A FALL FROM FREEDOM-VIDEO

Be Sure to See this Film

Whales and dolphins have captured the imagination of people all over the
world. They have come to symbolize not only an alien form of intelligence,
but a sense of ultimate freedom in their marine environment and a comradery
among their herd mates that we envy and admire.

A FALL FROM FREEDOM is the first film to expose the long and sordid history
of the captive whale and dolphin business; a history that continues to this
day. The illegal capture and transport of killer whales, the thousands of
dolphins that are killed in order to provide marine parks and aquariums with
replacement animals, and the ability of these facilities to mis-educate the
public about these animals.

These, and many other issues, are covered in graphic detail in this 80
minute film. View now for free.
In theaters starting this September.

LAW REQUIRES CROSS-REPORTING CHILD AND ANIMAL ABUSE

State agencies that deal with animal abuse are preparing to share that information with authorities that investigate abuse of spouses and children.

On Oct. 1, the law goes into effect that requires animal control officers and social workers with the state Department of Children and Families to share information on cases.

“Statistics show us that when an animal is being abused in a household, there is an 80 percent chance that a child in the same household is also being abused. This bill sends a strong message that animal cruelty will be taken seriously in Connecticut,” North Stonington State Rep. Diana Urban, who pushed for the law, said in a written statement.

An animal control officer who suspects that an animal has been harmed or treated cruelly will be required to file a petition with the Superior Court and submit a report to the agriculture commissioner and Department of Children and Families employees who suspect that an animal has been harmed must also report to the agriculture commissioner.

Article:http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Law-Requires-Cross-Reporting-Child-and-Animal-Abuse-125944939.html

Namibia warns over spying on seal killing

Namibia warns over spying on seal cull




Namibian police are on alert around the areas where seal annual harvesting is taking place.


The police have warned that anyone found in the vicinity without a valid cause will be ‘dealt with’.


This follows the confiscation of high technology cameras; clandestinely dressed as rocks endemic to the Cape Cross area where the largest seal harvest takes place annually.


The expensive equipment is suspected to have been placed in the vicinity by foreign journalists and animal welfare organisations ‘representatives, who are said to be in the country on tourists’ visas to film the seal culling process – described by many international animal rights organisations as inhumane.


What looks like ordinary pieces of rock to the untrained eye turned out to be high definition camera with optical zooming abilities; a large hard drive for mass storage of footages; a car battery for power, and a wireless router which would make it easier for the user to re-route images and footages to another device without having to be present on site.

N.C. county considers lifting its ban on pet sales at flea markets

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners is considering lifting a ban on pet sales at open-air markets, farmers markets, and flea markets. The ban has been in place since April 2009.

The issue is contentious because animal rights activists support the ban. They want to make it harder for animal lovers to buy pets, arguing that lowering barriers to pet purchase will lead to impulse buying, buyers’ remorse, and, subsequently, abandonment and euthanasia.

On the other hand, flea market supporters cast the issue as one of individual rights and too much government regulation. The co-owner of a big local flea market, Smiley’s Flea Market, made this point clear in an interview with the Citizen-Times of Asheville, N.C. “On behalf of the American people, if you will, and the people of Henderson County in particular, I think it’s right to provide people a place to do free enterprise,” Ben Campen, of Smiley’s, told the local newspaper.

So far, the Board of Commissioners has punted the issue, saying it requires more study. Topics that the Board is considering include requiring animal sellers to have a vet’s proof of shots, in addition to possible effects on the county’s animal shelter. The Board is expected to take about two months to study the issues.

Peru has banned wild animals in circuses

Last night, President Alan Garcia signed into law an end to the use of wild animals in circuses, following an investigation of circus animal suffering and a long campaign by Animal Defenders International (ADI) and local animal protection groups in the region.

With this ban, Peru is the second country in South America to take national steps to stop the suffering of animals in circuses, following the ban in Bolivia.
Other countries considering similar moves are the UK, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia.

ADI Chief Executive Jan Creamer said:  "We are absolutely delighted and applaud this bold move by President Garcia and the Congress of Peru. With the ban in Bolivia and the current discussions in Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia, there is no doubt that South America is leading the world on this issue.

"Peru has looked at the evidence, the undercover investigations, the scientific reports and seen the suffering of the animals. The people of Peru have been adamant in their support of a ban, and both the Congress and President have listened."

Representatives Alexander Rebaza (APRA) and Jose Urquizo (Gana Peru) introduced the bill and have championed it throughout the legislative process. Congressman Urquizo invites parliamentarians from all countries to follow the example of Peru and ban wild animals in circuses, ending the suffering of animals.  Congressman Urquizo said: "that will make us a more modern and civilized society".

The ADI investigation exposed terrible suffering of animals in circuses, including lions whipped and beaten, monkeys, bears and other animals kept in deprived and appalling conditions.

Jan said: "ADI will continue to work with the Government of Peru in the preparation of regulations to implement the law."

