Italian town with 10 centenarian residents

An upcoming birthday in a small Italian town of about 1,765 people is expected to earn the municipality an unusual distinction as the home of 10 people over the age of 100.

Sardinia has been identified as one of the five places in the world with the highest concentration of cente­narians, with 33.6 people over the age of 100 for every 100,000 residents.

In 2012, the Melis family of Perdasdefogu was certified by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest set of nine siblings. Consolata Melis, the eldest sibling, holds the record for the town’s oldest-ever resident, after dying at the age of 108 in 2015.

Scientists who have studied the town said clean air, active lifestyles and healthy diet likely contribute to the high concentration of centenarians.

German shepherd gives birth to 16 puppies

A British service dog charity said officials were shocked when a German shepherd gave birth to a litter of 16 puppies.

The Guide Dogs National Centre, near Leamington Spa, England, said the 16-puppy litter is about twice the average number for the breed. The puppies will spend time in volunteer foster homes and will be trained as guide dogs.

The litter is the largest seen in the 60-year history of the charity’s breeding programme. Guinness World Records lists the largest litter in history as 24 puppies born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 2004.

Man balances four eggs atop one another

A Yemen man broke his own Guinness World Record when he managed to stack four eggs atop one another without toppling.

Mohammed Muqbel, who first set the record when he stacked three eggs, beat his own record during an attempt in Istanbul, Turkey. Muqbel said the feat was more difficult than it looks.

“Many around the world fail to realise the hard work associated with balancing,” he told Guinness World Records. “Balancing takes a toll on your body because of the high levels of focus needed to achieve such a thing. The most difficult part from the attempt was finding the centre of gravity for each egg due to its unique shape and texture.”

British zoo’s first baby aardvark named Dobby

The Chester Zoo in England announced the facility’s first-ever aardvark birth and unveiled the hairless newborn. It was dubbed Dobby due to its resemblance to the hairless, long-nosed house elf from the Harry Potter series.

“This is the very first aardvark to be born at the zoo, and so it’s a momentous landmark for us and a real cause for celebration,” Chester zoo team manager Dave White said in the birth announcement.

“Aardvark parents are notorious for being a little clumsy around their newborns,” White said. “With the baby being so tiny and fragile, we’re therefore protecting it from any accidental knocks and bumps.”

Published in Dawn, Young World, February 26th, 2022