Extraordinary footage shows manta ray appealing to diver for help
A giant manta ray has been filmed in Western Australia appearing to appeal a diver to help unlodge dangerous fish hooks that have become embedded in her right eye.
The extraordinary footage of the moving encounter between the injured sea creature and human divers was taken by Monty Halls, a British marine biologist who was part of a freediving group exploring Ningaloo Reef off Australia’s north west coast. Mr Halls called it “one of the best things I’ve ever seen underwater.”
The three-metre-wide manta, which is known affectionately to locals as Freckles, is seen swimming up to Jake Wilton, a snorkeling guide, and flipping over in the water, in what seems to be an attempt to show him her plight.
“You could see she trusted us because she was unrolling and showing us the hooks,” said Mr Wilton in the video. “I went down for a few dives to see how she’d react to us being close to her.”
The footage was released on Thursday by Ningaloo Marine Interactions, the tour company Mr Wilton works for.
He told the Independent: “I’m often guiding snorkellers in the area and it’s as if she recognised me and was trusting me to help her,” he said.
“She got closer and closer and then started unfurling to present the eye to me. I knew we had to get the hooks out or she would have been in big trouble.”
The footage seems to show the manta ray resting perfectly still to allow Mr Wilton to gently remove the painful spikes.
Mr Wilton described the interaction as “incredible behaviour” and believes the manta understood that he was trying to help her. “I went [back] down to say goodbye and she stopped and waited there,” he said.
Human rights and dignity apply only to human animals and are internationally strictly protected property. All other nonhuman animals suffer from lawlessness.
Domestication of animals is nothing but the other word of systematic confinement, tethering, branding, dangling tails, breeding, exploiting and brutally killing.
We, the human animals do not know what it feels like to live in chains.
Animals live in chains for the meat and milk industry, for the entertainment industry, for the laboratory industry, for the human species, which has a strong self-interest (and benefits) to assume the role of ruler, the oppressor.
The deliberate transformation of a living being into a bundle of suffering and dumb despair is a crime – what else should be a crime?
The human being does not evolve.
Obviously, a moral change in the consciousness of the human species is not subject to an evolutionary autopilot.
In other words, what we did not understand centuries ago can not be understood today.
That animals are not our slaves, not our food, not our torture objects.
We no longer burn witches, because only the term is abolished.
We don`t gass Jews, because we have banished criminal racism. We do not dispose of disabled children, as in Sparta, because children have rights.
And yet: one still lives on the tree in terms of morality towards animals. Underdeveloped, smug assholes, that’s us.
We feel it necessary to provide this info on the site; but we are always in no doubt that a meat free diet is the way to go – better for humans and animals. Although full of Yuckspeak words such as ‘environmental standards’, ‘animal welfare’ and ‘enrichment’; we know the reality is that nothing will really be done to make the lives of these poor birds any better. Like all of this industry, glossy sales and promotions will ensure that the consumer is led to believe the best; even if it does not happen.
We say – Go Vegan !
KFC first UK fast food chain to commit to new chicken welfare standards
Move expected to put pressure on rivals McDonald’s, Burger King and large supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s
KFC is to become the first UK fast food chain to sign up to new European welfare standards for farmed chickens, in an attempt to tackle growing concerns about inhumane conditions in the intensive and large-scale production of meat.
Supermarkets, restaurant chains and hotel groups have all been urged to commit to the so-called European Chicken Commitment, which represents the first time a single set of requirements has been agreed on across the continent by a large coalition of European animal protection groups, including the RSPCA.
KFC’s UK and Ireland business said it will work closely with suppliers and NGOs to raise the minimum level of welfare standards across the industry by 2026. Its move will cover its sourcing of chicken in the UK and Europe, which make up the vast majority of its supplies, though it also buys a small amount of chicken from Thailand and Brazil.
The new requirements include stricter auditing processes, reducing stocking density to give birds more space in barns, and investing in environmental “enrichment” which includes providing perches, pecking objects such as straw and vegetables, and natural daylight.
In arguably the biggest step to help curb some of the cruellest aspects of the business which sees fast-grown, over-bred birds collapsing under their own weight, the new standard stipulates a pledge to purchase slower-growing breeds.
KFC and Tidy Planet join forces for waste-to-energy venture
Read more
In the UK sales of red meat have fallen in recent years, but chicken – seen as a “healthy” meat – has seen sales rise.
KFC’s Imposter Burger – a vegan patty made from Quorn and intended to replicate chicken – sold out last month in the limited number of outlets stocking it.
Although KFC is the largest fast food chicken chain in the UK – using an estimated 60 million chickens every year in its 900-plus outlets – its UK and Ireland sales account for only 4% of total chicken sales in the UK, with the lion’s share through supermarkets.
