Latest news with #Huxley
West Australian
19-05-2025
- Health
- West Australian
Kyle Sandilands takes plight of WA magpies dying from deadly disease to airwaves of Kyle and Jackie O Show
Kyle Sandilands has joined the chorus of voices demanding more be done to save WA magpies, which are at risk of disappearing from suburban areas because of a deadly paralysis syndrome. 'It's a national tragedy,' the country's top radio host and Australian Idol judge said of the issue. Sandilands took the plight of local magpies to the airwaves on Monday after learning about it through an article published in The Sunday Times and PerthNow. 'I love animals, so this stuck in my mind,' he told The Kyle and Jackie O Show's global 1.2 million listeners. 'Hundreds of thousands of magpies are . . . dropping dead.' He added on Sydney's top-rated breakfast show: 'This isn't some bird flu thing, this is a mysterious syndrome that they are calling magpie paralysis syndrome. 'The West Australian population are worried that their magpie population will be wiped out completely.' West Australians have also been vocal in their support of the State's magpies, with thousands engaging with the story on PerthNow and an influx of donations, some as high as $10,000, to WA wildlife centres. WA Wildlife chief executive Dean Huxley estimated that the mystery paralysis syndrome had led to the death of hundreds of thousands of birds across WA since it first emerged seven years ago. While cases have been steadily rising each year, there has been a fivefold increase in recent months. 'It feels almost apocalyptic,' Mr Huxley said of the mass deaths. 'Recently I've heard so many stories of people saying they have had a particular tribe of magpies in their street for years or decades and now they are gone. 'And that's not in one area, that's in the wider Perth area.' Wildlife centres across the State have been overrun with sick birds which have been brought in by members of the public. At WA Wildlife's hospital in Bibra Lake, more than 900 magpies have been admitted since August 2024, most suffering from paralysis syndrome. WA Wildlife has now teamed up with Kanyana Wildlife, Native Animal Rescue and Darling Range Wildlife Shelter to form the Wildlife Rehabilitation Advisory Group of WA in order to take action on the issue. 'We had to take matters into our own hands because we are getting no support from the WA Government,' Mr Huxley said. The deadly syndrome starts with paralysis of the feet, which then spreads up through the body. 'It's absolutely horrible, the birds suffer and if they don't receive treatment, they will die,' Mr Huxley said. 'We haven't seen a single case where it resolves on its own.' However, when caught early enough, the prognosis is good for magpies brought in for treatment. 'We have about a 60 per cent survival rate,' Mr Huxley said, adding that treatment can take between 10 days and two weeks. At Murdoch University's veterinary school, Bethany Jackson and a team of researchers are scrambling to find the cause of the paralysis. While it was initially thought to be a form of botulism, further research has suggested it is unlikely. 'There is a lot about this even that doesn't fit with a botulism event,' Dr Jackson said. 'So now we've gone back to square one to rule out everything.' Dr Jackson said researchers were 'throwing everything at' trying to find a cause that could lead to prevention and better treatment. Mr Huxley and Dr Jackson called on the State Government to invest more money into research on the syndrome, as well as funding wildlife centres that rely on donations and volunteers to care and treat afflicted birds. 'Our running costs are in the tens of thousands every month and, like all wildlife organisations that work tirelessly to look after wildlife, don't receive any government funding,' Mr Huxley said. 'State and Federal governments fund other animal charities, companion animals for example, and yet we don't fund our endemic wildlife, which they leverage for tourism. 'I think that dynamic needs to change. And that change will come from pressure from the public that says, 'We value our wildlife, we value our magpies and our bird song, and we expect some funding for the organisations that are trying to save them'.' A Government spokesperson said that while magpies were a protected native species, they were not considered 'endangered'.
