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Santa Clarita Sand Fire

On July 23, 2016, Santa Clarita was hit with the devastating Sand Fire that spread rapidly and called for an urgent evacuation of thousands of homes, people and their animals. Many animal sanctuaries and horse owners had to evacuate because the fire was quickly approaching. As the wind changed directions, so did the fire and it headed straight towards The Monte Verde Ranch and their 140 horses, along with The Wildlife Way Station, who’s 450 wild and exotic animals had to be safely evacuated. Just a few of the many sanctuaries who had to evacuate all of their rescued animals.

As the fire continued to grow and more animals were in desperate need of evacuation, colleges, sanctuaries, animal control centers and shelters began opening their doors and allowing animals who needed temporary homes to be boarded at their facilities, ensuring their safety.

After several daunting days, the fire was 100% contained, leaving 38,346 acres of land that burned in its path. The animals who were brought to temporary boarding facilities have been transported back home safely.

For Animal Evacuation and Disaster Relief Updates
PLEASE VISIT: www.WorldAnimalNews.com 

Baby Elephant Dies At Ringling Bros. Breeding Center

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POLK CITY, FL – Mike, the youngest elephant resident at Ringling Bros. & Barnum Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation (a breeding center) in Polk City, has died from the elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV).

Final necropsy results are in progress, but officials preliminary results along with blood tests suggest that the virus was the cause of death.

          

Dr. Ashley Settles, the director of Ringling Bros. veterinary care: "No one knows why the virus manifests this way in some elephants, since most elephants harbo犀利士
r the virus and never become ill. Mike only began to show the slightest of symptoms on Saturday and was eating and drinking well as late as Sunday afternoon, but the illness progressed very rapidly. As soon as symptoms began we started treating him, but by Monday morning there was nothing more anyone could do to prevent his passing."

The elephant was born at the breeding center on June 27, 2013 to parents also born there. Mike was the first elephant to die of EEHV at the center, which has experienced 26 endangered Asian elephant births since 1995.

                                                            

The Center for Elephant Conservation (CEC) is a 200-acre breeding farm and retirement facility for elephants that is sponsored by Feld Entertainment, the holding company and owner of Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. The CEC is the largest Asian elephant gene pool outside of Southeast Asia. The center failed a USDA inspection under the Animal Welfare Act due to its restraint policy in 1999. At least one case of TB was noted during the inspection.

Sources: Wiki

www.clickorlando.com

Photos: Newsweek

http://365thingsswfl.com

WFTF TV

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Breaking News! Thai Authorities Remove 5 Tigers From Infamous Tiger Temple

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The first five of 147 tigers have been removed from the infamous Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi by the Department of National Parks, according to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.  This development sends a clear message to the rest of the world that the Thai government is serious about protecting its tigers, which sets an essential precedent.

                      

"The exploitation, illegal trade and torture is going to stop," the foundation said in a post. 

The controversial, but popular tourist temple, which brings $3 million dollars annually due to tourists visiting to play and take selfies with the animals, has long been accused of abusing and exploiting their tigers.

Last week, National Geographic magazine stated that it had uncovered evidence that the infamous temple was trafficking the tigers and selling them on the black market.

The tigers were tranquilized and transported to government-operated animal reserves in Ratchaburi, according to the Bangkok Post. 

Although this seems promising, there are also rumors abound that the government has agreed to only remove 70 tigers, while the remaining 77 will be taken to a new zoo currently under construction. The logistics will need to be determined as far as the tigers’ path to freedom.

Past efforts to retrieve animals from the temple literally took an army. In April 2015, a team of 400, made up of department staff, soldiers, and police acted together to retrieve several moon bears kept without permits from the temple. More than 100 monks and staff blocked the entrance, which led the team to resort to hoisting the animals out with a crane.

If there is no similar resistance, 5-10 of the 140 tigers could be rescued and transported out of the temple per day. The hope is that they will then be housed in a true sanctuary.

Despite overwhelming evidence against the Tiger Temple, thousands of tourists continue to line up for selfies, which fuels the illegal tiger trade.

Sources: One Green Planet

Coconut Bangkok

Photo: Coconut Bangkok

Huffington Post

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Two Young Gorillas Dismantle Poachers’ Traps After Death Of Fellow Gorilla

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RWANDA-Researchers have observed two four-year old gorillas working together to dismantle snares within Rwanda's Volcanoes National Park a few days after a poacher’s trap killed a fellow mountain gorilla in the same area.

Veronica Vecellio from the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund's Karisoke Research Centre in Rwanda: “This is absolutely the first time that we've seen juveniles doing that … I don't know of any other reports in the world of juveniles destroying snares. We are the largest database and observer of wild gorillas … so I would be very surprised if somebody else has seen that."

