An extremely rare all-black penguin was photographed near Antartica by Andrew Evans of National Geographic.  The king penguin doesn’t look like his tuxedoed counterparts because of what one scientist described as a “one in a zillion kind of mutation.”

Source: Yahoo Green.

Every March 1st since 1972 has been declared National Pig Day in the United States. The day was devised by sisters Ellen Stanley and Mary Lynne Rave to elevate the status of pigs and acknowledge their role as intelligent and domestic animals.

At many locations throughout the country pigs are the focus of a variety of events, from pig parades to showings of pig-friendly films like Babe.

So take a moment today and think of all the wonderful pigs in the world!

To read more, visit the LA Times.

Photo: World Wildlife Fund

Just as polar bears are in critical danger as global warming melts the ice caps, limiting their habitat, Bengal tigers are also threatened by this phenomenon.  Making their homes among the Sundarbans, a mangroves ecosystem in Bangladesh, Bengal tigers number around 4000 in the wild.  As polar caps melt, sea levels will rise.  According to a Climactic Change journal report by the World Wildlife Fund, by 2070, the sea levels near Bangladesh will rise 11 inches, submerging 96% of the Bengal tiger habitat. This provides space for only 20 breeding pairs, which is not enough to sustain the population.

For more info, see: USAToday Science Fair.

Dokkoon, an Asian elephant residing at the Melbourne Zoo in Australia, gave birth on Saturday to female baby elephant. This marked the first time a female Asian elephant has been born in Australia. The baby pachyderm was also the first elephant born at the Melbourne Zoo.

Baby Elephants first steps from Zoos Victoria on Vimeo.

For more info, see:
Zoos Victoria
The Age

Photo by Yael Olek

With a leg span of 14 cm (5.5 in.), a new spider found in the dune of the Sands of Samar in Israel is the largest of its type in the Middle East.  It was discovered in the southern Arava region in Israel and given the scientific name, Cerbalus aravensis.

Although scientists still need to conduct a full study of the creature, they do know that it is a nocturnal spider that lives in an underground den with a “lifting door” made of glued sand particles so the den remains camouflaged.

The Israel Land Administration plans to continue mining the Sands of Samar, which will reduce this spider’s habitat and jeopardize its survival.

For more information, see NatGeo News Watch.

Five rare white tiger cubs have been born in the Metropolitan Zoo in Santiago, Chile. The zoo is currently planning a large, grassy enclosure for the cubs and their parents, Luna and Pampa.

White tigers get their color from a genetic mutation that affects their fur pigment.

For more, visit The L.A. Times.

SeaWorld aquarist Jenny Albert covers up a “cold stunned” endangered green turtle to keep the animal warm at SeaWorld’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Center.

Many green sea turtles have been adversely affected by the Arctic blast that has swept over most of the U.S.  recently. Two dozen “cold-stunned” green sea turtles have been taken in by SeaWorld’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Orlando, Florida, where they are treating the endangered turtles with heat lamps, blankets, and warm fluids.

To learn more about green sea turtles, read Animal Fact Guide’s article: Green Turtle.

The Daily Telegraph, a newspaper based in London, has released its annual slideshow of cute animals.

Visit the Telegraph to see them all.

On Tuesday, Schonbrunn Zoo in Vienna created a Facebook page for one of its most creative residents. Nonja, a 33-year old female orangutan, is now connected to over 30,000 fans on the social networking site. What sets Nonja apart from other zoo inhabitants is her work as a photographer. Nonja takes the photos using a specially designed camera that rewards her with a raisin after each photo.

Visit the zoo at ZooViena.com.

View her Facebook page here.

Read more about the Bornean Orangutan at Animal Fact Guide.

AP Photo/Anupam Nath

Officials in India recently made the decision  to move all elephants currently living in Indian zoos and circuses to protected wildlife parks. The decision came after complaints from animal activists about the elephants’ confined living conditions, as well as increasing evidence about the shortened lifespan of elephants living in captivity. In the wildlife parks, the elephants would have a larger space to roam.

For more info, see: AP.