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Dinosaur missing from Sinclair in Mont.

MISSOULA, Mont., July 2 (UPI) -- A Montana fuel company is asking residents to be on the lookout for a 6-foot-tall green dinosaur stolen from one of its Sinclair gas stations.

Hi-Noon Petroleum, which owns multiple Sinclair stations in the Missoula area, said the dinosaur was noticed missing from its perch overlooking Interstate 90 at the Crossroads Travel Center June 21, The Missoulian reported Monday,

"Please be on the lookout for a large Dino that apparently 'walked away' from his spot on the hill west of Missoula," the company said in a statement. "He has been missing since the morning of June 21 and has not returned home, nor have any ransom demands been received.

"Dino is fiberglass and green in color. He stands approximately 6 feet tall and is 12 feet long. If you have any information or know of his current whereabouts, please contact the Hi-Noon office at 406-532-0384. This iconic Dino means a lot to the Hi-Noon family and we are offering a $250 Noon's gas card for his speedy recovery."

Elephants fight at Ohio zoo

COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 2 (UPI) -- Officials at Ohio's Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said a fight between two female elephants was the result of a disagreement about disciplining a young herd member.

Dusty Lombardi, the zoo's director of living collections, said Phoebe, mother of 3-year-old Beco, was disciplining her son Sunday and his "aunt," Connie, did not approve of the punishment and fought with Phoebe, The Columbus Dispatch reported Monday.

"It's 100 percent normal behavior that we'll always see with females and a young male," Lombardi said. "What made it noticeable was that Phoebe had broken her tusk in April, it hasn't healed and there was some blood."

He said the elephants were separated for a short time and were reunited once they were found to be free of serious injuries.

"Beco knows how to play Connie and Phoebe, just like a human kid," Lombardi said. "He's a punk. But we want him to be. It's healthy for him."

'Centurions' arrested after police fight

ROME, July 2 (UPI) -- Police in Rome said they arrested a pair of men dressed as centurions after they allegedly fought with officers near the Colosseum.

Rome officials said police have been trying to keep costumed centurions and gladiators, who pose for pictures with tourists in exchange for money, away from landmarks including the Colosseum and two men, Manuel and Eugenio Sonnino, allegedly threatened officers with their prop swords before fleeing and fighting with the motorcycle officer who caught up to them, ANSA reported Monday.

The men were charged with violence and resisting arrest.

Richard Branson sets kite-surfing record

DYMCHURCH, England, July 2 (UPI) -- British billionaire Richard Branson, 61, says he has become the oldest person to kite-surf across the English Channel.

Branson said he set a Guinness World Record when he completed his trip from Dymchurch, England, to Wimereux, France, in 3 hours, 45 minutes, the BBC reported Monday.

The Virgin Group founder said he had to turn back from his first attempt Saturday because his kite was too small.

Branson said his aim was to break the time record for the feat, which was set by his son, Sam, in 1999, but he was unable to finish the trip in less than the 2 hours, 18 minutes his son spent on the traverse Saturday. The younger Branson broke a record from 1999 by about 12 minutes.

"The trip was far more challenging than I thought, with 40 mph winds in the middle of the channel and major waves," Richard Branson said after his Sunday kite-surfing trip. "I have to admit there were moments when I was tempted to abandon it. The wind direction was the opposite of what had been forecast. I expected to scream across but was greeted with a long, downstream kite that took considerably longer."