Search

This giant kangaroo once roamed New Guinea – descended from an Australian ancestor that migrated millions of years ago

Long ago, almost up until the end of the last ice age, a peculiar giant kangaroo roamed the mountainous rainforests of New Guinea. Now, research to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03721426.2022.2086518" target="_blank" rel="noopener">published</a> on Thursday by myself and colleagues suggests this kangaroo was not closely related to modern Australian kangaroos. Rather, it represents a previously unknown type of primitive kangaroo unique to New Guinea. The age of megafauna Australia used to be home to all manner of giant animals called megafauna, until most of them went extinct about 40,000 years ago. These megafauna lived alongside animals we now consider characteristic of the Australian bush – kangaroos, koalas, crocodiles and the like – but many were larger species of these. There were giant wombats called Phascolonus, 2.5-metre-tall short-faced kangaroos, and the 3-tonne Diprotodon optatum (the largest marsupial ever). In fact, some Australian megafaunal species, such as the red kangaroo, emu and cassowary, survive through to the modern day. The fossil megafauna of New Guinea are considerably less well-studied than those of Australia. But despite being shrouded in mystery, New Guinea’s fossil record has given us hints of fascinating and unusual animals whose evolutionary stories are entwined with Australia’s. Palaeontologists have done sporadic expeditions and fossil digs in New Guinea, including digs by American and Australian researchers in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. It was during an archaeological excavation in the early 1970s, led by Mary-Jane Mountain, that two jaws of an extinct giant kangaroo were unearthed. A young researcher (now professor) named Tim Flannery called the species Protemnodon nombe. The fossils Flannery described are about 20,000–50,000 years old. They come from the Nombe Rockshelter, an archaeological and palaeontological site in the mountains of central Papua New Guinea. This site also delivered fossils of another kangaroo and giant four-legged marsupials called diprotodontids. An unexpected discovery Flinders University Professor Gavin Prideaux and I recently re-examined the fossils of Protemnodon nombe and found something unexpected. This strange kangaroo was not a species of the genus Protemnodon, which used to live all over Australia, from the Kimberley to Tasmania. It was something a lot more primitive and unknown. In particular, its unusual molars with curved enamel crests set it apart from all other known kangaroos. We moved the species into a brand new genus unique to New Guinea and (very creatively) renamed it Nombe nombe. <figure><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/724328370" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>A 3D surface scan of a specimen of Nombe nombe, specifically a fossilised lower jaw from central Papua New Guinea. (Courtesy of Papua New Guinea Museum and Art Gallery, Port Moresby).</figcaption></figure> Our findings show Nombe may have evolved from an ancient form of kangaroo that migrated into New Guinea from Australia in the late Miocene epoch, some 5–8 million years ago. In those days, the islands of New Guinea and Australia were connected by a land bridge due to lower sea levels – whereas today they’re separated by the Torres Strait. This “bridge” allowed early Australian mammals, including megafauna, to migrate to New Guinea’s rainforests. When the Torres Strait flooded again, these animal populations became disconnected from their Australian relatives and evolved separately to suit their tropical and mountainous New Guinean home. We now consider Nombe to be the descendant of one of these ancient lineages of kangaroos. The squat, muscular animal lived in a diverse mountainous rainforest with thick undergrowth and a closed canopy. It evolved to eat tough leaves from trees and shrubs, which gave it a thick jawbone and strong chewing muscles. The species is currently only known from two fossil lower jaws. And much more remains to be discovered. Did Nombe hop like modern kangaroos? Why did it go extinct? As is typical of palaeontology, one discovery inspires an entire host of new questions. Strange but familiar animals Little of the endemic animal life of New Guinea is known outside of the island, even though it is very strange and very interesting. Very few Australians have much of an idea of what’s there, just over the strait. When I went to the Papua New Guinea Museum in Port Moresby early in my PhD, I was thrilled by the animals I encountered. There are several living species of large, long-nosed, worm-eating echidna – one of which weighs up to 15 kilograms. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=451&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=567&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=567&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/471027/original/file-20220627-22-91nec3.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=567&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="Author Isaac Kerr poses for a photo, holding an Australian giant kangaroo jaw in his left hand" /></a><figcaption>I’m excited to start digging in New Guinea’s rainforests! Author provided</figcaption></figure> There are also dwarf cassowaries and many different wallaby, tree kangaroo and possum species that don’t exist in Australia – plus many more in the fossil record. We tend to think of these animals as being uniquely Australian, but they have other intriguing forms in New Guinea. As an Australian biologist, it’s both odd and exhilarating to see these “Aussie” animals that have expanded into new and weird forms in another landscape. Excitingly for me and my colleagues, Nombe nombe may breathe some new life into palaeontology in New Guinea. We’re part of a small group of researchers that was recently awarded a grant to undertake three digs at two different sites in eastern and central Papua New Guinea over the next three years. Working with the curators of the Papua New Guinea Museum and other biologists, we hope to inspire young local biology students to study palaeontology and discover new fossil species. If we’re lucky, there may even be a complete skeleton of Nombe nombe waiting for us.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/185778/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/isaac-alan-robert-kerr-1356949" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Isaac Alan Robert Kerr</a>, PhD Candidate for Palaeontology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Flinders University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-giant-kangaroo-once-roamed-new-guinea-descended-from-an-australian-ancestor-that-migrated-millions-of-years-ago-185778" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Supplied

