“It was an experience I’ll never forget,” Wales wrote in a Facebook post he published on September 8. “A proper, man-eating dinosaur of a croc.” He included several photos of the huge animal, one of which shows it hung up under a canopy, dwarfing a couple of people standing nearby.
His Facebook post has attracted some controversy from users opposed to hunting, with one calling the killing “disgusting.”
We’re so thrilled to start this month off by sharing the wonderful news that the T&S rabbit farm in Nottinghamshire is finished for good, after the farmer announced he is retiring from fur farming due to the pressures from animal activists! When asked about his decision by local media, he replied “I made the decision to give into their demands. We couldn’t fight them anymore because they are too strong.”
This success brought together Animal Aid’s undercover investigations and planning expertise with amazing local teams on the ground, including Shut Down T&S Rabbits and Rabbit Farm Resistance – an inspiring reminder that campaigning does make a real difference to the lives of animals!
We have a late but urgent request for people to please object to plans for a new reindeer farm in the UK – and we only have until tomorrow to make our objections! Reindeer are herd animals, adapted to live in a cold climate. These sensitive animals should not be confined to a reindeer farm in the UK. Please submit your objections today!
Last year our petition to help ban snares reached over 100,000 signatures – and now it’s time once again to put pressure on Ministers. The wonderful group, OneKind are holding a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on Saturday the 17th September from 11:30am-1pm, calling on the Scottish Government to make history and ban snares. Whether or not you’re able to attend the demonstration, you can still use this opportunity to apply pressure – either by writing to your local MP, or by contacting Scottish ministers via email or social media. Don’t forget to use the #BanSnares hashtag!
VegFestUK London, one of the largest vegan lifestyle fairs in Europe, is back! Our Head of Campaigns is speaking at the event, and you can also chat to the campaigners at our stall, where you can help make a positive change for animals! VegFestUK are launching a buy-one-get-one-free offer on tickets from today, so be sure to come along and say hi to us!
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.
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).
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.
‘Immediate ban’ needed on annual release of 50 million pheasants amid bird flu outbreak, says RSPB
An immediate moratorium on the release of tens of millions of birds for shooting is needed to limit the “catastrophic spread” of bird flu, the RSPB has said.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has devastated seabird populations around the UK’s coast this year, leaving hundreds of thousands of birds dead since it arrived last winter in the Solway Firth in the north west.
The RSPB has now said the annual release of around 55 million pheasants and red-legged partridges, and 2.6 million mallard ducks, all of which are reared in captivity to be shot for sport, represents a serious risk to wildlife.
The organisation said large numbers of these gamebirds are imported from across Europe, then held in pens to mature prior to release.
The volume of birds released into the UK each year now represents more than the total biomass of all UK native birds.
Pheasants in the UK have previously tested positive for HPAI – first in Lincolnshire in 2018 and a further 13 times since, on three premises with commercial breeding game for release.
In a statement the RSPB said it believed “that to limit the catastrophic impacts of this outbreak on our wild birds, the deliberate release of captive birds into the countryside must be stopped for this year”.
Jeff Knott, the RSPB’s director of policy, said: “In recent months we have witnessed an unfolding catastrophe taking place on our wild birds.
“It has been emotionally tough to witness, but we are not helpless and there are many positive actions that we can take to help them weather this storm and reduce the risk of exacerbating this crisis.
“This disease originated in poultry in Asia before passing into wild birds. It is another human pressure on beleaguered wildlife across the world and in the UK specifically. We must all now take responsibility and do everything we can to limit the impact in the immediate term, and to implement and fund species conservation programmes to build resilience in our wildlife for the future.”
The RSPB said that although spread from pheasants to wild birds has not yet been confirmed scientifically, this route of transmission has not yet been fully investigated.
“Given the current scale of the outbreak in wild birds, ongoing losses of wildlife from other human pressures and the context of the wider nature and climate emergency, it is necessary to employ a precautionary approach to all possible vectors of this deadly new virus to our wildlife populations,” the organisation said.
The disease has already taken a heavy toll on great skuas, gannets and terns, but numerous other species are also affected, including puffins, white-tailed eagles, red kites, guillemots and black-headed gulls.
The RSPB said last week it was calling on Defra to put together a task force of experts including vets, virologists, ecologists and policy makers, just as occurred in 2005 when the first spike in bird flu occurred.
