Watercooler Stories

Zoo takes cub from polar bear mom

NUREMBERG, Germany, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Officials at a zoo in southern Germany have taken a polar bear cub from its mother after another polar bear mother apparently ate her two cubs.

The officials at the Nuremberg zoo said the bear, Vera, was seen carrying her cub in her mouth and behaving strangely, The Guardian reported Tuesday. The 4-week-old bruin will now be hand-fed, the newspaper reported.

The incident occurred as the zoo's staff learned two other newborn cubs, whose mother, Vilma, had refused to feed them, had disappeared. No sign of the cubs were found and it was thought the mother ate them, possibly because they were sick, The Guardian said.

The zoo officials had refused to intervene and hand-feed Vilma's cubs because they wanted nature to take its course and avoid the situation that developed with "Knut," a popular polar bear cub being fed by zookeepers in Berlin.

"We wanted to avoid a repeat of the stupid Knut mania and not rear the animal by hand," said Helmut Magdefrau, deputy director of the Nuremberg zoo.

However, the zoo's decision drew criticism from animal activists and others.

Red-bellied turtle may slow casino

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- A turtle species classified as threatened in Pennsylvania may delay construction of a Philadelphia casino.

The red-bellied turtle, which hibernates in burrows in riverbank mud, is known to inhabit the Delaware River near the proposed site of the SugarHouse, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission says all construction work except driving piles should be done between May and October to avoid disturbing hibernating turtles. Any construction work in the river should be done under a biologist's eye so any turtles found can be moved.

The project also must include an upstream turtle sanctuary with basking logs and suitable nesting areas.

The SugarHouse, once it is completed, will bring 3,000 slot machines to the neighborhood. Some local politicians and neighborhood activists have been trying to stop the project.

Mike O'Brien, who represents the neighborhood in the state House of Representatives, is one of seven legislators who have filed a lawsuit. They argue the casino is being built on land in the river that belongs to the state, barring the city from allowing development there.

He does not expect the turtles to stop the casino.

SUV crashes into bedroom

WINTER PARK, Fla., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Police in Winter Park, Fla., said a man lost control of his sport utility vehicle and drove into a woman's bedroom -- launching her unoccupied bed into the air.

Investigators said the Jeep Cherokee drove into the home in the early hours Tuesday before the driver backed the vehicle out of the house and drove away from the damaged home, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Tuesday.

The homeowner, who had fallen asleep elsewhere in the house before the collision, was not injured.

"All of the sudden I felt a very strong vibration throughout the house and I heard a big boom like a car accident and ran outside," a neighbor said. "I came to see there was a black Jeep Cherokee backing up from the wall."

Police arrested a suspect a short time after the crash and a Florida Highway Patrol officer said drunken driving charges may be forthcoming later Tuesday.

Gun hidden under 6-year-old's pillow

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A Florida man was arrested on suspicion of child abuse and domestic battery after he allegedly allowed his 6-year-old daughter to sleep with a loaded gun.

The arrest report said authorities were called to Robert Lee Johnson's home because the man was fighting with his stepfather, WKMG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Tuesday.

Investigators allegedly found the loaded gun under his daughter's pillow.

The report quoted Johnson as saying he owned the gun because he "watches too much CNN."

Johnson was being held at St. Lucie County Jail.