PHOTO: Viper Dogfish Caught off Coast of Taiwan

Viper Dogfish - Sputnik, Int'l.

First discovered in 1986 and not revealed to the public until 1990, the Viper Dogfish (or Trigonognathus kabeyai) is a rare, deep-sea shark rarely seen by Man.  Not much is known about the species, but it reportedly poses little threat to humans despite its fearsome appearance, as crustaceans and bony fishes comprise its diet.

Earth Touch News revealed the find on January 13^th, 2018, and the report was picked-up by Sputnik International.  Specimen have been acquired off the coasts of Japan and Hawaii, as well.

© The Weirding, 2018

Largest Earthworm Ever?

© The Weirding, 2015

500-lb. Boar Killed in North Carolina

500-lb Boar

A few years back, hunters noticed an incredibly large boar on camera.  The boar was marked for death -- but it took until now for anyone to bring it to justice!  Hunter, Jett Webb, shot and killed the beast with a .308 rifle after stumbling across it almost by accident.

"I just set out to put a little meat in the freezer," he says. "But afterwards, I was completely blown away."

Actually, Webb had been hunting the boar after spotting it in the area earlier in the week.  He bagged a similar-sized hog a year or so back that is mounted on the wall of the hunting club to which he belongs.

Wild boars in North Carolina, and North America in general, usually weigh up to 180-lbs.  While Jett Webb's 500-lb. catch was certainly remarkable, it was not the largest boar killed in North America!

© The Weirding, 2014

Indiana Woman Kills Leopard in Backyard

An unidentified Indiana woman shot and killed a leopard in her backyard last week. The woman was worried about recent attacks on small animals and pets in her neighborhood, so she and her boyfriend stayed up all night and shot what they were told was "probably a bobcat." Authorities later said the cat had been identified as a leopard.

They believe the animal may have been someone's pet and that it was about nine months old.

© C Harris Lynn, 2013

Hen Gives Birth to Chick

A hen in Sri Lanka gave birth to a live, eggless chick but died from internal wounds in the process. Veterinarians claim to never have seen such an incident. The egg incubated inside the hen and the chick hatched prior to birth. 

A Sri Lankan newspaper joked, "The chicken came first, not the egg."

© C Harris Lynn, 2012

Gay Penguins to be Separated

The Toronto Zoo is separating two male penguins who seem to have developed a homosexual relationship. Because both penguins have great genes and the species is endangered, zookeepers hope to pair them off with female penguins with whom they will mate. However, penguins are known to mate for life so the plan has met with its detractors.

The older penguin is expected to do well, as it already had a female lifemate and managed a few eggs. The younger may not fare so well. One spokesperson noted that the two had been kept in captivity for some time and that may have forced the homosexual relationship.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Big Game Animals Terrorize Small Ohio Town

Authorities say owner, Terry Thompson, released some 50 wild animals from the Muskingam County Animal Farm before killing himself, leaving Bengal tigers, lions, black bears, wolves, and other dangerous animals to patrol the area freely. Schools and roads were closed as sheriffs and volunteers hunted-down the 50-some-odd beasts and were forced to kill most of them. 

Some were tranquilized, but there were not a lot of tranquilizers to go around, there is no good way to tranquilize an animal of that size and demeanor at night, and human safety was of the utmost concern.

At the time of this writing, there are still at least four unnamed creatures on the loose throughout the county and surrounding areas. Residents are being told to stay inside.

Ohio apparently has wild animal auctions and numerous wild animal farms similar to this one which need to be shut down. Authorities say they paid numerous visits to the Muskingam County Animal Farm in recent years, but had little luck in closing it.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Capybara Spotted in California

A Capybara - a large rodent native to South America - was photographed as it exited a pond near a water treatment facility in Paso Robles about two weeks ago. A capybara lives for about four years and can grow to large size, but is not considered dangerous. This capybara is estimated at 100 pounds and may have escaped captivity as an illegal pet, or been set free by its owner once it grew too large.

Another capybara was seen in the general area about two years ago. Authorities believe it is the same rodent.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

American Zoos Attract Visitors with Overnight Stays

Many zoos throughout America are attracting visitors, young and old, with overnight stays. Zoo officials and visitors agree that the experience is quite different from visiting the zoo during normal business hours, as well as educational. Visitors get to see the animals' nocturnal habits and "have the zoo to [themselves]," as one visitor put it.