This would allow appropriate testing to understand what is happening and inform how to deal with it.
The RSPB’s Martin Fowlie told The Independent: “Over the last five months we’ve just seen an escalation in terms of the numbers and in terms of the geographic spread. Initially it was all concentrated up in north east Scotland and then we’ve seen cases spread south.”
The disease has now reached south west Wales, home to globally important populations of seabirds such as gannets and puffins.
I liberated a wasp this morning. It was in the bird bath and would not have survived had it not been fished out of the water.
This afternoon (4/8/22), and it has kind of broken me at the moment; I have had to have my prettiest star, Sally the cat, put to sleep. She was 22 years old, which makes her around 110+ in human years (if we have to do a comparison). She was my one shining light on many depressing days and dark corners, and believe me, there are many now days. She wanted nothing but affection, love and (plenty of) food, which she enjoyed a great deal; simply giving back love and enjoyment, entertainment, in return. She had love and affection, and comforting voices right up to the very end, the moment she passed. Most animals in the current ‘systems’ do not experience this.
What about all the millions of animals that are reared to be blasted by shooting parties ‘enjoying’ a day out ?.
What about all the animals who are live crammed into transport trucks or death ships as they are hauled all over the globe for a few pennies more ? – Live Transport – World Animals Voice.
What about all the animals in the labs that are abused and injected with god knows what; having their skulls sliced off in the name of something which has gone on for decades and yet, never really brings anything in the way of medical advancement or progress ?.
What about the badgers who are being culled by the tens of thousands in the UK to simply win votes from the farming community ? – Search Results for “badger culling” – World Animals Voice. What about the Krebbs report which said that culling badgers was unnecessary ?.
What about the dogs and horses that are bred to be raced against each other so that humas can win a tenner on a bet ?.
What about the dogs held in Korean cages for their meat; what about the animals who are farmed (the poor bitches)and skinned alive for their fur to adorn the body of some fur hag who is sometimes known as a rich bitch ? – Search Results for “fur” – World Animals Voice
Lots of ‘what abouts’; and by no doubt I have missed many other subjects who deserve just as much.
Yup; all issues constantly and thankfully getting a lot of campaign attention by the mob that goes under the umbrella of animal rights. If that pigeonholes you as part of the mob, then am glad, no very glad, to have been part of the mob for 45+ years.
Sally was fortunate; she had a loving environment. Many animals as shown above suffer nothing but abuse from the moment of birth through to the moment of death. They never experience a kind hand, only abusive ones.
For Sally:
Remember when you were young? You shone like the sun Shine on, you crazy diamond
Nobody knows where you are How near or how far Shine on, you crazy diamond
Pile on many more layers And I’ll be joining you there Shine on, you crazy diamond
Then we’ll bask in the shadow Of yesterday’s triumph
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Pink Floyd
You will be my rest and peace child I moved up to take a place, near you The prettiest star One day though it might as well be someday You and I will rise up all the way All because of what you are The prettiest star One day though it might as well be someday You and I will rise up all the way All because of what you are The prettiest star
Have been dealing with specific animal issues over the last few days, but here now there is some good news for you all to read about. I will put each story on as an individual post in order that you can read and copy link if you wish.
6 July 2022
Press Release
In a joint position paper, 136 conservation and animal protection organisations from all around the world, including 45 NGOs from African countries, speak out against trophy hunting and urge policy-makers to ban imports.
Dr Mona Schweizer of Pro Wildlife said: “Trophy hunting stands out among the worst forms of wildlife exploitation and is neither ethical nor sustainable. In the face of the man-made global biodiversity crisis, it is inacceptable that exploitation of wildlife simply for acquiring a hunting trophy is still permitted and that trophies can still be legally imported. It is high time that governments end this detrimental practice.”
Trophy hunting can adversely affect the survival of species Between 2014 and 2018 almost 125,000 trophies of CITES protected species were imported globally, with the US and the EU featuring as the biggest importers.
and undermine conservation efforts. Trophy hunters often target rare and imperilled species or animals with impressive physical traits and remove individuals who are essential for reproduction and stabilising social groups. By targeting such animals, trophy hunters directly and indirectly contribute to population declines, disrupted social structure, and reduced resilience. The industry drives demand for parts and products of endangered species and incentivises and prioritises their killing through award schemes and other promotions.