                         

Gorillas are not the intended victims, as thousands of snares are set up by local bush meat hunters who are attempting to catch antelopes and other animals.

The traps, hidden by dry leaves and branches, operate by tying a noose to a branch of bamboo stalk, and bending it down to the ground, while another stick or rock is used to hold the noose in place.

If an animal moves the anchoring rock or stick, the branch will fling back up and tighten the noose around it, holding the captive in place until the poachers arrive, even possibly hoisting the captured animal into the air.

Young gorillas often are not able to free themselves, and run a huge risk of succumbing to injuries caused during their escape.

The worrisome fact is that the population cannot sustain these losses.

A tracker, John Ndayambaje, attempted to dismantle the snare, but was given a warning signal by the dominant male of the clan indicating that he wanted him to stop.

Ker Than of National Geographic: "Suddenly two juveniles – Rwema, a male; and Dukore, a female; both about four years old – ran toward the trap. As Ndayambaje and a few tourists watched, Rwema jumped on the bent tree branch and broke it, while Dukore freed the noose."

The two gorillas then reportedly located another snare, and with the assistance of another juvenile, managed to dismantle it as well. Researchers suspect that the confidence and speed with which the gorillas destroyed the traps means they had educated themselves on the dangerous nature of the contraptions, and have most likely dismantled them previously. They have stated that they will not interfere with the gorillas’ behavior and hope they will teach the rest of their clan to disable the traps as well.

Source: Science Alert

Photo: Morgan Trimble

Kindness Blog

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TAKE ACTION To Protect Gray Wolves In California!

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The California Department Of Fish and Wildlife Conservation held a public meeting last night at Cal State Long Beach to discuss the controversial plan that would allow gray wolves, listed by California as an endangered species, to be killed under certain circumstances.

The public meeting allowed stakeholders in Southern California to give a voice to the voiceless in an effort to extend protections for the wolves at risk.

Fifty animal welfare advocates and three hunters (and one wolf hybrid) attended the meeting to discuss the plan. Animal advocates posed the question as to how humans can put a number on a population, as the plan has suggested that once the wolf population hits fifty, wolf hunting may begin.

“Humans are the ones who are overpopulated. Wolves don’t put a number on us,” said World Animal News and Peace 4 Animals founder and president Katie Cleary as she spoke in front of attendees. 

                         

Social Compassion in Legislation’s founder Judie Mancuso and the Center for Biological Diversity were also in attendance. These groups are concerned that the plan could allow the possible delisting after the population hits a mere 50 to 75 wolves.

Mancuso spoke for the welfare of wolves, as well as a majority of Californians: “The focus should shift to protection and recovery and we should not be even discussing any kind of number or cap until we have a nice healthy population once again of which to be proud. In California, as you are hearing tonight, out of the 38 million people in this state, more care for the welfare of these animals than for killing them because of a nuisance or to put them on their wall as a trophy.”

Amaroq Weiss, West Coast wolf organizer for the Center for Biological Diversity: “The plan fails to explain why such a small and fragile population should have protections removed. The state Fish and Wildlife Department’s own scientists believe that more than 500 wolves could be supported in Northern California and the central Sierra Nevada range.”

California’s wolves wandered into California from Oregon by natural expansion into the wilds of Siskyou County nearly two decades after they were introduced in and around Yellowstone National Park.

A final decision on the plan is not expected until sometime next year.

Source: LA Times

Photo: National Geographic

You can look at the draft plan for wolves HERE

https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/conservation/mammals/gray-wolf

Make Your Voice Heard! Go to the below link and Share Your Comment!

http://wolfconservationplancomments.org/comment/ 

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LCA Investigation At Marineland Canada Reveals Cruelty To Whales

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LCA Trunk conducted a five-month undercover investigation into Marineland Canada, wholesale nba jerseys during the summer and Advocate fall of 2015, with a primary focus on UnChained: the park’s beluga whale population and Sonakull the Lee conditions under cheap mlb jerseys which they are being held. The majority of the park’s 46 belugas are confined to just three main pools with no breeding program in place cheap nba jerseys to regulate births, allowing Marineland’s population of belugas to continue to grow at an cheap nba jerseys alarming Trophy and irresponsible rate.

