Animals
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Attention

Manatee deaths may set new record this year in Florida - 790 so far

dead manatee
Dead manatee
A nasty red tide and boat collisions have combined for what could be the deadliest year on record for Florida manatees.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission lists 790 overall documented sea cow deaths through Dec. 14.

That's 16 shy of the all-time record of 806, set in 2013.

With two weeks still left to be documented, there's a chance this could be the most deadly year on record.

"We're looking at the second most red tide deaths in a year, or it could even be a record for red tide for this year," said Martine Dewit, a veterinarian for the Florida Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg. "For this population to continue to experience these events is a concern."

Other causes of death include unknown, undetermined, natural and perinatal, or death during birth.

Confirmed or suspected red tide manatee deaths stand now at 208, which is second on record to 2013 (277).

Attention

Dozens of dead seabirds wash ashore in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

It was one of dozens of dead birds to wash up last weekend in North Myrtle Beach.
A dead pelican that washed up. It was one of dozens of dead birds to wash up last weekend in North Myrtle Beach.
Dozens of dead birds have washed ashore in North Myrtle Beach.

Now, the city is trying to figure out what is causing the problem.

One man took pictures of the birds in the Cherry Grove area over the weekend.

The city then sent samples of each species to a lab in Georgia for a full investigation.

There is talk on social media that beach nourishment dredges killed the birds, those claims are unconfirmed.


Attention

Humpback whale washes ashore in Lewes, Delaware

dead whale
A young, female humpback whale washed ashore at The Point section of Cape Henlopen State Park this weekend.

On Monday, volunteers and onlookers came out to examine the deceased whale, and eventually bury her on the beach.

"She has been hit by a boat, whether that was post mortem or not we will try to determine," explains Suzanne Thurman with the MERR Institute. "She's been scavenged by sharks as well and we'll see if we can find anything else that indicates other illness or injury as we go through our examination."

Thurman says the whale is a young teenager, and is the sixth to wash ashore in Delaware since 2016. Thurman explains that across the East Coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has classified humpback whales as dying at an unusual rate.

Smiley

Parrot tries to order items using Amazon's Alexa

Parrot Uses Alexa
© Provided by Independent Digital News & Media Limited
A mischievous parrot was caught ordering strawberries, watermelons and ice-cream after 'falling in love' with Amazon's voice-activated device Alexa.

Rocco, a homeless African grey, keeps using the personal assistant to order his favourite treats, as well kites and light bulbs, and likes to set the mood by playing romantic music.

The clever bird was taken in by the National Animal Welfare Trust's Berkshire centre earlier this year after he was found as a stray.

But staff member Marion Wischnewski agreed to become his foster parent after he caused a few issues in the Great Shefford office by swearing and throwing his water bowl around.

Ms Wischnewski said fun-loving Rocco enjoys dancing and putting on his favourite tunes.

But thanks to a parental lock on her Amazon account, the attempted purchases have not gone through, The Times reported.

Doberman

Dog attack leaves baby in 'critical' condition in Yaxley, UK - dies weeks later (UPDATE)

canine attack
© Angela Antunes / CC by 2.0
A baby is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being attacked by a dog.

The attack happened at a property in Wykes Road, Yaxley, near Peterborough, with emergency services called at 01:47 GMT on Sunday.

The boy is said to be in a "critical condition" and has been transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

A 28-year-old woman and a man, aged 31, from Yaxley, have been arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

Comment: UPDATE: The Sun reports on the 14th December:
A BABY boy has died weeks after being savaged by his family's Staffordshire bull terriers, police said.

Reuben McNulty, aged under a month old, was attacked at his home in Yaxley, near Peterborough, last month.

The infant had spent weeks fighting for life at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge but cops confirmed he passed away yesterday.

Little Reuben died in hospital after being mauled by a dog
Little Reuben died in hospital after being mauled by a dog
Cambridgeshire Police say the dogs, named Fizzy and Dotty, were seized at the time but today said they have since been destroyed.

The dogs - named as Fizzy and Dotty - were seized at the time but police announced today they had been destroyed
The dogs - named as Fizzy and Dotty - were seized at the time but police announced today they had been destroyed
A 28-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, both from Yaxley, were arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

The pair, named locally as Dan McNulty and Amy Litchfield, have been released under investigation.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been handed to the coroner.

Relatives of Reuben had been holding a vigil at his hospital bedside when he died.

Dan's sister Stacey McNulty posted on social media that she was "feeling heartbroken" at around 11am yesterday.

She earlier wrote: "Bye [sic] your side all the way, Dan McNulty and Amy Litchfield (McNulty).

"So proud of my little angel of a nephew. We love you so much."

The baby suffered "life-threatening injuries" and was taken to Peterborough City Hospital in the early hours of November 18.

