Animals http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1132&ft=1&f=1132 Animals en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:16:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Animals http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1132&ft=1&f=1132 Animal CSI: Inside The Smithsonian's Feather Forensics Lab A keen eye and extensive knowledge of feathers allows forensic ornithologist Carla Dove (yes, that's her name) figure out from feather and bone fragments which type of bird crashed into a plane or was eaten by a snake. But the expertise has an uncertain future. Wed, 19 Jun 2013 03:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/184827651/animal-csi-inside-the-smithsonians-feather-forensics-lab?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/19/184827651/animal-csi-inside-the-smithsonians-feather-forensics-lab?ft=1&f=1132 A keen eye and extensive knowledge of feathers allows forensic ornithologist Carla Dove (yes, that's her name) figure out from feather and bone fragments which type of bird crashed into a plane or was eaten by a snake. But the expertise has an uncertain future.

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]]> Mayoral Races Across Mexico Are Turning Into A Zoo In Xalapa, a cat named Morris is running with the campaign slogan "Tired of voting for rats? Vote for a cat!" Candidates in other cities include Chon the Donkey and Tina the Chicken. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/192634574/mayoral-races-across-mexico-are-turning-into-a-zoo?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/192634574/mayoral-races-across-mexico-are-turning-into-a-zoo?ft=1&f=1132 In Xalapa, a cat named Morris is running with the campaign slogan "Tired of voting for rats? Vote for a cat!" Candidates in other cities include Chon the Donkey and Tina the Chicken.

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]]> Rule Would List All Chimps As Endangered, Even Lab Animals Though the regulation proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service would make it more difficult to use chimpanzees for research purposes, that may not be a problem, some scientists say. Scientific advances show the animals are less medically useful than previously thought. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:10:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/14/191611899/rule-would-list-all-chimps-as-endangered-even-lab-animals?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/06/14/191611899/rule-would-list-all-chimps-as-endangered-even-lab-animals?ft=1&f=1132 Though the regulation proposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service would make it more difficult to use chimpanzees for research purposes, that may not be a problem, some scientists say. Scientific advances show the animals are less medically useful than previously thought.

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]]> European Pet Passport Lets Animals Travel To EU States Until this week, there had been a limit: Travelers could only take up to five pets across the borders. Now, thanks to a pet-loving member of the EU Parliament, those who prefer to travel with herds of animals are free to roam — as long as they're heading for a competition or sporting event. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:13:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191553437/european-pet-passport-let-animals-travel-to-e-u-states?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191553437/european-pet-passport-let-animals-travel-to-e-u-states?ft=1&f=1132 Until this week, there had been a limit: Travelers could only take up to five pets across the borders. Now, thanks to a pet-loving member of the EU Parliament, those who prefer to travel with herds of animals are free to roam — as long as they're heading for a competition or sporting event.

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]]> Maine College Students Take On A Bear Of A Study The state is trying to keep tabs on its bear population. Undergraduates at Unity College are in the woods tranquilizing bears and collaring them so the state can better understand the animals. Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191534501/maine-college-students-take-on-a-bear-of-a-study?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/14/191534501/maine-college-students-take-on-a-bear-of-a-study?ft=1&f=1132 The state is trying to keep tabs on its bear population. Undergraduates at Unity College are in the woods tranquilizing bears and collaring them so the state can better understand the animals.

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]]> Why Dolphins Make Us Nervous India has just banned dolphin entertainment parks. They are "morally unacceptable," says a government ministry. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, the U.S. Navy announced that 24 dolphins trained to sniff for underwater mines will be replaced by robots. We are definitely confused about dolphins. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:32:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/06/13/191286344/why-dolphins-make-us-nervous?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2013/06/13/191286344/why-dolphins-make-us-nervous?ft=1&f=1132 India has just banned dolphin entertainment parks. They are "morally unacceptable," says a government ministry. Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, the U.S. Navy announced that 24 dolphins trained to sniff for underwater mines will be replaced by robots. We are definitely confused about dolphins.

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]]> Fancy Feet: Wild Cheetahs Excel At Acceleration Cheetahs don't often hunt at their top speed, scientists are finding. Come mealtime, what matters most is the animals' ability to accelerate and to take tight corners. Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:34:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191049647/fancy-feet-wild-cheetahs-excel-at-acceleration?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/13/191049647/fancy-feet-wild-cheetahs-excel-at-acceleration?ft=1&f=1132 Cheetahs don't often hunt at their top speed, scientists are finding. Come mealtime, what matters most is the animals' ability to accelerate and to take tight corners.

