World Animals, Birds And ....: August 2013

A Pink Dolphin

A PINK DOLPHIN..AWESOME! WHAT A TREAT!

Think pink … you’re not seeing the world through rose-coloured glasses: This albino dolphin is pink.

Unique … the bottlenose – first spotted in Lake Calcasieu, an inland saltwater estuary in Louisiana, by boat captain Erik Rue, 42, in 2007 – has surfaced again.

Attraction … tourists are flocking to the lake in hopes of seeing the rare mammal.

Rare sight … “Pinky” is believed to be the only pink dolphin in the world, and has “reddish” eyes. It is usually spotted with its dark grey mother.

One of a kind … there are only 14 other known albino dolphins in the world, all of them white.

Healthy glow … “The dolphin appears to be healthy and normal other than its coloration, which is quite beautiful and stunningly pink,” said Mr Rue, who estimates he has spotted Pinky more than 40 times.

Oldest Animals: Life Spans Of Elephants, Tortoises And More Species

Human longevity is increasing all the time. But compared to some other animals, a human's average life span (about 78.5 years according to the CDC) is nothing to brag about. One bird celebrated his 79th birthday, and a certain reptile became a father for the first time at age 111.

We found seven creatures who get to spend a long time on Earth, some for hundreds of years.

Bowhead Whale

Average Life Span: Over 200 Years

Giant Tortoises

Average Life Span: 100 Years

Tuatara

Average Life Span: Over 100 Years

Asian Elephants

Average Life Span: 60 Years

Cockatoos

Average Life Span: 40 - 60 Years

Western Lowland Gorillas

Average Life Span: 50 Years

Manx Shearwater

Average Life Span: 15 Years But There Are Impressive Exceptions

Maramadi – The Bull Race of Kerala

At the annual Maramadi festival during the post harvest season in the villages of Kerala in southern India, a peculiar bull race takes place. A pair of bulls are sent charging down the football field-sized rice paddy field soaked in ankle deep water, while their guides hang onto the tail or onto a harness and slide through the mud. The fields are freshly ploughed and the muddy water splash about as the bulls are raced by their guides. The villagers gather around these fields keeping safe distance. The air is rent with excitement fervor as there is stiff competition over these races.

A pair of oxen is usually managed by three persons forming a participating unit. Nearly 30 such units participate in the race which starts at noon and continues up to dusk. Like professional Jockeys these persons are also well trained and are experts in managing the oxen during the race. The oxen participating in for these races are specially fed and trained.

The most famous among the Maramadi races is held in Anandapali village Pathnamthitta District near Adoor City in Kerala. Here it is held around August 15th every year and coincides with the Onam celebrations.