Day: August 26, 2022

General News, Hunting

Zulu King Misuzulu Allegedly Needed Help From Professional Hunter to Kill Lion, Which Was Shot From A Vehicle As It ‘Too Dangerous’ To Hunt On Foot. Not Much Of A Zulu King Then ? – How Times Have Changed.
King of Amazulu nation Misuzulu kaZwelithini (C) stands with Amabutho (Zulu regiments) during his coronation at the KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in Kwa-Nongoma 300km north of Durban on August 20, 2022. (Photo by Rajesh JANTILAL / AFP)

King Misuzulu allegedly needed help from professional hunter to kill lion, angers animal rights group

“How is there anything respectful or admirable about this form of cowardice?”

Ban Animal Trading says traditions needs to be reassessed when they become harmful to the environment or others.

King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has “come under fire” from an animal rights group after killing a lion ahead of his coronation.

After performing the ceremony of entering the kraal at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace on Saturday, Misuzulu was publicly announced as king by Zulu royal family elders.

Explainer: The meaning of the entering the kraal ritual in Zulu culture

But before that, the royal hunt for a lion, led by the Zulu King, took place at the Mkuze Falls Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) on Thursday.

The king and his entourage – which included a professional hunter and game reserve officials – went for the hunt in a vehicle rather than on foot as it was “too dangerous”. !!

South Africa’s Zulu nation crowns new king

Thousands of traditionally dressed Zulu warriors and maidens descended upon KwaKhangelamankengane royal palace in KwaNongoma, to celebrate the traditional coronation of newly crowned Zulu king Misuzulu ka Zwelithini on Saturday (August 20).

Reuters

Sunday Times reported that King Misuzulu shot the lion in the leg before the hunter finished the job, which has angered non-profit organisation (NPO), Ban Animal Trading.

“How is there anything respectful or admirable about this form of cowardice?” the organisation said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

The organisation said it was of the view that traditional practices should be changed if they had become harmful to people or the environment. However, without comprising the significance of culture and tradition. 

“We do respect cultures, but this is not a traditional act in any way. Did people travel to the animal’s location via a vehicle after someone else had tracked the animal, and then shot him or her in the leg with a rifle so that someone else needed to put said animal out of their misery?

“This is not tradition, nor is it culture. Besides, when traditions become harmful to others, it is then that we need to reassess them,” the NPO further said in reply to one Facebook user.

It is said that the king and amabutho (Zulu regiments) previously rode horses on the royal hunt, but University of KZN cultural expert Dr Gugu Mazibuko noted this has changed in the modern day.

“Animals were everywhere in the past and they used to go hunting using spears. Rifles came very late to KwaZulu-Natal. Now there are game reserves, animal rights activists, and organisations looking after the welfare of animals, so the method of hunting has changed,” Dr Mazibuko told Sunday Times.

Royal feud

In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared King Misuzulu as the monarch of the Zulu nation, paving the way for him to be anointed the successor to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, who died early last year due to complications caused by Covid-19 and diabetes.

King Misuzulu coronation ceremony unfold amid divisions within the Zulu royal family over the succession to the throne.

Some royal family members want the new king’s half brother Prince Smakade Zulu appointed, while others claimed that Prince Buzabazi Zulu – another half brother – was the rightful heir to the throne.

Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu and her two daughters, Ntandoyenkosi and Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, have since been granted a leave to appeal the judgment that dismissed their contestation over the late king’s will.

King Misuzulu needed help from professional hunter to kill lion, angers animal rights group (citizen.co.za)

Regards Mark

General News, Live Transport, Uncategorized

USA: Bella Hadid calls to end carriage horse abuse after animal collapsed in New York City: ‘Barbaric’.

Bella Hadid calls to end carriage horse abuse after animal collapsed in New York City: ‘Barbaric’

Bella Hadid calls to end carriage horse abuse after animal collapsed in New York City: ‘Barbaric’ (msn.com)

Bella Hadid has encouraged her followers to end carriage horse abuse following the collapse of a carriage horse in New York City.

In a recent Instagram post, the 25-year-old supermodel shared photos of the horse, Ryder, while it was collapsed on the street, and screenshots of an article about him.

She also shared an image that reads: “Take action to end carriage horse abuse with one call/email.”

She tagged multiple New York City Instagram accounts, including mayor Eric Adams and the NYC council in the caption, and asked them to “phase out cruel carriage horses” and “protect them while it’s still here”.

Hadid also acknowledged that she hopes the horses will one day be replaced by “a humane & electric alternative”.

