12/02/2014 Newsround

Morning - Ayshah here with Wednesday's big stories. Coming up.

Severe flood warnings remain in place along the River Thames.

And the save of the season... So far! This is Newsround.

First up and this week on Newsround we're looking in to the illegal

wildlife trade. Later this morning Prince William will make a speech

about the devastating effect it's having on some of the world's most

endangered species. In 2007, 13 rhinos were killed for their horns

in South Africa. Last year, that figure had risen to over 1,000, and

elephant poaching is even worse. In 2012, over 22,000 were killed as the

demand for their ivory tusks grows in countries like China. Leah's been

looking into it. B and powerful, the African elephant

is the world's largest living land animal. But their future is under

threat. 30 years ago, Kenya had almost 170,000 elephants. Today,

only around 30,000 remain. In Africa, it is estimated that an

elephant is killed every 15 minutes. Hunters sell their tusks to

countries like China, where some people believe the ivory in the

tasks as special powers. But the Rangers that this bargain can

believe they are winning the fight against poachers. Weekly flights

circle the Savannah, teams counting the elephants to check on their

numbers and keep them away from dangerous areas. But there is only

so much they can do. This huge male, with enormous tusks, has been

hit by poachers for the first time. The gun saves his life, the

anaesthetic that giving the team a time to work. As he's working under

a tree, whatever has gone and has done in here. It is most likely a

spear. So either a guy sets an automatic spear at a tree with a

weight on it that and Halliburton 's trips and it falls, or the guy sets

up the tree and spears the elephant from the top. A special clay is used

to suck out the poison and heal the wound. Some experts say if nothing

is done, we are looking at between ten to 15 years before elephant in

the wild disappear, meaning for those trying to save the species,

this is a more crucial time than ever.

Next to the weather, and flood affected areas of southern England

could see a month's worth of rain fall in the next few days. Severe

flood warnings remain in place along the River Thames, and there are

fears flooding could spread along the River Severn and the River Wye.

More than 1,000 homes have been evacuated, mainly in the Thames

Valley, and last night Nel met Olivia and Hannah from Wraysbury,

whose houses are metres from the rising flood water.

What has the community been going through because of the flood?

Everyone has been pulling together, people had been volunteering to help

other people who are flooded. Has it affected your day-to-day life? Yes,

because I missed school today and yesterday, and probably tomorrow. I

have missed quite a lot of stuff. It's day five of the Winter

Olympics. These are live pictures from Sochi and of the women's

downhill. Team GB's Chemmy Alcott is competing and is one of 42 women

hurtling themselves down a mountain faster than most cars go on the

motorway. It's a packed day of action in Sochi - later on there's

curling, luge, women's halfpipe, men's 1000m speed skating and the

men's Nordic Combined, a mixture of cross country skiing and ski

jumping. In last night's footy, Chelsea

missed out on going four points clear at the top of the Prem after

this last minute goal from West Brom's Victor Anichebe. The Blues

took the lead just before the first half and looked set to take all

three points. Last night also saw one of the saves of the season,

Cardiff keeper David Marshall pulling off this remarkable save

against Aston Villa during their 0-0 draw.

The stars of the small Sinkholes like this happen once in a

blue moon but one has appeared in the middle of a busy motorway. The

15-foot-deep hole appeared on a central reservation on the M2 near

Sittingbourne in Kent. Engineers are carrying out an investigation into

what caused the hole. And if, like us, you're fascinated by sinkholes,

then you can find out more about them on our website.

The stars of the small screen were out in force on the red carpet last

night for the launch of the eighth series of Britain's Got Talent. Our

very own master of all things showbiz, Ricky Boleto, put your

questions to them. . Head over to the website to find out what the

likes of David Walliams and Amanda Holden had to say.