African wild dogs kill 16 animals at West Midlands safari park

12 African wild dogs escaped from their compound due to damage caused by Storm Ciara

Sixteen animals were killed at a safari park after a pack of African wild dogs escaped from their compound due to damage caused by Storm Ciara.

At West Midland safari park in Bewdley, Worcestershire, staff were left “extremely saddened” by the loss of six deer and 10 sheep last weekend.

A spokeswoman for the park said 12 wild dogs were able to enter a neighbouring compound in the early hours of 9 February as the storm hit the country.

The compound housed Persian fallow deer and Barbary sheep.

“At no point was there a risk to public safety and there was no danger of any animals escaping the park’s perimeter fencing,” the spokeswoman said.

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She said the wilds dogs were returned to their compound unharmed.

“The wild dogs entered the neighbouring compound through a gated entrance which had been damaged in the storm which hit Worcestershire earlier that morning,” the spokeswoman explained.

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Northampton Superdrug badger 'sheltering from Storm Ciara'

A badger that fell through the ceiling of a Superdrug store had been sheltering from Storm Ciara in a ventilation shaft.

The animal shocked staff at the outlet in Northampton's Grosvenor Centre when it came through a ceiling panel, before running under the perfume counter.

The Northamptonshire Badger Group was called to rescue the female badger, and subsequently set it free.

A spokeswoman for Superdrug said the animal took refuge amid stormy weather.

The store was shut on Sunday due to a "visiting badger" which "snuck in through a ventilation shaft to take shelter from Storm Ciara," she said.

Storm Ciara swept across the UK from Sunday, bringing strong winds and rain.

Sally Jones, from the Northamptonshire Badger Group, described the Superdrug rescue as "the oddest" it has ever carried out.

She said staff saw the badger "fall through the ceiling", hit the floor, and then trundle off "a bit dazed".

Ms Jones said by the time the group arrived "there were perfume bottles strewn over the floor".

They were able to capture the animal and took it away to "assess her".

Ms Jones said: "She was very calm. No sign of any injuries or anything, and we took [the badger] to a safe place that we know she can be released."

The badger was set free later the same day.

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