Sunday, April 12, 2015
Chimpanzee deals with irritating drone
This chimp at Royal Burgers' Zoo at Arnhem in the Netherlands, used his stick to deal with the prying electronic intruder before his companions investigated further.
YouTube link.
YouTube link.
Baby sea lion found at school detained by police
Sheriff’s deputies had an unusual suspect in the back of their patrol squad car in Imperial Beach, San Diego, California, earlier this week.
A sea lion pup wandered away from the shoreline on Wednesday and waddled five blocks to Mar Vista High School. School staff called in San Diego County sheriff’s deputies to “investigate.”
Deputies detained the little sea lion and put him in the back of the patrol car. Animal Control officers and SeaWorld workers arrived soon after to tend to the pup. Sheriff’s deputies jokingly described attempting to figure out the sea lion’s motive.
“While deputy sheriffs attempted to interview him as to his activities, he clammed up and requested his lawyer,” they said. On a serious note, an increasing number of sea lion pups, in search of food, are washing up on California's shores and scientists have said they don't know the remedy.
A sea lion pup wandered away from the shoreline on Wednesday and waddled five blocks to Mar Vista High School. School staff called in San Diego County sheriff’s deputies to “investigate.”
Deputies detained the little sea lion and put him in the back of the patrol car. Animal Control officers and SeaWorld workers arrived soon after to tend to the pup. Sheriff’s deputies jokingly described attempting to figure out the sea lion’s motive.
“While deputy sheriffs attempted to interview him as to his activities, he clammed up and requested his lawyer,” they said. On a serious note, an increasing number of sea lion pups, in search of food, are washing up on California's shores and scientists have said they don't know the remedy.
Man faces jail for changing course of river
A jury in Mason County, Washington state, have found a Tahuya man guilty of redirecting the Tahuya River behind his home.
William Cayo, Sr. was charged after an incident in 2013, when officers witnessed him using a bulldozer to fill in 1.5 acres of river bed.
The Tahuya River is a fragile ecosystem. It empties into the Hood Canal, where salmon are known to swim up its waters to spawn.
It's a habitat wildlife officials believe Cayo severely damaged.
"All he was trying to do was save his house and his family," Matt Just said.
Just lives downstream from Cayo. Flooding is a chronic problem, he says, regularly threatening homes. According to charging documents, Cayo told wildlife officials he'd "already lost one home to the river" and "did not intend to lose another home." When officials warned him he'd need a permit, he replied he was tired of asking for help "and he was going to finish his work…he had nothing to lose besides his home … and already suffered several heart attacks recently."
"I can understand where he's coming from because his house is right on the water, and if it floods, it's gone," Just said. By trying to protect his home, law enforcement says, Cayo endangered many more. He not only put his neighbours' homes at risk, but also created potentially permanent damage to the river's ecosystem by "suffocating and preventing the emergence of salmonids and other small fish."
The environmental effects "may not be felt until the 2016-2017 fish runs," one document reads. "He should have gone the right way and gotten a permit, yes," Just said. However, Just claims he and some of his neighbours can't always afford the cost of required permits. Court documents claim Cayo told officers he "did not need any permits to protect his home." Cayo now faces 364 days in jail and $16,000 worth of fines. His sentencing is scheduled for April 17.
With news video.
Just lives downstream from Cayo. Flooding is a chronic problem, he says, regularly threatening homes. According to charging documents, Cayo told wildlife officials he'd "already lost one home to the river" and "did not intend to lose another home." When officials warned him he'd need a permit, he replied he was tired of asking for help "and he was going to finish his work…he had nothing to lose besides his home … and already suffered several heart attacks recently."
"I can understand where he's coming from because his house is right on the water, and if it floods, it's gone," Just said. By trying to protect his home, law enforcement says, Cayo endangered many more. He not only put his neighbours' homes at risk, but also created potentially permanent damage to the river's ecosystem by "suffocating and preventing the emergence of salmonids and other small fish."
The environmental effects "may not be felt until the 2016-2017 fish runs," one document reads. "He should have gone the right way and gotten a permit, yes," Just said. However, Just claims he and some of his neighbours can't always afford the cost of required permits. Court documents claim Cayo told officers he "did not need any permits to protect his home." Cayo now faces 364 days in jail and $16,000 worth of fines. His sentencing is scheduled for April 17.
With news video.
Father and son are extremely proud of their handmade wooden car
An innovative wooden car made by a father-son duo has been attracting visitors in Patiala, south eastern Punjab, northern India. Powered by a Maruti 800 engine, the entire body has been carved out of teak.