Domestic Travel

"He's basically a pig": Erin Molan and Piers Morgan slam Kyrgios

News

Peppa Pig accused of "brainwashing" children by anti-vax community

Peppa Pig has been slammed by the anti-vax community, as a 2021 children's book in which Peppa gets a vaccine, has been turned into an episode of the popular TV show. Furious parents have accused the animated children's show for "brainwashing" young audiences into getting vaccines, before denouncing the Covid jab as a "toxic injection" that is the equivalent of "child abuse". The fury was sparked following the novelisation of an episode of the cartoon, Peppa Gets a Health Check, that debuted on television screens last year and comes weeks after the NHS started Covid vaccinations for younger children. In the animated episode, Mummy Pig takes her daughter, Peppa, to see a doctor - who measures her height and weight, looks in her ears, listens to her heartbeat, and asks questions about whether she likes broccoli - as well as taking note of the loudness of her 'oink'. But in the book version, Peppa Gets a Vaccination - which appears to be virtually the same plot - Peppa is also told by the polar bear character medic, "Now it's time for your vaccination, do you know why we have vaccinations Peppa?" The book continues, 'Peppa put her hand up. "Yes! They stop us from getting ill, and that helps people around us, too."' In an online review of the book, one furious parent wrote, "This is so wrong. Our kids don't need toxic injections, or face masks, it's child abuse. Just stop, leave our kids alone." Another review called the book "Absolutely disgraceful", as the parent said they would "not be letting my kids watch or read any of this s***". Image credits: Ladybird Books / Getty Images

Books

The best low maintenance pets

If you’ve always wanted a pet but never really bothered because of how high maintenance it is, fret not. Below is a list of five of the lowest maintenance pets to have. <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Hamster </li> </ol> These cute little furry animals are super easy to take care of once they’re set up. All you need is to make sure they have a water bottle, food bowl and their wheel. <ol start="2"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Guinea Pig </li> </ol> The adorable guinea pigs are low maintenance and look after themselves. A dream, right?! They require a bath here and there and the usual cage, bedding, food and water. <ol start="3"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Turtle </li> </ol> The Painted Turtle is possibly one of the best pets to have because it doesn’t even need to be fed everyday. Feed it a couple of times a week, make sure it's comfortable in the new aquatic home where the temperature and cleanliness are looked after. <ol start="4"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Snake </li> </ol> You’re probably thinking what the hell? But obviously get a reptile that isn’t venomous. They are super easy to care for as long as you keep them in a properly sized tank, maintain the tank at a comfortable temperature and feed them their preferred meals. <ol start="5"> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Sea Monkey (aka Brine Shrimp) </li> </ol> These tiny creatures were only created in the last century and are sold in hatching kits. All you need to do is set up their water tank, feed them every five days and keep their tank well-oxygenated. Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

