Mancs are being given the chance to name an actual real life snake after their snakey ex this Valentine’s Day.
If you cast your mind back to a couple of years ago, you may remember their was a local waste disposal company giving bitter Greater Manchester residents the option to have their ex’s name printed on the front of a wheelie bin, and obviously, people thought it was absolutely hilarious.
But if a wheelie bin wasn’t quite enough for you, then how about a snake instead?
Valentine’s Day can be just as much about celebrating the loves in our lives, as it is a chance to reflect on all the bad eggs who’ve been and gone, and be glad they’re a firmly a thing of the past – and now, as bizarre as it may sound, SEA LIFE Manchester is putting is giving you an opportunity to put those thoughts into action.
That’s because, the marine life attraction is letting disgruntled lovers and broken-hearted singles name one of its corn snakes after a not-so-special someone.
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SEA LIFE Manchester is home to three female and two male corn snakes, which means everyone can get involved with the naming activity, and make sure their ex is… hiss-tory, if you will.
Mancs can name a snake at SEA LIFE Manchester after their ex this Valentine’s Day / Credit: SEA LIFE Manchester
One of the most popular species to own as pets in the UK, and typically docile creatures – which some might say is a fitting feature of their ex – corn snakes have a lifespan of around 10-15 years, and while this sadly means they are often abandoned or handed over to rescue centres, it does also mean that you’ll be able to visit your newly-named snake for years to come.
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All five of SEA LIFE Manchester’s corn snakes have either been rescued by the RSPCA, or donated by those unable to look after them anymore, and the attraction says it’s “proud” to have been able to offer these slippery serpents their forever home, even if they will now be named after estranged exes.
“Valentine’s Day is one of the most miserable days for singletons,” admitted Jenn McDonough, who is the General Manager at SEA LIFE Manchester, “So we’re giving people who are unlucky in love a new reason to celebrate by naming their former lovers after snakes.
“If you want to heal your heartbreak or release some unresolved anger, then now is the perfect time to get revenge.”
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Fancy it then? To be considered for a the chance to name a hissing reptile and cement your ex’s sneaky status, then all you’ll need to do is head on over to the SEA LIFE Manchester website and simply submit the name of your former snakey partner.
The five winners will be selected at random by SEA LIFE Manchester staff, with the most popular names set to be released on the attraction’s social media platform soon.
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Rare bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in more than 30 years
Emily Sergeant
It’s time to say a big hello, as rare bat-eared foxes have now arrived at Chester Zoo.
The two sisters, named Maasai and Malindi, have been welcomed by conservationists after travelling more than 500 miles from a zoo in Paris, and they are the first mammals of their kind to come to Chester Zoo in more than 30 years.
First images show the pair exploring their home in the zoo’s new Heart of Africa habitat – which officially opened to the public back in March, and is the largest zoo development ever undertaken in the UK, spanning more than 22.5 acres in size.
The adorable – but rather unique-looking – bat-eared fox is named after its distinctive oversized ears and is native to the open savannahs and arid grasslands of eastern and southern Africa.
They live for around 13 years on average, and their characteristically large ears help regulate their body temperature and enhance their incredible hearing, allowing them to prey like detect insects moving underground.
The species faces increasing threats in the wild, largely due to the loss of their habitat caused by agriculture, human encroachment, and hunting.
This is why Chester Zoo has long been at the forefront of protecting African wildlife.
Its teams’ have been supporting everything from the safe translocation of northern giraffes to protected national parks in Uganda, to developing cutting-edge AI trail cameras to protect giant pangolins from illegal trafficking in recent years.
Bat-eared foxes have arrived at Chester Zoo for the first time in 30 years / Credit: Chester Zoo
“It’s incredibly exciting to welcome bat-eared foxes back to Chester Zoo after a 30-year hiatus,” commented David White, who is the Twilight Team Manager at Chester Zoo.
“Both Maasai and Malindi are settling in well so far, spending much of their time exploring their expansive home and getting to know their new housemates – a family of twelve Cape porcupines. These two species would often come across one another in the wild, so we’ve recreated this right here at Chester.
“In time, we hope to introduce one of the two sisters to a male fox, with the hope that we can contribute to the European conservation breeding programme, helping to ensure there’s a healthy, genetically diverse back-up population in human care.
Emily Sergeant -
9th February 2024 
