Beautiful Animals

Reeling from the gorgeous pics. And semireeling from the panda birth. Kinda felt like I was intruding, but I watched anyway. Thanks, Arella Mae.

Colugo (flying mammal from Asia. Not a squirrel. Although they are sometimes called flying lemurs, they're not lemurs either. They're a species of their own):

Warning! Cuteness alert! Rescued baby dolphin:

Thanks for the warning, Tai. Definitely needed to brace myself. Wonderful photos. Thanks.

OMG...soooo funny!

A duck appears to sport a Marilyn Monroe style hairdo, with her head feathers perfectly preened into a fetching bouffant. Amateur photographer Rainey Shuler snapped the crested duck at the Willow Springs Pond in Soulsbyville, Northern California. She said the bird was known locally as the George Washington Duck as it bears a resemblance to the former American President.
Picture: Rainey Shuler/solentnews.co.uk

Awesome flying thingy Roberta. I would love to see that guy in gliding action.

Great set of cute photos TC. Especially where the curious penguin goes to check out the new resident.

And all ducks should be so lucky and be so stylish IrishK.

Irish, I know you're not there. I know you can't attest to the authenticity of every picture you post. Is that duck wearing a wig or what?

tsar, Colugos are night gliders. Their camouflage is so effective that during the day they're almost invisible. Here's one in a state of glide:

I think it's real lol. Apparently the locals call him George Washington...my first thought before I read the caption was of those barristers over in England who wear the funny wigs in court. Duck looks just like them LOL.

Not sure who's having the most fun here...

British animal wrangler Alex Larenty gives Zien the lion a shampoo bath at The Lion Park, Johannesburg, South Africa. While most cats hate water Zien the lion loves getting into a lather with big cat handler Alex Larenty
Picture: MATTHEW TABACCOS / BARCROFT MEDIA

I was thinking of those white wigs they wear too. That surely is a unique duck.

Miss Roberta, that "glider" is eery but quite striking.

Truly one of the most beautiful equine specimens I've seen!



GO, Zenyatta! GO, Girl!!

She's going for an unprecedented 20-0 record win in about an hour.

Slightly unorthodox for this thread but bear with me:
http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/puzzle/kinectimals/video/6283513/kinectimals-video-review#toggle_video

Thoroughbreds are indeed beautiful. 20-0? More than impressive!

That's actually pretty amazing if it works as well as it did in that video! Looks like fun!

Some photos via the SF Chron -

Small earthquake strikes Sydney: Preliminary 3.3 magnitude on the Richter Scale. Epicenter is believed to be Luk Chai and Pathi Harn's pen at the Tarong Zoo.
Photo: Rick Stevens / AFP / Getty Images




Shoot. I think I left the stove on: Binta and Chalid, looking concerned at the Hanover Zoo in Germany.
Photo: Peter Steffen / AFP / Getty Images




I'm not going to pay a lot for that muffler! The African Wild Dog has one of the scariest yawns in the animal kingdom. (Hellabrun Zoo, Munich.)
Photo: Frank Leonhardt / AFP / Getty Images




For Roberta!

Early-bird breakfast search: A bald eagle takes flight in the foothills of the Olympic Mountains after sunrise in Bremerton, Wash.
Photo: Larry Steagall / Kitsap Sun

You guys have been busy. The lion by the tale pic is wonderful. Zenyatta is GORGEOUS. Not perfect but very beautiful and special.

tsar, That game looks like mucho fun.

osso, Wonderful pics. I love the expression on that lion's face. She's saying something. And the yawn is scary.

Thanks, querida, for the eagle. Sigh.

Alpine ibex:

Twin girls look at 11-day-old, lion cubs at a city zoo in Stavropol, Russia. A lioness at the zoo gave birth to four cubs, two male and two female.
Picture: AFP/GETTY

Mazel tov to the lioness. Four cubs is a good litter. The cubs look big. Is it the angle? They also look very cute. Thanks, Irish.

Discus fish:

Did she win? She looks a lot like my thoroughbred, Big Mac, except he has a much wider blaze on his face. She looks as big as him though.

Sorry to burst your bubble:
Blame Stuns Zenyatta At Churchill Downs
http://espn.go.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/90986/blame-stuns-zenyatta-at-churchill-downs