Latest news with #ButterflyHouse
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Putin's cruellest attack: Heartbreaking moment terminally ill orphans have to be evacuated to bomb shelter as Russian drones target Ukraine
Heartbreaking footage shows terminally ill orphans in Ukraine being evacuated to a bomb shelter during a Russian drone attack. Nurses could be seen carrying the distressed children in their arms after they were forced to flee a hospice due to Vladimir Putin 's relentless strikes targeting civilians. The harrowing video, filmed on the night of July 9 or in the early hours of July 10, has only now appeared. 'This is how the children were evacuated to a shelter in the Butterfly House in Chernivtsi,' said the caption. 'In the centre, there is the largest children's palliative ward in Ukraine,' said a report. 'Each such descent into the bomb shelter for seriously ill children is a threat to life.' The orphans could be seen lying on mats on the floor after being removed from their beds. Some of the bewildered children cried as they were carried out of the hospital, with nurses trying to comfort them through reassuring smiles. At least ten of the seriously ill orphans are from Kryvyi Rih - the birthplace of Volodymyr Zelensky. They were taken to Chernivtsi because it was felt to be safer after repeated strikes on Kryvyi Rih. But, Putin's latest Geran-2 drones strikes hit the area with an explosion close to the hospice which should have been their safe haven. Tragically, this is not the first time a Russian attack has forced seriously ill children to evacuate. Last year, a Russian supersonic missile slammed into Kyiv's largest children's hospital in a fierce assault that interrupted heart surgeries and forced young cancer patients to take their treatments outdoors. At least 31 people were killed, officials said. The daytime barrage targeted five Ukrainian cities with more than 40 missiles of different types, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media. Ukraine's air force said it intercepted 30 missiles. More than 150 people were wounded. At the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital in Kyiv, rescuers were seen searching for people under the rubble of a partially collapsed, two-storey wing of the facility. The horrifying attack came after child cancer patients at Okhmatdyt had their treatment interrupted after they were forced to shelter in the hospital's basement as a result of Russian shelling in 2022. Doctors and nurses, who are only able to provide a basic form of chemotherapy due to a lack of supplies. 'These children suffer more because they need to stay alive to fight with the cancer - and this fight cannot wait,' Dr Lesia Lysytsia told NBC News from the basement of Okhmatdyt, Kyiv's largest children's hospital. 'If the children's cancer treatment is interrupted further by the war, 'our patients, they will die,' Dr Lysytsia warned.
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
‘Make-up' event for those who missed out
After heavy rain forced the cancellation of the second night of the Dunedin Midwinter Carnival last Saturday, organisers have announced a special "make-up" event for affected ticket holders. Tomorrow, there will be five sessions during the evening, starting with a relaxed sensory session at 4pm, followed by general sessions at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm. Each session will include a mix of light, performance, and celebration. Dunedin Midwinter Carnival event co-organiser Xanthe Naylor said cancelling last Saturday's carnival event was "devastating, but ultimately it was the right decision". "The overnight damage confirmed that proceeding would not have been safe for our audience, performers, or crew," Ms Naylor said. "We are incredibly grateful to our Saturday ticket holders — their patience, understanding and messages of support meant the world to us. "This make-up concert is our way of giving something back to the community that stood by us." Sessions on Friday will include a concert inside First Church, which will glow with the Butterfly House and Beehive lantern installations, and will feature Brophy Aerials contortionists, live reading, Jay the Juggler & Magician, as well as musical musings from Tahu and the Takahes. Anyone who created a lantern in a carnival workshop can bring it along and take part in a lantern dance. After the concert, people will be guided to Burns Hall by the moa and the fun aeroplane, into an immersive space filled with Otago Polytechnic School of Design projections, accompanied by piano and dance. There will also be food and refreshments available on-site. Friday's Mini Midwinter Carnival Concert event is not open to the general public, but is reserved for ticket-holders for Saturday's cancelled carnival. If more spaces become available, the carnival team will share that information. Tickets are free but must be re-booked in advance through an email link that was sent to all Saturday ticket holders. There will be no door sales. Dunedin Midwinter Carnival co-event organiser Jonathan Cweorth said the "make-up" event was "about coming together to celebrate the strength, creativity, and kindness that define our community". "We're so excited to share a little midwinter magic with everyone who has supported us, because it's their spirit that makes this all so special," he said.
