WEIRD STUFF: Man says he’s in love with bird

Man says he's in love with bird

An Indian man who fell in love with a bird is pleading to be reunited with the long-legged creature.

Muhammad Arif, a farmer in the Uttar Pradesh state, discovered the sarus crane in a field with a broken leg last year and formed a bond with the animal as he nursed it back to health using traditional medicine.

Arif insists that he and the rare crane are in love. He has even removed himself from his family and friends to live and share meals with the bird.

However, Indian forestry officials arrived at his house and took the crane to a zoo over 150 miles away while charging Arif under the Wildlife Protection Act for keeping an endangered bird.

He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I am in deep pain after they separated my friend from me. It is like a member of my family has been caged. It troubles me.

"The government should free us from this pain."

Arif has stayed close to the zoo in Kanpur since the crane was taken from him and accused forestry officials of taking his happiness away.

He said of the bird: "It was the first time I had felt so strongly for anyone."

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Dogs hate people barking at them

Dog owners are being told to avoid barking orders at their pooches. According to a new study, animals respond more accurately to commands when their owners use a friendly voice.

It is believed that a more pleasant atmosphere makes dogs relaxed and more likely to obey orders.

Experts from the Wolf Science Centre at the University of Vienna and the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais in Brazil analysed the way that nine mixed-breed canines behaved during 135 training sessions.

The researchers found in sessions where 'reprehensive' speech was used that the dogs showed more negative emotional signs and made fewer correct responses to commands.

Study author Melissa Bravo Fonseca said: "In view of our results, we believe that nice speeches have created a positive atmosphere, in which the animal might interact in a relaxed way, favouring the fulfilment of commands.

"The use of nice speeches (also) has the potential to attract the listener's attention, increasing the social responsiveness of the receivers."