Saturday, April 04, 2015
Mother and daughter elephants are reunited
This is the moment MeBai and her mother Mae Yui are reunited after a separation of over three years. MeBai had been sold to a trekking business in Thailand when she was aged 3½, but was too young and began to lose weight, so could no longer work.
She was then taken to the Elephant Nature Park. Her mother Mae Yui, worked for a different trekking business. Lek Chailert from the Elephant Nature Park discovered this and contacted Mae Yui's owner who agreed to retire her so that she and her daughter could be reunited and live free together at the park.
YouTube link.
There's more information about the story behind the reunion here and here.
She was then taken to the Elephant Nature Park. Her mother Mae Yui, worked for a different trekking business. Lek Chailert from the Elephant Nature Park discovered this and contacted Mae Yui's owner who agreed to retire her so that she and her daughter could be reunited and live free together at the park.
YouTube link.
There's more information about the story behind the reunion here and here.
Woman charged with murder after saying dog shot her boyfriend
The girlfriend of an off-duty police officer has been charged with murder after claiming he had been shot when the gun accidentally discharged as she tried to remove it from his dog's mouth.
Tyaina Finch was charged with murder and aggravated assault in the death of Mark Hudson in Darby Township, near Philadelphia, last weekend.
Finch initially told investigators that the officer's yellow Labrador had his service revolver in its mouth, and as she attempted to pull it out, it fired, killing the officer.
But Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said the statements by the 27-year-old Glenolden woman were "inconsistent." She has now been charged with first-degree murder and related crimes and ordered held without bail in the death of Mark Hudson, 26, also of Glenolden. Whelan described the couple's relationship as "tumultuous" and said officers had been called to the home numerous times for domestic disturbances. "We believe she acted on this particular day with specific intent to kill [Hudson]," said Whelan. Finch already was being held in jail for allegedly making terroristic threats and other charges.
Hudson had filed a protection-from-abuse order on Jan. 30, saying Finch "came at me with a knife and threatened to kill me." She also allegedly struck him in the face and said she would burn down his house. The order was dismissed on Feb. 19 when Hudson failed to appear in court for the hearing. Last Saturday at about 4pm, Whelan said, Finch told detectives the two were "playing around" in the master bedroom of Hudson's house. According to court records, the two were "smacking" each other when Hudson "grabbed her from the back and pushed her down on the ground." Finch yelled at Hudson to stop.
The dog, named Simba, was getting in the middle of the two of them. As Hudson went to close the window blinds Finch said she saw the dog carrying his service weapon in its mouth. She grabbed the gun and it discharged. She called 911. On Monday, Whelan said Finch changed her story, telling detectives she wanted to tell the truth. Her statement was taken at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, where she was being treated for diabetes, he said. "This time she tells us a completely different version," said Whelan. She changed her version to say she had fired the gun in self-defence after Mr Hudson attacked her. But Whelan said her story became inconsistent again. Hudson died at Presbyterian Hospital of his injuries. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
But Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said the statements by the 27-year-old Glenolden woman were "inconsistent." She has now been charged with first-degree murder and related crimes and ordered held without bail in the death of Mark Hudson, 26, also of Glenolden. Whelan described the couple's relationship as "tumultuous" and said officers had been called to the home numerous times for domestic disturbances. "We believe she acted on this particular day with specific intent to kill [Hudson]," said Whelan. Finch already was being held in jail for allegedly making terroristic threats and other charges.
Hudson had filed a protection-from-abuse order on Jan. 30, saying Finch "came at me with a knife and threatened to kill me." She also allegedly struck him in the face and said she would burn down his house. The order was dismissed on Feb. 19 when Hudson failed to appear in court for the hearing. Last Saturday at about 4pm, Whelan said, Finch told detectives the two were "playing around" in the master bedroom of Hudson's house. According to court records, the two were "smacking" each other when Hudson "grabbed her from the back and pushed her down on the ground." Finch yelled at Hudson to stop.
