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Sniffer dog finds £1m haul of illegal rhino horn
The ivory haul was found by sniffer dog Lizzy at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. (Stock photo)
Largest haul seized in South Africa in recent years 

Customs officials in South Africa have seized illegal rhino horn worth around £1 million, after it was sniffed out by a detection dog.

A haul of 36 horns and horn fragments were tightly packed in eight boxes, along with other items such as decorations and doormats, BBC News reports.

The boxes were ready to be shipped to Dubai, according to the South African Revenue Service.

Weighing 116kg (256lbs), the haul is thought to be one of the biggest seized in South Africa in recent years. It was found by sniffer dog Lizzy at OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.

Despite successful conservation efforts in South Africa in recent years, WWF says the number of rhinos poached in the country has increased by 9,000 per cent since 2007, from 13 to 1,215 in 2014.

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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.