All posts tagged: Rescued

Orphaned walrus calf rescued from nearby polar bears in Alaska

Orphaned walrus calf rescued from nearby polar bears in Alaska

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Some animal rescues are more complicated than others—especially when the creature in peril is about to become a snack for a seagull on a remote Alaskan beach with polar bears lurking nearby.  That was the sticky situation an orphaned Pacific walrus (a subspecies of Odobenus rosmarus) calf was in when two researchers found it on an island in the region of Point Lay, Alaska. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) research walrus biologist Tony Fischbach and Ilisaġvik College student and Point Lay local Violet Anniskett stumbled upon the young male while investigating walrus carcasses on a remote beach. They found the orphan between the remains of two adult walruses, which was a first in Fischbach’s long experience working with walrus herds there.  The researchers requested permission to rehabilitate the walrus from the local Inupiaq community and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Once the approval arrived, the next hurdle was getting the mammal to the Alaska SeaLife Center. The center is the only marine mammal rehabilitation facility in Alaska, and was over 800 miles away. As if …

Young parrot rescued from grips of invasive boa snake

Young parrot rescued from grips of invasive boa snake

Published by Jenni Sidey

In the Maricao State Forest on the western end of Puerto Rico, a biologist encountered a flock of parrots in a panic. Raúl Correa of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service followed the chaotic squawks and found a young bird in the grips of a red-tailed boa (Boa constrictor). The snake had trapped a juvenile Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) on a bamboo stalk. Correa quickly sliced the bamboo, causing the snake to lose its grip and release the bird. USFWS observed the parrot after the incident to ensure it didn’t suffer any lingering injuries. Just a day later, the bird returned to flying with its flock. Red-tailed boas are considered an invasive species in Puerto Rico. Native to South America, they came to the island in the 1990s through the illegal exotic pet trade. Without anything above it in the food chain, the snakes spread rapidly and have caused widespread damage to native wildlife populations, including the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot. Puerto Rico is also home to a native boa (Chilabothrus inornatus) that …

Window cleaners rescued from 15th floor of London skyscraper | UK News

Window cleaners rescued from 15th floor of London skyscraper | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

It’s a job that’s not for the faint-hearted. But two window cleaners had a day they won’t forget in a hurry as they were rescued from the 15th floor of a London skyscraper after their cradle malfunctioned. The men became trapped on a suspended platform outside a building in Southwark on Thursday evening, London Fire Brigade said. Firefighters were called shortly after 5.20pm and a 64m turntable ladder was sent to the scene to bring the pair down to safety. Photos showed the yellow structure extending out of a fire engine to reach the men, who were suspended on One Blackfriars by Berkeley. More from Sky News:Firing squad execution to be livestreamedWhat now for police investigation after Andrew’s legal win? The incident was “under control” by 6.15pm, the fire service said. “Thankfully no-one was hurt and the men were rescued safely and quickly,” a spokesperson added. Image: Pic: London Fire Brigade/PA The ladder used to rescue the pair is the tallest aerial appliance in Europe and can reach heights of up to 20 floors. One …

British woman kidnapped in Malawi ‘rescued and reunited with family’ | World News

British woman kidnapped in Malawi ‘rescued and reunited with family’ | World News

Published by Sam Flores

A British woman who was abducted in Malawi has been rescued and reunited with her family after a shoot-out between officers and the kidnappers, police said. Nusrat Osman, 47, was abducted in the southern city of Blantyre on Friday, the Malawi Police Service (MPS) said. The mother-of-two, who reportedly works for a local auditing firm but was originally from Leicester, was abducted around lunchtime on 11 September. She was taken at “approximately 12.30pm at Mount Pleasant,” by four men believed to have used a grey Nissan Dualis, the force added. The suspects had not contacted Ms Osman’s family or authorities and the motive was not clear. The MPS was offering a reward of 30m Malawi Kwacha – which is around £12,800 – to anyone giving them “credible information” that could help with the rescue operation and arrests. The Malawi police put out a statement saying Ms Osman was rescued in Mpemba/Chadzunda, just outside of Blantyre, on Thursday during an “intelligence led police operation”. It said there was a shoot-out between police and the kidnappers “who …