The petrol-driven car stands out because of its design. The brains behind the unique car, Amandeep Singh owes it to his carpenter father. Amandeep said he encountered a major problem when he had to fit in the engine.
But their persistence paid off and their happiness knew no bounds when it first hit the roads. The father-son duo had to put in 12 hours daily for two months to complete the car, which cost 400,000 rupees (£4,400, $6,400).
YouTube link.
But driving down the lanes of Patiala in the new car with people looking with awe makes their day. Mohinder Singh, a seasoned carpenter, gave the perfect shape to the car conceived by his son.
The petrol-driven car stands out because of its design. The brains behind the unique car, Amandeep Singh owes it to his carpenter father. Amandeep said he encountered a major problem when he had to fit in the engine.
But their persistence paid off and their happiness knew no bounds when it first hit the roads. The father-son duo had to put in 12 hours daily for two months to complete the car, which cost 400,000 rupees (£4,400, $6,400).
YouTube link.
But driving down the lanes of Patiala in the new car with people looking with awe makes their day. Mohinder Singh, a seasoned carpenter, gave the perfect shape to the car conceived by his son.
Woman has turned to psychics in bid to find stolen dog
A woman in Queensland, Australia, has been told by two animal psychics and an anonymous informant her lost dog has been stolen by a young woman living in central Gympie.
Lisa Jones' beloved pet, Leroy, a seven-month-old Papillion dog, was stolen shortly after she moved to Cooloola Cove about three months ago.
So desperate to be reunited with her best friend, Ms Jones has turned to two separate animal psychics to try and track Leroy down.
The animal lover contacted one psychic two months ago and last week had a second reading in a bid to pinpoint Leroy's location. Both psychics relayed the same information - that a young woman in her late teens or early 20s was in possession of the dog in central Gympie. "I feel he is so close yet so far," Ms Jones said. Adding further credence to the information supplied by the two psychics is an anonymous caller her two weeks ago made contact with Ms Jones saying the same thing.
"I was told a woman took the dog from my yard in Cooloola Cove," Ms Jones said. Leroy suffers from a small hernia on his stomach which is visible and Ms Jones has made contact with veterinary surgeries in Gympie and surrounding districts hoping her pet's wrongful owner had sought medical attention. "Nothing," Ms Jones said. "This woman hasn't take Leroy to any vets that I know of."
Leroy's owner has "bombed" Cooloola Cove and Gympie in her precious free time with flyers looking for her lost dog, spending every spare cent on printing costs. Ms Jones said she knew Leroy was loveable but appealed for the person responsible for his disappearance to "do the right thing". "If you love him so much, just realise his family does too," Ms Jones said. Ms Jones has asked anyone who may know something about Leroy to contact her. "Surely someone has seen something or knows something," Ms Jones said.
The animal lover contacted one psychic two months ago and last week had a second reading in a bid to pinpoint Leroy's location. Both psychics relayed the same information - that a young woman in her late teens or early 20s was in possession of the dog in central Gympie. "I feel he is so close yet so far," Ms Jones said. Adding further credence to the information supplied by the two psychics is an anonymous caller her two weeks ago made contact with Ms Jones saying the same thing.
"I was told a woman took the dog from my yard in Cooloola Cove," Ms Jones said. Leroy suffers from a small hernia on his stomach which is visible and Ms Jones has made contact with veterinary surgeries in Gympie and surrounding districts hoping her pet's wrongful owner had sought medical attention. "Nothing," Ms Jones said. "This woman hasn't take Leroy to any vets that I know of."
Leroy's owner has "bombed" Cooloola Cove and Gympie in her precious free time with flyers looking for her lost dog, spending every spare cent on printing costs. Ms Jones said she knew Leroy was loveable but appealed for the person responsible for his disappearance to "do the right thing". "If you love him so much, just realise his family does too," Ms Jones said. Ms Jones has asked anyone who may know something about Leroy to contact her. "Surely someone has seen something or knows something," Ms Jones said.
Boy partially blinded by fairy wand has lost court battle for damages
A boy from Co Derry in Northern Ireland, who was partially blinded after being hit in the eye by a classmate waving her fairy wand has lost a High Court battle for damages.
The child’s family had sued the Western Education and Library Board for alleged negligence over the accident which occurred back in 2009 when he was aged nine.
