New tiger could boost endangered species breeding
The International Union for Conservation of Nature said Sumatran tigers were critically endangered, and have held the status for more than 20 years.The zoo said the exchange with Ireland was part of the European breeding programme for endangered animals.It said every pairing was "carefully planned to maximise genetic diversity". Over the next six to 12 months, conservation experts would identify a genetically compatible younger female tiger to join him at Paignton."With habitat destruction and poaching continuing to threaten wild populations, visitors can see conservation in action and understand their role in supporting these vital efforts," Ms Britton said.
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The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
£13m scheme boosts rare wildlife but experts warn ‘time running out' for nature
The Government's nature boss has warned 'time is running out fast' to halt declines in wildlife, as results from a £13 million scheme show it is possible to help threatened species. The Species Recovery Programme's capital grants scheme, which ran from August 2023 to March 2025, saw Government nature agency Natural England invest in targeted conservation efforts to help rare wildlife such as water voles, oystercatchers and lady's slipper orchids. Natural England said the scheme supported the recovery of more than 150 species, many of which were on the brink of national extinction, through creating habitat, captive breeding and translocating wildlife to help it expand into new areas, and research. The scheme has scored successes including the first wild-hatched red-billed chough chick fledging in Kent for more than 200 years, the reintroduction of black grouse to the North Yorkshire Moors and the return of the large marsh grasshopper to the Norfolk Broads after 85 years, Natural England said. Tunnels have been installed under a road in Berkshire to allow adders to cross, disused buildings have been made ideal for bat breeding in Sussex and the first example of lady's slipper orchids naturally propagating in the wild has been recorded in Yorkshire. The scheme invested in 63 different projects from the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall to Cumbria and Northumberland, working with 78 organisations to create or enhance 2,400 hectares (5,900 acres) of wildlife-rich habitat. That includes 143 'leaky dams' to support Atlantic salmon, white-clawed crayfish and freshwater pearl mussels, at the same time as reducing flood risk and improving water quality. And more than 15,000 individual animals and plants were translocated to expand species' territories, as well as captive breeding more than 12,000 individuals including invertebrates, mammals and birds. Natural England chairman Tony Juniper said the success of the programme showed nature could be restored, but warned there was a need for more projects, more volunteers and more money, particularly from the private sector. And there needed to be action to improve the environment, such as reducing pollution. He will tell an event on Wednesday to mark the success of the grant scheme held at Brandon Marsh, Warwickshire, where rare bitterns are staging a comeback: 'A rising number of nature recovery projects, both large and small, are making a huge difference up and down the country. 'The success of this programme is an example of how much we can do when we take a joined up, collaborative approach to restoring the natural world. 'We know we can turn round species decline and improve ecosystems with the right targeted actions, the drive and the funding. 'But time is running out fast – turning round nature's decline needs to be a collective endeavour, so this is not just the preserve of dedicated specialists. 'Nature recovery work needs more projects, more volunteers and more money to flow from all sources, particularly the private sector. 'It will also need to go hand in hand with improved environmental quality, including through reduced pollution.' The Government is set to publish a revised environmental improvement plan in the autumn to deliver legally binding green targets, after the Office for Environmental Protection watchdog said the previous government was largely off-track to meet the goals. Mr Juniper said the publication would be a 'key moment', warning there needed to be increased ambition on species recovery, in particular what could be done on some of the wildlife England has lost. 'In the coming years, habitat management and creation alongside species reintroductions could be a real game changer for the health of ecosystems and help us achieve the country's legally binding targets,' he said. Natural England is also publishing a threatened species recovery actions guide detailing how to support more than 1,000 of England's most threatened species, from the small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly, corncrake and natterjack toad to tiny lichens. Richard Benwell, chief executive of the Wildlife and Countryside Link coalition of conservation groups, said: 'Today's results prove species conservation works – but it's still run on a shoestring, with short-term pots of money far from enough to halt nature's decline. 'Government must boost public funding and mandate private investment to multiply this impact tenfold. 'The new environmental improvement plan should also lock in a long-term pipeline of funding for species and the habitats they rely on, combining public and private finance to turn one-off wins into lasting recovery.'
