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Tennis champion inspires tiger names

Rare tiger pair named after Andy Murray's victory

Highland Wildlife Park's latest newborns, a pair of Amur tiger cubs, have been named "Murray" and "Viktor" – in honour of Andy Murray's Wimbledon victory.

The wildlife park, part of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), unveiled the rare cubs at the beginning of July when they were about a month old.

As the two boys were sexed the day after Murray's win, tiger keepers at the park felt the names were apt.

"Our two beautiful Amur tiger cubs were checked over, and we discovered first-time mum Dominika had given birth to two males," said Una Richardson, the park's carnivore head keeper.

"With last night's victory fresh in our minds, we couldn't resist naming them in celebration!"

Murray and Viktor belong to a RZSS breeding programme, as Amur tigers are listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. It is estimated that there are less than 450 Amur tigers left living in the wild.

Image courtesy of RZSS

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Rare Amur tiger cubs born

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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.