Animals
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Doberman

Dog pack suspected in woman's death at Taos Pueblo, New Mexico

John Miller
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Thu, 16 Jan 2020 12:19 UTC
dog attack
Law enforcement authorities suspect a longtime Taos Pueblo teacher was killed Jan. 8 by a pack of dogs on pueblo land, raising concerns about the dangers of dog overpopulation, not only the pueblo but also in the wider Taos County area.

Newly selected Taos Pueblo Gov. Edwin Concha confirmed this week the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator is looking into the woman's death, but Concha declined to identify her "out of respect to her family."

Sandra Bible of Tulsa identified the slain woman as her sister, 52-year-old Kay Torres.

"She had worked for Taos Pueblo Head Start," Bible said in a phone interview. "She'd worked for Taos Public Schools over the years."
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Attention

First killer whale in nearly 2 decades washes up on UK coast

Emma Rosemurgey
UNILAD
Thu, 16 Jan 2020 11:30 UTC
A killer whale has been found up washed up on the English shore for the first time in nearly two decades.
A killer whale has been found up washed up on the English shore for the first time in nearly two decades.
The 15-foot-long orca was discovered with a stomach full of plastic in the salt marshes on the eastern coast, between Lincolnshire and Norfolk, according to the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP).

The organisation said a 'large fragment of plastic material' was discovered in the young orca's body, however they believe this was unlikely to be its cause of death.

This discovery marks the first confirmed stranding of a killer whale in England and Wales nearly 20 years, the Zoological Society of London has confirmed.

Comment: Dead whales have also washed up recently in Sumatra (Indonesia), New Zealand and Myanmar (Burma):

The Asahan Fishery and Maritime Affairs Agency will investigate the whale's cause of death. (Kompas/Asahan fishery and maritime affairs agency )
© (Kompas/Asahan fishery and maritime affairs agencyDead humpback whale found off Sumatra on Jan 11th.

The dead whale found off Myanmar (Burma) on January 15th
The dead whale found off Myanmar (Burma) on January 15th


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Attention

Rare beaked whale washes ashore in Ostend, Belgium

Jules Johnston
The Brussels Times
Thu, 16 Jan 2020 11:07 UTC
dead whale
A whale, confirmed to be a rarely seen Sowerby's beaked whale, washed up on the coast of Ostend on Wednesday evening, near the Oosterstaketsel.

The 2.9 metres long animal was found dead, however, the cause is unknown at this time.

"Perhaps it got into trouble at the rocks of the breakwater, because it was injured. Presumably, it stranded and then died," Jan Haelters, a marine biologist at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences told the media.
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Doberman

Pack of dogs enter hospital, maul newborn baby to death in Uttar Pradesh, India


The Wire
Wed, 15 Jan 2020 14:05 UTC
canine attack
© Angela Antunes / CC by 2.0
The baby's family members have alleged that hospital staff left the baby alone in an operating theatre with the windows open, letting the dogs in.

In a gruesome reminder of India's persistent stray-dog menace, a newborn child only three hours old was attacked and killed by a pack of dogs at a hospital in Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh, on January 13.

Investigating officer Ved Prakash Pandey told AFP that "the family alleged the baby was left unattended inside the theatre with windows open, leading to the attack."

The agency also quoted a preliminary police assessment saying "the newborn had injuries all over his body" and that police "were expecting a postmortem report to confirm the exact cause of death".

The baby's family members have alleged that staff at the Akash Ganga Hospital left the baby alone in an operating theatre with the windows open, letting the dogs in. Investigators have also said the hospital may not have a license and could be penalised for operating illegally.
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Attention

Two southern right whale dolphins wash up in Victoria, Australia - first time ever recorded

Sian Johnson
.abc.net.au
Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:29 UTC
This southern right whale dolphin washed up on Port Fairy's East Beach earlier this month.
© Caitlin EmThis southern right whale dolphin washed up on Port Fairy's East Beach earlier this month.
For the first time in recorded history dolphins that usually stick to deep, offshore seas have been found stranded on a Victorian beach.

Two separate southern right whale dolphins have been found dead at Port Fairy's East Beach in the state's south-west in the past couple of weeks, but only one was able to be retrieved by authorities for further examination.

