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Japanese aquarium hosts 'face-showing festival' for eels
Garden eels disappear into the sand and hide every time the keepers pass by.

The eels have started to forget about humans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Japanese aquarium is hosting a 'face-showing festival' for its spotted garden eels, which have grown shy of humans during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toyko's Sumida Aquarium was forced to close because of the crisis, but the lack of visitors appear to be having a profound effect on its underwater residents.

It says that a lack of human interaction has made it difficult for staff at the aquarium to check the health of the eels, which dive back down into the sand whenever someone walks past their tank.

It is also worried that once the aquarium reopens, the sudden flood of visitors could stress the eels out.

The aquarium tweeted: "They don't see humans, except keepers, and they have started forgetting about humans. Garden eels, in particular, disappear into the sand and hide every time the keepers pass by. Here is an urgent request - could you show your face to our garden eels from your home?"

The 'face-showing festival' is taking place 3-5 May and people are being asked to dial into one of five tablets that have been placed in front of the tank using the information available on the Aquarium's website.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.