Anti-depressants disrupt fish's brains

Drugs designed to ease the symptoms of mental health problems such as depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress can have major disruptive effects on aquatic animals' brains, say scientists.

Anti-depressants are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. In 2012, there were more than 50 million prescriptions of the drugs in the UK, and in some towns and cities as many as one in six of us are taking them.

In recent years, researchers have found increasing concentrations of the drugs in rivers around the world. Most of them find their way into waterways via sewage and waste water systems, from human waste or from people flushing unwanted prescriptions down the toilet.

A suite of new research, published in a special issue of the journal Aquatic Toxicology, points to mounting evidence that they could be damaging aquatic species.

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Stressed-out penguins on the mend

Penguins which had to be given anti-depressants after a break-in left them stressed have made a full recovery.

A trespasser broke into their enclosure at Scarborough's Sea Life Centre one year ago and chased the birds.

Staff at the centre said the birds had been left "frightened" and needed medication, reports the BBC.

The birds have now recovered and two couples have even produced eggs which are due to hatch later this year, curators said.

Lyndsey Crawford, displays curator, said: "Penguins only lay eggs when they feel happy enough to do so.

"This is a really good sign particularly as this is the first time for each couple."

Penguins are particularly vulnerable to any change of routine which was why the incident last year had proved so upsetting for them, she explained.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Stressed-out_penguins_on_the_mend