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| David and Siwi Haberlah watch as the whale is washed ashore near the Clyde River. © Haberlah family |
Eight-metre dead whale washes onto rocks in Batemans Bay, Australia
An eight-metre dead whale has been washed onto rocks at the mouth of the Clyde River in Batemans Bay.
Canberra visitor David Haberlah saw the whale on Saturday afternoon, just minutes before waves dumped the mammal in an area known as North Head beach, near Yellow Rock.
With his four-year-old daughter, Siwa, the geologist hurried to the scene.
"I was sitting at the far end and I saw something white floating," Mr Haberlah said. "I thought 'wow, this looks like a massive balloon'. I had a closer look and saw one of the fins come up and realised it was a whale.
"I went running back and Siwa and I went straight to look. It was belly up. It was already dead."
Whale scientist Geoff Ross warned swimmers to avoid the North Head beach because bull sharks and great white sharks would be drawn to the young humpback's carcass.
On Monday, a ship leaves Sydney on a five-day scientific trip to Eden, counting whales returning to Antarctica.
The dead whale is a casualty of that southern migration after the breeding season in warmer northern waters.
Mr Haberlah said the whale was partly submerged but he did notice any injuries.
However, within minutes of striking the rocks, the carcass was gashed.
"It did not look like it had any injuries before but now it is breaking apart," he said.
"You could see within the first 10 to15 minutes that a lot of fresh wounds were opening up as the whale was being washed against the rocks.
"We were not sure how old it was but it measured about eight metres."
By Sunday, the carcass was bloated and floating more clearly above the water line.
Mr Haberlah said he thought he saw a small shark approaching "very fast" at one point. - SMH.
Still man's best friend? Owner of pit bull in serious condition following attack in Cocoa, Florida
Dog attacks owner, owner taken to hospital with serious injuries
A man was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday evening after he was attacked by his pit bull, according to officials.
The attack occurred on Lucas Lane in Cocoa just before 6 p.m. Cocoa police say the dog got out of its pen and went to the neighbor's yard where another dog was.
When the owner brought the dog back to his yard, the dog attacked him, according to police.
Witnesses told Local 6 the owner was bitten down to the bone and was taken to Wuestoff Hospital with serious injuries.
The dog was taken by animal control. It's not clear if the dog will be euthanized, but animal control is investigating.
No other details were immediately available. - Click Orlando.
Texas neighborhood under siege by wild boars
Wild boars, also known as Feral Hogs, are tearing up a north Fort Worth neighborhood.
Several trails and open spaces in The Bluff community in Fort Worth have huge patches of grass that have been completely uprooted.
“We noticed when we were out walking that the grass and everything had been getting eaten up a lot, and now we just noticed, we took some more, and it’s just tearing up the whole property, all the, behind all of the new homes over here,” explained homeowner Donna Bellinger.
New homes in this new neighborhood area means expansion, but these homes are being built in an area where wildlife once roamed freely.
Homeowner Gregory Wurtele and his family moved here last September. He captured video of a wild boar behind his house this summer.
“I was just out here having coffee, and there’s kind of like, there’s a big pig walking by. This big black pig, and you’re like, that’s a pig,” said Wurtele. “That’s a really big pig. And I just watched it come up here.”
WATCH: Fort Worth Neighborhood Annoyed By Pig Problem.
Wild boars have razor-sharp tusks and can grow as large as 400 pounds. They eat meat and plants, and can cause a lot of damage. Property damage isn’t the only concern that homeowners have.
“I’m concerned for other neighbors or people who are just passing by, because if you don’t know about it then, you’ve never encountered one,” said Wurtele. “I grew up in a rural area so [I] do know the potential of a large animal, but in this case, you know it just doesn’t always compute until you realize that that’s what they’re talking about.”
CBS 11 talked to the Heritage Home Owners Association about what they’re doing to solve the wild boar problem.
The association said they’ve contacted the city and are working with animal control to come up with a solution to rid the neighborhood of the wild boars. - CBS DFW.
Pack of stray dogs maul 17-month-old boy outside his house in Bangalore, India
According to eye-witnesses, Kumaraswamy was mauled by a pack of four to six dogs when he stepped out of his house at 6 am. His parents rushed him to KIMS hospital for the treatment, where the hospital authorities reportedly refused to treat the boy.
Later, the child was admitted in KC General Hospital, Malleswaram, where he is undergoing treatment.
Paediatrician, KC General Hospital, Dr Lakshmipathy said that the child is being administered with antibiotics and that he is out of danger. "He will be kept under observation at hospital for two days. He is being given all the necessary treatment so that he does not get any infections," he said.
