of the truck to go and do some work,” Moores said.

Rocky gets particularly excited when he sees his black nylon collar.

“When I put that colour on him, he knows that he’s searching for explosives,” his handler explained.

During a training exercise Wednesday at Mile One Centre, Rocky had no trouble finding the explosives Moores had hidden beneath some blue carts.

Once Rocky sniffs out what he’s searching for, he sits completely still to let Moores know where the explosives are.

Moores said he appreciates the fact that facilities like Mile One let him conduct training exercises on their property.

“The people at the St. John’s airport and at Oceanex are great, as well. And there are also private businesses in Donovan’s Industrial Park that allow us to train in their facilities.”

A dog handler must be committed to his dog 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas Day … I exercise Rocky twice a day every day,” Moores said.

Rocky lives in an outdoor kennel at Moores’ house.

He and Moores, an 18-year-veteran of the RNC, will soon mark their first anniversary as members of the K-9 unit.

“This is the best job in the world,” Moores said.

“Hopefully, searching for explosives isn’t something we’re going to have to do a lot. But, in my first year, we’ve had explosives calls. And Rocky can be just as much a benefit to us when he clears an area, because even the most high-tech equipment can’t beat a dog’s nose.”

The most expensive pet cat on the market is priced at $25,000

The Ashera - billed as the world’s “largest, rarest and most exotic” domestic cat - is the size of a small dog and sports eye-catching leopard-like spots and tiger stripes.

British businessman Simon Brodie is selling the designer kittens at a whopping $22,000 plus shipping costs - and already has a nine-month waiting list.

Internet entrepreneur Simon used a team of geneticists to develop the exotic mogs at his US laboratory.

They are a cross between two wild cats - the African serval and the Asian leopard cat - with one normal domestic cat, which he refuses to name.

The bespoke cats - which stand four feet tall on their hind legs - live for 25 years and grow to a top weight of more than two stone (30lbs).

But despite the price Simon insists the Ashera is a low maintenance pet - good-tempered, loves children and content to eat cat food from the supermarket.

London-born Simon, who now runs his company Lifestyle Pets in San Diego, California, said yesterday: “The Ashera is unique. It’s a beautiful cat, created using our special recipe.

“They are expensive, but we’ve already sold a lot in the US, in Asia and even in Russia - our waiting list is nine months long.

“People who love beautiful pets will spend $25,000 on a cat, people spend that much on jewellery or a big television.

“I have two at home. They have a great temperament, they love children and will be all over you.”

Simon began his quest to make the perfect cat three years ago, after developing the hypo-allergenic cat and sold hundreds of them, priced at $10,000.

He said the reason the Ashera costs much more than other designer cats is the guarantee of “consistency”.

Simon added: “We guarantee every kitten has the same colouring and appearance and we hand-deliver it to the clients home.

“A lot of hybrid kittens can refuse to go near their owners, or have health problems - but the Ashera is spayed, neutered, micro-chipped and ready to go.”

You always thought it was a myth, but Professor Richard Wiseman, of the University of Hertfordshire, England, says it’s a fact: pets and their owners are just like married couples and they get more alike over time.

He asked 2500 pet owners to complete online questionnaires and found they shared such traits as happiness, intelligence, independence and a sense of humour with their companions.

“For years owners have insisted their pets have a unique personality” he told London’s Daily Telegraph. “Not only does this work suggest they might be right, it also reveals people’s pets are a reflection of themselves. Similarity promotes liking in humans. Research has shown couples that are like each other stay together longer.

“Extending this to the animal kingdom, I think it is likely someone who is fun and playful is more likely to go for a dog, for example.”

Wiseman says cat lovers are dependable and emotionally sensitive, reptile owners are independent and fish owners stand out as the most contented of individuals. “Around 60 per cent think their fish have a sense of humour,” he said. “I’m not sure how that works. On the other hand, people who keep lizards and snakes don’t think their pets have a sense of humour, and those owners are pretty humourless, too.”

A motorcycle crash almost took a woman’s life in September, but her rescuer was on his paws and ready to help.

On Thursday, Suzanne Fitzsimmons was reunited with her rescuer, Max, a dog who was adopted by Ursula Trudeau two weeks before Fitzsimmons’ crash.

“I’ve had lots of dogs but never had an experience like this one,” Trudeau said.

She said it was a September day like any other, and while taking Max on his afternoon walk he suddenly stopped and pointed to an area that was covered by brush and trees.

“I walked in and looked and thought, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a body,’” Trudeau said.

Lying in the brush, which was over 20 feet from the road, Trudeau said, was Fitzsimmons.

Fitzsimmons said she was on her way to work when she lost control of her motorcycle on a sharp turn near Trudeau’s home.

Officials said she had been lying there unconscious and severely injured for hours, and they said she might have been there even longer if not for Max.

“I think I probably would have walked on by,” Trudeau said.

Trudeau hadn’t seen Fitzsimmons since the accident, but the two met Thursday for the first time in the hospital.

Fitzsimmons said Max is a hero, and if it wasn’t for him she might have died.

Sitting comfortably between the two women, Max seemed to be taking his new found fame in stride.

New official statistics on the UK’s wild bird population show no significant changes to the pattern of the last 37 years.

The government’s indicators cover breeding seabird and woodland bird populations and wintering wetland birds, and assesses progress against the government’s Public Service Agreement target for breeding farmland birds in England.

The all-species indicator shows that, on average, the population index of 116 breeding bird species in the UK has remained broadly stable throughout the period since 1970, except for four new woodland species which have declined significantly in recent years.

The indicator for farmland birds in the UK is about 55 per cent of its 1970 value but has remained fairly stable since the early 1990s. The farmland bird index gives a similar picture of relative stability following decline. There is no evidence yet of any reverse in the decline.

The woodland bird indicator for the UK is about 20 per cent lower than in the early 1970s. The most severe decline took place in the late 1980s/early 1990s, with the indicator broadly stable in recent years.

The indicator of breeding seabird species in the UK is 30 per cent higher than in 1970. Populations peaked in the late 1980s, since when there is evidence of a small decline.

Changes in seabird population may not yet fully reflect the low breeding success rates of some species during recent years because seabirds reach maturity slowly and are long-lived.

The UK wintering wetland birds indicator rose by nearly 80 per cent between 1975/76 and 2001/02, but there are signs of a decline in more recent years.

These indicators, which are included in the government’s Sustainable Development Strategy indicators, show changes in the breeding and wintering populations of common native bird species.

Bird populations are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife and countryside because they occupy a wide range of habitats and are high in the food chain.