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Researchers utilise International Space Station for wildlife
Turtle
Animals across the globe have been fitted with small GPS transmitters.
Project will map whereabouts of birds, bats and turtles 

Researchers are planning to use the International Space Station to help track animals and better understand their behaviour.

The ICARUS Project (International Cooperation for animal research using space) has been developed by the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology.

Animals across the globe have been fitted with small GPS transmitters and, next year, a dedicated receiver will be sent up to the International Space Station.

Once it is up, researchers hope to map the whereabouts of birds, bats and turtles in real time.

“It will be the best ever possible sensing network of life on the planet,” said project director Dr Martin Wikelski, speaking to The Atlantic.

The team have secured 19 million euros from the German Aerospace Centre, as well as 1.7 million euros from the Max Planck Society to make very small tags.

Currently the tags weigh around five grams, but the team wants to reduce this to just one. This would allow them to track light birds like swifts.

Around 50 research teams will use ICARUS to track wildlife. Eventually, all the data will be uploaded MoveBank a free online database created to help researchers share animal movement data.

“It’s a big data project for life on the planet,” adds Wikelski.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.