44 Paarden en twee paardentrainers gedood bij stalbrand in Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio (VS)

Two dead, 44 horses killed in Lebanon barn fire

05-12-2009 By Chris Magan, Staff Writer, Middletown Journal, USA


LEBANON — A tight-knit horse community was shocked by a morning fire that ripped through a horse stable here at the Warren County Fairgrounds killing two trainers and 44 horses. “Everyone is just devastated about this,” said Bill Schroeder, the attorney for the Warren County fair board. “People were not supposed to be in there overnight.”

A fire leveled horse barn 16 at the Warren County Fairgrounds early Saturday morning, Dec. 5, 2009, killing two people and 44 horses.

The fire call came in at 4:50 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 just hours before tens of thousands of spectators poured into the historic Lebanon downtown for the 21st Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade and Christmas Festival.

Dozens of firefighters from 10 area departments fought the blaze that burned for hours in the football field-long barn near the Lebanon Raceway track, said Krista Wyatt, Lebanon fire captain.

Horse owners believed two trainers, Ronnie Williams and James “Turtle” Edwards, were in the barn, which sits on the west side of the race track, when it caught fire. Coroner officials could not confirm the identities of the two victims pulled from the northern section of the structure.
It is unclear why Willams and Edwards were in the barn so early in the morning and some owners speculated they may have been sleeping there. Track officials declined comment and cancelled races for the day.

“There was a sign on the building that said people we not supposed to sleep in there,” said Victor Gray, a Lebanon resident who lost three horses.

Ohio State Fire Marshals were called in to investigate and pulled two male bodies from the northern part of the barn.

Horse owners and track regulars stood stunned as they watched heavy machinery peal back the metal roof of the collapsed structure so firefighters could sift through the debris and extinguished what remained of the blaze.

“It’s terrible,” said Mary Coven, who owns horses stabled in one of the fairgrounds 19 barns.
None of the 44 horses killed were scheduled to trot in the Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade that went on as scheduled at 1 p.m. It drew tens of thousands of spectators to the historic downtown that’s just blocks away from the fire scene.

The parade will continue today at 7 p.m., according to organizers.
The two men believed killed were described by friends as dedicated horsemen.
Ronnie Williams was a legend around the track. His father, George Williams, was one of the first black drivers at the harness racing track, said his sister Donna Williams. She confirmed her brother was unaccounted for early Saturday.

James “Turtle” Edwards got his nickname because he walked at a leisurely pace and his nose resembled that of the tortoise from the Bugs Bunny cartoon, which proves slow and steady wins the race.
“They were great guys who would do anything for you,” said Perry Lambert, a track regular.
Investigators could not confirm the identities of the two men pulled from the barn after it was destroyed by the early morning fire. No one was supposed to be in the stables overnight and it is unclear if the two men were working early or sleeping there.
“That will definitely be part of our investigation,” said Shane Cartmill, spokesman for the Ohio State Fire Marshal. “We are very early on in the investigation.”

Authorities don’t believe anyone else was in the wood and metal pole barn, but won’t be sure until after they search through the debris, Cartmill said. The investigation will be more difficult because horse and human remains are similar, he said.
Determining the cause of the blaze could take weeks, Cartmill added. The building was a complete loss and damages are estimate at more than $100,000.

Firefighters from 10 area departments fought the fire for hours. A nearby resident called in the blaze at 4:50 a.m. Lebanon police could not release recordings of the emergency calls because proper personnel were not available on the weekend, said Pat Clements, city manager.

Both victims were pulled from the northern section of the football field-length barn that could house up to 80 animals. The 66-acre fairgrounds holds up to 600 horse at any given time.
There are more than 20 barns on the property, which is owned by Warren County, but operated by two companies, Miami Valley and Lebanon Trotting.

Horse owners and track regulars were devastated by the fire that took their friends, animals and livelihood.
“They’re not holding up very well,” said Mel Hagemeyer, manager of the track.
Six-year-old mare Hoosier Flash won the 14th race at the Lebanon Raceway just hours before she died in the fire.
“It puts us out,” said Kyle McClung, a South Lebanon resident who lost the race horse and six other horses. “Everything we own is right there.”

Victor Gray of Lebanon lost three horses he raced with his son, Victory Gray II. “We referred to them as ‘the kids.’”

Horses are popular in suburban Warren County. County commissioner Pat South said the county ranks seventh in the nation for the number of horses. “This is an absolute tragedy,” she said.
In 1988, a blaze in a similar part of the county-owned racetrack and fairgrounds killed 35 horses. No one was killed in that fire.

Staff Writer Ed Richter contributed to this report.

(Bron: http://www.middletownjournal.com/)
(Bron foto top: Middletown Journal / Bron foto's below: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCdZsAzl_Y3M26cEJCQ4l9LIBFKwD9CDC80O0)

PETA VS wil geen 'paardrijdende' chimpansees tijdens ChristmasVille in Rock Hill - Roisaire chimps enige ter wereld die 'paardrijden'

PETA wants ChristmasVille to cancel horse-riding

chimps

Group posts message on ChristmasVille Facebook page

05-12-2009 From Staff Reports - The Herald, Rock Hill, USA


The animal advocate's group People for Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking ChristmasVille organizers to scrap the horseback-riding chimpanzees from today's holiday festivities in downtown Rock Hill.

Friday night, the group posted a message on ChristmasVille's Facebook page asking people to contact organizers about canceling the chimps. The post was later removed from ChristmasVille's page on the social networking site.

"On Saturday, December 5, organizers of the ChristmasVille festival in Rock Hill, South Carolina, plan to host a cruel event in which chimpanzees are forced to ride horses for spectators' entertainment," the post states. "Chimpanzees used in the entertainment industry are forcibly separated from their mothers while they are often still nursing infants. ... Training baby chimpanzees almost always includes physical abuse to ensure that the animals live in fear and know that the trainer is 'boss.'"

Read the complete post by PETA here.

This is the first year for ChristmasVille to host Chimpfabulous, starring the Rosaire Chimpanzees. As the world's only trick and fancy horseback-riding chimpanzees, the group is billed as the most respected and largest chimpanzee ensemble in the entertainment industry.
Three shows will be in the grassy area in the 100 block of East Main Street.
Showtimes are 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m.

(Bron: http://www.heraldonline.com/)

Mearl the Squirrel and His Best Pal Andy: A Tale of Friendship in Portland (USA)

Andy, a tree climber here in Portland and a good friend of mine, had been begging me for weeks to come out and see this abandoned squirrel he's been raising. As the squirrel has grown, so has the unlikely friendship between these two. This is a video I filmed and produced for OregonLive.com

So this is Christmas...for the animal liberation movement in the world!

