Ten panda cubs make public debut at a Chinese breeding centre ahead of Lunar New Year

PANDA-mic! Ten adorable cubs born during COVID-19 crisis make their debut at a Chinese breeding centre The baby bears frolicked on a playground during their debut ceremony in Wolong on Wednesday They were aged between four and six months and born at the main panda research centre in China Their first appearance took place less … Read more

MPs demand BBC axes new puppy breeding show that was originally called Will My Puppies Make Me Rich?

Fifty MPs have demanded the BBC axe an ‘extremely irresponsible’ show about puppy breeding, which had the working title ‘Will My Puppies Make Me Rich?’ The controversial programme, renamed Britain’s Puppy Boom – Counting the Cost, will explore the rise of puppy breeding as a business among ‘aspirational, social media savvy’ Britons. A number of animal … Read more

Colony of one of UK’s rarest seabirds enjoys its best breeding season for 25 years

Some good terns deserve each other: Colony of one of UK’s rarest seabirds enjoys its best breeding season for 25 years Nesting pairs of little terns fledged more than 200 chicks at Blakeney Point  The rare seabird has been in serious decline nationally since the 1980s  Rangers counted 154 pairs of little terns nesting over … Read more

Nature: Prepubescent female geladas suddenly mature when a new breeding male joins the group

Prepubescent female geladas suddenly hurry up and mature when a new breeding male joins the group – displaying conspicuous ‘sexual swellings’ on their chests Experts monitored 80 female geladas in the Ethiopian highlands for 14 years They found that the arrival of a new male caused an increase in maturation rates Late bloomers were typically the … Read more

Rats invading UK homes through toilets and letterboxes after breeding soared in lockdown

Super-confident rats are invading UK homes through toilets and letterboxes after breeding soared and food became scarce in lockdown, pest control firm says Pest control company Rentokil said lockdown caused rats to become confident They have seen 22% increase in call-outs for services compared to past six years Rats have gained confidence due to fewer … Read more

Briton charged in Spain after cops raid illegal dog breeding farm, finding nearly 550 dogs

A 69-year-old British man has been charged with animal abuse after Spanish cops discovered 544 dogs being kept in tiny cages at an illegal breeding farm. A metal drum containing burnt puppy remains was also discovered by the Spanish Civil Guard. The Guardia Civil have since rescued the dogs from the breeding farm, that is … Read more

China will buy out farms breeding exotic animals for their meat

Provinces across China are offering cash to farmers who breed wild animals for their meat in the hope of stopping the exotic meat trade. Officials in at least four provinces have promised buyout schemes or other financial aid to help residents whose income relies on the breeding of unconventional species, such as porcupines, cobras and … Read more

Hospital privacy curtains are breeding grounds for deadly superbugs

Hospital privacy curtains are breeding grounds for deadly superbugs such as MRSA University of Michigan experts studied curtains found on 625 specialist wards Around one in five of them – 22% – were harbouring MRSA or other killer bacteria The findings are concerning because privacy curtains are used around the world  By Victoria Allen for the … Read more

Mass gatherings are breeding grounds for coronavirus

What is the coronavirus?  A coronavirus is a type of virus which can cause illness in animals and people. Viruses break into cells inside their host and use them to reproduce itself and disrupt the body’s normal functions. Coronaviruses are named after the Latin word ‘corona’, which means crown, because they are encased by a … Read more