Dogs are funniest … not on purpose
So just in case you were wondering, dogs outshine cats when it comes to wins for America’s Funniest Home Videos. I’m not sure that’s a good thing, though. Most of the time winners on America’s Funniest Home Videos have either done something ridiculously stupid or just been hit in the groin.
The show marks its 20th anniversary at 6 p.m. Sunday on ABC. (Read more about TV on the NewsOK Television Blog!)
And in honor of their anniversary, show officials calculated all the animal winners during the past 20 years. Dogs finished first with cats close behind. But there are all kinds of other animals that have won. (Who knew whales could be funny? And who knew that a praying mantis would win not once but twice?)
- 1 ANT
- 3 BEARS
- 22 BIRDS
- 1 BULL
- 1 CAMEL
- 34 CATS
- 1 CHIMP
- 1 DEER
- 136 DOGS
- 1 ELK
- 1 FERRET
- 1 FISH
- 1 FLY
- 1 FROG
- 4 GIRAFFES
- 4 GOATS
- 1 GORILLA
- 1 GUINEA PIG
- 3 HAMSTERS
- 4 HORSES
- 1 KANGAROO
- 1 LIZARD
- 2 LLAMAS
- 5 MONKEYS
- 2 MICE
- 1 ORANGUTAN
- 1 OSTRICH
- 2 PRAYING MANTIS
- 5 RACOONS
- 1 RAM
- 1 RAT
- 1 RHINO
- 1 SEA LION
- 1 SPIDER
- 1 SNAKES
- 9 SQUIRRELS
- 1 TARANTULA
- 1 TOAD
- 2 WHALES
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
All hail the scales!
If you’re into things that hop, slither or hang out under a shell, check out this event from 7:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. Thursday at the Midwest City Library, 8143 E Reno.
Come join the Oklahoma City Herpetological Society on the first Thursday of each month at the Midwest City Library! If you are interested in reptiles and amphibians, these meetings are for you. The OCHS promotes the scientific study and conservation of herps, emphasizing regional herpetology. This is your chance to learn about herps, and even show off your own. Any properly caged, nonvenomous reptiles or amphibians are welcome. For more information, call Larry Daniel at 737-8331, or send him an e-mail at jostoy1@aol.com.
The event is free and open to all ages.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Name that monkey
OK, let me just preface this by saying I have no clue what this baby capuchin monkey is doing in this picture from the Little River Zoo. That aside, here’s the news …
This female capuchin monkey was born May 3 at Little River Zoo, and officials there are looking for a good name. The naming contest is open to children ages 5-15. The entry deadline is Aug. 1. Entries can be made at the zoo or online. The winner receives a membership and gets to have his or her picture taken with the monkey.
Here’s some more info from Little River Zoo about capuchins:
Capuchins are the smartest of all the monkeys. Their life span is around 40 years. Unfortunately, they are often purchased for pets when they are very young, and then many good-intentioned owners come to realize how these monkeys do not make good pets. “Many of the monkeys brought to the Little River Zoo came from previous private ownership,” said Janet Sadler, Director/Co-founder of the Little River Zoo. “The zoo then introduces these monkeys back into family groups so they can live as normal a life as possible.” All the primates at the zoo were born in captivity, as the zoo does not take animals from the wild. Capuchin monkeys share and practice deception which are both signs of intelligence, and recent research indicates they also understand the concepts of justice and fairness.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – Bom Bom’s backache
Goodness! We have a lot of stuff to catch up on since we all left for the holiday weekend. Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman since Friday -
- Bugs cause mighty problem on road. (Enid)
- Historic role awaits cattle group’s leader. (Waurika)
- Turtle Obama heads to sea. (Florida)
- Gorilla’s back pain is a medical mystery. (Oklahoma City)
- Zoos plan to reunite two sea lion brothers. (Tulsa, Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Responsible snake ownership
An unfortunate story out of Florida last week brings up an issue I feel very strongly about — responsible snake ownership.
A 2 year old girl in Oxford, Fla. died when an 8 foot pet Burmese python owned by her mother’s boyfriend escaped from a terrarium and strangled the child to death.
My girlfriend, Sarah, has a pet store, and reptiles are one of her specialties. She’s always been a big fan of snakes and lizards, and I too am fascinated by them. Sarah doesn’t carry Burmese or reticulated pythons. Both species are common in the pet industry, and they grow to lengths of 15 feet or more.
What people don’t realize is that owning a snake that size isn’t much different from owning a leopard or grizzly bear. They are capable of hurting or killing a human and should be kept only by professionals or others who are very experienced.
If you are interested in keeping a snake as a pet, I would highly recommend sticking with something smaller. Corn snakes and king snakes grow to about five feet. If you want a python, try a ball python. They look similar to larger pythons but stay a manageable four feet. All of these snaked tend to have good temperaments and make good pets.
Because they stay a reasonable size, they also can be kept in a decent-sized aquarium. Larger snakes need huge enclosures that can be very expensive.
If you insist on owning a large snake, do your homework and know what you are getting into. And for goodness sake, keep the snake in a secure area where it absolutely can’t reach children.
- Staff Writer Bryan Dean
Pets in the paper – deadly python attack
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Python blamed in girl’s death. (Florida)
- Beef recalled in outbreak. (nationwide)
- A muddy good time with slime, scales. (Norman)
- Pet project raises awareness for animals’ needs. (Enid / nationwide)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Welcome to Niki the rhino!
As you may have heard, the Oklahoma City has a new face: Niki. The Indian rhino arrived Thursday. In honor of her joining the zoo, I’ve collected some of our best Oklahoman photos of rhinos at the Oklahoma City Zoo.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Pets in the paper – gift horses’ mouths
Check out these animal stories in The Oklahoman today -
- Senate votes take teeth out of law on horse dentists. (state capitol)
- “Lion King” deserves roar of applause. (Oklahoma City)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Zoo looking for teen volunteers
The Oklahoma City Zoo is hosting an open house for its Junior Curator program.
The open house will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Rosser Conservation Education Center at the zoo.
The program is open to volunteers ages 14-18. Students work with animals, help at special events and assist with other work at the zoo. Each year, 35 Junior Curators are chosen, and they each volunteer 100 hours at the zoo. Applications will be available in the zoo guest relations office and online beginning May 15.
For more information, call 425-0275.
Below, check out a collection of Oklahoman photos of junior curators working at the Oklahoma City Zoo. (Click on the pictures to make them bigger.)
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
Afghan pig locked up in solitary confinement
Today’s not a good day to be a pig in Afghanistan.
Actually, probably no day is a good day to be a pig in Afghanistan because you’re the only pig in the entire country. But today must be especially bad because fears of the swine flu.
The nation’s only pig has been moved off exhibit at the Kabul Zoo because people are afraid the porker could give them swine flu. Officials there built him his own room to live in for now until the swine flu hubbub dies out.
The sole Afghan pig was originally a gift from China. Pigs are considered illegal in the Muslim nation, where the animals are considered irreligious.
With his new habitat, the Afghan pig is probably even more lonely than he already was.
Staff Writer Carrie Coppernoll
