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In his youth, King David proved his heroism by slaying a lion. He went on to put his life on the line for the Jewish People and become a hero for all Israel. Three thousand years later, another lion-hearted lion-slayer also put his life on the line for the Jewish People and became a hero for all Israel. He wasn’t even Jewish, but he was one of the greatest friends and supporters that the Jewish People ever had - and his experiences with lions assisted in numerous ways.Colonel John Patterson was an Irish soldier and engineer assigned to Kenya by...

The nightly attacks by two man-eating lions terrified railway workers and brought construction to a halt in one of east Africa's most notorious onslaughts more than a hundred years ago. But the death toll, scientists now say, wasn't as high as previously thought. Over nine months the two voracious hunters claimed 35 lives — no small figure, but much less than some accounts of as many as 135 victims.

A fearsome fish has started killing people after feeding on human corpses, scientists fear. They reckon that a huge type of catfish, called a goonch, may have developed a taste for flesh in an Indian river where bodies are dumped after funerals. Locals have believed for years that a mysterious monster lurks in the water. But they think it has moved on from scavenging to snatching unwary bathers who venture into the Great Kali, which flows along the India-Nepal border.

The Queensland Liberals have called for crocodiles to be culled because people are being eaten. The party's annual state convention in Brisbane has passed a motion put forward by Senator Ian McDonald for crocodile numbers to be reduced in populated areas. One delegate, Brett Blade, told the convention that lives are at risk "You can't allow crocodiles to come into the main street of Cairns and eat people - and that is exactly what's happening," he said. "If you go up north, believe me they have come into town and they have walked down main streets. "It also helps create...

Movie producers have given assurances to Katherine residents that a new horror film Rogue shot at the Nitmiluk National Park in the Northern Territory will not scare tourists away. On-site production on the film about a seven-metre crocodile stalking a tourist boat on the Katherine Gorge wrapped up earlier this month. Katherine's Mayor Ann Shepherd says the film-makers made it clear the movie would be good for tourism in the area. "Particularly for the Nitmiluk Gorge, the Katherine River and the surrounds and I think that'll certainly happen," she said. "There'll be some sort of a clause at the end......

THE latest fatal crocodile attack in the Northern Territory has sparked renewed calls for trophy hunting of the killer reptiles. Englishman Russell Harris, 37, was snorkelling with a friend in a popular swimming spot off Groote Eylandt, near Arnhem Land, when he disappeared on Saturday afternoon. His American wife was relaxing on remote Picnic Beach with the other man's partner, but the group became worried and alerted police when Mr Harris failed to return by late afternoon. Mr Harris' body was found on Sunday at the mouth of Eight Mile Creek, about 1.5km north of where he was last seen....

A NORTHERN Territory saltwater crocodile is being tracked by a space satellite in a new research project. NT Parks and Wildlife Minister Marion Scrymgour said the 4.2m male croc, named Sputnik, was being watched to see how far it travels in the region. Researchers from New Zealand's Massey University and NT Parks and Wildlife staff fitted a satellite tracking device to the crocodile in the Adelaide River, south of Darwin, five weeks ago, she said. It was hoped the study would give researchers an insight into the behaviour and movement of crocodiles, particularly problem crocodiles that move into Darwin Harbour...

Washington's Other W Twins This is what happens when Wonkette buys Washingtonienne "a" drink at 6PM: We didn't get home until 1AM. The evening began at the Four Seasons and ended in a suburban Virginia farmhouse. We did not, in the end, have to buy any of our own drinks. Pictures were taken. A cell phone was lost. This morning, Mr. Wonkette made us scrambled eggs. Now, can we move on?