Perth Now
19-05-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
Kyle Sandilands calls WA magpie deaths ‘a national tragedy'
Kyle Sandilands has joined the chorus of voices demanding more be done to save WA magpies, which are at risk of disappearing from suburban areas because of a deadly paralysis syndrome. 'It's a national tragedy,' the country's top radio host and Australian Idol judge said of the issue. Sandilands took the plight of local magpies to the airwaves on Monday after learning about it through an article published in The Sunday Times and PerthNow. 'I love animals, so this stuck in my mind,' he told The Kyle and Jackie O Show's global 1.2 million listeners. 'Hundreds of thousands of magpies are . . . dropping dead.' He added on Sydney's top-rated breakfast show: 'This isn't some bird flu thing, this is a mysterious syndrome that they are calling magpie paralysis syndrome. Radio host Kyle Sandilands has taken the plight of WA magpies to the airwaves. Credit: Unknown / Instagram 'The West Australian population are worried that their magpie population will be wiped out completely.' West Australians have also been vocal in their support of the State's magpies, with thousands engaging with the story on PerthNow and an influx of donations, some as high as $10,000, to WA wildlife centres. WA Wildlife chief executive Dean Huxley estimated that the mystery paralysis syndrome had led to the death of hundreds of thousands of birds across WA since it first emerged seven years ago. While cases have been steadily rising each year, there has been a fivefold increase in recent months. 'It feels almost apocalyptic,' Mr Huxley said of the mass deaths. 'Recently I've heard so many stories of people saying they have had a particular tribe of magpies in their street for years or decades and now they are gone. 'And that's not in one area, that's in the wider Perth area.' WA Wildlife chief executive Dean Huxley with an injured magpie at the vet hospital in Bibra Lake. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian Wildlife centres across the State have been overrun with sick birds which have been brought in by members of the public. At WA Wildlife's hospital in Bibra Lake, more than 900 magpies have been admitted since August 2024, most suffering from paralysis syndrome. WA Wildlife has now teamed up with Kanyana Wildlife, Native Animal Rescue and Darling Range Wildlife Shelter to form the Wildlife Rehabilitation Advisory Group of WA in order to take action on the issue. 'We had to take matters into our own hands because we are getting no support from the WA Government,' Mr Huxley said. Magpies are disappearing from suburban areas because of a deadly paralysis syndrome. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian The deadly syndrome starts with paralysis of the feet, which then spreads up through the body. 'It's absolutely horrible, the birds suffer and if they don't receive treatment, they will die,' Mr Huxley said. 'We haven't seen a single case where it resolves on its own.' However, when caught early enough, the prognosis is good for magpies brought in for treatment. 'We have about a 60 per cent survival rate,' Mr Huxley said, adding that treatment can take between 10 days and two weeks. At Murdoch University's veterinary school, Bethany Jackson and a team of researchers are scrambling to find the cause of the paralysis. While it was initially thought to be a form of botulism, further research has suggested it is unlikely. Bethany Jackson, from Murdoch University's veterinary school. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'There is a lot about this even that doesn't fit with a botulism event,' Dr Jackson said. 'So now we've gone back to square one to rule out everything.' Dr Jackson said researchers were 'throwing everything at' trying to find a cause that could lead to prevention and better treatment. Mr Huxley and Dr Jackson called on the State Government to invest more money into research on the syndrome, as well as funding wildlife centres that rely on donations and volunteers to care and treat afflicted birds. 'Our running costs are in the tens of thousands every month and, like all wildlife organisations that work tirelessly to look after wildlife, don't receive any government funding,' Mr Huxley said. 'State and Federal governments fund other animal charities, companion animals for example, and yet we don't fund our endemic wildlife, which they leverage for tourism. 'I think that dynamic needs to change. And that change will come from pressure from the public that says, 'We value our wildlife, we value our magpies and our bird song, and we expect some funding for the organisations that are trying to save them'.' A Government spokesperson said that while magpies were a protected native species, they were not considered 'endangered'.
Metro
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV star dubbed 'everyone's childhood crush in the 80s' becomes a granny
Beloved TV host Michaela Strachan has reminded us all that time is truly flying after announcing the birth of her first grandchild. The reality star, 59, known for her wildlife and nature shows, rose to fame with her 80s series The Really Wild Show as well as presenting BBC's Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch and a decade-long tenure on Countryfile. Now, just weeks after competing in Dancing on Ice, Michaela is sharing the special moment she became a grandmother for the first time after her stepson Thomas Chevallier had a baby with his wife Mikayla Humphries. In a caption on Instagram, she wrote: 'Today I became a Granny!! 'After an extremely stressful and exhausting labour, 55hrs, baby Huxley finally arrived!! So proud of my future daughter-in-law [Mikayla] & my stepson [Thomas]. Proud new parents. 'Me and granny Jacky Humphries were a wee bit emotional. Welcome to the world baby Huxley. So, so precious.' The heartfelt message was paired with a series of pictures capturing the happy family at the hospital including a snap of all four of them together, one of Michaela cuddling the baby and one with Huxley and her stepson Fans, family and friends flocked to the comments to offer their congratulations to the first-time grandparent, calling the role the 'best thing ever'. Of course, in the 80s The Hitman and Her star was the muse for many childhood crushes – and she still is for many today. 