Just Animals Getting Startled

No biggie.

The Amazing Lyrebird

Lyrebirds are native to Australia and are known for the ability to mimic all sorts of sounds they encounter in their environment.

For example... a laser pistol.





...camera sounds (starts at 1:46).





... and well-known sitcom theme tunes (even David Attenborough is surprised).




OK... the last one's a lie (but I'm sure you knew that already).


(source)

Baby Elephants in Distress

Filmed in Amboseli National Park, Kenya.
A young elephant fell into a waterhole and couldn't get out.
It would have certainly died if these guys (ATE, Amboseli Trust for Elephants) hadn't been there.

From the video "about" section:

"We rescued this young eight months old calf early this week. Luckily the report came in early in the morning and we were able to get there quick before the mother was forced to leave by herders arriving to water their cattle. It was a happy ending as we were able to reunite the calf with her mother, Zombe."





Look at it run!


In a somewhat less distressing video, this baby elephant got into some trouble at the Zurich Zoo.
The response by the adults was extremely prompt.





Look at them run!


(source & source)

The Worst Pain Known to Man?

Caution! Viewer discretion is advised. Videos of men in severe pain.

The bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) is a species of ant which inhabits areas ranging from Central (Nicaragua) to South America (Paraguay). It has an extremely painful sting, which according to some victims, resembles the feeling of having been shot, hence the name bullet ant.

I'll let Wikipedia explain it further:

"The pain caused by this insect's sting is purported to be greater than that of any other hymenopteran, and is ranked as the most painful according to the Schmidt sting pain index, given a "4+" rating, above the tarantula hawk wasp. It is described as causing "waves of burning, throbbing, all-consuming pain that continues unabated for up to 24 hours".

"The Satere-Mawe people of Brazil use intentional bullet ant stinging as part of their initiation rites to becoming a warrior. The ants are first rendered unconscious by submerging them in a natural sedative, and then hundreds of them are woven into a glove made of leaves (which resembles a large oven mitt), stingers facing inward. When the ants regain consciousness, a boy slips the glove onto his hand.

The goal of this initiation rite is to keep the glove on for a full 10 minutes. When finished, the boy's hand and part of his arm are temporarily paralyzed because of the ant venom, and he may shake uncontrollably for days. The only "protection" provided is a coating of charcoal on the hands, supposedly to confuse the ants and inhibit their stinging. To fully complete the initiation, boys must go through the ordeal a total of 20 times over the course of several months or even years."

First off, here's a video from National Geographic concerning the construction of the gloves (starts around 1:04).

Next up, white guys doing a ritual that doesn't concern them.

This guy took it pretty well (at least while wearing the gloves).
Not as well as the natives, but pretty well.





This guy (Hamish) on the other hand, hadn't done his homework.
Nor did his friend (Andy) who obviously thinks it's just an act at first.




(source)

Animals. Talking.

Here's another one I can't believe I haven't posted before.

A hilarious clip from the BBC series "Walk on the Wild Side", where animals are voiced-over resulting in some truly funny sketches.




I can't believe they missed the opportunity to name it "Talk on the Wild Side".

Funny and Cute Animals Compilation

Just this for today.


Salsa dog




Kittens watch tennis




Tortoise dancing




Turbo hamster




Kung fu bear (an old classic)

Talking Animals

Youtube user klaatu42 specializes in animals that can talk.


Ultimate Dog Tease (more than 113million views, wow!)

Cat playing "I Spy"

Welcome to Canada!