1. The donkeys of Gaza

This summer a demonstration was arranged in Gaza to support human rights.

Eight camels bearing "Save the Children of Gaza" signs; two dozen donkeys, including one in a Hamas headband;10 horses and nearly 100 sheep were brought to the UN building. After a few minutes the beasts started a dirty protest. Some defecated in the streets, while the donkeys started doing what donkeys like best. Journalists found it almost impossible to do a straight piece to camera without some untoward activity behind them.

2. The mythical wombat rape.

Police in New Zealand got a curious phone call. An orchard worker, Arthur Craddock, rang up to say he was being raped by a wombat in New Zealand and that he needed them to help. The police then sat around scratching their heads and wondering what to do. They were interrupted a few minutes later by the phone. It was Arthur again, this time saying he was OK. "Apart from speaking Australian now, I'm pretty all right you know," he told the police operator. Cradock was sentenced to community service for the fiction. Even the police prosecutor seemed more sad than angry, telling the court “alcohol plays a large role in Cradock's life”.

3. Shadow the Zedonk turned 30!

A zedonk is half zebra, half donkey. Shadow was born 30 years ago in Colchester zoo, and is one of the few Zedonks in captivity. Zedonks are common on the savannahs of Africa, where the zebra and the ass live in close proximity, and there was even one mentioned in Darwin's Origin of the Species. The Zedonk is the official name but they can also be called a zonkey, zebrass, zebronkey, zebadonk, zenkey, zebrinny or deebra.

Usually the mating involves a lady zebra and a male donkey but there is a zedonk living in Barbados called Alex, who is one of the few zedonks whose dad, not mum, was a zebra.

4. Vladimir Putin's Labrador political enforcer

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has a Lab called Koni. Putin's devotion to Koni has meant that Koni has become quite a famous dog since Putin's ascent to power. The first time German leader Angela Merkel met Putin she just happened to mention to him that she had a phobia about dogs. It's probably just a coincidence that whenever possible Putin brings Koni with him to meet Merkel. Just to keep her on her toes, no doubt.

Russia's current President, Dmitiri Medvedev has a Siberian colourpoint cat called Dorofei. The tomcat doesn't attend meetings with Mrs Merkel. He's not so tough - Dorofei once got beaten up by ex-Premier Gorbachev's cat.

5. Flocke - the new Knut

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