The investigation uncovered disturbing inadequacies in the care of the whales, which include:

-Multiple beluga cows observed suffering for months from an undiagnosed condition reported by employees to park management as “genital rubbing” which caused the whales to rub themselves constantly against the concrete tank until blood was visible in the water

-Gia, a juvenile beluga who was initially separated from her mother by accident, was left in a shallow isolation pool for three months while she became emaciated

-A three-month old beluga calf with a deep laceration near his fluke left untreated for two days before seen by a local small animal vet. The laceration reopened shortly thereafter

-Belugas exhibiting signs of eye abnormalities, such as redness, irritation, and cataracts, and in some cases, young belugas appearing to develop cataracts prematurely

-Numerous belugas with various medical conditions, such as hypersalivation, regurgitation, and raw, red throats, in some cases for prolonged periods of time

-Routine deprivation of food for training purposes

-The birth of 5 calves, one of which died

The investigation also revealed that the whales were housed in enclosures that are not only barren in comparison to their natural environment but also unsafe and harmful in their very design and the interactions they promote, including:

-46 belugas of both sexes ranging in age from newborns to mature adults confined in three main cement enclosures

-Belugas, including newborn calves, covered in “rake marks”, from being attacked and bitten by dominant whales

-Enclosures that did not provide the whales with areas away from public view, nor any protection from the elements

-Enclosures with inadequate barriers that promote unsupervised public contact with the whales as well as the accidental or deliberate introduction of foreign objects into the whales’ enclosures

-Kiska, Marineland’s lone orca, constantly swimming in circles in the smaller of her two pools

-More than 100 barrels of industrial strength bleach kept on site, and employees repeatedly complaining of burning eyes and a strong chlorine smell on certain days when next to the pools

These findings formed the basis of LCA’s complaint to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for violations of the OSPCA Act and its prescribed standards of care.

Marineland Canada, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, first opened its doors in 1961 as little more than a roadside attraction. 

John Holer, whose background is in the circus industry, purchased three sea lions to put on display, and charged one quarter for admission. 

From that point forward, the park began growing rapidly, and by the 1970’s, had expanded to include a 2,000 seat “aquatheatre”, as well as acquiring its first captive orca, “Kandu”, who quickly became the star attraction.  Marineland is now not only Canada’s largest amusement park, but also confines more beluga whales than any other park in the world.

Marineland and Mr. Holer are no strangers to controversy, having become the subject of intense public scrutiny after allegations emerged of mass animal graves located inside the park, a claim which was later proven to be true. 

Since then, the park has been involved in a litany of scandals involving both the park itself, and the often erratic behavior of its owner, John Holer.  Persistent pressure and condemnation from the public, activists, and particularly from former Marineland employees themselves have garnered widespread media coverage, including an in-depth investigation into the park by The Toronto Star.

Despite Marineland management and Mr. Holer’s repeated attempts to silence critics with frivolous lawsuits and threats of litigation, the atrocities committed by Marineland and Mr. Holer are firmly established in public’s eye.

LCA’s investigation reveals that no whales should be kept in captivity and that doing so causing suffering and distress to these sensitive social creatures.  Canadian parliament has before it bill S-203, “Ending the Captivity of Whales and Dolphins Act” which would prevent this tragedy being inflicted upon future whales by banning their capture, confinement, breeding and sale.

CLICK HERE to sign the petition to Senator Moore supporting Follow bill S-203!!

CLICK HERE to read expert’s statement about the du beluga whales wholesale nfl jerseys at Marineland Canada.

See more at: World Animal News

Dolphin Advocate Ric O’Barry Still Detained In Japan As Political Prisoner

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American dolphin advocate Ric O’Barry has been detained in Japan since he was denied entry into the country on January 18th. He has stated that he is being targeted due to his efforts to save the dolphins from the tragic Taiji hunts. O’Barry faces deportation.

“I’m a political prisoner. I think there are higher-ups in government who are cracking down on those who speak out against their war on dolphins,” O’Barry told Reuters via telephone from an immigration lock-up located close to Tokyo’s Narita airport.

O’Barry and his lawyer state that he is being accused of being dishonest to officials about the nature of his activities during a previous trip to the country.

“Never once have I broken the law, never once have I lied to immigration,” O’Barry said.
The Taiji hunt has become an international concern for animal welfare advocates since the Oscar-winning documentary film The Cove exposed the tragic and bloody dolphin hunts in Taiji.

Ric O’Barry’s wife Helene Hesselager O’Barry has posted a plea for her husband on his Dolphin Project site:

January 25, 2016: “For more than one week, my cheap nba jerseys husband, Ric O’Barry, has been incarcerated in a Japanese detention center, after immigration officials refused to allow him entry into the country. The day started off normal enough, and when he was pulled aside for a “routine” interrogation, he wasn’t overly concerned. Since cheap jerseys the release of “The Cove”, the 2009 Oscar award-winning documentary that exposed the brutal dolphin drives in Taiji, Japan, he has been questioned longer, more aggressively, and often for hours at a time. But nothing like what cheap nba jerseys would transpire that day.”

