January 2002
Wallaby babies stolen from exhibit, found with children
Posted by MelSkunk on Wed 2 Jan 2002 - 17:34Two young joeys, partly hairless, pouchbound and suckling, were stolen from a special viewing enclosure at England's Dudley Zoo. The theives broke into the heavy glass enclosure late Friday night, and the curators of the exhibit worried they wouldn't survive the night without their mother. The babies were quickly found, though, when people spotted children carrying them across a road 20 minutes after the robbery. They were later found in a gypsy camp outside the town. Perhaps a late Christmas gift?
Furry Awards nomination deadline in one week
Posted by Fred on Wed 2 Jan 2002 - 17:35Only one week to the closing of nominations for the first annual Anthropomorphic Literature & Arts of the Year (Ursa Major) Awards. These Awards, for the best in Furry fiction and art of 2001, will be presented at ConFurence 2002 in April 2002. The nominations are open from December 1, 2001 to January 7, 2002. Anyone may nominate up to five nominees in each of the nine categories.
For nominating instructions, including the e.mail and Post Office Box addresses to which nominations should be sent, see this website.
EUROFURENCE -Europe´s biggest furry con!
Posted by Anon on Wed 2 Jan 2002 - 17:37Eurofurence 8 will be held in Hilders (Germany) from August 15th - 18th 2002 .For more information about the con and the location, check out the website . If you'd like to know something about previous Eurofurences go to here. As you will see,there aren't that many furries in Europe, but the community is slowly growing.
MTV 'Sex2K Special': Plushies & Furries
Posted by Anon on Wed 2 Jan 2002 - 17:38Advertisement was seen on MTV, for Plushies and Furries
Jack Haldeman, 1941 - 2002
Posted by Duncan da Husky on Wed 2 Jan 2002 - 20:02From his daughter, Lori:
Jack Carroll Haldeman, II -- December 11, 1941 - January 1, 2002.
Brother. Father. Husband. Friend.
True to form, he chose a moment when nobody was looking at him - he always did cringe at being the center of attention. He went peacefully, as the family was sitting around him, telling jokes and laughing.
More comments and remembrances can be found here.
Lion introduction goes wrong at Franklin Park Zoo
Posted by Anon on Thu 3 Jan 2002 - 02:24Binti Mafuta, a lone female lioness at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston was killed on November 16th in a rather gruesome turn of events when introducing a new male lion to the zoo. In only four minutes, the male lion had managed to lunge at the elderly female, pierce her windpipe, and choke the lioness to death.
To add to this, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has just cut Zoo New England's budget about 25% in order to cope with costs brought on by a slowing economy and extra funding needed for security due to September 11th expenses.
Visit the Boston Globe for more information. You can also help the park by visiting Zoo New England and supporting the park financially.
TOM & JERRY Animator RAY PATTERSON has died!
Posted by Rigel on Thu 3 Jan 2002 - 07:16From cartoonresearch.com:
"As if 2001 wasn't bad enough. Michael Mallory reports the sad news: "Ray Patterson passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 30th." He was 90 years old.
Further Confusion 2002 Update!
Posted by Frysco on Thu 3 Jan 2002 - 09:00Online pre-registration for Further Confusion has now ended. Thanks to all of you who took
advantage of it!
We will continue to accept mailed-in registrations through Friday, January 4th.
Former First Dog Dead, Hit By Car.
Posted by Fferret on Thu 3 Jan 2002 - 13:40Free animated short from ILM
Posted by Rigel on Fri 4 Jan 2002 - 07:01
ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) has posted a free CG short on the web for perusal. It's...interesting. And it has furry elements. Only broadband connections need apply, it's pretty big.
http://www.ilm.com/ilmshorts.html
Sydney brushfires threaten pets, wildelife alike
Posted by MelSkunk on Fri 4 Jan 2002 - 07:01Though the Sydney fires have not killed a person yet, thank heavens, many pet owners and wildlife people alike have been worried about the animal toll. In the evacuations, cats, dogs and other animals have often had to be left behind, especially when an 'outdoor' pet could not be found. Possums, wallabies and other slow moving urban wildlife are being rescued by various animal groups. The RSPCA is also working to provide food and water to displaced pets.
Links to key numbers (Wires, RSPCA) as well as bushfire news can be found at Animalworld Australia.
A example of a rescued possum is here.Warning, upsetting link
Glowing Birds
Posted by MelSkunk on Fri 4 Jan 2002 - 16:39As an owner of budgerigars, also commonly known as 'parakeets', I've always been fascinated by their 'feather talk', the puffing and displaying of head feathers between a pair of mated birds. Researchers in Scotland have discovered, though, that the feathers not only puff for a chosen mate, they fluoresce as well. Birds generally have a more diverse and acute colour sensitivity than primates, so the natural fluorescent feathers could give off a beaconlike glow to the objects of attraction.