The dog, named Simba, was getting in the middle of the two of them. As Hudson went to close the window blinds Finch said she saw the dog carrying his service weapon in its mouth. She grabbed the gun and it discharged. She called 911. On Monday, Whelan said Finch changed her story, telling detectives she wanted to tell the truth. Her statement was taken at Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, where she was being treated for diabetes, he said. "This time she tells us a completely different version," said Whelan. She changed her version to say she had fired the gun in self-defence after Mr Hudson attacked her. But Whelan said her story became inconsistent again. Hudson died at Presbyterian Hospital of his injuries. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Texas trooper ordered to undergo counselling after posing for photo with Snoop Dogg
A state trooper has been reprimanded, and will be required to undergo counselling, after posing for a photo with Snoop Dogg at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, because the rapper has several convictions for drug possession.
Billy Spears was working security at the event in March when Snoop Dogg asked to take a picture with him. The artist posted the image to Instagram with the comment, “Me n my deputy dogg”.
Department of Public Safety and Transportation officials saw the posting and cited Spears for deficiencies that require counselling by a supervisor. Spears’s attorney says his client didn’t know about the rapper’s criminal record.
Spears cannot appeal the citation because it isn’t a formal disciplinary action. A department spokesman said the agency did not discuss or release specifics of personnel issues unless they result in disciplinary action.
Billy Spears was working security at the event in March when Snoop Dogg asked to take a picture with him. The artist posted the image to Instagram with the comment, “Me n my deputy dogg”.
Department of Public Safety and Transportation officials saw the posting and cited Spears for deficiencies that require counselling by a supervisor. Spears’s attorney says his client didn’t know about the rapper’s criminal record.
Spears cannot appeal the citation because it isn’t a formal disciplinary action. A department spokesman said the agency did not discuss or release specifics of personnel issues unless they result in disciplinary action.
Dog lay down alongside suspected drug dealers being searched by police
During a joint operation on Thursday by the civil police and military in Florianópolis, Brazil, a dog lay down next to suspected drug dealers and "imitated" the men who were being searched.
According to officers, when the suspects lay down to be searched, the dog voluntarily joined the detainees.
The operation resulted in the arrest of two people, including a man quoted by police as a leader of a criminal gang that operates both within and outside the prisons of Santa Catarina.
He had been on the run for almost two years, according to the Military Police. According to officers about 1.5 pounds of marijuana, and a precision scale, cocaine, a restricted-calibre pistol and ammunition were seized
According to officers, when the suspects lay down to be searched, the dog voluntarily joined the detainees.
The operation resulted in the arrest of two people, including a man quoted by police as a leader of a criminal gang that operates both within and outside the prisons of Santa Catarina.
He had been on the run for almost two years, according to the Military Police. According to officers about 1.5 pounds of marijuana, and a precision scale, cocaine, a restricted-calibre pistol and ammunition were seized
Huge menagerie including a leopard, lemurs and monkeys found in suitcase at Russian airport
Customs officers at Domodedovo Airport near Moscow, Russia, intercepted a huge array of rare animals stuffed inside a suitcase on Wednesday.
A Russian woman was returning from Indonesia via Qatar.
When the suitcase was put through an X-ray machine it become clear that it was a non-standard cargo. Inside were 55 different kinds of snake, 35 lizards, turtles, six lemurs, two monkeys, two baby crocodiles and a baby leopard. The animals were stuffed inside tiny boxes and plastic containers, and the snakes in cloth bags.
The owner of the frightened, dejected cargo calmly explained that she had bought the animals at an Indonesian market, paying a total of about $200. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, most of the animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
YouTube link.
Ministry officials also said that they will press for criminal proceedings to be instigated against the woman if the information about the smuggling of wild animals is confirmed. If convicted she faces up to seven years in jail. All of the animals, apart for two baby crocodiles that were dead, were taken to a nearby animal shelter.