BreakingNews.ie
13 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Dublin Airport flights suffer 278 bird strikes despite €600,000 spent on ‘scaring' measures
There have been 278 bird strikes at Dublin Airport in the past three years despite management spending around €600,000 on 'scaring' measures designed to keep flocks away from the runways. Aircraft also struck hares a total of 42 times during the same period, prompting Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to conduct catch-and-release operations that involved hares being relocated to Wicklow and Kildare. Advertisement Bird strikes are potentially lethal events that can cause significant damage to planes and can result in jet engines losing power. Affected aircraft often need to abort their takeoff or landing attempts. Last year, 179 passengers were killed when a Jeju Air flight crashed in South Korea following a suspected bird strike, while the landing of a US Airways plane on the Hudson River in 2009 following a collision with a flock of geese was the subject of the Hollywood blockbuster, Sully. Just last month, an Aer Lingus flight bound for New York was forced to return to Dublin Airport after it hit a flock of pigeons during its ascent. The pilots reported experiencing vibrations in the aircraft's right engine after the strike. Advertisement Documents released by DAA under Access to Information on the Environment (AIE) regulations show that 61 confirmed bird strikes were recorded in 2022, and this number more than doubled to 123 the following year. In 2024, a total of 85 bird strikes were confirmed at Dublin Airport, and another eight occurred during the first two months of this year. An additional 14 unconfirmed bird strikes have been recorded since 2022. Trained professionals are employed at the airport to scare birds in a bid to reduce the number of strikes, and around €200,000 is spent on bird-scaring cartridges alone each year, according to DAA. These explode in mid-air after they are fired, creating a loud noise that scares birds in the vicinity of the airport. A 'long-grass' policy is also used to make the airfield less attractive to certain species of birds. Advertisement Meanwhile, Dublin Airport is licensed to capture hares using a consultant approved by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). A total of 12 were captured and subsequently released in Wicklow and Kildare during the first two months of this year. Each catch-and-release operation costs around €1,500, according to documents released by DAA. A spokesman for the airport authority said the safety of passengers is a 'key priority'. 'Like all airports around the world, ensuring safety requires us to deal with and actively manage wildlife in the vicinity of our airfield, thereby minimising any risk to aviation,' he added.
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Woman looks on in horror as she sees her home EXPLODE from her office window just miles away
A mountain of rubble is all that is left of a family home after a suspected gas explosion. The detached house in Otterton in Devon was completely destroyed by a 'non-suspicious gas explosion' and the fire that followed on Monday morning. Miraculously, no one was inside the property at the time - but the huge bang was witnessed by the homeowner herself from her local business in town, who said she did not realise at the time that it came from her home. Wendy and John Marsh run care homes in the area. Their family home, bought for £360,000 in 2004, was just miles from their businesses when it was destroyed yesterday by the explosion. Locals reported seeing houses 'shaking' and the explosion was heard throughout the village, but thankfully no injuries were reported. One Otterton resident, Adrian Livings, described the explosion to the Sidmouth Herald as the loudest he had ever heard. 'The army carry out manoeuvres close by, so I'm used to hearing explosions but I've never heard anything sound so loud - you could feel it in the middle of your gut. I thought it might have been a plane crash. 'Everybody walked out into the street afterwards and we were all scratching our heads trying to figure out what had happened. 'Within minutes pieces of insulation from the house were landing on the road like snowflakes.' Five crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service attended after the explosion at 11.30am and found the property 'well alight'. The road from Otterton Village to Ladram Bay was closed for most of the day for public safety. One horse rider was nearly thrown off after she witnessed the explosion, DevonLive reported. Dan Lawrence, Wales and West Utilities Gas Emergency Service Manager for Devon, said there were actually no gas mains networks in the area. He told DevonLive: 'We were called to reports of an explosion at a property in the Ladram Road area of Otterton this morning and immediately sent a team of engineers to attend. 'On arrival, we found that there had been severe structural damage to the property and the emergency services were in control of the scene. 'In our role as the gas emergency service, we are supporting the police and the fire brigade as they work to make the area safe and investigate the cause of the explosion. 'However, there is no gas mains network in the area, and so the explosion is not related to natural gas. 'We will continue to support the emergency services who remain in control at the scene.' Police thanked the local community, councillors and staff at Ladram Bay Holiday Park for their help and support while they dealt with the emergency. Parish council chairman Ian Simpson described the situation as 'very, very serious' and said locals were initially panicking. He said: 'It was a substantial blast, people reported that houses down through the village were shaken. 'Apparently, there was insulation flying through the air and landing in people's gardens. 'The emergency services were very concerned if any of that was on fire - we've got loads of thatched cottages in the village, it could have been catastrophic.' Police Inspector Mat Helm said the homeowners run a business locally and the female owner witnessed the explosion from her work window. An Exmouth Police spokesperson said: 'Unfortunately a family lost their home in Otterton. 'The cause appears to be a non-suspicious gas explosion at this time and between that and the subsequent fire, it has completely destroyed the home. 'Ultimately no person nor pet was injured in this instance and that is a massive blessing. However, I would highlight that for the family this is an awful thing so please don't go near the property out of respect for them - and its highly dangerous.'
