Genevieve Mullen

Steve, a nearly featherless parrot unable to fly, is recovering at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood, Essex. Staff are investigating whether boredom-related feather plucking or an illness caused his condition. He has been quarantined, given toys and a makeshift gym, and is beginning to regrow his feathers. The sanctuary hopes he will eventually regain enough strength to fly and join other rescued birds.

Steve, a nearly featherless parrot unable to fly, is recovering at Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood after arriving with an unexplained condition. Staff are investigating whether his feather loss results from self-plucking caused by boredom or a potentially contagious illness. He is being kept in quarantine, given toys and a makeshift gym, and is already regrowing feathers. The sanctuary hopes he will eventually regain the ability to fly and join other rescued birds.

All five swans and cygnets remaining at Canvey Lake died after the deteriorating lake was found to contain toxic blue-green algae. Residents described the loss as devastating and accused authorities of allowing the Local Nature Reserve to decline. Testing in 2025 detected algae levels more than 100 times the warning threshold, while Castle Point Borough Council and the Environment Agency said they were responding. The council has committed up to £1m for major restoration works amid broader algae and wildlife problems linked to hot, dry conditions.