animals

1. animals

2. rare animals!!!!! Rare animals may be moved to safety Scientists are considering plans to move endangered <javascript:void(0)> animals from their native <javascript:void(0)> homes to other countries. Some experts fear that rapid climate change <javascript:void(0)> could see animals and plants "trapped" in homes that become too hot or dry for them, increasing the possibility of extinction <javascript:void(0)>. They call this plan "managed relocation". The project involves humans stepping in to move species into habitats where they are more likely to survive. However, some scientists are not happy with the plans. They fear the relocated <javascript:void(0)> species could overpopulate <javascript:void(0)> a new area and cause local animals and plants to become extinct. Animals that could be saved by "managed relocation" include the Spanish Lynx, which is struggling to survive in the very dry conditions of the Iberian peninsula. Rare fish trapped in lakes could also be moved to cooler waters. Jessica Hellmann of the University of Notre Dame is one of a team of researchers who has developed a checklist that will help scientists decide whether an animal should be moved to a foreign location - the risks and the costs. She said the method now had to be considered because "climate change is a reality and it is fast and large".

3. Spanish lynx a rare and endangered animal

4. wildcats at risk Wildcats face extinction A new report says that the Scottish wildcat is being pushed towards extinction because of loopholes in the law and cross-breeding with domestic cats. Between 1 000 and 4 000 wildcats are thought to survive in the mountains of northern Scotland but estimates vary widely because the definition of a true wildcat is open to debate. This uncertainty has not helped the conservation of the species, according to a report. Conservationists thinks that there are as few as 400 original, pre-Iron Age-type, wildcats still living wild in Scotland. There were 2 000 years of opportunities for crossbreeding with domestic cats , so there is no way of knowing whether one with, say, a particular stripe variation, or even white paws, could have occurred in the wild before crossbreeding began. The protection given to the species by the Wildlife and Countryside Act has been ineffective because wildcats are so difficult to identify. The trust's report calls for legal protection of the wildcat to be upgraded urgently and for the wildcat to be recognised as a "priority species" under the Government's Biodiversity Action Plan. In protection areas for wildcats, it recommends "any striped tabby cat with a bushy tail and a black tip would be given the benefit of the doubt and treated as protected". Words Biodiversity Action Plan - a detailed plan to protect certain animals conservation - the careful protection of animals, plants or land domestic - tame - living with humans as a pet extinction - a species of animal dying out so that there aren't any left loopholes - small mistakes in agreements or laws which give someone the chance to avoid having to do something Wildlife and Countryside Act - a law dealing with the protection of wildlife, use of parks and the countryside and public rights of way

5. a rare and unnamed animal!!

6. Missing dog found 550 miles away missing dog !!!!! A dog which disappeared from its home in Cornwall four months ago has been found over 880 kilometres away in Scotland. The 17-year-old collie called Lucy vanished from Sonya and William Mckerron's house in Redruth on February 6. They spent months looking for her and had given up all hope of seeing her again until they received a call from an animal rescue centre in Edinburgh. Lucy was found in a garden in East Lothian and the homeowners had taken her in to be scanned for a microchip. Sonya then drove to Scotland to be reunited with her pet at the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home last Saturday. "It feels overwhelming to see her as we didn't think we would ever find her again. I was in the house and I went to the toilet and when I came out she was gone from the drive, never to be seen again." Dave Ewing, the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home manager, said he suspected Lucy had been taken by someone rather than having just become lost. "When we saw her chip had a Cornish phone number we thought we would just try it but we were expecting it to be an old number and that her owners had moved." "So the staff here were over the moon to find the owners still lived there and that they could be reunited with Lucy."

7. the lost dog!

8. RSPCA Week The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), is a charity which works to promote kindness and prevent cruelty to animals. It was founded in 1824, 185 years ago. The RSPCA employs almost 500 people across the country who work to combat animal cruelty. The Society finds new homes for around 70 000 animals a year, many more live in RSPCA rescue centres. Every twenty-five seconds someone somewhere in England and Wales dials the RSPCA’s national cruelty and advice line.

