Great Dane Zeus named the world's tallest living dog

Humongous hound Zeus, named after Ancient Greece's father of the gods, is an incredible 111.8cm (44in) tall.

The three-year-old can now be referred to as the father of the dogs - having officially entered the record books.

Standing on his hind legs the canine towers over his owner Denise Doorlag, stretching to an incredible 7ft 4in.

'Zeus is an awesome dog,' says Ms Doorlag from Michigan, USA.

'The only downside is that everything costs more; the food, medicines, transport.


'We had to get a van to be able to transport him. Oh, and if he steps on your foot he leaves bruises...'

She added: 'The most common thing people ask is, "Is that a dog or a horse?" and "Where's his saddle?"'

The previous record was held by Giant George, who is one-inch shorter than his rival of the same breed.

Guinness launched the 57th version edition of its best-selling book this week, featuring a host of new world records.


VIDEO: Great Dane Zeus named the world's tallest living dog

Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/911824-great-dane-zeus-named-the-worlds-tallest-living-dog#ixzz26RGcUXjf

Philippine crocodile declared largest in captivity

MANILA, Philippines — A huge crocodile known as Lolong has brought pride, fear, tourism revenue and attention to the remote southern Philippines town where it was captured. And now it has claimed a world record, too.

Guinness World Records declared the giant, blamed for deadly attacks before it was captured last September, is the largest saltwater crocodile in captivity in the world.

The news sparked celebrations in Bunawan, a farming town of 37,000 in Agusan del Sur province, but Mayor Edwin Cox Elorde said it also fostered concerns that more giant crocodiles might lurk in a marshland and creek where villagers fish.

“There were mixed feelings,” Elorde said by telephone. “We’re really proud because it proves the rich biodiversity of our place but at the same time, there are fears that Lolong may not be alone.”

Lolong has become the star attraction of a new ecotourism park and research center in the outskirts of Bunawan and has drawn thousands of tourists since news of its capture spread. Elorde said his town has earned 3 million pesos ($72,000) from the modest entrance fees at the park, with most of the money being used to feed and care for the crocodile and maintain the park.

Lolong measures 20.24 feet (6.17 meters) and weighs more than a ton, Guinness spokeswoman Anne-Lise Rouse said in a statement seen Sunday. The reptile took the top spot from an Australian crocodile that measured more than 17 feet (5 meters) and weighed nearly a ton.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje welcomed the Guinness announcement and the growing attention for the crocodile, saying it would help people realize the biodiversity of their surroundings and the need to protect it. He said he would recommend that the government help Bunawan become an ecotourism destination.

The crocodile was captured with steel cable traps during a three-week hunt after a child was killed in 2009 and a fisherman went missing. Water buffalos have also been attacked by crocodiles in the area.

About 100 people led by Elorde pulled the crocodile from a creek using a rope and then hoisted it by crane onto a truck. It was named after a government environmental officer who died from a heart attack after traveling to Bunawan to help capture the beast, Elorde said.

Elorde said he saw a bigger crocodile escape when Lolong was captured and villagers remain wary of fishing there at night. He said he has formed a team of hunters and is seeking government permission to hunt that crocodile.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/07/philippine_crocodile_declared.html

NT abused and forgot Cassius the Crocodile, now they want him back

ABUSED and forgotten – that is how the Northern Territory treated the mighty Cassius. And now all of a sudden, they want him back. Forget about it buddies!

Cassius the 5.48m saltwater crocodile, who now happily resides at Marineland Melanesia on Green Island, has officially been recognised as being the largest crocodile in captivity.

He will appear in the 2012 edition of Guinness World Records, which will be published in Australia on September 15.

The massive croc has lived in luxury on the resort island for close to 24 years, growing larger each day from a healthy diet of fresh chickens and fish.


However, after reading about the Cairns zoo`s accolade, green-eyed Territorians are now trying to claim Cassius as their own.

Cassius was captured south of Darwin in 1987, and brought about 32000km from the NT to Green Island by kind-hearted Marineland founder George Craig.

"If we can claim sportsmen who spend the first few seconds of their life in the NT, we can put the stamp on Cassius,'' Crocosaurus Cove croc manager Nigel Palmer told the NT News.

Mr Palmer went as far as calling for the NT to buy the croc back.

It's a stunning backflip, according to Marineland Melanesia keeper Toody Scott, who claimed Cassius had been rejected by Territorians, after he was placed in a croc farm - to the point locals allegedly threw stones at the giant reptile.

"They had him hidden away for four years, in a croc farm and the locals apparently didn't take much of a liking to him, because of his reputation,'' Mr Scott said.

"They didn't want him hanging around.

"The farmer at the time, gave George a call and thought George would be able to offer a better home for him in Queensland.''

The Cairns Post and The NT News are going snout-to-snout to determine which region has the biggest, best and baddest crocodiles in Australia.

Readers will be able to compare the best croc tales from the Far North and the Northern Territory, and vote for which region they think is top of the crocs.

Mr Scott said it was plain to see from online comments so far that the Far North Queenslanders had far more respect for nature's magnificent predators.

"All you need to do is look at the comments from the Territorians talking about shooting them and killing them - it's like they don't even want crocs up there,'' he said.

To vote in the FNQ vs NT Croc-Off, head to http://www.cairns.com.au/crocoff

Daniel Bateman

© The Cairns Post

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/08/23/179171_crocoff.html

Fluffy the world's longest snake dies

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said the reticulated python passed away on Tuesday night due to an apparent tumour.

Fluffy, who weighed 140kg (300lb), became a huge tourist attraction at the zoo after being officially named the longest snake in captivity by Guinness World Records.

The python originally arrived at the zoo in 2007 on loan but after becoming a favourite among visitors and staff was given a permanent home.

She was as long as a van and as thick as a telephone pole.

'When Zoo visitors saw Fluffy they experienced many emotions such as awe, curiosity and even fear,' Zoo president and CEO Dale Schmidt said.

'Everyone was moved by her presence and she created the connection for them to learn more, and care more, about misunderstood animals such as snakes.'

Preliminary findings of a necropsy (animal autopsy) performed by the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine revealed a ‘mass’ on her ovary.

Reticulated pythons are non-venomous constrictors found in tropical forests in Southeast Asia.

Their skin has a geometric pattern that camouflages the snake protecting it from predators and allowing it to ambush prey

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/845502-fluffy-the-worlds-longest-snake-dies