Latest news with #WorldWildlifeFederation
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Watch: Elephant searching for food gets stuck in supermarket
An elephant wandered into a supermarket in Thailand and helped itself to eggs and rice cakes before getting stuck in an aisle as it tried to plot an escape. The four-ton male entered the store in the northeastern city of Nakhon Ratchasima on Monday afternoon and spent 10 minutes searching for food. CCTV footage captured it tucking into rice cakes and chicken eggs – but after a short while, the 25-year-old bull, named Plai Biang Lek, became wedged against the ceiling. Fortunately, shopkeeper Khamploy Gakaew was able to usher the uninvited guest back onto the road outside. Remarkably, the elephant only caused around 1,000 baht (£22.70) in damage, though it did leave without paying. The shopkeeper said: 'This was the first time an elephant had visited the store. I hope he doesn't come back. I was worried about the damage he could cause. 'He ate sweet, crispy rice cakes and chicken eggs before walking out. I was surprised to see him eating sweet food, as elephants usually search for something salty. 'We see elephants occasionally, and they will bother street food vendors for food. But this was unusual.' Wildlife rangers later drove the elephant back into woodland away from danger and said they were monitoring the area to prevent it from returning. Elephants are known for their voracious appetite. The World Wildlife Federation found they need to eat up to 150kg of food per day – the equivalent of 375 tins of baked beans. Conservationists in Thailand say that wild elephants – up to 3,500 of them – have developed a taste for human food and prefer to rummage through homes and vehicles for snacks, instead of the bland leaves they find in the forest. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Associated Press
17-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Swedish AI Wildlife Management Company Flox to Showcase Groundbreaking Technology in Half Moon Bay
HALF MOON BAY, CA, UNITED STATES, March 17, 2025 / / -- Sweden-based technology company Flox is set to make its California market debut, showcasing its revolutionary AI-powered wildlife management system at an exclusive event co-hosted by Coastside Venture Studio in Half Moon Bay, California on March 19th. Flox's innovative technology, often described as a 'digital sheepdog,' has achieved a remarkable 100% bird-strike deterrence rate at ten Swedish airports by using species-specific signals to safely keep birds away from dangerous areas such as runways. The breakthrough system combines artificial intelligence with wildlife science to create targeted deterrents that protect both animals, critical infrastructure and human lives. Unlike traditional methods, Flox's technology responds adaptively to different species, ensuring effective and humane wildlife management. Beyond aviation safety, Flox is expanding its applications through a pilot program with the World Wildlife Federation aimed at deterring wolves from livestock areas, demonstrating the versatility of this pioneering approach to human-wildlife conflict resolution. 'Our technology represents a significant advancement in how we can coexist with wildlife in shared environments,' said Flox CEO, Sara Nožková. 'We're excited to bring this solution to the United States where it can address similar challenges across multiple sectors.' The March 19th showcase will take place at the Train Depot in Half Moon Bay with representatives from all major Bay Area airports and elected officials in attendance. About Flox: Flox develops AI-powered solutions for wildlife management that has developed sustainable technological solutions that reduce human-wildlife conflicts. With proven success across Scandinavian airports as well as public open space such as beaches, the company is now expanding its innovative approach to wildlife conflict resolution to international markets. Flox was accepted into Half Moon Bay's Coastside Venture Studio incubator program, operated by the American Energy Society, last spring. Media Contact: Legal Disclaimer:
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Paper straws: The arguments for and against
The Brief Paper or plastic? President Trump has joined the debate on straws. President Donald Trump will try to put an end to what he calls a "ridiculous push" for paper straws. "I will be signing an Executive Order next week ending the ridiculous Biden push for Paper Straws, which don't work," Trump posted on social media Friday. "BACK TO PLASTIC!" Trump's executive order will undo measures taken by former President Joe Biden, who planned to phase out plastic straws across the federal government. RELATED: Biden's letter to Trump revealed: 'May God bless you and guide you' Several states have bans or restrictions in place on single-use plastic straws, including California, Colorado, New York, Maine, Oregon, Vermont, Rhode Island and Washington. It's unclear whether an executive order would have any effect on those state laws. The backstory Paper straws were introduced as an alternative to plastic drinking straws, which are not typically recycled or re-used, "causing multiple environmental harms … including harm to marine animals and visual pollution," according to the British government. "Even if disposed of correctly, plastic straws may end up in incineration, generating high carbon emissions," the UK report says. By the numbers In the U.S., market analysts estimate Americans use about 175 million straws a day. There's no way to tell how many end up in the ocean. RELATED: Shrinking Colorado River will take a toll on the nation's food supply Paper straws will fully decompose within a few weeks to a few months, while plastic straws take up to 200 years, according to the World Wildlife Federation. The other side But paper straws aren't holding up well in the environmental debate, either, research has shown. A study from the University of Antwerp in Belgium found that paper straws have more PFAS, better known as "forever chemicals," than plastic. The chemicals are linked to serious health problems like cancers, liver and heart damage, compromised immune systems, high cholesterol and developmental issues in kids. PFAs also take hundreds to thousands of years to break down in the environment. RELATED: PFAS and cancer: The truth behind 'forever chemicals' The same study showed that bamboo straws also contained PFAs, and neither have proven to be a more environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. The PFA levels call into question just how "biodegradable" the plastic straw alternatives are. What they're saying While their sustainability is debatable, the strong feelings about paper straws are not. They often become soft and difficult to sip out of, sometimes long before the drink is finished. Trump, who doesn't believe in climate change and has been rolling back environmental protections enacted by Biden, has railed against plastic straws for years. RELATED: Trump to reopen waters for drilling, rolling back environmental protections "They want to ban straws. Has anyone tried those paper straws? They're not working too good," he said during a 2020 campaign rally. "It disintegrates as you drink it, and if you have a nice tie like this tie, you've got no choice." According to KXLG, Trump's campaign once sold branded plastic straws with the slogan: "Liberal paper straws don't work." The Source This report includes information from President Trump's Truth Social account, BBC, the University of Antwerp in Belgium, KXLG and previous LiveNow from FOX reporting. FOX's Chris Williams contributed.
