Visiting a national park in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, award-winning photographer Mr Slater left his camera unattended for a while.

It soon attracted the attention of an inquisitive female from a local group of crested black macaque monkeys, known for their intelligence and dexterity.

Fascinated by her reflection in the lens, she then somehow managed to start the camera. The upshot: A splendid self-portrait. (via Black macaque takes self-portrait: Monkey borrows photographer’s camera | Mail Online)

A remarkable achievement in late Victorian publishing, The Living Animals of the World was once the most thorough popular guide to global wildlife: a laivishly illustrated periodical that brought the world to the reading public at the rate of one dime for every 40 pages — and a half-dozen or so species. Today, it stands as a vital reminder of a time when the documentation of animals in their native habitat was mostly left to the men who had come to kill them. (via ‘These animals make a peculiarly plaintive cry when molested in any way’: 1901’s amazing, disturbing Living Animals of the World - Kansas City News - Plog)

Animal Photography by Edgar Thissen | Best Bookmarks

An Australian zoo was evacuated after an “ingenious” orang-utan escaped from her enclosure by short-circuiting an electric fence today. Staff at Adelaide zoo said 137lb (62kg) Karta used a stick to short-circuit the electric wires around her enclosure before piling up some more sticks to climb out. But the 27-year-old ape only ventured as far as a surrounding fence, still metres from members of the public, during her 30 minutes of freedom. The zoo’s curator, Peter Whitehead, said she seemed to realize she was somewhere she was not supposed to be and returned to her enclosure. Karta was spotted by a member of the public and, although she returned to her enclosure, the zoo was evacuated as a safety precaution. Whitehead said the orang-utan was not aggressive and had not been close to members of the public. However, vets stood by with tranquilizer guns in case of trouble. Zookeepers believe that Karta was driven to make an incredible escape attempt by grief at the loss of her longtime mate. (Link 1 | Link 2) (via 10 Strangest Animal Incidents - Oddee.com

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