A centuries-old tortoise that was once the pet of a famous British military officer in the mid-18th century has died in India.

Reuters reports the giant aldabra tortoise is believed to have been about 250-years old. Indian authorities say the reptile died of liver failure at the Kolkata zoo.

Willy the Red River hog has cuddled up to a new mate Nicole, a 16-year-old bongo, the largest member of the forest antelope family.

In what officials call one of the oddest pairings at the L.A. Zoo, Willy, at 10-years-old and 187 pounds, shares a muddy zoo exhibit with Nicole, where they nap and cuddle together and sometimes even nuzzle snout to nose.

A 10-year-old, 187-pound Red River hog named Willy who just lost his mate wasted little time in snuggling up to his pen-mate Nicole, a much taller and heavier member of the forest antelope family.The two zoo animals share a pen in one of the Los Angeles Zoo exhibits.

Nicole didn't take to Willy immediately. The first time he tried to approach her, she thrust her horns at him -- a clear sign she wasn't interested in a relationship.

"Bigfoot" fever has gripped Malaysia in recent weeks, prompting two teams of scientists to plan treks into the rainforest in search of a huge ape.

There have been several sightings in recent weeks of a tall, gorilla-like creature in the forest around the state of Johor.

A judge ruled Friday to allow officials at Arizona Snowball to use treated wastewater to make snow.

The ruling angered Native American tribes, such as The Hopi Tribe, the Navajo Nation and others, who say that the move will taint a mountain that they consider to be sacred. Snowbowl is located in the Coconino National Forest in the San Francisco Peaks, which is federal land. However, the company is owned and operated in the private sector.