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Seal attacks 4 surfers at Manly, Australia

Sarah Swain
Manly Daily
Mon, 24 Oct 2016 20:04 UTC
The seal in the ocean at Manly beach.
© Kemble Cowan
The seal in the ocean at Manly beach.
A  surfer was shocked when he was bitten by a seal and left needing surgery.

Nathan Shepherd was attacked by the Australian fur seal off Shelly Beach on Sunday afternoon. The creature also went after three surfers, knocking one into the ocean and grabbing hold of their boards with its teeth.

The dad-of-two was due to have an operation tonight to stitch the puncture wound on his arm.

The Manly lawyer said at first he was amazed the creature was swimming so close on Sunday afternoon - until it turned aggressive.

Mr Shepherd, 45, said: "It was swimming next to me for a few seconds. I didn't think anything of it.

"I thought it was amazing to be out with a seal. It was swimming closer to me. It swam quite fast - it jumped out of the water and bit me on the upper arm.

Northern Beaches man Nathan Shepherd said at first he was amazed the creature was swimming so close on Sunday afternoon – until it turned aggressive.
© Troy Snook
Northern Beaches man Nathan Shepherd said at first he was amazed the creature was swimming so close on Sunday afternoon – until it turned aggressive.

Comment: See also: Unprovoked seal attack on elderly man in New Zealand

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Attention

Dwarf sperm whale found dead on shoreline in Makena, Hawaii


khon2.com
Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:19 UTC
Dwarf sperm whale
© NOAA
Dead dwarf sperm whale
A female dwarf sperm whale carcass was found on the Makena shoreline on Maui Saturday prompting a multi-agency response.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says a witness saw two small whales stranded in Makena on Maui's west shore around 7:30 in the morning.

When crews arrived, they discovered a dead 7-foot whale on shore.

NOAA, with help from Maui County and the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources, have removed the dead whale and transported it to Oahu where a necropsy has been conducted.

Teams from the University of Hawaii and Hawaii Pacific University are taking part in the investigation.
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Seismograph

Shallow 5.8 magnitude earthquake hits near the Kuril Islands, Russia


Sputnik
Mon, 24 Oct 2016 14:31 UTC
Earthquake graph
An earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale occurred on Sunday near the Kuril Islands, the US Geological Survey reported.

The earthquake occurred at 20:25 GMT on Sunday at a depth of 29,7 kilometers (about 18 miles) with the epicenter located in 117 kilometers to the east of the Shikotan island.

There appeared to be no tsunami threat following the earthquake and there were no immediate reports of any damages or casualties. The Geological Survey appointed the green level of the earthquake consequences, indicating low probability of casualties and economic damage.

The so-called Kuril-Kamchatka Arc, which extends some 2,100 km from Hokkaido, Japan along the Kuril Islands and the Pacific coast of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, is one of the most seismically active regions in the world.
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Attention

Shark attacks surfer near Byron Bay, Australia; third such incident in a month for New South Wales state


The Telegraph (UK)
Mon, 24 Oct 2016 13:37 UTC
Shark attacks
A surfer escaped with cuts to his leg on Monday in the third shark attack off New South Wales state north of Sydney in a month.

The attacked occurred at Byron Bay, 22 miles north of Ballina, where a 25-year-old man sustained minor leg injuries while surfing with friends on October 12.

Beaches in the area, around 500 miles north of Sydney, were closed for at least 24 hours after the early morning encounter, with the victim taken to hospital by a friend.

"It is believed that the shark emerged from under the man while he was waiting for a wave," Surf Life Saving New South Wales said.

Comment: This attack now brings the tally for a relatively small coastal area to 7 in 21 months, see also: Shark attack on surfer off Ballina, Australia; 6th attack for the area in 21 months

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Attention

Black bear attacks hunter in Park County, Colorado


The Aspen Times
Sun, 23 Oct 2016 13:25 UTC
Black bear

Black bear
A man suffered minor injuries Friday after being attacked by a black bear near Red Hill in South Park, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said.

The man, who was scouting for a hunting trip, was walking at about 5 p.m. near a stream when he encountered a bear. The bear attacked and knocked him to the ground. The man fought off the attack and the bear ran away, CPW said.

The victim sustained minor injuries to his hands, legs and abdomen. Paramedics treated him, but he was not hospitalized. Wildlife officers interviewed the man and collected samples of his clothing for DNA.

"Thankfully, the injuries were not severe," said Northeast Regional Manager Mark Leslie. "This looks like a chance encounter where the bear was likely startled."
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Roses

Dog kills girl in Sturgis, Michigan

Rosemary Parker
mlive.com
Mon, 24 Oct 2016 13:07 UTC
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.

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Snowflake Cold

Snow still falling in Australia & New Zealand - weeks before Summer

Adapt 2030
YouTube
Sun, 23 Oct 2016 08:07 UTC
Australia snow
© Ski.com.au
Snow falls at Mt Buller this morning as the freezing conditions continue well into spring.
With snow still falling across Southern Australia and New Zealand and reported well below temperatures for the months of June-October it is difficult to believe that temperatures came in 4th warmest year ever. Remember that meteorological bureaus said get ready for no snow and warmest year ever. The opposite happened.

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Frog

Why are thousands of frogs dying off in South America?

Kacey Deamer
Live Science
Fri, 21 Oct 2016 16:59 UTC
scrotum frog
© Denver Zoo
The 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:

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Binoculars

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


Filey and Hunmanby Mercury
Sun, 16 Oct 2016 17:01 UTC
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.
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Attention

Mount Bulusan spews ash column 2.5 kilometers high in Bicol, Philippines


Rappler
Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:02 UTC
The ash column from the Mt Bulusan phreatic eruption on October 23, 2016 is 2.5 kilometers high.
© Ronald Ballon
The ash column from the Mt Bulusan phreatic eruption on October 23, 2016 is 2.5 kilometers high.
Phivolcs records a phreatic eruption at 3:31 pm on Sunday, October 23, as the volcano in Sorsogon remains under Alert Level 1

Mt Bulusan, a restive volcano in Sorsogon province, again spewed ash on Sunday, October 23.

In a bulletin issued 5 pm on Sunday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said a phreatic eruption occurred 3:31 pm, producing an ash column 2.5 kilometers high.

"The event was recorded as an explosion-type earthquake and lasted for approximately 15 minutes based on the seismic record," said Phivolcs.

"The eruption originated from the summit crater, while a smaller eruption also transpired at the southeast vent."
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