GeneBreshears's stories

Lioness adopts oryx, puzzles experts
Mon 7 Jan 2002 - 14:26

BBC Online reports a lioness on the Samburu Game Reserve in central Kenya, baffled experts recently when she adopted a baby oryx. The oryx is a type of antelope normally eaten by lions. The lioness defended the oryx from other predators, and even allowed its natural mother to feed it. Unfortunately, the story doesn't have a story book ending. While the lioness was asleep, after caring for the oryx for two weeks, another lion ate the oryx.

Seymour Reit, creator of Casper, author of Balto, dies
Mon 17 Dec 2001 - 15:50

The Associated Press reports thar Seymour Reit, author, illustrator, and one of the creators of Casper the Friendly Ghost, died November 21. He was 83.

For many years Reit wrote for Archie comics and Mad magazine. In addition to several nonfiction books for adults, Reith wrote over 80 children's books, including one of the more famous books about Balto, the lead dog of a sled team that carried serum needed to end a diptheria epidemic to the town of Nome, Alaska in 1925.

Efforts to save the endangered snow leopard
Mon 26 Nov 2001 - 17:56

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently sent an editor along with a team of researchers from the Snow Leopard Trust to Mongolia to gather more data on the snow leopards and their environment. Click on the first link to see three articles published so far, along with some great pictures.

ConiFur: Better than ever
Thu 15 Nov 2001 - 15:56

ConiFur NW 2001, the fourth outing of this Seattle-region furry convention, was a resounding success. Membership was up from last year, despite the economy (412 paid memberships and 340 actual members on-site). Additionally, many dealers reported equal or better sales than previous years. There were more artists showing and no empty art panels that I recall in either room of the artshow.

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Walk with Beasts premieres on BBC One
Tue 13 Nov 2001 - 16:38

A sequel to the popular "Walk with Dinosaurs", "Walk with Beasts" will bring to life the species of mammals and birds which flourished after the demise of the dinosaurs. From the likes of the wooly rhinoceros and sabretooth tiger to more obscure but equally fascinating creatures such as the terror birds and the early ancestors of whales. Those not able to watch on BBC One when it premieres this Thursday can still enjoy the website, complete with pictures, video clips, facts, and the mammalian family tree.

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Tai-Pan special edition premieres at ConiFur
Thu 25 Oct 2001 - 02:18

The Tai-Pan Literary & Arts Project is pleased to announce the release of our fourth special edition, Tai-Pan: Bootleg.

Bootleg is 50 pages long, contains two complete stories, over a dozen ringtail pin-ups, and artwork by ten different artists. For more details, plus information about our party and reading at ConiFur, click "Read more..."

Sea turtle far off course
Fri 19 Oct 2001 - 13:15

The Seattle Times and our local NPR station report (scroll all the way to the bottom of the page), that a Pacific Ridley sea turtle is being treated with antibiotics at the Seattle Aquarium, after she washed ashore near the town of Ocean Shores. Ridley sea turtles normally don't venture this far north, and the cold water has exacerbated an injury. The turtle, which has been named "Arial," is expected to recover.

Red Squirrel refuges planned for northeast England
Tue 16 Oct 2001 - 15:03

BBC Online reports on plans to create wilderness refuges for the Britain's red squirrel, whose numbers are threatened by deforestation and encroachment by the non-native grey squirrel. The article includes a couple of great photos of red squirrels.

Ailing orca dies
Thu 11 Oct 2001 - 17:15

Yahoo News has published an Associated Press report that Bjossa, a 25-year-old female orca, died Monday at San Deigo SeaWorld. Bjossa had formerly lived at the Vancouver Aquarium, and was transported to SeaWorld in April. A spokesman for the aquarium said that Bjossa had suffered from a lung infection for at least a year before she arrived at SeaWorld.

Javan rhinos, loggerhead turtles, and whale song
Thu 11 Oct 2001 - 17:03

BBC Online has three stories related to endangered species:

The Javan rhinoceros, one of the world's most endangered species, is showing signs of recovery.

Loggerhead turtles can detect variations in the earth's magnetic field and navigate thereby.

Researchers use underwater acoustical equipment to track and count whales and dolphins.