Paula MacKenzie, general manager of KFC UK & Ireland, said: “Our customers care about improving the lives of the chicken we buy. That’s why we’re adding our voice to the campaign and encouraging others to do the same – because to inspire real change and provoke meaningful action, we need the industry to move with us.”
The Humane League has been lobbying for McDonald’s – which uses large volumes of chicken in its nuggets and burgers – to sign up to the commitment too. Its managing director Vicky Bond said: “We welcome KFC’s move, but it highlights just what a laggard McDonald’s is. This will benefit the lives of millions of chickens every year throughout their supply chain. We implore the rest of this sector and other food companies to follow in their footsteps.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson said it had its own scheme to improve the welfare and health of chickens in its supply chain, and had set up a council of experts to advise them on the matter.
At the beginning of February 2017, PETAwas alerted by a whistleblower to the bad conditions in a pig breeding and fattening farm in Günthersdorf (Friedland) in the Lower Lusatia. On PETA leaked footage, which was taken at the beginning of the year, were extremely dirty with excrement pork bays and a number of seriously injured and dead piglets to see.
PETAthereupon immediately filed a complaint with the competent public prosecutor in Frankfurt on suspicion of violating the Animal Welfare Act as well as numerous serious violations of the provisions of the Animal Welfare Ordinance. In addition, the veterinary office district was informed about the abuses.
But the catastrophic conditions were not turned off.
PETA was leaked more video material – taken in late June 2017 -. No improvements from improvements. The animals suffer and continue to die under desolate conditions.The closure of the plant or the pronouncement of a livestock ban were considered by Thomas Maczek(the veterinary officer of the competent office), as not necessary, although he himself had classified in an interview, the attitude as bad, animal welfare relevant and not species-appropriate. Resignation or disinterest?but in any case a behavior that is inappropriate for a medical profession.
These are shocking pictures: The pictures show once again weak, seriously injured, dying and already dead piglets.
Severely ill animals of different ages are simply left to themselves in Stable alley and thus to their sad fate. The lifeless bodies of the animals are not properly disposed of in so-called carcasses tons, but simply left outside the stable.
Extremely unhygienic conditions
In the stables, even months after the first criminal complaint, extremely unhygienic conditions prevail,which must be classified as seriously worrying. Centimeters high manure and heavily polluted bays and stables are the sad everyday life for the sensitive pigs.
Mast bays were not only dirty, but in some cases too crowded. (Stocking density of 0.226 m2 per animal, although according to the Animal Welfare – Livestock Regulation at least twice as large area is required for runner pigs).
The animals themselves are due to their disastrous environment often heavily polluted themselves and suffer. Also in June 2017, numerous animals are sitting in the so-called dog seat.This unusual and unnatural posture for pigs, irrespective of their age, should make breathing easier for the animals (relief posture). But also diseases of the musculoskeletal system come into consideration.
Cut off tails from cropping the animals were simply thrown into a slurry tank below the gangway. Many flies present in the barn, as potential carriers of diseases, promote the spread of diseases. In the stable alley are also many maggots.
PETA has now sent this shocking video footage to the public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt (Oder).The animal rights organization demands the immediate closure of the holding and a banning of animals for those responsible. In addition, PETA has now also the so far apparently inactive responsible persons of the responsible veterinary office indicated.
This case shows once again how even the minimum legal regulations are violated. Despite extensive notification by PETA was not used by the competent veterinary office.
Once again, the enforcement deficit in Germany shows – not even valid law is enforced, grievances are tolerated.
Despite official controls, operators have apparently been able to continue their catastrophic husbandry for months without any restrictions.
My comment: We must not get used to these pictures, it is not rare exceptions and black sheep at the animal owners, it is systemic conditions.
Here we witness a million times animal suffering, which has become normal in the existing “production system”, a normality that a civilized society with an ethical claim and an advanced animal welfare law should not take for granted.
Germany has established the largest, most disgusting and cruel mass animal farming in Europe.
Under the animal-contempting policies of the new Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner, the country is being pulled into the dirt.
“Klöckners Livestock Ordinance violates animal welfare law and constitution,” says Prof.Thomas Blaha of the Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare.
He`s right.
Foie Gras basically means ‘fatty liver’ and involves the force feeding of duck and geese on a daily basis to produce. A pipe is thrust down their throat, into which loads of grain is pumped. Over time this forced feeding causes their liver to swell to many times its normal size – and it is at this point that the animals are slaughtered and the liver made into foie gras.
Foie Gras basically means ‘fatty liver’ and involves the force feeding of duck and geese on a daily basis to produce.
Foie Gras production does not exist in the UK, but some well known stores import the product for customers. Now we want the UK to go entirely foie gras free – including a ban on the import of the product into the UK.
Please sign the petition and give your support to the campaign which is headed by Rachel and Susie. Thank you.
