Venomous New Pseudoscorpion Found in Colorado Cave

Unless you've been living in a cave, you are not likely to run across this new species of poisonous, nearly blind Pseudoscorpion.

The 0.5-inch-long (1.3-centimeter-long) species, Cryptogreagris steinmanni, was discovered recently in high-altitude caverns near Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Pseudoscorpions are essentially scorpions that lack a stinging tail. However, the new species does have long, venom-tipped pincers that likely help it nab agile prey, such as springtails, in the gloom.

The new pseudoscorpion is most likely found only in Glenwood Caverns and Historic Fairy Caves, the study authors say.

"A lot of these caves are islands, almost like an isolated environment where invertebrates ... evolve into being adapted to underground life," said biospeleologist David Steinmann, a zoology department associate with the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Steinmann collected the new species after it was discovered in 2000 by tour guide Micah Ball.

With its primitive eyes and pale color, the arachnid is ideally suited to its dark, chilly existence and has probably been scurrying through the passages for millions of years, Steinmann said.

Little is known about C. steinmanni, but it's thought to be rare, relatively long-lived, and able to curl up into a defensive ball when threatened. The animal went unobserved for so long because it blends in well with the rocks�and because few people have been crawling around caves looking for tiny creatures.

Steinmann, an avid caver, has discovered more than a hundred new invertebrate species so far in Colorado caves, including at least seven in Glenwood Springs alone.

Elephant beauty pageant held in Nepal

The 7th International Elephant Race festival came to an end in Nepal yesterday with the pachyderms winning an array of titles.

In the competition, the first such in the nation, a svelte 28-year-old walked away with the prize after defeating two other finalists.

The mahouts -- the elephants' keepers -- worked hard on their charges' looks. The pachyderms were bathed, their hard skins scrubbed and their foreheads oiled. The mahouts also drew patterns on the elephants' faces and ears.

Of the three finalists, the youngest won. Chanchalkali, 28, which translates as "playful beautiful," looked resplendent in a light red gown that covered her hulk of a body. Her nails were painted different colors and her forehead was covered with red cloth. She was declared the most beautiful elephant by the judges on the basis of hygiene, good health, energy and looks. Dhirendrakali, 35, was named the runner-up.

The event was held in Chitwan district, 175km south of Kathmandu. Some 35 elephants participated in the festival, organized by the government to promote tourism. There are about 95 domesticated elephants in Nepal out of a total population of 200.

Green House Gas reduction could save Polar Bears : Study

Polar bears could be saved from extinction if greenhouse gas emissions are considerably reduced in the next decade or two, a study released Wednesday reports.

The research, published in the Dec. 16 issue of Nature, found that if humans reduce greenhouse gas emissions considerably over the next 20 years, enough Arctic ice is likely to remain unbroken during late summer and early autumn for polar bears to survive.

It also concluded that considerable retention of the remaining ice through this century, as well as partial recovery of the ice that disappeared during the rapid ice loss, would be achieved.

Research from 2007 estimated that only about one-third of the world's 22,000 polar bears would remain by mid-century if the dramatic Arctic ice decline continued, and that eventually they could vanish completely. This led to the 2008 listing of polar bears as an endangered species.

The 2007 report coincided with the amount of summer sea-ice plunging to new record lows, prompting concern that there was a temperature threshold that could throw the ice into an irreversible decline.

This latest study, however, conducted by some of the same researchers as the 2007 reports, suggests that is not the case.

Cloned British Products is 'Safe�

Meat and milk from the offspring of cloned animals should be sold freely in Britain without being labelled, the Food Standards Authority declared.

The food safety watchdog said produce from the descendants of cloned pigs and cows is safe to eat and should not have to undergo any extra checks compared with other animals before going on sale.

Ministers are expected to rubber stamp the new guidelines, clearing the final hurdle for the meat and milk of cloned animals to be sold freely in Britain.

The FSA published new advice yesterday which stipulated that farmers must seek a license before selling meat or milk from cloned animals, but not their offspring.

An advisory panel on food safety will decide whether the food from cloned animals should be labeled on a case-by-case basis, but food from the descendants of clones will not need a label.

The new guidance was prompted by a scare in the summer when it emerged that meat from the offspring of a cloned cow had been sold unwittingly in butchers� shops without a license being obtained.

The discovery sparked a storm of controversy over ethics of cloning animals for food and the FSA commissioned an investigation into the safety of the practice.

Famous Flabby Cat "Prince Chunk" Dies

Celebrity cat �Prince Chunk� has reportedly died after being diagnosed with heart disease.

Prince Chunk made headlines in August 2008 when his former owner lost her home and the cat was taken in by the Camden County Animal Shelter. The cat rose to fame after being found wandering the streets by an animal shelter at the incredible weight of 44 pounds.

According to the AP, owner Vince Damiani has now confirmed that Prince Chunk died in his sleep on Sunday.

Chunk became a nationwide sensation in the US following his discovery, appearing on a number of popular shows including Live With Regis And Kelly and Good Morning America.

The story of Prince Chunk inspired his owner to set up the Prince Chunk Foundation, which aims to prevent owners leaving their animals on the streets when they become unable to care for them.

Cold, Lost Sea Turtles rescued on Cape Cod

The New England Aquarium dragged in ailing sea turtles on Cape Cod that were �facing imminent death due to hypothermia,�� according to Tony LaCasse, aquarium spokesman.

On Wednesday night, the 17 sea turtles were found and were recovered by volunteers at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary who combed miles of beach from Truro to Eastham.

The turtles were taken to the aquarium�s new animal care center in Quincy, where they will be treated for dehydration, hypothermia and malnourishment.

Turtle�s body temperatures were in the high 40s to low 50s; they are supposed to be in the low- to mid-70s. Their body temperatures will be raised gradually, said LaCasse. Their temperatures should return to normal by Monday, he said.

The number of turtles that have been recovered since Oct. 20 rises to 41, LaCasse said. About 90% of the rescued sea turtles are of the Kemp�s ridley species, the most endangered and rarest sea turtle and the most affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. After the turtles recover, they will be released over the summer, he said, adding that rescued turtles have an 80 percent to 90 percent survival rate.