Christmas comes as a time for peace and harmony throughout the world. Sadly our animal brethren never get a day's rest from the pain of animal torture that is held worldwide.

This video is dedicated to every man, woman, child and animal that dares to go against the status quo. Whether you decide to only eat meat less frequently out of love for animals, refuse to wear animal products (Fur, leather) or if you a full-on animal activist attending rallies or freeing animals, you are worthy of praise, esteem and recognition.

Thank YOU for your efforts.

(Some scenes may not be suitable for younger viewers)

Pictures and story related info can be found at: http://www.animalliberationfront.com/...

Court allows trapping of 100 cats at a Meadow Lake house, Valencia County (USA)

Valencia County animal control officers working outdoors have begun trapping and euthanizing the estimated 100 cats living at a Meadow Lake house deemed too filthy to enter without full protective gear.

Amerikaanse wetenschappers onderzoeken ruimte voor kippen in kooien legbatterijen - Onderzoek moet drie jaar duren....

Research looks at cramped chickens

05-12-2009 by MICHAEL J. CRUMB (Associated Press), The Times-Tribune, USA


DES MOINES, Iowa - Are cramped chickens crazy chickens?
Researchers are trying to answer that question through several studies that intend to take emotions out of an angry debate between animal welfare groups and producers.

Charlie Neibergall / associated press Chickens stand in their cage at the Rose Acre Farms near Stuart, Iowa. About 96 percent of eggs sold in the United States come from hens who live in the so-called battery cages from the day they're born until their egg-laying days end 18 to 24 months later.

At issue are small cages, typically 24 inches wide by 25½ inches deep, that can be shared by up to nine hens. About 96 percent of eggs sold in the United States come from hens who live in the so-called battery cages from the day they're born until their egg-laying days end 18 to 24 months later.

Public opinion appears to side with those who oppose the cages. Voters in California approved a proposition last year that bans cramped cages for hens. And Michigan's governor signed legislation last month requiring confined animals to have enough room to turn around and fully extend their limbs.

Peter Skewes, Ph.D. a Clemson University researcher, is leading one of the studies comparing how different housing affects egg-laying hens. He said there are plenty of "emotional" opinions about whether the cages are inhumane, but few are based on facts.

"Hopefully we will contribute something so decisions can be made based on science and knowledge about how we house birds and the implications for different systems," said Dr. Skewes, who is in the early stages of a three-year study funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

(Bron: http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/)
(Bron foto: Times-Tribune)

Kat in Oshkosh (VS) met achterpoot vast in ijzeren wildklem - Beestje geeuthanaseerd....

Cat trapped in steel jaw trap euthanized on city's

west side

05-12-2009 By Patricia Wolff • of The Northwestern • Oshkosh, USA


A cat caught in a steel jaw trap in a yard on the city's west side Thursday had to be euthanized by Oshkosh Area Humane Society to put it out of its misery from a badly broken back leg. "There was no salvaging that cat. He was in horrible, horrific pain," said Joni Geiger, director of the animal shelter.

A cat caught in a steel jaw trap in a yard on the citys west side Thursday had to be euthanized by Oshkosh Area Humane Society to put it out of its misery from a badly broken back leg. Submitted photo.

Oshkosh police along with the Oshkosh Area Humane Society responded to the call in the 1100 block of Bismarck Avenue around 5:30 p.m. to help what appeared to be a feral cat in a trap.

Geiger called the use of a spring-loaded steel trap in a residential neighborhood shockingly cruel and stupid.
"It's a horrible way to rid yourself of a nuisance," she said.

It is also illegal and carries a fine of $232 per violation, said Oshkosh Police Sgt. Matt Kroening.
Police were called to Bismarck Avenue by the resident who found the cat in the trap in his yard. The trap did not belong to the person who called police. It was the type of trap someone would use to trap small game in the wild.

Geiger called it utter carelessness for someone to use this type of trap within the city limits where curious children could stumble upon it.
"Even if you don't care about animals, what are you doing putting this in a residential area?" she said.

She estimated a cat caught in this type of trap could drag it blocks but certainly not miles, so it is very likely the trap was set by someone in the city.

Police have not cited anyone and they don't have any suspects, Kroening said.

Geiger emphasized alternative methods for trapping animals. Live traps may be obtained at the animal shelter at 1825 Shelter Court for a $25 deposit. When returned the user is refunded $20 of the fee.

(Bron: http://www.thenorthwestern.com/)
(Bron foto's: The Northwestern)

Controversieel doden stier tijdens Zulu Ukweshwama ritueel bij Nongoma (Zuid-Afrika) begonnen ondanks protesten dierenvrienden

Ukweshwama bull-killing ritual begins

05-12-2009 Times Live, South Africa

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The controversial ukweshwama ritual that includes the killing of a bull with bare hands began today at the Enyokeni Palace in Nongoma in KwaZulu Natal.

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Participants were seen wearing traditional Zulu outfits singing and dancing and holding knobkerries in the air as they waited for the ritual to begin. There were scenes of joy following the court ruling on Friday which allowed the Zulu nation to go ahead with the ukweshwama ritual.

Zulu men killing a bull in a kraal in an Ukweshwama ritual near Nongoma.

Animal Rights Africa took Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini and the premier of KwaZulu Natal, Zweli Mkhize to court to stop the killing of a bull in the ritual arguing that it was cruelty to animals.

Young men were expected to kill a bull with bare hands as the ceremony reaches its pick.

Journalists from various media houses came in their numbers to cover the controversial ritual.

High profile politicians, which included Mkhize were expected to attend the event. Mkhize arrived a short while ago dressed in a complete Zulu attire, which is made up of a cow skin apron, a shield, knobkerry and ubukopolo, an animal skin head crown decorated with bird feathers.

All women at the ritual were wearing skirts, including journalists.

This was after the Department of Arts and Culture ordered that all journalists covering the event not wear pants.

Ndela Ntshangase, a lecturer of isiZulu studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal, said the judgment given by the Pietermaritzburg High Court on ukweshwama was a victory for all African countries.

"This is a victory for all African people. The controversy was directed to all Zulus, but who knows next time it could be a Xhosa or a Pedi because our cultures are more or less the same," he said.

(Bron: http://www.timeslive.co.za/)
(Bron foto: Times Live)

Giraffe Amali in dierentuin Tulsa (VS) tijdens onderzoek overleden - Dier bleek na transport knik in nek te hebben - Letsel blijkt erger dan gedacht

Tulsa Zoo giraffe dies after exam for injury

Amali's neck was damaged during her transport in October.

