Animals
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Attention

Dead sperm whale found floating off the Bermuda coast

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© Chris BurvilleChoy Aming straddles a dead sperm whale that became the subject of a feeding frenzy for three species of shark off Challenger Banks
Straddling a dead whale floating on the open ocean as its carcass is ripped apart by three species of shark isn't something you can expect to do every day but it's something Bermudian videographer Choy Aming can now add to his bragging rights.

He received a text on Sunday from a fisherman telling him that there was a dead adult sperm whale floating in the water about 12 miles off shore on the eastern side of Challenger Banks. Within an hour Mr Aming, along with photographer Chris Burville and a small group of friends, were able to watch the drama unfold as about a dozen tiger, blue and dusky sharks made a meal of the 30-35 feet leviathan.

Mr Aming told The Royal Gazette: "I had two sharks within two feet of my face while I was sitting on the back of a dead whale just ripping flesh out of it. I have never been able to get that close. It's not the largest number of sharks I have seen at once but it was just pretty intense over all because the feeding was quite ravenous.

"We were on Chris's boat but once I saw the sharks sticking their heads out of the water I thought, 'I've got to climb on the whale'. I was probably sitting there for 45 minutes with my GoPro camera but it was very shaky and unstable — when the swells came the whale would roll.

Attention

Dead whale found on beach at Bald Head Island, North Carolina

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© Poul LindegaardOfficials with the Bald Head Island Conservancy found a dead whale which washed ashore Monday morning.
Bald Head Island Conservancy officials found a dead whale on shore Monday morning.

According to Assistant Director Poul Lindegaard, his crew came upon the animal in the middle of South Beach and notified officials immediately.

The UNCW Stranded Marine Mammal Team is determining the cause of death.

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© Poul LindegaardUNCW's Stranded Marine Mammal Team is currently determining the cause of death.

Attention

Camper killed by black bear near Mackenzie, British Columbia

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© Jeff McIntosh / THE CANADIAN PRESSA black bear forages for food in Jasper National Park, Alta. on May 7, 2014.
A young northern B.C. man was killed by a black bear at a remote campsite this weekend while his fiancée slept inside their motorhome, say authorities who are now warning people to exercise extreme caution in the province's backcountry.

Daniel Ward Folland O'Connor and his wife-to-be were in a small campground near MacKenzie Saturday night when the fatal mauling apparently occurred.

The BC Coroners Service said O'Connor fell asleep near a fire pit, while his fiancé went to bed in their motorhome.

"After getting up in the morning, [she] realized something was wrong and went for help," said spokesperson Barb McLintock.

The incident was reported to RCMP at 10 a.m. Sunday, and conservation officers located the bear believed to be responsible a short time later.

The 300-pound male black bear, as well as a wolf, were shot dead after the 27-year-old's body was found on a remote logging road.

"The injuries Mr. O'Connor suffered were consistent with a black bear attack," said McLintock, adding that campers need to be well aware of the risks that wildlife can pose in remote campgrounds.

Eye 2

Man killed by bull shark in New Caledonia waters

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Shark
A man has died after being bitten multiple times by a shark while swimming off the Pacific Ocean island of New Caledonia, famed for its idyllic turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, police said Sunday.

The man, described as around 50 years old, who was on a cruise with friends in the south of the archipelago, was swimming just metres from the boat when he was attacked by a bull shark, a military police spokesman told local radio.

"It was really a savage and sudden attack. Most people onboard were health workers, the first aid given was significant but the injuries were such that unfortunately there was not much that could be done," said the spokesman, without giving the dead man's nationality.

New Caledonia, off north-eastern Australia, is a French overseas territory but formulates its own tax, labour laws and trade policy.

The sun-drenched island, which boasts the world's largest enclosed lagoon with magnificent coral, is a popular tourist destination.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Eye 2

Mystery of giant yellow rat snake seen slithering in suds by the seashore in Mayport, Florida

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Lifeguards said snakes on the beach are rare, but the tides have been unusually high in recent days
A Florida surfer sparked a little bit of a panic after he spotted a large snake on the beach and posted pictures of it slithering through sea foam on the internet.

Swimmer and surfers alike were alarmed to see the reptile, believed to be a yellow rat snake, in the online photos from the seashore in Mayport.

They needn't have worried as yellow rat snakes are nonvenomous and mostly harmless.

Pictures of this snake were first posted on 911surfreport.com.