On Friday Mr Justice Stephens backed their account that he did lose the sight in his left eye due to being struck by the girl said to have been casting a spell at the time. But he held that the teachers at the primary school in Co Derry had properly assessed the wand and supervised the rehearsal. Dismissing the claim, the judge said: “I do not consider the plaintiff has established any fault on the part of the defendant.”
The boy had been onstage at the time with up to 200 other pupils getting ready for a production of their school play. The court heard another girl dressed as a fairy had been allowed to carry a wand with a star on it which allegedly inflicted the injury. Delivering judgment, Mr Justice Stephens praised the boy and his mother for the honesty of their evidence. Even though questions were raised over which eye was struck, the judge found it had been the one in which he subsequently lost sight.
Dealing with the issue of liability, however, he said the teacher with responsibility at the time had carried out an assessment of the wand and the girl holding it. “The overwhelming evidence is the particular girl was timid and not likely to behave in an inappropriate way,” he pointed out. Entering judgment for the defendant, Mr Justice Stephens confirmed: “The rehearsal was appropriately supervised.”
On Friday Mr Justice Stephens backed their account that he did lose the sight in his left eye due to being struck by the girl said to have been casting a spell at the time. But he held that the teachers at the primary school in Co Derry had properly assessed the wand and supervised the rehearsal. Dismissing the claim, the judge said: “I do not consider the plaintiff has established any fault on the part of the defendant.”
The boy had been onstage at the time with up to 200 other pupils getting ready for a production of their school play. The court heard another girl dressed as a fairy had been allowed to carry a wand with a star on it which allegedly inflicted the injury. Delivering judgment, Mr Justice Stephens praised the boy and his mother for the honesty of their evidence. Even though questions were raised over which eye was struck, the judge found it had been the one in which he subsequently lost sight.
Dealing with the issue of liability, however, he said the teacher with responsibility at the time had carried out an assessment of the wand and the girl holding it. “The overwhelming evidence is the particular girl was timid and not likely to behave in an inappropriate way,” he pointed out. Entering judgment for the defendant, Mr Justice Stephens confirmed: “The rehearsal was appropriately supervised.”
Flaming cannonball set fire to historic boathouse
A historic thatched boathouse at Warwick Castle went up in flames after it was hit by a flaming cannonball launched from a wooden trebuchet.
The launch.
YouTube link.
Sparks from the cannonball, which was fired from the huge 22-tonne wooden trebuchet, ignited the roof of the 119-year-old boathouse. Rescue crews, including 30 firefighters, dashed to the scene of the blaze which broke out shortly after 5.45pm on Thursday.
Families watched in disbelief as the thatched roof caught fire after the final launch of the trebuchet. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they sent three fire engines to tackle the blaze.
The aftermath.
YouTube link.
The boathouse in happier times.
It is not believed anyone was injured in the blaze and the castle was unaffected by the fire. The historic boathouse which was destroyed in the blaze dates back to 1896.
The launch.
YouTube link.
Sparks from the cannonball, which was fired from the huge 22-tonne wooden trebuchet, ignited the roof of the 119-year-old boathouse. Rescue crews, including 30 firefighters, dashed to the scene of the blaze which broke out shortly after 5.45pm on Thursday.
Families watched in disbelief as the thatched roof caught fire after the final launch of the trebuchet. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they sent three fire engines to tackle the blaze.
The aftermath.
YouTube link.
The boathouse in happier times.
It is not believed anyone was injured in the blaze and the castle was unaffected by the fire. The historic boathouse which was destroyed in the blaze dates back to 1896.
Police and fire crew sent to home after man overcome by fumes in home-brewing mishap
A man was taken to hospital on Wednesday afternoon after inhaling noxious fumes from a home-brew kit.
Police and firefighters were called to a flat in Plymouth at about 5pm after "concerns for his safety".
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "It appears that the man has attempted to create a small distillery at the property and was overcome by noxious fumes."
He added: "Environmental Health also attended the scene to help remove the device. Police are currently investigating that matter to see if any further action needs to be taken." A 23-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering the effects of inhalation and later released.
A firefighting spokesman said: "There was a hazardess material job at Pennycomequick. We were just assisting police – they were dealing with it." Home brewing of beer and wine is legal in the UK, but distilling of spirits is illegal without a licence.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "It appears that the man has attempted to create a small distillery at the property and was overcome by noxious fumes."
He added: "Environmental Health also attended the scene to help remove the device. Police are currently investigating that matter to see if any further action needs to be taken." A 23-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering the effects of inhalation and later released.
