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April 29, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Lions airlifted to South Africa

South American Lions Begin Journey

Thirty-three circus lions from Peru and Colombia boarded a flight to freedom today. After negotiating their release, the animal rights group Animal Defenders International is moving them to Emoya Big Cat Sanctuary in Limpopo, South Africa, in the largest lion airlift ever. The lions were gently coaxed into their custom travel crate before the flight. The seating chart was carefully arranged so the lions face others in their family groups during the 14 to 15 hour flight, which includes one refueling stop in Brazil. The lions can't be released into the wild because they've suffered injuries that would prevent them from hunting, ADI said. - Read it from The New York Times

Plus: In other circus animal news, the Ringling Bros. elephants will give their last circus performance on Sunday in Providence, Rhode Island. The animals are headed for retirement at the Center of Elephant Conservation in Florida. Animal rights groups had fought for years for their retirement. The “Greatest Show on Earth” will continue to feature lions and tigers. - Read it at Providence's WJAR

Baby Boom for Rare Flightless Bird

The critically endangered kakapo, a flightless parrot species, has had a much-needed boost in its population. With only 123 adult kakapo remaining, there are now 37 new chicks. The New Zealand birds have had a hard time defending themselves from threats without being able to fly. They are the only flightless parrot and, at 8 to 9 pounds each, they're the heaviest one in the world. Wildlife officials say better technology has allowed them to keep watch over the birds in a non-invasive way. - Read it at Discovery News

Image: K9 Riggs

K9 Comes to Elderly Man's Rescue

When an elderly man went missing from an assisted living facility in Massachusetts on Wednesday night, state police dog Riggs was called in to help. After smelling something that belonged to the man, Riggs started tracking along a path into the nearby woods. He and his human partner, Trooper Sean Kenney, walked for about a mile into the forest before Kenney heard a “faint cry for help.” Just before midnight, they found the man lying on the ground, covered in cuts and bruises and shivering from the cold. The man had been missing for about five hours. The team kept him warm while Fire and Rescue responded to the scene to transport him to the hospital. “Without Riggs locating the man, the outcome could have been very different. Nice work!” the Massachusetts State Police posted on Facebook. - Read it at Masslive

Happy Lab Races Onto Soccer Pitch

An unexpected player jumped into the match between professional soccer teams Deportivo Táchira F.C. of Venezuela and Pumas UNAM from Mexico - and he brought his A game. The delighted yellow Labrador Retriever darted around the field, playfully jumping around and playing keep-away from the players who tried to catch him. But his burst of fun was short-lived. One player caught him and picked him up to carry him off the field - while getting lots of kisses from the friendly dog. - Watch it at People Pets

 

Student debt is an increasingly critical issue for the entire veterinary profession, and how to reduce that debt and improve the overall economic picture for young veterinarians was the focus of a summit held at Michigan State University last week. … read more >

The Senate Appropriations Committee on April 14 passed by a 29-1 roll call vote the fiscal 2017 allocations for its 12 individual subcommittees. The only senator to vote against the allocations was Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), who sees … read more >

The House Appropriations Committee passed by voice vote its fiscal 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill on April 19. The legislation funds important agricultural and food programs and services, including programs for animal health and welfare, food safety and rural development programs. … read more >

Important tax legislation was recently passed by Congress and signed by President Obama to help small business owners, including those who own veterinary practices. “Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015″ (PATH Act, P.L. 114-113) became law on Dec. … read more >

Finding viable solutions to financial issues related to student debt and the cost of veterinary medical education is among the highest priorities for our profession. That's why we're excited to be co-sponsoring the Fix the Debt Summit, which opens Wednesday … read more >

April 14, 2016: We've scoured the Web to find the best and most compelling animal stories, videos and photos. And it's all right here.

Image: Rodney the guinea pig

Guinea Pig Rescued From Fire

We've often covered stories of firefighters saving cats and dogs from burning homes - but a guinea pig is a little less common. Polk County, Florida, firefighter John William was doing a sweep of a home after extinguishing the flames from a grease fire in the kitchen on Friday when he spotted Rodney the guinea pig in his cage. "He did not hesitate. He grabbed the cage and took it outside into the fresh air, where rescue workers assessed that Rodney had inhaled a lot of smoke and gave him oxygen and water,” Kevin Watler, a representative from Polk County Fire Rescue told Today. Resident Kristi Waller was at a doctor's appointment with one of her daughters when the fire broke out. It started when her boyfriend was at home cooking French fries. When Waller arrived at home, she saw the firefighters with Rodney and rushed to hold him while they gave him oxygen. "I want to, personally, thank you for saving my Rodney (the guinea pig) and what you could of my house,” she said in a comment to Polk County Fire Rescue on Facebook. “He is the coolest little guinea pig I have ever met,” she told Today. - Read it at Today

Inky the Octopus Makes Daring Escape

An octopus in New Zealand has proved just how clever the species can be. Inky, who's about the size of a soccer ball, apparently broke out through a small gap at the top of his tank at the National Aquarium of New Zealand, made it eight feet across the floor and slid down a 164-foot drainpipe to freedom in the North Island's Hawke's Bay. He executed his plan overnight, when no staff members were around to see him. Although it happened several months ago, the story has only recently been shared, and Inky's tale has made headlines around the world. “He managed to make his way to one of the drain holes that go back to the ocean, and off he went,” said Rob Yarrall, the aquarium's manager. “Didn't even leave us a message.” - Read it at The New York Times

Prince William and Kate Feed Baby Rhinos

In one of the latest stops on their royal tour of India, Prince William and Kate looked like they were delighted to get the chance to bottle feed and visit with baby elephants and rhinos at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga national park. “They were absolutely thrilled and loved being with the animals. The duke said if he could he would have spent the whole day there,” said Vivek Menon, chief executive office of the Wildlife Trust of India, who joined them on their tour. Prince William has been active in the fight against ivory poaching, which has decimated populations of rhinos and elephants. - See photos at the U.K.'s Guardian

Image: Ann Rodgers Arizona

Woman and Dog Survive 9 Days Lost in Wilderness

Ann Rodgers, 72, and her 2-year-old rescue dog managed to survive for nine long days lost in an Arizona desert after she took a wrong turn and ran out of gas on the way to visit her daughter in Phoenix. Rodgers and Queenie eventually abandoned their car to go in search of water, bringing with them a red satchel filled with supplies to make campfires. “Queenie became my pathfinder,” Rodgers said. “She was the one who would range ahead of me to find the game trail, or cowpath or place to cross a river safely.” Rodgers knew how to survive in the wild and formed a large sign that read “HELP” using the bones she'd found from an elk. Rescuers eventually spotted it, and narrowed down their search area. They found Queenie first, and 15 minutes later, they found Rodgers. She was airlifted out for medical attention. The tough senior citizen was found to be dehydrated and suffering from exposure but amazingly, she was otherwise OK. - Read it at the Washington Post

Tiger Is Not Happy to Be Disturbed

This tiger is all of us when we're rudely interrupted during a good nap. The reaction is just a little scarier. Footage of one tiger at the Dublin Zoo in Ireland disturbing its lounging friend was caught on video by a mom named Linzi, who was visiting the Dublin Zoo with her husband, Ger, and their 2-year-old daughter. She can be heard telling her terrified toddler that it was OK after the sleeping tiger lashed out at its friend. The friend didn't seem to care, and helped itself to some water while the rudely awakened tiger glared at it. We've all been there, tiger. - Watch it at Time