Furthermore, shooting animals of protected and endangered species is often a privilege of foreign hunters, while access to wildlife and land is often restricted for locals. This disenfranchisement of local communities coupled with the social destabilising effects of trophy hunting on many species can fuel human-animal conflict rather than mitigate it. Such situations are further exacerbated by the fact that the trophy hunting industry fails to deliver meaningful economic benefits to local communities, contrary to what is claimed by the pro trophy hunting narrative. In fact, as most hunts are conducted on private land and the hunting sector is plagued with corruption, trophy hunting revenues usually end up in the pockets of hunting operators, private farm owners and local elites.
WAV Archive Photo
Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy at the Born Free Foundation commented, “Trophy hunting causes immense animal suffering while doing little or nothing for wildlife conservation or local communities. Indeed, in many cases trophy hunters remove key individual animals from fragile populations, damaging their social and genetic integrity. It’s time to bring trophy hunting to a permanent end, while seeking alternative, more effective and humane ways of resourcing wildlife protection and local community development.”
In addition to hampering conservation efforts and minimal economic benefits, the practice of trophy hunting also raises ethical and animal welfare concerns. Shooting animals for fun simply to obtain a trophy as a status symbol is ethically unjustifiable, disregards their intrinsic value by reducing them to commodities and puts a ‘price tag’ on death reflecting the amount foreign hunters are willing to pay for the kill. Moreover, trophy hunters frequently employ and incentivise hunting methods that increase the suffering of the animal, such as the use of bows and arrows, muzzle loaders, handguns or dogs chasing animals for hours to exhaustion.
WAV Archive Photo
WAV Archive Photo
“Economic benefit – which is minimal at best in the trophy hunting industry – is no excuse to allow the inhumane killing of animals for entertainment or to make up for the often irreversible biological and ecological damages it causes to protected species when there are alternative, more lucrative revenue streams available for development and conservation efforts,” said Dr Joanna Swabe, senior director of public affairs at Humane Society International/Europe. “As the largest importers of hunting trophies in the world, the US and EU have a moral obligation to stop contributing to this harmful industry through hunting trophy imports and to institute policies that support ethical forms of foreign aid, tourism and industry”, added Swabe.
In many countries around the world, citizens oppose trophy hunting and the import of hunting trophies. Surveys in the EU, Switzerland and the U.S. confirm that between 75 and 96 percent of respondents oppose trophy hunting and support import bans for trophies. In South Africa, the major African exporter of hunting trophies of protected species, a majority of 64 percent disapproves of trophy hunting.
With the unethical practice of trophy hunting harming species conservation and the economy for decades, a policy shift is long overdue. Together, with a united voice of 136 NGOs from all around the world, we call on governments to take responsibility towards the protection of species and biodiversity, and to ban the import of hunting trophies.
Agnese Marcon, Communications Manager, Eurogroup for Animals
Dr Mona Schweizer, Pro Wildlife
Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy, Born Free Foundation
Adeline Fischer, Senior Communications Manager Europe, Humane Society International/Europe
Eurogroup for Animals represents over eighty animal protection organisations across the EU, UK, Switzerland, Serbia, Norway, and Australia. Since its foundation in 1980, the organisation has succeeded in encouraging the EU to adopt higher legal standards for animal protection. Eurogroup of Animals reflects public opinion through its members and has both the scientific and technical expertise to provide authoritative advice on issues relating to animal protection. Eurogroup for Animals is a founding member of the World Federation for Animals which unites the animal protection movement at the global level.
Pro Wildlife is a non-profit organisation that works internationally to protect wildlife and its habitats with the aim to preserve biodiversity and to save animals. Thus, the survival of species in their habitat, but also the protection of the individual animal is of key importance. Pro Wildlife advocates for better laws and effective protection measures for wildlife. In various countries, the organisation supports aid projects for animals in need, helps to preserve habitats and works to ensure coexistence between people and wildlife.
Born Free is a UK-based international wildlife protection charity. We promote compassionate conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. As a leading wildlife charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild.
Advancing the welfare of animals in more than 50 countries, Humane Society International works around the globe to promote the human-animal bond, rescue and protect dogs and cats, improve farm animal welfare, protect wildlife, promote animal-free testing and research, respond to natural disasters and confront cruelty to animals in all its forms.