World's first recipient to receive a pig heart tragically dies

The first person to receive a heart transplant from a pig has died, two months after the groundbreaking experiment. David Bennett, aged 57, died Tuesday at the University of Maryland Medical Centre. Doctors didn't give an exact cause of death, saying only that his condition had begun deteriorating several days earlier. Bennett's son praised the hospital for offering the last-ditch experiment, saying the family hoped it would help further efforts to end the organ shortage. "We are grateful for every innovative moment, every crazy dream, every sleepless night that went into this historic effort," David Bennett Jr. said in a statement released by the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "We hope this story can be the beginning of hope and not the end." Doctors for decades have sought to one day use animal organs for life-saving transplants. Bennett, a handyman from Hagerstown, Maryland, was a candidate for this newest attempt only because he otherwise faced certain death, ineligible for a human heart transplant, bedridden and on life support, and out of other options. After the operation on the 7th of January, Bennett's son told the Associated Press his father knew there was no guarantee it would work. Prior attempts at such transplants - or xenotransplantation - have failed largely because patients' bodies rapidly rejected the animal organ. This time, the Maryland surgeons used a heart from a gene-edited pig. Scientists had modified the animal to remove pig genes that trigger the hyper-fast rejection and add human genes to help the body accept the organ. "We are devastated by the loss of Mr Bennett. He proved to be a brave and noble patient who fought all the way to the end," Dr Bartley Griffith, who performed the surgery at the Baltimore hospital, said in a statement. Other transplant experts praised the Maryland team's landmark research and said Bennett's death shouldn't slow the push to figure out how to use animal organs to save human lives. "It was an incredible feat that he was kept alive for two months and was able to enjoy his family," Montgomery added. The Food and Drug Administration had allowed the dramatic experiment under "compassionate use" rules for emergency situations. Bennett's doctors said he had heart failure and an irregular heartbeat, plus a history of not complying with medical instructions. He was deemed ineligible for a human heart transplant that requires strict use of immune-suppressing medicines, or the remaining alternative, an implanted heart pump. From Bennett's experience, "we have gained invaluable insights learning that the genetically modified pig heart can function well within the human body while the immune system is adequately suppressed", said Dr Muhammad Mohiuddin, scientific director of the Maryland university's animal-to-human transplant program. Patients may see Bennett's death as suggesting a short life-expectancy from xenotransplantation, but the experience of one ill person cannot predict how well this procedure ultimately will work, said ethics expert Karen Maschke of The Hastings Center. Transplant centres need to start educating their patients now about what to expect as this science unfolds, said Maschke, who with funding from the National Institutes of Health is developing ethics and policy recommendations on who should be allowed in the first studies of pig kidneys and what they need to know before volunteering. Image: University of Merryland

Body

Hairdresser has her fringe chewed off by her guinea pig

After a tipsy night out, hairdresser Gara Sullivan decided to lay down and have a cuddle with her guinea pig named Dixie. After falling asleep with the small critter, the 29-year-old from Kentucky woke up and made a horrifying discovery when she looked in the mirror. Dixie, the three-year-old pet, had nibbled off a chunk of her fringe! Initially, Gara was concerned about the wellbeing of her cheeky pet, wondering if Dixie would become sick after swallowing clumps of hair. Luckily, she then found her detached hairs sitting next to a very guilty looking guinea pig, realising she had chewed them off and just left them. Gara shared the hilarious situation with her social media followers, with many joking that Dixie was merely planning to make her own “guinea-wig”. Other commenters, including Gara, agreed that the naked guinea pig was simply jealous of Gara’s long locks. Gara said, 'She doesn't have any hair - it's like she's jealous of mine. She has a little hair on her nose but that's it, other than that she's completely naked.” “She'd had quite the meal, it was crazy. I take naps with her all the time but if I'm drunk, my boyfriend will create a little bed on the floor for me because he knows I like to snuggle with her.” “I fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning, I went to the bathroom, looked at myself in the mirror and my bangs were gone.” Gara has had to rearrange her hair to make the tuft of hair not show, as she worries the hair will take at least six months to grow back. For now, the hairdresser has vowed to end her little sleepovers with Dixie, unless she has a few too many drinks and feels like a cuddle. Image credits: TikTok / Instagram @garasullivan

