Day: January 7, 2022

Trophy Hunting – Time For Global Action To Stop It NOW !

The photos and many of the words are taken directly from the Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting site which can be visited at:

About – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

WHAT IS TROPHY HUNTING?

The UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Banning Trophy Hunting defines it as “as a ‘sport’ by those who practice it. It consists of killing an animal for recreation, and then displaying its body as an expression of a hunter’s ‘prowess’. It is distinct from the control or management of wildlife populations, which should be carried out humanely by trained professionals.”

WHAT ARE ‘HUNTING TROPHIES’?

Trophies include whole bodies of animals, their heads or skulls, skins, tails, feet and even genitalia.

In the case of elephants they can include trunks and ears too.

CANNED’ LIONS

There are over 300 Lion ‘Factory Farms’ breeding thousands of lion cubs for trophy hunters to shoot in enclosures.

They are also killed for their bones to make ‘lion wine’ and ‘lion cake’ for wealthy Asian businessmen.

SICK PRIZES

In recent years, over 800 Trophy Hunters have won prizes for having shot lions, elephants, leopards AND rhinos.

The hunting industry hands out special awards every year to hunters who kill over 125 different species of animal.

HUNTING HOLIDAYS

There are thousands of hunting companies, mainly in South Africa and the US.

Some make millions of dollars a year.

Some offer Black Friday deals and even ‘free’ animals for hunters to shoot, such as monkeys.

EXOTIC CREATURES

Many Trophy hunters like to shoot kangaroos, camels, seals, beavers, wild cats, reindeer, and sheep.

In the US, there are estates which import and breed animals such as zebras – so hunters don’t have to fly to Africa to shoot their favourite animal.

In some places, hunters can drive around in tanks, take young children hunting, and even shoot animals from helicopters using a machine gun.

SUFFERING

Studies suggest at least 50% of animals shot by Trophy Hunters are not killed instantly and instead die slow, painful deaths.

Evidence presented to the UK Parliament

Witness(es): Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy, Born Free Foundation; Eduardo Goncalves, Founder, Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting; Dr Audrey Delsink, Wildlife Director, Humane Society International UK

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Tuesday 2 November 2021 

Watch the committee presented with evidence from the above by clicking on the following link:

Parliamentlive.tv – Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Visit the (UK) campaign to ban trophy hunting working to expose and end trophy hunting all over the world; see lots more at:

Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

KILLING ANIMALS FOR PLEASURE IS CRUEL, UNNECESSARY, AND HAS NO PLACE IN A CIVILISED SOCIETY.

Humans have no right to take the life of an animal for recreation. Animals experience suffering and pain when they are hunted for trophies. Killing endangered wildlife for pleasure only helps push them even further towards extinction.

The Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting calls for:

-Governments to ban trophy hunting and the import and export of hunting trophies

-Effective enforcement of existing national and international laws against trophy hunting, with tough penalties for offenders

-An immediate halt to the trade in trophies of vulnerable, threatened or endangered species

-Trophy hunting exemptions to be removed from existing international conservation agreements

-Negotiations to commence on a comprehensive global agreement banning trophy hunting

News – News – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

View the huge range of well known supporters calling for a ban – Supporters – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Actions – Including Petitions:  Action – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Donations to help the fighting fund – Donate – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Investigations – Investigations – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Why its time to ban trophy hunting – Opinion – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Shop for merchandise – SHOP – Campaign to Ban Trophy Hunting

Regards Mark

Elephant riding is not a holiday experience -it is animal cruelty

Elephants are being abused for tourist rides at Amber Fort, India

In his first guest blog, Shubhobroto Ghosh, our Wildlife Projects Manager in India, writes about elephant abuse witnessed at Amber Fort, the popular tourist attraction in Rajasthan
Unfortunately, the scale of the elephants’ abuse and the hidden suffering behind these rides is lost on many.

Captured from the wild, often as babies, these animals undergo a brutal training process called ‘the crush’ whereby they are beaten and starved into submission by their handlers.

They are next brought into these venues such as Amber Fort, to carry humans on their backs and become props in an entertainment display.

An Amber Fort elephant, with damaged feet from carrying tourists, kneels on a concrete floor

Studies have shown that the elephants at Amber Fort in Jaipur – numbering in excess of 100 – show multiple health problems. These include foot injuries, damaged eyes and general fatigue caused by their unnatural activity.

The elephants’ diet is often nutritionally inadequate, barely fueling them for the steep slope they are forced to climb. They are forced to walk over concrete surfaces which cause them pain and distress.
Bearing in mind this immense cruelty – that is often promoted by travel and tour operators – a petition has been filed to the Supreme Court of India to stop this suffering and improve elephant welfare.

The petition has been led by Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (an NGO), in a bid to stop these elephant rides.

The elephant is India’s National Heritage Animal, but the way they are treated shows complete lack of concern for a wild animal that is extremely social, sentient and walks across a range of over 20 km in the wild every day.
We are working with travel companies to urge them to remove elephant rides and shows from their itineraries, and promote animal friendly tourism.

