• Rare gorilla sighting in Africa

    Dara Brown writes

    The World Conservation Society is sharing this glimpse of Cross River gorillas, the rarest of the great apes.

    Researchers share a glimpse of one of the world's rarest animals called "Cross River gorillas" after setting up cameras in Africa. TODAY.com's Dara Brown reports.

    They seldom make a public appearance, even for the field researchers who study them. So when conservationists were startled to actually catch the gorillas on video when they set up remote cameras in Cameroon’s Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary.

    Researchers recorded eight Cross River gorillas taking a casual walk in the woods. You can see a male silverback’s chest-beating display along with a gorilla with a missing hand. Though healed, the injury attests to the gorilla’s past encounter with a snare. The area is now a protected area with guard patrols to enforce efforts to save the endangered animals.

    Conservationists believe there are fewer than 250 Cross River gorillas in the wild.

  • Beagles rescued from laboratory get new leash on life

    Kristen Seymour writes

    These dogs hadn't felt grass under their paws or the sun on their fur in seven years of laboratory life. But when the Beagle Freedom Project and Four Paws Coonhound Rescue and Friends let 20 lab research beagles loose on Thursday, it didn’t take long for them to leave their crates behind.

    Brought to Los Angeles from San Diego, the 10 hounds are among 67 beagles the organization has rescued from labs. This particular rescue stands out, however, due to the age of the dogs. Seven is easily senior territory for a beagle, which makes it all the more important to find the right families to help them live out their golden years. 

    Beagle Freedom Project via twitter/BeagleFreedom

    Freedom! These rescued beagles enjoy some time in the sun.

    But first on the agenda: medical treatment and foster homes, which is handled on a case-by-case basis.

    “We have to take into account their personalities," Shannon Keith, president and founder of the Beagle Freedom Project, told TODAY.com. "We have one who is so fearful of humans that he won’t let them near him, so he’s going to need more rehabilitation. Some of the dogs are already playing and enjoying being touched by humans — they’ll probably be ready for their 'forever-homes' in a week or so.” 

    Beagle Freedom Project via twitter/BeagleFreedom

    Enjoying their third day of sunshine, these San Diego lab rescue beagles practice their first walks on a leash.

    According to the organization's website, there's no information available about what the dogs experienced while being used for research, which can add additional challenges.

    In the meantime, temporary, loving, foster homes are important.

    Shannon Keith

    Beagles are chosen for use in labs because of their loving and forgiving nature.

    “These animals thrive in a home environment, especially one with another dog so they can learn how to be a dog,” Keith said

    This is not the first beagle rescue the organization has facilitated. The second one, which happened last June, is the most well known — the touching YouTube video has over 3.5 million hits. But Keith recalls the first rescue as the one she holds closest to her heart.

    “We rescued two beagles, and although I knew ... that beagles were often used in lab research, I’d never met one that had been released from a lab before,” she said. “When we put their crates down on the grass, on this beautiful, sunny day, you would have imagined they’d think, ‘Freedom!’ and gone running. But no, it took 15 or 20 minutes to get them out of their crates. And one of them, once out, fell over from lack of muscle tone.”

    Shannon Keith

    These rescued beagles will need some extra love and care since they are not accustomed to life in a home.

    But that’s where this tale starts wagging.

    “They started running. And running. And they just didn’t stop,” Keith said. They’ve since been placed in happy homes. 

    If you’re in the Los Angeles area and interested in fostering or adopting, you can find more information on the Beagle Freedom Project website. Keith acknowledged that adopting one of these special dogs isn’t for everybody — as you might guess, there are some challenges unique to dogs coming from this background. But, there are plenty of other ways to help. Donations to alleviate the often exorbitant medical costs associated with rescuing animals used in research labs are always in demand, and you can find an entire wishlist of items the organization needs.

    More:

     

  • Baby aardvark drinks from a bottle, makes kangaroo friend

    Julieanne Smolinski writes

    Just in time for Mother's Day Julie Scardina, Seaworld Busch Gardens Animal Ambassador, brought by some baby animals that only a mother could love. Like a seriously adorable six-week old baby aardvark, who was sweetly bottle-fed by Kathie Lee.

