Week in wildlife in pictures: a new shrew, itchy deer and tortoises on rafts
Kenny, a seven-year-old fallow buck, and friend use a donated Christmas tree as a scratching post at Auchingarrich Wildlife Park, Crieff, UK. The park asks people to drop off their trees in return for a free hot drink. The trees are then used around the park in many ways – as food, climbing frames, enrichment, bedding, woodchip and more Photograph: Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS
Leaf-cutter ants take their haul back to their nest at the Metropolitan Natural Park, a protected area in Panama City Photograph: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images
A newborn albino red-bellied short-necked turtle resting next to its sibling at the Ferme aux Crocodiles in Pierrelatte, south-eastern France. The birth of an albino individual of this aquatic species native to Australia and New Guinea is an extremely rare phenomenon Photograph: Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP/Getty Images
Wild boar roam the streets near Calpe, Spain. The boar are causing problems for the tourist hotspot: thousands of the animals have come down from the hills to the towns of the Costa Blanca. Calpe has even hired wildlife experts to round up the boars and remove them Photograph: Mats Rennstam/BNPS
An endangered tortoise clings to a floating branch in a flood in southern Madagascar. During Cyclone Dikeledi, thousands of critically endangered tortoises were swept away from the Lavavolo Tortoise Center, where they had been confiscated from illegal wildlife traffickers, and were left swimming for their lives … Photograph: AP
… Sanctuary staff, local volunteers and even police officers joined together in a rescue operation, wading through the floodwaters with large baskets to collect the bewildered tortoises. Some rescuers converted damaged building structures into makeshift rafts for the tortoises to ride on as they moved around to find others. They believe they managed to save more than 10,000 tortoises Photograph: AP
Valentine's day may yet be a happy one for the greater mouse-eared bat: this female, found hibernating in the South Downs, joins Britain's loneliest bat as very nearly the only members of their species in the UK. The male, who is elderly, spends the winter in a disused railway tunnel in Sussex. Ecologists believe population recovery is possible if the two of them can only get together Photograph: Daniel Whitby
A robin perched on a tree sings out, his breath visible in the crisp air in Kidderminster, UK Photograph: Lee Hudson/Alamy Live News
Introducing the Mount Lyell shrew, the only known California mammal never photographed alive, until now. Three young scientists caught five of the tiny shrews in their pitfall traps overnight (all were quickly released). The furry creatures are less than 4in long, and weigh only a gram and a half – about the same as two paperclips Photograph: California Academy of Sciences
A red fox hunts for mice on a snowy field in Kars, Turkey Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
A baby cream-bellied thrush waits to be fed in its nest in Asunción, Paraguay Photograph: Andre M Chang/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock
Yoko, a baby swell shark, surprised marine researchers in Louisiana, US, by hatching from an egg laid in a tank inhabited by female sharks that had not had any contact with males for three years. Biologists were unsure whether the egg was produced by parthenogenesis (asexual reproduction) or delayed fertilisation Photograph: Shreveport Aquarium
Deer play at Nara Park, near Osaka, Japan Photograph: Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images
Earlier this week a young minke whale swam up to a ferry approaching Sydney, Australia – a rare sight, since these whales usually stay in Antarctic waters. Scientists were unsure why it had come so far north. A wildlife researcher said it could just be a case of 'misnavigation'. 'The good thing is it looks in good condition, and it was observed going out to [sea], which is a good thing,' she said. 'If we'll see it again, I'm not sure' Photograph: Jamie and Steve/Cronulla and National Park Ferry Cruises
A pelican patiently waits close to fishing boats, hoping to feast on leftover fish from the day's catch in Balıkesir, Turkey Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
A giraffe walks past golfers during day one of the SDC Open in Bela-Bela, South Africa Photograph:Migrating gray cranes roam the Agamon Hula conservation lake near the Lebanon border, northern Israel. Hula Lake nature reserve, home for thousands of migrating birds in the autumn and spring, reopened to the public in December 2024 after being closed for more than a year due to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah Photograph: Atef Safadi/EPA
Monarch butterflies alight on the branches of an oyamel fir tree in the Piedra Herrada sanctuary, Temascaltepec, Mexico. The monarch butterfly biosphere reserve was declared a Natural World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2008
Photograph: Carlos Santiago/Eyepix Group/Rex/Shutterstock
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Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Scotsman
Paternity leave system needs to change - we just need to know how
