Lure Of Pandas Sees Zoo Visitor Numbers Triple

Scotsman:

Visitor numbers at Edinburgh Zoo are up 200 per cent thanks to the recent arrival of giant pandas.

Around 70,000 people have seen Tian Tian and Yang Guang since they went on public display in December, more than three times the number who visited the zoo in the same period of 2010…

Detective Inspector Given Award For Combating Wildlife Crime

Deadline:

A Detective Inspector has received a special commendation for his dedication to tackling wildlife crime.

The Inspector from Lothian and Borders police was presented with the commendation yesterday Thursday, Feb 2 by the Environment Minister Richard Benyon MP from the Internation Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)…

Wildlife’s Woes As Water Dries Up

Ely Weekly News:

This summer could be the worst for wildlife in more than three decades if the drought continues, it is feared.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which has a reserve in Welney, fears farming and wildlife could come into conflict if the current period of low rainfall continues.

Rainfall has been so low that in many areas of the UK the level of moisture in the soil is lower than in the severe droughts of 1976.

In Welney, one of the worst-affected areas by the drought, there has not been enough rainfall to flood the grassland habitats, which has meant less food for grazing waterfowl, causing a decline in the number of wintering birds, such as wigeon…

Sir Terry Pratchett Launches Animal Hospital Appeal

Small World News Service:

Author Sir Terry Pratchett warned that Britain’s wildlife was in serious decline – as he launched an appeal to fund a new multi-million pound animal hospital.

The fantasy writer, 63, spoke out in an effort to inspire nature-lovers to look after endangered creatures such as the hedgehog and the sparrow.

He passionately backed a new campaign to build a new #4.4million wildlife teaching hospital – which would include an education centre to train young vets.

The bearded Discworld author launched the fund appeal from Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, in East Huntspill, Somerset – the site of the proposed venue…

Big Cats In Britain: DNA Tests Show Deer Was Attacked By A Fox

Huffington Post:

Experts carrying out DNA tests on the carcass of a mutilated deer for evidence of a big cat on the loose have drawn a blank.

The only DNA found by extensive tests on remains of the roe deer, discovered by dog walkers on National Trust land near Stroud, Gloucestershire, last month, was that of a fox.

The National Trust asked the University of Warwick to test samples from the deer after examination of the animal raised the possibility that it could have been killed by a big cat, such as a panther or puma.

The injuries to the neck of the deer and the way the carcass had been consumed were thought to be highly indicative of big cat activity…

Rescue Animals Die After Heated Sanctuary Shelter Suffers Power Failure In Holmeswood

Southport Visitor:

Several rescue animals died and others fell ill after a power failure in a sanctuary’s heated shelter.

Volunteers at Woodlands Animal Sanctuary are now appealing for help to finance repairs to the unreliable electric system in the site’s main shelter.

A number of the animals taken in by the Holmeswood-based charity depend on a heat source to survive, and several hedgehogs died last week when the electricity supply tripped – leaving the animals in wintry conditions.

Rebecca Boyd-Preece, from the animal sanctuary, said: “Due to the heat source being out of action for a considerable length of time, our already sick residents have regrettably suffered…

World Society For The Protection Of Animals Seeks Museum For Unique Wildlife Crime Display

Culture 24:

A 10-day-old “decorative” stuffed tiger cub and a three-metre long polar bear skin will feature in a carousel of curiosities when the Wildlife Crime Unit – a branch of the Metropolitan Police cutting out the trafficking of animal-related products – finds a venue for a one-off display of some of the amazing items it has seized.

Organisers are looking for a home for an interactive exhibition to highlight the impact of crime on exotic animals whose populations are often already dwindling. It will also celebrate the resurgence of the Unit, whose modest team of one Police Sergeant, one Constable and a civilian police member appeared under threat themselves during the recent government funding cuts…

Bred For Looks, Born To Suffer

New RSPCA research shows that many people still think pedigree dogs are healthy, quality animals that come from good breeding stock.

In fact, many pedigree dogs are vulnerable to unnecessary disease, disability, pain or behavioural problems. This is because they’re bred primarily for how they look rather than with health, welfare and temperament in mind.

The RSPCA is concerned that people are continuing to buy puppies that are prone to serious health and welfare issues because they are choosing dogs for the way they look – such as the current trend for toy breeds and ‘handbag dogs’ – and aren’t doing enough research before they buy.

If you agree that the health, welfare and temperament of dogs should be prioritised over their looks, please join our campaign now.The first step to protecting pedigree dogs from suffering is adding your name to our petition to change breed standards.

Take Action

Join the campaign by clicking on the link below: Join the campaign to stop their suffering!

Villagers Wait On Big Cat DNA Result

This Is Gloucestershire:

Conservationists and villagers are waiting with bated breath for test results which could confirm big cats are living in the Five Valleys and Severn Vale.

Tomorrow, the National Trust is hoping to release results of DNA tests on two deer carcasses which appeared to have been stripped by a large feline…

Sumatran Elephants Edging Closer To Extinction

Wildlife Extra:

WWF is calling for an immediate moratorium on habitat conversion in Sumatra in order to protect the future of the country’s elephants. The Sumatran elephant has been uplisted from ‘endangered’ to ‘critically endangered’ after losing nearly 70 per cent of its habitat and half its population in one generation. The decline is largely because of elephant habitat being deforested or converted for agricultural plantations.

IUCN has classified the Sumatran elephant subspecies as critically endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species. There are only an estimated 2,400 to 2,800 of the animals remaining in the wild, meaning numbers have halved since the 1985 population estimate. Scientists say that if current trends continue, Sumatran elephants could be extinct in the wild in less than 30 years…