ramonmercado
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Day Of The Animals: Tales Of Man Vs Beast (And Man Suffers)
- Thread starter ninja_cat
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- animal attacks animals
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Sharks devour dolphin in Falmouth Bay: VIDEO
8:47am Tuesday 15th October 2013 in Falmouth/Penryn .
A video has captured the moment guests on a wildelife cruise out of Falmouth spotted blue sharks feasting on a dead dolphin.
Rhian Grey, who was out with AK Wildlife Cruises, said: "To encounter a dead dolphin in the ocean was very upsetting especially after watching the other common dolphins jumping and playing moments before.
"It was the last thing we expected to see on the boat. As we observed the individual dolphin floating in the water we noticed splashing and disturbance. Looking further we spotted sharks.
"These blue sharks had picked up on the scent of the dolphin and started to feed on the individual right next to the boat. I used this opportunity to put my underwater camera in the ocean to get some footage of this rare event.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/fp ... ay__VIDEO/
8:47am Tuesday 15th October 2013 in Falmouth/Penryn .
A video has captured the moment guests on a wildelife cruise out of Falmouth spotted blue sharks feasting on a dead dolphin.
Rhian Grey, who was out with AK Wildlife Cruises, said: "To encounter a dead dolphin in the ocean was very upsetting especially after watching the other common dolphins jumping and playing moments before.
"It was the last thing we expected to see on the boat. As we observed the individual dolphin floating in the water we noticed splashing and disturbance. Looking further we spotted sharks.
"These blue sharks had picked up on the scent of the dolphin and started to feed on the individual right next to the boat. I used this opportunity to put my underwater camera in the ocean to get some footage of this rare event.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/fp ... ay__VIDEO/
JamesWhitehead
Piffle Prospector
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Ban on racing and eating cats in Peru:
Can't say I had heard of this - article accompanied by startled cat image
:miaow:
Can't say I had heard of this - article accompanied by startled cat image
:miaow:
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Falmouth 'Seal Cam' zooms in on marine wildlife
12:00pm Thursday 17th October 2013 in News
A ‘sealcam’ has been fitted at Falmouth Coastguard station to capture live footage of the harbour and the seals at Black Rock, to help create a database of the county’s grey seal population.
Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC) have set up the webcam to help the Cornwall Seal Group monitor, identify and record the seals using photo identification of the unique markings on their coats.
The footage will help inform the Falmouth seal photo identification project (FalPip), which aims to help researchers better understand local seals.
Sue Sayer, of Cornwall Seal Group, said: “It will hugely enhance our photo identification of seals here and enable us to make a greater number of links with other sites around the Cornish coast and Celtic Sea. We can’t wait to discover the seal secrets of Black Rock.”
SealCam is online at the sustainability section of FHC’s webpage http://www.falmouthport.co.uk/commercia ... onment.php
[But it may not work in IE without AXIS Media Control.
PS: Doesn't work in Firefox either!]
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... fe/?ref=mr
12:00pm Thursday 17th October 2013 in News
A ‘sealcam’ has been fitted at Falmouth Coastguard station to capture live footage of the harbour and the seals at Black Rock, to help create a database of the county’s grey seal population.
Falmouth Harbour Commissioners (FHC) have set up the webcam to help the Cornwall Seal Group monitor, identify and record the seals using photo identification of the unique markings on their coats.
The footage will help inform the Falmouth seal photo identification project (FalPip), which aims to help researchers better understand local seals.
Sue Sayer, of Cornwall Seal Group, said: “It will hugely enhance our photo identification of seals here and enable us to make a greater number of links with other sites around the Cornish coast and Celtic Sea. We can’t wait to discover the seal secrets of Black Rock.”
SealCam is online at the sustainability section of FHC’s webpage http://www.falmouthport.co.uk/commercia ... onment.php
[But it may not work in IE without AXIS Media Control.
PS: Doesn't work in Firefox either!]
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... fe/?ref=mr
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Cornish 'Coastal Code of Conduct' launched as seals start to pup
9:00am Saturday 19th October 2013 in News .
