Latest news with #wildliferescue
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Police investigate alleged attack after Hull fox death
An investigation is under way into a report that a fox was attacked after being hit by a car.A vehicle is said to have hit the animal on Dorchester Road, Hull, at about 22:50 BST on Police said it received a report that, soon afterwards, another motorist removed the fox from the middle of the road and tried to kill force said "a volunteer from a wildlife rescue group attended and the fox was subsequently transported to the vets", but it died. A spokesperson for Hull Wildlife Protectors said it was "deeply disturbed" by the incident, which happened near the junction with Ilchester said it was contacted by a member of the public who remained at the scene until volunteers they got there, the "visibly upset" caller told them that some people had got out of the vehicle and dragged the fox off the road by its hind of them got a knife from the vehicle before cutting the fox's throat and leaving the scene, the wildlife group said it was spokesperson said: "Despite this brutal action, the fox was still alive when HWP volunteers arrived."The animal died on the way to a veterinary surgery. The BBC has been shown video footage of a fox with what appears to be a large wound to its are appealing for witnesses or people with footage to get in touch with them. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
ABC News
30-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Tweed wildlife rescuer incubates loggerhead turtle eggs at home
As Tropical Cyclone Alfred bore down on the east coast in early March, wildlife rescuers in northern NSW worked painstakingly to move more than 1,000 endangered loggerhead turtle eggs out of harm's way. It was a story covered on ABC radio at the time, with the eggs taken to be incubated. Now the last nest has hatched, the Australian Seabird and Turtle Rescue (ASTR) has revealed a detail it was keeping secret: the eggs were incubated at the home of a staff member. "I was in an area that I wouldn't get flooded, I was hopeful I wouldn't lose power," assistant general manager Amanda Philp said. "Other people that may have been able to take them on were in areas where they would have been flooded." Ms Philp said she had not previously told people about keeping the eggs at home in the Tweed Shire as a safety precaution. A marine biologist and licensed rescuer, she was given permission by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to incubate the eggs at home because the ASTR base in Ballina was at risk of being isolated and losing power during cyclone-induced flooding. "The preference is always to leave the eggs in situ [on the beach], that's the best spot for them," NPWS marine team leader Duane March said. "But if they are at imminent risk of inundation from wash over and that sort of stuff, then then we will step in and take action." The rescue operation required the team to build makeshift incubators. "We had six incubators, so two of them were quite large ones, and then there were four additional eskies that we actually had to make because we just didn't have enough to deal with all these eggs," Ms Philp said. "My whole spare room looked like the beach." Ms Philp said the eggs required constant monitoring, which she juggled around her full-time work. "Prior to going to work, I would check the temperatures, ensure there's no turtles emerging and if so, just see where they're at in their progression," she said. "Then after work, I would again have to check those temperatures. "We also had data loggers that monitor the temperature throughout the process." Ms Philp said she sent that information to the NSW TurtleWatch project officer, who could calculate how far along they were. She said six of the seven nests achieved a successful hatch rate between 75 and 95 per cent, similar to the levels typically seen in nature. "We are extremely proud of that, considering we moved them in such a critical stage of their development," she said. The final nest to hatch had a success rate of about 35 per cent, but was inundated by waves before it was removed from the beach. After hatching, each nest was taken to its original beach for the hatchlings to be released, from Fingal Head down to Lennox Head. Sea turtles are among the species that will return to their hatching location once matured in order to breed and lay their own eggs. Ms Philp said if the hatchlings survived, they would return in 20 to 30 years. "We're definitely seeing changes in nesting patterns in different species of sea turtles in response to different climate conditions," Mr March said. "In the short term, [the incubation process] meant that we saved these critters, and hopefully in the long term it means that we've got a bit more kind of climate redundancy for them. "When these little critters come out of those incubators and they get down to the beach and make that swim ... off into the big blue, it's awesome to be part of that."
