Please don't worry:
on Nov. 2nd
woensdag 8 oktober 2008
dinsdag 7 oktober 2008
Proefdieren in Indiaas proediercentrum AIIMS slecht behandeld...
Researcher recounts horror tales at AIIMS
animal lab
07-10-2008 Mangalorean.com, India
New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) Nothing is done the way it should be in the Central Animal Facility in AIIMS, says a researcher who spent days there with the aim of learning animal care at the premier institute. Officials at the facility, however, deny the charge.
"I had gone to the facility at AIIMS thinking that I would get a hands on training from experts in the country's premier institute. However, in less than a month that I was there, I realized how wrong I was. Animals were confined, their medical problems were unnoticed, the staff was untrained... rules were simply flouted there," Aarti Seth (name changed) told IANS in an interview.
Obviously an animal lover, Seth, who had video-recorded conversations with the facility's staff and captured the surroundings where the animals are kept as well as their behaviour in order to support her statements, said that the facility was blatantly flouting the guidelines set by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision on Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). Copies of the video recording and the photographs she took are with IANS.
"The CPCSEA guidelines clearly states that animals for testing should not be kept for more than three years. But as admitted by the officials on tape, most of the animals like monkeys have been there for more than a decade.
"For instance, one of the staff members told me that there was this monkey who was over 20 years old. She was brought from Lucknow and has been there since she was two or three," Seth said.
A senior official at the facility denied this.
Pardeep Yadav, senior veterinary officer of the facility, told IANS: "Generally animals, after the testing period of three years, are sent to the Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre. The time period is however dependent on various factors.
"The animals are all well cared for and healthy," Yadav said.
Seth said: "Besides five male monkeys who have been kept for a contraceptive experiment, the other monkeys, whose numbers go upto 68 and more, are simply languishing there."
She also pointed out that most animals, like rats, guinea pigs and even a monkey, showed abnormal behaviour of constantly running around in circles.
"When I asked the senior veterinary officer about this, he said that it was because the animals had a nervous breakdown. The solitary confinement for years, stress, boredom and frustration lead to that," she said.
During the days she spent there, Seth did not see the vet go through the facility even once. She said not only were the animals not well-cared for, with guinea pigs and rabbits suffering from a skin disease lying unattended, but also the staff were not trained.
"To a question that I asked - how long is a baby monkey kept with its mother - I got different answers from the caretakers. One said two months and the other said two years! The only uniform answer that I got was that they were not trained for the job," she said.
The animals suffered due to unhygienic food and water receptacles, rough handling, broken cages and incorrect temperature control - the prescribed range is 18 degree Celsius to 29, while the actual temperature there, according to Seth was 29-32.
"The woes in the facility are endless. Two research assistants in the department of biomedical engineering went on taunting a monkey and when I tried to stop them, they said that he was used to it because they do it everyday.
"In the name of science, how can one treat animals so cruelly? And if they refuse to see the animal's pitiable state, then its an even sadder situation," Seth said.
(Bron: http://mangalorean.com/)
(Voor informatie over AIIMS: http://www.aiims.edu/)
Dochter Formule 1 baas Ecclestone uit de kleren voor PETA's anti-bont campagne
Heiress poses for anti-fur campaign
07-10-2008 © Press Association 2008, Chorley Citizen, UK
The daughter of billionaire Formula One mogul Bernie Ecclestone has shed her clothes all in the name of animal cruelty. The heiress and TV presenter posed for the cheeky anti-fur photoshoot, organised by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), with nothing more than a strategically placed chequered flag.
Tamara Ecclestone said she wanted to support the campaign because fur was more about vanity than fashion.
Tamara Ecclestone shed her clothes in the name of animal cruelty.
She said: "I enjoy going to fashion shows and I enjoy seeing what's new and fantastic but I just don't understand how fur is necessarily fashionable.
"I just think it's terrible to harm living animals all in the name of vanity... it's completely unnecessary, and I think that once you've seen the ways in which lots of these animals are killed - and how cruel and grotesque and unnecessary it is - I think that people would automatically choose not to wear fur."
The billionaire heiress is the latest celebrity model to pose naked for Peta, previously supermodel Naomi Campbell and Hollywood actress Eva Mendes have been snapped in the nude to protest against the fur trade.
(Bron: http://www.chorleycitizen.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Chorley Citizen)
100 Ondervoede en opeengepakte honden ontdekt in bus in Montana (VS)...
Police: Colorado man crams 100 dogs in bus
07-10-2008 KJCT8.com, USA
Montana authorities made a grisly discovery Sunday after Police found 100 malnourished dogs crammed in the back of a bus. Police arrested 60-year-old Phillip A. Brode of Colorado, at a truck stop just outside Butte, Montana. He is charged with cruelty to animals.
Police say Brode's bus had broken down at the truck stop, when passerby's contacted authorities after witnessing the condition of the dogs.According to the Montana Standard, Volunteers from the Butte YMCA helped remove dogs from the bus and set up kennels Monday.
The dogs range in age from a week to eight years.
"Every dog has a poor body count," A Butte Veterinarian told the Montana Standard.
Brode allegedly told authorities the animals were being used as sled dogs, but area veterinarians told the paper they don't believe him.
Area vets said the animals are in poor condition, but they'll recover.
Brode appeared in court Monday where he was charged with felony cruelty to animals. Bond was set at $10,000, he remains in custody at the Silver Plume County Jail.
(Bron: http://www.kjct8.com/)
(Bron foto: KJCT8)
Twee witoorpenseelapen voor Ecodrome Zwolle - Apen afkomstig van Stichting AAP en dierenpark de Oliemeulen Tilburg
Ecodrome Zwolle gaat apen houden
07-10-2008 Weblog Zwolle
Zwolle - Expeditie Ecodrome Zwolle gaat apen houden. Het themapark verwelkomt over enkele weken een tweetal witoorpenseelapen. De apen worden ondergebracht in het reeds bestaande parkonderdeel Jungle Expeditie, waar ook verschillende tropische vogels en twee breedsnuitkaaimannen leven.
De apen blijven vooralsnog binnen, maar zullen in de toekomst naar verwachting ook een buitenverblijf krijgen.
Het mannetje is zes jaar oud en afkomstig van Stichting AAP in Almere. Het tweejarige vrouwtje leeft nu nog in Dierenpark de Oliemeulen in Tilburg.
Expeditie Ecodrome Zwolle hoopt in de toekomst op jongen, maar is vooralsnog bijzonder blij met de komst van twee witoorpenseelapen. In het parkonderdeel Jungle Expeditie leven nu al ruim twintig vissoorten uit het Amazonegebied en twee breedsnuitkaaimannen. Parkmanager Wil Woudman: “Naar verwachting zijn de twee apen al tijdens de herfstvakantie te zien voor het publiek”.
Gedurende de herfstvakantie organiseert het park ook de Indian Summer. Witoorpenseelaapjes behoren tot de klauwaapjes. Zij zijn de enige apensoort die klauwtjes aan hun vingers hebben in plaats van nagels. Zo kunnen ze zich goed vasthouden als ze door bomen klimmen. In het wild komt deze aap voor in het Amazonegebied.
(Bron: http://www.weblogzwolle.nl/)
(Bron foto: archief Kraaijer)
(Lees ook: http://kraaijer-schrijft.blogspot.com/2008/04/ecodrome-in-zwolle-biedt-vooral-een.html)
Het gaat beter met populatie bultrugwalvissen....
Swimming with humpbacks: the journey of life
A hunting ban has restored numbers of the humpback whale but scientists warn one-fifth of all mammals could soon die out.
07-10-2008 By Jerome Taylor, The Independent, UK
In the aquamarine waters off the paradise atolls of French Polynesia a diver comes face to face with one of the world's most impressive creatures: a female humpback whale accompanied by her young calf. These images, captured by the French underwater photographer Yves Lefèvre, show how the two whales happily "dance" with their new friend before continuing on one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
"This is one of my favourite pictures," said Lefevre, 46, who took the photographs during a two-hour dive off the island of Rurutu, in the archipelago of the Austral Islands.
The humpback breaches: "one of the ocean's most breathtaking taking sights"
"Here you see my good friend and diving expert Eric Leborgne swimming so close to this beautiful humpback whale. Eric and I were diving for more than two hours with this whale which had only one idea – play with us. As the whale became more relaxed with us being close to her, I managed to take this picture."
Every year, humpback whales travel more than 15,000 miles across the world's oceans in search of krill that, despite their tiny size, are the main source of food for some of the ocean's largest creatures. The warm waters around Rurutu are one of the few locations that the southern population of humpbacks is known to give birth, making it an ideal place to film and photograph calves interacting with their mothers.
However, most people who are lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these whales are introduced to the humpback in a much less tranquil way. Watching 79,000lbs of cetacean breaching the ocean surface before crashing back down into the depths below is one of the ocean's most breathtaking taking sights.
The hunched shape their back makes as they dive led to their popular moniker while the scientific community refers to them as Megaptera novaeangliae because they were first observed scientifically off the coast of New England, in the US.
While many mammals teeter towards oblivion – a report by the International Union of the Conservation of Nature released yesterday says that one in five mammals are now at risk of extinction – humpbacks are making a comeback because of a global moratorium on commercial whale hunting.
By the time the ban was introduced in 1966, the global humpback population was thought to have declined by 90 per cent in as little as 50 years of industrialised whaling. There are thought to be about 80,000 humpbacks alive now and even Japan, which, despite international outrage, has resumed whaling in the Arctic, has said that it will leave humpbacks alone.
Its fellow cetaceans are not so fortunate. Nearly a quarter of whale and dolphin species are threatened and, of those, more than 10 per cent (nine species) are listed as "endangered" or "critically endangered", the highest categories of threat.
The Yangtze river dolphin is thought to be the most recent cetacean species to have died out and the IUCN predicts that the vaquita (Phocoena sinus), a porpoise in the Gulf of California, Mexico, is likely to be the next to become extinct in the wild, where only 150 adults are left.
The IUCN describes itself as the world's oldest and largest global environmental network and is comprised of more than 11,000 volunteer scientists across 160 countries.
Its latest Red List of Endangered Species, released yesterday, estimates that up to one in five mammal species, 1,141 out of 5,487, are threatened with extinction.
"Within our lifetime hundreds of species could be lost as a result of our own actions, a frightening sign of what is happening to the ecosystems where they live," added Julia Marton-Lefèvre, the IUCN's director general. "We must now set clear targets for the future to reverse this trend to ensure that our enduring legacy is not to wipe out many of our closest relatives."
(Bron: http://www.independent.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: The Independent)
Zeldzame grote blauwe walvis voor kust New England (VS)
Rare blue whale spotted off Gloucester
07-10-2008 By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff, Boston Globe, USA
Researchers spotted a rare adult blue whale this weekend that appeared to be feeding 15 miles off the coast of Gloucester. The whale looked as if it was roughly 70- to 80-feet long as it dove repeatedly to eat what biologists assumed was a dense swarm of krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean. Blue whales typically live in colder water off Norway and Iceland and rarely come so close to shore.