    TODAY

    TODAY

    There was also a mama kangaroo with her baby sticking out of her pouch (!), a fuzzy little emu chick, and, just to delight Hoda, some mother-and-child scorpions.

    TODAY

    TODAY

    TODAY

    Julie pointed out that mama scorpions carry their babies on their backs for 7-9 months. 

    "And they'll never get a thank-you note," said KLG.

    More: Give this kid an Oscar! Melodramatic toddler goes viral 
    Sara on new app: 'This is so easy, Kathie Lee can do it' 
    Adorable baby in car grooving to Gotye goes viral 

    Julieanne Smolinski is a TODAY.com contributor. Her all-girl punk band is called Emu Chick.

  • Prepare your pet for disaster with a stylish emergency pack

    Kori Stanton

    If your cat starts talking during an emergency, try to ignore it and concentrate on staying alive!

    Lisa Granshaw writes

    When a natural disaster occurs, your pet may not cry out like the cat in the photo above (and if it did, you'd probably be too shocked by your talking cat to care about the earthquake). But you'd still worry about their welfare.

    These worries prompted Alex Close to create Save Your Pet Pack. Close, the owner of two cats, noticed a lack of products that seemed comprehensive enough to care for pets during an emergency, so she created her own.

    "I love my animals like family, and I know that other people feel the same way about their pets," Close told TODAY.com. "The packs can be used for any type of anticipated or spontaneous disaster: earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods."

    The photos of these packs in action caught our attention instantly. They look like they can be helpful and fashionable — for you and your pets!

    Alex Close

    The pet pack backpack can be worn by your dog so he can carry around his own supplies.

    Kori Stanton

    Items in the packs include water purifier tablets, pet first aid kit, emergency lightsticks, hypothermia blanket, waterproof document pouch and more that can be specialized for your dog or cat.

    The line, which was launched just this spring, includes sling-bags of supplies: some for people to wear, some for pets to wear. According to Close, the bags are designed to free your hands so you can grab other important things, including your pet.

    Jean Himebaugh

    The pet pack will help you be prepared for an emergency while looking like you're carrying a regular bag.

    "Our pets depend on us for everything. They cannot fend for themselves, so it’s up to pet parents to look out for the safety and well-being of their animals," Close said. 

     Wondering what else you can do to prepare for an emergency? Here are some of Close's top tips for how pet owners can plan ahead:

    1. Purchase a pet emergency kit. It should contain a comprehensive pet first aid kit, a three-day food and water supply, medications, a temporary collar, identifying documentation, and current vaccination records. Include a photo of you with your pet to prove ownership.
    2. Identification: Always have a securely fastened collar with current contact information on your animal. Microchip your pet and label all carriers with up-to-date personal and veterinary information.
    3. Practice home escape-drills twice a year using two different exits, and don’t forget to include your pets.
    4. Transportation: Have carriers for each animal fully assembled at all times — train your animal to be on a leash or harness or in a cage/carrier. Label carriers with your personal and veterinary information. Also include details on your temporary shelter location. 
    5. Think about alternate housing. Find friends and neighbors who are willing to take your pets if disaster strikes. Find pet-friendly places to stay (i.e., pet-friendly hotels), including locations within a 50-mile radius in case of far-reaching evacuation. Pinpoint kennels and veterinarians in your area. Create a list and map of your local shelters.
    6. Use the buddy system: Exchange pet information and evacuation plans with trusted friends and neighbors. Inform them of your pet’s favorite hiding places and let them know where you keep leashes and carriers/crates. If you’re away during an emergency, they can keep your pets safe. 

    Alex Close

    Pets and owners often get separated during emergencies. If your dog is wearing his pet pack, anyone who finds him will be able to use the supplies to take care of your pet.

    Kori Stanton

    The bag may be bigger than the dog, but in an emergency this little guy will need everything inside this pack.

    Learn more about the Save Your Pet Pack and find more emergency tips here.

     More:

    Want more cute animal photos? Follow us on Pinterest!

    Lisa Granshaw is a writer and producer for TODAY.com. When she gets a pet she is definitely going to teach it to yell out the names of natural disasters.

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