Simba the goat is now an even BIGGER star - after his record 19-inch ears grow even LONGER
Simba the goat is now an even BIGGER star - after his record 19-inch ears grow even LONGER
Ababy goat who is in the running to break a world record for the longest ears stands even more of a chance as they have already grown longer in less than three weeks.
Simba was born in the middle of June in Karachi, Pakistan, with lengthy ears that stretched 19 inches.
But now, less than three weeks later, they have already grown another two inches.
Breeder Mohammad Hasan Narejo says he has approached Guinness World Records to see if his charge can be included as the Greatest Of All Time, although a category for 'longest-eared goat' does not currently appear on the organisation's website.
'Within 10 to 12 days of his birth he was already appearing in all the national and international media - and won a beauty contest,' a proud Narejo says.
'Within 30 days he became so popular that even a famous personality might take 25 to 30 years to achieve this level of fame.'
Simba's ears are so long that Narejo has to fold them over his back to stop the little goat from standing on them.
He has also designed a harness so that Simba can carry the lengthy lobes around his neck.
Narejo is wary of the attention Simba has attracted - including from rival breeders - and has resorted to prayer and tradition to try to fend off any ill will.
'We recite Koranic verses and blow on him to cast away the evil eye,' Narejo said.
'Following a long tradition we inherited from our elders, we have fastened a black thread around him that is fortified with Koranic verses.'
Narejo plans to raise Simba as a stud to promote the image of Pakistan as a top goat breeding nation.
'Simba's Pakistan name must roam the whole world,' he said.
Simba's long ears are probably the result of a gene mutation or a genetic disorder - but he appears to be getting along just fine.
Goats generally tend to have long ears, but Nubian goats, which is reportedly Simba's breed, have the longest ears of all species.
Goat ears serve a very important purpose as they help to keep them cool in hot temperatures.
In Pakistan temperatures vary due to the varying terrain, but in summer top temperatures can hit 47C.
Luckily for Simba, temperatures tend to be significantly lower than that - but still very hot, regularly reaching mid-thirties in summer.
Reference: Isabella Nikolic For Mailonline
The plants that can save your garden from pests such as slugs and stink bugs
The plants that can save your garden from pests such as slugs and stink bugs
There are few things as rewarding as seeing your garden thrive after hours and hours of hard work. But equally, witnessing your precious plants attacked by nasty bugs can be a demoralising experience.
British gardeners should be aware that there is a green way to get rid of pesky pests without adding toxins to their crops. The method involves adding plants that attract pests away from the main plants you are growing. These are called trap plants, or sacrificial plants.
Experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have advised gardeners on what plants they can grow to save the rest of their garden from being devoured by a bug invasion. The list includes easy to grow herbs and flowers such as chervil, sunflowers and nasturtiums.
READ MORE: Full list of Kent's Giant Hogweed hotspots where you're most likely to be stung
A spokesman for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “The traditional method for getting rid of destructive bugs would be to use pesticides which could potentially bring toxins into your garden. We prefer to use deterrent plants instead, adding a source of food for the insects whilst keeping them away from your most beloved flowers.
“The plants you hope to protect will determine how far away you need to plant the decoy sacrificial plants. For some insects, it is best to plant the decoys around the border of the flowers or crops. For others, the sacrificial plants can be placed further away.”
Nettles and nasturtiums
These are easy to grow and effective at attracting aphids and sap-sucking insects which feed on the nutrient-rich liquids of plants. Because of this, they will work as a distraction for the harmful aphids congregating in large groups and keeping them away from your more precious crops and flowers.
Nasturtiums will need to be pruned and tended over time as they are a spreading plant that drops seeds all over the area where they grow.
Chervil
Gardeners frustrated by the number of slugs in their garden should stock up on chervil. The delicate herb attracts slugs and will distract them from leaving unsightly holes in your favourite flowers.
Sunflowers
These summertime favourites are great for attracting stink bugs, which often attack crops like sweetcorn and okra. Keep these veggies pest-free by planting sunflowers at least 70 days ahead of your vegetables. Once the sunflowers have fully matured, they will work to deter bugs no matter how far away they are from your more precious crops.
Marigolds
Flying insects and nematodes eat away at the root of crops like cucumbers, beans and tomatoes. Marigolds are an excellent deterrent for these pesky insects and should be planted ahead of the vegetables to ensure the crops are not disturbed.
Lavender
Although loved by many, the strong scent of lavender is known to deter many bugs away from crops and flowers. The strong smell will keep biting bugs at bay and will instead attract nectar-feeding bees and butterflies into your garden.