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]]> Immigration Bill May Keep Wage Exemption For Foreign Herders Peruvian shepherds on guest worker visas tend thousands of sheep in Wyoming, but they only make about half of what agricultural workers elsewhere are paid. Some ranchers say the exemption from minimum wage requirements is necessary; workers' rights advocates say it's exploitation. Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/12/189528370/immigration-bill-may-keep-wage-exemption-for-foreign-herders?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/12/189528370/immigration-bill-may-keep-wage-exemption-for-foreign-herders?ft=1&f=1132 Peruvian shepherds on guest worker visas tend thousands of sheep in Wyoming, but they only make about half of what agricultural workers elsewhere are paid. Some ranchers say the exemption from minimum wage requirements is necessary; workers' rights advocates say it's exploitation.

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]]> Massive Bat Cave Stirs Texas-Size Debate Over Development Every night for thousands of years, bats have poured out of the Bracken Cave Reserve, near San Antonio, by the millions. But conservationists are worried that plans for a housing development nearby will disrupt the bats' rural habitat. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190736097/massive-bat-cave-stirs-texas-sized-debate-over-development?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/190736097/massive-bat-cave-stirs-texas-sized-debate-over-development?ft=1&f=1132 Every night for thousands of years, bats have poured out of the Bracken Cave Reserve, near San Antonio, by the millions. But conservationists are worried that plans for a housing development nearby will disrupt the bats' rural habitat.

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]]> To Crack Down On Rhino Poaching, Authorities Turn To Drones Sky-high prices for elephant ivory and rhino horn have pushed wildlife poaching to a fever pitch. So in attempt to outfox the sophisticated poaching operations, conservationists and government rangers are teaming up to launch small, camera-carrying drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, above southwest Africa. Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/188638982/to-crack-down-on-rhino-poaching-authorities-turn-to-drones?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/11/188638982/to-crack-down-on-rhino-poaching-authorities-turn-to-drones?ft=1&f=1132 Sky-high prices for elephant ivory and rhino horn have pushed wildlife poaching to a fever pitch. So in attempt to outfox the sophisticated poaching operations, conservationists and government rangers are teaming up to launch small, camera-carrying drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, above southwest Africa.

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]]> City Life Disrupts Daily Rhythm Of Birds City life can be harsh on people. For example, it pushes people to work longer and sleep less. A new study suggests that city life can have a somewhat similar effect on birds too. It shows urban blackbirds wake up earlier and go to bed later than their forest dwelling cousins. Mon, 10 Jun 2013 04:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190238762/city-life-disrupts-daily-rhythm-of-birds?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/10/190238762/city-life-disrupts-daily-rhythm-of-birds?ft=1&f=1132 City life can be harsh on people. For example, it pushes people to work longer and sleep less. A new study suggests that city life can have a somewhat similar effect on birds too. It shows urban blackbirds wake up earlier and go to bed later than their forest dwelling cousins.

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]]> Lessons From Cicadas: A New Jersey Community's Experience A symphony of cicadas has moved up the East Coast. In Summit, N.J., as in other communities, residents find their own ways of living alongside the transient creatures that emerge after 17 years of hibernation. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 05:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189940369/new-jersey-neighborhood-finds-ways-to-live-with-cicadas?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189940369/new-jersey-neighborhood-finds-ways-to-live-with-cicadas?ft=1&f=1132 A symphony of cicadas has moved up the East Coast. In Summit, N.J., as in other communities, residents find their own ways of living alongside the transient creatures that emerge after 17 years of hibernation.

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]]> Palace Malice Pulls Ahead To Win Belmont Stakes The 3-year-old came into the final leg of the Triple Crown with only one victory, but the colt's trainer says they were "quietly confident coming in." Sat, 08 Jun 2013 19:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/08/189906772/palace-malice-pulls-ahead-to-win-belmont-stakes?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/08/189906772/palace-malice-pulls-ahead-to-win-belmont-stakes?ft=1&f=1132 The 3-year-old came into the final leg of the Triple Crown with only one victory, but the colt's trainer says they were "quietly confident coming in."

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]]> For London Zoo Patrons, It's A Case Of Once Bitten, Twice Shy Squirrel monkeys in a "walk-through" enclosure bit more than a dozen visitors over a year-long period, according to a report. Sat, 08 Jun 2013 15:59:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/08/189859594/for-london-zoo-patrons-its-a-case-of-once-bitten-twice-shy?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/08/189859594/for-london-zoo-patrons-its-a-case-of-once-bitten-twice-shy?ft=1&f=1132 Squirrel monkeys in a "walk-through" enclosure bit more than a dozen visitors over a year-long period, according to a report.

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]]> Asparagus Helps Lower Blood Pressure (At Least In Rats) After 10 weeks, hypertensive rats fed a diet consisting of 5 percent asparagus had lower blood pressure than their counterparts fed a standard rat diet. Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/08/189597443/asparagus-helps-lower-blood-pressure-at-least-in-rats?ft=1&f=1132 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/08/189597443/asparagus-helps-lower-blood-pressure-at-least-in-rats?ft=1&f=1132 After 10 weeks, hypertensive rats fed a diet consisting of 5 percent asparagus had lower blood pressure than their counterparts fed a standard rat diet.

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