AFP via Getty Images Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A few weeks ago, I suggested that shifting the conversation about better paternity leave to better-supporting maternity leave was a better argument than flat-out demanding more leave for fathers. After returning from paternity leave last month, I stand by this, with a few amendments. On Wednesday, June 11th, Dads are being encouraged to picket the Scottish Parliament "to speak out against the UK's shockingly bad paternity leave." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Dad Shift group notes the UK "has the worst paternity leave in Europe. Two weeks at less than minimum wage is not enough." Few would disagree on this point, generally. However, an evolving policy argument must catch up with societal expectations, present legislation, and ambitions. For starters, paternity is a relatively new phenomenon. Statutory paid paternity leave was introduced in the UK in 2003. This meant fathers became eligible for a minimum of two weeks' paid leave upon the birth of their child. Before this, fathers had only been entitled to unpaid parental leave. The first official introduction of paternity leave was in 1999 with the Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations. Secondly, in those 20 years, the expectation of what fathers do has transformed and banished the myth of the distant, well-meaning, but ultimately elective role of dads. They are now expected to run parallel with mums but are castigated as conceited egomaniacs if we suggest out loud that statutory entitlement should reflect that. Fathers are either sexists for saying we are as important as mothers or misogynistic for stating that mums are biologically more necessary (particularly in the first months of a baby's life). There is even a bizarre subset of 'trad' dads online advocating for a return to the historic gender divisions, traditional values, and disciplinary approaches to raising children. There's also a coterie of reactionaries wanting less time with their children. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Among that debate is the slew of exhausting jokes about 'daddy daycare'. Fathers are still seen as inherently incompetent next to mothers. Perhaps in reactionary response, nothing is as vicious as fathers passively trying to one-up each other about who can do the most and get the most time with their child. Support WhatsApp groups and social media are replete with sanctimonious and grandstanding accounts of 'dadding'. The policy landscape is decidedly simpler than the rabbit hole of differing opinions among dads about what they can or should bring to the parenting table. This is far from a united front of men demanding their slice of statutory cake. If a policy shift is going to take place, then there needs to be a massive tonal and societal change in how we view and understand fathers' contributions and when they matter most. God is in the details. Fathers are entitled to up to a fortnight of statutory paternity leave, which can be taken as one continuous two-week block or two separate one-week blocks. Statutory Paternity Pay for eligible employees is either £187.18 a week or 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings (whichever is lower). Mothers on maternity leave receive 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, then £187.18 for 33 weeks. When my son was born, I took two weeks of annual leave and saved my statutory leave as part of a month-long transition for my wife's return to work. It feels taboo to note that my role was significantly less relevant in those first months than what I dub the 'junction point' for my wife returning from maternity leave, particularly when factoring in childcare and how our son would fare. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The transition phase we have just moved through was wrought with challenges, anticipated and not so predictable. In conjunction with more annual leave, my recent 'formal' paternity leave made for a month in which I was more directly involved, relevant, and essential than those first ones. The picket in Edinburgh—and a concurrent one at Westminster—is meaningless without a coordinated clarification of what policy change is being demanded. It's a fundamental stepping stone to clearly establish what dads want to see to enact real change while navigating the politics of devolution and taking advantage of the forthcoming Scottish general election next year. After all, paternity leave, along with maternity leave and pay, is a reserved matter and the responsibility of the UK Parliament. This means that the statutory entitlements to paternity leave and pay are the same across the UK, including Scotland. A coordinated public affairs strategy to secure cross-party support, create an obtainable and realistic list of policy asks and keep ambitions in check is critical to achieving sustained change. Paternity leave can be taken within 52 weeks of the baby's birth, but not before the birth. Employees can take leave any time during this period, but it must end within the 52-week timeframe. Is there scope, for example, to extend this timeframe, given that mothers are still expected to drop everything to tend to a sick child, collect kids from nursery and school, and serve as primary caregivers? Could we give parents a statutory package of 100 per cent full-time pay and several months' leave that can be utilised within the first five years of a child's life Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Advocacy groups should not box themselves in, but they should be realistic. In a Westminster debate last year on Paternity Leave and Pay, Labour MP Shaun Davies called paternity leave a "segregated system." Others who contributed added that the present arrangement is inherently disadvantageous to the self-employed, "classist", and counterproductive to keeping mums in the workplace and increasing uptake by dads.
