Penguin Takes the Plunge in a Wetsuit

'Mama bear doesn't look 2 anyone else 2 hand her anything'

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin Tweeted her immense respect for—or perhaps envy of—the adult female grizzly bear yesterday after meeting Alaskan biologists, Politico reports. The soon-to-be ex-governor praised “mama bears’ gutteral raw instinct to protect & provide for her young” and described the animal in action. “She sees danger? She brazenly rises up on strong hind legs, growls Don’t Touch My Cubs & the species survives & mama bear doesn’t look 2 anyone else 2 hand her anything.” More»

On land, at sea, and in sky, planet's woes threaten inhabitants

(NEWSER) - Biologists have mounting evidence that human activity is causing real damage to the natural world. LiveScience lists overlooked indications that things are seriously out of whack.

1. Earlier migration: Several bird species are getting their timing wrong.
2. Jellyfish rule: The creatures are hitching rides on ships.

Spearfishing birds waddled the earth 36 million years ago

(NEWSER) - Penguins haven't always lived on ice, scientists have concluded after unearthing fossils of giant penguins in Peru's Atacama desert. The penguins, nearly human-sized at 4.5 feet tall, had extraordinarily long beaks apparently used for spearfishing, and waddled the earth some 36 million years ago, the National Geographic News reports. More»

Then release it in shark-infested waters

(NEWSER) - Usually, we mock criminals when they brag about their crimes on Facebook . But if your crime was breaking into a Sea World, swimming with the dolphins, and making off with a 7-year-old fairy penguin, we understand the urge to share. Three Queensland, Australia men, aged 18, 20, and 21, have been arrested for allegedly doing just that, the Telegraph reports. More»

It only sounds made up...

(AP) - At least one penguin at the St. Louis Zoo appears to be a feisty opponent of Newt Gingrich. The GOP candidate is sporting a bandage on his finger after getting nipped by a small penguin during his tour of the zoo on Friday. Gingrich was in St. Louis to speak during the NRA's annual meeting, and was treated to a behind-the-scenes visit with two Magellanic penguins while at the zoo. One of them nipped Gingrich on the finger. A zoo rep says a small bandage was all the medical care required. More»