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ANIMALS

VIDEO: Rare shark born in French aquarium

VIDEO: Staff at the Océanopolis acquarium in the north-western French city of Brest have released rare footage (see below) of a zebra shark being born. It’s the first time the phenomenon has been captured on camera.

VIDEO: Rare shark born in French aquarium
Screengrab: YouTube

For the first time, the birth of a zebra shark, a rare tropical species native to the Indo-Pacific region, has been captured on film (see video). 

Trainers at the Océanopolis aquarium in Brest had spent 20 days waiting for the "exceptional moment", according to a statement released by the aquarium. 

The zebra shark, which is now on display at the aquarium, is one of three recently born at the aquarium, with the first arriving on June 10th, the second on July 30th and the latest on August 3rd. Two eggs have yet to hatch.

The rare footage will also feature in a documentary called ‘Sharks: in pursuit of received ideas’, coproduced by a dozen French aquariums. It will then be presented at an oceanography film festival on October 20th until November 1st.

According to the aquarium’s website, the zebra shark can measure over three metres long. While they are not an endangered species, they are a vulnerable species due to over-fishing and their fins are sometimes sold on the Asian market. 

The following is a video of  the historic moment from iTele.

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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