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Smoking ban for Orangutan
Photo: COP
Orangutan's smoking habit to be stubbed out

Zookeepers in Indonesia are determined to help Tori the orang-utan overcome her decade-long smoking addiction.

Tori picked up the habit ten years ago by imitating zoo visitors, who would throw their cigarette butts into her open cage, and has been smoking ever since. She is said to hold up two fingers to her mouth to show that she wants a cigarette and grows angry and throws things if none are to hand.

Keepers at Taru Jurug zoo in Solo have tried luring the ape away with food and extinguishing cigarette butts with water, but with little success. Now, with help from the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) from Borneo, there are plans afoot to move Tori and her partner to a small island on the premisses by August.

It is hoped the large trees, rope swings and views over the facility will help Tori forget her addiction. Until then, extra volunteers from the centre are guarding her cage and mesh netting will be installed to prevent visitors throwing in cigarettes.

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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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News Shorts
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.