WAV Archives.

Hadid went on to show her support for Ryder by asking the Manhattan district attorney and the New York police department to do an investigation on the horse’s owner, Ian McKever, who was driving the carriage when the animal fell.

“This has been going on for WAY too long in this kind of environment,” she wrote. “Another sick, malnourished carriage horse collapsed in distress on the hot pavement of New York City while his driver whipped him repeatedly.”

“We are also calling on the Manhattan District Attorney & the NYPD to investigate criminal animal abuse charges against Ian Mckeever for his abusive behaviour,” Hadid continued. “Ryder needs immediate help and to be released from his abuser.”

She concluded the post by expressing how “barbaric” it is that horses have to “pull” large carriages through NYC and specifically called out Mayor Adams.

“It’s barbaric to force horses like Ryder to pull heavy carriages in extreme heat in the busiest part of the busiest city in America without a place to break or eat,” Hadid wrote. “We have to do something now. This should have been done years ago. Eric Adams, The world is watching!!

Please do what is right for these animals. Take action.”

WAV Archives

Hadid then included a link to NYClass Act, a non-profit organisation with the “core mission of saving NYC carriage horses, enacting animal rights legislation into law, and electing pro-animal candidates to office”.

Ryder collapsed and buckled at the knees on 10 August in midtown Manhattan, at 45 St and 9th Avenue. Videos online showed the carriage driver yelling at the animal and slapping his back. The owner also appeared to be pulling on the horse’s reins, even though onlookers told him to stop.

Following the incident, Tony Utano, president of the local Transport Workers Union, which represents carriage drivers in New York, gave an update on Ryder’s condition.

“The veterinarian believes Ryder has EPM, a neurological disease caused by possum droppings,” he said. “This is another example why people shouldn’t rush to judgement about our horses or the blue-collar men and women who choose to work with them and care for them.”

WAV Archives

Multiple animal rights charities, including non-profit organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), have also spoken out about ending carriage horse abuse.

“Horses don’t belong in big cities where they’re put in constant danger because of cars, humans, weather, and more,” PETA said.

Bella 🦋 on Instagram: “Hi friends ❤️- we need to tell @nyccouncil, @NYCSpeakerAdams and @NYCMayor to pass legislation (Intro 573) (thank you @bobholdennyc )) to…”

Regards Mark

WAV Comment – Horses belong in the fields enjoying life, not pulling brain dead tourists through the streets of cities.

General News, Stray Animals, Uncategorized

Ukraine: The ‘Animal-Loving’ Ukrainian Sniper Who Rescues Abandoned Pets From Battlefield.

Oskana Krasnova and her husband Stanislav Krasnov have rescued almost 30 pets they discovered when passing through abandoned villages. (Oskana Krasnova/PA)© Provided by The Independent

‘Animal-loving’ Ukrainian sniper rescues abandoned pets from battlefield

An “animal-loving” Ukrainian sniper and her husband fighting on the frontline have rescued dozens of pets after discovering them abandoned on the battlefield.

Oksana Krasnova, 27, uses her wages to pay for food and supplies to nurse the animals back to health before arranging for them to be transported on military vehicles to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, to be rehomed.

Oksana Krasnova (left), 27, and her husband Stanislav Krasnov, 35, holding a rescued cat. (Oksana Krasnova/PA)© Provided by The Independent

Ms Krasnova had previously worked as a lawyer in the capital until Russia invaded the country six months ago and she joined the Ukrainian frontline defence, fighting in the Donetsk region.

In between working as snipers, Ms Krasnova and her husband Stanislav Krasnov, 35, have rescued almost 30 pets they have discovered when passing through abandoned villages.

Speaking to the PA news agency from the frontline, Ms Krasnova said: “I love animals a lot and I used to help rescue animals with my husband even before the Russian invasion.

“I come across a lot of abandoned pets when I am going about my duties and I can’t just leave them.

“It’s hard to evacuate animals from the frontline but these poor pets have been used to living with humans so they can’t survive on their own.

“I have my own pets who are being looked after by my parents in Kyiv and I could never dream of abandoning them.”

Ms Krasnova said her most memorable rescue to date was the first abandoned animal she saved on the frontline.

The first animal the couple rescued was a black dog they found in an abandoned house. (Oskana Krasnova/PA)© Provided by The Independent

The couple had heard “some strange sounds” while walking through an abandoned house and found a small, black dog trapped in the building.

