Thursday, July 10, 2014
Elephants love the rain
The herd of elephants at Save Elephant Foundation's Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, get very excited whenever it rains.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Cat appeared on greyhound track during race
This (almost) unflinching feline found itself on the track at a greyhound meeting in the city of Shepparton in Victoria, Australia, on Monday evening, as the pack of ferocious greyhounds thundered by.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Man visiting son in jail trapped in room for over 30 hours
A man was trapped in a visiting room at Cook County jail, Chicago, for 31 hours over the weekend
The man went to visit his son on Saturday, something he does every week. This weekend, the visit was moved to an area in the super-maximum security area.
The sheriff’s office says the man went into a door that was propped open and it closed behind him. He pounded on the concrete walls, but no one heard him.
Eventually, the man broke a sprinkler head and the fire department was called out and found him. He was stuck in the room from 6pm on Saturday until 1am on Monday. The man needed some stitches on his thumb from breaking the sprinkler.
With news video.
The man went to visit his son on Saturday, something he does every week. This weekend, the visit was moved to an area in the super-maximum security area.
The sheriff’s office says the man went into a door that was propped open and it closed behind him. He pounded on the concrete walls, but no one heard him.
Eventually, the man broke a sprinkler head and the fire department was called out and found him. He was stuck in the room from 6pm on Saturday until 1am on Monday. The man needed some stitches on his thumb from breaking the sprinkler.
With news video.
Policewoman came to the rescue after man discovered venomous snake in toilet
A construction workers in Alabama got the shock of his life on Saturday morning.
Willie Harris thought it was a joke when he saw a snake coming out of the toilet, but once he saw it move, he knew it was nothing to laugh about.
Harris’ boss called 911 and when the police showed up they devised a strategy to get the snake out. Police officer Alice Thompson used two batons to turn the snake. Once she had the snake in the right position, she grabbed it by its head.
"I was holding it actually on the corners of the mouth where the mouth was actually open at the time. Which for me, that was actually the first time I'd ever seen fangs that were folded back in a snake," Thompson said.
YouTube link.
She did all of this while her two male partners, as well as the construction workers, huddled in a corner and watched. Thompson then took the venomous cottonmouth outside and released it down the road from the construction site. If anyone other than Officer Thompson showed up, there likely would have definitely been a different outcome. "He'd be dead," said Harris.
Harris’ boss called 911 and when the police showed up they devised a strategy to get the snake out. Police officer Alice Thompson used two batons to turn the snake. Once she had the snake in the right position, she grabbed it by its head.
"I was holding it actually on the corners of the mouth where the mouth was actually open at the time. Which for me, that was actually the first time I'd ever seen fangs that were folded back in a snake," Thompson said.
YouTube link.
She did all of this while her two male partners, as well as the construction workers, huddled in a corner and watched. Thompson then took the venomous cottonmouth outside and released it down the road from the construction site. If anyone other than Officer Thompson showed up, there likely would have definitely been a different outcome. "He'd be dead," said Harris.
Mysterious crocodile found lurking in Greek lake
A six-foot crocodile has been found in a lake near the seaside town of Rethymno on the Greek island of Crete, terrifying locals who claim it's been feeding on lambs and ducks.
It is an unusual sight, as wild crocodiles are not known to inhabit Europe - most are found spread across Africa, Asia and America. Residents have been blaming the crocodile for missing lambs and ducks, and souvenir shops are now selling inflatable crocodiles.
"Yes, they (the locals) are very upset because they are in danger. There are farm lands and properties (nearby) and people are in danger, they are afraid," said local resident Nikistratos Charokopou. "There are rivers from which people draw water to irrigate their fields and they are afraid to visit their land," he added.
YouTube link.
Regional official Vangelis Mamangakis said it was unclear how long it has been there. Mamangakis said the crocodile was probably a pet that grew too big for its owner, who probably dumped him in the lake. Parts of the lake were fenced off and efforts will be made on Thursday to remove the crocodile.
There's a video of the crocodile filmed by a drone here.
It is an unusual sight, as wild crocodiles are not known to inhabit Europe - most are found spread across Africa, Asia and America. Residents have been blaming the crocodile for missing lambs and ducks, and souvenir shops are now selling inflatable crocodiles.
"Yes, they (the locals) are very upset because they are in danger. There are farm lands and properties (nearby) and people are in danger, they are afraid," said local resident Nikistratos Charokopou. "There are rivers from which people draw water to irrigate their fields and they are afraid to visit their land," he added.
YouTube link.
Regional official Vangelis Mamangakis said it was unclear how long it has been there. Mamangakis said the crocodile was probably a pet that grew too big for its owner, who probably dumped him in the lake. Parts of the lake were fenced off and efforts will be made on Thursday to remove the crocodile.
There's a video of the crocodile filmed by a drone here.
Man faces illegal weapons charges after building crossbow to protect himself from vampires
A man in western Sweden faces charges for illegal weapons possession after building a crossbow to protect himself from vampires.
The man in Uddevalla, western Sweden, hates vampires.