"I've been working on the water here 30 years and I've only seen blue whales 10 times," said Mason Weinrich, executive director and chief scientist at The Whale Center of New England. "When we realized it was a blue whale, it was quite exciting."
(Whale Center of New England)
Six whale biologists were aboard the Whale Center's 42-foot research vessel The Mysticete Sunday morning when they saw the blue whale near a dozen humpbacks. The scientists spent 45 minutes photographing both sides of the massive mammal, which has distinctive pigment patterns. Researchers plan to contribute the photographs to an oceanwide catalog coordinated by Canadian scientists that has identified 300 individual blue whales.
The largest mammals in the world, blue whales can grow to more than 100 feet. Their great size made them targets for whalers, causing them to become an endangered species by the 1930s. Scientists estimate that there are fewer than 10,000 blue whales in the world.
The first recorded sighting of a blue whale off New England was in 1981. In September 2002, five different blue whales were seen over a two-week period. Last fall, three different blue whales were seen off the coast of Maine and New Hampshire.
(Bron: http://www.boston.com/)
(Bron foto: The Boston Globe)
WWF wil 3 jaar vangstverbod blauwvintonijn in Middellandse Zee - Jaarlijks verdwijnt 50.000 ton blauwvintonijn uit Middellandse Zee
WNF wil vangstverbod tonijn in Middellandse Zee
07-10-2008 De Telegraaf
ROME - Het Wereld Natuur Fonds (WNF) wil een drie jaar durend vangstverbod op blauwvintonijn voor Italiaanse vissers in de Middellandse Zee. De vangsten van deze vissoort zijn „volledig uit de hand gelopen”, aldus de organisatie van natuurbeschermers dinsdag.
De Italiaanse afdeling van het WNF stelt dat er nauwelijks sprake is van controle op de vissers. Tonijn
zou op grote schaal buiten de veilingklok om worden verhandeld door niet-geregistreerde vissers. De maffia zou ook grof geld verdienen aan de illegale handel in de vis, die onder meer zeer populair is in de Japanse keuken.Deskundigen schatten dat jaarlijks 50.000 ton blauwvintonijn verdwijnt uit de Middellandse Zee. De soort dreigt te verdwijnen als de totale vangst niet wordt ingekrompen tot maximaal 15.000 ton.
(Bron: http://www.telegraaf.nl/)
(Bron foto: WWF Italia)
(Zie voor het originele artikel van het WWF Italie: http://www.wwf.it/client/ricerca.aspx?root=18211&parent=1979&content=1)
Bij IJmuiderslag IJmuiden dode bruinvis aangespoeld - Dit jaar al 212 bruinvissen op Nederlandse stranden
Dode bruinvis op IJmuiderstrand
07-10-2008 IJmuider Courant
IJmuiden aan Zee - Het Eerste Hulp bij Zeehonden-team Velsen heeft maandagavond een dode bruinvis gevonden op het strand bij IJmuiderslag in IJmuiden aan Zee.
De vis die maximaal 1,60 meter lang kan worden was al in ontbinding. Het exemplaar is naar een opslag voor dode dieren gebracht. Het team werd gealarmeerd door een strandwandelaar die dacht dat het om een dode zeehond ging.
Volgens http://www.walvisstrandingen.nl/ spoelden dit jaar 212 bruinvissen aan in Nederland, waarvan eerder één in Velsen. Dat was in juli op het strand Noordpier in Velsen-Noord. Ook dit exemplaar was al lange tijd dood.
(Bron: http://www.ijmuidercourant.nl/)
Workshop GlaxoSmithKline in Lunteren met veel kabaal verstoord door SHAC-Nederland
Waar GSK is, is SHAC Nederland!
07-10-2008 Animal Rights Media
Gisteren gingen activisten van SHAC Nederland de straat om op te komen voor de dieren die in pijn en angst hun dood zitten af te wachten in het omstreden Huntingdon Life Sciences.
SHAC Nederland ging naar Lunteren, waar GlaxoSmithKline een workshop gaf. Deze werd met protestborden en megafoons kort verstoord. Waar dierenbeulen zijn, daar is SHAC Nederland! Om op te komen voor al die dieren die dag in dag uit vreselijke experimenten moeten ondergaan, totdat ze zonder verdoving op een operatietafel worden opengesneden en de dood vinden.
Zie het videoverslag hier
Meer info?
http://shacnederland.blogspot.com/
http://www.shac.net/ (UK)
(Bron: http://www.animalrights.nl/)
Auto's proefdieronderzoekers in de VS door dierenactivisten beschadigd...
Animal Liberationists Mock California Law AB 2296
Lab-Animal Abusers Targeted Days After Passage of Vivisector "Protection Act"
07-10-2008 Animal Liberation Press Office, USA
AB 2296, a bill signed into law a week ago, is aimed not at illegal actions but at legal, above-ground activism, restricting free speech regarding California academic vivisectors. The fact that it is highly unconstitutional seems to have come back to bite those in Sacramento. Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger, who has built his career and hero status by killing his enemy, blowing things up and making imminent, violent threats in his movies has, by signing this bill into law, become known as the "Terminator" of free speech.
It would appear the train on behalf of the liberation of animals in laboratories has already left the station and even the "Governator" can't stop it!
The communiqués read, in part:
We were inspired by the recent passage of the 2296 bill and the raid of an anarchist infoshop in Oakland. As the vivisectors revel in their false safety, know this. This law changes NOTHING. We are still here and we intend to act.
We threw stones through windows at Ralph Freeman's Vine Street home, breaking two. Frederic Theunissen's car was scratched up with a hammer.
This same hammer was used to smash a large window on his home in the middle of the night. Ralph Freeman has killed cats and kittens in his laboratory at UC Berkeley with no benefit for humans for over twenty years. Frederic Theunissen is responsible for the torture of birds in his laboratory. These animals are denied movement and cut open for his insane, unscientific studies.
All the vivisectors and anyone assisting in this sadism at UC Berkeley (researchers, post-docs) shall consider themselves an appropriate target. And remember, cameras and motion lights have done nothing for Theunissen and Freeman. Justice's hammer falls again and again until it ends when the price is a helpless animals life,
-----Feminists for Animal Liberation
and
Thought we'd shout out a big screw you to bill 2296 so we paint stripped three cars in the driveway of UCLA vivisector Baldwin Way at 901 Princeton Street in Santa Monica. A kid in our dorm knows all about you fucker, injecting meth into vervet monkeys. Keep up the revolution, friends in Mexico, Berkeley, Santa Cruz and around the world.
---students and workers for the liberation of UCLA primates
(To read the entire communiqués, visit www.animalliberationpressoffice.org/communiques_home.htm)
Vivisection is not only an evil that is perpetrated on millions of innocent animals, but is also scientifically fraudulent. While 20,000 children worldwide die every month from the effects of unclean water, vivisectors in University of California laboratories are wasting money addicting primates to crystal methamphetamines, gluing coils to the globes of their eyes and doing other inhumane and painful experiments on other species of animals, including cats, dogs, pigs, mice and birds.
In a civilized society, and with the better alternatives we have to animal experimentation, one would think the US and other first world countries would be on the forefront of good solid non-animal-based research that could save the lives of children and adults alike. Instead, greedy "scientists" continue business as usual by mutilating non-human animals; it seems that until they begin doing ethical and scientifically-valid non-animal research, vivisectors will continue to be a target for those who are moral, courageous and heroic.
UC bureaucrats forced AB 2296 on legislators and the California public, targeting legal picketers free-speech activities. (A complete copy of the law is available here.) In an increasingly repressive environment where 1st-Amendment Free Speech rights are being taken away from legal picketers, underground activities seem only to be increasing. Legal picketers are complaining of harassment, intimidation and arrest for marching on public sidewalks, chanting and even handing leaflets describing what a vivisector does to animals; they feel as if they are being targeted by the state unfairly and have filed a federal law suit against UCLA and it's captain of police, John Adams.
Despite increased police repression, there is ample evidence to show that the campaign to stop primate vivisection at UCLA is continuing by both legal and illegal activities.
(Bron: http://www.animalliberationpressoffice.org/)
Gemeente Roosendaal door rechter veroordeeld voor vernielen nesten broedende waterhoentjes en vissterfte juni 2007 Watermolenbeek
Boetes voor kapotte nesten en dode vis
07-10-2008 door Vif Janssen, BN/De Stem
BREDA - De economisch politierechter heeft de gemeente Roosendaal twee boetes opgelegd. Eén van duizend euro voor het vernielen en verstoren van een of meer nesten van broedende waterhoentjes in de Dijkwetering en een van 2500 euro voor het lozen van rioolwater in de Watermolenbeek.
Het laatste incident speelde zich af tijdens de werkzaamheden rond het meanderend maken van de beek. Uit een onderzoek naar opvallende vissterfte vorig jaar juni, bleek dat bij het verplaatsen van de riolering een rioolput was verwijderd die niet op de tekeningen stond en als een loze put werd beschouwd.
"Gewoon een foutieve inschatting van de mensen in het veld. Een onvolkomenheid, geen opzet", aldus de vertegenwoordiger van de gemeente. Zowel officier van justitie I. Koopmans als rechter D. van Kralingen stellen dat de gemeente een riooldeskundige had moeten raadplegen.Het vernielen cq. verplaatsen van de nesten speelde zich vorig voorjaar af tijdens baggerwerkzaamheden in de Dijkwetering. Er heerst weliswaar geen wettelijk verbod op baggeren in de broedtijd, "maar het is een ondertussen aanvaard principe dat je dan niet baggert. Het is een gentlemen's agreement dat je beschermde dieren niet verontrust", aldus de officier.
De gemeente stelt dat er afdoende voorzorgsmaatregelen waren genomen en dat het een kraanmachinist was die twee nesten met eieren en jonkies heeft verplaatst. Mr. Koopmans: "De schade kan dan achteraf gezien wel reuze meevallen, je kunt je als gemeente niet altijd verschuilen achter degene die je inhuurt. En gelukkig betrof het een minder kwetsbare vogelsoort."
(Bron: http://www.bndestem.nl/)
maandag 6 oktober 2008
Komst nertsenfokverbod nog steeds onzeker - Deze week spannend debat in Tweede Kamer
Nerstenfokverbod nog niet zeker
06-10-2008 Reformatorisch Dagblad
DEN HAAG (ANP) – Uit enquêtes blijkt dat Nederlanders tegen het dragen van bont zijn en vóór een verbod om nertsen te fokken. Maar of ook een meerderheid in de Tweede Kamer zich deze week voor een verbod uitspreekt, is nog onzeker.
