World’s shortest living man

Edward Nino Hernandez, of Bogota, Colombia, is the world’s shortest man living, Guinness World Records said.

The world record title was awarded amid his birthday celebration as he turned 34, Guinness World Records said in a statement. Hernandez has achieved the title at 2 feet, 4.39 inches tall. Hernandez grew up reaching the regular milestones, but realised at age four that his friends were growing taller than him. His parents sought medical advice at the time, but the reason his growth was stunted wasn’t discovered until 20 years later when he was diagnosed with severe hypothyroidism.

The diagnosis hasn’t stopped Hernandez from having a positive attitude and enjoying life. “I use my smile to conquer the world! I always share my big smile with everyone; that’s my charm,” Hernandez said. “I can achieve everything I set my mind to. Everything is possible ... size and height don’t matter! I want people to meet who I truly am: small in size, big in heart!”

First giant panda born in Netherlands

Wu Wen, a giant panda loaned to a Dutch zoo by China, has given birth in Netherlands, Ouwehands animal park announced. The cub was born on May 1.

“The mother and her cub are staying in the maternity den and are doing well,” the zoo authorities in the central city of Rhenen said. The gender of the cub is still unknown, “The keepers are leaving Wu Wen and her cub alone. When the cub leaves the maternity den after a few months, we will be able to know what the gender is,” said Ouwehands owner Marcel Boekhoorn.

The mother and father were loaned to the Netherlands in 2017 for 15 years.

Giant pandas are found only in the wild in China where their habitat is shrinking. Since 2016 they are no longer considered in danger of extinction, but remain ‘vulnerable’.

Darth Vader enforces lockdown in Philippine village

Dressed as Star Wars characters, local officials in the Philippines are out and about to enforce strict quarantine meas­ures while also handing out relief packages.

With Darth Vader and Stormtrooper outfits made from rubber mats and old plastic, the youth leaders catch the attention of villagers on the outskirts of Manila, who are then reminded to stay indoors.

“We tell off residents who still go outdoors without the proper quarantine passes needed and also those who do not wear face masks. We make sure the government guidelines are properly followed,” Muriel Baldago, an elected official dressed in a Stormtrooper costume, told Reuters. His get-up is greeted with smiles and offers villagers a little distraction from outbreak, he added.

‘Unprecedented situation’ for aquarium eels

The Sumida Aquarium, housed in Tokyo Skytree tower, has been closed since the start of March and its animals have become used to a largely human-free environment. But the ‘unprecedented situation’ was having some unexpected downsides.

A spokesman said: “Creatures in the aquarium ... have started forgetting about humans. Garden eels in particular disappear into the sand and hide every time the keepers pass by,” he noted. That is causing difficulties for keepers trying to check on the health of the animals.

Garden eels are very sensitive, but the 300 of them living in a tank at the aquarium had become used to humans and rarely hid in the sand when approached by visitors. In a bid to reacquaint the eels with humans, the aquarium is setting up five tablets facing the tank, with eel enthusiasts asked to connect via the FaceTime app. Once the video calls start, people are supposed to show their faces, wave and talk to the eels. But given the tender nature of the animals, callers are asked not to shout.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 30th, 2020