The newborn was then transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where he remained in a critical condition.

On November 20, Amy's dad Paul Litchfield visited the unemployed couple's home where the attack happened.

He insisted that Reuben had been injured in a "freak accident" and that both Amy and Dan were good parents.

Speaking from the £160,000 two-bedroom flat, Mr Litchfield said: "They're not going to be here for months now because that kid is not good bless him.

"Even the parents are in a bad way.

"At the end of the day it's just a big freak accident and everyone's making a big thing of it.

"They've done nothing wrong and the way it's being portrayed at the minute, they're horrible parents.

"They bloody aren't, they've been fantastic.

"If they were horrible parents they wouldn't be sitting with that young lad now.

"People need to realise there's always two sides to the story.

"The thing is there's a lot at stake here for everybody, not just them, for us as well, as family."

Following the incident, a man at the property who did not want to be identified, said: "They're in bits, they're devastated."

A neighbour who lived opposite the couple's flat claimed he told them to 'be careful' around the dogs after bringing Reuben home from hospital last month.

Asking not to be named, the man said: "He (Dan) was showing people his new baby because he was so proud of it.

"When he showed me the pictures, I said be careful because those dogs might not be used to the baby.

"I know what dogs are like when they get jealous.

"He said I will do. He said, 'Me and Amy were thinking about that anyway'.

"I can't work out what happened."

Amy, 31, posted pictures of a newborn baby, believed to be Reuben, less than a month ago on social media.

Photos of Fizz and Dotty also appeared on her Facebook profile.

Another neighbour described the dogs as 'vicious'.

The man said: "I have seen those dogs before and they are vicious and will show their teeth at anyone.


"If that family left that poor baby on its own with those vicious dogs they should be locked away for many years.

"Any parent that would leave their poor little baby in the presence of those dogs is incredibly irresponsible."

He told how he was woken by police sirens in the early hours of Sunday, November 18.

"I was woken in the middle of the night to sirens and bright lights and I was worried," the man said.



Attention

Third rare Māui dolphin found dead this year after it washed up on beach in Auckland, New Zealand

The dead dolphin found at Karioitahi beach
© DOCThe dead dolphin found at Karioitahi beach.
The Department of Conservation fears a third Māui dolphin has died this year after it was told one washed up on an Auckland beach yesterday.

The body of a juvenile dolphin was found on Karioitahi Beach in the Franklin district by members of the public who reported it to DOC.

The species is critically endangered and found only on the west coast of the North Island.

If confirmed this would be the third Māui dolphin death reported to DoC this year.

Comment: See also this report from October: Rare Māui's dolphin found dead on a beach at Te Akau, New Zealand


Fish

Thousands of dead fish floating near Lake Houston, Texas

dead fish
Some neighbors in Kingwood say they've been dealing with a horrible smell for days, and now they know why.

Texas Parks and Wildlife tells ABC13 the stench is due to what's called a "kill," and it happens naturally. Nothing is wrong with the water.

Thousands of the fish have popped up, floating from Lake Houston down tributaries.


Attention

Albino deer steps out for rare sighting in the snow in Mansfield, Ohio

white deer
An Ohio man found a rare and beautiful sight in his yard: a white deer.

Craig Atkins uploaded video to Facebook of the find.

"There's a bunch of deer in my yard, one's an albino," he said in the video.

The deer would be easy to miss in the snow with its white fur for camouflage.

Atkins said it may be his only time spotting the unique animal, and that he will definitely not forget it.


Black Cat

Mindfulness? Meditating Buddhist monk killed by leopard in Maharashtra, India - 5th such fatality in recent weeks for the area

Stock image of leopard
© Getty
A Buddhist monk has been killed by a leopard while meditating in a protected forest for the big cats, the fifth such attack in the area this month, according to Indian police.

Rahul Walke Bodhi was seated beneath a tree in Ramdegi forest in western India for morning prayers on Tuesday when the leopard pounced.

The 35-year-old monk was fatally injured, police in Maharashtra state said. Two other devotees meditating with him at the time escaped unscathed to alert police, who started a search for his body.

Attention

Bear attacks woman in her front yard, drags her 88 yards in Muncy Creek Township, Pennsylvania

 Black bear
Black bear
A woman and her dog were attacked by a bear in front of their Pennsylvania home Wednesday, according to officials.

The bear grabbed the woman as soon as she walked out of her home in Muncy Creek Township -- about 70 miles west of Scranton -- and dragged her for 88 yards, Pennsylvania Game Warden Supervisor Mike Steingraber told ABC News.

The woman was able to free herself and call for help, Steingraber said, adding that her dog was also injured.

It is not clear why the bear attacked the woman, but gaming officials believe that it was either attracted to body parts of a deer that were present or that bear cubs were in the area and the mom may have felt threatened, Steingraber said.