Animals
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Roses

Dog kills girl in Sturgis, Michigan

Dog attack
A girl was killed and her mother seriously injured when a dog attacked them Sunday at 63000 Block of W. Fish Lake Road.

Deputies were called to the address Oct. 23 at 4 p.m. and rendered first aid to the four-and-a-half year old child, but were unable to save her, according a news release by the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department.

The mother, who was injured in her efforts to protect the girl, was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Deputies were assisted by Tri-Township Fire, Life Care , Victim Services, and St. Joseph County Animal Control.

Authorities have not released additional information about the incident, which is still under investigation.


Frog

Why are thousands of frogs dying off in South America?

scrotum frog
© Denver ZooThe baggy-skinned frogs absorb oxygen, and environmental contaminants through their skin.

More than 10,000 endangered frogs and other water-dwelling animals living near a lake in South America were found mysteriously dead this month, according to reports from Peru's wildlife and forestry service Serfor, leaving many people to wonder what could have caused this bizarre die-off.

The Titicaca water frog (Telmatobius culeus), also known as the "scrotum frog" for its loose skin, is one of the most critically endangered frogs in the world. The large, entirely aquatic frog adapted to the high altitudes of Lake Titicaca, which flows along the border between Bolivia and Peru, by taking in oxygen through its skin folds. This evolutionary adaptation also makes the frog highly sensitive to changes in its habitat, such as environmental contamination, according to Tom Weaver, curator of reptiles and fish at the Denver Zoo.

Researchers are currently investigating the latest massive die-off, which they think may have been caused by some sort of contamination. In 2014, an algae bloom that removed oxygen from the water, killed a number of frogs and fish, Weaver said.

Comment: Related articles:


Binoculars

Lost black-browed albatross from the southern hemisphere seen along the coast of Yorkshire, UK

The black-browed albatross is pictured at RSPB Bempton.
The black-browed albatross is pictured at RSPB Bempton.
An unusual feathered visitor to the shores of Britain had bird enthusiasts all of a flutter when it was first spotted over Filey Brigg.

A black-browed albatross, which would normally be based around the Falkland Islands in the southern hemisphere, was seen last week along the Yorkshire coast.

News of the rare arrival prompted hundreds of birdwatchers to travel to Flamborough Head. It is believed to be a young bird still honing its navigations skills.

David Aitken, warden at the RSPB Bempton nature reserve, said: "It's the Holy Grail of seabirds - and it's here."

An eastern crowned warbler had also been spotted at the Bempton reserve.

Attention

Shark attacks surfer off Ho'okipa, Hawaii

Shark attacks
At 5:01 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, Pā'ia firefighters responded to Ho'okipa Beach Park for a person with a possible shark bite.

When firefighters arrived at 5:09 p.m., paramedics already had the male shark bite victim loaded in the ambulance and transported him shortly after to Maui Memorial Medical Center in serious condition.

The victim is a 36-year-old male from Pā'ia . The man was surfing about 50 yards from shore off the west point of Ho'okipa Beach Park at the surf spot known as "H-Poko."

A surfer near the victim looked over after hearing the man scream, and saw a five-foot reef shark biting the surfer's left arm.

The shark let go and then bit the man again in the left leg.

Other surfers came to the victim's aid and helped to paddle the man back to shore.

Firefighters and state conservation officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement cleared the ocean of surfers at the beach park and will warn people against entering the water until an assessment is made at noon tomorrow.

Attention

2 sperm whales wash up on Kenya and Tanzania beaches

Tanzanians view the dead sperm whale found three days ago in Kilwa
© Alphonce GariTanzanians view the dead sperm whale found three days ago in Kilwa
Marine scientists have raised concerns about the safety of sea mammals after two large sperm whales were found dead in Kenya and Tanzania along the shores of the Indian Ocean.

The first sperm whale was found dead two weeks ago at Ngomeni Beach in Magarini subcounty. Three days ago another one was spotted in Kiilwa, Tanzania. It was larger than the one found in Kenya.

The one found in Ngomeni was stranded while the one in Tanzania died under unclear circumstances.

Fishermen believe the two could have died as a result of offshore oil and gas exploration.

"No one is sure what's caused the death of these sperm whales," Hadley Becha of Conservation and Community Advocates said. The organisation raises awareness about the problems of the oil and gas industry.