05-12-2009 By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer, Tulsa World, USA


Amali, the 5-year-old female giraffe who arrived in Tulsa in October with a crooked neck, died after X-rays were taken to determine the severity of her injury, zoo officials announced Friday. Tulsa Zoo veterinarian Kay Backues said Amali entered the restraint chute normally late Thursday morning, then staff members gave her a sedative before doing a series of X-rays.

Backues said Amali sat down during the procedure but kept her head up, and her vital signs were stable and good during the process.
"We gave her reverse medications, and she wouldn't come out of it," Backues said, adding that when Amali began deteriorating, zoo staff members began emergency measures. "The whole zoo comes out for something like that. It's an all-out effort to save her."

Veterinary staff were performing a necropsy, or animal autopsy, and will send off tissue samples to laboratories to determine the cause of death, which could take several weeks.

Amali arrived in Tulsa after being transported from the Wilds preserve near Cumberland, Ohio. When she arrived, she had an obvious crick in her neck that only got worse.

The X-rays revealed a fractured growth plate in Amali's neck, Backues said. Because Amali was a young adult, she still had growth plates, which are cartilage and weaker parts of the bone. The strong ligament that runs along the back of the giraffe's neck was causing the fractured joint to become unstable and move into an almost 90-degree angle.

"The injury was more severe than we speculated looking at her," Backues said, adding that Amali had continued to eat, walk and interact with the other giraffes despite the injury. "It had progressed over the last few weeks, the ligament pulling on that unstable joint."

Even if Amali had survived the X-rays, Backues said her prognosis would have been grave. "She wasn't going to make it another year," she said.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, which enforces the Animal Welfare Act, already was conducting a focused inspection on what caused the injury. Now the agency will investigate the giraffe's death as well.

"Our focus will be to make sure no violations contributed to the animal's death," said Dave Sacks, spokesman for the inspection service.

The USDA does annual unannounced inspections at licensed zoos, breeders, exhibitors and transporters.

USDA officials inspected the company that transported the giraffe to Tulsa, Safari Enterprises, three times since 2007, most recently on Feb. 12. They recorded no violations during the inspections, federal records show.

According to a report filed by the Tulsa Zoo to the USDA and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the transportation company has moved about 400 giraffes in the past with no incidents.

"This gentleman looks to be in good order," Sacks said.

Inspectors will look into all three entities — the Tulsa Zoo, the Wilds and Safari Enterprises — to determine whether the giraffe's death was the result of a violation of the Animal Welfare Act or was just an accident that happened during transport.
"That's certainly unfortunate, but if it's in the case of normal transportation, there's no negligence or violation there," Sacks said.

The AZA's Accreditation Commission already determined its standards and best practices for transport were met and no further action is being taken.

Amali and another female giraffe, 9-year-old Amira from the Santa Barbara Zoo in California, were brought to Tulsa to breed with the zoo's 17-year-old male, Samburu.
The zoo paid $25,000 for Amali and about $6,000 for her transport from Ohio.

AZA spokesman Steve Feldman said it's not standard industry practice for zoos to insure animals when they are transported.
"Thousands of animals move around the country every year," Feldman said. "The vast majority of these moves go just fine.
"One unfortunate incident shouldn't shake anyone's confidence in this facility. These things just happen."

Tulsa Zoo Director Terrie Correll said the earliest the zoo will try to acquire another female giraffe for breeding would be next year.

While Amali was at the Tulsa Zoo, she got plenty of attention and care, Correll said.
"Our staff, they really were at their best yesterday," Correll said Friday. "Everyone feels she was a remarkable animal. Everyone was touched by her. It's heartbreaking for everyone."

World staff writer Gavin Off contributed to this report.

(Bron: http://www.tulsaworld.com/)

Dierenactivisten PETA protesteren bij ziekenhuis Belmont, Massachusetts (VS), tegen stralingsexperimenten op primaten voor NASA

Protesters bananas over monkey testing

05-12-2009 By Dave Wedge, The Boston Herald, USA

About two dozen animal rights supporters - some sporting monkey masks - gathered outside McLean Hospital in Belmont yesterday to protest controversial radiation tests on primates, while researchers defended the testing as adhering to government guidelines.

‘CRUEL’: Members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, some wearing monkey masks in cages, protest McLean Hospital’s radiation tests on monkeys yesterday.

McLean Hospital released a statement saying the facility’s housing of monkeys dosed with radiation as part of a National Aeronautics and Space Administration study complies “with all institutional, state and federal guidelines.” The hospital also said the $1.75 million, federally funded project meets “humane” standards.

But fuming, sign-toting People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals members say different. Protesters argued that the project, which involves zapping about 20 squirrel monkeys with radiation equivalent to three years of space travel, is cruel because it could lead to cancer, premature aging and cognitive damage in the animals.

Six PETA protesters donned monkey masks and sat in cages during the peaceful protest.
NASA officials have said the study will provide crucial data to determine the risks facing astronauts

(Bron: http://news.bostonherald.com/)

(Bron foto: Boston Herald / Bron foto squirrel monkeys: http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20091204protesters_gather_to_save_space_monkeys_mclean_hospital_experiment_targetted/)

29-Jarige man in levensgevaar in Queensland (Australië) na duik in tentakels kleine dodelijke irukandji kwal

Man dives head-first into deadly jellyfish stingers

05-12-2009 GEORGINA ROBINSON, The Sydney Morning Herald, Australia


A 29-year-old man is in intensive care in a Queensland hospital after reportedly diving into deadly jellyfish tentacles. The man reportedly dived off a yacht moored off South Molle Island, in the Whitsundays.

He was wearing a full-body stinger suit when he plunged head-first into the stingers of an irukandji jellyfish, a Mackay Hospital spokeswoman said.

Irukandji jellyfish are a small box jellyfish. Two people died after being stung by irukandji in 2002.
The 29-year-old was treated by a local doctor for severe pain and later flown to Mackay Hospital.
He was in a serious condition today in the hospital's intensive care unit, the spokeswoman said.

Irukandji are usually restricted to waters north of Rockhampton.

Stings occur mostly between November and May but cases have been recorded throughout the year, the CRC Reef Research Centre said.

RACQ spokeswoman Leonie Hansen said the man was shivering and had gone into shock when paramedics landed on the island to stabilise him.

"It was the luck of the draw, really. He had a full stinger suit on, so only his face, his hands and his feet were exposed. Unfortunately, when you dive in, there is always that risk you will be stung."

She said Irukandji stings, though very painful, were rarely fatal.
"It doesn't matter where they sting you [on your body] the effects are the same. Unlike the Box jellyfish, normally with Irukandji's they are only fatal if the person has a pre-existing medical condition, like a bad heart."