Mail & Guardian
26-05-2025
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
Red alert for South Africa's birds: 147 bird species threatened in South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatin
A griffon vulture flies over the sky after released into nature after taken care of Celal Acar Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at Uludag National Park in Bursa, Turkiye on January 04, 2024. The griffon vulture, which was in danger of extinction and was found injured and exhausted, was released into its natural habitat after treatment. (Photo by Semih Sahin/Anadolu via Getty Images) There are 147 bird species categorised as threatened or near-threatened in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, according to the revised The figure is up from 132 species from the previous data book of birds of the region published in 2015. Most notably, 39 species were uplisted, indicating a worsening in their conservation status, while only eight species have been downlisted, reflecting positive conservation outcomes. 'In short, the consequences of human activities can be seen on the region's bird populations, with a wide range of threats ranging from loss of habitat to deliberate persecution,' said the non-profit avian conservation organisation. The RDB-online, marks a 'pivotal moment' for regional bird conservation as it offers a comprehensive, freely accessible online resource revealing the conservation status of the region's birds. Over three years, more than 137 ornithologists, conservationists and citizen scientists collaborated on 193 detailed reports to quantify the risk of extinction for the region's birds. This extends to an additional 70 endemic and near-endemic species still considered to be at a lower risk of extinction, such as the Cape sugarbird and orange-breasted sunbird. The RDB-online provides insights into the conservation threats faced by the region's birds, as well as the effect of counter-measures put in place to protect them. 'The findings are alarming, yet hopeful, and provide crucial insights into threats and clear pathways for conservation action,' said BirdLife South Africa. Iconic birds like the lappet-faced vulture, which has been severely affected by Habitat loss and changes in agricultural practices have Conversely, dedicated conservation efforts have enabled species like the Cape vulture, wattled crane and southern bald ibis to improve, 'demonstrating the powerful impact of targeted interventions and dedicated conservation work'. The Red Data Book is more than just a conservation resource, said BirdLife South Africa chief executive Mark Anderson. 'It's an essential toolkit for guiding government policy, conservation strategies and critical environmental decisions. In crises such as the The red-listing process also identifies knowledge gaps, guiding research efforts. This means that some species have been downlisted not only because of direct conservation interventions but thanks to significantly improved knowledge from recent research. 'For example, the elusive As a wetland specialist, the white-winged flufftail is still under threat, as are many other wetland bird species detailed in the RDB-online. This group of birds has seen the largest declines over the last decade because of drought, worsened by climate change, increased water extraction and deteriorating water conditions. The worrying increase in threatened species, particularly 'However, our successes show clearly that strategic, informed conservation actions yield tangible results. This resource directs us precisely where we need to act next,' Smit-Robinson said. The online book uniquely integrates extensive citizen science contributions from projects such as the The value of citizen scientists' contributions cannot be overstated, said Sanjo Rose, the RDB-online editor and previous Bird Atlas Project co-ordinator. 'Their meticulous observations have become the backbone of our regional assessments, enabling accurate monitoring, state-of-the-art trend analyses and swift identification of species at risk.' Regionally versus globally distinct extinction risks are exemplified by the This regional assessment reflects that, despite alarming global declines, dedicated conservation efforts within South Africa, including recent closures to 'While we follow IUCN [International Union for Conservation of Nature] criteria rigorously, our assessments reflect local realities. Sometimes there are higher regional threats compared to global listing populations, but sometimes conservation success stories too,' said Alan Lee, the science and innovation programme manager at BirdLife South Africa and the lead editor. 'In the case of the African penguin, the difference in categories means we predict the species will go extinct in Namibia before the population in South Africa. The extinction horizon is still within our lifetime.' BirdLife South Africa said it continues to champion targeted initiatives crucial for seabird conservation, such as the Now, invasive species have been identified as a major threat to island seabirds. The ambitious Mice on the island are Behind every threatened bird species listed in the RDB-online lie powerful stories of decline, resilience and hope, said Shamiso Banda, the RDB-online editor. 'Our book captures these narratives, showcasing the extraordinary conservation journeys and efforts underway across the region. 'By highlighting these individual stories, we hope to inspire action and awareness, reminding us that it is not too late to change the trajectory for many of these incredible birds. 'We are so grateful to everyone who made the RDB-online happen, from scientists to photographers.' The findings from the RDB-online will directly influence decisions such as the establishment and expansion of protected areas, renewable energy development planning and critical habitat management.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Surprise discovery after 'massive' tree falls in front of suburban Aussie home
It's hard to 'get an appreciation' of just how big the tree was that narrowly missed crushing an Australian home this week. It's understandable that first responders initially had no idea something very tiny had survived the incident and was clinging onto a branch. 'Houses out there are massive. And the tree was huge,' seasoned animal rescuer Di Bowen told Yahoo News after returning from a property in Castle Hill, in Sydney's northwest. As NSW State Emergency Service (SES) crews worked to make the front yard safe and clear branches from the road, the homeowner was surprised to find a native flying fox had come down with the tree and was scrambling towards her neighbour's garage. Bowen is a volunteer with wildlife rescue service WIRES, and she got the call to try and find the bat on Wednesday night. Her initial concern was the animal could have been injured by the tree fall, so she was determined to locate it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the garage was empty. So Bowen turned her attention back to the tree branches. 'I was able to get under the tree and shake it,' she said. Ordinarily, flying foxes make a high-pitched screech or cheep when they're chattering with other members of their colony. Frightened and alone, the animal remained completely silent. But luckily for all involved, the shaking of the tree forced a nervous, involuntary reaction. 'The bat weed, so I knew exactly where he was,' Bowen revealed. 'I thought it's not been raining, this tree should not be wet.' Because the flying fox was low to the ground he was unable to fly, so Bowen knew he had to be close. The SES team helped by shining their powerful torches across the branches above where the wee had come from. 'He was just sitting there in the tree. He'd obviously got caught on the tree somehow and come down with it,' Bowen said. 'I put a towel around him and detached his claws to get him off. He gave a bit of a screech.' Luckily for the bat, apart from a bloody nose, he was uninjured. So, it's hoped he'll be released sometime in the coming days. Colony of bats' eerie evening habit spooks concerned woman Big W apologises after mailing banned gardening product to customer Tragic detail in daring rescue highlights 'serious threat' to Aussie animals While grey-headed flying foxes are commonly seen in Australian cities, they are classified as vulnerable to extinction because their populations have dramatically shrunk. Most birds are territorial in Australia, and flying foxes are the nation's only long-range pollinators, ensuring that forests are able to stay healthy. Finding food remains an ongoing challenge for many flying fox colonies, and native forest logging continues to reduce supply. They congregate around cities where they can survive off food from street trees, backyard gardens, and parks. Climate change continues to pose a risk to many colonies, because they struggle to survive once the temperature soars above 38 degrees. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
