Latest news with #AlanKnight
BBC News
13-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bears rescued in Armenia 'recovering' after dental operations
Two bears an East Sussex-based charity saved from "filthy" cages have undergone dental Animal Rescue (IAR), headquartered in Uckfield, sent its dental team to Armenia to rescued Syrian brown bears Aram and charity and an Armenian non-profit, the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC), rescued Aram and two other bears in March, shortly after rescuing and Noah had broken, decaying teeth and infected gums after "years spent gnawing on iron bars in sheer desperation", according to IAR. Both bears are "recovering well" from their operations and eating, the charity added. In addition to having two molars removed, 240kg Aram had root canal treatment on a canine tooth in the four hours the bear's surgery found Noah had a rotten incisor and a fracture running the entire length of a canine, which had allowed an infection to spread to the younger bear's removed two teeth during Noah's four-hour president Alan Knight said it is "heart-breaking to imagine the pain" Noah was living in. Cambridge veterinary dentist Gerhard Putter and IAR trustee Paul Cassar, from Chichester, led the surgeries at FPWC's wildlife rescue Putter said the operations will allow Noah and Aram to "eat properly again and significantly improve their quality of life"."These bears had spent many years breaking their teeth by biting cage bars and suffering from poor nutrition," he added. Mr Knight said the team "did an extraordinary job" and he was "proud of what they've achieved for these beautiful bears"."This isn't the first time we've carried out dental surgery on a bear in Armenia and sadly it won't be the last," he was rescued with partner Nairi and daughter Lola, following a public tip-off to FPWC, after being "confined to filthy cages and denied even the most basic care" at a residence in Yerevan, IAR said in charity added Noah had "endured long confinement in darkness" when he was found.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bear family saved from 'unimaginable suffering'
Three bears have been rescued from the backyard of a residential home in Yerevan, Armenia, with the help of a Sussex-based Syrian brown bears - Aram, Nairi and their daughter, Lola - were limited to "filthy cages" and denied "basic care", the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets (FPWC) found during an Animal Rescue (IAR), based in Uckfield, told BBC South East that their joint rescue with FPWC on 20 March took over 12 rescuers from IAR said the "stench" and "filth" was "horrific" and followed "years of unimaginable cruelty". "The sheer cruelty of locking these animals up in tiny cages and feeding them cola, it was absolutely horrific," said Alan Knight, president of say the male bear (Aram) was held captive for 12 years and repeatedly bred with a female bear (Nairi) taken from the daughter, Lola, was discovered with them, while previous cubs had been taken and sold, according to Knight said: "These were some of the worst conditions I have ever seen."IAR described the rescue as their "most difficult one to date". The rescue team say they were initially refused entry to the property by the bears' owner, despite having a legal a drawn out standoff, rescuers say they finally gained access at night-fall and worked to sedate and transport the bears "under heavy rain and darkness" using told BBC South East that the three bears are now under supervised quarantine and receiving urgent veterinary care at FPWC's wildlife rescue centre in Urtsadzor, appeal has been launched by IAR to fund their ongoing care and to help complete a new sanctuary where the bears can live.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Charity football match held for ex-Portsmouth player Alan Knight
Thousands attend charity football match 9 minutes ago Share Save Daisy Stephens BBC News, South Share Save Jason Brown Photography Former Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight revealed he had prostate cancer in October A charity football match has been held in honour of former Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight, who has prostate cancer. The 61-year-old revealed he had the disease in October and has since undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On Monday, a football match was held at Fratton Park, with all proceeds going towards three prostate cancer charities. Knight said he wanted to raise awareness of the disease and encourage people to get tested. "I'm angry with myself - I've done lots of initiatives on various cancers and health projects but I never really took it seriously myself," he told BBC Radio Solent. "So if you can get a test, get it done. "Not just prostate cancer, obviously things like breast cancer, cervical cancer... better safe than sorry." Jason Brown Photography Alan Knight XI played Pompey Legends on Monday The match saw Alan Knight XI - which featured club legends including former player David Norris and current manager John Mousinho - draw 8-8 with a Pompey Legends side. More than 6,000 people attended, with funds going to Prostate Cancer Support Organisation, Prostate Cancer UK and the Barry Kilby Prostate Cancer Appeal. Knight, who recently said his cancer was no longer spreading, said the support he had received had been "fantastic". "In October, my world changed massively," he said. "My family have been brilliant, my wife has been so strong for me when I've had my dips, [and] the supporters - I call it the Pompey family - the love and support they've shown me has been really inspiring for me." More on this story Portsmouth legend Knight reveals cancer diagnosis
