Preventing Flood Damage in South Asia

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Floods in South Asia have claimed the lives of over 800 people. International collaboration is required to repair rivers and coasts in order to avoid such a high toll in the future. The first legal online rhino horn auction opened yesterday. South African rhino breeders often de-horn their animals in order to avoid poaching, they hope to legally sell these horns to raise funds for protecting rhino against poaching. A new study urges scientists to consider cultural superstitions, legends and myths when working to conserve animals and habitats. The Amazon pink river dolphin is heralded as a shape-shifter, and in the Caribbean, owls are thought to be witches that suck out the brains of sleeping locals. These myths should be respected and understood to enable scientists to work with local people to conserve species. A new study reports using virtual reality to study the physiology and behaviour of fish, mice and flies. These animals aren’t wearing tiny VR glasses, but instead are living in a world made up of projections. When a dairy cow becomes infected with bacteria causing bovine mastitis, the milk must be disposed of and the cow treated with expensive antibiotics. Farmers in Chile are reducing infection rates by lining milking tanks with copper which has antibacterial properties. (Photo caption: An Indian man wades along a flooded street during a heavy downpour in Agartala © Arindam Dey/AFP/Getty Images) Presenter: Roland Pease Producer: Caroline Steel