The Denver Zoo has been running a nocturnal program since 1998, often tailored to the group's overnight package -- such as birthday, Scout badges, and so on. A midnight snack is provided, as is breakfast, and in some cases, nightvision goggles.

Zoos attract about 2 million visitors per year.

© C Harris Lynn, 2011

Tiger Cub Found in Luggage

A 31-year-old Thai woman is under arrest in Bangkok, facing two charges of smuggling wildlife, after a live tiger cub was found in her luggage. The cub was drugged and placed in a bag filled with stuffed animals. Airport security discovered the animal when the woman's luggage went through x-ray.

The woman was on her way to Iran, where tigers are prized as exotic pets and can fetch over $3000 on the black market. The cub is now in a wildlife conservation center in Bangkok, where it is recovering from exhaustion and dehydration. Officials say the cub is doing much better.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Family Sues SeaWorld Over Son's Trauma

A family who was in attendance when a trainer was pulled under and drowned by a killer whale is suing the Orlando SeaWorld theme park for traumatizing their 10-year-old son. While this sounds like a frivolous lawsuit at first blush, and common sense screams, "Why did you just stand there and watch!? WTF!?" the family is actually only suing for a little over $15,000.

SeaWorld has been fined $75,000 by federal authorities for safety violations. The killer whale which attacked the trainer was also known to be violent. All things told, I absolutely believe a 10-year-old child would be traumatized by such a thing, and SeaWorld should absolutely bear the responsibility. More than anything, $15,000 is a very reasonable amount, and I have a feeling that, should this case go to trial, the family may be rewarded far more than that.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Fox Finishes Finnish Flock of Flamingos

A fox in Finland apparently crossed ice to get to a flock of 16 flamingos in a zoo, killing them all. The flamingos are usually brought inside at night, and the zoo is looking into why they had been left out on this occasion.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

'Oriental Yeti' Discovered

Hunters captured a creature that looks a bit like a bear, but with a tail like a kangaroo and a call like a cat's, after it emerged from an ancient wood in China.  The hunters were pursuing a bear after locals reported seeing something, but no one ever expected to catch a brand new species of... animal?

Some are saying the creature may be the source of claims of a man-like beast in Chinese lore, but The OddBlog calls "no dice."  This creature stands on four feet, not two, has no hair, and in no way resembles either a man or an ape; the cat-like calls of this creature may have been mistaken for that of the Yowie, but no one would confuse this creature with a Bigfoot-like animal.

Scientists believe it could be the last of its kind.  The poor, sad-looking beast is set to be shipped to Beijing, where scientists will run tests and extract DNA.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

World's First Set of Male Elephant Twins Doing Well

Onlookers at a Thailand zoo cheered as what is believed to be the world's first set of male twin elephants were born two hours apart about two weeks ago. At least one onlooker had traveled from another town to see the birth. Thong-Kum and Thong-Tang are both doing fine.

Elephant twins are extremely rare and both rarely survive. Thailand's other pair of elephant twin, Jim and Joom, were born in 1993, but one died nine years ago. Zoos in both South Africa and Nepal have had three sets of elephant twins born on their grounds, the last set being born in Nepal just last year.

Though elephants are held in high regard in Thailand, their numbers have dwindled from over 100,000 to fewer than 4,000 today.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Michigan's Only Wolverine Found Dead

Michigan's only known wolverine was found dead along a trail over the weekend. Conservation officials collected the body and took hair samples for DNA testing to determine the cause of death, but it is not believed anyone intentionally harmed the creature.

The wolverine had become a local celebrity, generating several recent news stories, and was followed by a local science teacher who gave updates as to its location and activities as he monitored the animal by camera. He told reporters he lied regarding the wolverine's exact location to prevent hunters "seeking a trophy."

Officials believe the wolverine may have once been an exotic pet set free, but admit they do not know exactly how the creature came to reside in Michigan. It was the first wolverine spotted in the state in 200 years.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Boozing, Smoking Chimp Sent to Rehab

Charlie Sheen has (Sorry, wrong blog.)

