World’s Oldest Sheep Dies

BBC News:

The world’s oldest sheep has died in Australia at the age of 23 – twice the normal life expectancy – after succumbing to a record heatwave…

Pig Fart Sparks Gas Leak Scare

AFP:

A flatulent pig sparked a gas emergency in southern Australia when a farmer mistook its odours for a leaking pipe, according to officials.

Fifteen firefighters and two trucks were called to a property at Axedale in central Victoria state after reports of a gas leak, the Country Fire Service said.

Man With Exotic Pets Charged With Cruelty

Miami Herald:

A Tampa man faces animal cruelty charges after investigators found dozens of dead and dying reptiles at his home.

Police arrested 29-year-old Winston Tsai on Tuesday.

Hillsborough County Animal Services says officers found snakes, lizards, spiders and two underweight hybrid wolves in the apartment. The surviving animals will be treated and turned over to rescue groups for adoption.

Dog Breeder Left Puppies To Die In Suitcase

RSPCA:

A dog breeder who dumped two litters of newborn puppies in suitcases and left them to die has been banned from keeping animals for life.

Amanda Cheadle, 58, of Holmesdale Farm House, Fletching near Uckfield, was on Wedneysday, 18 November 2009, handed the ban by Lewes magistrates. She had faced nine charges of causing unnecessary suffering and neglect, and was also sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for each of the charges, with each term to run concurrently…

Shocking Figures Reveal Problem Of Wildlife Crime In The North East

League Against Cruel Sports:

A local newspaper in the North East has named the region the wildlife crime capital of the UK.

The Journal newspaper revealed that more than one in eight offences committed in the UK against animals took place in the Northumbria Police area.

Over a 12-month period there were 737 offences in the Northumbria Police area, including badger persecution (27 incidents), illegal hunting (2), shooting (69), illegal traps and snares (29) and hare coursing (2).

A police operation earlier this year in Northumberland resulted in three men being arrested by a team investigating badger baiting and cock fighting. And last November two men from Ashington, were banned from keeping dogs for three years after being caught badger baiting.

Northumbria Police is now making increasing use of forensic evidence to solve wildlife crimes. The force currently employs seven wildlife crime officers, one for each area command except for rural Northumberland, which has two.

PC Swinburne said: “Wildlife crime remains a very serious issue in the North East and one that Northumbria Police are committed to fighting against.”

Siberian Tigers In Decline Due To Poaching

Wildlife Extra:

The last remaining population of Siberian tigers has probably declined significantly due to the rising tide of poaching and habitat loss, according to a Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) report.

The report revealed that a recent tiger survey over a representative part of the tiger’s range showed a 40 percent decline in numbers from a 12-year average. WCS says the report will help inform Russian officials of what needs to be done to protect remaining populations of the world’s biggest cat…

New Forest Animal Rescue Centre Facing Cash Crisis

Bournemouth Echo:

A struggling animal rescue service has stopped taking new cases and could cease operating altogether unless fresh funding is found soon.

New Forest Animal Rescue, which is run by 44-year-old Kim Taylor, with the help of occasional volunteers and her 15-year-old son Jake, takes in cats, dogs and rabbits from across the area and finds foster homes for them, many in the Bournemouth area…

Mummy Squirrel Saves Baby From Dog Attack

Daily Mail:

They have a bit of a reputation for a vicious streak, but this dog certainly got more than it bargained for after pouncing on a baby squirrel it found on the ground.

Moments before the hapless baby would have been torn apart, these images show its mother appearing to leap off a nearby tree and attacking the surprised dog…

Have Your Say

BBC News – Have Your Say:

An animal rights group has gone to court to prevent the killing of a bull in next month’s annual ‘first fruits’ ceremony in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Is there a place for animal rights in Africa?…

Devotees Flock To Nepal Animal Sacrifice Festival

BBC News:

Hundreds of thousands of Hindu devotees have converged on a town in Nepal for a festival which is considered the world’s largest animal sacrifice.

The Gadhimai festival, which happens once every five years, is taking place in Bariyapur in southern Nepal.

Over the next two days more than a quarter of a million animals are expected to be slaughtered for Gadhimai – a goddess of power…