Meanwhile, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) blamed the victim's parents for the incident and held the garbage menace responsible for the increasing stray dog attacks.
Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), BBMP, Dr Shivarama Bhat told Deccan Herald that they are implementing Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination ( ARV) programmes in all the wards.
"There are three lakh stray dogs in our city and about 80 per cent of them are already vaccinated. This year, the NGOs we have tied up with has implemented ABC in 20 packages. Another 20 packages has been tendered and work is in progress," he added. - Daiji World.
Dog attack kills 7-year-old boy in Wisconsin
A 7-year-old boy has died after being severely bitten by a dog in Dodge County in eastern Wisconsin.
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office said in a statement late Friday that the incident was reported just before 5:30 p.m. Friday in the Town of Hustisford, about 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee.
A 911 caller said the boy was bleeding profusely, Lt. Brian Loos told WISN-TV.
"At some point our dispatchers began to talk the mother through CPR. Numerous first-responding agencies responded," Loos said. But the child died at the scene despite extensive lifesaving efforts.
"The various individuals and agencies that were involved in this did a phenomenal job. They were at the scene attempting to save this child's life for quite a long period of time," Loos said.
The department's statement said names, addresses and additional information about the nature of the incident and the dog wouldn't be released for now out of respect to the family. The dog was quarantined. Loos said the dog was known to the family but wouldn't say if it was the family pet or what breed it was.
The lieutenant said the child's death was weighing heavy on his mind as well as those who tried to save him.
"Children are always the worst ones for our first responders to deal with. It's very difficult for them to deal with this," he said.
Authorities had no plans to file criminal charges, he said. - Las Vegas Review Journal.
Police think two large coyotes may have attacked Thornhill residents, Canada
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| A coyote is seen in this file photo. |
Residents of Thornhill are being asked to remain vigilant as police search for two wild animals that terrorized locals Monday evening.
York Regional Police said Tuesday that they believe large coyotes attacked three people, including a police officer, in the Bayview Avenue and John Street area yesterday.
Witnesses had at first described them as German Shepherds but police say the animals are likely more aggressive than house pets.
"It is believed that these animals have been living in the area for about two years," police said in a news release. "This is the first known report of them being aggressive towards humans."
Authorities were first alerted to the animals yesterday morning after someone called police to report a sighting on Evergreen Crescent.
"The animals chased several people into their homes and at one point, had to be fended off with a rake," police said.
Responding officers soon located them in a neighbour's backyard and had to use pepper spray to defend themselves after the animals lunged at police. The canines scampered into a nearby wooded area.
Police located them again Monday afternoon in the woods and a shot was fired from a gun in an attempt to capture the creatures but police were not successful in containing the animals.
"Due to the imminent threat and concern for public safety, and without having tranquilizers or other viable non-lethal options, a firearm was discharged," the news release said. "It is believed that one of the animals was shot in the upper shoulder area and both of them rapidly fled and went deeper into the wooded area.
Later in the afternoon, police received information that the animals had attacked again, this time in the area of King's College Road and Green Lane. This time, two women were attacked. They were bitten by the animals but suffered minor injuries.
Night fell without further sightings. Police were back on the hunt for the animals Tuesday morning.
Experts with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) are helping police in their search.
In the meantime, police are doing what they can to keep people safe. They've blocked access to a local park and told one family to stay off a local field.
They've also sent their Emergency Response Unit to the area to manage the situation.
Chris Alexander, a spokesperson for the City of Markham, told CP24 officials are focused on keeping the public safe.
"Stay away from park for time being," he warned. "We started process yesterday morning and worked through the night trying to find the dogs. Our first priority is public safety. These dogs are very aggressive."
Alexander said parents of young children should be extra vigilant.
"Small children and small dogs, keep them inside for today until we find out where the dogs are and can deal with the situation properly," he said.
One man who lives in the area wasn't taking any chances when he took his dog out for a walk today. He was armed with a walking stick for protection.
"I guess it could happen anywhere, I'm just being protective," Abe Gabel told CP24. "We take walks everyday and just wanted to make sure my dog is protected."
Police are warning anyone who comes across the animals to call authorities and protect themselves from danger.
"Do not approach them, do not offer them food or treats," police said. "Do not try to physically restrain, capture or control any unknown animals." - CP24.
