Friday, June 06, 2014
Elephant tries out zoo's new facility
Zurich Zoo will on Saturday open it's new 57-million-franc (£38.8-million, $63.5-million) Kaeng Krachan elephant park to visitors, hailing what it calls a “new era” in care for its six pachyderms.
The 11,000-square-metre park features six water basins for the elephants to swim in. Visitors can get an aquarium view of them under the water in one of the basins, which has a glass wall. The new space is designed to give the elephants conditions more closely resembling their natural environment.
YouTube link.
The 11,000-square-metre park features six water basins for the elephants to swim in. Visitors can get an aquarium view of them under the water in one of the basins, which has a glass wall. The new space is designed to give the elephants conditions more closely resembling their natural environment.
YouTube link.
Woman forbidden from performing cartwheels during council meetings
Maricopa County officials have told a Phoenix woman to put a stop to her acrobatic routine at public hearings.
Diane "DD" Barker recently attended a Maricopa Association of Governments meeting where she showed off her gymnastics skills prior to addressing county officials during a public hearing.
"I was in shorts, appropriately dressed," said Ms Barker, 65. "I was not near anybody that they could get hurt. I did a cartwheel and I did a split, too. They don't talk about the splits." Ms Barker says that her personal expression was a way to show the benefits of riding her bicycle, exercise and using public transportation.
But county officials weren't happy with the cartwheel and sent the former teacher a letter demanding she stop the stunt. The letter read in part: "Public bodies may impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on speakers and the request that you not perform cartwheels is a reasonable and permitted restriction. Not following the rules may result in the Chair revoking your request to speak at the meeting."
When asked she if she planned to honour the letter Ms Barker said: "Well, it's disappointing. But I feel there's no reason for me to go try and prove I have an ego and I'm right or wrong to do it again." Ms Barker had done cartwheels in the past and was told to stop because of concerns she might hurt somebody or hurt herself. Ms Barker said she does the cartwheel away from everyone and is perfectly willing to sign a waiver.
With news video.
"I was in shorts, appropriately dressed," said Ms Barker, 65. "I was not near anybody that they could get hurt. I did a cartwheel and I did a split, too. They don't talk about the splits." Ms Barker says that her personal expression was a way to show the benefits of riding her bicycle, exercise and using public transportation.
But county officials weren't happy with the cartwheel and sent the former teacher a letter demanding she stop the stunt. The letter read in part: "Public bodies may impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on speakers and the request that you not perform cartwheels is a reasonable and permitted restriction. Not following the rules may result in the Chair revoking your request to speak at the meeting."
When asked she if she planned to honour the letter Ms Barker said: "Well, it's disappointing. But I feel there's no reason for me to go try and prove I have an ego and I'm right or wrong to do it again." Ms Barker had done cartwheels in the past and was told to stop because of concerns she might hurt somebody or hurt herself. Ms Barker said she does the cartwheel away from everyone and is perfectly willing to sign a waiver.
With news video.
Teenagers shooting car windows called 911 on themselves after victim chased and scared them
When a crime victim in Santa Fe, New Mexico, chased after the teenage suspects, he scared them so much they called police for help.
Several people in the area had called 911, saying vandals had shot at their cars. One of the victims hopped in his car and followed the suspects.
Officials said the teen suspects must have become scared because they called police. "Every time we speed up, that car speeds up and tries to keep up with us," the teens told a 911 dispatcher. When officers responded, they arrested the five teens.
YouTube link.
Police said the teens admitted to driving around neighbourhoods and shooting at innocent people's cars with their BB guns. Luciano Romero, 18, and his 15, 16 and 17-year-old friends were arrested. In addition to property damage, they also face drug paraphernalia charges because police found marijuana pipes in the car.
Several people in the area had called 911, saying vandals had shot at their cars. One of the victims hopped in his car and followed the suspects.
Officials said the teen suspects must have become scared because they called police. "Every time we speed up, that car speeds up and tries to keep up with us," the teens told a 911 dispatcher. When officers responded, they arrested the five teens.
YouTube link.
Police said the teens admitted to driving around neighbourhoods and shooting at innocent people's cars with their BB guns. Luciano Romero, 18, and his 15, 16 and 17-year-old friends were arrested. In addition to property damage, they also face drug paraphernalia charges because police found marijuana pipes in the car.
Man holding cucumber accused of indecent act in library
Police in Toronto, Canada, have charged a man with committing an “indecent act” while holding a cucumber at a Scarborough library.
Officers received a call at around 11am on Saturday for a suspicious incident at Agincourt Library.