Countdown stars Rachel Riley and Susie Dent have joined Animal Equality’s call for a #FoieGrasFreeGB. The caring TV celebrities made impassioned speeches urging their fans to sign our petition demanding the Government enacts an import ban on foie gras.
Rachel and Susie’s support came as a new YouGov poll revealed that an overwhelming majority of Brits back a foie gras import ban too — 79% of those who expressed an opinion were in favour of a ban.
The poll also showed that the vast majority of people in the UK do not eat foie gras, with only 10% of people having eaten it in the past year.
“If you eat foie gras, I would really urge you to look at the practice that goes in to producing it. It is totally barbaric and involves force-feeding on the most horrific scale imaginable.
Please, if you’re a lover of animals, add your name to the petition to ban foie gras from the UK.”
– Susie Dent
We’re closer than ever before to a foie gras-free Britain, but we need your support. Donate today and together, we will achieve this victory for animals.
Thank you,
Please sign the petition and give your support to the campaign which is headed by Rachel and Susie. Thank you.
One of the largest dairy farmers in Bavaria blatantly violates animal welfare. The dairy farm “Endres” im Allgäu, Bavaria, torments his animals, according to research by the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”and the ARD ( Public TV) politics magazinesREPORT MAINZ.
This emerges from a several weeks comprehensive video documentation from the stalls. The photographs were handed over to the ARD and the Süddeutsche Zeitung by the animal rights association Soko Animal protection” and show that the staff always cause great pain to the cows. The cows are kicked and beaten.Animals that can no longer walk are dragged through the barn with the help of hip clips and tractors. Sick cows are taken to a sick bay of the barn and are not cared for there. About 1800 cows live there.
Over a period of ten days, the footage documents that a particular animal has been given very little water and food and has not been properly killed. There are several so-called Need killings to see in which the animals were stunned with a stud shot, but then bled out properly. Minutes after the bolt shot, some cows are still showing reactions and are suffering longer than allowed.The farmer Franz Endres wants, despite multiple demand for the previous incidents, not comment.
This emerges from a several weeks comprehensive video documentation from the stables, which was handed over to the editorial by the animal rights organization “Soko animal protection” . In the opinion of Prof. Holger Martens, an expert on cattle farming, the documented conditions clearly violate existing laws.
“I have never seen such pictures, they are unacceptable, they are intolerable conditions, and this is clearly in violation of existing laws, it is depressing.” he said
For inspections at the beginning of June following an anonymous complaint, the official veterinarians from Mindelheim have also found animal rights violations. The farmer was told to remedy the identified deficiencies immediately, they say.
Meat from “Endres” sick animals has also entered the food chain. This was confirmed by the slaughterhouse Vion in Buchloe.The milk of the animals was delivered to the dairy Champignon.
The company’s statement states that,” for ethical and moral reasons, the cheese producerChampignon will no longer accept and process milk from this farm. “
Authors of the Public TVpolitical magazines “Fakt and REPORT MAINZ”had shown recordings from the dairy farm to a spokeswoman for the cheese firm.
Meanwhile, the responsible Bavarian consumer protection ministry has responded. A written statement on Monday stated that “animal cruelty is unacceptable” (!!!)
“ For the first time in my term of office, I am confronted with such serious allegations against a specific establishment, and the matter must be fully investigated immediately the local authorities have been involved, and I was particularly keen to have the prosecutor’s office react immediately, with criminal behavior in the area, and responsibility for the animals, and there is a strong suspicion that this responsibility has been grossly ignored” says Consumer Protection Minister Thorsten Glauber
In addition, several special inspections of the enterprise were ordered and one had requested a special report from the responsible government of Swabia.
Animal cruelty at Franz Endres probably not an isolated case
The documented animal cruelty in the Franz Endres dairy farm, in one of the largest dairy farms in Germany, shows once again what animal rights activists have been denouncing for many decades: that farmers in Germany systematically violate existing laws – and are too rarely stopped by the responsible authorities.
The case of brutal animal cruelty in one of the largest dairy farms in Germany is highly explosive! For it shows once again that even large companies in Germany apparently continue to systematically torture and kill animals in the most brutal way. Because they know: Serious consequences have almost never in Germany!
Without research such as the “Soko animal welfare” remain even the most serious animal protection violations without consequences. Investigations are – often against a rather symbolic payment – set. Consistent livestock bans are extremely rare!
My comment: The German industrial peasants have lobby organizations that are as powerful as those of the German automotive industry. In such a climate, where apparently and intentionally insufficient control or animal cruelty is concealed, crime flourishes.
While pet owners torture animals in Germany, they also advertise with allegedly high animal welfare standards in Germany.