Partijen die bij de stemming de doorslag kunnen geven, willen niet dat de nertsenfokkers in de kou komen te staan en zullen naar verwachting voorwaarden stellen.
Een meerderheid voor een verbod tekende zich wel af in 2001 toen het tweede kabinet–Kok met een wetsvoorstel kwam, maar deze regering kwam ten val voordat de wet in stemming kon komen. Daarna trad een kabinet aan met CDA en VVD in de regering en die coalitie voelde niet voor een verbod.
5,000 nertsen bevrijd uit hokken Henning Christensens nertsenfokkerij bij Holstebro in het westen van Denemarken, 22 oktober 2007.
Het uitblijven van een verbod was voor SP–Tweede Kamerlid Van Velzen reden om in 2006 zelf met een initiatiefwet te komen, waarbij later PvdA’er Waalkens zich aansloot.
De indieners van deze initiatiefwet zullen zich deze week in het debat principieel opstellen. Het wetsvoorstel verbiedt „het houden en doden van dieren uitsluitend of in hoofdzaak ter verkrijging van hun pels."
De indieners zetten hun voorstel door ondanks de kritiek dat elders in Europa geen verbod geldt en het fokken van nertsen dus verplaatst zou kunnen worden.
Tijdens het debat zullen de blikken vooral gericht zijn op ChristenUnie en PVV. Deze partijen, die bij een stemming de doorslag kunnen geven, voelen wel voor een fokverbod, maar hebben ook oog voor de belangen van de nertsenbranche.
Onder druk van de Tweede Kamer heeft de pelsdierhouderij de afgelopen jaren flink moeten investeren in het welzijn van de dieren. Het is de vraag of ze dat geld kunnen terugverdienen in de overgangstermijn van tien jaar, die gaat gelden na aanvaarding van de wet.
(Bron: http://www.refdag.nl/)
Rechtszaak in Engeland tegen dierenrechtenactivisten SHAC - Verdacht van blackmail campagne tegen dierproeflab HLS
Animal activists organised 'six-year terror
campaign'
06-10-2008 Fran Yeoman, Times Online, UK
A group of animal rights activists co-ordinated a six-year campaign of blackmail and menaces designed to close down Huntingdon Life Sciences, a court heard today. Threatening letters, hoax bombs and sanitary towels allegedly contaminated with HIV were sent to employees of companies that did business with the animal research organisation in a bid to isolate HLS, which has a laboratory in Cambridgeshire, and force it to shut.
Three of the defendants, Greg Avery, Natasha Avery and Daniel Amos have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to blackmail. Five others, Heather Nicholson, Trevor Holmes, Gerrah Selby, Daniel Wadham and Gavin Medd-Hall, deny the charge.
While "darker" elements of the campaign, including threatening letters and criminal damage, were attributed to the Animal Liberation Front or "Animal Rights Militia", there were clear links between these activities and SHAC, Michal Bowes QC, prosecuting, said.
HLS, which has been the target of animal rights activism for many years, do not release details of their customers, suppliers and contractors.
SHAC activists used deception and carried out research to find out that information before publishing the identities, addresses and other contact details of people who did business with SHAC on the group's website.
These people were then targeted until their company agreed to SHAC's demands and cease doing business with HLS. Their "capitulation statement" was then published on the SHAC website.
Members of the group used threats such as claiming managers of the companies were paedophiles, hoax bombs parcels, criminal damage and threatening telephone calls to force them to cut links with the animal testing company.
Mr Bowes showed the jury video footage shot by the activists who went into one company called Amari Plastics in 2003.
The footage showed the campaigners accusing the company of making dissection boards for HLS and warning them that they would be bombarded with e-mails.
Then a woman on the film says of HLS: “They are a vile company and it’s quite disgusting you have anything to do with them.”
The film then captures the same female voice telling staff they will target their customers and tell them “what sort of company you are”.
The firm tells the activists they have not dealt with HLS for a year and the campaigners ask for a statement to put on their website.
Mr Bowes said a managing director of a company called Lancer received threatening letters, one of which said at the end: “We will attack your property and your family” if it did not end dealings with HLS.
Mr Bowes said receiving these letters “caused considerable distress and concern to those individuals and their families”.
“That provides a clear example of the degree of control exercised by the defendants of their activists through the medium of the SHAC website,” he explained.
Other companies who had suspected dealings with HLS received hand-written notes that were shown on screens in the court. One said: “Your days are numbered animal abuser. Time running out”.
Others were called “filthy, sick, evil perverted scum.”
One manager of a targeted company, Stephen Lightfoot, was sent a letter threatening someone would stab him with an HIV infected needle.
Letters were also sent to neighbours near his home in West Sussex falsely accusing him of being a convicted paedophile, Mr Bowes said.
The barrister said the campaign was organised with “almost military precision”.
(Bron: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/)
(Bron foto HLS: Times Online / Bron foto beagles in HLS lab: http://www.shac.net/)
(Lees ook / Read also: http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3731726.International_campaign_of_blackmail_managed_by_Hampshire_woman__court_hears/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/07/animalwelfare.activists)
Videoreportage ADC-demonstratie 4 oktober in Rijswijk tegen het primaten onderzoekscentrum BPRC
(Voor meer informatie over de Anti Dierproeven Coalitie, haar acties en het BPRC ga naar de internetsite van de ADC: http://www.stopdierproeven.org.)
Zeer grote anaconda gevangen en gedood ergens in Suriname
Huge anaconda captured somewhere in Suriname
06-10-2008 By Paul Kraaijer
Often in Suriname people get confrontated with all sorts of huge snakes. The animals mostly try to catch chicken or ducks and therefore find their way on premises. Being found by people the snakes will be killed nine out of ten times.
By: Paul Kraaijer
Spoorwegen India doen te weinig om aanrijdingen met olifanten te voorkomen -
Finger at railways for jumbo death
06-10-2008 OUR CORRESPONDENT, The Telegraph, India
Alipurduar, Oct. 5: An elephant’s violent death on tracks yesterday has proved the railways are not following the speed rules they are supposed to, the state’s chief wildlife warden said today. “We had discussed the problem at a seminar in Calcutta last month in the presence of Project Elephant representatives. But yesterday’s incident proves the railways are not abiding by the speed rules. I will inform Project Elephant about the incident,” said S.S. Bist.
An elephant under a goods
train’s wheels on Saturday.
(Kundan Yolmo)
A.P. Singh, deputy field director of the Buxa Tiger Reserve, said: “The way two wagons jumped rails while dragging the female for 400m is evidence that the train was running at a considerable speed.”
Six elephants of the herd had managed to cross the tracks at Pampubusty — 17km from here — but one of them was injured, he added.
A report submitted to the Railway Board in March by a team comprising forest and railway officials had highlighted the need to reduce the speed of trains travelling through elephant corridors (their traditional routes). Many spots between Alipurduar Junction and Siliguri had been tagged sensitive in the report. “Pampubusty is one of them,” said Bist.
However, R.K. Gupta, the acting additional divisional railway manager of Alipurduar, said yesterday’s accident occurred in a zone that was not “vulnerable”, referring to a high court ruling asking the railways to take precautions in four “vulnerable” spots.
“Our drivers strictly follow speed restrictions at the specified zones, but Pampubusty is not on the list,” Gupta said.
Thirteen elephants have been run over since the tracks connecting Siliguri and Alipurduar were converted to broad gauge in 2004.
(Bron: http://www.telegraphindia.com/)
(Bron foto: The Telegraph)
'Red List' IUCN is bijgewerkt en toont schokkend beeld - Primaten meest bedreigd - Populatie helft zoogdieren in wereld neemt af
Half of mammals 'in decline', says extinction
'Red List'
06-10-2008 Agence France Presse
BARCELONA (AFP) — Half the world's mammals are declining in population and more than a third probably face extinction, said an update Monday of the "Red List," the most respected inventory of biodiversity.
A comprehensive survey of mammals included in the annual report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which covers more than 44,000 animal and plant species, shows that a quarter of the planet's 5,487 known mammals are clearly at risk of disappearing forever.
But the actual situation may be even grimmer because researchers have been unable to classify the threat level for another 836 mammals due to lack of data.
"In reality, the number of threatened mammals could be as high as 36 percent," said IUCN scientist Jan Schipper, lead author of the mammal survey, in remarks published separately in the US-based journal Science.
The most vulnerable groups are primates, our nearest relatives on the evolutionary ladder, and marine mammals, including several species of whales, dolphins and porpoises.
"Our results paint a bleak picture of the global status of mammals worldwide," said Schipper.
The most vulnerable groups are primates and marine mammals according to the report.
The revised Red List, unveiled at the IUCN's World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, is further evidence that Earth is undergoing the first wave of mass extinction since dinosaurs died out 65 million years ago, many experts say.
Over the last half-billion years, there have only been five other periods of mass extinction.
The Red List classifies plants and animals in one of half-a-dozen categories depending on their survival status.
Nearly 40 percent of 44,838 species catalogued are listed as "threatened" with extinction, with 3,000 of them classified as "critically endangered," meaning they face a very high probability of dying out.
There were a few slivers of good news showing that conservation efforts can prevent a species from slipping into the category from which there is no return: "extinct."
The black-footed Ferret, native to the United States, was moved from "Extinct in the Wild" to "Endangered" after it was successfully introduced into seven U.S. states and Mexico.
The European bison and the wild horse of Mongolia made similar comebacks from the brink starting in the early 1990s.But these remain exceptions that highlight the need to act before other species populations dwindle beyond the threshold of viability, experts say.
"The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to prevent future extinctions," said Jane Smart, the head of the IUCN's Species Programme. "We now know what species are threatened, what the threats are and where."
The window of opportunity for great apes and monkey appears to be closing far more quickly that scientists realised, the new study shows.
"I was blown away when I saw the results, even though I was deeply involved in the work," said Michael Hoffman, a mammal expert at Conservation International who helped compile the Red List.
"Nearly 80 percent of primates in Asia are threatened with extinction, overwhelmingly because of hunting and habitat loss."
A voracious appetite in China for traditional medicines and prestige foods is the main driver of primate loss in Southeast Asia, he said.
Sea mammals are also highly vulnerable. "The situation is particularly serious ... for marine species, victims of our increasingly intensive use of the oceans," said Schipper.
Mile-wide fishing nets, vessel strikes, toxic waste and sound pollution from military sonar kill up to 1,000 air-breathing, ocean-dwelling mammals every day, previous research has shown.
There are many drivers of species extinction and all of them stem either directly or indirectly from human activity, scientists say.
Overwhelmingly, the main threat is habitat loss, with hunting and pollution major factors as well. But climate change is also emerging as a menace.
Species dependant on sea ice such as polar bears and harp seals, for example, are especially vulnerable to shrinking ice cover in the Arctic Circle.
