Contraceptives for elephants!

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK, South Africa: Times have changed for park ranger Douw Grobler. reports AP.

Once he fired tranqulllser darts to sedate elephants selected for killing in a culling programme that reduced South Africa's burgeoning herds. These days he shoots elephants to help save them.

A ground crew of American and German scientists rushes in to examine the three sedated animals. Their mission: to check if a contraception experiment started about a year ago can limit population growth enough to prevent the resumption of culling.

The helicopter carrying Grobler swooped after a herd of elephants charging through the bush. The ranger picked out three of the elephant cows in the experiment, each identified by a mud-caked collar, and fired his dart gun.

The research team moved in on the three cows lying within 20 meters (yards) of each other, snoring gently from the tranquiliser. Within minutes the scientists had set up equipment and started their tests.

Along with blood and fecal exams, a specialised theme from the German Institute of Biology and Wildlife Research in Berlin performed a trans-rectal ultrasound pregnancy test on the slumbering creatures.

Madonna's wish

LOS ANGELES: Madonna doesn't want her baby daughter to be an only child, reports AP.

"I would love to have a brother or sister for Lola." Madonna said. "I don’t know when, but it'll happen."

Lola is Modonna’s nickname for her 16-month-old daughter. Lourdes Maria, who the 39-year-old superstar says has made her life "infinitely richer." , ,,

"I feel like I’m starting my life1 all ■ over 'in. some waysL" Madonna said.; ’.'My daughter's! birth was like a rebirth for me."

The Material Girl has a new album out. "Ray of Light." but wants to limit touring so she can spend as much time with Lourdes as possible, saying motherhood brought emotional growth for the entertainer often criticised as childish.

"I got to a point where I went, OK, I've been incredibly petulant, incredibly self-indulgent, incredibly naive," she said.

"But I needed to do all of those things to get where I am now. and where I am now I'm very happy with.

"I don't have any regrets.