So there we were; it was Friday (15/&7) afternoon and very hot (unusually for England – I think they call it ‘Global Warming’ Mr Trump). The lounge doors which go to the back garden were open to get a breeze through. We came in from another room when I was greeted with “Mark, there is a fox in your office !”.
Sure enough, there was; a little cub who I think I had photographed with his mum in the garden a few weeks ago. If it was him, hen he is now out on his own searching round and getting to know places. He must have entered through the open doors at the rear, and then wandered into the office.
Luckily; he was in a fox friend zone which is totally anti hunt; so we laid a trail of fox biscuits indoors for him to eat, and which led back to the garden. He showed no signs of being scared of us in any way (a bit worrying if he meets the ‘wrong’ types); he was brazen and really chilled out; lying on the office floor for a while before making his way back outside.
I quickly grabbed a couple of shots of him both indoors and then outdoors when he was back in the garden. We threw him some extra food, which he took in his mouth and then headed off into the bushes. His mum would have been proud of him if he returned with all that food, but then again, maybe he scoffed it all himself !
He was beautiful and a real delight to see so close up. I have this thing with foxes coming into the building; at our previous place, a wild local fox used to come in, climb the stairs and then chill on the window sill for a while, whilst I was on the computer – you can see him here.
Chill out fox sits on the office window sill.
But, they are wild animals, not pets; and so must be treated that way. No touching or stroking; just watching and enjoying. Then they go and return to the wild where they belong.
I asked the question (to our contact ‘D’) if the cat was caught in the trap which could have been used normally to trap foxes instead. The answer came back – ‘NO – It was intentional’.
Our informant continued:
In some German states it is legal to kill pets (more than others) – dogs and cats “on the prowl”. That is the hunters’ official excuse, but it is usually 300 meters from the last building, in rural areas, where that is allowed.
In this case the huntress in question argued that on this day there had been pheasants released for their hunting party, and the cat had gone after them. Rubbish.
Happens quite a lot, it seems. Then the hunters apply what is called the three S, “schiessen – schaufeln – Schnauze halten” / “shoot – dig – shut up”.
Pets being shot is not popular, of course, so they usually get rid of the bodies and say nothing.
Trio of 3 hunters in Bavaria, near Augsburg, catch and shoot pet cat (with collar, and so someone’s beloved pet). The person doing it is a woman hunter: twice in the face, once in the body (discussing if they should shoot the cat again).
PETA Germany has reported this after receiving the video from a whistleblower, and the district court of Augsburg has issued a penalty order. The case is not closed yet. This apparently happened around Xmas 2020, but PETA only got wind of it this year.
D.
Peta Germany via our contact.
This has been forwarded from a contact/activist friend in Germany.
Video: Hunter shoots cat in cold blood in live trap with pistol
Original article from January 3, 2021
A whistleblower of PETA played us videos of incomprehensible animal cruelty: In it, a hunter brutally kills a cat with several shots from a pistol. The cat is literally tortured to death. Previously, the animal, which according to the information wore a collar and probably had a loving home, had been caught in a so-called live trap. We file a criminal complaint with the Augsburg Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Huntress shoots several times at defenseless cat in live trap – she suffers agony
This was what happened: Probably shortly before Christmas 2020, a group of hunters in a forest area west of Augsburg filmed themselves brutally torturing and killing a trapped cat: The video shows a black and white cat that has fallen into a live trap. It is not known how long the animal had been trapped without food, heat and water at that time.
Instead of releasing the frightened and visibly stressed animal or taking it to a shelter, a hunter starts killing the cat with a pistol while still trapped. After three shots to the animal’s head at close range, the panicked cat is seriously injured in agony, but is still conscious. The agony this cat must have endured is unimaginable.
We at PETA Germany file a criminal complaint against the animal abusers
This cruel cruelty to animals must not go unpunished and must be punished severely by law.
We also demand that the hunting license of the persons present be withdrawn immediately. In addition, we call for a nationwide ban on the shooting of dogs and cats, so that such and many similarly brutal death scenes, which often take place in the context of hunting, do not continue.
Regards Mark
Visitor friends comments – you can view them all on the right hand side under ‘COMMENTS’.
Stacey:
Evil, absolute human trash, a waste of oxygen & space, when she goes to hell, she’ll be the one hunted for eternity, her endless suffering in return for her psychopathy and apathy of others. POS
World Animals Voice 