Scientists are also alarmed by "catastrophic declines" in fresh-water amphibians and some mammals caused by poorly understood infections, said Schipper.
More than 60 percent of Tasmanian devils, for example, have been wiped out in the last decade by a disfiguring facial cancer that spreads through physical contact.
"Disease has always had a role to play in affecting populations, but now we are seeing diseases that are highly pathogenic," said Hoffman.
More than 60 percent of Tasmanian devils have been wiped out
in the last decade by cancer.
With 11,000 volunteer scientists and more than 1,000 paid staff, the IUCN runs thousands of field projects around the globe to monitor and help manage natural environments.
More than 8,000 ministers, UN officials, NGOs, scientists and business chiefs began brainstorming Sunday for 10 days in the Spanish city of Barcelona on how to brake this loss and steer the world onto a path of sustainable development.
(Bron: http://afp.google.com/)
(Bron foto's: AFP)
Python in reptielendierentuin Uhldingen (Duitsland) probeert verzorgster te verslinden....
Python will Kopf von Pflegerin verschlucken
06-10-2008 Von ROBIN MÜHLEBACH und ALEXANDER BLUM, Bild, Germany
In der Natur schlucken diese Riesenschlangen Antilopen, Raubkatzen oder Hirsche im Ganzen hinunter. Jetzt griff ein Tigerpython seine Pflegerin an!
Die Zoo-Chefin drohte mit dem Kopf in den Schlund zu rutschen! Letzte Rettung: Sie drückte ihren Daumen in die Kieferspalten der Schlange, Kollegen flößten ihr Wasser ein.
Schlangen-Experte Jan Knoll (33) aus Hamburg: „Der Druck auf die Kieferspalten bereitet dem Tier Schmerzen. Durch Einflößen von Warmwasser verliert es den Geruchssinn, wird unsicher und zieht sich zurück.“
Die Schlange ließ los, das Opfer kam mit Bisswunden in die Klinik.
(Bron: http://www.bild.de/)
(Bron foto: Bild)
Bokken van maasai herders Kenya dragen speciaal condoom - Maatregel ter voorkoming overpopulatie
Goat 'condoms' save Kenyan herds
06-10-2008 By Ruth Nesoba, BBC News, Nairobi
Maasai herdsmen in Kenya have turned to an age-old contraceptive device, the "olor", to protect their precious goat herds from an ongoing drought. The olor is made from cowhide or a square piece of plastic, and is tied around the belly of the male goat. It prevents the bucks from mating with the female goats.
The herdsmen are using the device to limit the goat population and ensure there are not too many animals grazing on sparse vegetation.
"We don't want them to breed in this drought," says Mr Ole Ngoshoi Kipameto, a goat owner in Kajiado district.
The olor is held in place by a rope or an elastic strap.
Vital assets
The area, which is 80km (50 miles) from the capital, Nairobi, has received insufficient rainfall, making the landscape barren and forcing residents to move from place to place in search of pasture and water.
In the Maasai community, livestock are often people's only assets and sole means of survival.
"We tie this hide under the belly of the buck for three months. After that we remove it and then they can breed by November when the short rains come," Mr Kipameto says.
The rectangular piece of cowhide is passed over the buck's head and front legs and secured under the belly in front of the hind legs with a rope or elastic strap.
"It looks like an apron," Mr Kipameto says.
Peter Ndirangu, the area livestock officer, says the olor is very effective.
"In the modern method, we advocate keeping the bucks separate from the breeding goats. But that is an added cost as you require two herdsmen - one for the bucks and one for the goats," he says.
"This [device] will play the part of a herdsman."
He says the device is very useful in keeping the herd numbers down and controlling when the goats give birth.
"If they give birth during harsh conditions like now, the mothers - the does - are going to be very weak, they're not going to feed their young ones properly," he says.
The device helps the herdsmen to restrict kidding to the period during and after the rains.
If the rains fall in October and November, the dry landscape will turn green again and the herdsmen will be able to settle with their livestock.
Until then, the herdsmen will have to employ the olor to protect their livestock and livelihood safe.
Those who do not use it could face a hefty fine if their bucks are found guilty of impregnating another herder's doe.
(Bron: http://www.bbc.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: BBC News)
Wakker Dier wil betere brandpreventieregels voor stallen - Proefproces tegen bouwvergunning voor mega-zeugenstal in Sinderen bij Varsseveld
Wakker Dier start proefproces tegen vuurge-
vaarlijke megastallen
Bouwregels houden bij brand minder rekening met kip dan met wc-rol.
06-10-2008 Wakker Dier
Wakker Dier start vandaag een proefproces tegen brandgevaarlijke bio-industriestallen. Het proces wordt aangespannen tegen een bouwvergunning van de gemeente Oude IJsselstreek (Gld) voor een mega-zeugenstal. Het proefproces moet leiden tot betere brandpreventieregels voor stallen.
Volgens de bouwregels worden er geen extra regels gesteld voor de bescherming van dieren, maar vallen stallen onder 'lichte industrie'. "Tot nu toe zijn er dit jaar al meer dan 500.000 dieren levend verbrand in stallen. Betere voorschriften hadden veel afschuwelijke dierendoden kunnen voorkomen. Maar in geval van brand wordt een dier niet gezien als levend wezen. Zelfs de paar regels die er zijn, worden aan de laars gelapt!" aldus een woordvoerder van Wakker Dier. Bij het afgeven van bouwvergunningen nemen gemeenten de bestaande regels vaak te ruim. Met het proefproces wil Wakker Dier een einde maken aan de steeds groter wordende brandcompartimenten in megastallen, en daarmee dierenleed bij brand beperken.
In juni 2008 kwamen 1300 varkens om het leven bij brand
in twee stallen boerderij Eersel.
De brandweer houdt zich bij het bestrijden van een brand vooral bezig met het beperken van de brand tot één ruimte, ofwel tot een brandcompartiment. Dat kan een huis, een verdieping van een kantoor zijn, of een stal of opslagruimte van 1000m2 zijn. Binnen een brandcompartiment gaat meestal alles verloren. De brandweer probeert zo goed mogelijk brand te voorkomen, beperken en bestrijden en zal een dier altijd redden als dat mogelijk is. Net zoals zij uitrukt voor een koe in een sloot of een kat in de boom. Maar binnen het bouwbesluit vallen stallen onder 'lichte industrie'. Dit betekent dat dieren in het bouwbesluit niet als levende wezens worden beschouwd, maar als producten. Zij worden daarom niet extra beschermd. Een stal met 20.000 kuikens is evenveel beveiligd tegen brand als een opslag van machines.
"Sterker nog", zo zegt Dhr Maks van Brand Preventie Consultants (BPC) in Geldermalsen: "dieren worden zelfs niet meegeteld in de vuurlastberekening (hoe brandbaar is een gebouw). De spullen die staan opgeslagen in een gebouw worden wel meegerekend maar bij een stal wordt bijvoorbeeld wel het stro geteld maar niet de dieren. De vuurlastberekening van een opslag van wc-rollen komt dus al snel hoger dan die van een stal met kippen. Dus gelden bij een opslag van wc-rollen strengere regels en kleinere brandcompartimenten dan in een stal. Veel brandweerlui hebben het moeilijk met de slechte veiligheidsvoorschriften voor dieren in stallen."
Stallen mogen onder voorwaarden uitbreiden tot ver boven de maximale wettelijke norm van 1000m2 per brandcompartiment. In 2007 is er een maximum norm van 2500m2 gesteld. Daarboven moet de ruimte worden gescheiden door een brandwerende muur, zo zegt het ministerie van VROM in een handreiking. Deze 2500m2 ligt echter niet als maximum in de wet vast. Boeren en gemeenten nemen de toch al ruime regels nog veel ruimer.
Wakker Dier spant vandaag, samen met de organisatie Mobilisation for the Environment, een proefproces aan tegen een zeugenstal die moet gaan bestaan uit één groot brandcompartiment van 2900 m2, in Sinderen, bij Varsseveld. Wakker Dier heeft vandaag een schorsingsverzoek ingediend om de bouw van de stal zo snel mogelijk stil te leggen.
De Nederlandse Vereniging voor Brandweerzorg en Rampenbestrijding (NVBR) deelt de zorg van Wakker Dier en meent ook dat dieren in stallen beter beschermd zouden kunnen worden tegen brand.
Dhr. ir. Scherjon van de NVBR: "We rukken met een brandweerwagen uit voor elke kat in een boom maar moeten hulpeloos toezien hoe een stal met 20.000 kippen in rook opgaat. Er zijn zoveel mogelijkheden om branden in stallen te beperken maar die worden nu niet gebruikt. Het bouwbesluit kent geen specifieke bepalingen voor het beschermen van dieren."
In 2008 zijn al 2.760 varkens, 87.000 kippen en 450.000 vissen en 110 schapen omgekomen in tien stalbranden.
Om meer brandslachtoffers te voorkomen eist Wakker Dier dat de wet op de volgende vier punten wordt aangepast:
* Stallen moeten worden onderverdeeld in brandcompartimenten niet groter dan 1000 m2. De brandweer heeft dan altijd een kans om een deel van de dieren redden.
* Stallen moeten worden voorzien van brandmelders die direct doorkoppelen naar de brandweer. Zo worden branden eerder ontdekt en is de brandweer eerder ter plaatse.
* Elke keer als een stal wordt leeggehaald, dient deze grondig gereinigd te worden, inclusief het reinigen van stof uit elektrische installaties. Stof is een grote veroorzaker en snelle verspreider van brand.
* De brandweer moet jaarlijkse preventieve controles houden in stallen. Veel branden zijn het gevolg van achterstallig onderhoud. De brandweer kan op de kritieke punten wijzen.
(Bron: http://www.wakkerdier.nl/)
(Bron foto: archief Kraaijer)
Politie Queensland (Australië) vangt verdachte krokodil in vermissingszaak 62-jarige man.....
Prime suspect: the crocodile hauled in by police
over missing man
Police in Australia have captured an 18ft crocodile which, they believe, may be responsible for the disappearance of a 62-year-old man born in Scotland.
06-10-2008 The Daily Telegraph, UK
Arthur Booker and his wife were on a camping holiday in Cooktown, North Queensland, when he went missing last week. The 62-year-old had gone to check a crab pot but never returned. When his wife went to the spot where he should have been all she found was a snapped rope and large crocodile slide marks.
The 500kg crocodile had shown threatening behaviour during the search for Mr Booker Photo: BRIAN CASSEY
Wildlife officers have been scouring the river since last Tuesday's attack, and trapped the highly aggressive animal on Saturday.
The reptile was transported by road to Cairns , where it underwent an endoscopy, which failed to confirm whether it was responsible for Mr Booker's disappearance. The crocodile, which is thought to be a male because of its size, will now be X-rayed.
