I know, it looks like something that came out of an ostrich-impregnated turkey, but it’s actually very dangerous.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the Cassowaries are the world’s most dangerous birds, capable of dealing fatal blows. They are very unpredictable, aggressive creatures, especially if wounded or cornered. The Cassowary lives in the rain forests of Australia and New Guinea and are actually pretty shy animals if undisturbed, but if you get to close and it thinks you’re a threat you could receive a bone-breaking kick or get sliced by its dagger-like sharp claws. During WWII, soldiers stationed in New Guinea were warned to stay away from these birds, but some of them still became victims.

The Cassowary is also one of the most difficult animals to keep in the Zoo because of the frequent injuries suffered by Zoo keepers that look after them. I like a bird that can take care of itself, but, unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to help it very much against human cruelty and it is on the endangered species list, along with so many others…

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Does being completely white make them less cute?

On the contrary, unlike albino humans I think these critters are even cuter than their “custom” colored kin. It’s clear that animals aren’t protected from genetic anomalies any more than people are, but at least most of them are not discriminating. If you’re interested, read more about the albino croc and the albino moose.

Remember SAM, the ugliest dog ever, if you ask me.

So he died like 3 years ago, so what something like that doesn’t really die that easily you know, this kind of creature is hard to forget. SAM held the title of World’s Ugliest Dog for 3 straight years (2003, 2004, 2005) and he was striped of it by his own mortality, dying due to heart complications, at the age of 15…My guess is he looked in the mirror by mistake, but that’s less important.

SAM was a purebred Chinese Crested Hairless, but don’t imagine all of this race looks like that, oh no, he was just special. Taken in by Susie Lockheed back in 1999, SAM became an internet star, sporting his very own page on Wikipedia and some screen appearances.

To me, SAM will forever be the ultimate ugliest mutt, I don’t have a picture of him in my room or anything like that…

White Diamond is thought to be the only albino crocodile in Europe.

And you can go see him if yo fancy a trip to the German village of Hodenhagen, at the Serengeti Safari park, until April 27. White Diamond was born in Louisiana, USA and grew up at an alligator farm in Florida, but has arrived in Germany as part of a traveling reptile show, called “Land der Reptilien“. White Diamond is 14 years old right now, and he’s lucky he lives in captivity, with that white-a-skin I doubt he could have sneaked up on his prey without being noticed.

So remember, if you want to see White Diamond live, visit Serengeti Safari park, until April 27, 2008.

Would make a nice book title wouldn’t it?

Oeun Sambat is a six-year old boy from Cambodia, who has a very unusual best friend, a huge python called Chamerun (Lucky). If you ask me that should be the boy’s name, he’s lucky that thing hasn’t eaten him yet. Anyway he’s become really popular in the surrounding area, people from the neighboring villagers flock to see this miracle and say he has supernatural powers because he was the son of a dragon in a previous life.

It’s a pretty cool situation, still if was one of the boy’s parents I wouldn’t let him keep that thing as a pet…snakes are very unpredictable creatures, especially if they aren’t tamed in any way.

Dogs need 4 legs to walk…or do they?

Well most of them do, but not wonder dog Faith. She was born with deformities, she only had one front leg and it had to be removed when she was 7 months because it was starting to atrophy. But thanks to the care of her adoptive owners Faith managed to survive and grow into an amazing dog. She learned to move by using only her 2 remaining legs, but, according to her owners although it was a very difficult process, it was also natural.

Faith has become a star and her owners have started the With Little Faith Foundation and they travel along with their pet, spreading their faith and God’s love to as many as they can.

Faith’s official site

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Who knew moths this big even existed?

The Atlas moth (Attacus Atlas) is is a large moth found in the tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, southern China, common across the Malay archipelago, Thailand to Indonesia.

These moths are considered the largest in the world in terms of total wing surface area (65 square inches). In Hong Kong the Cantonese name translates as “snake’s head moth“, referring to apical extension of the forewing, which bears a passing resemblance to a snake’s head.