There's a large photo gallery here.
When the suitcase was put through an X-ray machine it become clear that it was a non-standard cargo. Inside were 55 different kinds of snake, 35 lizards, turtles, six lemurs, two monkeys, two baby crocodiles and a baby leopard. The animals were stuffed inside tiny boxes and plastic containers, and the snakes in cloth bags.
The owner of the frightened, dejected cargo calmly explained that she had bought the animals at an Indonesian market, paying a total of about $200. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment, most of the animals are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
YouTube link.
Ministry officials also said that they will press for criminal proceedings to be instigated against the woman if the information about the smuggling of wild animals is confirmed. If convicted she faces up to seven years in jail. All of the animals, apart for two baby crocodiles that were dead, were taken to a nearby animal shelter.
There's a large photo gallery here.
Little girl devastated at ploughing of her favourite field
Five-year-old Alannah from Co Kilkenny, Ireland, had a terribly traumatic experience earlier this week.
When Alannah started crying loudly in the bedroom of her home, her mother Jenny Blackmore went to see what was wrong.
Jenny went into her daughter's bedroom, where she saw Alannah clutching her toy elephant, looking out the window and crying her eyes out as a tractor ploughed a field across the road.
"I don't want this to happen Mammy," a distraught Alannah tells Jenny as she enters her bedroom. "You don't want what to happen?" Jenny asks. Alannah then turns to her bedroom window and replies "this". "It's going to be ruined," Alannah says. "It's only a field," Jenny gently tells her daughter. Alannah then raises several good points about why she'll miss the field across from her house.
"I won't be able to play in it any more. That's why I was crying because I will miss it. It's going to be turned into something not useful," Alannah says in between her sad gulps. "Then nobody will like it. Nobody will want to play in it any more. But I still love it. Now I won't be allowed in the muck and I don't want it to be destroyed. I don't want this to happen," a sobbing Alannah says as she clutches her elephant close to her.
"I don't want this to happen Mam. This was the field that I found. That's where me and Heather play pirates and I don't want it to go," she says. "That's where me and my friends play football. I want it to stop. I want it to stop. I don't know who told him to do it and I don't want it to happen. It's not nice," she adds. "No, it's not," agrees Jenny. The tractor can be heard whirring in the background as Alannah looks at the camera and says once again: "I don't want it to happen".
You can see the video of a devastated Allanah here.
"I don't want this to happen Mammy," a distraught Alannah tells Jenny as she enters her bedroom. "You don't want what to happen?" Jenny asks. Alannah then turns to her bedroom window and replies "this". "It's going to be ruined," Alannah says. "It's only a field," Jenny gently tells her daughter. Alannah then raises several good points about why she'll miss the field across from her house.
"I won't be able to play in it any more. That's why I was crying because I will miss it. It's going to be turned into something not useful," Alannah says in between her sad gulps. "Then nobody will like it. Nobody will want to play in it any more. But I still love it. Now I won't be allowed in the muck and I don't want it to be destroyed. I don't want this to happen," a sobbing Alannah says as she clutches her elephant close to her.
"I don't want this to happen Mam. This was the field that I found. That's where me and Heather play pirates and I don't want it to go," she says. "That's where me and my friends play football. I want it to stop. I want it to stop. I don't know who told him to do it and I don't want it to happen. It's not nice," she adds. "No, it's not," agrees Jenny. The tractor can be heard whirring in the background as Alannah looks at the camera and says once again: "I don't want it to happen".
You can see the video of a devastated Allanah here.
Fake owls fail to scare seagulls that have halted demolition of former hospital
Two model owls drafted in to speed up a controversial housing development appear to have let their bosses down.
The owls were placed on the roof of the former Prestatyn Community Hospital in Denbighshire, Wales, to frighten away seagulls, and they had the right effect initially, but the “squatters” were not taken in for long. The determination of the gulls to stay put has delighted local resident David Morris.