"His behaviour labels him as a problem crocodile," Queensland Parks and Wildlife operations manager Mike Devery said yesterday.
"It was showing very territorial behaviour. It was swimming on top of the water and was not deterred at all by boats with people in them.
"He is a concern, particularly with ongoing tour operations and a lot of human activity on the part of the river."
Michael Devery, a manager with Queensland Parks and Wildlife, said the 500kg reptile had shown threatening behaviour during the search for Mr Booker and was not frightened of humans.
It will most likely end up at a crocodile farm.
(Bron: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Daily Telegraph)
Dierenactivisten Israel willen einde aan ritueel slachten kippen tijdens 'Kapparot' - WAARSCHUWING: video toont schokkende beelden!!
Animal activists: Kapparot custom 'brutal abuse
of animals'
Let Live movement plans to document ritual slaughter of chickens, file police complaint. ' We must end this brutal abuse,' chairman says
06-10-2008 Yoav Zeitun, Israel Activism, Ynet News, Israel
In their struggle to stem the slaughter of countless chickens during the Yom Kippur ritual of Kapparot (atonements), activists of Let Live (Latet Lihyot), an animal rights group, are planning to file animal abuse complaints with police against those who carry out the ritual.
To watch this video you must have a strong stomach - footage is horrible but shows how the chicken slaughter is being done during Yom Kippur ritual of Kapparot....
The religious and secular argument revolving the ritual has been going on for quite some time. In the ritual, a chicken is held at the shoulder blade and swung around a person's head three times, supposedly transferring the sins of the person to the chicken. The chicken is then slaughtered and given to a needy family.
Let Live, who is running in the upcoming municipal elections in Tel Aviv, is planning to film and document in the upcoming days those who will conduct the ceremony. After that, they intend to hand over the materials to the police along with a complaint of animal cruelty.
"We must end this brutal abuse which is happening in both Ashkenazi and Sephardic households," said a group spokesperson. "We are committed to put an end to this massacre, at least in Tel Aviv."
Ladiansky: Give money to the poor instead (Photo: Reuters)
Let Live is also asking for volunteers for its "Kapparot squads," who are planning to head out later in the week to "document the horror taking place all over Tel Aviv." At the same time a video has been published showing the cruelty of the practice. The group is asking the public to sign a petition that calls for Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Holdai to forbid the slaughter of chickens for the sake of Kapparot.
The head of the movement, Attorney Reuven Ladiansky, said that "there is a better alternative in giving money to the poor, and sparing the animals. According to the laws of the State, no animal may be slaughtered outside of a slaughter house."
The Green Party candidate for Tel Aviv city council, Doctor Rafi Kishon, also spoke out Sunday against the cruelty of the practice: "Kapparot is a brutal abuse that needs to be removed from this world. The practice is in complete opposition to the Animal Welfare Law."
(Bron: http://www.ynetnews.com/)
(Bron foto: Ynet News)
Dierenmishandeling normaal op huisdierenmarkt in Shuwaikh (Koeweit)
‘Whether I put 10 or 15 dogs in single cage is
nobody’s business’;
Animals face cruelty at Pet Market
06-10-2008 The Arab Times, Kuwait
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 5: Cruelty to animals across Kuwait continues to draw headlines and the Pet Market in Shuwaikh is no exception. Pets, including dogs, cats, pigeons, ducks etc at the market are being kept in crammed conditions and mistreated, besides being deprived of food and water. A majority of the pets are either sold from the car boot or are crammed in tiny cages and more often than not remain at the market for the entire day.
About eight Pomeranians were put together in a small cage with hardly any room for movement even as their handler was nowhere in sight for nearly an hour. When questioned upon his return about the crowded condition in the cage, the owner thundered: “They are my dogs...whether I put 10 dogs in a single cage or 15 that is nobody’s business. I look after them and nobody else.”
The price of a canine depends on the breed and starts from about KD 10 and could reach as high as KD 200, according to a pet seller.
Dogs being sold at the market sometimes cut loose and end up in ferocious battles with those that are on the leash even as the owners instead of separating them watch the spectacle with much delight. In a similar incident, a bulldog managed to break free from the leash and attacked another dog that was tied to a pole. As the situation began getting out of control, the owner of the bulldog began kicking it before grabbing the creature by its ears while another tied its mouth and legs with a rope. They then dumped the dog in the back seat of their car and drove off.
“Pet sellers don’t mind if there is any fight involving the dogs because it offers some entertainment to the shoppers and also attracts the attention to the line-up of the dogs the owner is offering,” says twenty-something Munir, a pet seller.
In another incident, some puppies were being sold from the roof-top of a vehicle even as a pup fell to the ground and was grimacing in pain as the owner kicked the canine before putting him back on the roof.
An American, Jim Walkman, who came to the buy a Parrot at the market, said he was aghast at the treatment meted out to the animals and that what hurt him most is that the animals were being kept in overcrowded cages without access to food and water.
“Some of he animals are kept in the sun and often remain there for the whole day. If this is not cruelty what is it?. I think the authorities should inspect the market and haul up those who maltreat animals,” he concluded.
By Francis A. Clifford Cardozo
Arab Times Staff
(Bron: http://www.arabtimesonline.com/)
Unieke samenkomst paar honderd Aziatische olifanten in Minneriya (Sri Lanka) moet toeristen aantrekken
Sri Lanka hopes elephants can revive tourism trade
06-10-2008 Agence France Presse
MINNERIYA, Sri Lanka (AFP) — As evening falls, a female elephant and her pink-skinned baby emerge from the jungle for a leafy snack around an ancient artificial lake in Sri Lanka. They are just two of hundreds of wild elephants that gather each evening along the banks of the Minneriya reservoir for food, water, shelter -- and match-making.
Sri Lankan elephants
From July to October, "The Gathering" -- as it is known -- gives humans the chance to observe the elephants feasting and frolicking on the water's edge.
Asian elephants are renowned as highly social animals and the reservoir meetings demonstrate their complex group dynamics in action.
Mothers encourage their off-spring towards the water, making sure that no calf is left stranded. Young males use their trunks to wrestle each other, while adult bulls sniff the air to scent fertile females.
Tucked away in the island's north central province, Minneriya provides an ideal venue for hungry elephants during the dry season when waterholes in the forests evaporate into cracked mud patches.
A shade-loving animal, the Asian elephant is not blessed with as good a cooling system as its bigger African cousin, which has large ears.
So it is only in the cool of dusk that the elephants emerge from the scrub to relax by the lake.
During the season
, 300 elephants can be found along the Minneriya reservoir, built by Sri Lankan King Mahasen in the third century.The reservoir fills during the north-east monsoon and gradually shrinks when the dry season sets in.
But instead of running dry, the receding water leaves behind a fertile, moist soil from which lush, nutritious grass quickly sprouts, said conservationist Srilal Miththapala.
The reservoir is also surrounded by scrub jungle which provides good cover to elephants to retreat into quickly if needed, he said.
"The atmosphere gives an ideal setting for a world phenomenon, where a high concentration of Asian elephants can be found in one small area," explained Chandra Jayawardene, a naturalist at Hotel Vil Uyana.
Sri Lankan wildlife defies conventional wisdom, said Gehan Wijeyeratne, who heads the country's Jetwing Eco Holidays.
"Small islands like ours are not supposed to have large animals," Wijeyeratne told AFP. "The gathering is one of the largest concentration of Asian elephants on Earth."
Local hoteliers are trying to cash in on the spectacle, as they struggle to fill hotel rooms amid an escalation in the war between government troops and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.
The tropical island was expecting 600,000 visitors this year, up 20 percent from 2007, to boost tourism receipts to 550 million dollars.
But Sri Lankan Tourism said such targets would be missed as earnings for January to July 2008 were a disappointing 200 million dollars.
Jayawardene said an increase in the number of foreign visitors would provide much-needed support for the local economy, but the balance between human activity and wildlife has proved hard to achieve.
Asian elephants, which live until about the age of 70, are increasingly straying into human settlement in search of food, as people encroach on their territory.
And some elephants are thought to have fled their habitats to avoid artillery duels between troops and rebels in the north and east.
According to Sri Lanka's wildlife department, 193 elephants died in 2007 and 171 died in 2006. Most of them were either shot, poisoned or electrocuted.
The population has now shrunk to 4,500 from 12,000 a century ago.
"You can't completely stop the human against elephant conflict," said Jayawardene, who worked for 30 years at the government's wildlife department.
"But, with education and money coming into local hands through elephant safaris, we can minimise the damage. Locals will treat the elephants with respect and learn to live alongside them," he said.
(Bron: http://afp.google.com/)
(Bron foto's: AFP)
Dierenvrienden in Ierland willen strengere wetgeving inzake dierenmishandeling - Activisten eisen verbod op dieren in circussen en bont
Animal activists take to streets
06-10-2008 By Stephen O'Farrell, The Independent, Ireland
AROUND 300 demonstrators marched in Dublin yesterday to urge the Government to toughen their stance on animal cruelty. Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) was joined by a host of other campaign groups to call on the Government "to enact tougher laws in the upcoming Animal Welfare Bill".
Commitments were made to replace the existing Bill, which was passed in 1911, in the Programme for Government.
Demonstration organiser, ARAN's John Carmody said they would be making a number of submissions for change.
"We're hoping that the Government will enact stronger legislation in the upcoming welfare bill to ban fur farming in Ireland, to ban animals in circuses and other forms of cruelty to animals," he told the Irish Independent.
"We also want tougher laws on people who abuse animals so once they are caught, we want them to get jail penalties. We're being very positive. Right across Europe, governments are bringing in really exciting change in animal welfare bills so we want the Government to get with the times and adopt stronger legislation and to obviously stamp out much of the continuing animal abuse."
A new Animal Welfare Bill is part of the Programme for Government but the opposition voiced concerns last night that the Department of Agriculture was dragging its heels on enacting it.
Labour spokesman on agriculture, Sean Sherlock said: "I've been asking about the Animal Welfare Bill in the Dail for some time but, as far as I know, consultation is still ongoing."
(Bron: http://www.independent.ie/)
Suriname goldmineplans threatens rare wildlife in Nassau Mountain region
Environmental organizations keep silent
06-10-2008 by Paul Kraaijer (http://sranan-news.blogspot.com/)
Zwolle, the Netherlands - In the so called Year Speech of the Suriname President Ronald Venetiaan on September 29th he pronounced among others that negotiations with NEWMONT (http://www.newmont.com/) on the establishment of a goldmine in the Nassau area in western Suriname will continue.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-459834/The-incredible-purple-frog-thats-24-new-species-discovered-South-America.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,277835,00.html)
It is therefore highly unbelievable that in this area plans are developed for a goldmine.
The Suriname environmental protection organizations are still anxiously quiet. In the media not one critical sound is to be heard from organizations such as Stinasu, WWF Guianas, the NIMOS and even from Conservation International Suriname, CIS. The CIS was indeed closely involved in the discovery of the rare animals.
