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Elephant artist raises money
Shanti pays for new enclosure

An Indian elephant named Shanti from Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, has taken the art market by storm.

Shanti is able to paint with her trunk, and her works can earn up to £1,500 each, with profits being put towards a new 1,400 square metre enclosure for her and her herd. She began painting two years ago as part of an experiment into elephant intelligence, but has also starred in movies and worked as a circus performer.

Zoo director Pavel Bobek commented: "Each painting takes her about 20 minutes and luckily she doesn't tire of doing them because there is always a snack at the end of one and she's always hungry."

"She destroyed quite a lot of easels and canvases in the early days but she now has a very light touch," said her keeper Veronika Struplova.

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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.