Little has been known about the mysterious species of dolphin that inhabits cool waters across the Southern Hemisphere.

The natural environment programs officer at Victoria's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Mandy Watson, confirmed the dolphin that washed up in December was the first of its kind ever recorded in Victoria.

Three black and white dolphins, which have no dorsal fin, glide through the air above the water

The second was found in a nearby spot last week which Ms Watson described as "very unusual".
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Doberman

Murder charge filed in Kentucky case of man believed mauled to death by pit bull

Mike Stunson, Karla Ward
The Lexington Herald-Leader
Fri, 10 Jan 2020 11:32 UTC
Melissa Wolke was charged in January 2020 with murder after allegedly letting her pit bull attack a man.
© ROCKCASTLE COUNTY DETENTION CENTERMelissa Wolke was charged in January 2020 with murder after allegedly letting her pit bull attack a man.
Police charged a woman late Friday with murder after she allegedly let her pit bull attack a man who died.

Kentucky State Police identified the victim as Donald W. Abner, 55, of Richmond.

Detective James Royal charged Melissa D. Wolke, 38, of Mount Vernon with murder in the case, according to a news release issued late Friday.

Before state police filed the murder charge, the Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office had charged Wolke with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and menacing, according to a citation filed in court.
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Doberman

4-month-old baby girl dies after attack by family dog in Dayton, Ohio


whio.com
Mon, 13 Jan 2020 16:00 UTC
canine attack
© Angela Antunes / CC by 2.0
Dog that attacked, killed infant was a problem, neighbors say

Police are investigating the death of a 4-month-old baby girl who was attacked by the family dog, according to investigators.

McKenzie Terwell died Jan. 9 at a house in the 100 block of Vermont Avenue.

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Black Cat

Wild animals in Zimbabwe attack more humans due to drought


New Zimbabwe
Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:42 UTC
ELEPHANT
At least 36 people were killed by wild animals in Zimbabwe in 2019 up up from 20 in 2018.

The Zimbabwean further reports that the authorities recorded 311 animal attacks on people last year, up from 195 in 2018.

This increased attack on people has been blamed on the extreme drought in the country which is driving wildlife into human settlements in search of nourishment.

"The cases include attacks on humans, their livestock and crops," said National parks spokesman Tinashe Farawo is quoted as saying.
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Binoculars

10 new songbird species and subspecies found on Indonesian islands

Natalie Parletta
Cosmos Magazine
Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:00 UTC
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Peleng
© Philippe VerbelenA bird paradise: hill forest on the remote Indonesian island of Peleng.
Tucked away in three of the most geographically isolated Indonesian islands of Wallacea, known for their unique and rich biodiversity, researchers have discovered 10 new species and subspecies of songbirds.

Found on the remote isles of Taliabu, Peleng and Batudaka off the north-eastern coast of the larger island Sulawesi, and described in the journal Science, it's the largest number of new species named in a region of that size in more than a century.

"Birds are so well-known as compared to other animals, so it was a major surprise to find five new species and five subspecies in such a limited geographic area," says lead author Frank Rheindt, from the National University of Singapore.

Comment: See also:

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Doberman

Woman mauled to death by her pet Malinois in Switzerland

Joseph Laws
Daily Mail
Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:34 UTC
The Malinois-breed pet attacked and killed the woman inside a training pen in Switzerland. Swiss authorities have today confirmed that the woman bled to death due to the injuries caused by the dog [File photo]
The Malinois-breed pet attacked and killed the woman inside a training pen in Switzerland. Swiss authorities have today confirmed that the woman bled to death due to the injuries caused by the dog [File photo]
A woman was killed at a dog training centre in western Switzerland after her pet dog attacked her inside a training pen.

The 45-year-old woman was found dead at a dog training centre in Auboranges, near the city of Lausanne in Switzerland on Tuesday.

Her Malinois-breed pet was seen standing over her body and was described as being 'visibly aggressive'.

The pet first blocked police officers and others from approaching the woman before going on the attack again.

Police said the dog attacked and mauled a female police officer. It was then shot dead.
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