Chuang Chuang reportedly collapsed after eating bamboo in Chiang Mai Zoo
The sudden death of a giant panda on loan to a zoo in Thailand has sparked outrage in China and calls for no more of the bears to be lent to the country.
Chuang Chuang, a 19-year-old male, reportedly collapsed on Monday afternoon after eating bamboo in Chiang Mai zoo in northern Thailand, according to Thai media.
Continue reading...Guardian Australia reports from three communities hard hit by one of the worst droughts in living memory
Australia is experiencing one of its most severe droughts on record, resulting in desperate water shortages across large parts of New South Wales and southern Queensland. Dams in some parts of western NSW have all but dried up, with rainfall levels through the winter in the lowest 10% of historical records in some areas.
The crisis in the far west of the state became unavoidable after the mass fish kills along the lower Darling River last summer, but now much bigger towns closer to the coast, including Dubbo, are also running out of water.
Continue reading...Meng Meng delivered two cubs, which must eventually be returned to China
Berlin zoo has said its resident panda Meng Meng has delivered twins, the first time one of the endangered animals has given birth in the country.
“Meng Meng became a mom – twice! We are so happy, we are speechless,” the zoo tweeted on Monday, posting a video of Meng Meng guiding one of her pink cubs to feed.
Continue reading...Staff member in a lion costume helps zoo practise for the event of an escape, as real lions appear unimpressed
For one terrifying moment it looks like the lion is about to get the upper hand against its human nemeses.
The animal faces down its would-be captors – armed with a net and long poles - and, without warning, knocks one of them to the ground with its powerful paws. “Are you alright?” another zookeeper asks the prone victim.
Continue reading...A tiger mauled a zookeeper at the Topeka Zoo in north-eastern Kansas on Saturday.
The Topeka Capital-Journal reported the incident happened around 9.30am, when a Sumatran tiger named Sanjiv tackled the worker in an enclosed outdoor space.
Continue reading...Death of Yangtze giant softshell turtle came a day after artificial insemination attempt
The world’s rarest turtle has moved closer to extinction after a female died in a Chinese zoo, leaving just three known members of the species.
The Yangtze giant softshell turtle, believed to be more than 90 years old, died in Suzhou zoo on Saturday, according to the Suzhou Daily.
Continue reading...David Gill abandons Lake District retreat application after flood of complaints
The founder of a zoo where nearly 500 animals died in less than three years, many in cruel conditions, has abandoned plans to open a horse-riding ranch, following a flood of complaints.
David Gill, the former owner of South Lakes Safari zoo in Cumbria, angered animal welfare groups when he applied to open an American-style ranch in the hills of the Lake District.
Continue reading...Woman in her 30s returned to the zoo to apologise after she was treated in hospital for her injuries
A jaguar has clawed an Arizona woman who climbed over a barrier to take a picture at the Wildlife World Zoo near Phoenix, officials said.
Mobile phone video of the incident showed at least one gash on the woman’s left forearm as she writhed on the ground in pain after the attack on Saturday.
Continue reading...Visitors to Dartmoor zoo are being offered the opportunity to take part in its ‘human v beast’ challenge, with groups of people playing tug-of-war against a lion as it tries to wrestle meat attached to a rope.
The controversial attraction, which costs £15 per person, has sparked a backlash with more than 2,000 people signing a petition to stop the practice. The petition’s author, Sue Dally, described it as, ‘cruel and shows a total lack of respect for these beautiful majestic wild animals’
Continue reading...Breakout is second in recent weeks after runaway red panda found in a nearby garden
Chimpanzees have used a branch to escape from their enclosure at Belfast zoo in the second breach by animals in recent weeks.
They took advantage of damage caused by stormy weather to stage a breakout, which visitors caught on film.
Continue reading...Tigers were put together through breeding programme that hopes to save species from extinction
A Sumatran tiger kept at London zoo has been killed by its potential mate during their first meeting. Keepers had hoped the big cats would breed but have been left devastated after Asim, the male they brought in, attacked Melati.
The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) kept the two tigers in adjacent enclosures for 10 days to allow them to become accustomed to each other. After their keepers saw positive signs, they decided to make the “high-risk” introduction on Friday morning.
Continue reading...Two missing Humboldts were found this week in Strelley Village after a tipoff
Two penguins have been found by police officers after they were stolen.
The pair of Humboldt penguins were taken in November last year from a zoo in Nottinghamshire.
Continue reading...