A 'Coastal Code of Conduct' to help people behave responsibly has been launched as the seal pupping season starts on the secluded shores of Cornwall
Cornwall Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and Cornwall Seal Group, have set up the Marine Disturbance 24 hour Hotline on 0345 2012626, and the Coastal Code of Conduct web pages www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/coastal_code, containing information on how to enjoy the coast and yet protect the wildlife that exists there at the same time.
The Trust says the animals can suffer "blind panic as they are suddenly woken with a start by a human too close by for comfort" and that seals can suffer accidently at the hand of humans.
Sue Sayer, coordinator of Cornwall Seal Group said: "At worst, seals have been hit by fast travelling boats or slashed by propellers, but most of the negative effects that people have on seals are far less obvious or even invisible.
"A panic reaction is associated with a flight response and hormone release. A seal on land may rush to the relative safety of the sea and this changes their ideal resting routine and upsets their energy budget.
"A seal that hauled onto land on a high tide, may be woken by the smell, sight or sound of people, only to find that the sea is now far away, forcing it to rush over rocks and boulders, ripping out claws or gashing its belly as it goes."
"Although not all seals are equally affected by people, some groups are more vulnerable to having their resting routines upset…heavily pregnant mothers carry their pups in their bellies and the consequences of a dash over rocks can be doubly fatal.
"Mums may be scared away from their pups, who then end up starving to death. Young seals that are teaching themselves to feed have few fat reserves to spare and they naturally choose remote Cornish beaches to rest and digest their food.
"The presence of people can scare them into the sea tipping the balance beyond recovery. These effects may be felt weeks or months after the disturbance incident and cumulatively can be fatal.
Sue added: "If you are out on the water – watch the reactions of any seals you see. If they are repeated looking at you – you are already too close. If seal moves to the sea, you must back away to avoid them rushing to the sea and so being affected by your presence. Maintain a constant, slow course, parallel to the shore and ideally at least 50m from the seals.
"Always aim to leave seals as you found them….no matter what the reason, any seal entering the sea in your presence will have had its resting and energy routines interrupted and you might not be the only people they have encountered that day.
"Cornwall Seal Group has shown, at their main study site, that the frequency of ‘worst case’ incidents of seals being flushed into the sea has increased from one every 8.5 minutes to one every 7 minutes. This is not sustainable."
To find out more, Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) have set up a website www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/coastalcode for the public, plus a 24 hour Marine Disturbance Hotline on 0345 2012626.
They are asking members of the public to report any instance of disturbance they see, with video or photographs if at all possible and safe.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... up/?ref=la
9:00am Saturday 19th October 2013 in News .
A 'Coastal Code of Conduct' to help people behave responsibly has been launched as the seal pupping season starts on the secluded shores of Cornwall
Cornwall Wildlife Trust, RSPB, and Cornwall Seal Group, have set up the Marine Disturbance 24 hour Hotline on 0345 2012626, and the Coastal Code of Conduct web pages www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/coastal_code, containing information on how to enjoy the coast and yet protect the wildlife that exists there at the same time.
The Trust says the animals can suffer "blind panic as they are suddenly woken with a start by a human too close by for comfort" and that seals can suffer accidently at the hand of humans.
Sue Sayer, coordinator of Cornwall Seal Group said: "At worst, seals have been hit by fast travelling boats or slashed by propellers, but most of the negative effects that people have on seals are far less obvious or even invisible.
"A panic reaction is associated with a flight response and hormone release. A seal on land may rush to the relative safety of the sea and this changes their ideal resting routine and upsets their energy budget.
"A seal that hauled onto land on a high tide, may be woken by the smell, sight or sound of people, only to find that the sea is now far away, forcing it to rush over rocks and boulders, ripping out claws or gashing its belly as it goes."
"Although not all seals are equally affected by people, some groups are more vulnerable to having their resting routines upset…heavily pregnant mothers carry their pups in their bellies and the consequences of a dash over rocks can be doubly fatal.