What many consumers do not know: Germany is only mediocre in terms of animal welfare internationally. There is always talk of “isolated cases”, but in reality concern the majority of companies. And the farmers’ lobby – which, incidentally, mainly represents the big farmers – is doing everything to ensure that this does not change.
Ever since its conception; we have had our doubts and concerns about the Red Tractor ‘quality’ mark. This investigation proves that animal welfare comes way down the list of ethics; yet animal welfare is supposed to be one of the core values when the public buy Red Tractor produce – they are supposed to be getting the best in all areas – one has to ask if the Red Tractor label is really a veil for abuse on farms whilst misleading the British public into thinking it is buying the best welfare practices for animals that are available.
Assured Food Standards is an organisation that promotes and regulates food quality in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It licenses the Red Tractorquality mark, a product certification programme that comprises a number of farm assurance schemes for food products, animal feed and fertilizer.
All stages of food production are independently certified (inspected) to the Red Tractor standards before food can be labelled with the Red Tractor logo.
The Red Tractor Farm Assurance scheme is divided in different sectors:
Investigation Exposes “Extreme Animal Suffering” at Red Tractor Chicken Farms
Shocking footage from an undercover investigation by the animal protection charity Animal Equality has revealed horrific animal abuse at three Red Tractor-certified chicken farms in Lincolnshire, UK.
The “horrifying conditions and extreme animal suffering” shown in the video include 63,000 chickens all cramped together in double-decker sheds, and chickens living among the dead carcasses of their fellow creatures who had been just left to decompose on the ground.
The investigators, who visited each of the farms several times between February and April this year to carry out covert filming, found workers kicking and abusing chickens and breaking their necks before dumping them to die slowly on piles of other dying birds.
The chickens were forced to live on the ground in their own filth, as none of the sheds had perches, causing many of the birds to have sore, red skin. In addition, some chickens had leg injuries so terrible they were unable to walk or even stand up; and tiny, two-day-old chicks were found panting and straining to breathe — or already dead.
“As our appetite for chicken meat has grown, so has the size of Britain’s chicken farms. Images of distressed birds in giant double-decker sheds will be a shock to many consumers who buy British, Red Tractor-certified meat thinking they can trust its animal welfare standards,” says Dr. Toni Vernelli, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK. “Yet the truth is, the unnatural conditions chickens are forced to endure in these vast sheds are utterly dismal. One meal for us equals a lifetime of misery for them.”
The three farms — Saltbox, Ladywath and Mount — provide chickens for Moy Park, a chicken company that supplies major supermarkets including Tesco, Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Ocado. The farms are all certified by the Red Tractor farm assurance scheme which claims to provide “an easy signpost for consumers looking for British food and drink that they can trust” that is “farmed with care”.
Commenting on the investigation, a spokesperson for Red Tractor told the BBC: “Our own routine auditing of these farms had identified some breaches to our high standards, and we have been working with them to ensure they put the necessary processes in place for them to remain Red Tractor-certified.”
However, Vernelli says that labels and certificates can’t protect animals in the meat industry; only consumers can do this. “It’s easy to make the compassionate choice of leaving chickens off your plate and opting for delicious meat-free alternatives, which are now widely available in supermarkets and restaurants across the world,” he concludes.
The only way to do this is as Mr Vernelli says – leave dead animals off your plate and go for delicious meat free alternatives. As is shown, the high welfare standards supposedly of Red Tractor are in fact, quite the contrary.
I am always amazed by the utter stupidity of some people when it comes to animal abuse. Here we see a Leatherback which has come ashore to lay eggs, then being abused by the very locals who should be respecting and protecting the animals.
What does it say about them and their education / mentality ? – as we have shown in posts many times recently, probably just another excuse for man to get that much needed selfie; regardless of the suffering and abuse that is given to the animal(s) involved.
Regards Mark
Cruel locals take turns to RIDE a leatherback turtle as the distressed animal tries to move on Indonesian beach
Locals captured the endangered giant sea turtle as it was laying eggs on a beach
The Video shows men taking turns to ride the animal as it crawls towards the sea
One man even stands on the reptile’s hind flippers as it staggers the final yards
Convicted serial dog killer, Jeffrey Nally, of New Cumberland West Virginia was sentenced by Judge Fred Fox II on Wednesday to 10-45 years behind bars. While animal advocates would rather have seen him spend life in prison, the truth is that this sentence is substantial considering that animal abuse cases seldom carry this kind of weight. From that standpoint, the outcome is a victory.
It is true, though, that this was no run-of-the mill animal abuse case. This was a brutal series of intentional mutilations, torture, and execution of innocent puppies. Nally was accused of mutilating and killing 29 puppies (who) he received through classified ads, and Craigslist “free to good home” ads.
Continue reading a lot more about this via the our-compass link given above.
Archive photo
World Animals Voice 