World News Roundup: April 8, 2017
Among this week’s top stories are the discovery of a young girl who apparently was being raised by monkeys in an Indian forest, a planned mass extermination of reindeer in Norway, and the now legal domestic trade of rhino horns in South Africa.
Deadly Alabama Rot Reported in Devon (Devonlive.com)
“Veterinarians have confirmed 8 more cases of the deadly dog disease Alabama rot, including the first reported case in Devon.” There have been a total of 94 confirmed cases of the disease spread across 29 counties in the United Kingdom since the disease was first detected in the region in 2012. Unlike Alabama rot that has affected greyhounds in the United States, “the disease in the UK and now Ireland does not seem to target any specific breed, age, sex or weight of dog.”
Girl Found Living Among Monkeys in an Indian Forest (Washington Post)
A group of woodcutters alerted authorities after spotting a naked girl, 10 to 12 years of age, walking around with a troop of monkeys in the Katraniaghat forest in India. When the police arrived, “the monkeys surrounded the girl, protecting her as one of their own, and attacking an officer as the girl screeched at him.” The officer was able to rescue the girl and bring her to a hospital. Doctors there believe she had been raised by the monkeys for quite some time.
£10 Million Deal to Boost Impact of Animal Science Innovations (Eureka Alert)
A £10 million investment in new company Roslin Technologies, which facilitates the commercialization of research from the University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, “will allow researchers to explore the commercial potential of technologies that enable low-cost manufacturing of new medicines using chicken eggs.”
Dog Attacks Horse, Sparks Call for Law Change (BBC)
In Wokingham, Berkshire in England, “the owners of a horse that nearly died in a dog attack have started a petition calling for stricter animal laws.” The dog bit the horse on the neck and stomach and then attacked the horse’s owner. The owner is calling for laws on animal-on-animal attacks to be tightened and for the government to “lessen the ambiguity surrounding animal-on-animal attacks."
Norway Plans Mass Reindeer Cull to Eradicate Disease (The Independent)
To stop the spread of chronic wasting disease, which leads to chronic weight loss before death, Norway is “preparing to cull thousands of reindeer.” The plan to eradicate the disease means that an entire herd of wild reindeer must be exterminated. “Around 2000 reindeer are estimated to live in Nordfjella, the area the diseased reindeer were found.”
South Africa Permits Domestic Trade of Rhino Horns (BBC)
“South Africa's constitutional court has rejected an attempt by the government to keep a ban on the domestic trade in rhino horns.” This means that rhino horns can now be traded throughout the country, as long as the required permits have been secured. Rhino breeders argue that “open trade is the only way to prevent the widespread slaughter of the animal.” The ban on international trade remains in force.
Cuban Biologist Raises Chimpanzees in Her Apartment (Daily Mail)
“While zoos in other countries may have specialized facilities for raising baby animals, in Cuba the job falls to [Marta] Llanes, a 62-year-old zoologist who has cared for 10 baby chimps in her central Havana apartment since she started working at the city zoo in 1983.” Llanes is currently housing 2 baby chimpanzees—Ada, a 13-month-old female, and Anuma II, a 15-month-old male.
