MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Fire-fighters Battle to Save Albatross Colony.

Four fire fighters from the Falkland Islands Fire and Rescue Service are to be deployed to South Jason later today in a bid to save a colony of endangered birds, the Black Browed Albatross. The Island caught fire on Friday following a visit by members of the RAF division of the Explosive Ordnance Disposals Unit, who are said to have been firing small rounds. A fire service spokesman said today "the damage is quite serious, with the fire covering most of the South side of the Island." South Jason is a wildlife sanctuary and is occupied by animals such as the Cobbs Wren and Tussac Bird, which are found nowhere else in the world and the globally threatened Striated Caracara. Sub Officer Gardner Fiddes from the Fire and Rescue Service assessed the situation early this morning. The RAF will be assisting the local brigade in their fight against the fire using their rainmaker to douse the Island from above. The EOD were said to have been carrying out a routine check at the site of an aircraft, which crashed during the 1982 Falklands war.

Military Patrols Ongoing

The military are still viewing the discovery of the three-man dinghy and military style equipment on the North Coast of East Falkland seriously. Yesterday another foot patrol of the area was carried out in the vicinity of Concordia Bay, near Salvador. Military press officer, Captain Jo Campbell said nothing new was discovered during the patrol.

Large Shearing Tally at Rincon Grande Farm

Two local shearers attained what has been described as an amazing tally on Shearling ewes at Rincon Grande Farm last Friday. Tyrone Whitney and Jan Clarke achieved 351 and 360 respectively on 14 months wool, both topping personal best tallies. The following day the two again excelled with Tyrone shearing 407 and Jan 421 a rate of over 50 sheep an hour. Arthur and Elaine Turner of Rincon Grande Farm said, "after lunch on this record setting day the other shearer with them, Paul Ford, kindly stopped shearing to allow them to obtain their tallies on the shearling ewes without running out." As it was however, for the final twelve minutes the men had to shear wethers and rams, something, which slowed them down considera