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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Kate Rice

Khaleesi the Komodo dragon and break-up texts from Rocky: Take a look at this week’s good news

Do you feel that? That’s right — the sun is shining and the bank holiday is approaching. That means there’s no better time to pour yourself a refreshing beverage, sit in the (albeit mild) sunshine, and take a look at some of this week’s good news. Let’s get started!

Sylvester the heartbreaker

Have you ever needed to break up with someone but can’t find the right words? Well, it seems as though that’s never been a problem for the Stallone family — in fact, Sylvester seems to be knocking out break-up texts left, right, and centre.

This came to light in the Paramount+ reality TV show The Stallone Family, where Stallone’s daughters Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet gave some insight into how their dad influences their dating life.

Left to right, the Stallones: Sistine, Sylvester, Sophia, and Scarlet (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images for Paramount+)

Sistine said, “He writes most of our break-up texts,” which her sister, Sophia, confirmed, saying, “I highly suggest girls should go up to their dad and have their dad write a break-up text because men know men – I‘m telling you.”

It may be tough on the poor boyfriends, but I’m sure there are much worse things to deal with than being broken up with by Rocky himself.

Click here to read more

Dracarys!

London Zoo welcomed a scaly but undeniably adorable new addition into their midst this week — meet Khaleesi the Komodo Dragon.

Khaleesi was affectionately named after Game of Thrones’ Daenerys (London Zoo)

She is, of course, named after the mother of dragons herself: Daenerys Targaryen. Londoners visiting the zoo for half-term will be able to visit her in all her glory, a rare treat, especially since Komodo dragons are considered endangered.

“Khaleesi is an alert, curious lizard, and has been busy exploring since her arrival,” said London Zoo’s dragon keeper, Joe Capon, ”in particular, by digging some pretty impressive burrows on the sandy shoreline.”

Read all about Khaleesi’s welcome here

What do you do with a blue elephant? Cheer it up

On the subject of zoos, it seems as though we’re not the only ones having the time of our lives visiting the animals. As it happens, a study has found that elephants enjoy having us around!

Elephants enjoy the presence of zoo visitors, researchers found (Joe Giddens/PA) (Joe Giddens / PA Archive)

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University found that elephants enjoy the presence of visitors at the zoo, as well as penguins, jaguars, grizzly bears, polar bears, cheetahs, servals, banteng, and black-tailed prairie dogs.

So maybe next time you’re at the zoo, it could be worth your while to say hello to the elephants more than once. After all, they never forget a friendly face.

Click here to read more about the study

Chelsea Flower Show’s first wedding

You know what they say... you can’t have too many flowers. Well, at least by the standards of garden designer Manoj Malde and his partner, Clive Gillmor!

Malde’s wedding ceremony took place at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, in the garden he designed for the Royal Horticultural Society to highlight this year’s theme of diversity and inclusion.

Clive Gillmor and Manoj Malde take their vows (Jeremy Selwyn)

It’s a first in the history of the event, which has been running for 110 years.

“It took us 18 years to get engaged but, in our minds, we’ve always been married to each other. Today, we’re making it more official,” said Malde.

Read more about their special day here

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