In February 2011, ADI completed an enforcement operation with the Bolivian authorities and removed every single animal from circuses in Bolivia. 29 lions were moved from Bolivia to the United States.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
Media Contact:
Phil Buckley, Media Relations Director, Animal Defenders International, 07716 018250, 0207 630 3344, prdesk@ad-international.org>
Peru becomes the second country in South America to ban the use of animals in circuses, following Bolivia.  Similar measures have been under discussion in Brazil, Colombia and Ecuador.  Other countries with similar legislation include Austria, Costa Rica, Sweden, Finland, Singapore and Denmark.www.ad-international.org>www.peruanimalista.com
www.detenercircosconanimales.com>

ADI collaborated with local groups in Peru, My Animal Awareness. Amazon Shelter, UPA, Vida Digna, LOVE and ASPPA.

Reps. Alexander Rebaza (APRA) and Jose Urquizo (Gana Peru) introduced the bill 1917 / 2382 in 2007. In 2009 Peru's Land Commission and Commission of Andean, Amazonian, Afro Peruvian, Environment and Ecology adopted the majority opinion supporting a ban. Member of Congress Jose Alejandro Rebaza Urquizo initially presented the ban on the use of animals in circuses as a separate bill. The two versions of the bill were joined and adopted by the Land Commission and Commission of the Andean, but did not end the debate in plenary for approval.  Therefore, the Land Commission decided to include the ban as a final disposition within the Forestry and Wildlife.

The first final provision states: "It is prohibited to display and use specimens of wildlife, native and exotic in traveling circuses."

The bill was signed by President Alan Garcia last night (21 July 2011).

Since June 2010 the bill has been on the agenda prioritized plenary debates of the Congress of Peru.

The ADI report on animal suffering in circuses in South America is at:http://www.ad-international.org/admin/downloads/Spanish_new_low-res.pdf

Findings of the investigation include:
Lions being pulled by the tail, whipped and beaten.

A capuchin monkey, three lionesses and a lion kept in a compartment of a truck of and an ocelot living in a wooden box. Three bears were kept in three compartments of a truck, their only exercise was walking to and from the ring for the performance.


Phil Buckley
Media Relations Director
Animal Defenders International
Millbank Tower
Millbank
London SW1P 4QP, UK.
Tel.  +44 (0)20 7630 3340
Fax.  +44 (0)20 7828 2179

Cutting Edge Not Knife Edge
http://www.navs.org.uk
New legislation on animal experiments: Please call on the Home Office to support the NAVS' 10 key steps to keep the UK at the forefront of the development of advanced scientific techniques to replace outdated and unreliable animal tests.

www.navs.org.uk
www.ad-international.org
www.YouTube.com/AnimalDefenders
www.CafePress.com/AnimalDefenders

Customs officials seize over 7,000 tortoises at Thai-Malaysian border

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http://www.mcot.net/cfcustom/cache_page/218763.html

Don’t allow trophy seekers to hunt black bears*

Florida black bears were once forced to the brink of extinction because of
over-hunting and loss of habitat. These shy forest dwellers have recently
rebounded thanks in part to a 1974 decision to protect the species and a
1994 ban on bear hunting. The state is now considering a proposal to boot
the recovering black bear off of its list of threatened species, a move that
paves the way to reopen “trophy” bear hunts, where hunters kill the
creatures for a hide or head to display.

Though bears may have crept back into a small portion of their historic
range in Florida, some local bear populations are in serious peril and,
indeed, there are still only somewhere between 2,000 and 3,400 black bears
left in Florida — fewer black bears than there are manatees.

The bear habitat in Florida is badly fragmented, confined to isolated
pockets throughout the state. Bears need large areas of habitat that connect
to other areas of land. Unfortunately, their homes have shrunk as Florida’s
neighborhoods push farther into what was once bear territory. As a result,
bears are sometimes drawn to unsecured garbage, birdseed and pet food.

Citing the increase in public encounters with bears, trophy hunters want the
state to remove bears from the protected species list.

We can solve these conflicts without killing bears. Human-bear conflicts in
Florida are still quite low, and they can be reduced by common-sense, proven
methods.

Among other things, neighbors can be educated about the importance of not
feeding bears and using effective garbage maintenance. There are also ways
to use “aversive conditioning” to stop bears from learning that human
neighborhoods automatically mean a free meal.

At its June 8 meeting in St. Augustine, The Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission will consider if black bears meet the state’s newly
adopted threatened species criteria. Commissioners need to hear from
Floridians who oppose hunting this vulnerable species.

The FWC’s draft management plan for bears has rightly drawn controversy for
including trophy hunting as a potential management tool. After public outcry
against reopening the hunt reached a pitch last fall, the FWC abruptly
cancelled public hearings on the issue.

The majority of Floridians oppose bear hunting. The state’s own polling in
the early 1990s showed that the public opposed bear hunting. A poll this
spring by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research, Inc. confirmed that Florida voters
remain strongly opposed — by a three-to-one margin — to trophy hunting
Florida’s recovering black bears.

The poll also indicated that an overwhelming majority oppose hunting black
bears with dogs, which could be part of the state’s hunting proposal. Voters
also overwhelmingly support the state prioritizing non-lethal approaches to
dealing with community black bear conflicts.