One of the discovered rare animals in the Nassau Mountain region: the Atelopus frog
The creation of a goldmine is associated with major environmental damage. It is therefore inconceivable that the government agrees with plans for a goldmine in the Nassau area. These plans may lead to the disappearance from the Nassau area of the animals discovered there in 2005 and certainly to a serious disruption of their habitat.
Hopefully, very soon one of the Suriname environmental organizations sees the light and starts interacting with the government to move her to abandon the goldmine plans in the Nassau area.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Full Year Speech (in Dutch):
http://www.kabinet.sr.org/pdf/2008/Uiteenzetting_Jaarrede_2008.pdf
(Bron foto's: archief Kraaijer)
zondag 5 oktober 2008
Alternatieve jongeren, strijdbare senioren en goedwillende huisvrouwen in actie tegen BPRC in Rijswijk
Dierenactivisten ‘Deze apenhel moet dicht’
‘Wetten zijn maar domme dingen’
05-10-2008 Door: Marcel van Engelen, De Pers
Fanatieke dierenvrienden hebben een nieuw doelwit: het apencentrum in Rijswijk. ‘Legale of illegale acties, als het maar uit je hart komt.’ ‘Weten jullie nog’, zegt demonstratieleider Robert Molenaar op het plein voor het station, waar zo’n driehonderd alternatieve jongeren, strijdbare senioren en goedwillende huisvrouwen zijn samengekomen op Dierendag.
‘Vorig jaar stonden we in Venray en beloofden we alles te doen om de bouw van een nieuw proefdiercentrum te voorkomen. Het is er niet gekomen.’ Na vele demonstraties, anonieme dreigtelefoontjes en bekladdingen van privéwoningen trok de projectontwikkelaar zich terug. ‘Nu gaan we ervoor zorgen dat het BPRC dichtgaat. Dit is de grootste apenhel van Europa.’
Enkele ovaties verder trekt de stoet door Rijswijk, omringd door tientallen agenten en een videowagen van de politie. Om te eindigen bij het afgezette terrein van het Biomedical Primate Research Centre, waar 1.300 apen worden gebruikt voor de ontwikkeling van medicijnen tegen ernstige ziekten als aids, malaria of multiple sclerose. Sjaals voor het gezicht zijn verboden, maar sommige activisten dragen capuchons en zonnebrillen. ‘Schande voor Rijswijk!’, schreeuwen ze. ‘There is no excuse for animal abuse!’ Volgens de tegenstanders leveren de testen op apen niets op. Ze worden voor niets ziek gemaakt en opengesneden. En als het onderzoek onverhoopt wel iets mocht opleveren: wie zijn wij mensen om ‘onze broeders en zusters de apen’ doelbewust ziek te maken?
‘Wie zijn hier de extremisten?’, schreeuwt Danny Flies, leider van het Belgische deel van de actiegroep Anti Dierproeven Coalitie, door een megafoon voor het apencentrum. ‘Apen, jullie pijn is onze pijn, jullie angst is onze angst. We blijven vechten tot de laatste kooi leeg is!’
De dierenactivisten trekken zich weinig aan van de politieke discussie over de grenzen van actievoeren. Ze voelen zich eerder gesterkt door hun succes in Venray. En enkele jaren geleden werden, na jaren van actievoeren voor het BPRC, proeven op chimpansees al verboden. Daarna keerde de rust terug in Rijswijk, tot de Anti Dierproeven Coalitie een paar maanden geleden de aanval heropende. ‘Misschien is het een kwestie van lange adem’, zegt voorman Robert Molenaar. ‘Maar uiteindelijk zal deze apenhel helemaal dichtgaan. Dat is onze morele plicht.’
Voor de optocht begon, ontspon zich een opmerkelijke discussie, toen de Britse activist John Curtin de microfoon kreeg om de menigte op te zwepen. ‘Wetten zijn maar domme, door mensen gemaakte dingen’, zei hij achteloos. De dieren die nu lijden hebben daar niets aan. ‘Legale of illegale acties, het maakt niet uit. Als je maar actie voert!’ Hij oogstte een klaterend applaus.
Curtin, al 25 jaar fanatiek voorvechter van meer dierenrechten, heeft opgeteld een kleine zes jaar in de gevangenis gezeten. Hij brak meermaals in bij laboratoria om proefdieren te bevrijden en sloeg het huis kort en klein van een jager die een bevriende activist zou hebben vermoord. In Engeland worden animal rights activistsde laatste jaren hard aangepakt, waardoor ze hun activiteiten deels naar Nederland zouden hebben verplaatst, aldus de inlichtingendienst AIVD.
‘Ik ben niet iemand die om de zaken heen draait’, zegt Curtin even later. ‘Het merendeel van de dierenactivisten is voor illegale acties. Ze zeggen dat alleen niet openlijk, omdat dat problemen kan geven.’
Jacqueline Bolk viel hem openlijk aan. ‘Waarom roep je op tot illegale acties? Dat schaadt onze beweging, die groot en breed is geworden.’ Zelf is ze actief lid van de Partij voor de Dieren in Zuid-Holland. Maar ze benadrukt op persoonlijke titel te demonstreren: de PvdD wil niet geassocieerd worden met al te fanatieke dierenactivisten, want daarmee weten de rechtse partijen wel raad.
Curtin en Bolk kwamen er niet uit. ‘Al blijven we wel deel van dezelfde familie’, zei Bolk.
(Bron: http://www.depers.nl/)
Berucht circus Belly Wien zorgt weer eens weer ophef
Kamelen verwarren Dordtse politie
05-10-2008 De Pers
Een handvol circuskamelen heeft zondag de politie in Dordrecht in verwarring gebracht. Een voorbijganger aan de Laan van Londen meldde rond 15.00 uur dat de dieren waren losgebroken toen hij ze buiten het hek zag staan, maar dit bleek loos alarm.
Toen de politie bij het betreffende circus ging kijken, bleken de kamelen inderdaad buiten het hek te staan.
De dieren hadden zich echter niet buiten het circusterrein begeven, waarop de politie onverrichter zake kon terugkeren.
(Bron: http://www.depers.nl/)
Tijgerpopulatie India daalt fors - Ontbossing is meest schadelijk voor de tijger in India
Tiger population dwindles to 1,400 in India
05-10-2008 Times of India, India
UDHAGAMANDALAM (TAMIL NADU): Tiger population in 30 Tiger reserves in the country have dwindled to 1,411 at present from the 1,800 in 1972, according to statistics. The country had 40,000 tigers in 1900, statistics released by CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), which is organising an exhibition titled "Tiger Tiger", on Sunday said.
"The habitats have been lost due to severe deforestation, contributing to the dwindling tiger numbers," it said. Non-forestry activities, fragmentation of forest patches were the major causes for the dwindling tiger population, it said. The exhibition sought to raise awareness about the need to save the tiger.
"This would also provide a complete overview of the National animal -- its evolution, behaviour, social structure, cultural role, ecological significance, human impact upon it and what should be done to conserve it," it said.
The CPREEC is a Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment and Forests established jointly by the Ministry and CP Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation.
(Bron: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)
Ziekenhuis in Melbourne (Australië) heeft gedurende 17 jaar in geheim dieren met kanker behandeld...
Hospital treated animals secretly
06-10-2008 Michael Davis, The Australian, Australia
EQUIPMENT to treat cancer patients at The Alfred hospital in Melbourne has been used after hours on pets for 17 years without the Victorian Government's knowledge or approval. After a Sunday newspaper reported that 22 animals had been treated at the hospital's William Buckland Radiation Centre since 2005, it emerged that the practice had been going on for much longer.
The Brumby Government became aware of pets being treated for cancer at The Alfred on Friday and immediately moved to stamp out the practice.
Health Minister Daniel Andrews said: "This is an inappropriate use of our vital public health resources and it will not continue."
A spokesman for The Alfred yesterday said pets had been treated after hours at the hospital from 1991 until last week. He stressed the radiation therapy was carried out after hours and animals were never treated ahead of human patients.
"In all cases infection control was above and beyond what it needed to be. There was no way human safety was ever compromised," he said.
RSPCA vice-president Hugh Wirth yesterday condemned vets who allowed animals to be treated in hospitals, saying there was "no excuse for it" and it brought the profession "into disrepute".
Dr Wirth said there had been enormous advances in "specialist radiotherapy for animals in the last 15 years" and there was no need to use hospital equipment.
The Alfred has defended the practice, saying it was a public service which came at no cost to the hospital.
It is understood The Alfred's radiation therapists were paid directly by the commissioning vet. Five sessions usually cost the owner about $200.
The Alfred spokesman said the service was provided after hours so there was no displacing of human patients.
(Bron: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/)
Fraude bij afdeling Zuid-Oost Drenthe Dierenbescherming...
Dierenbescherming doet aangifte verduistering
05-10-2008 Dagblad van het Noorden
Emmen - Het bestuur van de afdeling Zuid-Oost Drenthe van de Dierenbescherming heeft aangifte gedaan van verduistering en fraude door haar voormalige penningmeester.
Nadat de vrouw om gezondheidsredenen haar functie als penningmeester had neergelegd is volgens het bestuur gebleken dat er uitgaven niet verantwoord konden worden.
Omdat de vrouw iedere vorm van uitleg of communicatie uit de weg zou gaan, zag het bestuur geen andere mogelijkheid dan het doen van aangifte.
(Bron: http://www.dvhn.nl/)
Gemeenten in de 'Australian Capital Territory' staan meer en meer circussen met wilde dieren toe na eerder verbod
ACT councils relax rules on circus animals
05-10-2008 ABC News, Australia
The Lennon Brothers Circus says several councils are lifting their bans on circuses that use exotic animals. The circus, which is one of three in Australia using big cats, is currently performing in Queanbeyan.
Such circuses
are banned in the ACT, with animal rights activist pressuring Queanbeyan Council to do likewise.Circus manager Warren Lennon says he has seen a change in attitude from some councils.
"Some of the councils are releasing and letting us back now, they're starting to change," he said.
"We've had a couple of councils that have allowed us back in, we've put it to them and they've come out and checked our cages and everything and training and they've been quite happy."
(Bron: http://www.abc.net.au/)
(Bron foto: http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/jan/12/circus-town/)
zaterdag 4 oktober 2008
Vlammend protest in Rijswijk dierenactivisten tegen primatencentrum BPRC
Groots protest in Rijswijk tegen Europa’s grootste
primatencentrum
Anti Dierproeven Coalitie wil sluiting BPRC
04-10-2008 Door: Paul Kraaijer
Zwolle, 04-10-2008 – Uit heel Nederland zijn zaterdag ruim driehonderd dierenvrienden naar Rijswijk gekomen om te demonstreren tegen het Biomedical Primate Research Center. De demonstratie was georganiseerd door de Anti Dierproeven Coalitie (ADC).
