Basara, the second largest city in Iraq is under siege. Not by U.S. troops, not by insurgent forces, but by belligerent, bloodthirsty badgers.
Were they brought in by British military? Are they indigenous to Iraq? Do they actually eat...
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Basara, the second largest city in Iraq is under siege. Not by U.S. troops, not by insurgent forces, but by belligerent, bloodthirsty badgers.
Were they brought in by British military? Are they indigenous to Iraq? Do they actually eat people?
Basara, Iraq has an unusual problem: they've been invaded by badgers! These cute little fellows are rumored to run as fast as deer and to eat animals as large as cows. One Iraqi woman shares her close encounter: "I was sleeping at night when this strange animal hit me on my head. I have not seen such an animal before. My husband hurried to shoot it but it was as swift as a deer ... It is the size of a dog but his head is like a monkey. It runs so quickly." Some believe that these badgers... Read Full Story
UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: "We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." That memorable quote comes from a story about honey badgers in Basra on the BBC News website which Gareth has brought to our attention. Well, it amused us. I eat honey, not people Read Full Story
The honey badger is known as "the world's fearless animal" due to its eating habits and the fact that it attacks animals bigger than itself and does not hesitate to attack venomous creatures. Badgers have been known to attack: Bumble bee hives Cobras Antelopes Crocodiles Porcupines Termite mounds Dogs Wolves Lions Coyotes Bears Badger super powers: Wolverine claws, tunneling, can survive poisonous bites, climb trees, and MESS you up. Long live the badger! May badger lead the charge against... Read Full Story
Not bird related but still somewhat focusing on the natural world, and just too darned funny to pass by was what is likely the best press statement ever made by any governmental official. According to the BBC , the city of Basra, Iraq, has been buzzing with rumors about a plague of giant, ferocious, man-eating badgers in the area. The locals are spreading the word that these beasts were relased upon the unsuspecting population by none other than the British military in order to spread fear... Read Full Story
From the BBC :
UK military spokesman Major Mike Shearer said: “We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area.”
Though I think it would have been better if he had said: “Badgers? We don’t need no stinking badgers!” Read Full Story
I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Jungle Jane. Do mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships always involve cleaning?" And I answer, "No." We have been looking at symbiotic relationships that are considered mutualistic—each species benefiting from the other. A lot of these happen to be of the "cleaning" variety, especially among fish. The type of symbiosis we'll look at today is called Commensalism , meaning, "at table together." My favorite example of this symbiotic... Read Full Story