Mr Morris has been campaigning against the proposal by Pure Residential and Commercial to demolish the former hospital and build a mixture of houses and apartments on the site. The company had planned to start demolishing the property, which closed two years ago, on March 23. However, the move was put on hold after it was pointed out that seagulls were nesting in the chimney.
Officials at Natural Resources Wales said the nests could not be disturbed until chicks had flown away. Mr Morris, who, as chairman of the League of Friends has led the fight to try to save the hospital from closure. He said the delay would give him and other objectors time to prepare their arguments against the scheme. Mr Morris said he was disappointed when the developers placed the two dummy owls on the roof earlier this week.
He said: “At first the seagulls panicked but after a while they seemed to realise that the owls were not real, so they came back, which I’m very pleased about. I think it was very petty of Pure to take such a step in the first place.” Goronwy Owen, Pure’s development manager, said: “We were using nature to solve the problem and I’m disappointed to learn that the owls are not working. They have worked on other sites. We want to get on with the demolition as soon as possible and will now have to think of plan B.”
Mr Morris has been campaigning against the proposal by Pure Residential and Commercial to demolish the former hospital and build a mixture of houses and apartments on the site. The company had planned to start demolishing the property, which closed two years ago, on March 23. However, the move was put on hold after it was pointed out that seagulls were nesting in the chimney.
Officials at Natural Resources Wales said the nests could not be disturbed until chicks had flown away. Mr Morris, who, as chairman of the League of Friends has led the fight to try to save the hospital from closure. He said the delay would give him and other objectors time to prepare their arguments against the scheme. Mr Morris said he was disappointed when the developers placed the two dummy owls on the roof earlier this week.
He said: “At first the seagulls panicked but after a while they seemed to realise that the owls were not real, so they came back, which I’m very pleased about. I think it was very petty of Pure to take such a step in the first place.” Goronwy Owen, Pure’s development manager, said: “We were using nature to solve the problem and I’m disappointed to learn that the owls are not working. They have worked on other sites. We want to get on with the demolition as soon as possible and will now have to think of plan B.”
Hospital blames private company who blame someone else for ambluance mishap
Hospital bosses have blamed a private company for a spelling mistake on its car park signs.
Two notices at St Mary's on the Isle of Wight warn drivers not to use an ambluance parking only area.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust said private firm Car Parking Partnership (CPP), whose logo appears on the signs, had made the mistake.
A spokesperson for CPP said: "The production of this sign was subcontracted to a third party by CPP. The misspelling will be corrected as soon as possible."
Two notices at St Mary's on the Isle of Wight warn drivers not to use an ambluance parking only area.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust said private firm Car Parking Partnership (CPP), whose logo appears on the signs, had made the mistake.
A spokesperson for CPP said: "The production of this sign was subcontracted to a third party by CPP. The misspelling will be corrected as soon as possible."
Pig rescued from swimming pool by firefighters
A pig has been rescued from a swimming pool by firefighters.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 4:50pm on Thursday to the pig stuck in a swimming pool in Ashley Heath, near Ringwood. One crew from Ferndown attended as did the specialist animal rescue unit from Poole.
Once in attendance, the crews secured the pig, known as Pigwig, with strops and requested attendance of another appliance which was mobilised from Ringwood.
The crew rescued the pig from the swimming using specialist animal rescue slideboards, strops and lines to haul it from the pool. The rescue was complete by just after 5.30pm.
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 4:50pm on Thursday to the pig stuck in a swimming pool in Ashley Heath, near Ringwood. One crew from Ferndown attended as did the specialist animal rescue unit from Poole.
Once in attendance, the crews secured the pig, known as Pigwig, with strops and requested attendance of another appliance which was mobilised from Ringwood.
The crew rescued the pig from the swimming using specialist animal rescue slideboards, strops and lines to haul it from the pool. The rescue was complete by just after 5.30pm.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)