“He sits down and a (26-year-old woman) sits next to him and he opens up his laptop,” Const. David Hopkinson said. The man then started masturbating with one hand while holding a cucumber with his other hand, the officer alleged.
“He was not using the cucumber (to pleasure himself), as far as I’m aware. It was held in his other hand - multi-tasking,” Hopkinson said. Fredrick Tennyson Davis, 49, has been charged with an indecent act and two counts of fail to comply probation. Davis was charged with mischief and a similar indecent act on June 26, 2012, at a Markham library.
He received a suspended sentence and 12 months probation for the indecent act charge and a stay of proceedings for the mischief charge. When asked if Davis appeared threatening to the library staff or patrons, Hopkinson said he wasn’t sure if there was any threat. “I don’t think he had any free hands to make any threat,” the officer said.
“He sits down and a (26-year-old woman) sits next to him and he opens up his laptop,” Const. David Hopkinson said. The man then started masturbating with one hand while holding a cucumber with his other hand, the officer alleged.
“He was not using the cucumber (to pleasure himself), as far as I’m aware. It was held in his other hand - multi-tasking,” Hopkinson said. Fredrick Tennyson Davis, 49, has been charged with an indecent act and two counts of fail to comply probation. Davis was charged with mischief and a similar indecent act on June 26, 2012, at a Markham library.
He received a suspended sentence and 12 months probation for the indecent act charge and a stay of proceedings for the mischief charge. When asked if Davis appeared threatening to the library staff or patrons, Hopkinson said he wasn’t sure if there was any threat. “I don’t think he had any free hands to make any threat,” the officer said.
Dancing hamster accused of disability fraud
A 27-year-old Los Angeles man who worked as a dancing hamster in a series of Kia car commercials has been arrested for alleged collecting state disability insurance benefits under false pretences.
Leroy Barnes was accused of deceiving his doctors about his employment status while he received disability benefits.
Barnes was struck by a piece of ceiling during a sound check in 2010 at a West Los Angeles studio while working as a dancer. From September 2010 to September 2011 Barnes received state disability insurance benefits totalling more than $51,000.
YouTube link.
Barnes allegedly stating falsely that he was not employed during the year he received state disability insurance. It was during this period of time that investigators said Barnes starred in a Kia car commercial playing the role of a dancing hamster.
Leroy Barnes was accused of deceiving his doctors about his employment status while he received disability benefits.
Barnes was struck by a piece of ceiling during a sound check in 2010 at a West Los Angeles studio while working as a dancer. From September 2010 to September 2011 Barnes received state disability insurance benefits totalling more than $51,000.
YouTube link.
Barnes allegedly stating falsely that he was not employed during the year he received state disability insurance. It was during this period of time that investigators said Barnes starred in a Kia car commercial playing the role of a dancing hamster.
Police seek to reunite fingertip with rightful owner
Canadian police are looking for the owner of a fingertip recently found in Erin Township.
Last Thursday police were called to investigate after a fingertip was found near the Dundas entrance of the Erin fairgrounds.
So far, police have been unable to find whom the unaccounted appendage belongs to. “We’d really like to know who it belongs to,” said Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Derrick King. “The priority … is to identify who lost a fingertip and who it belongs to.” Other than the fingertip, King said there was no evidence of any other human remains at the scene.
While police haven’t ruled it out yet, the sergeant doesn’t expect that investigators suspect foul play has any role in the recent discovery. “I don’t think they expect foul play, but I guess that is what they’re trying to determine,” King said.
“We have to rule out different things, but I don’t think … that’s the direction they are going right now.” Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Wellington County OPP. Tips can also be sent anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
So far, police have been unable to find whom the unaccounted appendage belongs to. “We’d really like to know who it belongs to,” said Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Derrick King. “The priority … is to identify who lost a fingertip and who it belongs to.” Other than the fingertip, King said there was no evidence of any other human remains at the scene.
While police haven’t ruled it out yet, the sergeant doesn’t expect that investigators suspect foul play has any role in the recent discovery. “I don’t think they expect foul play, but I guess that is what they’re trying to determine,” King said.
“We have to rule out different things, but I don’t think … that’s the direction they are going right now.” Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Wellington County OPP. Tips can also be sent anonymously to Crime Stoppers.
Firefighters rescued kitten trapped in Superdrug ceiling
An eight-week-old kitten has been rescued by fire crews after getting stuck in the roof of a Superdrug store.
Staff contacted the RSPCA for help after customers heard a meowing noise coming from the ceiling cavity of the store in Greenwich, south east London.