The man had been on a sailing trip around the Whitsundays when the incident occurred.

Ms Hansen said RACQ-CQ rescued only three or four people a year as a result of marine stinger incidents.

- with Christine Kellett of brisbanetimes.com.au

(Bron: http://www.smh.com.au/)
(Bron foto: http://curiousanimals.net/animals/invisible-silent-killer-from-australia-irukandji-jellyfish/)

Staatsbosbeheer: 'Proef staken afschot wilde zwijnen om te zien hoe de dieren reageren' - Staatsbosbeheer op een lijn met Natuurmonumenten

'Proef is een goed initiatief'

05-12-2009 De Stentor


VELUWE - Hoewel hij vraagtekens zet bij de vooronderstellingen van Eddie Nijenhuis, is Jaap Rouwenhorst van Staatsbosbeheer het in grote lijnen eens met vereniging Natuurmonumenten. Staatsbosbeheer vindt ook dat er op experimentele basis moet worden onderzocht hoe zwijnen reageren wanneer de afschot wordt gestaakt.

"We weten het niet omdat we het nog nergens hebben uitgeprobeerd. Natuurlijk hebben we wel vermoedens, zoals ook Nijenhuis die uitspreekt. Het ontbreekt ons echter aan concrete ervaringen, onderbouwd met goed wetenschappelijk onderzoek. Wilde zwijnen worden immers in ons land overal en altijd bejaagd. Dat heeft ontegenzeggelijk grote invloed op hun gedrag, terreingebruik en de reproductie van de soort."

Op een aantal punten is er door 'natuurlijker' wilde zwijnenbeheer misschien wel resultaat te boeken, denkt Rouwenhorst. "Maar dat zal dus uit onderzoek moeten blijken. Dit is nogal kostbaar en het is daarom zeer wenselijk dat die investering een keer door de rijksoverheid wordt gedaan. Daarnaast, als we het faunabeheer en de intenties uit de Flora en Faunawetserieus nemen... het wilde zwijn is een beschermde, inheemse diersoort." Het is dus logisch dat de regering de handschoen oppakt.

(Bron: http://www.destentor.nl/)

Boswachter Natuurmonumenten: 'Afschieten wilde zwijnen werkt averechts'

'Stop met afschieten van wilde zwijnen'

05-12-2009 door Paul Hartman, De Stentor


VELUWE - De overlast van wilde zwijnen is een jaarlijks terugkerend probleem. Ook dit jaar worden weer tientallen afschotvergunningen afgegeven om de populatie een kopje kleiner te maken.

Een noodzakelijk kwaad, zeggen gemeenten en provincies. De dieren zijn een gevaar voor het verkeer en zorgen daarnaast voor veel vernielingen. Boswachter Eddie Nijenhuis van vereniging Natuurmonumenten denkt echter een oplossing te hebben gevonden waarmee het zwijnenprobleem voor eens en altijd kan worden getackeld.

Zwijnenoverlast lost op als we de dieren met rust laten, denkt boswachter Eddy Nijenhuis foto GPD/David van Dam

"Het afschieten van zwijnen werkt naar ons idee averechts", zegt Nijenhuis. Wanneer het aantal dieren in een rotte, een groep wilde zwijnen, kunstmatig laag wordt gehouden dankzij de jacht, is er meer voedsel voor een betrekkelijk kleine groep zwijnen. Het gevolg is dat de dieren fit blijven en dus meer jongen voort kunnen brengen. "Het voortplantingsproces komt zo in de derde versnelling waardoor de populatie explodeert."

Volgens Nijenhuis is dat een van de redenen dat de Veluwe jaar in, jaar uit heeft te maken met zwijnenoverlast. "Bij ons mensen gebeurt hetzelfde. Kijk naar de zogeheten babyboom generatie. Tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog zijn ontiegelijk veel mensen om het leven gekomen. Na de oorlog werden extreem veel kinderen geboren. Het leek alsof de natuur de verloren aantallen zo snel mogelijk wilde herstellen. Inmiddels hebben we in het westen al meer dan zestig jaar niet meer te maken gehad met oorlog. En wat blijkt? De gezinnen worden kleiner. Wij vermoeden dat dit in het dierenrijk ook gebeurt. De populatie komt tot rust wanneer die niet langer wordt bedreigd."

De regels zijn dat jagers alleen zwijnen mogen afschieten die jonger dan twee of ouder dan vijf jaar zijn. Volgens Nijenhuis werkt dat contraproductief. Wanneer de oudere mannetjes verdwijnen, zorgt dat voor veel onrust onder de jonge dieren. Omdat er onduidelijkheid bestaat over wie de baas is, willen alle mannetjes zichzelf bewijzen en gaan als bezetenen vrouwtjes dekken.

Daarnaast vervullen de oudere dieren een rol als nestor binnen een groep zwijnen. Hun ervaring zorgt ervoor dat de rotte gevaarlijke plekken zoals verkeerswegen meer uit de weg gaat, beweert Nijenhuis. "De oudere dieren kennen het gebied. Zij weten dat er bepaalde plekken zijn die ze moeten mijden. Wij denken dat de overlast vermindert naarmate de kennis van de oudere dieren langer bewaard blijft."

Nijenhuis geeft toe dat hetgeen dat hij schetst, enkel is gebaseerd op vermoedens. Toch weet hij voor honderd procent dat hij geen onzin uitkraamt. "Kijk naar andere diersoorten waarop niet meer wordt geschoten, zoals vossen en reeën. De populaties van deze diersoorten zijn niet gegroeid toen de afschot werd gestaakt. Integendeel, de groepen zijn juist kleiner geworden."

Maar omdat de voorgestelde werkwijze geen garantie biedt voor succes, wil Natuurmonumenten eerst een experiment uitvoeren. "Selecteer een een groot gebied, ergens op de Veluwe dat vrij is van wegen en landbouwgebied. Zet daar een hek omheen en plaats daar enkele rottes zwijnen. Vervolgens laten we de dieren enkele jaren met rust en houden intussen de populatie in de gaten. Zo leren we wat er gebeurt als de dieren niet worden afgeschoten. Mocht de uitkomst onze verwachtingen staven, dan weten we wat ons te doen staat."

Om een dergelijk experiment uit te voeren heeft Natuurmonumenten de steun nodig van de provincie Gelderland. Die heeft laten weten vooralsnog weinig te voelen voor het plan. Nijenhuis: "Het is zaak dat wij hen van mening doen veranderen middels het verschaffen van de juiste informatie. Misschien is het over een aantal jaar dan gedaan met de overlast."

