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Long-Armed Basketball Star Saves Hungry Dolphin

PetSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:00:29 -0700

Dolphins' natural diets usually consist of fish, but one dolphin in China's Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park Zoo decided to try something new and exciting - a pool mat! We all know how dangerous it is when your pets eat something they shouldn't, and the same goes for sea life. After the popular dolphin stopped eating and seemed slow and sluggish, the staff at the Chinese zoo had an x-ray taken of the mammal's tummy and discovered that he had eaten a pool mat from one of his tanks!

After a few failed attempts at reaching the mat in the dolphin's stomach, zookeepers decided that instead of performing surgery, they would call in one of China's top basketball pros to help out. Zhang Youliang - coming in at over seven feet tall - has exceptionally long arms, and was able to reach in the dolphin's tummy and pull out the pool mat. Thankfully, the star performer (the dolphin, not the basketball player) is recovering nicely.

Apparently this isn't the first time a dolphin has needed to be rescued by a long-armed savior find out more after the break.

Hayden Wants to Save the Whales Again . . . and You Can Help!

PetSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:40:50 -0700

Nearly one year after Hayden Panettiere joined animal activists in the rescue mission to stop a dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan, the actress has a new tactic to save the whales - she's joining forces with SocialVibe to petition this annual event. Watch the video below to learn how you can get involved:

Hayden also spoke about her efforts (and continued commitment) at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday in partnership with Save the Whales Again!, a conservation campaign of the Whaleman Foundation.

Check out pictures of her speech and rally when you read more.

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Guess Who?

PetSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:10:52 -0700

At least with these guys, she doesn't have to worry about carrying around garlic!

Is This the World's Ugliest Dolphin?

PetSugar — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:00:29 -0700

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I wanna hear it from you: do you think this bulbous-headed snub fin dolphin is properly called the "world's ugliest dolphin?"

At first glance, it made me think of a victim of a Looney Tunes random act of violence where an animal gets somehow smushed up but still lives to go on. What do you think about the species?

The Scoop: Lucky Dolphin Gets World's First Artificial Fin

PetSugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:30:42 -0700

When Fuji, a 37-year-old dolphin, in Okinawa, Japan came down with a kind of necrosis (death of cells or tissues through disease), her future looked pretty bleak. In order to save her life, local doctors had to amputate 75 percent of her tail – but she got a brand-new $83,000 one instead. What's it made of? Watch the video and see!

Hayden Made It to Obama After All!

PetSugar — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:30:18 -0800

I know I'm not the only one that was curious to follow what happened after we saw Hayden's Save the Whales Again! rally at Dupont Circle and her attempt to talk with Barack Obama at American University so when PetSugar reader, zoorph, sent me this pic, I couldn't resist sharing it with all of you! Lucky gal, she happens to be a graduate student at that school attending the event backstage – kudos for this great case of right-place-right-time and quick snapping! Regardless of whether face time between the senator and the starlet will help Hayden's cause (or his presidential campaign), this 18-year-old sets a good example of tenacity, activism, and an interest in politics for those other young voters out there!

The Scoop: Hayden Wants to Save the Whales Again!

PetSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:34 -0800

Hayden Panettiere got fired up about whales in a rally at Washington, DC's Dupont Circle over the weekend. Coming a few months after the Heroes actress failed a dolphin rescue mission, Hayden has joined forces with Save the Whales Again! to continue to protest the slaughtering of whales in Japan and elsewhere. This campaign is part of the Animal Welfare Institute (founder of the original Save the Whales movement) and the Whaleman Foundation, an oceanic research, conservation, and production organization dedicated to preserving and protecting dolphins, whales, and their ocean habitat.

In addition to handing out fliers and speaking at length about the subject, she is calling for a boycott of goods from Japan, Iceland, and Norway and is scheduled to visit the embassies of those countries plus attend a news conference with the US House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources this week. When asked about her participation in these efforts, Hayden said:

I get that rush and feeling of really making a difference rather than just lending my face to something. I'd rather people pay attention to me doing this than shopping at Fred Segal. We're saving magnificent animals. I don't think anyone objects to that. I don't trust people who don't love animals.

Agreed. At just 18-years-old, her maturity on these issues is impressive and I hope she continues to speak up for what she believes in and that her fame can inspire others to get on board with the preservation movement as well. Good work, Hayden, on your real-life heroism!

Check out a gallery of the rally when you read more.

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Creature Features: Dolphins and Porpoises

PetSugar — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:30:11 -0800

Dolphins and porpoises are closely related but they aren't the same! Both belong to the scientific suborder, Odontoceti, which means "toothed whales," but they have different families. Dolphins are part of the Delphinidae family while porpoises are members of the Phocoenidae family. Very scientific sounding, huh? I'll bet you know more about dolphins and porpoises than you think – test your knowledge about these marine mammals in a quiz!

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The Scoop: Hayden Protests Dolphin Hunting in Japan

PetSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:22:55 -0700

Hayden Panettiere attempted some real-life heroism on Tuesday when she, and other animal activists, paddled out into the open sea on surfboards to try to rescue dolphins from an annual dolphin slaughter in Taiji, Japan. The mission was unsuccessful, however, as she and the others were threatened and forced to turn back... and the fishermen continued.

"This baby stuck its head out and kind of looked as us, and the thought that the baby is no longer with us is very difficult," Panettiere, who stars in the NBC show Heroes, said after coming ashore in tears.

Hayden is a known animal-lover, seen here with her two dogs, Penny Lane and Madison. About 14,000 dolphins are killed for food in Japan each year in these coastal hunts, which involve herding groups of dolphins into a cove where they are netted and killed by divers.

Pacific Coast News

This Dolphin Loves Bear

PetSugar — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 00:30:26 -0800

In light of the recent, high profile news stories of animal abuse, it's important to illustrate animal-loving figures speaking out against such horrible crime. While there are many celebrities that are known for their activism, this brand-new public service announcement gives a new face to animal cruelty prevention efforts – a Miami Dolphin. The short piece was created by the ASPCA in partnership with the National Football League – and shows touching footage of Jason Taylor discussing his love of 11 years...his Akita, Bear.

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