“I am deeply concerned for him, and every day, am contacted by people from all over the world who want to know how he is, and when he will be released. They are shocked at how he has been treated. Why, they ask, when it’s a well-known fact that O’Barry has been traveling to Japan for years, and has many friends there. It is a country he loves dearly, always speaking about Japan with tremendous respect for its people. And, while wearing his activist “hat,” he always operated fully within Japanese law, making it absolutely clear that his only problem with Japan is the horrendous killing of whales and dolphins that goes on there.”

Various celebrities and friends of O’Barry, including Slash and Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses, Montel Williams, and Queen’s Brian May have tweeted in support of Ric’s plight.

                   

U.S. ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, has expressed concern, but has yet to take real action. She recently was photographed with Japanese President Shinzo Abe, which has caused controversy as O’Barry remains detained.

In the past on NBC’s Today Show, Caroline Kennedy stood by a controversial tweet that characterized the dolphin hunt as inhumane. The Japanese government called her tweet hypocritical based upon the cruelty within the American meat industry.

“That was a U.S. policy,” Kennedy stated. “I hope I’m an effective ambassador, and sometimes that means working behind the scenes and sometimes that means speaking out.”

Please CONTACT and politely urge Caroline to take stronger action against the hunts and let her know that the world is behind her and supports tough sanctions against Japan in order to put an END to the annual slaughter. Also, let her know that Ric O’Barry should be released right away and that this is an URGENT matter. He should not be deported.

Twitter: BREAKING: @CarolineKennedy    

In Japan:

1-10-5 Akasaka
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420 JAPAN
Phone: 03-3224-5000
Fax: 03-3505-1862
E-mail

From the U.S:

Unit 9800 cheap nba jerseys Box 300
APO AP ACHIEVERS 96303-0300
Phone: 011-81-3-3224-5000
Fax: 011-81-3-3505-1862

Also, you UnChained: may マクタン島にあるディスコ contact other influential members of her family in order to influence the issue to trend within the Kennedy family:

Bobby Shriver  @bobbyshriver 

Robert Kennedy wholesale jerseys Jr.  @RobertKennedyJr    Service

SIGN these PETITIONS:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/207/680/249/?z00m=27360048&redirectID=1939937933

https://dolphinproject.net/take-action/release-ric-obarry-from-custody-in-japan/

Source: Reuters

Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project

Main Photo: Scott London

See more at: World Animal News

Jane UnChained: Stop Australia’s Live Animal Export Horror!

Watch Jane Velez-Mitchell of Jane UnChained; Katie wholesale MLB jerseys Cleary, founder of World Animal News; Judie Mancuso, founder of  Social cheap MLB jerseys Compassion in Legislation; Ginn Andrews of World Animal News; activist Simone Reyes; Amanda Copeland; Services actor Martin Dingle Wall; and Patty Leopard Shenker, co-founder of Upcoming the Animal Advocacy Museum, make an cheap nba jerseys attempt Google to speak to Australian consulate officials to stop Australia’s barbaric cheap jerseys live animal export life trade!

#‎BanLiveExport

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BREAKING: South Africa Bans Leopard Trophy Hunting

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The wholesale jerseys China Department cheap mlb jerseys of cheap jerseys Environmental Sports Affairs As has On effectively banned leopard trophy hunting throughout South Africa after it set provincial leopard trophy hunting quotas at zero for 2016.

The number of leopards in the country is unknown, and an urgent alert was sent that trophy hunting posed a high risk to the survival of the species.

Under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), South Africa may allocate 150 leopard trophy export permits annually. A warning appeared in the Government Gazette last year that stated that if the guidelines weren’t adhered to, quotas would be set to zero for 2016.

Guy Balme of the environmental NGO Panthera: ‘We just don’t know how leopards are faring in South Africa. They’re secretive, mainly nocturnal, solitary and range over huge areas. Counting them requires intensive research using expensive technology such as camera traps, which can only be deployed over small areas, far smaller than the areas in which hunting quotas are determined. It seems prudent that hunting should only continue once the appropriate measures are in place. Only then can we be confident that the practice is sustainable and not putting additional pressure on leopard populations already under a great deal of strain from other threats.”

The DEA stated that hunting would likely have a detrimental effect on the species’ survival.

The research authority found that leopards had a low reproductive rate, a fragmented distribution, an uncertain population trend, and that illegal harvesting in particular was not very well controlled as the rate of monitoring was low as only between 5% and 15% of leopard habitat was strictly protected.

The trophy ban will be in effect throughout this year. The scientific authority will then review the situation and will develop norms and standards for the management and monitoring of leopard hunting throughout the country.

Source: AfricaGeographic.com

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