"Mums may be scared away from their pups, who then end up starving to death. Young seals that are teaching themselves to feed have few fat reserves to spare and they naturally choose remote Cornish beaches to rest and digest their food.
"The presence of people can scare them into the sea tipping the balance beyond recovery. These effects may be felt weeks or months after the disturbance incident and cumulatively can be fatal.
Sue added: "If you are out on the water – watch the reactions of any seals you see. If they are repeated looking at you – you are already too close. If seal moves to the sea, you must back away to avoid them rushing to the sea and so being affected by your presence. Maintain a constant, slow course, parallel to the shore and ideally at least 50m from the seals.
"Always aim to leave seals as you found them….no matter what the reason, any seal entering the sea in your presence will have had its resting and energy routines interrupted and you might not be the only people they have encountered that day.
"Cornwall Seal Group has shown, at their main study site, that the frequency of ‘worst case’ incidents of seals being flushed into the sea has increased from one every 8.5 minutes to one every 7 minutes. This is not sustainable."
To find out more, Cornwall Wildlife Trust (CWT) have set up a website www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/coastalcode for the public, plus a 24 hour Marine Disturbance Hotline on 0345 2012626.
They are asking members of the public to report any instance of disturbance they see, with video or photographs if at all possible and safe.
http://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/10 ... up/?ref=la
Mythopoeika
I am a meat popsicle
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These last 3 posts, Rynner...shouldn't they be in a different thread? The Lone Coastguard thread?
ramonmercado
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Mythopoeika said:
Aaarrr. Sea dogs are crewing the ships.
ramonmercado
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Feline felon.
)
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Bad news for a lot of animals - and maybe us! Long article:
Canine virus threatens Siberian tiger
By Prof Jonathan Ball, Virologist, University of Nottingham
The Siberian tiger: majestic, enigmatic - the classic big cat precariously balanced on the edge of extinction.
Threatened by deforestation and poaching to supply the black market trade in tiger body parts, it is one of the most endangered cats on the planet.
But over the past decade or so, a new threat has emerged - a silent, insidious one - canine distemper virus.
Worldwide there are an estimated 400-500 Siberian or Amur tigers.
Exact numbers are hard to determine because this is a reclusive animal that is rarely observed.
Yet, at the turn of the century, some of these otherwise withdrawn animals were seen wandering onto roads and into villages in the Russian Far East. They were fearless and docile, confused and dazed; the antithesis of their usual ferocious and wary demeanour.
Over the next few years evidence mounted that this, the largest living felid, was suffering from an infectious agent and the indications - the nature of the illness, historical understanding of wild cat infections and the diagnosis, in a single wild tiger, of a virus belonging to the morbillivirus genus - provided a likely culprit.
A study published in the journal mBio, confirmed these suspicions. Genetic analysis of several dead tiger samples showed that canine distemper virus was the cause.
Canine distemper virus (CDV), a relative of the human measles virus, was first described in dogs and infection causes fatal pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
But this virus is incredibly promiscuous and can infect jump into a variety of different animals - usually with catastrophic effects.
Two suspected CDV outbreaks, the first in 1988 and a second in 2000, killed thousands of Baikal then Caspian seals.
The virus has also ripped through Africa, with fatal outbreaks in silver-backed jackals and bat-eared foxes and catastrophic die-offs in wild dog populations that continue to this day.
For years, cats were thought resistant to CDV. Yes, domestic cats could be infected in the laboratory, but this was inefficient and the virus was unable to pass from one animal to another.
A massive demise in 1994 of African lions living in the Serengeti national park in Tanzania showed that this was fallacy. This population of closely monitored lions succumbed to CDV. Whilst only 34 lion deaths were documented during the outbreak, this was only the tip of the iceberg.
Before CDV struck, the lion population numbered 3,000, but afterwards this had fallen by a third. In the same outbreak, countless hyenas, bat-eared foxes and leopards also perished.
Add to this the recent report of infection of large numbers of South American jaguar and it is evident that this virus has little, if any respect for the so-called species barrier - the unique inherent host factors and properties that prevent viruses from jumping from one species to another.