Western Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
When Bindweed flowers in UK and how to kill and remove it
Bindweed is one of the common plants that can flower and cause problems in your garden. While it may look pretty, it has been described by experts as "rampant" and can "quickly smother other plants in your garden". Here is all to know about Bindweed, including what it looks like, when it flowers in the UK, if it is poisonous and how to remove it. How to Get Rid of These Common Garden Pests What is Bindweed and what does it look like? Bindweed is a UK native wildflower, and while it can be beneficial to wildlife, its spreading roots and twining stems can cause issues in gardens. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) highlights two types of common Bindweed, namely Hedge bindweed and Field Bindweed. Hedge Bindweed has heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped flowers. These are "usually white but can also be pale pink with a white centre and five white stripes". "After flowering, rounded capsules form, each containing up to four oval-shaped brown seeds," the RHS adds. Hedge Bindweed has heart-shaped leaves and funnel-shaped flowers (Image: Getty Images) Field Bindweed is described as "smaller and less vigorous", and has oval to arrow-shaped, grey-green leaves, with funnel-shaped flowers that are often pale pink, but can also be pink with a white centre and stripes, or plain white. When does Bindweed flower in the UK? Wildlife Trusts notes that Bindweed typically flowers between June and September. Despite Bindweed stems typically dying back in autumn, the root system remains and will be "ready to produce new shoots in spring". Nick Wood is a horticulture expert at online garden centre Gardening Express. He has issued a warning to Brits as we come into the seasons when Bindweed typically flowers. Arvensis: refers to plants typically found in, or associated with, fields or cultivated areas. From the Latin 'arvum' meaning field. Field Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis. Leaves to 5cm, alternate with basal lobes. Flowers trumpet-shaped, white or pink and white, 1-3cm across. — Big Meadow Search (@bigmeadowsearch) March 22, 2025 He said: "Bindweed might look pretty with its delicate flowers and heart-shaped leaves, but don't be fooled - it's a rampant twining vine that can quickly smother other plants in your garden. "Hedge bindweed is the real culprit here, with its fast-growing, climbing stems that can wrap around and strangle anything in their path. "Field bindweed is less aggressive, but it's still a persistent problem, especially in open soil where it can spread rapidly. "While it's a native wildflower, its aggressive growth and spreading roots can quickly take over gardens and other natural areas, which is why it's incredibly invasive in the UK. Bindweed UK law Mr Wood added that while there is "no specific law directly addressing bindweed in the UK", Brits "all have a legal duty to manage invasive plants to prevent them from spreading and causing harm to neighbouring properties". The RHS adds that while you do not need to remove Bindweed from your garden, it can spread to other plants, so controlling it is key. @invasiveweeds Bindweed in Mid June with its Beautiful White Flowers Bindweed, also known as Convolvulus arvensis, is a common weed that produces beautiful white flowers during the summer months, including mid-June. Despite its attractive appearance, bindweed is considered an invasive plant that can be problematic in gardens and agricultural fields. #bindweed ♬ original sound - Invasive Weeds It said: "If left to grow in a wildlife corner or less-cultivated area, or through a mature hedge, it will boost the variety of living organisms (plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms) in a particular environment. "Boosting the biodiversity of your garden has many benefits, including supporting wildlife, improving soil health and reducing the likelihood of pest and disease problems. biodiversity of your garden and gives you a chance to enjoy its attractive flowers. "It is, however, a good idea to control the spread of hedge and field bindweed as they are both capable of outcompeting and smothering other plants." Is Bindweed poisonous? With Bindweed being very common in the UK, it is important to know if it is poisonous to humans or pets. Thankfully, unlike some other weeds in the UK, Bindweed is not poisonous. Poisonous Plants Found in the UK The expert explained: "Luckily, bindweed isn't poisonous to humans or pets, but it can be a nightmare for gardeners trying to keep it under control. This is despite the fact that its flowers can attract pollinators. "But don't let that fact lull you into letting it run wild - the damage it can do far outweighs any small benefit." Mr Wood also touched on how best to remove the invasive plant. Can you dig out Bindweed? How best to remove and kill it The expert warned Brits to "act quickly" if they find Bindweed in their garden. He also issued a guide on how to attack the plant and get rid of it. Bindweed can be a pest to properties as it grows fast and infiltrates property boundaries damaging the structure (Image: Getty Images) Mr Wood said: "Pull it up by hand, being careful to remove as much of the root system as possible. "If you leave even a tiny fragment behind, it can regrow and spread all over again. "You'll need patience and persistence, and be prepared to keep at it for several growing seasons. "Herbicides can work, but they often require multiple applications, and be careful not to damage nearby plants." If you are looking to dig out Bindweed, Mr Wood recommended against it. Recommended reading: He said: "You can try digging it out, but be warned - bindweed has a notoriously extensive root system. "If you miss even a tiny piece, it can regrow with a vengeance. Regular cutting and pulling can keep bindweed in check, but it's a long game. "Persistence is key, and whatever you do, don't let it flower - that's when it spreads even faster."
The Independent
8 hours ago
- The Independent
PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day, Monday, June 9, 2025
PHOTO COLLECTION: AP Top Photos of the Day, Monday, June 9, 2025 Show all 10
