Deadly spider from Brazil...

Oh look, here's another one from last year! (And I wasn't even looking!) Deadly. Spiders. In the UK...

This one was found in a warehouse in Coventry, having arrived from Brazil. My favourite ones however are where there are more than one and they are breeding... Just images. Shudder.

Deadly spider found in Coventry warehouse

Deadly spider hitches lift back to UK in traveller's coat pocket...

Here's a great story, especially if you like spiders as much as I do. I've travelled quite a bit in my time, and spent long periods in Africa. Last year I was lucky enough to get bitten by poisonous spiders twice... I'll save the details of those for another time, but ever since (and with good reason!) I've paid a little more attention to our eight legged friends. It's surprising how often poisonous exotic species appear in the UK...

Here's one from last week... classic spider hitches lift in travellers coat pocket (I mean just think about that for a minute!) from Australia to UK, and crawls out in cafe... I'd have died from shock just at the sight of it! I'll post a few more when I gave the chance (don't worry, there won't be any photos of spiders on this blog, but if you follow the link do so at your own risk...).

Australian huntsman spider found in Hay-on-Wye cafe

Pot Noodle - well you would, wouldn't you

Hungry like a lion? Have a pot noodle.

Desert Lions

Here's another excellent lion documentary, Desert Lions, part of the BBC Natural Word series, and narrated by the legend that is Sir David Attenborough.

The Last Lions

This is a very recent lion documentary (National Geographic, 2011), filmed by Dereck and Beverly Joubert in Botswana's Okavango Delta and following the story of a lone lionesses battle to raise her cubs. Stunning videography, and equally dramatic narration by Jermey Irons. Not sure what it is doing up on You Tube, we should all be buying the DVD, but anyway, on You Tube it is... well the first half is anyway, and you can find some more sections, but I couldn't find the end, so buy the DVD!

Washington Post article by Derek Joubert.

And a great interview here

The Last Lioness

Classic lion documentary from Liuwa in Zambia, telling the story of 'Lady Liuwa', the last lioness of Liuwa National Park, and the story of attempts to relocate lions back to the park to start up a breeding pride... all in one lovely chunck.

About time we had a sequal to this documentary!

External links:

Lady Liuwa Update - May 2009

Lady Liuwa Update - March 2011

Lady Liuwa Update - Feb 2012

Lady Liuwa Update - July 2012

Lions Behaving Badly

Talking of Africa, here are some lions. Filmed in Makalolo, in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, these lions are part of a lion dynasty recorded by researchers over many years. This National Geographic film is on You Tube in 4 easy bite sized segments. Here's the first...