Latest news with #Zaza
Medscape
13-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
FDA Issues Warning on ‘Gas Station Heroin' Tianeptine
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a health warning regarding products containing tianeptine, which is often called 'gas station heroin' because of its easy availability at gas station stores. The FDA noted that tianeptine is associated with an increasing number of adverse events, including death, and called its use 'a dangerous and growing health trend facing our nation,' especially for youth. Other associated adverse events cited by the agency include coma, agitation, confusion, hypertension, respiratory depression, tachycardia, and vomiting. 'Historically, there has been a delayed recognition of fast-growing trends,' the FDA wrote in its warning letter. Although it is closely following tianeptine products' distribution and sale, 'it is critical that you appreciate the magnitude of the underlying danger of these products and disseminate information about it,' the agency added. Interestingly, the product is licensed as an atypical antidepressant in some countries and is commonly prescribed for oral intake at 12.5 mg thrice daily. However, because higher doses can produce euphoria, its use has been restricted and a warning has been added to its drug label about possible addiction. Tianeptine has not been approved by the FDA for any medical use in the United States, is not scheduled under its Controlled Substances Act, is not considered to be safe in food, and has not met regulations as a dietary ingredient. 'Nevertheless, tianeptine is being marketed as a 'research chemical,' a 'nootropic' cognitive enhancer, or a dietary supplement,' the agency reported. In addition to gas stations, the product — which also goes by names such as Tianaa, Zaza, Neptune's Fix, Pegasus, and TD Red — is often available at convenience stores, vape shops, and online retailers. The FDA noted that unlike the 37.5 mg total daily dose amount recommended by countries that have approved the product, there have been reports of individuals in the United States ingesting doses from 50 mg to 10,000 mg. So far, the agency has sent warning letters to companies that distribute and sell products that contain tianeptine and is taking steps to warn individuals about the drug's potential severe adverse events. In addition, it has issued an import alert to help detain shipment of the products containing the drug at US borders. The FDA recommended that healthcare professionals talk to patients about these products and encourage their avoidance. Tianeptine may not be identified in routine drug-screening panels. Those who believe a patient is experiencing a related adverse event should contact (External Link Disclaimer) and can visit the FDA's MedWatch website to submit a report.
South Wales Argus
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
The Pembrokeshire wildlife park owned by a TV celebrity
Manor Wildlife Park was the passion project of celebrity interior designer Anna Ryder Richardson. Anna and her family took over the park in 2008 after it had been closed for many months. They worked hard to create an attraction where endangered animals could be seen in as natural environment as possible. Gone were the small concrete pens, replaced instead with green and spacious enclosures. Perhaps the biggest love story was the liberation of Gibbon Steve who had spent years cooped up in a tiny concrete pen coop. (Image: Manor Wildlife Park) Anna created him his own island and introduced him to playmate Lisa and baby Bryn was born. As well as giving her gibbon a markedly better life Anna and her family introduced endangered Sumatran tigers, southern white rhinos and red pandas to the park, among many other animals. (Image: Manor Wildlife Park) In 2018, following her divorce from husband, chef Colin MacDougall, Anna stepped away from Manor Wildlife Park. "The stresses and strains and expense of running our wildlife park have destroyed our marriage,' she told the Daily Mail. "I'm moving lock, stock and barrel to France, and I'm getting divorced. I still well up thinking about all the beautiful Welsh countryside and the nature. "I had the best of times there, but they became the hardest of times.' However, this year Anna returned to the helm of Manor Wildlife Park after a six-year absence. "I am very excited, it has been a long time coming but I am finally back with my beloved animals, incredible team and excited to greet our visitors into the park,' she said. (Image: Manor Wildlife Park) In the year that she returned Manor Wildlife Park saw Zaza the first Sumatran tiger cub in Wales born there. Zaza was born on May 25 and has been described as a symbol of hope in global efforts to conserve this critically endangered species. As well as Anna's