(Bron: http://www.destentor.nl/)
(Bron foto: De Stentor)

50 Man tellende expeditie op zoek naar Sumatraanse neushoorn in Pulong Tau National Park, Sarawak (Maleisië)

Quest to find Sumatran rhino

05-12-2009 The Star, Malaysia


KUCHING: A 50-man expedition will set off for the Pulong Tau National Park in northern Sarawak on Monday to survey whether the rare Sumatran rhinoceros still roam the area.

Needle in a haystack: (From left) Expedition members Fedilina Ling, Jack Liam, Dominic Eric, Engkamat Lading and Sulaiman Jamahari looking at a picture of the Sumatran rhinoceros during the launching ceremony in Kuching Friday. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star

State Forest Department director Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the Sumatran rhinoceros, a species under Sarawak’s Wildlife Protection Ordinance, was last reported to have been seen in the upper Limbang area such as Sungai Adang, Long Seridan and Batu Lawi in the 1950s.

However, he said a grainy image captured by a camera trap near Batu Lawi recently, seemed to be that of the rhinoceros.“It will be like searching for a needle in a haystack,” said Len Talif.

“Ten cameras have been set up in the area to try to capture images of the rhinoceros and we will be going to verify its presence,” he said when launching the expedition at the Samajaya Park in Stutong here yesterday.

The 10-day expedition, organised by the Forest Department, will comprise members from the department, WWF Malaysia and timber company Samling.

Len Talif said the Sumatran rhinoceros was currently known to roam Sabah, although a few were believed to still be surviving in Sarawak and Kalimantan, Indonesia.

“Its actual status is yet to be known and the animals may keep crossing the borders between the states.
“It is hoped that this wildlife expedition will be able to find out more about its actual population, home range and habitat,” he said. “It will also enable us to gather more information on other mammal species in the area.”

Expedition organising chairman Sapuan Ahmad said the team would assess the status of the rhinoceros at the Batu Lawi area within the park and to study the distribution of salt licks and food sources for the species. “However, we cannot guarantee that the team will bring good news.”

(Bron: http://thestar.com.my/)
(Bron foto: The Star)

Protesten tegen foie gras in Neuchâtel en La Chaux-de-Fonds (Zwitserland)

Actions contre le foie gras à Neuchâtel et à

La Chaux-de-Fonds

04-12-2009 Arcinfo, Switzerland


L'association «Migros sans foie gras» manifeste ces jours dans plusieurs villes de Suisse. Elle était présente hier à La Chaux-de-Fonds et tient des stands d'information aujourd'hui à Neuchâtel.

CANARD Cette campagne a pour but d'inciter la Migros à stopper sa vente de foie gras. (Archives Christian Galley)

Mise en oeuvre par plusieurs associations désireuses de mettre fin au gavage, la campagne a pour but d'inciter la Migros à stopper sa vente de foie gras et ses cours de cuisine au fois gras. Divers actions sont prévues jusqu'à fin décembre en Suisse romande et au Tessin.

En Suisse, plusieurs enseignes de vente au détail ont renoncé à vendre le produit du gavage, Migros est, selon les organisateurs de la campagne, la plus importante entreprise qui vend du foie gras.

La campagne compte actuellement parmi ses rangs l'association antivivisection ATRA, la Ligue Suisse contre la vivisection, LausAnimaliste, la Ligue vaudoise pour la défense des animaux, L214, Stopgavage et le Collectif antispéciste genevois.

Deux actions sont organisées aujourd'hui à Neuchâtel. Un stand d'information sur le gavage se tient jusqu'à 18h devant la Migros. La seconde action est prévue à 18h30 devant l'école club Migros. /comm-réd

(Bron: http://www.arcinfo.ch/)
(Bron foto: Arcinfo)

Verdachte Amerikaanse dierenrechtenactivist wil weer sociologie gaan studeren - Man onder toezicht in vrijheid gesteld met enkelband

Animal terrorism suspect says he's no threat

04-12-2009 By PATRICK CONDON, The Associated Press, The Hawk Eye, USA


MINNEAPOLIS -- Two weeks after the federal government charged him with terrorism for an alleged attack on a University of Iowa animal research lab, Scott DeMuth was back home in Minneapolis making plans to return to his sociology classes, visit his grandparents and get back to a regular routine.

Under the terms of his release, the 22-year-old DeMuth must stay close to home. The man an assistant U.S. attorney dubbed a "domestic terrorist" is confined only by an ankle monitoring bracelet.

"It's a little inconvenient," DeMuth told the Associated Press Wednesday, in his first interview since being charged.

Last month, the U.S. Attorney's office in Iowa's southern district charged DeMuth with one count of conspiring to commit animal enterprise terrorism. Prosecutors say he played an unspecified role in the November 2004 raid on Spence Laboratories at the University of Iowa, where animal rights activists released more than 300 animals, dumped chemicals on data, damaged about 40 computers and publicized the home addresses of several researchers.

He faces three years in prison or a $250,000 fine, or both if he is convicted of the charges under the Animal Enterprise Protection Act.

One other person, Carrie Feldman, has been detained in connection with an investigation into the raid, although she has not been charged. DeMuth says Feldman used to be his girlfriend.

A self-described anarchist, DeMuth denies he was involved in the raid at all and has vowed to fight the charges at a trial. He says he has never been an animal rights activist and believes he has been targeted because he has got to know some underground animal rights activists and holds unpopular political views.

"I'm not a threat to the community," DeMuth said, adding that his own views on animal rights don't prevent him from eating meat or bow-hunting. "I was 17 and in high school at the time" of the raid, he said.

Mike Bladel, spokesman for the U.S. attorney in Iowa, would not comment on the charges since the case is active. Prosecutors moved to keep DeMuth in jail, but U.S. District Court Judge John Jarvey in Davenport ordered his release pending trial, saying the government failed to demonstrate he's a public danger or flight risk.

DeMuth is a member of EWOK! -- "Earth Warriors Are OK!" -- a Minneapolis group whose members describe themselves as advocates for animal rights and environmental activists facing criminal charges. DeMuth says he is motivated by a belief that the federal government is using the courts to squash unpopular political dissent.

His supporters believe the break-in warrants charges against vandalism, property damage and theft, but not terrorism.

University of Iowa officials disagree.

At a U.S. Senate hearing in 2005, the university's then-president, David Skorton, declared the raid an act of terrorism.

Damage was estimated at $500,000 for the break-in at Spence Laboratories, the research facility for the school's Department of Psychology. Several professors saw their home addresses, names of family members and other personal information posted online, which many saw as an incitement for other activists to come after them.

A spokesman for the school, Tom Moore, said some of the faculty members felt terrorized by the 2004 raid.
"They were very concerned for their own safety, their families' safety," Moore said.