A firefighting spokesman said: "There was a hazardess material job at Pennycomequick. We were just assisting police – they were dealing with it." Home brewing of beer and wine is legal in the UK, but distilling of spirits is illegal without a licence.
Residents left terrified as gang of 40 men had food fight in quiet residential street
Houses and cars were pelted with eggs as a 40-strong gang of grown men took part in a food fight in the middle of a quiet residential street.
About 10 cars were said to have pulled up in Westhoughton, near Bolton in Greater Manchester, at about 12.30am on Thursday morning before dozens of men got out and pelted each other with food and rubbish.
The men, who are believed to have been on a stag do, also threw eggs at houses and left rubbish strewn all over the street.
Terrified residents, who said they did not understand what was going on, called the police twice.
Neighbours woke up to food carnage in the street, and professional council cleaning teams had to attend.
Frances Pye, 49, said: “We didn’t know what was going on. They were speaking a different language so it was difficult to understand what was happening, and we didn’t know if they were arguing or laughing, they were making such a noise. Eggs were thrown at houses. My nine-year-old son said he wouldn’t go to bed until the police came. The police came, but did not move the people on first time, and they were called again and came later. These were adults, mid-20s and maybe older. We were scared in our own homes. I told my son to come away from the window in case they started targeting my house." She added: “The mess was strewn in the streets - there was flour, eggs, cornflakes, toilet roll and even a bikini top."
Keith Wilfred-Barlow, 56, said: “We don’t mind people having a good time, but this beggars belief. Residents, particularly children were scared. This is a family estate.” Residents contacted local councillor Martyn Cox the following morning, and he said residents’ misery was compounded by the lack of police action. He said: “We have the registrations of the cars and have taken photographs which will be passed on to the police. This behaviour is intolerable - it upset children and residents. The first thing was to get the street cleaned up, but this is criminal behaviour. It is now up to the police to provide a proper response. So many residents feel let down. I was told they were covering themselves with food, throwing it at each other. We don't know what they were doing.”
A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We were contacted by a number of local councillors and we sent out a crew to clean up the rubbish.” Police said the men were on a stag do, and, after the matter was reported to them, police "dispersed" them. PC Paul Griffiths from the Westhoughton neighbourhood policing team said: “This was a one-off incident that was a group of men fooling around rather than any kind of violent behaviour, but I can fully understand residents are upset this kind of disruptive activity has taken place on their doorsteps, causing distress to families at a time when they would all have been in bed. We take acts of anti-social behaviour seriously and have carried out a lot of work to tackle anti-social activity in this area, so it is highly regrettable this incident has occurred. However, enquiries are ongoing into this matter to identify a number of vehicles that were involved."
Frances Pye, 49, said: “We didn’t know what was going on. They were speaking a different language so it was difficult to understand what was happening, and we didn’t know if they were arguing or laughing, they were making such a noise. Eggs were thrown at houses. My nine-year-old son said he wouldn’t go to bed until the police came. The police came, but did not move the people on first time, and they were called again and came later. These were adults, mid-20s and maybe older. We were scared in our own homes. I told my son to come away from the window in case they started targeting my house." She added: “The mess was strewn in the streets - there was flour, eggs, cornflakes, toilet roll and even a bikini top."
Keith Wilfred-Barlow, 56, said: “We don’t mind people having a good time, but this beggars belief. Residents, particularly children were scared. This is a family estate.” Residents contacted local councillor Martyn Cox the following morning, and he said residents’ misery was compounded by the lack of police action. He said: “We have the registrations of the cars and have taken photographs which will be passed on to the police. This behaviour is intolerable - it upset children and residents. The first thing was to get the street cleaned up, but this is criminal behaviour. It is now up to the police to provide a proper response. So many residents feel let down. I was told they were covering themselves with food, throwing it at each other. We don't know what they were doing.”
A Bolton Council spokesman said: "We were contacted by a number of local councillors and we sent out a crew to clean up the rubbish.” Police said the men were on a stag do, and, after the matter was reported to them, police "dispersed" them. PC Paul Griffiths from the Westhoughton neighbourhood policing team said: “This was a one-off incident that was a group of men fooling around rather than any kind of violent behaviour, but I can fully understand residents are upset this kind of disruptive activity has taken place on their doorsteps, causing distress to families at a time when they would all have been in bed. We take acts of anti-social behaviour seriously and have carried out a lot of work to tackle anti-social activity in this area, so it is highly regrettable this incident has occurred. However, enquiries are ongoing into this matter to identify a number of vehicles that were involved."
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