'My celeb crush in the early 90's, still my celeb crush today,' fallenangel152 wrote on a Reddit thread about Michaela becoming a childhood TV crush. 'Michaela was and is lovely,' druid bloke agreed. One user, the amyichasedwasme, joked: 'For real. I know more about animals that I'll ever need to. Michaela reached the final of the latest Dancing On Ice season (which will also be its last after ITV rested the show) with many rooting for her to take home the trophy. Although she just missed out on victory, she was filled with gratitude for the experience. 'This whole experience has been so incredible. From being terrified on the ice back in October, to getting to be the runner up in the final, I completely exceeded my own expectations and am so proud of what [pro partner] Mark Hanretty & I have achieved. 'So many unbelievable memories. So many incredible people involved,' she penned to her followers after the grand finale. More Trending The media personality – who has lived with her partner Nick Chavallier in South Africa since 2002 – has previously spoken about her experience with breast cancer after she was diagnosed in 2014 and underwent a double mastectomy. Last year, she shared her reflections a decade on to her followers on social media. 'It's been 10 years since my breast cancer diagnosis. I had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. A decade later I've learnt to love my scars. But that acceptance has taken time. It can be really tough for people to accept the way they look after surgery,' she wrote at the time. View More » She has three stepchildren – Jade, and twins Tom and Sam – and a son Ollie born in 2006. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: How to watch David Attenborough's new film Ocean as TV legend nears 99th birthday MORE: Stacey Solomon is 'regretting tell-all TV show with husband Joe Swash' MORE: Doctor Who's moral lectures are becoming harder to justify
Wales Online
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Michaela Strachan shares baby news as fans rush to congratulate her
Michaela Strachan shares baby news as fans rush to congratulate her Dancing on Ice star and Springwatch presenter Michaela Strachan has delighted fans with a special family announcement Michaela Strachan has been inundated with support after sharing baby news with her fans. The Dancing on Ice star and wildlife presenter took to her Instagram to share that she's become a grandmother at the age of 59. Alongside a picture of stepson Tom and his newborn Huxley, Michaela divulged the baby was born following a tense and gruelling 55-hour labour. She said: "Today I became a Granny!! After an extremely stressful and exhausting labour, 55hrs, baby Huxley finally arrived! ! So proud of my future daughter in law @ and my step son @tchev3000 Proud new parents. Me and granny @jackyhumphries were a wee bit emotional. Welcome to the world baby Huxley. So, so precious." The happy family following Huxley's birth Eager fans responded to her announcement, which showcased multiple images, including those featuring Huxley's beaming mum Mikayala and the delighted new grandmothers. Among the sea of congratulatory messages, one fan commented: "Congratulations to all! It's the most special thing becoming a granny" and another shared their delight with: "Congratulations Michaela. You look so happy!" Some followers couldn't help but pay tribute to Mikayala's remarkable endurance, especially with comments like: "55 hours? ! Woah. Congratulations to you all, especially Huxley's heroic mother!" reports the Mirror. Article continues below Michaela with stepson Tom and baby Huxley (Image: Instagram ) Tom's dad, director and cameraman, Nick Chevallier, met Michaela in Cape Town in 2003. In 2006, the couple were overjoyed to welcome their son Ollie, after fears that widower Nick, who already had three children of his own, wouldn't want to become a dad for the fourth time. In a candid interview with The Times, Michaela expressed her initial concerns about expanding her family, revealing: "When I got together with Nick, I thought he might feel he didn't want a fourth child of his own. But it all worked out. He adores Ollie." During a heartfelt chat with Mail Online back in 2016, Michaela shared her late-blooming affection for motherhood: "When I was younger I was so into my career that I didn't think I'd have a child. I'm so glad that changed." Michaela cuddles her new grandson (Image: Instagram ) She described the unparalleled bond with her child: "There's no love that can compare to what I feel for Oliver and I adore being a mum. But when I first had him it made me realise that we'd got it wrong as a species." Article continues below Michaela then delved into the challenges she faced as a new mother: "I was 39, I had this child, and I realised I knew nothing about babies. I was so naive about how hard it was. I thought, 'Why did nobody tell me about this?' "If we, as humans, still lived in community structures I would have helped bring up other people's babies and I would have known what it was like. I'm not saying being more like lions is the answer but it's an interesting debate." Dancing on Ice is available on ITVX
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Kids TV legend and Dancing on Ice star becomes a gran for the first time as she shares adorable snap with newborn
SPRINGWATCH star Michaela Strachan has revealed she's become a gran after her step-son welcomed his first child. The Dancing On Ice star, 59, was left over the moon as she announced her first grandchild. 2 2 Michaela's step-son Thomas Chevallier welcomed a baby boy with partner Mikayla Humphries on Tuesday. The TV presenter told her followers that Mikaya had given birth after a "long and stressful" labour. She shared a sweet photo of the newborn and revealed the little boy's name. Michaela wrote: "Today I became a Granny!! After an extremely stressful and exhausting labour, 55hrs, baby Huxley finally arrived!! "So proud of my future daughter in law & my step son. Proud new parents. Me and granny, Jack were a wee bit emotional. "Welcome to the world baby Huxley. So, so precious."
