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'It was like The Jungle Book': 10ft python rescued from tree in Cambridgeshire

A 10ft python first spotted slithering across a road in Cambridgeshire by a passing motorcyclist has been recaptured in a scene compared to the Disney film The Jungle Book.

The motorcyclist was driving down a quiet country lane in Huntingdonshire on Friday when he saw the large reptile on the ground in front of him.

He initially called the police, who then contacted the RSPCA for help.

RSPCA officer Justin Stubbs went to the scene and discovered the snake had climbed up a tree.

Mr Stubbs said: "I really could not believe it when I got there and saw this huge snake all the way up in the tree - it was a scene a bit reminiscent of The Jungle Book.

"When I saw the snake so high up in the branches I knew it was going to be tricky to get him down due to the height the snake had climbed to, difficulty gaining access to him, and the need for more people given the size of the snake.

© PA The python was found high up in a tree when RSPCA office Justin Stubbs arrived at the scene

"I contacted Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and they kindly came out to help me."

The team removed parts of the tree until they had clear access to the branch the snake was on, before cutting it to let the snake drop gently into a tarpaulin.

The snake was then sent to a local specialist for health checks.

Mr Stubbs said the python may have been loose for some time as it was "cold and a little underweight".

"Unfortunately, this sort of thing isn't unusual and we receive thousands of calls a year relating to reptiles, like snakes and lizards, who have either escaped or many of which have been abandoned by their owners," he said.

Mr Stubbs said snakes require a lot of care and commitment from owners as they are unable to produce their own body heat and rely on their environment to maintain body temperature.

"Sadly snakes often also end up in our care as some owners don't realise the commitment that is involved in meeting the needs of these animals and keeping them healthy," he said.

"This is why we're always saying that people should do their research before taking on a pet."

Reference: Sky News: 

Ibiza snake invasion as tourists’ food demands see rise in reptiles

The island of Ibiza is thought of as blessed for having no snakes, with ancient civilisations worshipping gods credited with scaring them away.

Instead, the isle has scores of bright green lizards, which pollinate the pink flowers that grow abundantly. 

But now British tourists’ demand for imports of food and exotic plants has caused an influx of snakes, which the island is far from prepared for. And without any natural predators, they are free to feast on green-coloured Ibiza wall lizards that are yet to evolve to camouflage themselves.

The development risks undoing 2,800 years of history. The first Phoenician settlers on the island named it “Ibosim”, named after the ancient Phoenician god Bes, who was known for his snake-repelling powers

Recent research has found that snakes have invaded half of Ibiza’s land area. Censuses show areas with high numbers of lizards are yet to be invaded by snakes, such as the horseshoe whip snake. The same cannot be said in areas with high numbers of the predators.

The situation has gotten so bad that a local council is giving out free traps and paying locals to destroy the snakes on the island. They are not dangerous to humans, but have a ferocious appetite for the wall lizards. There are three species of snake on Ibiza now, but the most problematic is the horseshoe whip snake.

© Provided by The Telegraph The situation has gotten so bad that a local council is giving out free traps and paying locals to destroy the snakes

A group of British expats, funded by a board member of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, are encouraging “eco holidays” to help restore the island's natural habitats. They hope to reduce the need for imports to make the trendy Peruvian and Japanese food that tourists demand, and ask visitors to enjoy the natural beauty and local cuisine of Ibiza.

Much of the damage has been done by British tourists, so expat Serena Cook, who runs a high-end concierge service on the island; and Ben Goldsmith, a financier and nature campaigner who sits on the board of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, set up Ibiza Preservation.

Kate Benyon-Tinker, another British expat and their communications manager, said: “We are trying to get people to appreciate the lizards, pictures of them are sold on fridge magnets, beach towels and stuff. They evolved to eat vegetation because of the lack of other foodstuffs on the islands. This means they pollinate all the plants, they are hugely important to the ecosystem.

“We are supporting a campaign to save the lizard and what they're doing is trying to spread the word about trapping the snakes, and what you do and encouraging people to get their own traps.”

Each year, thousands of Brits descend on Ibiza in a short two-month window. Ibiza Preservation hopes to reduce the pressure of tourism on the local environment and bring back nature, and is now run by local sustainability experts as well as some British expats.

© Provided by The Telegraph An Ibiza wall lizard

They have funded local groups who are preserving the island's natural resources, from the almond groves to the native black pig, and are campaigning for Brits to partake in more sustainable tourism, and come year-round instead of all arriving in the same two month window.