Surfer Bo Miller said: 'It's definitely sketchy.'

Lifeguards said snakes on the beach are rare, but the tides have been unusually high in recent days, News4Jax reported.

The tides may have caused the snake's arrival or it's possible it was accidentally dropped by a bird of prey that was trying to eat it for dinner.


Attention

Blue whale found decaying on Hunt's Island off Newfoundland's southwest coast

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© Norm Strickland A dead blue whale has washed up on the southwest part of Hunt's Island.
A dead blue whale has washed up on the southwest part of Hunt's Island.

Too often, scenes of dead whales are seen around shores. This whale, believed by locals to be a giant blue whale, has died and will soon begin to decay on the southwest part of Hunt's Island.

The temperature in Burgeo is still fairly cold and it is not composing fast, there is a lot of meat and blubber to decompose there.

It is more than a mile from town so the smell hasn't had any effect. After the gulls have picked holes in it, it is speculated it will sink because the holes will release the air.

Times have changed since the days of Farley Mowat and Moby Joe, people look at a dead whale now sadly, they love to see those huge beautiful mammals swimming and spraying their mists into the air.

Attention

Angry elephant leaves water to kill a man on shore

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Tragic: The elephant viciously throws the onlooker in the air
A rampaging elephant in India has been filmed trampling a man to death after it was provoked to charge them.

Horrific footage shows the animal stamping and throwing him after he fell and twisted his ankle as he attempted to escape.

As the attack unfolds onlookers desperately attempt to distract the enraged animal.

A few minutes earlier someone had launched a firework at the animal, sending it running along the opposite bank.


Attention

Dead whale seen in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet

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© CBCThe carcass could be seen from buildings in downtown Vancouver overlooking Burrard Inlet.
Officials have yet to confirm the carcass is that of a killer whale

The carcass of what appears to be a dead killer whale has washed up in Burrard Inlet next to downtown Vancouver.

Officials have yet to confirm the species of the whale, but Biggs killer whales, also known as transients, have been spotted in recent months heading through the busy harbour on their way to nearby Indian Arm, where they are known to prey on seals.

Comment: There's been no let up in the number of dead whales washing up on the west coast of North America this year: Dead Gray whale buried in Tijuana, Mexico

Second dead whale found at Pacifica, California within 3 weeks

Authorities investigate two dead gray whales off Santa Cruz County coast

Dead sperm whale found on beach in Pacifica, California

Dead killer whale found near Fort Bragg, California

Fin whale found dead in San Pedro harbor, California

Dead grey whale washes up near Ucluelet, Canada

Humpback whale found dead near Westport, Washington

Dead Humpback whale washes ashore in Monterey, California

Dead gray whale found off Torrey Pines State Beach, California

Beached pygmy sperm whale dies at Point Reyes, California

Dead gray whale discovered at Seattle ferry terminal

14 whales and 16 turtles wash up dead on Baja California Sur coast


Question

Seal seen 40 miles inland in Cambridgeshire, UK

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© Nathaniel Gore/PAThe sunbathing seal
A sunbathing seal has been spotted in a river 40 miles from the sea in Cambridgeshire.

Nathaniel Gore, 33, was out walking near his home in St Ives on Sunday when he spotted the animal splashing around in the water.

The editorial project manger stopped to film the seal and said it was not put off by the attention.

He added: "I've heard stories of seals being found inland before and he seemed perfectly happy so I wasn't too concerned.

"I stopped for about 20 minutes and he seemed to be enjoying the attention. He was splashing around in the water and sunbathing by the side of the river. I was able to get within three feet and it was a great sight to stop and enjoy."


Comment: Se also: Seal found 20 miles inland near St Helens, UK


Attention

Animal weirdness: Wild boar drops through roof of store in Hong Kong

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Surprise: Wild boar gets trapped inside a children's clothing store
Shocked shoppers were given quite the surprise on Sunday when a wild boar fell through the ceiling of a children's clothing store.

The unusual customer had wandered into a Hong Kong shopping centre where it was then trapped and unable to get out.

Video aired by local TV stations showed the boar, which had apparently climbed up a ladder, punching a hole through the showroom's false ceiling with a trotter.


Comment: See also these similar reports:

Wild boar smashes up restaurant in South Korea

Wild boar crashes through glass panel into library in Malaysia

Wild boar creates havoc at Yonsei University, South Korea

More odd animal behaviour: Wild boar smashes into German hardware store