TIGER HUNTING IN DEEPEST, DARKEST HAMPSHIRE.

Husband dearest's choice and perhaps my favourite .........

WHITE TIGER HUNTED ..... IN HAMPSHIRE? Police were contacted at 4pm on Saturday afternoon by "several" members of the public, each reporting the presence of a white tiger in a field in Hedge End. One of the callers had examined the predator through the zoom lens of his camera, and was convinced the animal was real, and threatening.

A police officer, who has not been named (I can't think why!), was duly dispatched to the field to investigate, and was able to "confirm" that there was indeed a tiger lurking in the grass.

"They gave us the option to dart and tranquillise the animal rather than destroy it.

"After a brief stalk through the Hedge End savannah, the officer realised the tiger was not moving and the air support using their cameras realised there was a lack of heat source.

"The tiger then rolled over in the down draught and it was at that point it became obvious it was a stuffed life-size toy."  said a spokeswoman.

It is understood that the tranquilliser dart was not used. - Adam Gabbatt, The Guardian (23/05/2011)

The latest in online dating?

A DATING SITE FOR DOGS. An online 'dating' service for dogs has gone live online in an attempt to improve the health of pedigree animals.The Mate Select service, now available through the Kennel Club website, enables owners to assess how a proposed mating of two registered pedigree dogs will affect the genetic diversity of the whole breed.- The Telegraph (26/05/2011)

Home Tweet Home Cone .....

Take a beak at this family of great tits - who decided to nest inside a traffic cone.Chris Blake, 65, took these pictures after finding the mum hatching nine chicks at a car park in Norfolk. - The Sun (27/05/2011)

Not the sort of emergency requiring a speedy response.

FIRE BRIGADE CALLED OUT TO RESCUE A SNAIL. An elderly woman distressed by the mollusc's presence 8ft up a wall in her hallway called the fire brigade.

It was just one among a series of bizarre call-outs which also included retrieving a cow from a tree and reuniting a duckling with its mother - quite how the cow came to be up the tree is not known. - The Daily Snail Mail (28/05/2011)

Warning!!!!!!

MEERKATS WITH FOOT FETISH. Meerkats at a new enclosure at Longleat Safari Park have developed a fetish for women's sandals and painted nails – and have even been sneakily peering up visitors' skirts.

The creatures seem to be enjoying their new enclosure in Jungle Kingdom – an enclosure into which visitors can enter and walk among the meerkats – but their foot fascination has forced staff to put up warning signs about their keen interest in feet. - The Metro (28/05/2011)

And finally, three article not about animals .....


From one emergency service to another.

POLICE OFFICERS ISSUED LIFESTYLE GUIDES.Among the pearls of wisdom offered are that officers should assist their spouses with household chores and take up gardening or dancing to keep fit. The guide also offers advice on what fillings to put in sandwiches ........ Jasper Copping, The Telegraph (29/05/2011)

Or how best to transport apples.

New craft magazine Molly Makes has a solution to bruised fruit - the crochet jacket pictured left. - The Guardian (23/05/2011)Click HERE for instructions and to visit the site.

Sorry your majesty ..

MISSING:QUEEN'S 80TH BIRTHDAY PRESENT. A £900,000 handmade coach designed for the Queen's 80th birthday has vanished in Australia.

The Britannia is decorated with 24 diamonds, 130 sapphires and 400 books of gold leaf. - The Telegraph (28/05/2011)

PLEASE NOTE: Wherever possible I will endeavour to bring you the links to articles I have used in my Media Monday posts but this is not always possible.