# Odd Animal News **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 28, 2008, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528 "2008-08-28T08:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/81 "2009-03-11T03:15:51Z")
Sadly, she’s not the first elephant to have to have had this done. ☹ There’s been a logging ban in Thailand for about 20 years now, and while some illegal logging does still occur, especially in the more remote areas of the North, many mahouts (elephant handlers) take their elephants into Burma to work there, and the border regions are rife with decades-old conflicts. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/82 "2009-03-11T03:58:58Z")
> [@Terrifel](#): > > I like how the guy writing the article realizes after about three sentences that there’s no real story to go with the picture; so he just finishes up with a random, unrelated collection of various giant rodent factoids. > > Poor bastard. Now his name and photo are all over the internet. Every pharmacist in China will have a contract out on him. Traditional Chinese medicine probably uses giant rat bones to cure syphillis or something. > > This story could be the basis for a hilarious Hong Kong action-comedy. A humble ratcatcher stumbles across the biggest score of his career; then has to somehow unload the goods while being pursued by every herbalist in southeast Asia. One man and his giant rat, on a madcap journey of discovery, together. Personally, I’m impressed that the writer made it all the way through that story without an ROUS joke. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/83 "2009-03-11T23:16:17Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Personally, I’m impressed that the writer made it all the way through that story without an ROUS joke. I don’t believe they exist. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/84 "2009-03-12T04:42:50Z")
Two more from my own backyard: [Thai Monkeys Teach Their Young How to Floss](http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,25173065-5005961,00.html?from=public_rss). Japanese researchers say this is proof that primates teach their offspring how to use tools. I suspect they’ll give them power saws next and see what they do with those. [A “Dracula Fish” with Fangs](http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=2047) has been discovered in a small stream in northern Burma. So be careful where you’re wading when you’re smuggling those drugs. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/85 "2009-03-12T04:48:38Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Two more from my own backyard: Jeez, every day you roll out of bed must be a real adventure. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/86 "2009-03-12T04:56:26Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Jeez, every day you roll out of bed must be a real adventure. 😛 You have no idea. 😃 “The gift of Bangkok is that it never bores.” – Local writer William Warren ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/87 "2009-03-13T04:20:53Z")
Well, this _almost_ qualifies. But close enough: A Philadelphia pet store expecting a shipment of exotic fish got a man’s corpse instead. Story [here](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/11/pet.store.dead.body/index.html). ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/88 "2009-03-13T07:20:00Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Well, this _almost_ qualifies. But close enough: A Philadelphia pet store expecting a shipment of exotic fish got a man’s corpse instead. Story [here](http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/11/pet.store.dead.body/index.html). > [@](#): > > “Regrettably, there was an unfortunate mixup yesterday at the US Airways Cargo facility near Philadelphia International Airport. The mixup occurred due to a verbal miscommunication between a delivery driver and the cargo representative. We are working to rectify the situation and are deeply sorry for the inconvenience this has caused.” One would think. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/89 "2009-03-24T05:24:06Z")
[Too-tiny turtles from Thailand seized at Denver Airport](http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=15159). They were being imported illegally by a pet shop there. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/90 "2009-03-27T04:45:39Z")
[Komodo Dragons Maul Man to Death](http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/24/man-mauled-death-komodo-dragon). Well, at least it’s a novel way to go out. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/91 "2009-03-27T17:00:22Z")
On the opposite side of the cuteness scale [Dizzy ducklings plucked to safety](http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Police-save-ducklings-caught-flap/article-848457-detail/article.html%5B/url) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/92 "2009-03-27T17:18:09Z")
[Chihuahua saves asthmatic dwarf lost on mountain](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5037096/Dwarf-saved-by-chihuahua.html) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/93 "2009-03-28T00:53:23Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > On the opposite side of the cuteness scale > > [Dizzy ducklings plucked to safety](http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Police-save-ducklings-caught-flap/article-848457-detail/article.html%5B/url) That one’s not opening. ☹ Maybe the Komodo dragons got them, too. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/94 "2009-03-28T01:26:28Z")
One would think that something with teeth like that would bite a guy to death rather than “maul him”. > [@](#): > > The giant lizards had been waiting for him under the tree, according to a neighbour, Theresia Tawa. Did Theresia Tawa call anybody, maybe mention to someone that komodo dragons were hanging around waiting to eat his neighbor? That will teach Muhamad Anwar to refuse to loan his snowblower. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/95 "2009-03-28T01:33:10Z")
They leaned on her to keep quiet. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/96 "2009-03-28T01:36:20Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > They leaned on her to keep quiet. So are Komodo Dragons a gang or a species? Or both? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/97 "2009-03-28T01:39:51Z")
That would be a good gang name, wouldn’t it? And they could even pattern their gang killings accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/98 "2009-03-28T01:44:33Z")
So this Geico Gecko thing is a racket. You buy their insurance so your business doesn’t have a bomb accident. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/99 "2009-03-28T01:46:13Z")
I thought that described all insurance companies. Or maybe I’ve just been in the Third World too long. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2009, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528/100 "2009-03-28T01:58:37Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I thought that described all insurance companies. I thought it was just certain Italian and Reptilian insurance companies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-animal-news/461528.md?page=6)