Endangered rhino baby born in Poland zoo
Warsaw, Jan 13: An endangered Indian rhinoceros was born last week in Poland’s Wroclaw Zoo, a hopeful development in efforts to preserve the rare animals. Born January 6, the female baby is the first Indian rhinoceros birth in the zoo’s 155-year history, the zoo said Wednesday. Its parents are seven-year-old Maruska and an 11-year-old male, Manas. “Maruska, a first-time mom, behaves wonderfully,” zoo president Radoslaw Ratajszczak was quoted as saying. “She looks after her daughter, allows her to nurse, and is very delicate, despite weighing more than 2 tons. For example, when she lies down, she’s very careful not to crush the little one, and even gently moves her aside.” Ratajszczak said. The new baby is being cared for away from the public so far. The Indian rhinoceros was close to extinction but thanks to a protection programme launched in the 1970s there are some 3,600 now, including over 170 living in 66 zoos around the world. (AP)
Duchess of York to publish debut novel
London, Jan 13: Sarah, the Duchess of York, has landed a book deal for her debut novel for adults, a historical romance fictionalising the life and loves of her great-great-great aunt. In a promotional video posted Wednesday on her Twitter account, the former Sarah Ferguson said the novel, titled “Her Heart for a Compass,” is set in the Victorian era and is “about daring to follow your heart against the odds.” The duchess wore a Victorian-style outfit in the video and described her heroine as strong, rebellious and courageous. Publisher Mills & Boon, a romance imprint of British publisher Harlequin UK, said the story is based on Sarah’s ancestor, Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott, who fled an arranged marriage and “the confines of polite society.” The duchess said she also drew on “many parallels from my life” for the love story. Sarah was married to Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s third child, but the couple divorced in the 1990s. She has previously published her memoirs and authored a number of children’s books. Her novel, which was written with author Marguerite Kaye, is set to be published in August. (AP)
Rare Tintin drawing set to sell for millions
Paris, Jan 13: Not even the coronavirus can get in the way of intrepid Belgian reporter and comic book legend Tintin. Comic book lovers and tourists alike can catch a socially distanced glimpse of a Tintin drawing by Herge in Paris before it goes under the hammer Thursday, estimated to sell between 2 and 3 million euros and possibly break the record for the most expensive comic book art in history. The 1936 work in Chinese ink, gouache and watercolor, was destined as a cover for The Blue Lotus, the fifth volume of the Belgian journalist’s adventures. But it never sat on any book store shelves because it was rejected for being too expensive to reproduce on a wide scale – a victim of its own rare craftsmanship. “They had to do a four colour process printing, so an additional colour and (the publisher) thought that the comic albums were already expensive and reproducing this cover would increase the production costs,” said comics expert Eric Leroy at Art Curial auction house by the Champs-Elysees avenue. On Thursday, Hergé, whose real name was Georges Remi, could break the record for the most expensive piece of comic book art at 2.6 million euros that was previously set by himself. (AP)