Sick owls get acupuncture!

BELIEVE it or not, acupuncture can even help owls to get over health issues and one little fella is undergoing treatment after he flew into a stovepipe at a factory in Madrid, injuring his back.

After being discovered, he was taken to Brinzal, an owl-rescue sanctuary where he was treated by acupuncturist Edurne Cornejo who told: “When he first came, he couldn’t stand up. Then he started taking little steps. Now he is flying again.”

Speaking about his treatment so far, she added: “It stimulates self-curing mechanisms in the organism. It does not cause side-effects.”

The use of the ancient Chinese technique in animals is growing worldwide, according to the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, a US-based body formed in 1974.

Elsewhere in the Brinzal centre, about 80 eagle owls, tawny owls, little owls and other species at various stages of recovery relax or practise flying again in covered enclosures.

RED waves sparked much fear among early morning visitors to the coastline in Shenzhen, China’s Guangdong province. But fortunately, there is nothing worrying behind this bizarre scene. It is in fact caused by algae blooms, which change colour to a deep red or dark brown when they reproduce in one area in large numbers.

Local environment official Kang Ts’ai said: “Although it is harmless, we have nevertheless slapped a ban on any swimming or water sports in the area until the algae is swept back out to sea.”

The algal blooms have been observed for centuries and it can increase due to man-made activities, including pollution in coastal areas, as well as by rising sea temperatures. Shenzhen’s Monitoring Centre for Marine Environment and Resources experts said that they expected the algae to disappear once the water temperature lowers. n

DON’T get too close if you are thinking of filming a kangaroo or you have to face the music just like this kangaroo knocked an aerial drone from the sky after the device hovered too close to a small group of the animals.

The footage was captured in Hunter Valley, Australia from a camera attached to a small drone.

As the device came in low across a field to observe four to five kangaroo at the edge of a brush-line, the larger of the animals hopped forward to inspect the intruding machine.

The drone lifted in elevation and once more moved lower before the kangaroo advanced and punched it out of the air, sending the drone into the grass and damaging it enough to prevent further lift-off.

Kangaroos are known for their strong back legs and tail. If threatened, they will box and kick opponents or stomp a foot on the ground to warn others.

THE American Kennel Club announced it is formally recognising four new breeds — Spanish water dog, cirneco dell’etna, bergamasco and boerboel — that meet the AKC’s requirements of having “a minimum number of dogs geographically distributed throughout the US, as well as an established breed club of responsible owners and breeders.”

“The AKC is thrilled to recognise these four very unique breeds,” AKC spokeswoman Gina DiNardo said. “While each of these loveable dogs differs in temperament, exercise and grooming needs, they make wonderful companions to a variety of people. We’re glad to give dog lovers more breed options to fit their lifestyle.”

The group said the breeds will be eligible to complete in AKC-associated dog shows beginning January 1, 2015.