Day: October 28, 2024

General News, Uncategorized

Lionesses Rescued From Ukraine To Find Home At Scottish Zoo.

Two lionesses rescued from conflict zones in Ukraine are to find a new home in a Scottish zoo.

Five Sisters Zoo near Polbeth, West Lothian, is preparing to welcome Luna and Plusza, who were evacuated from an area affected by heavy shelling in eastern Ukraine in 2022.

The were initially sheltered in Kyiv and were moved to Poland, then later to the Natuurhulpcentrum animal shelter in Oudsbergen, Belgium.

They will now find a permanent home at Five Sisters Zoo which has a history of helping animals which have experienced hardship.

Great story, read in full here:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/lionesses-rescued-from-ukraine-to-find-home-at-scottish-zoo/ar-AA1sE8yA?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=405d904aca594a479ce10ab81d316ae3&ei=31

Regards Mark

Environmental, General News, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

Hedgehogs ‘near threatened’ on red list after 30% decline over past decade.

The Mammal Society is calling for people to look after hedgehogs by gardening in a wildlife-friendly way. Photograph: Phillip Horwood/PA© Photograph: Phillip Horwood/PA

Hedgehogs are now listed as “near threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list after a decline in numbers of at least 30% over the past decade across much of their range.

While hedgehogs were once common across Europe, and were until now listed as of “least concern” on the red list, they are being pushed towards extinction by urban development, intensive farming and roads, which have fragmented their habitat.

Read full article here:

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/hedgehogs-near-threatened-on-red-list-after-30-decline-over-past-decade/ar-AA1t4ni8?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=3ffef3a174b74c36b6cc523ce511d2c0&ei=16

Regards Mark

I used to construct hedgehog houses for our local Forestry Commission site. Here is a picture of one of these; and another showing it ‘in the field’ with a ranger. Constructed primarily from old decking it was ideal and thick and weather tough. The protective entrance is an additional to stop and predators getting at the hedgehogs.

Farm Animals, General News, Live Transport

Investigation – Israel : Live Animal Exports to Israel Continue Despite Ongoing War.

28 October 2024

EFI

A large number of animals are still being exported to ports in Israel where they are at high risk. Vulnerable cows and sheep are being sent into the war zone from Member States including Ireland, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary and Lithuania, where they face rocket fire, air strikes, and mistreatment by distressed port workers and handlers.

The long journeys to Israel’s largest port, Haifa, have severe effects on the health of these sentient beings, causing respiratory illnesses, ulcers, leg injuries, motion sickness and heat stress. Their suffering is only magnified on arrival in Israel, as from Haifa port to the surrounding quarantine and fattening farms, they face daily barrages of rockets and continuous air raid sirens.

Reports have claimed that a number of dairy farms around Haifa have been hit by missiles in the last weeks, killing a large number of cows. In addition, the unsafe conditions around the port are causing workers to use electric prods to get the cattle off the ships as quickly as possible.

Since the war started, there have been over 100 shipments of cattle and sheep from Europe to Israel. Livestock has continued to be exported to Lebanon since the war expanded in that region.

10 NGOs, including Eurogroup for Animals and Ethical Farming Ireland, have now sent a letter to European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides, urging her to suspend all live export to Israel and Lebanon with immediate effect.

Ethical Farming Ireland has also urged Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture Charlie McCanalogue to not authorise any more shipments to Israel until the conflict is over.

Regards Mark