He hates them so much that he built a crossbow at home and had it aimed at the door. The man had a history of weapons violations, and police were on their way to pick him up for a trial relating to a breach of knife laws. Upon entering his apartment they discovered that a crossbow, with arrow at the ready, was pointing straight at the door.
"Today I am going to go out and kill vampires," the man had written on his Facebook page. Other social media statuses included "Garlic!" and "What do you do when the blood is all gone?" The man admitted at the trial that he owns two crossbows, one which he had purchased and the "Zero - God's punishment", which he had made by hand.
The man said that he had the weapons because he felt threatened, and said that he admits to his crimes if indeed owning a crossbow is illegal. But if there is no clear law against it, he wants the weapons back. Police tried out the crossbow to see if it functioned - and lodged an arrow into a wall 22 metres away.
He hates them so much that he built a crossbow at home and had it aimed at the door. The man had a history of weapons violations, and police were on their way to pick him up for a trial relating to a breach of knife laws. Upon entering his apartment they discovered that a crossbow, with arrow at the ready, was pointing straight at the door.
"Today I am going to go out and kill vampires," the man had written on his Facebook page. Other social media statuses included "Garlic!" and "What do you do when the blood is all gone?" The man admitted at the trial that he owns two crossbows, one which he had purchased and the "Zero - God's punishment", which he had made by hand.
The man said that he had the weapons because he felt threatened, and said that he admits to his crimes if indeed owning a crossbow is illegal. But if there is no clear law against it, he wants the weapons back. Police tried out the crossbow to see if it functioned - and lodged an arrow into a wall 22 metres away.
Man offered six stamps as compensation after Royal Mail lost his passport
A holidaymaker was offered six stamps as compensation after Royal Mail lost his passport before a trip.
Oliver Keynes, from Bristol, used the firm's special delivery service to send the passport to Trailfinders as part of a visa application for India.
But when the firm opened the envelope the passport was not inside. Mr Keynes' trip was cut short from three weeks to nine days because of the loss. Royal Mail has now offered to reimburse Mr Keynes for the passport costs. But the firm said that it could not cover "unlimited liability for costs incurred" unless extra "consequential loss cover is also purchased at time of posting".
A spokesman added: "We process millions of items each day without incident and take seriously any customer reports of loss or undelivered items. We will in this instance reimburse Mr Keynes for the cost of his passport and postage costs. Royal Mail would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Keynes for this incident and for the obvious inconvenience caused."
Mr Keynes said: "I was asking for a refund of the costs that I've had to spend as a result of having my passport stolen. "I'd also like, if not an apology, then a little bit of feeling like I've been treated with respect for something that was nothing to do with me." Mr Keynes said the loss of his passport had cost him up to £500 extra as he had had to rearrange flights.
But when the firm opened the envelope the passport was not inside. Mr Keynes' trip was cut short from three weeks to nine days because of the loss. Royal Mail has now offered to reimburse Mr Keynes for the passport costs. But the firm said that it could not cover "unlimited liability for costs incurred" unless extra "consequential loss cover is also purchased at time of posting".
A spokesman added: "We process millions of items each day without incident and take seriously any customer reports of loss or undelivered items. We will in this instance reimburse Mr Keynes for the cost of his passport and postage costs. Royal Mail would like to apologise unreservedly to Mr Keynes for this incident and for the obvious inconvenience caused."
Mr Keynes said: "I was asking for a refund of the costs that I've had to spend as a result of having my passport stolen. "I'd also like, if not an apology, then a little bit of feeling like I've been treated with respect for something that was nothing to do with me." Mr Keynes said the loss of his passport had cost him up to £500 extra as he had had to rearrange flights.
Bookmakers' staff sacked after vunerable man fed dog-food pie
Three people have been sacked from a William Hill branch after feeding a vulnerable customer a dog-food pie while others barked at him.
The disturbing act, carried out at the Huddersfield Road branch in Oldham, Greater Manchester, came to light over the weekend.
The victim who is a regular customer in the shop is well-known for placing very small bets at around 5p and often asks staff for food because he cannot afford any. On this occasion staff obliged and the now former manager of the branch came up with the plan to mix Pedigree Chum in a meat and potato pie, and serve it to him on a plate with dog biscuits on the side.
Other customers were all in on the joke and barked at the man while he ate. The manager later joked on the phone to a friend that he would soon have a “shiny coat”. It is believed the following day she humiliated him again but this time she stirred dog food into an Uncle Ben’s snack pot before giving it to him.
Witnesses contacted the company to report the incident and an investigation was launched before CCTV footage which showed them discussing their plan was found. It is believed that the manager was sacked in a disciplinary hearing for feeding dog food to the customer, while the more junior members of staff were dismissed for not reporting her. A spokesman for William Hill said: “We were wholly disappointed and appalled by the incident. Appropriate action was taken with those involved and the case was reported to the police.”
The victim who is a regular customer in the shop is well-known for placing very small bets at around 5p and often asks staff for food because he cannot afford any. On this occasion staff obliged and the now former manager of the branch came up with the plan to mix Pedigree Chum in a meat and potato pie, and serve it to him on a plate with dog biscuits on the side.