In an intriguing turn of events, CDV was also starting to spark fatal outbreaks in various primates.
So what should we make of the emergence of CDV infection in primates. Is this an indication of the potential for a more compelling species jump? Could CDV do the unthinkable and infect humans?
The simple answer is a resounding yes. At least, in theory it is.
To replicate, a virus has to get into a host cell. It does this through interactions between proteins on its surface with proteins - receptors - on the surface of the cell. These receptors act as gateways into the cell and if the virus protein fits then infection takes place.
Different animals possess slightly different versions of these receptors on their cells so the virus proteins also have to change to be able to unlock them.
A single mutation in one of surface proteins in CDV present in primates is all it takes for the virus to successfully use the human receptor. This is a tiny species barrier.
But before banishing the pet dog to a high containment kennel then donning personal protective clothing before you go near, there's a key part of the story we need to consider - one that's probably been protecting us for all of these years.
When you're exposed to a virus your body recognises it as foreign and your blood cells generate antibodies which bind to the virus surface proteins and protect us from infection. It's the basis for vaccination.
Fortunately, the surface protein of the measles virus is so similar to CDV that antibodies generated by the measles vaccine also protect against CD; and other morbilliviruses too.
But, if we ever eradicate measles and stop vaccination, maybe then we will be susceptible to CDV.
etc...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24535799
Canine virus threatens Siberian tiger
By Prof Jonathan Ball, Virologist, University of Nottingham
The Siberian tiger: majestic, enigmatic - the classic big cat precariously balanced on the edge of extinction.
Threatened by deforestation and poaching to supply the black market trade in tiger body parts, it is one of the most endangered cats on the planet.
But over the past decade or so, a new threat has emerged - a silent, insidious one - canine distemper virus.
Worldwide there are an estimated 400-500 Siberian or Amur tigers.
Exact numbers are hard to determine because this is a reclusive animal that is rarely observed.
Yet, at the turn of the century, some of these otherwise withdrawn animals were seen wandering onto roads and into villages in the Russian Far East. They were fearless and docile, confused and dazed; the antithesis of their usual ferocious and wary demeanour.
Over the next few years evidence mounted that this, the largest living felid, was suffering from an infectious agent and the indications - the nature of the illness, historical understanding of wild cat infections and the diagnosis, in a single wild tiger, of a virus belonging to the morbillivirus genus - provided a likely culprit.
A study published in the journal mBio, confirmed these suspicions. Genetic analysis of several dead tiger samples showed that canine distemper virus was the cause.
Canine distemper virus (CDV), a relative of the human measles virus, was first described in dogs and infection causes fatal pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
But this virus is incredibly promiscuous and can infect jump into a variety of different animals - usually with catastrophic effects.
Two suspected CDV outbreaks, the first in 1988 and a second in 2000, killed thousands of Baikal then Caspian seals.
The virus has also ripped through Africa, with fatal outbreaks in silver-backed jackals and bat-eared foxes and catastrophic die-offs in wild dog populations that continue to this day.
For years, cats were thought resistant to CDV. Yes, domestic cats could be infected in the laboratory, but this was inefficient and the virus was unable to pass from one animal to another.
A massive demise in 1994 of African lions living in the Serengeti national park in Tanzania showed that this was fallacy. This population of closely monitored lions succumbed to CDV. Whilst only 34 lion deaths were documented during the outbreak, this was only the tip of the iceberg.
Before CDV struck, the lion population numbered 3,000, but afterwards this had fallen by a third. In the same outbreak, countless hyenas, bat-eared foxes and leopards also perished.
Add to this the recent report of infection of large numbers of South American jaguar and it is evident that this virus has little, if any respect for the so-called species barrier - the unique inherent host factors and properties that prevent viruses from jumping from one species to another.
In an intriguing turn of events, CDV was also starting to spark fatal outbreaks in various primates.
So what should we make of the emergence of CDV infection in primates. Is this an indication of the potential for a more compelling species jump? Could CDV do the unthinkable and infect humans?