Man out for jog killed by 2 dogs in Michigan
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| One of the two cane corsos in quarantine at the Lapeer County Animal Shelter that fatally attacked a Livonia man Wednesday evening while he jogged in Metamora Township. © Lapeer County Sheriff's Office |
A pair of dogs attacked and mauled to death a man as he jogged down a quiet, dirt road in rural Michigan.
Craig Sytsma, 46, of Livonia died of his injuries Wednesday night at a local hospital, police in Metamora Township said.
"He was jogging, doing what everybody else does out there, running and riding bikes," said Metamora police Officer Sean Leathers, who was one of the first on the scene. Sytsma, a divorced father of three, was unconscious and undergoing CPR when Leathers arrived.
Source: Detroit Free Press
- USA Today.
Dingoes attack two women joggers on Fraser Island, Queensland
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| Tourists are advised not to approach dingoes on Fraser Island. © AAP: Jim Shrimpton |
Dingoes have attacked two women while they were jogging on Fraser Island off south-east Queensland.
Paramedics were called to Yidney Rocks on the island about 7:00am on Sunday.
A woman was treated for leg injuries and taken to Hervey Bay hospital.
Doreen Cash from the Yidney Rocks Beachfront Apartments said the two women were staying at the units.
She said the two dogs "appeared out of nowhere" and started to harass the women.
"She was bitten above the knee and I believe she also had puncture marks lower down on the leg," Ms Cash said.
She said the woman's friend received "a grazing bite below the ankle bone".
"A couple of fishermen came out from the huts that are situated in proximity to where the dogs appeared from and chased the dogs away," Ms Cash said.
"Had they not, probably the injuries would have been a lot more serious."
She said she believed the dingoes may have belonged to a pack that attacked a man at nearby Happy Valley in August.
Ms Cash said the attack has "come as a bit of a surprise".
"These two particular dogs ... you'd often see them on the beach and they never interfered with anybody and this has just happened out of the blue," she said.
Ms Cash said the dingoes were known in the area but had never bothered anyone.
"We've never had a real problem with the dingoes, they've been adequately managed by Parks," she said.
"After the attack at Happy Valley there were basically two dogs left and it was those two dogs [from whom] up until this morning we haven't had one ounce of trouble with."
Ms Cash said she told other guests to be careful.
"We've just made them aware to keep an eye on their children and preferably don't walk on the beach without there being a group of you," she said.
Rangers on the island have increased patrols of the area and closed campsites between Poyungan Rocks and Eli Creek for public safety.
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife is investigating.
Key facts:- ABC Australia.
* The dingo population on Fraser Island naturally fluctuates throughout the year
* Dingo numbers peak with pup births in June-August, followed by a drop in numbers due to natural attrition
* A dingo pack is dominated by its breeding male and female, with the subordinate animals aggressively competing for their place in the pack structure.
* Dingoes (Canis lupus dingo) and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) look similar because they are both different subspecies of wolf.
* Fraser Island dingoes travel up to 40 kilometres each day.
* Natural diet of dingoes is variable - birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, vegetation and especially mammals.
* It is illegal to feed or interfere with dingoes or other wildlife. Heavy penalties apply.
* Feeding dingoes can result in them losing their hunting skills and natural fear of humans.
* Feeding dingoes, whether intentional (for example, feeding stations) or inadvertent (such as through the improper disposal of rubbish) can cause problems.
Source: Queensland Government
Wolf Lake man attacked and injured by elk at campground in Muskegon, Michigan
A 59-year-old man was injured by an elk at the Wolf Lake Resort & Campground in a bizarre Monday, Oct. 6 incident.
An Egelston Township fire official confirmed the attack happened Monday evening between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the resort located at 5451 Harding Ave. The elk is housed at an adjacent deer and elk farm owned by the same people who own the campground.
A woman who spoke with an MLive Muskegon Chronicle reporter by phone from the campground office refused to confirm the incident. She denied it ever happened.
But the fire official confirmed the fire department was sent there on a medical call and the man had been injured by the elk severely enough that he required hospital treatment.
When authorities got to the campground, the man was inside a home and the animal was back in its pen, the fire official confirmed.
The victim's condition was unknown Tuesday, Oct. 7, the fire official said. - MLIVE.
At least six people attacked and injured by a group of wild boar in India
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| A group of 5 Wild Boar |
In the latest incident of man-wildlife conflict in villages lying in close proximity of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, at least six persons including two women and an infant were injured today following attack by hordes of wild boars in Jamboo village under Mahakalpada police station jurisdiction.
As the news of animal attack spread, people rose in protest and demonstrated in front of the local forest office.