Beauty & Style

Cafe with Peppa Pig on the menu causes outrage

A cafe in the centre of the Scottish capital of Edinburgh has come under fire for a divisive sign to lure in customers. Gordon Street Coffee decorated their chalkboard with a drawing of Peppa Pig next to a bacon sandwich to sell the popular breakfast item. As well as the “distasteful” sketch of the popular children’s character, the cafe had also included their own rendition of The Magic Roundabout cartoon cow, Ermintrude, to sell beef sandwiches. Despite the cafe’s light-hearted attempt at advertising tactics, outraged members of the public slammed their ideas and methods. Angry parents expressed their disappointment online over the sign, as they thought the drawings would traumatise children once they realised their beloved characters were intended as food. Animal rights organisation PETA led the online outrage, taking to Twitter to say, “Luring kids to meaty meals with cartoons of happy animals isn’t new, but it is dishonest.” “Kids naturally love animals, and would be horrified to see gentle pigs' throats slit for a sandwich.” Many other parents and vegan activists also slammed the cafe, saying the cafe was “sick, upsetting and dishonest”. One woman wrote on Twitter. “That's going to make a lot of children question food.” “I support that but damn this is pretty sick.” Another mother agreed, saying, “Even if you are not vegan or vegetarian that could be really upsetting.” “My kids would be absolutely traumatised if they saw that sign, it's really not funny.” The outrage comes after a new survey showed that one in five children have no idea that steak, sausages and ham are meat that comes from animals. Image credit: Twitter