(Bron: http://www.thehawkeye.com/)
(Bron foto & meer info: http://twincities.indymedia.org/2009/nov/monday-defend-carrie-and-scott / Bron foto Scott & Carrie: http://davenportgrandjury.wordpress.com/)

Tijdens presentatie in East Geelong (Australië) bijt Snappy in arm eigenaresse - 2 Meter lange zoutwaterkrokodil weet tape rond bek te verbreken

Saltwater crocodile attacks Tracey Sandstrom

in East Geelong

04-12-2009 Carl Dickens, Geelong Advertiser, Australia


A SALTWATER crocodile bit its 46-year-old female handler in East Geelong yesterday afternoon as a reptile demonstration went horribly wrong. Tracey Sandstrom, an experienced reptile keeper, was bitten while presenting her animals at a private function in Eastern Park with her business, Roaming Reptiles.

Tracey Sandstrom and 2m crocodile Snappy.

Midway through her display, a two-metre saltwater crocodile, named Snappy, broke free from the tape around its jaws and clamped its teeth around Ms Sandstrom's arm.

Horrified onlookers quickly dialled triple zero.

Rural Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics were called to Eastern Park's north about 5.30pm.
He said Ms Sandstrom was rushed to Geelong Hospital, suffering lacerations to the arm and requiring stitches.

Too sore and tired to speak to the Geelong Advertiser from her hospital bed last night, Ms Sandstrom managed a wry comment that Snappy "won't need to be fed this week".

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Nelson said Ms Sandstrom was in a stable condition last night, and was expected to remain in Geelong Hospital overnight.
A primary teacher and herpetologist with two decades of experience handling reptiles, Ms Sandstrom established Roaming Reptiles in February 2003.

Her business regularly visits schools, fetes, birthday parties and other functions throughout Victoria.

Demonstrations feature Australian lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles and crocodiles, as well as insects and arachnids including tarantulas and redback spiders.

(Bron: http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/)
(Bron foto: Geelong Advertiser)

Kamelen en andere dieren in levende kerststal Oldenzaal op 13 december

Levende kerststal en kerstbomen gooien

04-12-2009 De Twentsche Courant/Tubantia


OLDENZAAL - Waarom een formule wijzigen, als het evenement al jaren duizenden mensen trekt? De stichting ‘n Boeskool is Lös denkt er ook zo over en daarom wordt ook dit jaar vastgehouden aan het concept voor ‘Oldenzaal in Kerstsfeer’.

De kerstmarkt wordt volgende week zondag 13 december gehouden.

Naast rondtrekkende koren en standjes voor goede doelen is de grote blikvanger de levende kerststal op de Groote Markt. Behalve Maria, Jozef en het kindeke Jezus, zijn in en rond de kerststal de nodige dieren aanwezig, tot kamelen aan toe.

(Bron: http://www.tctubantia.nl/)

Denk 5 december aan een stier die met de hand gedood wordt tijdens Ukweshwama ritueel (Zuid-Afrika)

Think of the bull tomorrow

04-12-2009 Animal Rights Africa


Animal Rights Africa (ARA) is extremely disappointed that the Judge ruled against us. We are also saddened and frustrated that the Respondents refused to allow ARA to monitor and document the ukweshwama ritual.

ARA has not seen the Judgment as yet but we will be studying it with a view to what our next steps will be. It is a sad fact that attempts at dialogue with the Zulu Royal Household, the Commission on and the relevant government departments fell on deaf ears and that this issue landed up in the courts. ARA will also continue to seek dialogue on this issue and we therefore call on all these entities and the ANC to urgently facilitate such dialogue.

That ARA lost this case is distressing to us, however this pales into insignificance for us in comparison to the fact that the fate is sealed for the innocent bull that will be used in the ritual tomorrow.

As part of a global movement that cuts across all continents, all cultures all ethnic and racial groups, ARA will continue to work for compassion, respect, dignity and inclusive justice.

We ask that people across South Africa, Africa and the world that have shown concern for the fate of this particular bull light a candle between 12pm and 3pm tomorrow (Saturday 5th December) and spend the day in reflection and introspection, in solidarity and compassion with this particular bull.

(Bron: http://www.animalrightsafrica.org/)

Face to face with polar bears at Churchill (Canada).... (CNN)

CNN producer Jessica Ellis and photographer Ferre Dollar headed to the Arctic to get images of polar bears.

Pepper The Great Ape Protection Act (USA)

http://neavs.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Petition_SupportGreatApe U.S.
http://neavs.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Petition_CanSolidarity Canada
http://neavs.convio.net/site/PageServ... All Other Countries

This is a world solidarity campaign, so all citizens of EVERY country can sign on.

The Great Ape Protection Act is a bill in the U.S. Congress right now to end invasive biomedical research and testing on an estimated 1000 chimpanzees remaining in U.S. laboratories. The bill would also retire approximately 600 federally owned chimpanzees currently in laboratories - many for more than 40 years - to permanent sanctuary. The bill was originally introduced on April 17, 2008, and it has now moved into a House Committee with 107 sponsors!

Please visit (NEAVS) the New England Anti-Vivisection Society's "Pass the Great Ape Protection Act" web page and take a moment to sign on to a petition to your lawmakers asking that they support the release and restitution for chimps used in research.

Chimpanzees And AIDS Research: Billions of dollars and 85 failed AIDS vaccines later that were tested on 100's of chimps, who've endured 2 decades of immense suffering, and not a single vaccine was successful in human clinical trials.

Despite the failure of chimpanzee use to prevent or cure HIV/AIDS, some researchers are calling for a return of their use to study the disease. An Assessment of the Role of Chimpanzees in AIDS Vaccine Research, published in 2008 and authored by Project R&Rs Science Director and geneticist Jarrod Bailey, Ph.D., investigated chimpanzees use in HIV/AIDS vaccine development. This paper demonstrated that a return to chimpanzee use would be not only non-productive, but even counterproductive to scientific progress in preventing and conquering AIDS.

Touched by HIV/AIDS: the story of one HIV research survivor

Purchased from a circus at age 7, Yoko was sent to the Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates in 1981. He was used extensively in research and infected with both HIV and hepatitis C today he tests negative for both. Why? Although HIV can replicate in their bodies, chimpanzees infected with HIV do not become sick with symptoms of AIDS.

Now in sanctuary at Fauna, Yoko has become very social and can often be found in a grooming circle of friends. A fast runner who loves to play chase, he is a very small adult male, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in personality.

