May 13, 2008

SECAUCUS, N.J. – Here are some noteworthy animal news briefs from around the globe that occurred over the weekend through the early part of this week.

PANDAS SURVIVE CHINESE EARTHQUAKE. More than 80 giant pandas at China’s most famous panda park, the Wolong centre in Beijing, were safe and well following a huge earthquake that struck the area, state press said Tuesday.

A total of 86 pandas did not sustain injuries following a 7.9-magnitude quake that hit the southwest province of Sichuan, where the park is located, Xinhua news agency said.

SOUTH KOREAN PLAN KILLING POULTRY. All poultry has been killed in Seoul, South Korea’s capital, to curb the spread of bird flu following a new outbreak of the disease in the city, according to government officials on Monday.

Quarantine officials destroyed 15,000 chickens, ducks, pheasants and turkeys raised in farms, restaurants, schools and homes in Seoul on Sunday, hours after Seoul authorities confirmed the city’s second outbreak of bird flu in less than a week.

LEOPARD SHOT, BURNED TO DEATH. Irate villagers chased, shot and burned to death a 4-year-old leopard in Lucknow, India, after it strayed into their area from a nearby north Indian tiger reserve, a forest official said Friday.

The villagers complained the leopard had killed five people in the past four months, as well as dogs and goats.

WHALE PROTECTION PLAN ON HOLD. A federal plan to protect the endangered North Atlantic right whale has been put on hold because the Office of Management and Budget is challenging the plan’s scientific conclusions.

Maine fishermen, who are working to delay the rules on fishing gear, worry that the shipping industry will avoid regulation, they say. That could lead to more whale deaths from ship strikes, bringing more restrictions on the lobster industry, fishermen say.

Tell us what you think about “Seoul Poultry, Indian Leopard Killed; Whale Plan Stalled” below. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.

The Associated Press and The Morning Sentinel, Maine, contributed to this article.W