A Russian chimpanzee which was retired to a zoo following his circus career has been taken to rehab. The chimp had picked-up two particularly nasty vices, boozing and smoking cigarettes, and was said to be pestering visitors for a drink!

Zhora learned to draw with markers and fathered several chimps at the zoo in the Russian city of Rostov, but he also took to partying like Lindsay Lohan. Zookeepers say his vices were "ruining him." Their only choice of action was to transfer him to Kazan, some 500 miles east of Moscow, for rehabilitation.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Giraffe Born at Memphis Zoo

The Memphis Zoo has played host to four baby giraffes in the past four years, the latest of which was born last Thursday. The 6'2" female weighs 125 lbs. and was named "Akili," which means bright or intelligent in Swahili.

Of the four, only one is a male. The male will be sent to another zoo, as males leave the herd when they become juveniles, seeking to mate. The three female calves will stay at the Memphis Zoo. It is too cold for the giraffes to be on exhibit, but they will return as soon as the temperature rises a bit.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Floridians Fear "Super-Serpent"

Recently, authorities say five African rock pythons were seen in a three-day period, leading experts to wonder if the species has established itself in the area, and stirring local fears of a "super-snake." The African rock python is known to eat goats and even children! One of the captured pythons was 14' long and another was 31" in circumference! Of the five, two escaped and one was bearing eggs (however, I do not know if it was one of those captured).

Florida already has a breeding population of several thousand Burmese pythons, which also grow to incredible lengths - males grow to 21' or more. Authorities fear the two could interbreed, creating a "super snake." However, the African rock python is more aggressive and "meaner" than the Burmese python and both are predators. While crocodiles and alligators may pursue the species, African rock pythons are known to stalk and eat even those!

While fears of a "super snake" may be a little overblown, pythons are a keystone species, just like the crocodile.

© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Super Bear "Bubba" Stalking Nevada

A black bruin reputed to weigh about 700-lbs. in the Incline Village area of Nevada is said to have broken-in to some 50+ homes. Authorities say the bear is adept at avoiding traps and has been shot numerous times. In one instance, the shooter said the bullet bounced off the creature's head! The bear has scars from where it has been shot by a .44 and a .30/.30 as well as a gash across its neck.

All eyewitnesses agree the bruin (a male bear) is the largest they have ever seen. Residents have taken to calling him "Bubba," though not too affectionately. One woman recounted the story of how Bubba crashed through her son's garage while she was staying at the house alone, opened the refrigerator, and dined on what he pleased. Bubba would saunter away whenever wildlife authorities neared, but return after they left; he terrorized the poor woman for several hours - until 4 in the morning, she said!

Bubba is literally "smarter than the average bear" and has become habituated to humans, which makes him very dangerous. Bears who become familiarized with humans are more likely to attack. This is why the Fish and Wildlife authorities are trying to trap and kill Bubba, as opposed to the more common method of trapping and relocating. However, one authority admitted that relocation doesn't work anyway - the bears tend to migrate back to wherever they came from originally. Bubba has the garbage collection dates for certain neighborhoods memorized, as he tends to appear on those days.

Bears of this type grow to excessive sizes because they have learned to associate people with easy food supplies - yet another omen that Bubba could turn deadly. While no black bears have killed anyone in the area in over 100 years, Bubba is a contender for breaking the record, as bears with similar knowledge tend not to hibernate and be more aggressive.

His scat was described by one man whose garage Bubba broke not once but twice as "the size of a basketball."



© C Harris Lynn, 2010

Schwarzhalsziegen Rustlers

German thieves rustled "a handful" of Schwarzhalsziegen - or goat-sheep - into the back of a Volkswagen and headed-off the other day. Unfortunately, they are going to have a hard time finding buyers, as the Schwarzhalsziegen are so rare that every, living one of them is accounted for!

The goat-sheep were bred to survive the harsh winters of German mountain farms. They are so few in number that "...every single one of them is accounted for around the world." The goat-sheep look exactly like you'd expect: shaggy creatures whose front is half-goat and back-end is half-sheep!

The OddBlog urges the rustlers to return the Schwarzhalsziegen unharmed.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009