Another interesting characteristic of the Atlas moth is that it doesn’t have fully developed mouth-parts, so it can’t feed…ever. It survives on the larval fat reserves, throughout their entire 1-2 weeks adult lives.

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Now there’s another fish I didn’t know existed. Apparently nobody did…

I admit I’m not a fish connoisseur, there are many species of fish I didn’t know existed and I have just added a new one to the list. This one is a beauty though, if you know what it is, please a comment, I’d appreciate it!

Argungu is am important Nigerian cultural event, to which thousands of fishermen take part.

Argungu takes place in the North-Western Nigerian state of Kebbi, where an army of fishermen gather with one goal in mind, to catch the largest fish. So at the sound of a gun they all plunge into the muddy waters of the Matan Fada stream, in teams of two, one armed with two calabash (used for flotation and fish storage) and the other with two giant fish nets.

The Matan Fada may not be very impressive but it’s full of fish, because people come here to fish only once a year. After the one our time limit is over, the team who caught the largest fish is escorted by the sultans’s guards to present their prize to him. The winners receive a brand new bus as a prize as well as one million Naira (around $7500).

Nigeria hopes the Argungu fishing festival will soon become an important tourist attraction.

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There are so many organisms that we still know nothing about…

And that’s the way I like it, I’m glad they’re are no ways to explore the dark ocean pits yet, it lets our imagination run wild, we can still believe there are huge monsters living there, that come up from time to time and attack boats, just like in the movies. But just the same, it’s nice to discover things gradually, like these beautiful pictures of creatures I for one didn’t even know existed. And some of them are not hideous-looking at all.

If you want to see even more images go here, there’s a whole book of pictures for sale, I reckon it’s worth it, especially if you have a thing for the unknown.

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I didn’t know crocodiles were easy to train, this guy proves that they are.

Still, putting your head inside that beast’s head like that?!? And he looks like he doesn’t have a care in the world, like nothing could go wrong, it’s a little annoying. Buddy that thing has one of the strongest bites on the planet, if he snaps, that’s it, game over! And with a face like that, I wonder how that crock can help himself…

Although I doubt he’ll have a head on his shoulders for a long time, if he keeps this up, the guy has balls the size of watermelons!

I’m sure you’ve all heard about cock fights, but how many of you heard about ouzel fights?

Yup, apparently they’re not just harmless birds with phenomenal voices but also very good fighters when they need to be. In India fights between short-legged ouzels are very popular, people actually breed and train them for this kind of activity, apparently there are also a lot of money involved. It’s quite sad actually, not long ago I wrote a post about horrific horse fights, it’s clearer and clearer that man is indeed the most cruel being on the planet.

They look like normal dogs on steroids but they’re one of the most sweet-tempered, generous, patient and intelligent breeds in the world, they are the Irish Wolfhounds.

First of all, don’t worry, although they look big enough to eat people, they don’t. Actually they aren’t even very good watchdogs since they tend to greet everyone as their friend. Keep in mind that some reach the size of a pony so if you are thinking of getting one you have to have a spacey home, at least one with a large yard.

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Meet Digger, a burly Clydersdale, Britain’s largest horse and soon to be largest horse in the entire world.

At just 4 years of age, a regular teenager, Digger measures 19 hands and 2 inches and promises to stomp over the current record of 20 hands, held by Tina, a shire from Tennessee. Digger didn’t start very well in life, he was an orphan before he was taken in to International League for the Protection of Horses’ Belwade Farm in Aboyne, Scotland, after his former owners couldn’t cope with him, due to health reasons. But now Digger is more than ok, devouring 42 to 55 pounds of food a day, plus treats like chocolate muffins, carrots and apples from visitors.

Strangest thing is Digger is best friends with Sweep, a 12 years old Shetland mini pony, who can easily walk right under Digger‘s belly.

I’ve seen dogs pull off amazing tricks but one that can actually balance tea cups on its paws is definitely something new. Sindi is an 8 year old Cocker Spaniel from England that could easily be working in a bar or caffe, she could carry the coffees on its paws and the spoons in her mouth.