Experts say oil and gas survey interfere with marine animals' hearing and orientation and cause stranding.

Cow

Woman killed in cattle attack in County Down, Northern Ireland

cow face
A woman has been killed after she was attacked by cattle on a family farm in Co Derry.

The pensioner, who has been named locally as Brigid McKeefry and is aged in her 70s, was rushed to the Causeway Hospital for treatment.

However she later died from her injuries and a post-mortem is taking place.

The tragic incident happened on the family farm off Carhill Road in Garvagh at about 2.30pm when the woman was attacked by cattle.

It is understood Mrs McKeefry had been working with livestock at the time.

DUP east Londonderry MLA Adrian McQuillan expressed his sympathies to the elderly woman's family.

Mr McQuillan said late last night: "This news is very shocking to the entire close-knit community of Garvagh and the surrounding areas.

Attention

Whale washes up on beach in Cameron, Louisiana

WHALE WASHES UP ON BEACH IN CAMERON
Whale washes up on beach in Cameron
A dead whale has washed up on a southwest Louisiana beach.

The whale was discovered Thursday, October 20th on Little Florida beach just west of Holly beach in Cameron Parish.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries agents say the 21-foot animal is believed to be a sperm whale.

An examination of the whale is underway to determine what happened.

Attention

Elephant kills tourist in Kenya; 3rd attack in a month

African elephant
A Belgian tourist was trampled to death by an elephant near Kenya's famed Maasai Mara wildlife reserve.

It was the second such incident in a month.

"He was badly injured by the rogue elephant and succumbed to injuries at the Talek Health Centre," a police officer said.

The death of the Belgian man on Monday in circumstances that remain unclear comes after an Italian man was trampled in the Tsavo National Park, southeast Kenya, while trying to take a photograph of an elephant.

Kenyan daily The Standard reported that in a separate incident on Tuesday, a Kenyan secondary school student had been killed by an elephant while on the way to school.

The Kenya Wildlife Service warned that a fierce drought was pushing wildlife further from their traditional habitats in search of food and water.

Source: AFP

Comment: See also: Tourist trampled to death by elephant after provoking it by moving too near to takes pictures in Kenya


Attention

'Nature can bite back': Doctors warn of otter attacks after one viciously attacks Quebec woman

A river otter
© Charles KennardA river otter
Following an encounter naturalists are calling beyond bizarre, Canada's top medical journal is warning of otter attacks on humans after a Quebec woman received multiple deep puncture wounds in her legs from being bitten while swimming at a lakefront chalet.

The case — if the vicious marine animal was indeed a Lontra canadensis (North American river otter), and Elizabeth Elbourne is absolutely convinced it was — joins only 44 reports of otter attacks published worldwide since 1875.

The alarming encounter occurred last August, after Elbourne told her daughter she was going for a "quick dip" in the lake at their rental cottage in the Laurentians.

Suddenly, while doing the front crawl, the woman felt something sharp hit her leg. "So I stopped, and saw this otter's head sticking of the water."

Comment: See also these other reports from recent years: 9 year old boy recovering from otter attack near Kalispell, Montana

Minneapolis girl attacked and chased by otter in Wisconsin lake

Boy and grandmother attacked and injured by river otter on Pilchuck River, Washington

River otter attacks woman swimmer in British Columbia lake

Girl, 13, attacked by otter in Kalama River, Washington

Woman recovering after 'vicious' OTTER attack in West Yellowstone, Montana


Wolf

143% increase in dog attacks between 2010 and 2015 for the county of Essex, UK

Dog attack
Figures obtained by Heart following a freedom of information request, show dog attacks in Essex have increased by 143% over the last 5 years.

Between 2010 and 2015 the number of attacks by dogs here, where injury has been caused, has gone up by 278.

The figures also show that attacks on children under the age of 18 has almost doubled.

In the last 3 months alone, there have been two fatal dog attacks on children here in Essex. In August this year, 3 year old Dexter Neal was mauled to death in a garden in Halstead and then last Thursday, 4 month old Archie Darby died after being attacked by a dog at his aunt's house in Colchester.

And the trend shows no evidence of slowing down. This year alone, between January and August, there's already been 397 dog attacks in Essex.