The simple answer is a resounding yes. At least, in theory it is.
To replicate, a virus has to get into a host cell. It does this through interactions between proteins on its surface with proteins - receptors - on the surface of the cell. These receptors act as gateways into the cell and if the virus protein fits then infection takes place.
Different animals possess slightly different versions of these receptors on their cells so the virus proteins also have to change to be able to unlock them.
A single mutation in one of surface proteins in CDV present in primates is all it takes for the virus to successfully use the human receptor. This is a tiny species barrier.
But before banishing the pet dog to a high containment kennel then donning personal protective clothing before you go near, there's a key part of the story we need to consider - one that's probably been protecting us for all of these years.
When you're exposed to a virus your body recognises it as foreign and your blood cells generate antibodies which bind to the virus surface proteins and protect us from infection. It's the basis for vaccination.
Fortunately, the surface protein of the measles virus is so similar to CDV that antibodies generated by the measles vaccine also protect against CD; and other morbilliviruses too.
But, if we ever eradicate measles and stop vaccination, maybe then we will be susceptible to CDV.
etc...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24535799
ramonmercado
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Vid at link.
ramonmercado
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gncxx said:
Dalai would be better.
ramonmercado
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ramonmercado
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ramonmercado
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Jockeys ride Clydesdales for Exeter race
[Video: Tom Parker, Big Al, Solo, Ecco and Siryl all took part in the race - woth a look!]
Five Clydesdales have taken part in a charity race at Exeter racecourse.
The horses thundered down the home straight with the aim of promoting the breed, which has been given "at risk" status.
The horses took part in the Devon Air Ambulance charity race 35 minutes before before the day's main racing and were ridden by professional jockeys.
The closely fought two-furlong race was won by Tom Parker, ridden by Michael Nolan.
Shares were sold before the race to "own a Clydesdale" and two bookmakers took bets, with all proceeds donated to the air ambulance.
The horses belong to Tim Ancrum, of Adventure Clydesdales, which specialises in providing riding holidays across Dartmoor.
"They won't do what a racehorse will do, but then a racehorse won't do what a Clydesdale can do," Mr Ancrum said.
"I would say that they will do 18-20mph when they are really going. It's like a Range Rover sport, compared to a Ferrari."
The prize for the race was presented by actor Martin Clunes.
"It was absolutely stunning, stunning," he said.
"It's beautiful, and look at all the people that have come to see it, it's just great."
The number of Clydesdales have dwindled as their uses are considered limited since they were used to work the land and pull horse-drawn vehicles.
In 1975 they were categorized by the Rare Breed Survival Trust as "vulnerable".
Over the years and with the increase in breed numbers, this was downgraded to "at risk". There are now 900 in the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-25080973
What beautiful animals!
[Video: Tom Parker, Big Al, Solo, Ecco and Siryl all took part in the race - woth a look!]
Five Clydesdales have taken part in a charity race at Exeter racecourse.
The horses thundered down the home straight with the aim of promoting the breed, which has been given "at risk" status.
The horses took part in the Devon Air Ambulance charity race 35 minutes before before the day's main racing and were ridden by professional jockeys.
The closely fought two-furlong race was won by Tom Parker, ridden by Michael Nolan.
Shares were sold before the race to "own a Clydesdale" and two bookmakers took bets, with all proceeds donated to the air ambulance.
The horses belong to Tim Ancrum, of Adventure Clydesdales, which specialises in providing riding holidays across Dartmoor.
"They won't do what a racehorse will do, but then a racehorse won't do what a Clydesdale can do," Mr Ancrum said.
"I would say that they will do 18-20mph when they are really going. It's like a Range Rover sport, compared to a Ferrari."
The prize for the race was presented by actor Martin Clunes.
"It was absolutely stunning, stunning," he said.
"It's beautiful, and look at all the people that have come to see it, it's just great."
The number of Clydesdales have dwindled as their uses are considered limited since they were used to work the land and pull horse-drawn vehicles.
In 1975 they were categorized by the Rare Breed Survival Trust as "vulnerable".