The FWC’s proposed plan for managing bears once they’re removed from the
threatened species list says Florida should protect more habitat for bears
and adopt some humane conflict prevention programs, but it’s unclear whether
funding exists for such protections.

Until Florida’s black bears have sufficient habitat protection and adequate
conflict management programs that don’t include trophy hunting, Florida’s
bears should remain on the protected species list.

If you agree, contact the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 850
488-4676 or Commissioners@MyFWC.com.

Jennifer Hobgood, Florida state director, The Humane Society of the United
States, Tallahassee


Read more:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/06/2254106/dont-allow-trophy-seekers-to-hunt.html#ixzz1Ob1nJDJZ

Venezuelan Government Bans Wildlife Hunting and Trading in Some Areas

By Minamb, AVN


The tricolored-plumage ara macaws, best known as guacamayas, are one of
the endangered species in Venezuela because they are frequently
extracted from their habitat in the Amazonas, where they mate for life.
This is the reason why they die when they are hunted and taken out of
their environment.

These birds, and other animals such as parrots, monkeys and snakes, are
exhibited by their captors in cages for days on the main road of
Amazonas state, southern Venezuela. Their buyers move them in wrapped
boxes to bypass the National Guard checkpoints. When they reach their
"new home," these animals usually die as a result of stress and sudden
habitat change.

Hence, the Bolivarian Government is taking measures in the Metropolitan
Area of ​​Caracas and the states of Anzoategui, Bolivar, Falcon,
Guarico, Lara, Monagas, Miranda, Sucre, Zulia and Yaracuy in order to
guarantee that this situation does not worsen.

The measures ban the illicit trade and possession of birds and other
wildlife species, as well as products derived from wildlife, on public
roads (roads, highways, paths, streets and avenues) and in unauthorized
shops.

In addition to these measures, the Venezuelan state is promoting a
number of environmental preservation programs.

Arrau Turtle Preservation Program

The arrau turtle, also known in Venezuela as the Orinoco turtle, is the
biggest of the Podocnemis genus and was widely abundant 200 years ago.
Nevertheless, since 1995 it is an endangered species, although it has
been legally protected since 1946.

In the first quarter of 2011, the Bolivarian government, through the
environment ministry, freed 10,000 Arrau turtles (Podocnemis expansa) in
Amazonas state, Venezuela’s south, as part of the conservation program
to protect this endangered species.

The program, which is being developed to prevent illegal hunting, aims
to transport endangered nests to zoo-farms over a one year period, in
order to subsequently return the species to their natural habitat. Over
51,000 turtles bred in captivity are expected to be freed this year.

José Zambrano, director of the environmental office in Amazonas, said
that this activity “shows the interest of the Bolivarian government in
preserving wild fauna, especially endangered species.”

So far, 12,806 Arrau turtles have been freed in the Refuge of Wild Fauna
and Protecting Areas, located in the village of Santa María del Orinoco,
in the south-western state of Apure, and 6,000 in south-western Bolívar
state. By June, 22,000 turtles are expected to be freed in Azoátegui
state, Venezuela’s northeast, and 949 in Barinas state.

National Parks under protection

For a long time, Venezuela was the victim of an activity that caused
irreparable harm to the environment. The Fun Race private organization
staged off-road car races in different national parks of the country
where its participants had to cover hundreds of kilometres in the
shortest possible time. Many of the circuits did not have the
authorization required by the Venezuelan authorities to hold these
races, which helped the company earn millions.

Venezuela's Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Díaz, imposed a ban on this
type of activity. "These races cause irreparable harm because the
vegetation cover wears out and its recovery can take up to 200 years.

The Bolivarian government took legal actions and ordered the Fun Race
company to promote, design and develop awareness-raising campaigns to
show the ecological harm caused by this activity in the country's
national parks and protected areas.

Mission Tree recovers natural ecosystems

Venezuela features a 123.5 million-acre forest area that represents 56%
of its territory. In South America, this is equivalent to 5.6% of
forests and 1.3% of the world's forest area.

Communities nationwide have organized jointly with the Ministry of
People's Power for the Environment (Minamb) to working on the
consolidation of Mission Tree (Misión Árbol in Spanish), which aims to
contribute to the restoration and maintenance of forests and local green
areas.

Currently, nearly 5,200 conservation committees, comprised of 50,000
people, have been created. Over 19 million plants have been planted
throughout the country, thus allowing for the recovery of over 56 acres.
The Venezuelan minister for the environment, Alejandro Hitcher, said
that "the government's social program strengthens the spirit of
conservation of the population, thus contributing to economic
development and environmental sustainability."

Edited by Venezuelanalysis

http://venezuelanalysis.com/news/6251

The Bizarre and Outrageous Cruelty Behind Every “Milk Moustache” – by Will Tuttle

The Bizarre and Outrageous Cruelty Behind Every “Milk Moustache” – by Will Tuttle

Animal Earth Right: Finding ourselves in our own skin.

Animal Earth Right: Finding ourselves in our own skin.: "'Wear Your Own Skin' (click on to enlarge) I wanted to take some time to talk about one of my paintings. It is not meant to be an exercise..."