The flooding has washed bodies out of the local cemetery and many animals have been killed, our correspondent says.

BBC: Brazil flood victims return home

Animal charities are trying to care for the animals, and have received hundreds of pounds in donations from local people.

BBC: Horses being fed

Efforts to change attitudes towards the mighty animals have seen them become an important source of income for the local economy through the tourists they bring, and turned poachers into vocal advocates for conservation.

CNN: Up close with Rwanda's endangered mountain gorillas

Oops, that would necessarily include a halt to the importation of off shore animals to populate and fund the operations of shelters that do not have enough local rescues to justify their expanded operations.

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It was in such a community near me, just over the border in New Hampshire, that our local paper reported the other day that residents with dogs would have to submit to DNA testing of their animals as a condition of renting.

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