UK: The Tower of London decides to keep its famous ravens indoors to protect them from bird flu

Record ID: 873125

  • Title: UK: The Tower of London decides to keep its famous ravens indoors to protect them from bird flu
  • Date: 21st February 2006
  • Summary: (BN10) LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE) (REUTERS) ; WIDE SHOT TOWER BRIDGE PAN TO TOWER OF LONDON; FLAG FLYING; WIDE PEOPLE SEATED ON GROUND WITH TOWER IN FOREGROUND; RAVEN OUTSIDE TOWER; TOWER (5 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 8th March 2006 12:00
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  • Topics: Environment / Natural World,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAB3XG4ZRVYGM84TBPZ2SW5WUDP
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  • Story Text: The Tower of London, home to Britain's Crown Jewels, has put its famous ravens into indoor aviaries to protect them from bird flu.
    A spokesman for the fortress, a former prison on the banks of the River Thames, said on Tuesday (February 21, 2006) the six black birds had been moved from lawns outside the 11th century castle into specially built cages in one of its towers.
    "I first identified that we may well have a problem last October when avian flu hit the headlines in the Far East and I thought I had better get some contingency plans together," said Raven Master Derrick Coyle.
    "I had four big aviaries erected. The first day they were a little bit stressed but the following morning when I went in , Thor - the one that talks said hello to me and I knew they were ok," he added.
    Bird flu cases have been reported across Europe this month, marking a sudden resurgence of the deadly H5N1 influenza virus, which scientists fear could trigger a pandemic if it mutates and jumps from person to person.
    Many of the outbreaks have involved wild birds and the World Health Organisation says migratory fowl are believed to be one way the virus is spreading.
    Legend has it that the ravens must stay at the Tower of London or the castle and the Kingdom will fall, so they are protected by a special decree issued in the 17th century by Charles II.
    Notoriously unfriendly, the birds -- Branwen, Hugine, Munin, Gwyllum, Thor and Baldrick -- have their wings clipped so that they cannot fly away.
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