1) Fashion:
Lupo, the cocker spaniel owned by the duke and duchess of Cambridge, broke the royal tyranny of corgis. He also spawned a craze for his breed, and his inclusion in the first official photo of Prince George signalled that canines are now one of the family.
2) Twits:
The British tabloids tapped into arachnophobia with horror stories about an invasion of ‘flesh-eating’ false widow spiders. But the tabs were spinning a yarn. Experts say they pose no threat.
3) Feud:
Darwin the Ikea monkey’s owner waged a failed court battle for his return against the primate sanctuary where he’d been placed by authorities. Hopefully he still gets to wear that shearling coat.
4) Winner:
Momo the cat survived a dunk in Calgary’s flood waters. After using up more than a few of her lives swimming to safety, she provided inspiration for her non-feline counterparts.
5) Villain:
Damned beavers! A wave of rodent attacks on humans in Belarus culminated with a fatal bite wound to a fisherman.
6) Arrival:
A 63-cm-long alligator was mysteriously left in the baggage claim area at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. Apprehended by police, it was sent to live at a reptile park.
7) Exit:
Captured after wandering into an Indian zoo from a nearby forest, a six-year-old male tiger escaped just one month later by jumping a six-metre-high fence. Easy come, easy go.
8) YouTube Star:
Entering stage left, a young bear ran into a motorcyclist, who was videotaping his speeding adventures. The cyclist was injured, but the bear ambled off. The video, released by the B.C. RCMP, became a global hit.
9) The end:
Quanto, 5, a German shepherd police dog, was fatally stabbed while on duty in Edmonton. He is survived by his handler, Const. Matt Williamson.