Donkeys Run Wild in Cyprus

And they weren't even looking for them

(NEWSER) - Scientists have stumbled upon a monkey many thought no longer existed. Seeking leopards and orangutans, the researchers placed camera traps in an Indonesian forest. When they checked the pictures, they were astonished to see images of large gray monkeys none had ever seen before, the AP reports. Photographs of the Miller's Grizzled Langur are nearly impossible to find, so the researchers could only compare the images to museum sketches. More»

Hunting regulations make Quantico safe for animals

(NEWSER) - The busy FBI training ground in Quantico, Virginia, is a bit of a zoo—including foxes, turkeys, groundhogs, and free-roaming black bears. Most noticeable of all are the deer, which graze safely around the 547-acre academy despite the crackle of more than 1 million marksman bullets every month. "They're pretty immune to the sound," says a special agent who sees deer graze about 15 feet from targets. "They're just so docile around here. They don't know what a gun is." More»

Mekong region's amazing biodiversity under threat, WWF warns

(NEWSER) - It's a region that produces a new species every other day: Carnivorous plants that can eat mice, birds, and lizards. An all-female species of lizard that reproduces by self-cloning. Brightly colored geckos bathed in orange, yellow, blue, and green markings. A noseless monkey that looks like it's wearing an Elvis wig. These are just a few of the 208 new species discovered in the Greater Mekong region last year, reports the World Wildlife Fund . More»

Officials looking at new route, which should push things back a year

(NEWSER) - Looks like the controversial Keystone XL pipeline won't be an election issue after all. The White House is going to push back the decision on whether to allow it to be built for another year, reports the Washington Post . Specifically, officials will consider a new route through Nebraska for the pipeline, which is supposed to carry oil from Canada to Texas. More»

56 escaped and 48 were killed; wolf and monkey still at large

(NEWSER) - The wild animals on the loose in Ohio had a hand with freeing themselves. Terry Thompson, 62, owner of the 46-acre animal farm, deliberately released 56 animals from their cages last night before killing himself, police say. More developments:

• Only a monkey (with herpes) and a wolf remain at large somewhere around Zanesville, Ohio, reports the Columbus Dispatch .
• Authorities killed 48 of the animals, reports the AP . "Public safety was my No. 1 concern," says the local sheriff. "I gave the order that if the animals looked like they were going to get out, they were going down."
• Among the animals that escaped were 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, and eight bears.