Op dit moment is er enige onduidelijkheid over de toekomst van het BPRC in Rijswijk. Het College van Burgemeester en Wethouders verstrekte op 1 april van dit jaar een bouwvergunning aan het BPRC voor de bouw van een kantoor en een onderzoeksgebouw. Dit besluit sloeg in als een bom bij de lokale gemeenteraadsfractie van GroenLinks en diverse omwonenden.Fractievoorzitter Bert van Velthuijsen liet weten de bouwvergunning ‘opmerkelijk’ te vinden. Volgens GroenLinks verdwijnt het BPRC in 2015 uit Rijswijk. Er is woningbouw gepland op het terrein aan de Lange Kleiweg waar het BPRC is gevestigd. ‘Het kan niet zo zijn dat het BPRC een nieuw onderzoeksgebouw kan gaan bouwen, terwijl over een paar jaar woningbouw is gepland.’, aldus Van Velthuijsen. De ADC vermoedt zelfs dat al voor het verstrekken van de bouwvergunning op het terrein van het BPRC nieuwbouw werd gepleegd.
Volgens Bontrop is de geplande nieuwbouw ‘onderdeel van een project dat in 2001 is gestart’. Bontrop: ‘Als laatste wordt er een kantoor/laboratoriumgebouw opgericht. Waarom? De meeste medewerkers die in dit gebouw gaan werken, worden nu gehuisvest in een gebouw dat we huren van TNO. Dat gebouw staat wel op het terrein dat TNO gaat verlaten en dat is verkocht aan de gemeente voor woningbouw. Het nieuwe kantoor/onderzoeksgebouw komt op het BPRC kavel te staan. Alle benodigde vergunningen zijn in het bezit van het BPRC en door de bevoegde instanties verleend.’
De nieuwbouwplannen van het BPRC leiden tot meer acties van dierenactivisten. De demonstratie van zaterdag was vooralsnog een hoogtepunt in de protestcampagne tegen het BPRC.
Op het Piramideplein werd eerst een korte manifestatie gehouden. Diverse lokale dierenvrienden sloten zich aan, gadegeslagen door vele agenten. Enkele sprekers richtten het woord tot de demonstranten. Onder hen was de Britse dierenactivist John Curtin
. Hij voert in Engeland al ruim 25 jaar strijd tegen het dierproefcentrum Huntingdon Life Sciences, waar 70.000 dieren worden gebruikt voor allerlei testen. Curtin wist de demonstranten te boeien met zijn betoog en was blij te constateren dat ook in Nederland nog steeds dierenrechtenacties worden gevoerd tegen de vivisectie industrie en gelieerde bedrijven.Bij het BPRC hield Danny Flies
van de Belgische afdeling van de Anti Dierproeven Coalitie een vlammende toespraak. Hij maakte de vele demonstranten duidelijk dat achter de hekwerken rond het terrein van het BPRC zo’n 1300 apen worden gebruikt door proefdieronderzoekers.Ook bij het BPRC was veel politie aanwezig.
(Bron foto's: eigen foto's Kraaijer - zie meer foto's: http://kraaijer-schrijft.blogspot.com/)
Honderden afgedwaalde penguins Braziliaanse kust met vliegtuig luchtmacht naar koudere wateren Patagonië gevlogen
Lost penguins get Brazil air lift
04-10-2008 By Gary Duffy BBC News, Sao Paulo, BBC News, UK
Hundreds of penguins have been returned to their native territory in the south Atlantic ocean by an air force plane after being found along Brazil's coast. Every year penguins make their way north from the colder waters near to Patagonia in search of food.
But the numbers and distances the penguins have travelled this year have amazed the authorities. At least 1,000 birds are now said to have washed up on the coast of Brazil, some of which have died along the way.
Some are thought to have made a journey of more than 3,000km (1,860 miles) from the cold waters of Patagonia on the southern tip of South America.
Some of the penguins are thought
to have travelled 3,000km.
Beach holiday
Earlier this year the first reports of large numbers of penguins being found came in from southern Brazilian states such as Rio de Janeiro.
Now they are even being discovered in the far north of the country.
Some experts have said that penguin migration is closely linked to their need for food, and that the unusual journey the penguins are making suggests something has gone wrong with their normal fish supply.
Experts say it is not clear whether this is due to changes in water temperatures and ocean currents or man-made pollution.
Help at hand: Penguins at an IFAW rescue centre in Salvador, Brazil before their trip home.
Some of the birds were found covered in oil, while there has also been evidence that others were eating fish that are not part of their usual diet.
It is an annual task for the Brazilian air force to help return penguins to their native territory but it seems this year they are coping with higher numbers of their unusual passengers.
Hundreds of penguins were flown this week in a Hercules plane down to the southern tip of Brazil, where they are being released into the ocean - while some are to return on a navy vessel.
Other birds that were exhausted by their long journey are for the time being staying behind to enjoy the hospitable climate of Bahia - a Brazilian state known for its beautiful beaches and sunny weather.
(Bron: http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
(Bron kleine foto: BBC News / Bron grote foto: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)
Luid protest in Rijswijk tegen primaten onderzoekscentrum BPRC
Protest op Dierendag: ’Lieve apen, jullie pijn is
onze pijn’
04-10-2008 Door MAAIKE KRAAIJEVELD, Algemeen Dagblad
RIJSWIJK - - ’Schande, schande, bloed aan je handen’. Met die leuze hebben zo’n driehonderd mensen zaterdag, Dierendag, in Rijswijk geprotesteerd tegen proeven met apen. Zij trokken in een stoet door Rijswijk en naar het apentestcentrum BPRC aan de Lange Kleiweg.
In dit grootste apentestcentrum van Europa doen wetenschappers onderzoek naar ziekten als malaria, aids en multiple sclerose op ruim duizend apen. De demonstranten droegen spandoeken met daarop foto’s van opengesneden en vastgebonden apen.
De actie was georganiseerd door de Anti Dierproeven Coalitie, waarin Nederlandse, Belgische en Britse dierenactivisten zitten.
De tocht door Rijswijk was omgeven met een grote politiemacht, waaraan de mobiele eenheid, politie te paard en op motoren mee deden. Ook de videowagen van de politie reed mee. Loco-burgemeester Dick Jense van de gemeente Rijswijk, die burgemeeester Van der Wel vervangt die in het buitenland is, hield zich in een auto van de politie op de hoogte van het verloop van de demonstratie.
De dierenactivisten zeiden ’niet te zullen stoppen met protest acties tot de laatste kooi in het BPRC leeg is’. „Lieve apen, jullie pijn is onze pijn. Er gaat geen dag, geen nacht voorbij dat we niet aan jullie denken. BPRC, weg ermee!’’ hield een Vlaamse spreker de apen binnen en de actievoerders buiten voor.
Het BPRC is al jaren punt van protest van dierenactivisten. Er is inmiddels een verbod op het gebruik van chimpansees in dierproeven. De activisten willen dat er een verbod komt op het gebruik van alle apen voor proeven. Zij hekelen de Nederlandse overheid en de Europese Unie die voor het testcentrum betalen.
(BronL http://www.ad.nl/)
Het is maar dat u het weet.....
Kattenbaas hoger opgeleid
04-10-2008 Van onze Haagse redactie, De Telegraaf
DEN HAAG - De baasjes van katten zijn hoger opgeleid dan die van honden.
Bovendien wonen de poezen en katers voornamelijk in het noorden en westen van ons land op een etage of een flat.
Dit blijkt uit een analyse van communicatiespecialist Cendris uit gegevens van een miljoen huishoudens.(Bron: http://www.telegraaf.nl/)
(Bron foto: http://leukz.nl/)
Tientallen bekende Nederlanders willen verbod op nertsenfokkerijen
Bekende Nederlanders in actie tegen nertsenfokkerij
03-10-2008 Agrarisch Dagblad
Op initiatief van actrice Karen van Holst Pellekaan roepen bijna zeventig bekende Nederlanders de Tweede Kamer op volgende week voor een verbod op de nertsenfokkerij te stemmen. Onder de ondertekenaars bevinden zich onder meer Jan Mulder, Maarten van Rossem, Huub Stapel en Hennie Huisman.
Volgende week debatteert de Tweede Kamer over een initiatiefwetsvoorstel van SP en PvdA. Beide partijen willen dat er vanaf 2018 geen nertsen meer gefokt mogen worden in Nederland. Dat zou betekenen dat de komende jaren zo'n tweehonderd bedrijven moeten verdwijnen.
Volgens Van Holst Pellekaan is dat terecht: "Economisch gewin kan en mag niet alles rechtvaardigen". Of de initiatiefnemers een meerderheid van het parlement achter zich kunnen krijgen, is nog niet duidelijk. Zij worden in elk geval gesteund door Groenlinks, Partij voor de Dieren en D66. CDA, VVD en waarschijnlijk ook de SGP zijn tegen een verbod.
Het is overigens ook onzeker of het debat volgende week ook wordt afgerond; wellicht wordt de stemming over het herfstreces getild.
Bron: agrarisch dagblad auteur: Jeroen Savelkouls
(Bron: http://www.agd.nl/)
vrijdag 3 oktober 2008
Anti-bont actie in centrum Amsterdam....
Dierenactivisten doen rondje hoofdstad
03-10-2008 NieuwsLog
Vrijdag doet de dierenbevrijdingsbeweging van zich horen. Bij de Bonneterie werden flyers uitgedeeld. Bezoekers werden ontmoedigd de winkel te bezoeken vanwege de verkoop van bontartikelen. Winkelend publiek dat met bont liep werd nageroepen.
Volgens de dierenbevrijdingsbeweging worden voor bont jaarlijks miljoenen dieren de dood in gejaagd. Deze dieren
zitten opgesloten in draadgazen kooien. Het enige wat zij kennen is een stressvol bestaan op de bontfokkerijen. Dit leven wordt beëindigd op de meest afschuwelijke wijze.Bij konijnen wordt de nek omgedraaid. Nertsen worden in houten kisten gestopt waar ze met behulp van koolmono-oxide vergast worden. Vossen krijgen electrodes in het lichaam gestopt, waarna ze geëlectrocuteerd worden.
(Bron: http://www.nieuwslog.nl/)
(Bron foto: NieuwsLog)
Chinese arbeiders in Kenya waarschijnlijk betrokken bij doden olifanten
Rise in Kenya elephant poaching linked to arrival
of Chinese workers
Chinese workers rebuilding roads in northern Kenya are feared to be driving a sharp rise in elephant poaching which has seen dozens of animals slaughtered this year.
