Animal Attack stories 2003! ~Zim Matrix660

Ananova: Seal kills British biologist

A British marine biologist has died after being attacked by a leopard seal in the Antarctic .

Kirsty Brown, 28, was attacked while she was snorkeling in the bay next to the Rothera research station, the British Antarctic Survey said.

Leopard seals are often inquisitive when they encounter humans, but very rarely attack unless provoked, the British Antarctic Survey said.

"She was with her snorkeling 'buddy' when the seal pulled her underwater and contact with her was lost," the group said.

Rescuers pulled her out of the water but attempts at resuscitation failed.

British Antarctic Survey director Chris Rapley paid tribute to "a vibrant, dynamic individual, committed to her science and with a promising scientific career ahead of her.

Brown, who studied at the universities of London and Southampton and the University of Adelaide in Australia, joined the British Antarctic Survey in 2002 on an 18-month contract.

Her research at Rothera focused on the impact of iceberg erosion on Antarctic nearshore marine animal communities.



Man killed after 3,000 kilo rhino is washed away

An Indian man has been crushed to death by a 3,000 kilogram rhinoceros washed out of a national park and into a village by monsoon floods.

The fully-grown one-horned rhino landed on a riverbank in Ghatupara in Darrang district, Assam.

A spokesman said the man was gathering grass in the area when the rhino charged at him and killed him.

Four elephants with their handlers, and 10 forest guards are hunting for the rhino.

Assam is home to the Kaziranga National Park, the world's only natural habitat for the rare one-horned rhino.

Several animals fleeing floods in the reserve have been killed crossing highways or by running into poachers.

The death toll from rains, flooding, disease and panicked wildlife in the annual monsoon has reached 579 across South Asia

Overflowing rivers in Assam have washed many people out of their homes, leaving them prey to insects, while floodwaters have polluted drinking water wells, increasing the cases of waterborne disease.

Nearly 5 million people in almost 5,000 villages spread over 22 of Assam's 24 districts have been affected by the floods.



Pig jealous of owner's boyfriend

A Norwegian woman has unsuccessfully tried counselling for her pet pig which is jealous of her boyfriend.

Synne Larsen's pet pig Tirill has attacked Kjetil Gudem so often he wears a thick ground sheet around his legs to protect them.

The attacks began two years ago when Gudem moved in with Larsen.

"Tirill just goes into attack mode. Often she is standing, waiting when I come out of the toilet," Gudem told the Dagbladet newspaper.

Larsen doesn't want to part with either Tirill or Kjetil.

"Two dog trainers have been here and given us advice, but I don't think it helped at all," Larsen said.

Various attempts at disciplining the pig have also failed to curb her temper. Now the couple are expanding their house in the hope more room will ease tensions.

Fugitive monkeys shot dead

Four monkeys escaped from a zoo in north-eastern China and attacked a woman and her baby before three of the animals were shot dead by police.

The three adult monkeys and one baby escaped Monday from a zoo in Changtu county in Liaoning province.

It did not say what species they were.

The monkeys took refuge in a grove of trees and resisted attempts to recapture them.

"One of the monkeys pounced on a woman holding a child, biting her arm before leaping back into the tree.

Police say they shot the adult monkeys "to prevent further attacks."

The baby monkey escaped and is still "at large."



Cricket groundsman attacked by protective seagulls

A cricket groundsman has been attacked by a pair of seagulls protecting a newly-laid egg on the pitch.

Robin Wightman had to duck and retreat as the birds with four-foot wingspans repeatedly dive-bombed him.

The 50-year-old feared the assault would stop him preparing a match wicket for an afternoon cup game on the ground at South Shields.

He had found the egg surrounded by twigs and leaves in an apparent attempt to build a nest., reports The Journal.

After almost an hour the birds, which he had fed daily for weeks, backed off and allowed him to nervously remove the dark green speckled egg.

Mr Wightman, who has named the pair Fred and Wilma, said: "A number of times they swooped and missed my head by inches.

"They were frightening and could have put the match in jeopardy if they had persisted.

"I think it was only because I have gradually won their trust that they finally called off the attack."