The organisation is also aiming to rejuvenate the island’s farms. Over the decades, locals moved from farming to tourism, with many farms planted with pine tree monoculture, which does not support much wildlife. With a focus on local food, the farms are slowly coming back to life. In two years, the number of organic farms signed up to their programme has gone up from 23 to 37. 

“It’s definitely becoming a more foodie destination,” said Ms Benyon-Tinker.

This is important for the sustainability of the island, she explained, adding: “The type of tourism here means they have this problem where a huge amount of tourists descend on a beach in a really short space of time. 

“And what’s much better for the island is if you can have a more constant year-round tourism, so that you have a winter tourism where people come and they're more interested in doing walks, and you know, eating in nice restaurants and doing these kind of farm to table experiences.”

Wildlife tourism boom

Declining interest in package holidays has pushed tourism in the right direction, with visitors coming to see the wildlife and eat local food rather than simply party the night away, shuttling from club to hotel and back again. 

This has been even more pronounced during the pandemic, when the clubs have been shut and tourists have had to amuse themselves in other ways.

Ms Benyon-Tinker said: “What's interesting as well as we've started to get people contact us because they want to know if there's some volunteering that they can do while they're here, can they join a beach clean, or you know, could they come and do some work at a farm, that's sort of questions we are getting.”. 

“For decades, we have had the ‘tourism of excess’, but now people really are interested in having sustainable holidays and experiencing the natural wonders of the island," she added.  

Reference: The Telegraph: Helena Horton 

Six-year-old killer whale dies 'suddenly' at SeaWorld San Diego

A killer whale has died "unexpectedly" and "suddenly" at SeaWorld San Diego, the aquarium and theme park said on Friday.

The six-year-old female orca named Amaya died on Thursday and the cause of death will not be known until results of a post-mortem are complete, which could take weeks, SeaWorld's statement said.

"Amaya began showing signs of illness on 18 August and animal care specialists and veterinarians began treating her immediately. Despite her care team's efforts, Amaya's condition continued to decline rapidly. Her death was sudden and unexpected," it said.

SeaWorld said the specialists who cared for Amaya were heartbroken.

"This is a very difficult time for those who knew and loved Amaya. She inspired millions of guests to appreciate and learn more about this amazing species," the statement added.

Seaworld has been beset by criticism from animal rights activists over keeping Orcas in captivity.

There are three SeaWorld parks in the US; in California, Florida and Texas.

Public perception of its parks dived following the 2013 documentary Blackfish, which shone a light on the lives of killer whales in captivity.

Attendance dipped following the release of Blackfish, which focused on a captive orca named Tilikum who was involved in the deaths of three people, including a SeaWorld Orlando trainer.

He was captured in Iceland in 1983 and was eventually transferred to the Florida park in 1992, where he stayed until he died at the age of 35 in 2017.

SeaWorld described Blackfish as "inaccurate and misleading" at the time of its release, and the parks have since recovered in attendance figures thanks to new rides and animal exhibits.

In 2016, SeaWorld also announced it would end its in-park orca breeding programme and eventually phase out theatrical whale shows that have been a staple of its parks for years.

According to animal rights group PETA, Tilikum is one of more than 40 orcas to have died at SeaWorld parks from causes including severe trauma, intestinal gangrene and chronic cardiovascular failure.

Dozens of dolphins have also died at the parks, PETA says.

In 2019 Virgin Holidays followed the example of Thomas Cook and said it would stop selling and promoting attractions involving "captive cetaceans, such as whales and dolphins", with SeaWorld parks in San Diego and Florida among those affected.

SeaWorld Abu Dhabi is scheduled to open in 2022.  Reference: Sky News: 

Badger found nailed to tree by its feet in Wales sparks police probe

A badger was found nailed to a tree in North Wales sparking a police investigation.

The animal, protected under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, had been discovered by a walker in Nantglyn, Denbigh, on Wednesday morning.

A police spokesman said the badger had been nailed to a tree by its feet in an “abhorrent incident”.

PC Richard Smith, of the Rural Crime Team, said: “We can’t yet confirm what the cause of death of this animal was, but we have submitted the body for a post-mortem.

“Incredibly, badger persecution is still practised in North Wales and we will continue to work with partners in tackling abhorrent incidents such as these.”

It came as MPs backed an end to the badger cull which has seen over 140,000 killed since 2013 in a bid to curb bovine tuberculosis infections.

Some 38,642 badgers were killed last year and experts have said they fear another 140,000 will die before the cull is stopped.

Last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs he backed plans to end the badger cull.

Anybody with information should contact officers at the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team via the website or by calling 101, quoting reference number Z121155.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.