Baboons filmed flossing teeth with broom bristles and hair

Baboons have been filmed apparently flossing their teeth with broom bristles and hairs from others in their group at a British zoo.

An adult baboon and a youngster were observed showing the remarkably human behaviour at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, in Devon, by Charlotte Morgan, an animal behaviour student at the University of Exeter.

She said: “Past research at the zoo found that certain baboons floss using their own hair and bristles from broom heads. I have observed cases where baboons will pluck hair off other baboons to floss.”

Previous studies have suggested that primates floss their teeth for hygienic and social purposes. Miss Morgan, who is researching whether personality is related to dental flossing activity in the troop, says “There does appear to be a relationship between certain personality traits and dental flossing. From what I have observed, they start off by grooming themselves and then they pluck off their own hair and place it between their teeth,” she added.

Spiders spin giant web over shore

Thousands of little spiders in the western Greek town of Aitoliko, shrouded coastal trees, bushes and low vegetation in thick webs, shocking local residents.

The spiders spurred into overdrive by an explosion in the populations of insects they eat. Experts told local media that the numbers of lake flies, a non-biting midge, have rocketed amid humid late summer conditions. Spiders, which fancy the flies, reproduced fast to take full advantage of the feast.

Residents say the extensive spider webs have another benefit: keeping down mosquitoes.

Globe gets stuck in bear cub’s head

Abear cub in Wisconsin had a Winnie-the-Pooh moment, but it wasn’t a honey pot that got stuck on its head. It was a hard plastic globe.

Authorities rescued the cub after a passer-by spotted it near Balsam Lake with the mother bear nearby. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office used a squad car to keep the mother away while authorities and two bear hunters worked on the globe as the cub was contained in a net.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Brent Waak says the thick globe resisted pliers, tin snips and pruning shears. It finally slipped off after bolt cutters were used. Waak says it’s unknown where the cub got the apparently ornamental globe.

Published in Dawn, Young World, October 6th, 2018