When they realised the kitten was stuck, RSPCA inspectors set up a humane trap in the loft area of the building and waited for him to climb inside. They then contacted London Fire Brigade to help lower the black-and-white kitten to safety. Following the rescue the kitten was taken to the RSPCA's London South East branch, where staff named him Wispa.
Inspector Nick Wheelhouse said: "At first I don't think anyone could figure out where the meowing was coming from. Because of where the kitten was it was very difficult for us to rescue him without the help of the London Fire Brigade.
"They kindly came out and it was a great example of different agencies working together to save the young kitten. Unfortunately we have no idea how he got up there. It is a good job we got him down. He was still young and in need of some TLC. Thankfully he is now in the care of an RSPCA fosterer while we search for a home for him."
When they realised the kitten was stuck, RSPCA inspectors set up a humane trap in the loft area of the building and waited for him to climb inside. They then contacted London Fire Brigade to help lower the black-and-white kitten to safety. Following the rescue the kitten was taken to the RSPCA's London South East branch, where staff named him Wispa.
Inspector Nick Wheelhouse said: "At first I don't think anyone could figure out where the meowing was coming from. Because of where the kitten was it was very difficult for us to rescue him without the help of the London Fire Brigade.
"They kindly came out and it was a great example of different agencies working together to save the young kitten. Unfortunately we have no idea how he got up there. It is a good job we got him down. He was still young and in need of some TLC. Thankfully he is now in the care of an RSPCA fosterer while we search for a home for him."
Police release CCTV image of man they want to talk to about the theft of a tortoise
Police in Neath, South Wales, are appealing for the public’s help to identify a man in connection with the theft of a tortoise.
The theft occurred at the Zoars Ark Garden Centre on May 7th when a man entered the store, took the tortoise out of a glass tank, before hiding it under his jacket and walking off.
The suspect is described as being aged 25-35, with long dark hair and of large build, around 6ft in height. He was wearing a blue/green T-shirt with a cartoon character on the front.
Police are appealing to anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV picture to call them or Crimestoppers anonymously.
The theft occurred at the Zoars Ark Garden Centre on May 7th when a man entered the store, took the tortoise out of a glass tank, before hiding it under his jacket and walking off.
The suspect is described as being aged 25-35, with long dark hair and of large build, around 6ft in height. He was wearing a blue/green T-shirt with a cartoon character on the front.
Police are appealing to anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV picture to call them or Crimestoppers anonymously.
Fox behind footwear theft crimewave
A fox is stealing dozens of shoes in
a Leeds suburb and dumping them outside a woman's house. The problem has become so bad that Elaine Hewitt has been forced to put a
shoe rack outside her home in Horsforth so neighbours can reclaim their missing
footwear.
Ms Hewitt said the vulpine crimewave began a few months ago when she found a single shoe in her back garden. The fox is now leaving a shoe a day, ranging from sandals to work boots. Ms Hewitt, who has seen the fox carrying shoes, said the animal favoured leather footwear and the shoes are not chewed or damaged.
She believed it was stealing gardening shoes left outside people's homes. "First of all we just collected them thinking they were too good to throw in the bin," she said. "When the pile grew we did a little notice. We had a few phone calls from that and were able to give back and match up a couple of pairs.
YouTube link.
"Then I decided the fox was a further afield than just around our immediate vicinity which is when I decided to put the table out on the street. The number of vehicles and passers-by who stopped to ask about it, to look and also to take their shoes back was absolutely astounding." The fox appears to be the mother of five cubs and Ms Hewitt said she hoped the younger members of the family would not be taught about the shoe stealing habit.
Ms Hewitt said the vulpine crimewave began a few months ago when she found a single shoe in her back garden. The fox is now leaving a shoe a day, ranging from sandals to work boots. Ms Hewitt, who has seen the fox carrying shoes, said the animal favoured leather footwear and the shoes are not chewed or damaged.
She believed it was stealing gardening shoes left outside people's homes. "First of all we just collected them thinking they were too good to throw in the bin," she said. "When the pile grew we did a little notice. We had a few phone calls from that and were able to give back and match up a couple of pairs.
YouTube link.
"Then I decided the fox was a further afield than just around our immediate vicinity which is when I decided to put the table out on the street. The number of vehicles and passers-by who stopped to ask about it, to look and also to take their shoes back was absolutely astounding." The fox appears to be the mother of five cubs and Ms Hewitt said she hoped the younger members of the family would not be taught about the shoe stealing habit.
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