Video: Your Christmas Tree Could Become a Lion's Favorite New Toy

Fed up with waiting for the garbage collector to grab the undecorated fire hazard of a Christmas tree sitting in front of your house?  If you lived near one zoo in the United Kingdom, your tree could have been a New Year’s treat for a family of African lions.  Real Christmas trees are like “catnip” to lions, Kim Simmons, director of the Linton Zoological Gardens, told the BBC on Sunday.

http://tinyurl.com/mk8ult4

Lions On The Loose In Kenyan Capital

Big cats are under pressure as one of Africa's fastest-growing cities creeps onto hunting grounds.  The encroachment of the urban jungle onto lion habitat is increasing the probability of attacks. Development needs to be managed in a sustainable manner.

http://tinyurl.com/dxh6dgt

Video: Man Cuddles Lions In Zebra Colored Truck

Befriending a pride of lions never looked so easy. While it's not certain if that brave man in the YouTube video is a park ranger or professional animal trainer, one thing is for certain. He's certainly got a way with those affectionate big cats in his magnificent zebra truck. The best part of the clip? When two of them cuddle him and lick his head.

http://tinyurl.com/6ueb4jm

Animals Go Wild Ahead of Quake

The animals always know first. Well before any humans ducked beneath desks or sought shelter in doorways on Tuesday, wildlife at the zoo started to react to the oncoming earthquake.

http://tinyurl.com/3txbbfu

Initial Deadline to Protect African Lions Missed

Yesterday marked the passing of the 90-day deadline for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to make its initial response to a petition seeking protection for African lions under the Endangered Species Act.

http://bit.ly/kZ8qMB