It is usually turkeys that put on weight at this time of year – not robins. But this little red-breast has stuffed itself with so many crumbs that it looks plump enough for the Christmas table. The well-fed robin was spotted wob-wob-wobbling along a fence at Plymouth’s Burrator Reservoir. Despite its bulging appearance, the red-breasted bird was still able to defy gravity and take flight. And experts even say the robin is in good nick to survive a harsh winter because it has clearly stocked up on food. The rotund bird was spotted by photographer Paul Mingo as he feasted on a snack of bread crumbs on a fence post at the Burrator Reservoir in Plymouth, Devon. Mr Mingo,...

The government wants to carry out what is believed to be the biggest-ever roundup of wild horses on federal land, moving as many as 25,000 mustangs and burros to pastures in the Midwest and East out of fear their fast-multiplying numbers will lead to mass starvation. The plan is facing heated opposition from advocates, including celebrities Sheryl Crow, Bill Maher and Ed Harris, who contend the proposal is itself inhumane and unnecessary. They say the situation is not as dire as the government has painted it. “The Obama administration must craft a new policy that protects these animals and upholds the will of Congress and the public’s desire to preserve this important part of our national heritage,” said William...

For female giant pandas who can only conceive on a few days once a year, being able to say “when” is vital. Now a report reveals that female giant pandas use chirp calls to inform male pandas exactly how fertile they are. The discovery suggests that panda vocal signals are more important than thought, and will aid conservation of the endangered animal, scientists say. The researchers from the US and China publish their research in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B. During their short breeding season, female giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) make high pitched calls that are thought to solicit male attention. Given the brief window of opportunity for mating, selection should favour female giant pandas who...

BOSTON — Of all the oceans’ predators, jellyfish have the least … of everything: With no teeth, fins or brains, they catch only whatever unlucky animals drift into their path. But to the animals they hunt, jellyfish and the many related species of comb jellies are a menace. Ranging from several feet long to nearly microscopic, their venom often kill creatures hundreds of times their size, including, in rare cases, humans. As scientists study jellyfish more closely, a new creature is emerging: More than just a nuisance, jellyfish are viewed as barometers of ocean health and possibly a powerful force affecting seawater itself. Scientists remain cloudy about the role of jellyfish in the ocean ecosystem, but the creatures are...