Ms Krasnova said the animal was “clearly traumatised” and had been surviving off raw potatoes when they discovered her.

“I think she had been there for about a month – it was awful,” she said.

“She was just lying on the floor and we placed a pillow under her head while she was barking and crying and foaming at the mouth.

“We had to push her into a box and transport her in our military vehicle.

“She was having seizures and we didn’t think she would survive.”

Ms Krasnova fed the dog every hour and cared for her around the clock until her health began to improve.

“We have a friend who has some volunteers out in Kyiv who work with traumatised animals and he took in the poor dog,” she said.

“Months on, she’s now okay and she lives with a foster family.”

Ms Krasnova said she mainly rescues dogs and cats but has occasionally helped smaller creatures like birds and rabbits, which she tends to release into the wild once healthy.

“At the moment where we are based we have a herd of pigs with us from one of the nearby villages,” Ms Krasnova said.

“Obviously we can’t rescue them as they won’t all fit in our military vehicles but we are making sure they are okay and have enough food.”

The rescued animals have become a huge part of the couple’s life and even when Mr Krasnov was wounded, he was joined by a small kitten while he was strapped to a stretcher receiving medical treatment.

“The animals we rescue are really very grateful and loyal,” Ms Krasnova said.

“Sometimes it’s really hard (to say goodbye to them) mainly because I spend so much time treating them.

“But I feel relieved because I know that they won’t starve and suffer again,” she added.

‘Animal-loving’ Ukrainian sniper rescues abandoned pets from battlefield (msn.com)

Regards Mark

A rescued kitten sits on Stanislav Krasnov while he receives medical treatment after being injured. (Oskana Krasnova/PA)© Provided by The Independent

Environmental, Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News

EU: Less than 3 Months In, and Already A Quarter of the Way Towards A FUR FREE Europe.

Already Quarter of the way to a Fur Free Europe

25 August 2022

260,000 Europeans have already signed our Fur Free Europe ECI. That means we’re over a quarter of the way to our target of 1,000,000 validated signatures backing this European Citizens’ Initiative, which will oblige the European Commission to respond and take action to ban fur farms and farmed fur products on the European market.

Outfoxing the laggards

The EU-level legislation we are seeking with this ECI would compel Member States that are still lagging behind to take the necessary steps. And such steps would be popular: a majority of people in every country across the EU consider that breeding animals for fur is an unacceptable cruelty.

Malta has just fallen into line, bringing the number of EU nations with a full ban on fur farming to thirteen. Three have a partial ban, while a further five are considering their next moves. And meanwhile the fur industry is on its back paws, the latest victim being the fur garment industry in Greece, which has been forced to shut down due to EU sanctions on Russia. 

Fur jumps off the catwalk

And, in Denmark, once one of the biggest fur exporters in the world, this month’s Copenhagen Fashion Week followed Amsterdam, Helsinki and Oslo in going fur-free, after several luxury brands including Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga and Moncler announced fur-free collections. Next month, we will look more closely at how we must keep fur-free trending in fashion. 

So now is the time to act!

Make sure you have added your signature to the campaign. And if you can get three other people to sign then we’ll soon have the further three-quarters of a million we need!

Start of the collection period

2022-05-18

Registration number

ECI(2022)000002

FUR FREE EUROPE

Fur farming is inherently cruel and it is widely rejected by EU citizens.

It is impossible to improve the welfare of animals on fur farms. Whilst no animals should live in a caged environment, the keeping of inherently wild species in cages can only be defined as abject cruelty.

The keeping and killing of animals solely for the purpose of fur production is ethically unacceptable.

Numerous outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 on mink farms have evidenced the veterinary-public health risks associated with the production of fur.

The existence of production bans in some Member States has a distorting impact on the market for the supply of farmed fur products. This favours traders in those Member States where there is no production ban, to the detriment of those EU countries where outright bans are already in place.

The placing of fur products on the internal markets of several territories and jurisdictions has already been prohibited. This includes dog and cat fur within the EU.

Echoing the calls from many Member States we, EU citizens, invite the Commission to prohibit by law, throughout the Union, the:

keeping and killing of animals for the sole or main purpose of fur production.

placement of farmed animal fur, and products containing such fur, on the EU market.

274,665 have signed. Let’s go to 500,000

Act Now – please sign the ECI

NOTE THIS IS A PETITION WHICH CAN ONLY BE SIGNED BY CITIZENS OF EU MEMBER STATES – Nobody else sadly.

Fur Free Europe | Eurogroup for Animals

Regards Mark