Cow Born With Two Faces

The Huffington Post | By James Gerken

Posted: 04/30/2015 5:18 pm E

A calf was born in northern Florida on Monday with two faces, stunning the farm's owners.

"It was just like a surprise, because no one has ever seen anything like this around here," Carolyn Crews told WTSP news.

The calf, named Annabel, has two heads, four eyes and two mouths, noses and ears. When one mouth feeds from a bottle, the other mouth suckles at the same time, News4Jax reported.

"You know, I don't think she's going to make it," Crews told WTSP. The animal can't walk or lift its head, and can't feed from its mother.

The condition of having more than one head, Polycephaly, is an incredibly rare genetic mutation. Although the odds of a two-headed calf are extremely small, another one was born in Virginia in March. In that case, the calf was stillborn.

Continued ...

FWC admits an officer incorrectly told a hunter he could kill a gator known as "Big Al"

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating the death an enormous alligator on the banks of a St. Petersburg lake last week. 

"I've been watching it for about 21 years," explained biologist George Heinrich. "[It was] our largest alligator." 

Heinrich recognized the gator around Lake Maggiore, typically in a smaller lake nearby. The scars and shapes on its head were unique. 

Many knew the gator by the name "Big Al". 

A regular sighting for visitors at nearby Boyd Hill Nature Park, Big Al drew attention for his size. The same reason a hunter recently decided to kill him. 

Jovan Johannessen of Clearwater refused an on-camera interview with ABC Action News, but made several comments over the phone. He says he hunted the gator for about 3 months, researching its habits and location, until he finally tracked it down last week. 

Though he holds a permit to kill alligators, it is illegal to hunt on properties incorporated in cities. 

"It made the community sick. It made me sick," explained St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster. "An incredible creature that just minded its own business for the past 50 years." 

Mayor Foster fielded complaints about the gator long before he saw a petition asking for his help. He contacted FWC to remind them of city ordinances. 

"We don't authorize the hunting of any wildlife in the city of St. Petersburg," he said. 

Mayor Foster has asked Police Chief Chuck Harmon to look into filing some kind of citation. 

FWC admits, one of their officers made a mistake, telling Johannessen the kill would be legal. They refrained from commenting except to say they're investigating the incident and plan to take appropriate action. 

Read more: http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_south_pinellas/st_petersburg/fwc-admits-an-officer-incorrectly-told-a-hunter-he-could-kill-a-gator-known-as-big-al#ixzz2gTFIO6Ir