Female bottlenose dolphins whistle 10 times more often than usual after giving birth in order to help newborns recognise who is "mum".The findings by a US team appear in the journal Marine Mammal Science.These "signature whistles" are unique to each animal, allowing them to be used for identification.Bottlenose dolphins are highly social; in their first weeks, calves encounter many adult females that they could potentially mistake for their mothers. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. emp_load.getEmpEmbeddedParams("emp_7511842"); "The most obvious explanation for the increase in maternal signature whistle production is the need for the mother to be in contact with her calf," zoologist Dr Deborah Fripp from Dallas Zoo suggested."However, the decrease in signature whistle production of [dolphin] mother Lotty after three weeks does not fit this idea, especially as calves actually wander further from their mothers as they get older." Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. emp_load.getEmpEmbeddedParams("emp_7517404"); Instead, Dr Fripp said a likely purpose of this whistling enables a process called imprinting, whereby the calf learns to recognise its mother."Bottlenose dolphins can swim at birth and are highly social. In other species, these traits are associated with imprinting. A calf can easily get separated from its mother and find itself among many other dolphins."In some bird species, the critical period for imprinting is as short as a few hours. In some mammals, it is the first few weeks of life. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. emp_load.getEmpEmbeddedParams("emp_7517352"); Imprinting may also help stop females from stealing newborns from other mothers. This behaviour has been reported before in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and newborn Lotus was stolen on day one, though subsequently... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
The pilot of an Indonesian plane that crashed at an airport on Java island last year, killing 21 people, has gone on trial accused of negligence.A report into the crash at Yogyakarta concluded that he had been flying too fast and landed at too steep an angle.Marwoto Komar's defence team said they will fight the charges on the grounds that he managed to land the plane on the runway, probably saving lives.The Boeing 737 skidded off the runway and burst into flames on 7 March 2007.The most serious charge accuses Mr Komar of causing death by deliberately destroying the plane - an accusation his... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Two firearms officers are in hospital after using their own bodies to smother flames engulfing a knife-wielding man who had set himself alight.A spokesman for Surrey Police said two unarmed officers were sent to a home in Cranleigh after reports of a man threatening to attack fellow residents.The man then threatened to stab the officers before running into woodland with a can of petrol and a lighter.The firearms unit was called but he set himself ablaze as they approached.Armed officers and dog units, supported by the police helicopter, had searched the area after the man had run off and... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Officials in Guatemala say they have the first irrefutable evidence that a child was stolen and put up for adoption in the state system.The National Adoption Council used genetic evidence to confirm the account of a mother who recognised her baby in the company of an American woman.The baby was abducted by armed men last year but tracked down by her mother.A false birth certificate and a bogus DNA test were used to indicate that the baby was born to another woman.Toddler Esther Sulamita was reported stolen on 26 March, 2007. She was in the process of being adopted by an unidentified US couple ... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
The Welsh NHS has been criticised for its lack of preparation for changes to how home oxygen services are provided.A report for the auditor general for Wales said the cost of supplying home oxygen via a private company was underestimated by £4m.The timescale for starting the new service was tight and the company given the contract for supplying the oxygen was unable to cope with demand.The assembly government said patients were now happy with the service.Specialised oxygen equipment at home is often used by people with long-term respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis and... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Moscow has topped the league of most expensive cities for expatriates to live in for the third year running.The research by human resources firm Mercer took account of expenses such as rent, eating out and petrol.Moscow has particularly expensive coffee, with a cup in a cafe costing $10.40 (£5.19) including service.Tokyo climbed two spots into second place in the survey, followed by London, which dropped one place into third and Oslo, which came fourth.The survey compared the cost of 200 items in 143 cities. The three cheapest cities were Karachi in Pakistan, Quito in Ecuador and... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
Six of the UK's biggest net providers have agreed a plan with the music industry to tackle piracy online.The deal, negotiated by the government, will see hundreds of thousands of letters sent to net users suspected of illegally sharing music.But the music industry wants people's internet cut off if they ignore repeated warnings, something the web firms say they are not prepared to do.The six firms are due to be named when the deal is officially confirmed later.The plan commits the firms to working towards a "significant reduction" in the illegal sharing of music.It also commits... View More » Comenta la noticia. »
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