Food & Wine

The inhumanity of Australia’s new offshore detention centre

Papua New Guinea authorities arrested 52 offshore detainees previously held on Manus Island <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/leaked-photos-of-papua-new-guinea-prison-reveal-torture-of-18-asylum-seekers-cut-off-from-world">in August last year</a> and incarcerated them in the purpose-built Bomana immigration centre. The facility is part of a large prison complex that goes by the same name on the outskirts of Port Moresby. Opened in April last year, the <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/news/five-questions-bomana-immigration-centre">$24 million centre</a> was funded and built by the Australian Home Affairs Department. And although it’s been reported to be run solely by the PNG Immigration and Citizenship Authority, it’s also been asserted that <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/401582/australia-coercing-manus-island-asylum-seekers-to-go-home">it’s Canberra-run</a>. Bomana is the end of the line for certain asylum seekers. Those locked up there had been deemed non-refugees, either via assessment or not. And the centre is designed to be so extreme as to force detainees into giving up hope, despite having spent years prior in immigration limbo. And that’s exactly what happened to the men sent to the isolated facility, with no outside contact. The conditions were so torturous that after years of refusing, most signed up to being sent back to their countries of origins. Although, since doing so, they’re still being housed in Port Moresby not able to be returned as yet. And as of last week, authorities can hail the operation a complete success, as the final 18 men were <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/criminal/penalties/nsw/conditional-release-order/">released</a>. This was only after some tinkering from rights groups, so these men were offered resettlement in a third country, rather than being forced to return to the land from which they fled. Employing the techniques of war “The Bomana detention centre was built by the Australian government for the express purposes of holding the Manus people, who’ve been given negative refugee assessments in Papua New Guinea,” explained Ian Rintoul. “It’s a deliberately built facility to hold people in an effort to coerce them into signing to go home and deporting them,” the <a href="http://www.refugeeaction.org.au/">Refugee Action Coalition (RAC)</a> spokesperson told Sydney Criminal Lawyers. And in relation to how the immigration facility manages to coerce detainees in such an efficient manner, Mr Rintoul likened the circumstances within Bomana to something you might expect to find in “prisoner of war camps from the Second World War”. The long-time refugee advocate said that detainees were denied communications with the outside world, including legal representation. They were withheld medication and phones. While the water inside was too hot for showering and the thin mattresses provided, lay directly upon the floor. “They were kept on starvation rations,” Rintoul added, “so everyone who has come out of Bomana has lost between 10 and 15 kilograms.” The final cohort The remaining detainees <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/aug/20/remaining-manus-island-refugees-offered-voluntary-relocation-to-port-moresby">were moved</a> from Manus Island to Port Moresby beginning in August last year, with the final 25 arriving <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/404490/manus-island-refugees-moved-into-port-moresby-apartments">in November</a>. And 52 of these men subsequently ended up in Bomana. Indeed, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/leaked-photos-of-papua-new-guinea-prison-reveal-torture-of-18-asylum-seekers-cut-off-from-world">nine of them</a> had already been approved for Medevac transfer to Australia. According to Rintoul, the men weren’t given reasons for their incarceration, but it was known that only those deemed negative were sent to Bomana. And the conditions soon led to most agreeing to be repatriated, as they reasoned possible imprisonment in their country of origin would be better. And last Thursday, 23 January, saw the final 18 asylum seekers released from the Bomana detention centre, after they agreed to third country resettlement, which was not an offer made to detainees that agreed to leave earlier. “We tried to get messages in to tell people to sign and come out. We attempted various measures, but none of them had been forthcoming,” Rintoul outlined. “The final 18 were released on the basis of them signing to be part of the US resettlement deal, under the auspices of the UNHCR.” A fresh gulag Most Australians remain unaware that during the rising calls to end offshore detention, amid the successful campaign to bring the children on Nauru to Australia, and while the enactment and later repeal of Medevac occurred, the government has been intensifying detention for some. The Bomana immigration centre <a href="https://www.kaldorcentre.unsw.edu.au/news/five-questions-bomana-immigration-centre">is part of the</a> 2013 Regional Resettlement Agreement between Australia and PNG, which allows for the ongoing processing of asylum seekers who arrive in this nation’s waters within the borders of another poorer country. The specially built facility began its operation on 2 April last year. And it has the capacity to hold around 50 detainees, within its 25 rooms, with two individuals in each. These rooms are divided up between <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/15/leaked-photos-of-papua-new-guinea-prison-reveal-torture-of-18-asylum-seekers-cut-off-from-world">five separate compounds</a> fenced off from one another. “The Australian government has overall control of the centre, as it does every other aspect of the people who they’re responsible for sending to Manus in the first place,” Rintoul made clear, adding that Canberra is “very aware of the circumstances in which people were being held”. The RAC spokesperson further explained that some of the employees at the facility are ex-Australian federal police. And the people who own the company that are running Bomana are also former AFP employees. The gift that keeps on giving As for what Bomana will be used for now that all the Manus Island asylum seekers have been released, Rintoul is clear that it’s likely the Papua New Guinean government will continue to use it in the same manner. But, this time, with asylum seekers who arrive in its own country. PNG prime minister James Marape warned <a href="https://www.pngfacts.com/news/png-pm-marape-tells-illegal-foreigners-to-leave">in mid-January</a> that foreign nationals who entered his country without permission and refuse to leave will be thrown in the Bomana centre, which, for the most part, is unused at present. “There’s a Filipino and three Bangladeshi citizens who are now in the Bomana facility,” Mr Rintoul explained. He said that keeping it open for the purposes of using it in a similar vein is what the PNG government seems to have in mind. “But, I suspect it will only be like that as long as Australia is paying for the upkeep,” he concluded. The images are leaked photos of the ex-Manus Island detainees in the Bomana immigration centre. They were supplied by the Refugee Action Coalition. Written by Paul Gregoire. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/the-inhumanity-of-australias-new-offshore-detention-centre/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a>

Travel Tips

10 ways your pet is trying to say “I love you”