Reference: Kent Live: Ioanna Toufex
Posing pets take part in hilarious photo-booth shoot
Posing pets take part in hilarious photo-booth shoot
Some gorgeous pets took part in a photoshoot in a special pets-only photo booth. And the results were spectacular.
Thousands of pets and their humans visited the so-called Vetster Salon recently in Toronto.
The photographs include people’s dogs and cats but also two rodents and an unusual Patagonian mara.
Canadian online veterinary firm Vetster said it set up the meet-and-greet to promote its online appointments.
A spokesperson explained: “The Vetster Salon was one of four massive installations built to meet and interact with both new and existing clients, and to capture these incredible moments.
“We got to pat, cuddle and photograph cats, dogs, bunnies, rats and even a Patagonian mara. It was a pet lover’s dream.
“Every pet is a model. It’s true. They’re gorgeous.”
During lockdown, people ordered takeaways or became fitness buffs, but they also purchased a huge number of pets.
As the number of pet owners rose so did the demand for veterinary care. Companies such as Vester stepped in to fill the gap in veterinary services, including allowing online appointments to avoid the need for people to leave home during lockdown protocols.
Launched in November 2020, the company allowed concerned pet owners to connect with vets through its online platform.
Unfortunately, this meant that many vets were unable to meet their most loyal and cuddly clients in person. So Vester launched its new salon, which led to this adorable photoshoot.
The company claims to be able to advise pet owners over the internet about minor illnesses such as skin issues, behavioural worries, diet concerns, small cuts and wounds.
The British Veterinary Association has recently highlighted shortages in the UK’s veterinary workforce after it saw a drop of more than two thirds in the number of new EU registrants coming to work in the UK in two years.
James Russell, BVA senior vice president, said: “The nosedive in EU registrants since Brexit, coupled with soaring demand for veterinary certification, is creating a storm of shortages in the profession.”
Reference: The Independent: SWNS staff -
Testing on live animals increased by 6%, new data suggests
Testing on live animals increased by 6%, new data suggests
The number of scientific testing procedures conducted on living animals increased by 6% last year, new data shows.
Across Great Britain some 3.06 million tests were carried out on animals in 2021, up from 2.88 million in 2020 – the lowest since 2004.
Data from the Home Office shows that experimental procedures (1.73 million) increased by 20% and made up 57% of all procedures last year.
Procedures for creation and breeding fell by 8%.
According to the data for England, Scotland and Wales, 96% of procedures (both for experimental and breeding purposes) used mice, fish or rats.
These species have been the most used for more than a decade.
According to the data, around half (51%) of experimental procedures were for basic research.
The top three research areas were the nervous system, the immune system and cancer (oncology).
Nic Wells, professor in translational medicine, Royal Veterinary College, and chairman of the Animals Sciences Group, Royal Society of Biology, said: “The increase in the number of animal procedures is not unexpected as the figure was particularly low in 2020 (a drop of 15% on the numbers for 2019), most likely due to the restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“There has also been a rise in the number of experimental procedures compared to the number of procedures involving the breeding of genetically altered animals, particularly in the area of applied research, which may reflect a change in research priorities following the Covid pandemic.”
Some animals may be used more than once in certain circumstances so the number of procedures carried out in a year does not equal the number of animals used.
Specially protected species – cats, dogs, horses, and non-human primates – were used in 1% of experimental procedures (18,000) in 2021.
Understanding Animal Research (UAR), an organisation which promotes open communications on the issue, said animal testing is a small but important part of the research into new medicines, vaccines and treatments for humans and animals.
Ten organisations accounted for nearly half (49%) of all animal research in Britain last year.
They were the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, UCL, the Francis Crick Institute, University of Edinburgh, the Medical Research Council, King’s College London, University of Glasgow, University of Manchester, and Imperial College London.
The UAR has also produced a list of 63 organisations in the UK that have publicly shared their 2021 animal research statistics, all of which are listed as signatories to the Concordat on Openness on Animal Research in the UK.
Wendy Jarrett, chief executive of UAR, which developed the Concordat on Openness, said: “Animal research remains a small but vital part of the quest for new medicines, vaccines and treatments for humans and animals.
“We know that the majority of the British public accepts that animals are needed for this research, but it is important that organisations that use animals in research maintain the public’s trust in them.
“By providing this level of information about the numbers of animals used, and the experience of those animals, as well as details of the medical breakthroughs that derive from this research, these Concordat signatories are helping the public to make up their own minds about how they feel about the use of animals in scientific research in Great Britain.”
Reference: The Independent: Nina Massey
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