Fascinating goings-on in the animal world

by David Grand
February 14, 2007

Whenever I'm at a loss to find something interesting or amusing to write about, I often turn to the Internet to see what they've been up to. And I'm never disappointed in reading of their exploits and of their dealings with the human specie. Among the most interesting true stories I found were:

• Huge Python Swallows 11 Guard Dogs. Dogs protecting an orchard in Malaysia met their match in a 23-foot long python, which was almost long enough to span the width of a tennis court and as thick as a tree trunk. (Hope he had the worst form of indigestion.)
• Man Fights Off Anaconda to Rescue Grandson. Known to be able to swallow pigs, goats and small children whole, a 66-year-old Brazilian saved his 8-year-old grandson from becoming its meal of the day by beating it with rocks and a knife for half an hour, until it finally released its strangling hold around his neck. (That's one granddaddy who doesn't need Geritol to build up his strength.)
• Man Bites Dog and Dog Bites Back. Like they say, it's not news when a dog bites a man, but it is when a man bites a dog, which is what occurred when a suspect in a robbery, knowing he was going to be bitten (cornered as he was by a Alsatian police dog named Edge), bit the dog first. (The dog, who had the decided "edge" in the fight, inflicted two deep lacerations on his opponent.)
• Of Gay Sheep, Modern Science and Bad Publicity. Dr. Roselli, a researcher at the University of Oregon, has searched for five years for psychological factors that might explain why about 8 percent of rams seek sex exclusively with other rams instead of ewes. (Black sheep they may be in the herd but they still produce wool.)
• Man and Dog Ride Mower Across Country. Joined by his dog, Yoda, Paul Woods travels by day and sleeps in a tent at night. He left Alaska in 2005, and so far has made it to within only a 107 miles north of Salt Lake City, near the Idaho border, what with the mower's maximum speed of only 15 mph. He said he often has to wear goggles to keep his eyeballs from freezing (Hope he gave Yoda a pair, along with earmuffs.)
• Wild Eagles Attack Paraglider. Britain's top female paraglider cheated death after being attacked by a pair of screeching, wild eagles, who tore the wing and became entangled in the lines while clawing at her head. The attack only ended when the second eagle freed itself and the glider reached a height of only 100 meters from the ground, outside their territory. (They either took offense at her invading their space or saw her as a possible mate.)
• Doctor and Deer Collide on Ski Trail. Dr. Ray Stone had no warning before being knocked head over heels by a deer while skiing down a mountain trail in Maine. His wife, who was skiing ahead of him, only wanted to know if the deer was all right. (Bet from hereon she'll be the trailblazer.)
• Five Komodo Dragons Born at British Zoo. The zoo announced the virgin birth of those baby dragons, without their mom (who is now their mom and dad) ever having a male partner or even being exposed to the opposite sex. This evolutionary breakthrough led scientists to hope that it will pave the way to finding other species capable of self fertilization. (God, I hope they'll exempt humans from their studies. For can you imagine the violent reaction of "pro-lifers" if they didn't.)

That's all for now, folks. And I hope you agree that it's easier on the digestive system to read about the happenings in the animal world than the gloomy news about the war, the freezing weather and the short lived bipartisanship in Congress, especially on a day like today honoring those in love.