Over the years and with the increase in breed numbers, this was downgraded to "at risk". There are now 900 in the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-25080973
What beautiful animals!
ramonmercado
CyberPunk
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Crazed cat cows Cornwallians.
Mythopoeika
I am a meat popsicle
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- Inside a starship, watching puny humans from afar
Sometimes cats are smart enough to know what's been done to them.
staticgirl
Abominable Snowman
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I've ridden a Clydesdale horse. She was a gentle giant. I felt like I was on top of a mountain though. They have a really comfortable trotting action.
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Three extraordinary animal related stories from the front page of The Independent online.
California: Mum's photo of her kids surfing reveals hidden surprise.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...in-california-as-mother-looks-on-9030445.html
The Ocean: Dolphins get high chewing puffer fish for the toxin and share it with their pals in the pod.
http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro...-chewing-and-passing-them-around-9030126.html
Bali: Python suffocates and kills security guard.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...urity-guard-at-luxury-bali-hotel-9030337.html
California: Mum's photo of her kids surfing reveals hidden surprise.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...in-california-as-mother-looks-on-9030445.html
The Ocean: Dolphins get high chewing puffer fish for the toxin and share it with their pals in the pod.
http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro...-chewing-and-passing-them-around-9030126.html
Bali: Python suffocates and kills security guard.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...urity-guard-at-luxury-bali-hotel-9030337.html
ramonmercado
CyberPunk
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I've seen an even more frightening picture of a shark in a wave with a surfer overhead.
I guess the Dolphins now have a porpoise in life.
I guess the Dolphins now have a porpoise in life.
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I posted another version of that in Strange Deaths:Pietro_Mercurios said:
http://www.forteantimes.com/forum/viewt ... 52#1380052
uair01
Antediluvian
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- The Netherlands
While searching for Scandinavian traffic webcams (my current temporary obsession) I came upon some pictures of moose-car collision results. Impressive:
And a game-cam picture of a visiting fox? It looks very weird to me:
Source page:
http://www.roros.kommune.no/Tjenester/Naturforvaltning1/
And a game-cam picture of a visiting fox? It looks very weird to me:
Source page:
http://www.roros.kommune.no/Tjenester/Naturforvaltning1/
- Joined
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- Messages
- 54,631
Tidal surge-hit Norfolk seal pup donations top £90,000
Donations to help care for more than 100 seal pups orphaned in December's tidal surge off the Norfolk coast have reached more than £90,000.
The pups, mostly from Blakeney and Winterton, were taken to the RSPCA's wildlife centre in East Winch.
Centre manager Alison Charles said the public's generosity towards the seals was "absolutely astounding".
"Everyday we open the post and there are more and more cheques, it's incredible," she said.
The centre currently has 85 pups in its care, with 46 still on intensive three-hourly feeds. Since the storm surge, about 20 pups have died during rehabilitation.
"Some are over the worst period and are looking quite healthy, but now we need to feed them up, get them fit and give them lots of pool time so they are exercising well to go back to sea," said Mrs Charles.
"£91,000 is just incredible, absolutely astounding, but we're ploughing through herring and mackerel and many of the seals are still on antibiotics - we're using a lot of money to pay for their drugs."
Mrs Charles has worked at the centre for more than 20 years and said she has never seen so many seals needing such high levels of care before.
She said: "We know how fantastic seals are but I didn't realise the public appreciated them as much as they do. You can't believe how much support we've had - it's incredible."
The seals cost about £22 a week each to be fed with a pungent "fish soup" created from a blend of herring, mackerel and a rehydration solution, before moving to fish solids.
"When you add in the medication costs, the heating, the lighting, the water to clean them - I dread to think how much it actually is - but all that effort is worth it when you see them go back to the sea," said Mrs Charles.
The 21-strong team of staff, helped by volunteers, feed the pups every three hours from 08:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT.
She added: "We've got aching hands, shoulders and bruised knees and quite a few bites - we're falling apart, but the seals are looking a lot better."