Our pets have their own special way of communicating their affection towards us – can you spot the signs that your special friend is wild about you? From dogs and cats to birds and guinea pigs, we’ve got so much pet love happening. 1. Your dog gives you puppy eyes You know how when you’re just chilling on the couch, watching Netflix, and your dog rests his head on your lap, gazing deeply into your eyes? That’s pup-speak for “I love you, human!” “Just like humans, dogs use face and body language to communicate,” says Whitney Miller, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Director of Veterinary Medicine for <a href="http://www.petco.com/">Petco</a>. “Long intense eye contact from your dog is a way of showing they trust you and show affection towards you.” However, that doesn't hold true for EVERY dog. 2. Your cat gives you the slowest blink “For cats, slowly blinking is a gesture of acceptance and comfort. Cats do this with other cats because in the feline world, closing one’s eyes in front of another is a sign of trust,” Dr Miller explains. But wait, don’t stop there! You can return the compliment, telling your cat how much you love him too, by blinking slowly right back 3. Your guinea pig sings “Guinea pigs are very vocal and will emit all kinds of squeaks, squeals, and even a few purr-like noises to show their affection,” Dr Miller says. It may even sound like they’re singing so consider it your own personal love song (and feel free to sing one back!), she adds. 4. Your bird shakes its tail feathers It’s not just dogs that wag their bottoms when they’re happy! “A bird’s tail feathers, like other pets’ tails, are also used as a method to communicate in the wild,” Dr Miller says. “Like a dog, a bird may fan out their feathers or wag their tail to tell you that they are glad to see you.” 5. Your cat rubs its chin on you OK, so technically when cats rub their faces and chins on something it’s their way of marking their territory, says Gary Weitzman, DVM and author of National Geographic Complete Guide to Pet Health, Behavior, and Happiness. But don’t rule it out as a declaration of love! “Declaring ownership of you is a very feline way to say ‘I love you’”. 6. Your dog follows you to the bathroom It can be annoying to have your furry friend always under your feet but following you around – even when you’re just getting a drink or using the bathroom – is a sign of devotion and affection, Dr Weitzman says. “Wherever you are, your dog wants to be, and they wouldn’t want to spend all their time with you if they didn’t love you!” he says. 7. Your bird just tells you Parrots and other smart birds are notorious for mimicking human speech but they’re not just “parroting” back what they’ve heard, they can understand the emotion behind the sentiment too, Dr Miller says. “Certain birds may mimic happy or loving noises they hear from their pet parents, and some are even smart enough to say, ‘I love you,’” she says. 8. Your rabbit comes when you call Sure, dogs are great at coming when you call their name, and cats are too (when they want to be). But did you know that rabbits can also learn to respond to your calls? “Rabbits learn their people’s habits and voices and will come running when their favourite people are around,” Char says. 9. Your cat meows just for you Cats have about 16 different meows to communicate different things, Dr Weitzman says. However, adult cats only vocalise to humans – kittens meow to their mother, but they grow out of it, he explains. “This means that when your cat meows, it is solely to communicate with you and it is a big sign that they really do love you, even if they don’t always show it!” he says. 10. Your guinea pig whistles at you No, you’re not being cat-called by your furry friend! Guinea pigs have a signature whistle they make, often to welcome you home or to show happiness, says Johanna Reel, a registered veterinary technician with NHV Natural Pet Products. “Though they are small, guinea pigs can show their people a lot of love,” she says. “When guinea pigs are happy, they chirp, squeal and whistle. Though their way of showing their love was a bit different than my cats or dogs, it always put a smile on my face. I miss their little welcome whistles now that they’re gone.” Written by Charlotte Hilton Anderson. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/pets/28-ways-your-pet-trying-say-i-love-you">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.

