![A dog fitted with two front prosthetic legs runs at Milagros Caninos rescue shelter in Mexico City. According to Milagros Caninos founder Patricia Ruiz, members of a drug gang chopped off the dog’s paws to practice cutting fingers off kidnapped people. [Image: Tomas Bravo/Reuters]
See more animals in the news.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/42a0df96749f5ef37eb0cd07ea6f6540/tumblr_mjpqgjYBQB1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)
A dog fitted with two front prosthetic legs runs at Milagros Caninos rescue shelter in Mexico City. According to Milagros Caninos founder Patricia Ruiz, members of a drug gang chopped off the dog’s paws to practice cutting fingers off kidnapped people. [Image: Tomas Bravo/Reuters]
![The End of Cats: An Interview With the New Zealand Economist Who Wants to Eliminate All Kitties
Why is it so important to protect bird species that are endangered by New Zealand’s cats?
Because our natural environment is arguably our greatest asset. And because the economic value of [our environment] has hardly been capitalized on, and it is continuing to rise at an exponential rate, as the rest of the world cursed by high population density sits in its own nest.
Read more. [Image: Alexis Madrigal]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/159aff9f93ec8cb48231e01ff4f9e077/tumblr_mh50hxJ1aD1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)
The End of Cats: An Interview With the New Zealand Economist Who Wants to Eliminate All Kitties
Why is it so important to protect bird species that are endangered by New Zealand’s cats?
Because our natural environment is arguably our greatest asset. And because the economic value of [our environment] has hardly been capitalized on, and it is continuing to rise at an exponential rate, as the rest of the world cursed by high population density sits in its own nest.
Read more. [Image: Alexis Madrigal]
Ideas for Keeping Street Cats Warm This Winter
“Based on our research, we found that cats distinguish between the low- to mid-light wave spectrum — meaning purple, blue, yellow, and green, with blue and green being the strongest colors they see,” says Hutton. The architects beta-tested their design with their own cats, he adds: “They weren’t too fond of the power tools, but as soon as the assembly started they were all over the outdoor carpet we used for the interior insulation and began climbing in and out of the boxes.”
Read more. [Images: I HAVE CAT]
![This photo of a wild Alaskan brown bear digging on a game trail was taken with a homemade motion-controlled triggering device hooked up to my DSLR. Location: Bear Creek, Lake Aleknagik, Alaska.
[Image: Jason Ching/National Geographic Photo Contest]
See more winning entries from the National Geographic Photo Contest.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/cab2eeaa80747289ebf67209af0efd20/tumblr_mg9us6MkPL1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)
This photo of a wild Alaskan brown bear digging on a game trail was taken with a homemade motion-controlled triggering device hooked up to my DSLR. Location: Bear Creek, Lake Aleknagik, Alaska.
[Image: Jason Ching/National Geographic Photo Contest]
See more winning entries from the National Geographic Photo Contest.
Visit a Hospital for Insanely Adorable Wild Koalas
Aaand it’s Friday afternoon.
Ultra Slo-Mo Video: Cheetahs Are the Best Machines
Nothing, just nothing, can match the mechanical grace and force of a cheetah running at full speed.
![The Deer Paradox
Here are some curious facts. One: more white-tailed deer live in the United States today than at any other time in history. Two: fewer hunters are going after them than did even 20 years ago. And yet, three: deer hunting now rivals military combat in its technological sophistication. Outfitters’ shelves are crammed with advanced electronics, weaponry, chemicals, and camouflage, all designed to eliminate every last shred of chance from the pursuit. The average American hunter now spends nearly $2,500 a year on the sport, despite the fact that finding a deer to kill has literally never been easier.
Read more. [Image: R. Kikuo Johnson]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcgippWT2Z1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)
Here are some curious facts. One: more white-tailed deer live in the United States today than at any other time in history. Two: fewer hunters are going after them than did even 20 years ago. And yet, three: deer hunting now rivals military combat in its technological sophistication. Outfitters’ shelves are crammed with advanced electronics, weaponry, chemicals, and camouflage, all designed to eliminate every last shred of chance from the pursuit. The average American hunter now spends nearly $2,500 a year on the sport, despite the fact that finding a deer to kill has literally never been easier.
Read more. [Image: R. Kikuo Johnson]
In Focus: The Best Wildlife Photography of the Year
The Veolia Environnement Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, founded in 1964, is an annual international showcase for the very best nature photography. Owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Worldwide, the contest includes 18 individual categories, ranging from birds and mammals to “Creative Visions” and “Nature in Black & White.” This year’s competition drew more than 48,000 entries from 98 countries.
See more. [Images: Richard Peters, Anna Henly, Hannes Lochner, Klaus Tamm/Veolia Environnement]
![The Best Nature Photographs of the Year, Including This Too-Human Monkey Portrait
There are animal photos and there are animal photos. While I’m a fan of Instagrams of cats and dogs, the images in the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year show at the Natural History Museum in London are no mere social-media fodder.
Here we see a Japanese macaques in repose. A Dutch photographer, Jasper Doerst, visited the hot springs of Jigokudani Valley in central Japan, and found about 30 monkeys soaking in the warm water. This one fell asleep right in front of him.
See more. [Images: Jasper Doest]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mcb2aiQhvd1qcokc4o1_r1_1280.jpg)
The Best Nature Photographs of the Year, Including This Too-Human Monkey Portrait
There are animal photos and there are animal photos. While I’m a fan of Instagrams of cats and dogs, the images in the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year show at the Natural History Museum in London are no mere social-media fodder.
Here we see a Japanese macaques in repose. A Dutch photographer, Jasper Doerst, visited the hot springs of Jigokudani Valley in central Japan, and found about 30 monkeys soaking in the warm water. This one fell asleep right in front of him.
See more. [Images: Jasper Doest]
In Focus: Scenes From Antarctica
Summer is returning to Antarctica and researcher teams from around the world are heading south for the (relatively) warm season. Among them are members of a Russian team that drilled into Lake Vostok last February. Vostok is a subglacial lake some 4,000 meters below the surface of the ice, and the plan is to send a robot down there this summer to collect water samples and sediments from the bottom. Research also continues at the South Pole Telescope, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, and dozens of other locations around Antarctica. Gathered here are recent images of Antarctica, its environment, and some of the scientific work taking place there.
See more. [Images: National Science Foundation]
In one of the film’s stupidest choices, Nick ends up in a sanitarium after Gatsby’s death. His pure...
an autobiography
Attention All Photography Enthusiasts
Voting for our annual photo contest ends today! Browse through 50 stunning finalists and pick your...
The loss of the Fung Wah bus service between Boston and New York inspired this parody: http://nyr.kr/XGaaWx
Lyrics and performance by Marc...
Cinemas.
In Nairobi Slum, Finding Safety In A Public Bathroom
by Julienne Gage“Step into Nairobi’s sprawling Kibera slum and it’s...
Here’s today’s Daily GIF!
