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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 17th October 2012
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Hopes for semi-wild panda
Survival training given to panda released in wild

A giant panda bred in captivity has been released into the wild after receiving special survival training.

The two-year-old male, called Taotao, has been released from a giant panda conservation centre in Sichuan province, China.

Training involved handlers wearing panda suits to prevent Taotao becoming familiar with humans. It is though that the panda now has enough skills to survive and to help increase the threatened panda population.

Taotao is the second panda to be released into the wild since Xiang Xiang, in 2006. Unfortunately, Xiang Xiang died after he got into a fight with wild pandas.

Zhang Hemin, a director at the conservation centre said that, compared to Xiang Xiang, this panda "has lived and grown in semi-wild conditions since he was very little. This means [his] fighting capability and survival skills both improved significantly."

However, despite best hopes, it is not certain that Taotao will be able to survive natural challenges such as other wild animals.

Hemin added: "Taotao is only the second such panda released to nature, and we remain in the experimental stage."

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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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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.