The weekly weird

Published April 25, 2015

World’s biggest rabbit gets ready to give up his title — to his own giant son!

WE are not talking about little cuddly bunnies here, this is about the world’s biggest bunny Dad Darius, which measures 4ft 4in long and weighs three-and-a half-stone. He will soon have to hand over the crown to his giant baby son Jeff.

Annette, their owner, says they’re perfect companions and even settle down on the sofa with her in cold weather.

Continental Giants are the largest breed of rabbit and can grow to around 4ft when fully grown, but Darius, who is officially four foot four inches long, and Jeff, come from a bumper crop.

Annette’s other rabbit Sally is also a Continental Giant who measures 3ft 5 inches. The family all live in Annette’s back garden but they are so big that each require a dog crate that would normally house a pet as large as a German shepherd.


enter image description here
enter image description here
The world’s strangest bird!

THIS is not computer generated picture of a bird. Helmeted hornbill, often labelled as one of the world’s strangest birds, is being hunted to extinction due to the illegal Chinese ivory trade.

With ‘white ivory’ becoming ever more scarce, the ‘red ivory’ found on the beak of the bizarre bird can now sell for three times as much as that taken from rhinos and elephants. The strange bird is often called the ‘the farmer of the rainforest’ due to its role in seed spreading around its natural habitat in the forests of Borneo.

A report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) recently said the helmeted hornbill is now close to extinction. Not only would this be a tragic loss of life, but could also have a devastating wider effect.

Experts say up to 6,000 of the birds are killed every year, and if they were to die out it could have a devastating impact on wildlife in the area. Not only are the birds famed for their odd beaks — they boast a wingspan of six feet and are known for their call which sounds like a human manically laughing.


enter image description here
enter image description here
A flight like this, no way!

PEOPLE can go on extremes that they even risk their life for such ridiculous acts. Just like this Indonesian man who took a free ride in the wheel well of an aircraft recently, surviving a high-altitude flight of nearly two hours in thin air and sub-zero temperatures.

Mario Stevan Ambarita, 21, was spotted staggering around the tarmac at Jakarta airport, shortly after the Garuda Indonesia domestic flight landed from Sumatra Island to the north.

“The case was quite a surprise to us,” Garuda CEO Arif Wibowo told Reuters.

The stowaway scaled a 2.5-metre fence to reach the aircraft, where he tucked himself into the rear wheel housing, media said.

He collapsed after the flight and was taken to hospital with a bleeding ear and other light injuries before spending the night in a police cell. It is said that he wanted to meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s unease
Updated 24 May, 2024

IMF’s unease

It is clear that the next phase of economic stabilisation will be very tough for most of the population.
Belated recognition
24 May, 2024

Belated recognition

WITH Wednesday’s announcement by three European states that they intend to recognise Palestine as a state later...
App for GBV survivors
24 May, 2024

App for GBV survivors

GENDER-based violence is caught between two worlds: one sees it as a crime, the other as ‘convention’. The ...
Energy inflation
Updated 23 May, 2024

Energy inflation

The widening gap between the haves and have-nots is already tearing apart Pakistan’s social fabric.
Culture of violence
23 May, 2024

Culture of violence

WHILE political differences are part of the democratic process, there can be no justification for such disagreements...
Flooding threats
23 May, 2024

Flooding threats

WITH temperatures in GB and KP forecasted to be four to six degrees higher than normal this week, the threat of...