The team at East Winch hope the first of the tide surge seals currently being cared for will be fit enough to be released back into the North Sea in early February.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25564036
Cute little beggars, aren't they? 8)
Donations to help care for more than 100 seal pups orphaned in December's tidal surge off the Norfolk coast have reached more than £90,000.
The pups, mostly from Blakeney and Winterton, were taken to the RSPCA's wildlife centre in East Winch.
Centre manager Alison Charles said the public's generosity towards the seals was "absolutely astounding".
"Everyday we open the post and there are more and more cheques, it's incredible," she said.
The centre currently has 85 pups in its care, with 46 still on intensive three-hourly feeds. Since the storm surge, about 20 pups have died during rehabilitation.
"Some are over the worst period and are looking quite healthy, but now we need to feed them up, get them fit and give them lots of pool time so they are exercising well to go back to sea," said Mrs Charles.
"£91,000 is just incredible, absolutely astounding, but we're ploughing through herring and mackerel and many of the seals are still on antibiotics - we're using a lot of money to pay for their drugs."
Mrs Charles has worked at the centre for more than 20 years and said she has never seen so many seals needing such high levels of care before.
She said: "We know how fantastic seals are but I didn't realise the public appreciated them as much as they do. You can't believe how much support we've had - it's incredible."
The seals cost about £22 a week each to be fed with a pungent "fish soup" created from a blend of herring, mackerel and a rehydration solution, before moving to fish solids.
"When you add in the medication costs, the heating, the lighting, the water to clean them - I dread to think how much it actually is - but all that effort is worth it when you see them go back to the sea," said Mrs Charles.
The 21-strong team of staff, helped by volunteers, feed the pups every three hours from 08:00 GMT to 01:00 GMT.
She added: "We've got aching hands, shoulders and bruised knees and quite a few bites - we're falling apart, but the seals are looking a lot better."
The team at East Winch hope the first of the tide surge seals currently being cared for will be fit enough to be released back into the North Sea in early February.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-25564036
Cute little beggars, aren't they? 8)
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Linton Zoo lions 'recycle' discarded Christmas trees
[Video: The big cats at Linton Zoo have experienced a "catnip" effect from the trees]
A pair of African lions have gone wild for Christmas trees after a Cambridgeshire zoo appealed for people to donate them for recycling.
The trees are being reused by Linton Zoological Gardens as big cat toys, bio-fuel and, if they still have roots, to enrich the zoo's enclosures.
Manager Dawny Greenwood said the scented trees are "almost like catnip" for the resident big cats.
She added: "They just love the trees, it gives them hours of fun."
Catnip, sometimes known at catmint, is a plant of the mint family and can cause many cats euphoria.
The zoo's tigers and snow leopards also play with the trees, those that are "beyond their best" are used for the zoo's bio-burner.
"This provides additional heating and hot water to help run our zoo at this very expensive, cold time of year," said Ms Greenwood.
Donations have so far ranged from families dropping off a single tree to local nurseries donating unsold stock.
Ms Greenwood added: "We can't collect the trees, but people can just drop them off at the gate."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ca ... e-25603278
[Video: The big cats at Linton Zoo have experienced a "catnip" effect from the trees]
A pair of African lions have gone wild for Christmas trees after a Cambridgeshire zoo appealed for people to donate them for recycling.
The trees are being reused by Linton Zoological Gardens as big cat toys, bio-fuel and, if they still have roots, to enrich the zoo's enclosures.
Manager Dawny Greenwood said the scented trees are "almost like catnip" for the resident big cats.
She added: "They just love the trees, it gives them hours of fun."
Catnip, sometimes known at catmint, is a plant of the mint family and can cause many cats euphoria.
The zoo's tigers and snow leopards also play with the trees, those that are "beyond their best" are used for the zoo's bio-burner.
"This provides additional heating and hot water to help run our zoo at this very expensive, cold time of year," said Ms Greenwood.
Donations have so far ranged from families dropping off a single tree to local nurseries donating unsold stock.
Ms Greenwood added: "We can't collect the trees, but people can just drop them off at the gate."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ca ... e-25603278