Family & Pets

Cruise through time: The coast of Papua New Guinea

It’s like stepping back to an earlier age when foreign travel really was exploration where anything can happen. PNG is a land that has many attractions ranging from excellent diving, world-renowned walks, rare flora and fauna, and hot springs and volcanoes. There’s an exotic foreignness in this near neighbour. The coast and islands are beautiful. Elsewhere that spells over-development: seek untrammelled golden sands and you’ll find it shaded by highrise hotels; look for fish and coral living in unpolluted topical waters and you’d find you’ve arrived long after the developers. In PNG you are well ahead of the rush. Tufi The coast surprises in its diversity. Arriving by sea to Tufi, a clifftop village with a population of just 400 people, you cruise into what can only be described as a beautiful jungle-fringed fiord. From here you can go deep-sea fishing or scuba diving, or take a short walk to seek huge birdwing butterflies. Besides these, the world’s largest butterflies, PNG boasts 2000 species of orchids and over 700 bird species including 43 Birds of Paradise. At a pretty nearby beach you can swim and snorkel amongst the coral. Or head up a river accompanied by a colourful local guide. An aluminium tinny takes you part way up the river, to transfer to dugout outrigger canoes fitted with bamboo platforms on which to luxuriated while young local girls skilfully paddle the craft under fallen trees and around sand bars. Eventually, you arrived at a glorious river beach enclosed by high hills and broad leaf vegetation. Here the men of the village slice and dice a tree trunk to extract taro while numerous naked children used the outing as a chance for a party. Australia seems a long way away. Rabaul As news reports once showed, Rabaul is situated on a beautiful bay, treacherously fringed by volcanoes. It’s now a virtual ghost town after the major volcanic eruption of two decades ago – and it looks like a ghost, too, with the old city centre covered in grey volcanic dust. Eruptions are ongoing and most locals live in nearby Kokopo, a few kilometres from the town that was once referred to as “the Jewel of the Pacific”. Fergusson Island Also volcanic, Fergusson Island is the largest of the D’Entrecasteux Islands in the Solomon Sea off the southeast tip of the mainland. This is a lesson in volcanic landscapes writ large with fields of bubbling mud pools and steaming geysers. The water has coated everything in a rime of white calcium and the local villagers use the scalding pools as cooking pots. New Britain, New Ireland, the Bismark Sea – the colonial heritage of Papua New Guinea lives on in names and government structure. English is very widely spoken. But a voyage along the coast of PNG has the atmosphere of a journey of discovery of ancient culture and customs and of a new nation endeavouring to establish its place in the world. Mystic Sepik Of all the rivers in PNG the most renowned is the Sepik that flows for about 1000 km from the Highlands to the Bismark Sea. Throughout PNG you’ll find remarkable carvings and traditional masks but in the Sepik you find artworks that were born in your worst nightmares. You can buy it directly from the villages or there are excellent art and craft shops in Port Moresby holding artefacts from across the entire nation. Despite PNG being a very foreign land, there are constant reminders of Australia and the two nations’ connection. In the island community of Kwato there’s a memorial to Reverend Abel who felt the best way to civilise the local populace was by introducing cricket. The city of Alotau was the World War II site of the 1942 battle of Milne Bay where the Australian forces became the first to force the Japanese army to retreat on land. Kokoda Trail A place of pilgrimage that also combines a rite of passage is the Kokoda Trail that runs for 100 km across the rugged Owen Stanley Range north of Port Moresby. It was the scene of some incredible bravery and fortitude from the Australia troops that pushed the Japanese back along it in 1942 in perhaps the worst conditions in the world. Mud and mountains, heat and humidity all ensure it remains a 10-day challenge that is very rewarding to accomplish. Simply cruising By far the easiest way to get around the coast and islands of PNG is on a small cruise ship. Written by David McGonigal. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/travel/cruise-through-time-the-coast-of-papua-new-guinea.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Cruising

France's pig festival is a pork-lovers dream

All hail the mighty pig! What is it? La Pourcailhade (meaning the Festival of the Pig) is an annual festival held in the town of Trie-sur-Baise in the Pyrenees region of southwestern France. It’s a celebration of all things porcine that began in 1975 and is organised by La Confrerie du Cochon (or The Brotherhood of the Pig). It was partly developed to give a boost to the ailing pig farming industry in the region and now attracts meat-loving visitors from all over the world. Many of the townspeople deck themselves out in pig ears and snout, and all local business will get in on the act with decorations and displays. What can I do? Eat. And then eat some more. The smell of roast pork fills the air around town and you can eat more kinds of meat than you ever new existed – cured ham, salami, black pudding, crackling and much more. There are large sit down banquets organised or you can just stroll through the market and sample anything that takes your fancy. There are also a series of outrageous competitions that you can watch or (if you’re feeling very festive) participate in, like best pig outfit, best window display or sausage eating competitions. The climax of the event is the prestigious Championnat de France du Cri de Cochon, or French Pig-Squealing Competition. Participants make the sounds of a pig in its various life stages, from piglet to adult. Each night, there is a huge party with music, dancing, drinks and, of course, plenty more pork. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AmEBhQVqzDE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> How can I go? The dates change, however the festival is generally held around the second Sunday of August. Trie-sur-Baise is accessible by train from Biarritz, Toulouse or San Sebastian.

