South Africa's vultures are being pushed into extinction by gamblers who believe smoking their dried brains will give them special powers, wildlife organisations have warned.
While British fans study the form book and the back pages, some South Africans believe the "muti" magic will help them predict football match results. And they are hoping the World Cup will be a great opportunity for a big win.
Conservationists fear the birds, which are already facing global extinction, will be further threatened by the superstition. Executive director of BirdLife South Africa, Mark Anderson, said: "Many vulture species across the world are in trouble.
"Our very own species in southern Africa is declining sharply for a number of reasons, including reduced food availability, deliberate poisoning and electrocution from electricity pylons. The harvesting of the bird's heads by followers of muti magic is an additional threat these birds can't endure."
An alligator was found Monday inside a middle school in suburban Tampa, Florida. Police were notified around 7 a.m. that the gator had settled in front of the cafeteria in Stuart Middle School. No children were inside the school when the reptile was discovered. The school is near the Hillsborough River. Officials noted that it is mating season for alligators.
In Crediton, England, a veterinarian was called out to a farm on Saturday night to free a horse which had become tangled in a fence. However, when the vet sedated the animal, it fell asleep on top of her and she had to be rescued by firefighters. The vet was uninjured by the bizarre incident, and the horse is now recovering after being cut free from the fence.
An overweight dog has been seized by council officials and sent to fat camp after her owners ignored repeated advice to help her lose weight. In what is believed to be the first court order of its kind, Gucci the bull terrier was taken from her owners after animal welfare officers became so worried about the 70 pound dog that they obtained a court order.
Gucci, who is 9-years-old, was so heavy that she could barely waddle down the street and had sores from supporting her own weight. The morbidly obese dog is now being looked after at a special canine fat club where she will have to lose almost 26 pounds.
Gucci's owners had been given advice about slimming her and seeking treatment for her sores four times before the legal action was taken. Karan Bowyer, an animal welfare officer said, "The animal was suffering through lack of care and exercise. She was about 22 pounds heavier than she should have been. There had been previous warnings but it was time to act. We secured the court order on the basis that Gucci was too fat. We were not prepared to allow this to continue."
The nine-year-old dog has been placed on a strict diet and daily exercise at a specialist bull terrier rescue centre. She will then be re-homed once she is near her target weight of 44 pounds. The action was taken under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act which allows designated officers to seize domestic animals.
An elephant brought commuter traffic to a halt when she went for a stroll through a Swiss city center. Sabu the elephant escaped from her circus home when she broke free while being loaded into her trailer. The four tonne animal then went for a dip in Lake Zurich, before walking into the nearby city centre.Startled motorists gave Sabu, 26, a wide berth as she strolled across Zurich's six lane one way system.
She was eventually recaptured by animal welfare experts and keepers from her home at the Circus Knie after two hours on the loose. Circus spokesman Nik Leuenberger, 36, said: "Sabu took a bath in Lake Zurich. We are relieved that nothing happened. She didn't mean any harm."