The Herald Scotland
23-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Families enjoy thrills and spills at landmark Forest Adventure Park
Just seven miles from Aviemore and set in 30 acres of ancient Caledonian pinewood, Landmark is Scotland's favourite Adventure Park – and has been entertaining families since 1970. There are 23 attractions designed for everyone from thrill-seekers to nature lovers. Everything is included in your ticket, so you can enjoy a full day of adventure without additional fees for riding attractions multiple times. There's something for all the family to enjoy, including dogs, as your furry friends are also welcome along to join the adventure. (Image: At Landmark, children under 3 go free, and carers enter free with a valid ID) Adrenaline junkies will be drawn to the Wild Water Coasters, where you can ride high-speed water raft rides like Falcon, Otter, and Wildcat that promise exhilarating twists and turns. For those brave enough to take on a true vertical plunge, Skydive delivers a heart-pounding drop that's definitely not for the faint-hearted. Adventure continues above ground at RopeworX, a challenging multi-level ropes course suitable for both kids and adults. If you're after something equally thrilling but a bit different, NetworX offers Scotland's first aerial net adventure. This is essentially a treetop playground where you can bounce, climb, and balance through the canopy with no harness required. Families and dinosaur enthusiasts won't want to miss Dinosaur Kingdom, a forest trail that brings prehistoric giants to life with moving, growling replicas that will thrill little ones. Or for some more gentle fun, Bamboozeleum invites guests into a world of optical illusions, interactive exhibits, and brain-teasing puzzles. Younger adventurers will find endless fun at Ant City, a vast, wooden play zone built on multiple levels – perfect for energetic play and imagination. Right outside, the Lost Labyrinth provides an exciting maze full of dead ends and unexpected twists that challenge even the most seasoned explorers. Nature lovers can take a more tranquil path along the Treetop Trail, the UK's first elevated forest walkway, offering stunning views through the forest. Step into a tropical world at the Butterfly House, where colourful butterflies flit among exotic plants in a peaceful, climate-controlled habitat. (Image: You can also save £5 per ticket when you book online in advance) For those who enjoy discovery at a slower pace, the Ancient Forest Adventure and Red Squirrel Trail provide scenic woodland paths dotted with informative hubs and wooden sculpture stops and the chance to spot some of Scotland's native wildlife in their natural setting. There are also mini diggers, safari ride-ons, and indoor and outdoor picnic areas, plus two shops and three catering outlets for food, drinks, and treats. Whether you want to go wild, get soaked, or simply enjoy the beauty of the forest, Landmark offers an unforgettable day out. And at Landmark, one ticket gets you unlimited access to all 23 attractions – meaning that there's no hidden charges once you get through the gate.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Monarch butterflies could soon be listed as threatened species, but there are ways to help
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Say the word 'butterfly,' and the iconic orange and black of the monarch may immediately spring to mind. But they are becoming a rarer and rarer sight in nature. 'The number of butterflies that are overwintering in southern California and central Mexico are much, much lower. They are ninety to ninety-five percent lower than they were a couple of decades ago,' Tad Yankoski, senior entomologist at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, said. The drop in numbers has led the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose that monarch butterflies be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. 'Which will offer them new authority to offer protections that weren't previously available,' Yankoski said. So, what has happened to these once plentiful insects? It all comes back to habitat loss. 'One hundred, 200 years ago, there were a lot more prairies across most of North America, including right here in Missouri. And they need flowers to feed on during their migration. They need milkweed to feed on and to lay their eggs on.' Monarch butterflies in the eastern United States and Canada migrate to Mexico to spend the winter. Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains overwinter in southern California. 'They are facing so many complications along the way. Droughts, wildfire, loss of habitat due to farming, increased use of herbicides and pesticides, logging of their overwintering grounds,' Yankoski said. There have been direct climate change issues too. Monarchs rely on nectar from fall wildflowers to fuel their 2,000-mile migration. 'Because of climate change, some of those flowers are now blooming a couple weeks or even a month or two later than normal. So, they are no longer blooming when you fly south,' Yankoski said. But all hope is not lost. Recent conservation efforts, large and small, have slowed the drop in numbers. 'So, you absolutely can make a difference,' Yankoski said. Now is a great time to get your seeds going for your spring planting. And planting a pollinator-friendly garden in your own backyard is one of the best things you can do to help the Monarch butterfly. 'Plant native plants. Plant native milkweeds,' Yankoski said. 'Every little garden is an island in that ocean that can provide sanctuary for a butterfly on its journey.' The Butterfly House hosts a pollinator plant sale every spring where you can find multiple varieties of milkweed and wildflowers. 'We also have our Project Pollinator program, where we are putting gardens in local community centers and helping people with resources,' Yankoski said. While it sounds like bad news, should the monarchs officially get listed as 'threatened,' the odds are in their favor. 'Once a species is listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act, it historically has a 99% chance of recovering,' Yankoski said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