International Travel

Woman finds abandoned guinea pig in mailbox

A woman in rural Kansas had the fright of her life last week when she opened her mailbox to find an abandoned guinea pig sitting inside with no food or water. With no idea how the tine white and tan-coloured rodent got there, the woman contacted Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and informed them about the incident. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLyonCountySheriff%2Fposts%2F1044283562339199%3A0&width=500" width="500" height="651" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> The animal has since been picked up and transported to Emporia Animal Shelter, who named the guinea pig Rosita because of her distinctive red eyes. Local news station KVOE reported Rosita is health and “roaming her cage safely.” The Sheriff’s Office has reportedly identified a suspect, who may face animal misdemeanour charges if found guilty of abandoning the guinea pig. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLyonCountySheriff%2Fphotos%2Fa.341260042641558.58443.137903079643923%2F1045362648897957%2F%3Ftype%3D3&width=500" width="500" height="502" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> We’re just glad Rosita is doing well. Have you ever had to look after an abandoned animal? Please share your story in the comments section below.

News

This pig does a happy dance when he sees the beach

Meet Ziggy the pig, who enjoys long walks by the beach, and sometimes even a quick dip in the ocean. Just the sound of waves crashing on the shore and the feel of sand between his trotters sends him in a tailspin of happiness. Just take a look at the video above and tell us that doesn’t bring a smile to your face! Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/things-you-did-not-know-could-poison-your-pet/">8 things you didn't know could poison your pet</a> <a href="/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/05/video-of-baby-animals-yawning/">Watch: Baby animals yawning</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/03/tiny-kitten-claps-paws-for-treats/">Tiny kitten claps paws for treats</a>

News

Furry Mangalica pig looks just like a sheep

If you’ve ever thought that the perfect pet is a pig/sheep hybrid, you’re in luck! They exist – and have been causing a flurry on the internet ever since they made their presence known online. People all over the world are falling in love with this fluffy sheep-like pig. And in case you were interested, the Hungarian breed is domesticated which means, you can own one. "If you treat them nicely, they’ll become as tame as dogs," breeder Wilhelm Kohl told Modern Farmer. "They’ll follow you, play with you." How can you say no to fuzzy faces like this? Scroll through the gallery above to see more of these adorable fluffy pigs. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/photos-of-animals-hitchhiking/">Hilarious photos of animals hitchhiking</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/animals-who-love-warm/">In pictures: 12 animals who love warmth more than anything</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/10/why-dogs-so-happy-to-see-you/">The science behind dogs being so happy to see you</a>

News

This piglet loves autumn

Willow is a piglet experiencing autumn for the first time. Once he sees autumn foliage he can’t contain his excitement, experience the joy of fall in all its unbridled glory. It’s amazing to see an animal so infatuated by simple things like leaves. Willow is a very cute pig and he jumps round in the leaves playfully without a care in the world.

News

8 photos of guinea pigs to make you smile

The world loves cats and dogs so we thought we’d showcase another adorable critter that’s just as cute as their feline and canine counterparts: the guinea pig. These too-cute pictures prove that the guinea pig deserve some love too! <img width="500" height="500" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7147/1_500x500.jpg" alt="1 (17)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="354" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7148/2_500x354.jpg" alt="2 (20)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7149/3_500x375.jpg" alt="3 (15)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7151/4_500x375.jpg" alt="4 (17)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7152/5_500x334.jpg" alt="5 (15)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7153/6_500x375.jpg" alt="6 (14)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="497" height="360" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7154/7_497x360.jpg" alt="7 (15)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> <img width="497" height="280" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7155/8_497x280.jpg" alt="8 (16)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/>

Family & Pets

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

This giant kangaroo once roamed New Guinea – descended from an Australian ancestor that migrated millions of years ago

"He's basically a pig": Erin Molan and Piers Morgan slam Kyrgios

Peppa Pig accused of "brainwashing" children by anti-vax community

The best low maintenance pets

World's first recipient to receive a pig heart tragically dies

Hairdresser has her fringe chewed off by her guinea pig

Cafe with Peppa Pig on the menu causes outrage

The inhumanity of Australia’s new offshore detention centre

10 ways your pet is trying to say “I love you”

Cruise through time: The coast of Papua New Guinea

France's pig festival is a pork-lovers dream

Woman finds abandoned guinea pig in mailbox

This pig does a happy dance when he sees the beach

Furry Mangalica pig looks just like a sheep

This piglet loves autumn

8 photos of guinea pigs to make you smile