9. A once helpless and now rescued kitten

10. RSPCA Week The money raised during RSPCA Week will help to pay for the good work carried out by the RSPCA. RSPCA Week is the Society's largest annual fundraising event. During the week a variety of events will be held to raise money for the animal charity. It is also a time during which the RSPCA works to raise awareness of their cause. In 2008, the fundraising week raised £279 145. RSPCA Week 2008 With the introduction of a new law in 2007 called The Animal Welfare Act, the RSPCA can now take action before an animal suffers. However, this has led to an increase in the work that the RSPCA do as being able to help animals at an earlier stage means more are being taken into care, which creates further costs for the RSPCA. The Pet Food Manufacturers Association carried out research about pet ownership for RSPCA Week: ·There are approximately 27 million pets in the UK. ·In the UK, almost half of households own a pet. ·21% of pet owners have wanted a pet since childhood RSPCA Week ·Over a quarter (27%) of the UK's pets are from animal rescue centres. ·Only 20% of pets are bought from a pet shop. ·31% of cat owners said their reason for having a cat as a pet was for love and 27% said it was for companionship. What other reasons might people have for wanting a pet? What is involved in looking after a pet? In 2009 the five most popular pets are: ·Fish - over 50 million (indoor and outdoor) ·Dogs - around eight million ·Cats - around eight million ·Rabbits - around one million ·Birds - around one million Why do you think that fish are the most common pet? Do you have a pet?

11. saved cat a dog adopted by a boy a parrot adopted by a girl a tropical fish for sale in the rspca a family with adopted bunny

12. Is keeping school pets cruel? The RSPCA <javascript:void(0)> warns that keeping a pet in the classroom may be cruel. Guinea pigs are a popular classroom pet The noise of students and grabbing of hands of enthusiastic pupils who want to touch the class pet, can be a distressing <javascript:void(0)> experience for animals. Research for the RSPCA found a quarter of schools kept pets in the classroom. Many keep fish, while guinea pigs and hatching chickens are also popular. "We don't have a problem with school farms, if they are managed well," he said. "But the danger is, when keeping animals in the classroom, that the teachers are so busy the animals can become teaching tools rather than real life creatures. It is not giving the right message on animal welfare <javascript:void(0)>." "Where animals are kept in schools, proper provision should be made for their physical and mental wellbeing."

13. a class pet

14. Concern for circus animals A government report says that a ban on using wild animals in travelling circuses, because of concerns over their wellbeing, is not supported by scientific evidence. A panel of six people from animal welfare groups and the circus industry carefully studied scientific evidence from both sides of the debate <javascript:void(0)> as to which, if any, wild animals were suitable for travelling circuses. The panel found that although being kept in a circus meant the animals were more confined than in the wild, they found little or no evidence to show that the wellbeing of the animals is any better or worse than that of animals kept in captivity <javascript:void(0)>. There are less than 50 animals involved in travelling circuses in Britain, including anelephant, seven tigers, five lions, llamas, zebras and snakes. But the Wild Animals in Travelling Circuses report, claims that animals such as tigers, elephants, sea lions and camels are still widely used in European circuses and a decision taken in Britain would be closely watched elsewhere in Europe. The RSPCA <javascript:void(0)> has called for the ban to be introduced saying "Having tigers jump through hoops and bears ride bicycles does nothing to educate the public or foster respect for animals” and goes completely against the spirit of the Animal Welfare Act. But a spokesperson who has worked in the circus for more than 30 years said while the panel’s findings were “tremendous”, they haven’t yet achieved the goal of securing the future of the circus. The Environment Secretary said that he knows there are many people, within parliament and the public, who are in favour of the ban.

15. a module circus

16. Donkeys work, rest and play Blackpool, Britain's famous seaside resort, has a host of attractions for children and families. One of the traditional attractions that Blackpool is famous for are 'donkey rides'. There are around 200 donkeys that work on the beach throughout the summer, carrying visitors up and down the beach. For the first time, councillors of Blackpool have introduced employment rights for the donkeys. Council rules say that the donkeys must only work from 10 am to 7 pm and have an hour off for lunch. The rules also say that donkeys must have each Friday off. Click to see a larger version Officials say that they want to make sure that donkeys are happy and healthy as they have been part of Blackpool's history since Victorian times. Council inspectors will carry out spot checks on the beach to make sure that the donkeys are being looked after properly and that that are getting their full lunch break. A council spokesman said: "We're extremely proud of our donkeys and all these regulations have been put in place to ensure they are cared for as best we can. Some people might think it is quite a hard day on the beach with no break on a busy day."

17. a donkey having a rest by Anna year 6 INFO FROM espresso