To find out more about the use of chimps in research http://www.releasechimps.org/

http://www.releasechimps.org/flawed-s... Flawed Science

http://www.shac.net/ Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty

http://www.faunafoundation.org/ The Fauna Foundation

http://www.pcrm.org/resch/anexp/gapa.... Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/03...

Not even kidding. According to The Austin American Statesman, grief counselors were made available to employees of the University of Texas Keeling Animal Research Center after an adult chimpanzee who escaped from the experimentation facility was shot and killed near the campus. Anyone else find it odd that employees of a facility that cages animals and performs cruel experiments on them against their will would need specialists to comfort them when the animals die due to their facilitys negligence?

PETA filed a formal complaint today, calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate the laboratory for alleged violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act, including failure to ensure that personnel are qualified to perform their duties and failure to provide structurally sound housing for nonhuman primates. Heres what PETA Primate Specialist Dr. Debra Durham told the media:

"Chimpanzees are intelligent, sensitive, and resourceful—they shouldn't be incarcerated in laboratories in the first place. Research on chimpanzees is banned in many countries. The very least that this laboratory can do is ensure that these animals have safe living spaces." Which doesnt seem to be happening at the moment, given that this is the second chimpanzee escape from the facility in the past six months. Youd almost think these animals dont want to be there.

Maybe they can send in a team of basic human decency counselors along with the grief folks. Just a thought

Wie kent teckel Yester? - Hondje voor 2e keer zwaar verwaarloosd in Amsterdam gevonden

Teckel beestachtig behandeld

04-12-2009 door NIENKE OORT, De Telegraaf


AMSTERDAM - Verwaarloosd, te mager, zwaar allergisch en gemuilkorfd. Zo vonden de medewerkers van Dierenopvangcentrum Amsterdam teckel Yester eergisteren. En alsof dat nog niet genoeg is, bleek het ook nog eens de tweede keer te zijn dat dit kleine hondje zo beestachtig is behandeld.

„Hij zat in een vreselijk smerige bench met ontlasting van dagen. Zijn snoetje was helemaal stuk van het muilkorfje dat-ie dagenlang om heeft gehad. Er stond wel voer voor hem klaar, maar vanwege die muilkorf kon hij niet eten. Zijn hele ruggetje ligt nog open van een allergische reactie. Yester was er echt beroerd aan toe”, vertelt Marion Agema.

En het ergste is dat het niet de eerste keer is dat het hondje in deze staat bij het asiel terechtkomt. „We zijn er via zijn chip achtergekomen dat hij in 2006 al eens is weggehaald uit een vies en smerig huis, compleet verwaarloosd. Er was toen alleen beschimmeld eten voor hem. Wij hebben hem opgelapt en herplaatst, maar nu is het weer helemaal mis.

We zijn op zoek naar degene waar hij destijds geplaatst is. We hopen dat mensen Yester, zoals wij hem is genoemd hebben, herkennen, zodat we kunnen achterhalen hem wie dit heeft aangedaan. We doen in ieder geval aangifte”, zo belooft Agema.

(Bron: http://www.telegraaf.nl/)
(Bron foto's: Telegraaf)

Oorsprong miljoen rondzwervende dromedarissen ('camels') in Centraal Australië ligt begin 20e eeuw in Afghanistan....- Veel dieren bezorgen overlast

Million camels on march

04-12-2009 Mervyn Bradley, The Gisborne Herald, New Zealand
Mervyn Bradley story-teller and former school-teacher


When one thinks of the animals of Australia, one immediately thinks of kangaroos and koalas — but camels? Feral camels? Yes wild camels. There are nearly a million of them in Central Australia and they are increasing by nearly 80,000 a year!

Hard to believe?
So here is a story which I think should be told.

You see they are running short of water and they are causing mayhem in the scattered settlements and farms in central Australia.

They are in such numbers that they have threatened rare plants which the Aborigines use for food and medicines.
They have trashed water holes, broken fences and brought down windmills.

They have now invaded the little township of Docker River in their search for food and water. Docker River is about 500 kilometres south-west of Alice Springs.

The Northern Territory government has just voted $A19 million to conduct a big cull of the animals.

But this news item made me think of a place like Kalgoorlie and the story of the camels in Australia.

It is well worth re-telling.

It’s a story I have told to many people in Gisborne as I have spoken to groups with my “Travels with a History Book” talks.
Gold was discovered in 1893 in Kalgoorlie and soon every man and his dog headed that way in a frenzied gold rush on the fringe of the Great Central Desert.

However, there was a huge problem . . . the poor quality of available water.
In those days horses were the main beasts of burden but they soon became very sick because of the water.
So they used bullocks to pull the wagons, but they, too, became sick. What was to be done?

Perhaps the answer lay in camels.
Now camels are not native to Australia, they are, of course, native to the Middle East and have cast-iron constitutions when it comes to water.

So hundreds were imported from, of all places, Afghanistan, and they were put to work.

There was no problem with water, but there was a big drawback, camels have trouble with backing.
Their long legs get tangled up, so when the wagons had to turn, the camels had to move in a wide circle to turn.

That was the first thing I noticed when I visited Kalgoorlie in 2000.
The main street was so wide . . . as wide as a city motorway is today.
But the camels had their day in Kalgoorlie and with the march of
progress, they became one of the victims of change.

With fresh water being piped from Perth in the early 1900s, the horse became supreme until we had motor cars, trucks and buses.

The camels simply disappeared into the desert and scrub.

But they prospered (a bit too well it seems) and are only regarded as nuisances today.

P.S. It is interesting to note that the train that travels from Adelaide north to Darwin is called “The Ghan” in honour of the camels who came from Afghanistan and were used in camel trains.

(Bron: http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/)
(Bron foto's old: http://www.camelphotos.com/camels_australia.html / Bron foto camel: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/10/2442312.htm)

Sympathiek initiatief voor asielhonden in Hattiesburg (VS) - Zendt uw oude sweaters om honden tegen koude in winter te beschermen.....

Send us your old sweaters and help save these

shelter dogs from the winter chill!

04-12-2009 "Help Spare Shelter Dogs From The Winter Chill", Hattiesburg, USA


A warm thank you to our readers and supporters in this mission. After making a few phone calls, we found a near by shelter who was more than happy to accept the rest of the sweaters. We have been asked by email and on my blog more than once about an address to send donations. We have given a great deal of thought to ways to get more sweaters to dogs everywhere. Here in our small home town we only represent a small corner of the country. The winters are nice compared to many chilling places up north and through-out.

After talking to other shelters just in our area I can only imagine what dogs go through every winter all over the us. Its obvious we have (unexpectedly) stumbled upon a HUGE issue that should be addressed.