The agitating people were demanding the launch of foolproof measures to curb the intrusion of animals like wild boar, crocodiles and spotted deer into places of human habitation.
Three persons including a 15-year-old girl, a 55-year-old woman were injured while three others sustained injuries following the stampede that ensued as the wild boars chased the people. All of them, who were hospitalised, are out of danger.
The injured persons are being covered under Rs 5,000 compensation award by the forest department. It is also bearing the cost of treatment of the injured persons. The animals had strayed into crop fields. While they were on their way back to forest habitat, they had attacked the people, said Mahakalpada Forest Range Officer, Bijoy Kumar Parida. With acts of trespass by wild boars being frequent, people are living sleepless nights in Jamboo, Suniti, Bagagahana, Badadandua and a cluster of other forest-side villages. They have resorted to bursting fire crackers and beating gongs to keep the rogue animals at bay, said a local Samarendra Mahali.
Conversion of the forest area into paddy cultivation and shrimp farming is a salient feature in these parts.
This has led to animals like wild boar straying into human habitation areas due to loss of their habitat, felt forest officials.
Divisional Forest Officer, Rajnagar Mangrove (wildlife) Forest Division Kedar Kumar Swain said "The forest department has intensified watch and vigil in village areas to drive away the wild boar. Forest personnel have begun night watch and vigil in villages which are marked by straying of animals. Villagers have been advised to avoid movement during night hours when animals mostly make their way to crop fields in village areas. Besides a steel-net-barricade is being installed shortly around village boundaries to ward off the animals' intrusion into human settlements." - The Statesman.
Pack of wild boar attack woman in suburb of Stockholm, Sweden
A young woman was left shaken after being chased by a pack of wild boar in a suburb of Stockholm, Sweden.
Stocholm county police write on their website that the woman was out walking in the evening when she met more than a dozen wild boars.
When the surprised woman turned tail and fled the boars gave chase. She luckily met a group of young people who were able to scare away the pack of pursuing porkers.
Authorities informed
The incident was reported at half past 8 pm on Saturday night, on Avstyckningsvägen in Viksjö, about a kilometre from the Jakobsberg station on Stockholm's commuter train line.
It is a quiet road with detached houses and gardens, but to the north and west are green spaces along the coast of Lake Mälaren, which runs through Stockholm.
Albin Näverberg at the county police writes that the local Järfälla municipality has been informed.
He says to newspaper Svenska Dagbladet that he is himself a hunter, and understands why people are scared of wild boars, since they can kill a hunter's dog with their tusks. But his advice is not to simply run away, "If you flee too fast this will give a signal to the whole pack to attack, and even the gentlest ones will join in."
The woman was probably chased by a group of sows protecting their young. According to the Swedish Farming Association (LRF) all wild boars apart from mature males live in groups that can be described as a matriarchy led by an older female.
Wild boar incidents have also been reported from nearby Barkarby and Jakobsberg in the Stockholm northern suburbs. - RCINET.
Major fish kill is 'a mystery' in Yerrabi Pond, Canberra, Australia
The Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate have explained they can’t explain why there was a major fish kill event in Gungahlin’s Yerrabi Pond.
Test samples analysed by experts in Sydney have ruled out a virus as the cause of a significant number of fish deaths in Yerrabi Pond over the past month, Dr Lisa Evans, Aquatic Ecologist from the Environment and Planning Directorate has confirmed today.
“Since late September the ACT Government has been undertaking a range of tests to establish why a significant number of fish were found dead in Yerrabi Pond,” Dr Evans said.
“A range of water samples were taken by the Environment Protection Authority to help determine the cause of the deaths, but all results returned with readings in the normal ranges.
“The ACT Government has also been working with experts from the University of Sydney to examine other possible causes of the deaths, as more dead fish were discovered in early October.
“Test results from the University of Sydney have ruled out a number of fish viruses, and it is believed that the cause could be linked to a short term dissolved oxygen shortage associated with nutrient runoff from a recent storm, warmer water temperatures and significant amounts of filamentous algae in the pond. Breeding stress at this time of year could also be a contributing factor in the deaths.
“This is the first time that a Murray Cod fish kill has been observed in Yerrabi Pond in the 14 years that the pond has been stocked with these fish,” Dr Evans said.
The recent fish deaths are a timely reminder to Canberra residents that fish diseases can be transferred by people dumping unwanted pet fish into our waterways and illegally moving fish between waterways.
Dissolved oxygen levels in the water have since returned to normal. Members of the public should notify Canberra Connect on 13 22 81 if they see any dead fish in or around any local waterways. - City News.
