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Incredible 'first ever' photos capture wild lioness nursing leopard cub
Astonishing photos show a wild lioness suckling a leopard cub in a “truly unique case” in the African Serengeti. A guest staying at a safari lodge in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area captured the images of a five-year-old lioness, known locally as ‘Nosikitok,’ nursing a three-week-old leopard. An incredibly rare sight Credit: Joop van der Linde/Ndutu Safari Lodge via AP Dr Luke Hunter, president of Panthera, a wild cat conservation organisation, said the behaviour was “mystifying”. “I know of no other example of inter-species adoption or nursing like this among big cats in the wild,” he said. “This lioness is known to have recently given birth to her own cubs, which is a critical factor. She is physiologically primed to take care of baby cats, and the little leopard fits the bill - it is almost exactly the age of her own cubs and physically very similar to them. “She would not be nursing the cub if she wasn’t already awash with a ferocious maternal drive,” he added. “It is quite possible she has lost her own cubs, and found the leopard cub in her bereaved state when she would be particularly vulnerable.” The photographs were taken by a guest at a lodge in Tanzania Credit: Joop van der Linde/Ndutu Safari Lodge via AP Dr Hunter believes the leopard may struggle to survive if it remains in the pride, explaining: “It is very unlikely that the lioness' pride will accept it.” He added: “Lions have very rich, complicated social relationships in which they recognise individuals—by sight and by roars—and so they are very well equipped to distinguish their cubs from others. If the rest of the pride finds the cub, it is likely it would be killed.” “Even its early exposure to lion society would not override the millions of years of evolution that has equipped the leopard to be a supreme solitary hunter. “I am sure it would go its own way.” Unusual animal friendships, in pictures The collar was placed on Nosikitok by KopeLion, a Tanzanian conservation group supported by Panthera. This adorable orphaned raccoon thinks it’s a dog Unlikely animal friendships - in 60 seconds 01:12
Thousands line streets for Bradley Lowery funeral
Premier League footballer Jermain Defoe wore an England shirt for the funeral of his six-year-old "best friend", Bradley Lowery, whose cancer battle captured hearts around the world. Thousands of people lined the streets of Blackhall, County Durham, ahead of the service at St Joseph's Catholic Church, where the youngster was baptised six years ago. Footballer Jermain Defoe arrives for the funeral of six year old Sunderland FC, fan, Bradley Lowrey Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images A piper lead the horse-drawn carriage carrying his coffin through the village, which came to a halt to pay tribute to the little boy with the beaming smile. Credit: Getty Some released balloons as the cortege passed and a spontaneous round of applause broke out. Mourners line the streets ahead of the funeral of Bradley Lowery Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire Mourners dressed in superhero costumes followed the funeral procession. Defoe, now signed for Bournemouth, left training in Spain to attend. Bradley Lowery, as family and friends wear football shirts for the funeral of the six-year-old mascot Credit: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire Former Sunderland FC manager David Moyes was also among the congregation. Defoe struck up a remarkable friendship with Bradley after the little boy appeared as a mascot for his beloved Sunderland. The hearse departs St Joseph's Church Credit: Getty Bradley died a week ago in his parents' arms at home following a battle with the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma.
Judge expands list of relatives exempted from travel ban
HONOLULU (AP) — In another setback for President Donald Trump, a federal judge in Hawaii has further weakened his already diluted travel ban by vastly expanding the list of family relationships with U.S. citizens that visa applicants can use to get into the U.S.
Fishermen express fury as Fukushima plant set to release radioactive material into ocean
Local residents and environmental groups have condemned a plan to release radioactive tritium from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean. Officials of Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant, say tritium poses little risk to human health and is quickly diluted by the ocean. In an interview with local media, Takashi Kawamura, chairman of TEPCO, said: "The decision has already been made." He added, however, that the utility is waiting for approval from the Japanese government before going ahead with the plan and is seeking the understanding of local residents. fukushima timeline The tritium is building up in water that has been used to cool three reactors that suffered fuel melt-downs after cooling equipment was destroyed in the magnitude 9 earthquake and tsunami that struck north-east Japan in March 2011. Around 770,000 tons of highly radioactive water is being stored in 580 tanks at the site. Many of the contaminants can be filtered out, but the technology does not presently exist to remove tritium from water. "This accident happened more than six years ago and the authorities should have been able to devise a way to remove the tritium instead of simply announcing that they are going to dump it into the ocean", said Aileen Mioko-Smith, an anti-nuclear campaigner with Kyoto-based Green Action Japan. Takashi Kawamura, chairman of Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc. (Tepco), speaks during a group interview at the company's headquarters in Tokyo Credit: Bloomberg "They say that it will be safe because the ocean is large so it will be diluted, but that sets a precedent that can be copied, essentially permitting anyone to dump nuclear waste into our seas", she told The Telegraph. Fishermen who operate in waters off the plant say any release of radioactive material will devastate an industry that is still struggling to recover from the initial nuclear disaster. "Releasing [tritium] into the sea will create a new wave of unfounded rumours, making all our efforts for naught", Kanji Tachiya, head of a local fishing cooperative, told Kyodo News.
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