The question lately has been…how? How do we address such a large scale issue? Well I think we have found the answer. I believe with the help of other caring dog lovers and our friends and the friends of friends we can accomplish an amazing thing.

And, while we may be venturing in new territory I am not at all skeptical of the compassion that exist through our blog readers and many more pet lovers through-out out this country. The key has always been to build a bridge between the dogs and the people that are willing to help them.

So it is with this blog that we have decided to expand our mission beyond the scope of our small town and invite others to reach out from all over.

Here’s how you can help:

Send us your old sweaters and we will recycle them and distribute them to animal shelters all over the us so that dogs just like the ones we’ve already helped dont have to suffer through the cold winter(the smaller the better). Im sure if you dig around your closet you can find a sweater or two that you never plan on wearing again.

Send your old sweaters to the following address:

PO Box 19071
Hattiesburg Ms
39404

If you DONT have any old sweaters:

Then pass this blog to someone who does!

Do you have a friend or family member who has a passion for animals besides yourself? Then simply copy and paste the url below in an email and ask a friend or family member to visit this blog so they can help too!

http://bignutshell.com/blogs/dogproject/

Here is your chance to give back for the holidays and help save thousands of dogs from a freezing winter!

Thank you all for your support in this mission. And Im sure the dogs will thank you too!

(Bron: email received by me today from Clarissa Jones: http://bignutshell.com/blogs/dogproject/)
(Bron foto: Dogproject)

Brazil Illegal Animal Trade Film

Organización Peluditos, Por La Protección Animal (Chile)

Nowzad Dogs in Corsham (UK) visits the Afghan animal rescue shelter

The Nowzad Dogs charity sends Pen F to visit the only companion animal rescue shelter in Afghanistan. Follow Pen on his journey and meet some of the four legged friends, both dogs and cats that he encountered along the way. We see how basic the facilities are and the difficulties that the shelter faces.

For more information on how you can help the strays of Afghanistan please visit http://www.nowzaddogs.co.uk/.

Joanna Krupa 'Angel for Animals' Ad Launch - PETA's Ad is Controversial

Man op Oost Java gearresteerd wegens handel in rode kangoeroes uit Papoea - Bij arrestatie had man 10 rode kangoeroes, waarvan 5 dood waren

Man caught selling red kangaroos

04-12-2009 Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya Indonesia


East Java Police arrested a man in the Madura Strait on Friday for alleged involvement in the trade of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus).

An official from the East Java Police, Comr. Widarmanto, said the suspect, Mulyadi, was a crew member of the KM Mitra Nusantara.

During his arrest, 10 red kangaroos from Papua were seized. Red kangaroos are a protected species in Indonesia.

“At the time of the arrest, five of the kangaroos were already dead, while the rest were secured by the police,” Widarmanto said.
“The suspect admitted buying the animals from a Papuan resident for Rp 2 million each,” he added.

ProFauna Indonesia head Rosek Nursahid said this was not the first case of illegal trade in red kangaroos in the Madura Strait, but that it was the first uncovered by local authorities.

“ProFauna activists in Papua tell us the trade of red kangaroos is widespread, with animals going to Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, and Banyuwangi in East Java,” he said.

(Bron: http://www.thejakartapost.com/)

Brandraad: Nauwelijks aandacht voor brandpreventie in discussie over dierenwelzijn....

Meer aandacht voor dierenleed bij branden

04-12-2009 Blik Op Nieuws, Groningen


Groningen - Duizenden dieren komen jaarlijks om het leven bij stalbranden. De Brandraad09 vindt, dat veel dierenleed kan worden voorkomen door bij brandpreventie geen onderscheid te maken tussen mens en dier.

Voor stallen gelden tot op heden dezelfde brandveiligheidseisen als voor bedrijfsruimten waarin goederen worden opgeslagen. Dit betekent dat dieren bij het uitbreken van brand vaak kansloos zijn en dat de brandweer in veel gevallen machteloos moet toekijken hoe dieren levend verbranden.

De Brandraad09 constateert dat brandpreventie in de discussie over dierenwelzijn nauwelijks of geen aandacht krijgt. Na een stalbrand, waarbij soms duizenden dieren omkomen wordt doorgaans meer aandacht besteed aan de financiële en materiële schade dan aan het dierenleed. Brandweerlieden die betrokken zijn geweest bij het bestrijden van een stalbrand houden daar soms schokkende herinneringen aan over.
Omdat dieren moeilijk te evacueren zijn, moet volgens de Brandraad09 de meeste aandacht moet uitgaan naar het voorkomen van brand.

Ondernemers kunnen daar zelf het nodige aan doen. Uit onderzoek blijkt dat veel branden ontstaan doordat in stallen brandgevaarlijke activiteiten plaatsvinden. Denk daarbij aan lassen, slijpen, onderhoud voertuigen en machines. Dit soort activiteiten nalaten, evenals roken, beperkt het risico van brand aanzienlijk. Voorts zouden uitsluitend elektrische installaties die voor de bedrijfsvoering noodzakelijk zijn, moeten worden toegestaan. Alle andere niet. Elektrische installaties moeten ook periodiek worden gekeurd.

Het gelijkschakelen van mens en dier bij het voorkomen van brand heeft meer consequenties. De Brandraad09 vindt dat het toepassen van onbrandbare bouwmaterialen verplicht moet worden. Verder moeten ontsnappingsmogelijkheden worden gecreëerd die het mogelijk maken dat dieren bij brand een veilig heenkomen vinden. Als dat niet mogelijk is, zijn andere maatregelen nodig, zoals het aanbrengen van brandwerende scheidingen of het toepassen van sprinklers.

(Bron: http://www.blikopnieuws.nl/)

Smokkel 60 levende vogels uit Johor (Maleisië ) onderschept in Singapore - Vogels verborgen onder vloer auto

Man caught for smuggling 60 birds

04-12-2009 AsiaOne, Singapore


A 40-year-old Singaporean man was caught at the Woodlands Checkpoint for attempting to smuggle 60 live birds from Johor, Malaysia.

The 40 red-whiskered bulbul birds, also known as Jambul birds, and 20 live magpies were discovered by an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer during a routine car check.

He noticed that the floor mats of the car were abnormally high and flapping sounds could be heard coming from under the seats.
Upon lifting the floor mat, plastic containers were seen hidden beneath it.

Small paper boxes and folded newspaper boxes with punctured holes were found as well.

The man admitted to purchasing the birds for himself from a pet shop in Johor.
The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) is currently investigating the case.

Under the Animals and Birds act, the man could face up to a maximum penalty of $10,000, and possibly imprisonment of up to one year for importing live birds without a permit.

(Bron: http://news.asiaone.com/)
(Bron foto's: AsiaOne)