Urbanite

Feral cats have been found burned and beaten over the last several weeks in the Bronx, said authorities who are looking to track down the perpetrators.

“It’s vicious, sadistic cruelty, and it should be stopped,” said Councilman Oliver Koppell (D-Bronx).

On July 30, Woodlawn residents alerted animal rescuers to a stray cat roaming the neighborhood whose tail had been burned to little more than a scorched stub and whose gums were burnt, likely due to an effort on the feline’s part to extinguish the fire.

“Naturally, the cat didn’t put himself on fire, so we are investigating how this came to be,” said Joe Pantangelo, an assistant director with the ASPCA.

Reports have flooded in since of cats with broken bones and lacerations, according to Koppell’s office.

Woodlawn, in the northwest section of the Bronx, is home to several colonies of feral cats who hide out in the area’s abundant parkland and who are fed by area residents.

-- David Freedlander

An adorable pair of Babydoll Sheep has settled into their new home at the Central Park Zoo.

The chocolate brown male, Sid, and pure white female, Nancy, are sharing an exhibit with other sheep and alpacas. They are expected to breed.

The Wildlife Conservation Society is working to bring awareness to rare species such as the Babydoll. The Babydoll Sheep is the oldest known purebred sheep in the world.

Visit the Central Park Zoo: Adult admission is $8 for adults, $3 for children (3-12), and it’s free for children under 3.

-- Simone Herbin