Blackpool Zoo has announced “with great sadness” that its oldest resident and much-loved tortoise has died.
Darwin – who was an Aldabra tortoise, was believed to be around 105-years-old, and was a popular mainstay at the Lancashire zoo – had been receiving specialist treatment for a severe progressive leg problem for a period of time, but despite all the best efforts of his keepers and veterinary team, his condition kept deteriorating.
After consulting with leading worldwide reptile veterinarians, Blackpool Zoo said that there was sadly there was no cure for his decision, and “the very difficult decision” was made to put him to sleep earlier this week.
Darwin arrived before the zoo opened in 1972, and it’s fair to say that he became an iconic animal, mostly due to his hefty size and the fact he was the first animal that people came across when visiting the zoo.
Blackpool Zoo described him as “a wonderful link for so many people to the fascination of reptiles”.
Blackpool Zoo announces the death of its beloved 105-year-old tortoise / Credit: Blackpool Zoo (via Twitter)
He helped inspire the next generation of conservationists, the zoo said.
Aldabra tortoises are one of the largest species of tortoise in the world, and they originated from the islands of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles.
They are known to be the longest living animal on the planet.
As mentioned, Darwin himself was thought to be around 105 years old, although the zoo doesn’t have an exact age as there are no detailed records of his history – but what they do know is that he remains “an irreplaceable feature” of the Blackpool Zoo’s history.
Blackpool Zoo said that Darwin had “a personality on par with his size”, which is what made him such a “hugely popular member” of the family and was loved by all of our visitors.
The staff and the keepers at Blackpool Zoo have said that they are “extremely saddened” at Darwin’s passing, but they are being comforted by the “kind messages of condolence” they are receiving from members of the public.
Viral Manchester beauty brand P. Louise to open first ever flagship store in Trafford Palazzo
Thomas Melia
Beauty brand and viral cosmetics giant P. Louise has announced her first ever flagship store, and it’s opening at Trafford Palazzo.
Droylsden-born beauty guru, turned makeup mogul, P. Louise, is opening her first ever flagship store in Manchester in one of the region’s biggest shopping centres.
Titled P. Louise City, the pastel pink viral cosmetics company is launching its very-first physical site in Trafford Palazzo.
The beauty brand has become a social media sensation, as well as a Greater Manchester hotspot thanks to its P. Louise Empire headquarters located in Stockport.
This pink-furnished warehouse site offers customers an immersive experience with makeover sessions, shopping DIY activities, a cafe, and lots of photo opportunities.
The upcoming P. Louise City is set to build off this success with a 19,000 sq ft store that houses a variety of distinctive zones with iconic names.
You’ll be able to quench your thirst at the ‘Bad B*tch Juice Bar’, find all the latest pink-hued goodies at ‘Juicy News’, and pick up all your essentials at the ‘P. Louise Supermarket’.
P. Louise may not be a medical company, but her ‘P. Louise Pharmacy’ will cure all your retail therapy needs, and although many of her fans already knew her products were liquid gold, the ‘P. Louise Vault’ definitely confirms this.
As well as lots of shopping areas throughout this massive Trafford Palazzo site, there will be lots of hands-on activities – including makeup education zones, and even a dancefloor to bust a move or two.
P. Louise is set to open its first ever flagship store titled P. Louise City in Trafford Palazzo / Credit: Supplied
In an Instagram post on her personal social media account she calls this physical store ‘a dream come true’, adding: “[It’s] truly a pinch me moment – here’s to my next chapter”.
Featured Images – Press Shots / @plouise1 via Instagram
Trending
The man saving Manchester’s city pigeons from ‘stringfoot’
Daisy Jackson
A man has been patrolling the streets of Manchester to save our city’s pigeons from a condition known as ‘stringfoot’.
We all walk past hundreds of the birds every day in the city centre and they often get a bad rap – but one now-viral TikTok account is hoping to change all that.
In a series of heartwarming videos, one man has been heading out in his free time to treat pigeons afflicted with the dreaded ‘stringfoot’.
It’s a common sight now to see pigeons missing toes or walking around Manchester on deformed feet, which is often caused when the poor birds become tangled up in foreign matter.
Sometimes this is bits of string, plastic, thread, hair or a number of other things usually dropped by humans.
But with quick intervention from Tom, he can save these pigeons from a life of limping around town.
He’s been heading out armed with bags of seed to lure groups of pigeons close to him, before carefully catching the afflicted animal and carefully cutting away the material around its foot.
He uses things like stitch pickers to remove the thread, before cleaning up the pigeon’s foot with saline spray and antiseptic and gently releasing them again.
Tom said he started helping pigeons ‘sort of by accident’ when a bird with stringfoot came up to his flat.
In one month alone, he was able to catch and treat 15 pigeons, saving them from infection and injury.
And the account is getting lots of love and driving awareness for stringfoot and changing people’s perception of pigeons.
One person wrote on one of Tom’s videos: “We did pigeons so wrong as a society. Thanks for helping!”
Another said: “Pigeons Are NOT TRASH, they are a birds, who need help like cats, dogs and every living animals.”
And someone else commented: “These sort of videos make me cry because we’re so mean to pigeons, this might be the first time someone’s done something kind to them.”
You can find out more on how to help pigeons in your area HERE.
Emily Sergeant -
14th April 2022 
