A beauty pageant for buffaloes in Thailand raises status of the humble animal
CHONBURI, Thailand (AP) — The humble water buffalo has become a prized show animal in Thailand. They were celebrated Monday at an annual buffalo racing festival in the city of Chonburi. These days tractors have largely replaced the buffalo for heavy farm work. But the contests have sparked a renewed interest in the animals. The festival held at the end of the 11th lunar month celebrates the start of harvest season and the animals that once were vital to Thai agriculture. An albino Thai buffalo sold in 2024 for 18 million baht, or $672,000. The Thai government also has designated a Thai Buffalo Conservation Day while local governments provide breeding assistance to farmers.
Vince Whaley has an audience with a set of teeth. He hits shot with alligator behind him
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Vince Whaley had a nervous moment at the Sanderson Farms Championship. His ball was on the bank of a pond. A 6-foot alligator was 20 feet behind him in the water watching his every move. Whaley turned his back on the gator, calmly played the shot and wound up saving his par. Whaley says he was able to focus on his shot when he turned his back on the gator, and he trusted his caddie to monitor the situation. If the gator moved, Whaley says the plan was to get out of the water.
The first supermoon of the year is approaching. Here's what to know
NEW YORK (AP) — The first supermoon of the year is almost here. The moon will appear slightly larger and brighter on Monday. It's the first of three supermoons this year. This happens when the full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. Supermoons occur a few times a year. They've visible without special equipment if clear skies permit. But the difference can be tough to discern, especially if people haven’t observed the regular moon on the nights leading up. The closest supermoon of the year is slated for November, followed by another in December.
Colombian soldiers find solace in 'furry force' emotional support dogs
BOGOTA. Colombia (AP) — At the Central Military Hospital in Bogota, a unique team of emotional support dogs is helping wounded soldiers. Known as the “furry force,” these dogs visit service members recovering from injuries sustained in clashes with Colombia’s illegal armed groups. The program started in April 2024, inspired by a visit by an animal care organization. It aims to provide psychological support and ease recovery for soldiers facing physical and emotional scars. The dogs offer therapeutic benefits, helping patients focus on joy rather than pain. The initiative has expanded to include patients' own dogs and wellness breaks for staff.
Bear walked into southern Arizona grocery store and ran around for a few minutes
ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — A bear surprised shoppers at a southern Arizona grocery store when it walked through the front door and ran around inside for a few minutes before exiting the building. Right before entering the store on Monday, the animal bumped up against the automatic doors and managed to eventually walk in. A video showed a man looking for the bear inside the store. After peering down at his phone, the man looked up to find the bear within several feet of him. The bear ran away from the man. Authorities lost track of the bear after it left the store.
Giant Northern California corn maze lets visitors enjoy getting lost
DIXON, Calif. (AP) — The owners of a giant Northern California corn maze once crowned the world’s largest want visitors to remember that there is fun in getting lost. Visitors to Cool Patch Pumpkins wander through 40 acres of corn stalks in a maze that takes them over five bridges. The pumpkin patch and corn maze along Interstate 80 between Sacramento and San Francisco are open once again for the fall season through Halloween. In 2007 and again in 2014, Cool Patch Pumpkins earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest corn maze.
Chunk, a 1,200-pound bear with a broken jaw, wins Alaska's popular Fat Bear Week contest
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Chunk, a 1,200-pound behemoth with a broken jaw, swept the competition Tuesday in the popular Fat Bear Week contest — his first win after finishing in second place three previous years. The annual online competition allows viewers to follow 12 bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve on live webcams as they fish for salmon, and then cast ballots in a bracket-style tournament that lasts a week. Chunk — known officially as Bear 32 — beat out Bear 856 for the crown. A glut of sockeye salmon fueled a memorable feast this summer for the contest, and more than 1.5 million people voted.
Livestock landscaping: Vermont ski areas employ goats and sheep to clear the slopes
JAY, Vt. (AP) — Domestic goats are reaching new heights on Vermont's ski slopes. Magic Mountain in southern Vermont used goats to clear its slopes of vegetation last year, and Jay Peak, near the Canadian border, is using goats and sheep this fall. Over five weeks, they’re expected to clear 25 acres, a small part of the 300 acres that need mowing. Officials say the experiment aims to reduce reliance on gas-powered mowers. The animals wear special collars that connect to an invisible fence, sending data to their owner. Using livestock for landscaping isn’t new, but it’s gaining traction as a sustainable practice.
A wandering wallaby is on the loose in Berlin, police say
BERLIN (AP) — A wallaby is on the loose in Berlin. City police say any passersby who spot it should keep their distance, but an eye on it too. Chief inspector Martin Halweg told The Associated Press that Berlin police are no longer tailing the meandering marsupial, a smaller relative of a kangaroo, because it’s not believed to pose a threat to public safety. Passersby tipped off police late Sunday morning about the animal on the run in the Kladow neighborhood. Officers were dispatched to try to catch the wallaby, but it darted into a forest, and the trail was lost.