We are also looking into a sustainable solution for these elephants in Rajasthan, so that they can experience some dignity after a lifetime of abuse.

The elephant has a rich history in India, worshipped and revered in culture and then ironically killed for ivory and illegally traded as objects of entertainment.
World Animal Protection strongly urges people to treat this majestic animal with respect so that as a wild animal, the elephant stays in the wild and does not become a cog in the relentless wheel of entertainment.

https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/blogs/elephants-are-being-abused-tourist-rides-amber-fort-india

https://www.peta.de/aktiv/elefantenreiten-indien-petition/#petition

And I mean…In 13 Asian countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodiascha, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) still live between 44,000 and 49,000 wild elephants (CITES, 2017).
At the same time, according to official figures, at least 15,000 elephants are kept in captivity in these countries, most of them in Myanmar.

The actual number of animals caught is probably significantly higher because not all individuals are officially registered (CITES, 2016). The information on animals in captivity as well as in the wild also differ greatly depending on the source.

Originally, elephants were mainly used as work animals.
The elephants now in captivity are mainly used in tourism.

Like all wild animals, elephants never give up their nature.

A wild elephant would never let a human ride on its back.

In order to achieve that elephants submit to humans, allow direct contact and obey orders, they are broken by force.

The use of elephants for work or entertainment is enforced and based on the concept of negative reinforcement. Physical and mental punishment as well as the deprivation of vital things such as water, food and sleep are supposed to break the will of the elephant.

It is no coincidence that the method used for this is called “breaking” and is reminiscent of methods used in torture prisons.
The herd animals are isolated and starved, and water is often withheld from them until they are ready to do what their mahout says.
Sometimes young animals are also torn from their mothers and made compliant with fire.
According to the Pro Wildlife organization, the black market value of an elephant calf in Thailand is 24,500 euros.

The mahout mostly uses metal hooks that are stuck into the sensitive ears or trunk areas.
The blows often in the face and eyes leave painful wounds.

After the “crush” procedure (breaking of will) the suffering of the animals is far from over: Even during their further life in captivity, the animals are continuously abused physically and mentally.

The wooden frames in which the holidaymakers usually sit are also a torture for the animals.
In some cases, metal chains with pointed hooks are tied around the elephants’ feet, with the help of which the “mahout” forces the elephant to move in the direction of travel.

Cruelty to animals for the business with the holidaymakers, who then quite routinely rate the show program on the Internet with “the elephant ride was very nice”.

There can be no show, no favor, no football game with the free will of a wild animal.
Even the dumbest tourist should finally get that.

My best regards to all, Venus

England: Veganuary Vegan Bites.

The following tasty treats have come to us through liaison with the Viva! Vegan recipe club.

Why not give them a try (for Veganuary) when you have some time.

 

Speedy One Pot Kale, Bean & Lemon Stew

This is a lovely, hearty, healthy stew which is very quick to make – perfect for busy evenings or for taking to work in a thermos for the office lunch.

Click here for the full recipe details:

Speedy One Pot Kale, Bean & Lemon Stew – Vegan Recipe Club

Golden ‘Chicken’ & Leek Pies 

These seasonal pies are mmmnn delicious! You can choose whether to make 1 large pie, 6 medium-sized (using pie cases or ramekins) or 12 little pies (using a muffin tin).

Click here for the full recipe details:

Golden ‘Chicken’ & Leek Pies – Vegan Recipe Club

Quick & Creamy Black Eyed Bean Curry

This curry is healthy, delicious, easy to make and certainly not lacking in flavour. Add to the list of weekly staples 🙂

Click here for the full recipe details:

Quick & Creamy Black Eyed Bean Curry – Vegan Recipe Club

Guest Chef Specials:

Krimsey Lilleth was born in Baton Rouge, LA and raised in the rich, celebratory culture of the deep south. She spent a good deal of her childhood in the great outdoors and swampy, magical forest teeming with all sorts of critters she came to love and respect.

Krimsey’s mission is to inspire others to care for themselves, animals and the environment through food. She is the founder of the late-and-great Los Angeles restaurant, Krimsey’s Cajun Kitchen, the world’s first vegan Cajun restaurant! 

We can’t wait to try Krimsey’s incredible recipes – perfect for a post-Christmas pick-me-up. 

Deep South Pasta Casserole

Click here for the full recipe details:

Deep South Pasta Casserole – Vegan Recipe Club

Cinnamon S’mores French Toast Roll-ups

Click here for the full recipe details:

Cinnamon S’mores French Toast Roll-ups – Vegan Recipe Club

Sign up to the Vegan recipe club by clicking here:

Delicious Vegan Recipes | Vegan Recipe Club

Download the Vegan recipe club app by clicking here;

Vegan Recipe Club App – Vegan Recipe Club

Some Veganuary specials for you to try – just click here:

Advance recipe search – Vegan Recipe Club

Happy Munching !

Regards Mark