Other customers were all in on the joke and barked at the man while he ate. The manager later joked on the phone to a friend that he would soon have a “shiny coat”. It is believed the following day she humiliated him again but this time she stirred dog food into an Uncle Ben’s snack pot before giving it to him.
Witnesses contacted the company to report the incident and an investigation was launched before CCTV footage which showed them discussing their plan was found. It is believed that the manager was sacked in a disciplinary hearing for feeding dog food to the customer, while the more junior members of staff were dismissed for not reporting her. A spokesman for William Hill said: “We were wholly disappointed and appalled by the incident. Appropriate action was taken with those involved and the case was reported to the police.”
'Super' foxes shot dead as their burrowing into banks of lake risked 'serious' flooding to homes
A group of 'super' foxes were shot dead in Danson Park, Bexley, south east London, after burrowing into the banks of the lake, risking "serious" flooding to 80 homes.
B & D Pest Control disposed of 14 foxes which had dug deep holes into Danson Dam, having been called out by Bexley Council because it was an emergency.
Worried neighbours could hear the shots from afar and have labelled the act "inhumane" and "sickening". Local resident
David Chamberlain, 54, said: "The traps were very loud, imagine a gate clanging, that is how loud it was and I heard it twice from my house.
I was quite shocked because the park is full of wildlife
"The park is a nature reserve and you expect there to be wildlife. I think it's inhumane and sickening." Urban wildlife consultant John Bryant is working with Bexley Council on what to do in the future for the area after the incident on June 16. He said: "I went up to Danson Park years ago and they had the same problem. Shooting the foxes is pointless because within three days new ones will move in. The burrowing into the embankment will weaken it and the foxes will keep digging if they can. The bank needs to be dealt with it and that is what I will be looking at with the council." A spokesman for Bexley Pest Control said: “ I have worked in pest control for more than 20 years and never heard of foxes burrowing that deep, they would have to be super foxes to do that.
“They normally burrow under garden sheds, I have never heard of them causing structural damage. It is illegal to move foxes from one area to another, they have to be disposed of." A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs policy statement in 2010 said: "Previous attempts to kill urban foxes to achieve a sustained population reduction have not been successful in the long-term because of the mobility of foxes and their ability to produce offspring in large numbers; territories made vacant by culling resident foxes are rapidly colonised by new individuals. The most effective strategies to resolve fox problems have primarily relied on non-lethal methods, focusing on preventative and deterrent strategies."
A Bexley Council spokesman said: "During one of the regular inspections of the dam it was revealed that foxes had burrowed deep into the clay and soil that make up the embankment behind the dam. The damage was enough to cause serious concern. Should the dam break, up to 80 houses downstream would be at serious risk of flooding, major disruption would occur. This was an unusual situation and had not occurred before at the park. B & D Pest Control carried out the operation using approved methods. They are licensed to use firearms with considerable experience in this kind of pest control. The company informed Bexleyheath police who raised no objections and the foxes were humanely destroyed on the night of the operation using firearms. Our engineers are now in discussion with a wildlife specialist to find a longer term solution that will discourage future attention from foxes." Bexley Police said they were aware of the incident.
"The park is a nature reserve and you expect there to be wildlife. I think it's inhumane and sickening." Urban wildlife consultant John Bryant is working with Bexley Council on what to do in the future for the area after the incident on June 16. He said: "I went up to Danson Park years ago and they had the same problem. Shooting the foxes is pointless because within three days new ones will move in. The burrowing into the embankment will weaken it and the foxes will keep digging if they can. The bank needs to be dealt with it and that is what I will be looking at with the council." A spokesman for Bexley Pest Control said: “ I have worked in pest control for more than 20 years and never heard of foxes burrowing that deep, they would have to be super foxes to do that.
“They normally burrow under garden sheds, I have never heard of them causing structural damage. It is illegal to move foxes from one area to another, they have to be disposed of." A Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs policy statement in 2010 said: "Previous attempts to kill urban foxes to achieve a sustained population reduction have not been successful in the long-term because of the mobility of foxes and their ability to produce offspring in large numbers; territories made vacant by culling resident foxes are rapidly colonised by new individuals. The most effective strategies to resolve fox problems have primarily relied on non-lethal methods, focusing on preventative and deterrent strategies."
A Bexley Council spokesman said: "During one of the regular inspections of the dam it was revealed that foxes had burrowed deep into the clay and soil that make up the embankment behind the dam. The damage was enough to cause serious concern. Should the dam break, up to 80 houses downstream would be at serious risk of flooding, major disruption would occur. This was an unusual situation and had not occurred before at the park. B & D Pest Control carried out the operation using approved methods. They are licensed to use firearms with considerable experience in this kind of pest control. The company informed Bexleyheath police who raised no objections and the foxes were humanely destroyed on the night of the operation using firearms. Our engineers are now in discussion with a wildlife specialist to find a longer term solution that will discourage future attention from foxes." Bexley Police said they were aware of the incident.
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