Mt. Shasta hikers had to be rescued after tech and AI fails

Mt. Shasta hikers had to be rescued after tech and AI fails

Published by Miika Tikkanen

Earlier this week, three young men with little climbing experience set out to summit Mt. Shasta, a 14,179-foot peak in California. Their planned eight-hour ascent ultimately turned into a search-and-rescue operation and drew national attention for one reason: The men used artificial intelligence to help plan their climb. “We relied too much on AI rather than our own critical thinking,” the men reportedly said, according to a detailed account of the failed summit posted on Facebook by the U.S. Forest Service – Shasta-Trinity National Forest. SEE ALSO: Reminder: Don’t use Google Maps for hiking Still, AI itself didn’t doom their trip, National Forest Service lead climbing ranger Nick Meyers told Mashable. Instead, the hikers’ plans were like “Swiss cheese,” riddled with holes. That meant challenges compounded along the way until their situation escalated into an emergency. Their reliance on AI, YouTube videos, and the mobile mapping app AllTrails to plan and complete their climb turned their journey into a disaster. Meyers, who is also the director of the Mt. Shasta Avalanche Center, said AI-related incidents …

Raccoon rescued after sticking its head in a Cape Cod drain grate

Raccoon rescued after sticking its head in a Cape Cod drain grate

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. Animals sometimes get stuck in the strangest (and most terrible) of places. From a peanut butter jar to a car’s front grill, wildlife experts have certainly seen it all. But when Cape Wildlife Center in Barnstable, Massachusetts received a call about a raccoon trapped in a drain grate earlier this month, their veterinary staff had their hands full with three other emergencies.  While they couldn’t get to the trapped raccoon right away, other animal lovers were ready to step in. They physically took the raccoon—and the grate it was stuck in—to the Cape Wildlife Center. This team raccoon and drain grate removal effort involved the Bourne Department of Natural Resources, Fire/Rescue & Emergency Services, Police Department, and Department of Public Works.  “In our …

Rescued bald eagle may be internet-famous Jackie

Rescued bald eagle may be internet-famous Jackie

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. An adult bald eagle recently rescued by the Los Angeles County Parks San Dimas Raptor Rescue is likely an internet-famous eagle mom named Jackie. Millions around the world have tuned into the day-to-day lives of Jackie, her partner Shadow, and their current chicks Sandy and Luna via a 24/7 livestream of their nest.  According to Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV), they are in touch with the rescue organization and other facilities involved in the eagle’s care. “She is in the best place she can be and getting the care she needs. We have not received any updates but were assured by the facility they will contact us when they have information,” FOBBV writes, while sharing video of the rescue from the County …

3 climbers who fell near treacherous pass on Alaska’s Mount McKinley are dead; 1 rescued

3 climbers who fell near treacherous pass on Alaska’s Mount McKinley are dead; 1 rescued

Published by Sam Flores

Three climbers on Alaska’s Mount McKinley who fell near a treacherous pass on North America’s tallest peak have died, a Latvian mountaineering group announced Friday. A fourth climber was rescued. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. The four were members of a Latvian mountaineering expedition, the group said. They were part of a seven-person team traversing a route known for its exposed sections — where many injuries and deaths have occurred over the years — when they fell Wednesday, the National Park Service has said. McKinley stands at about 20,310 feet, and the climber who was rescued was brought off the mountain from about 17,200 feet by Denali National Park and Preserve search and rescue personnel late Thursday afternoon. A long line from a helicopter was used in the rescue because the terrain and conditions prevented the helicopter from landing, the park service said Friday. The climber was later airlifted to a hospital. The fall happened during the climb near Denali Pass, which is about 18,200 …

Four more men rescued after more than a week trapped in a flooded cave in Laos

Four more men rescued after more than a week trapped in a flooded cave in Laos

Published by Sam Flores

Five men have now been freed after spending more than a week trapped in a flooded cave in Laos, according to rescuers, with two others still missing. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. The first of the five men was rescued on Friday, with footage shared on social media showing him emerging from a narrow crevice after rescuers guided the man through a water-filled tunnel, crawling on their hands and knees while wearing breathing apparatuses. Four others were able to climb out by themselves on Saturday, Laos rescue group Rescue Volunteer for People said on Facebook, as water levels came down following efforts to pump water out of the cave system. Rescuers had been gearing up to enter the cave when the men emerged. Thai rescuer Adisak Wongsoraya posted video on Facebook showing families tearfully embracing the rescued men as they emerged from the cave, as the rescue team fended off cameras and directed the men toward waiting medics. Another video posted by Thai rescue worker …