Chimpanzees cannot be considered people. This was the ruling handed out by the Austrian Supreme Court Tuesday. The decision was made in response to a plea made by a local animal rights group requesting to be granted guardianship of two chimpanzees, after the shelter where they have lived in for 25 years declared bankruptcy. The two chimps, Matthew Hiasl Pan and Rosi, were at risk of being left without a home.

Golf balls swallowed by and extracted from a snake were placed for sale on eBay, with the highest bid totalling $1,401 Australian, or $1,253 US. The four balls which were taken from inside a carpet python at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary last week were posted for sale on the online auction, still unwashed. The winner will also receive X-rays and photographs of Augusta, the python, with the balls still inside, and after the balls were taken out by surgery.

To help keep its runway free from wildlife, an Italian airport spent $14,700 to employ a golden eagle to do the rather risky job. A spokesperson for the airport in the southern city of Bari, said they came up with the idea after a number of incidents had caused the runway had to be closed due to intrusions of - foxes.

Move over Ace Ventura! The real pet detective is here. After becoming disillusioned with his country's justice system, Tom Watkins quit as a member of the police force and assumed a new role tracking down lost cats and dogs.

The Philippines Bureau of Customs officials have seized several inflatable sex dolls to be used in an international campaign against animal cruelty, an animal rights group claimed Thursday. According to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA, they planned to use the sex toys to protest against a major U. S. fast food chain who allegedly abuse chickens.