Bye bye black sheep

declining dark sheep

The declining number of dark sheep among a wild herd in Scotland comes down to genes, researchers said on Thursday.

The population of the wild Soay sheep on the isolated island of St. Kilda has been virtually unchanged over the past 4,000 years, giving modern-day researchers a unique view into natural selection and evolution.

About three-quarters of the sheep in the herd are dark but their dwindling numbers have puzzled scientists. This is because dark animals tend to be bigger, which should give them an evolutionary advantage to survive harsh winters.

Snake walker

Snake walk

A New York man has been locked up – for taking his snake for a walk. Curtis Dewberry, 35, was spotted walking down a major road with the 14ft Burmese python wrapped around his body.

He was seen on Montauk Highway, Long Island, by an officer for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals who called the police.

‘Britain’s Atlantis’

‘Britain’s Atlantis’
The lost city of Dunwich, Britain’s own underwater ‘Atlantis’, which has captured the imagination of people for centuries, could be revealed for the first time with high-tech underwater sonar.

Professor David Sear, of the University of Southampton, and marine archaeologist Stuart Bacon, will explore the ancient sunken city, off the Suffolk coast, in the early summer.