return and the birth of Zaza, other top moments at Manor Park this year have been the arrival of red panda Barney, a baby boom of howler monkeys, meercats and Saki monkeys and the arrival of Brenda the peahen. "I have huge plans for the future of Manor Wildlife Park,' said Anna on her return. "Starting with our locals, who have supported us since 2008 when I bought the park, with the park being open all year round. (Image: Manor Wildlife Park) "I would love to open up conversations with schools and groups from all ages from toddlers, teens and the elderly to find out how we can tailor days to suit them." One of Anna's measures to support locals was announced earlier this month when in a 'news flash' she said that all Pembrokeshire residents would get 10 percent off an annual pass. This will also entitle them to 10 percent off at the gift shop and ten percent off all ice creams. For more information about Manor Wildlife Park, visit the website For group bookings, email info@
Miami Herald
09-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Rare predator travels 5,000 miles from CA to UK — for a date. See the bachelor
When the survival of your species is on the line, there is nowhere on Earth that is too far to travel for love. That's why one rare Malagasy fossa made a more than 5,000-mile journey from the San Diego Zoo to Chester Zoo in England for a date. Zaza, a 7-year-old male fossa, has been transferred from California to England to breed with Shala, Chester Zoo's resident female, according to a May 9 news release. 'Zaza is part of a global conservation breeding program. With the fossa listed as vulnerable to extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and its wild habitats in Madagascar under threat from rapid development, Zaza's move to Chester Zoo is an important part of the international effort to ensure this wonderful and unique species is safeguarded long into the future,' Mark Brayshaw, head of mammals at Chester Zoo, said in the release. Zaza and Shala will be slowly introduced to each other to imitate how they would actually meet in the wild, the zoo said. 'Initially we plan to rotate the two of them separately around different parts of their habitat so they can smell each other,' Jack Cunningham, carnivore keeper at Chester Zoo, said in the release. 'They can see each other through a glass window and there's also a screen we can slide open between their dens which allows them to see each other, without being able to get to one another straight away. It's all part of our slow and gradual introduction process.' The zoo said the arrangement may seem 'like an episode of Blind Date,' but it ensures the animals aren't forced together too quickly. Shala has been a mother before, welcoming a litter of pups with a previous mate that have now gone on to other facilities around the world, the zoo said. Being able to study Shala has 'helped researchers in Madagascar track and understand the fossa's mating calls and habitat needs,' according to the release. Fossas are a group of carnivores that appear like a mix between a cat and a weasel but are actually more closely related to mongoose and civets, according to the San Diego Zoo. They have long tails and golden fur, and are native to the island nation of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. The animals have 'puzzled scientists since the 1830s,' the San Diego Zoo said, and little is known about their lives. Like many other Madagascar natives, the species has faced serious habitat destruction and loss, and fossa numbers are dwindling. Fewer than 2,500 are estimated to live in the wild, so the survival of the species has fallen into the hands of zoos and wildlife parks, according to Chester Zoo. Shala's mating call particularly has been scientifically significant, the zoo said. 'Her mating call has been recorded and analyzed to create a spectrogram, which is a visual representation of sound,' the zoo said, allowing researchers to know when females are looking for mates in the wild by matching the sounds. Zaza is likely to match Shala's energy, the San Diego Zoo said. 'Zaza is a very energetic and well-tempered fossa and can be very vocal when excited,' Lucy Pearson, Zaza's keeper in San Diego, said in the release. 'He was the bravest of the four pups in his litter due to his curious personality.' Chester Zoo is in Chester, England, just east of the northern border of Wales.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Breeding hope as rare fossa arrives at zoo from US
A rare male fossa has arrived at Chester Zoo from America as part of an international breeding programme to protect the species from extinction. The seven-year-old fossa, named Zaza, has travelled from an enclosure in San Diego after being genetically matched with the zoo's female fossa, Shala. Native to Madagascar, the long-tailed, cat-like mammal is a highly threatened species with fewer than 2,500 estimated to remain in the wild. Chester Zoo's head of mammals Mark Brayshaw said the move was "an important part of the international effort to ensure this wonderful and unique species is safeguarded long into the future". Conservationists in Chester have worked alongside international partners in Madagascar to protect habitats on the island for over 15 years. Female Shala, who arrived in Chester in 2018, previously had a litter of pups with former mate Isalo and has also been part of a project to monitor mating calls. Her mating call was recorded and analysed to help researchers in the rainforests of Madagascar to identify when female fossas are looking for mates in the wild and identify the best environments for breeding. Females only come into season once a year for a two-week period when the usually-silent species become very vocal. Keeper Jack Cunningham, a member of the Carnivore team at Chester Zoo, said the pair will be introduced slowly. Lucy Pearson, a keeper at San Diego Zoo, said Zaza was a "very energetic and well-tempered" fossa and "the bravest of the four pups in his litter due to his curious personality". Fellow keeper Candice Dymek said while it was "hard to say goodbye" to Zaza the zoo was "excited at the potential for him to sire pups and grow the European fossa population, and to be a part of such a large collaboration that will continue to further conservation efforts in Madagascar". Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Sloth has pioneering surgery to cure toothache Zoo's new science centre to help endangered species 'Giant spiders' thriving in wild after zoo release Capturing birth of smallest wild cattle 'special' Zoo plants 19,000 trees in unused field Chester Zoo
ITV News
09-05-2025
- ITV News
Rare male fossa travels from San Diego to Chester Zoo for a 'blind date' to save species
Watch seven-year-old Zaza get used to his new surroundings in Cheshire. A rare Malagasy fossa has travelled more than 5,000 miles for a blind date that could save his species. Seven-year-old Zaza has made the trip from San Diego in the USA to Chester Zoo as part of an international breeding programme that is working to get fossa's off the endangered species list. The cat-like mammals are the largest natural predator in Madagascar, where they hunt for prey such as lemurs, birds, lizards, and mice. There are less than 2,500 Malagasy fossa's left in the wilds of Madagascar due to mass deforestation on the island. The cat-like mammals are the largest natural predator in Madagascar, where they hunt for prey such as lemurs, birds, lizards, and mice. Zaza has made the journey for a "blind date" with Chester Zoo's resident female, Shala. It's hoped the pair will have pups and help keep their species alive. Mark Brayshaw, the Head of Mammals at Chester Zoo, said: ' Zaza's move to Chester Zoo is an important part of the international effort to ensure this wonderful and unique species is safeguarded long into the future. We're very pleased to see him arrive.' Fossas naturally live solitary lives and, to ensure this is replicated at the zoo, Zaza and Shala will live apart most of the time, only coming together for Jack Cunningham, a member of the Carnivore team at Chester Zoo, said: 'Initially we plan to rotate the two of them separately around different parts of their habitat so they can smell each other. "They can see each other through a glass window and there's also a screen we can slide open between their dens which allows them to see each other, without being able to get to one another straight away. It's all part of our slow and gradual introduction process.' Jack added: 'Female fossa only come into season once a year for a two-week period.'They're usually a silent species, except for when the females are looking for males, and then they will vocalise. After a few days of soft introductions through the windows and mesh, we'll know Shala is ready to meet Zaza because she will stand at the top of a tree and scream, which is her way of saying: I'm ready!'She was a wonderful mum to her first pups, so we're excited to see if she and Zaza have their own litter.' Shala, who arrived in Chester in 2018, had a litter of pups with her previous mate, Isalo, who will be moving on from Chester as part of the same breeding programme. Their pups have already found new homes in the UK and on the other side of the well as contributing to the continued survival of the species, Shala has also contributed to scientific knowledge of the mating call has been recorded and analysed to help researchers in the rainforests of Madagascar to identify when female fossas are looking for mates in the wild, which helps track species numbers and identify which environments are best for them.