03-10-2008 By Mike Pflanz in Archer's Post, Kenya, The Daily Telegraph, UK
In the first eight months of 2008, 57 carcases have been found across Kenya with their tusks hacked out, 15 per cent more than the total for all of 2007 and the third annual increase in a row. More than half of these elephants have been killed in an area where Chinese construction crews have recently arrived to tarmac hundreds of miles of gravel tracks.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) believes there may be a link between the workers' arrival and the increase in poaching.
"More than 50 per cent of the dead elephants we have found have been in that area in the north where the Chinese are working on the road," said Moses Litoroh, elephant programme coordinator for the KWS.
The elephant migration routes running through Kenya have long been targeted by poachers Photo: REUTERS
Poaching in Kenya, especially in its empty northern reaches, has long been a problem.
The elephant migration routes running through here, linking water holes and fresh foliage, have long been targeted by poachers, often armed by Somali gun runners. After years of patrols, ivory trade bans and improved policing, conservationists had hoped to have largely eliminated the slaughter.
But Chinese newcomers may be stimulating the local market for poached ivory. Close to Archer's Post, a desolate settlement of tin-roof shacks 190 miles north of Nairobi, dust rose from a shallow mine where a Chinese engineer in a wide-brimmed straw hat had just detonated high explosives.
From across the scorched floor of the valley came the distant clank of heavy machinery at the Chinese work camp, where rocks released by the explosions are broken down to gravel to build a new road running to the border with Ethiopia.
But less than 30 miles to the east, across the Shaba National Reserve, lie the decomposing bodies of 18 elephants slaughtered in July by poachers.
"This is the worst year that I have seen for the poaching of elephants," said one senior wildlife ranger who has worked in and around Archer's Post for 21 years but who refused to be named for fear of reprisals from poaching gangs.
"There is so much corruption still here, anyone, the Chinese, the Somalis, Kenyans themselves, they can find people who will bring them tusks to sell."
Some tusks are passed to smugglers who fly them out of Nairobi. But the majority are hidden on trucks heading to Ethiopia, where controls are more lax but where there are regular passenger and cargo flights to the Far East.
Kenyan officials place much of the blame for the surge in poaching on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), which in July allowed Botswana, South Africa, Namibia and South Africa to sell a total of 108 tonnes of ivory to China and Japan.
This has revived a market which until then had been starved of supply after a 19 year blanket ban on the sale of ivory, broken only in 1999 for an earlier one-off sale of 50 tonnes to Japan.
"The poachers in the bush, they got the wrong message from the decision," said Robert Muasya, assistant director of security for KWS who leads the airport arrest teams. At least eight Chinese nationals have been arrested and charged with smuggling ivory in the last 12 months.
"They think there is now a legitimate market and they start setting more and more traps. China itself does not have the mechanisms to keep the legally bought ivory separate from illegal ivory, so the market is there and the poachers take advantage of that."
(Bron: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Daily Telegraph)
Panda in dierentuin Wuhan (centraal China) krijgt kippensoep om stress tegen te gaan....
What to feed a panda when he's feeling poorly:
Chicken soup
03-10-2008 By Daily Mail Reporter, The Daily Mail, UK
Everyone needs some chicken soup for the soul - even pandas.
The Wuhan Zoo in central China has been feeding its two pandas home-cooked chicken soup twice in a month to reduce stress and give them a nutritional boost, a zoo official said Friday.
He Zhihua said three-year-old Xiwang and Weiwei - literally meaning "Hope" and "Greatness" - were tired and suffering from a little shock since the start Monday of the weeklong National Day holiday, one of the biggest travel seasons of the year.
On Wednesday, up to 30,000 people swarmed the zoo and about 1,000 tourists packed the panda enclosure, shouting to get the animals' attention, He said. The pandas paced restlessly.
Treatment: The Wuhan Zoo in central China has been feeding its two pandas home-cooked chicken soup twice in a month to reduce stress
"They had been getting less sleep, and they had to run around more," he said. "We felt it would be good to give them the soup because they were fatigued and had a bit of a shock."
Reflecting the Chinese tradition of drinking slow-cooked chicken soup for health, the zookeepers boiled roosters in water overnight and added a pinch of salt to the concentrated stock.
The pandas were served 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) of soup in giant dishes, in addition to their regular diet of bamboo, milk and buns, He said.It was a hit.
"They drank it all like they drank their milk. They loved it," he said.
Pandas' diets usually consist mostly of bamboo, but they also can eat meat and He said in the wild they sometimes catch insects and small birds.
Xiwang and Weiwei arrived at the Wuhan Zoo in June from the Wolong Nature Reserve in neighboring Sichuan province. The facility relocated most of its pandas after being damaged by a magnitude-7.9 earthquake on May 12.
The pair were first fed chicken soup on Sept. 28 to help them brave the upcoming cold weather.
"Autumn is coming and we wanted them to have some more nutrition. It will be easier for them to pass the winter," He said. "We just wanted to see whether they liked the soup and whether it's good for their strength and whether they would have stomach problems."
When none appeared, the broth was served for a second time this week.
He said Dudu, another panda at the zoo, lived on milk and ground meat in the last 10 years of his life because his teeth could no longer tear at tough bamboo stalks. He died in 1999.
The giant panda is an unofficial national symbol of China. Only about 1,600 pandas live in the wild, mostly in Sichuan. An additional 180 have been bred in captivity, many of them at Wolong, and scores have been loaned or given to zoos abroad, with the revenues helping fund conservation programs.
(Bron: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Mail on Sunday)
Proefdieronderzoekster Universiteit Pittsburgh (VS) in hand gebeten door makaak.....- Twijfels over veiligheid in onderzoekscentrum
Monkey bites Pitt lab technician
Victim questions safety measures, says career's in doubt
03-10-2008 By David Templeton, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, USA
An 18-pound macaque monkey bit and then mauled the hand of a University of Pittsburgh laboratory technician last week, prompting accusations from the victim and her co-worker that the facility lacks sufficient safety measures.
Patricia "Trish" Boyle, 51, of Avalon, was released from UPMC Presbyterian yesterday -- eight days after the Sept. 24 attack. She received numerous stitches and suffered bone, tendon and nerve damage, the latter of which, she said, could be irreparable.
Blood tests have yet to show what viruses the macaque may have had and whether Ms. Boyle stands vulnerable to infections including hepatitis B. The macaque is used in research on a tuberculosis vaccine, but tuberculosis typically is spread via respiration rather than blood transfer.
"I'm afraid I'll never be able to work in this field again because of my hand," Ms. Boyle said. "I did a lot of microsurgery [in previous jobs] and don't know anything else but this. This is my life."
Patricia "Trish" Boyle shows her injured hand.
Pitt spokesman John Fedele, in a voice mail message, acknowledged that a workplace injury had occurred and the university was investigating. He could not be reached for further comment.
Karen Eggert, spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, said the department investigates all reports of laboratory animals being improperly cared for, with ancillary concern for worker safety. After learning of the attack, a USDA inspector arrived Wednesday to question Ms. Boyle in her hospital room.
Alisha Brown, spokeswoman for the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said it would investigate only if a complaint is filed.
Pitt's $18 million Regional Biocontainment Laboratory is in Biomedical Science Tower 3 on Fifth Avenue in Oakland. The university's Center for Vaccine Research in Pitt's School of Medicine uses primates to develop vaccines with a focus on dengue, influenza, avian flu and tuberculosis.
The tuberculosis vaccine research is funded through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which awarded the center and other research groups a $11.4 million grant earlier this year to develop new strategies to control the disease.
To prevent exposure to dangerous disease, workers caring for animals in the containment area are required to don protective gear, respirators and rubber gloves, among other safeguards.
Ms. Boyle said her job was to feed up to 30 macaques used in the tuberculosis research, clean their cages and check on their health.
Ms. Boyle said she's trained as a laboratory technician, but was assigned to do animal husbandry at the lab.
"I was thrown in there and not taught anything, and told to do this," she said.
The macaques, also known as cynomolgus monkeys, hail from South Asia, weigh up to 30 pounds and feature long tails and limbs.
On Sept. 24, she was alone inside a containment area, using a pole to test whether the macaque's water system was working. But the macaque, called "Grabby" because of his propensity for grabbing anything he can reach, clasped the pole, yanked it inside the cage and then chomped down on Ms. Boyle's right palm below the index and middle fingers.
With its teeth penetrating to the bone, Ms. Boyle could not pull her hand away.
"My hand was in its mouth," she said. "It was clamping down on it and munching on it for up to a minute. I had no choice but to pull my hand out in shreds."
Bleeding profusely, she ran screaming into another containment area where another laboratory technician tried to attend to her injuries. Co-worker Joyce Ann Horner of West Mifflin also arrived to help.
They rinsed her hand, but lacked a bite kit to disinfect the wounds. Ms. Horner and Ms. Boyle also said a supervisor refused to call an ambulance. So Ms. Boyle, with her hand wrapped in a towel and covered with a garbage bag, had to walk uphill to the UPMC Presbyterian's emergency department.
During eight days in the hospital, she underwent three surgeries to treat recurring infections and continues to have no feeling in her index and middle fingers.
Ms. Boyle and Ms. Horner, who was fired the day after the attack for reasons she described as "vague," questioned safety and training procedures used at the lab.
They said a walkie-talkie system known as a Vocera was not working inside the containment area, preventing Ms. Boyle from summoning help. The cages that hold the long-limbed macaques also allow them to grab at workers, sometimes tearing away their respirator hoses. There also was no warning sign on the macaque's cage.
Ms. Horner said she previously was taken to an emergency room when a macaque scratched her hand.
"Bigger and bigger problems are turning out to be a disaster," Ms. Horner said. "For a center like this, they should pay more attention to the details."
David Templeton can be reached at dtempleton@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1578.
(Bron: http://www.post-gazette.com/)
(Bron foto: The Pittsburgh Post Gazette)
Aap bijt proefdieronderzoekster laboratorium Universiteit Pittsburgh (VS).... - Nu voelt proefdieronderzoekster eens pijn....
Monkey bites, mauls hand of Pitt lab technician
03-10-2008 By The Associated Press, PittsburghLive, USA
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investigating a research monkey that bit and mauled the hand of a University of Pittsburgh lab technician. Fifty-one-year-old Patricia Boyle said the 18-pound monkey damaged bones, tendons and nerves in the incident Sept. 24.
Blood tests haven't shown what viruses the animal may have, though it was used in tuberculosis research.
Boyle was released from UPMC Presbyterian hospital on Thursday. She has performed microsurgery in previous jobs and isn't sure she'll be able to continue.
The university says it is investigating a workplace injury, but isn't commenting beyond that.
The USDA investigates the treatment of laboratory animals and the safety of the workers who use them.
(Bron: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/)
Dierenrechten moeten van GroenLinks in Grondwet worden vastgelegd
Groenlinks: voorstel dierenrecht in Grondwet klaar
03-10-2008 Agrarisch Dagblad
Het voorstel van Groenlinks om dierenrechten in de Grondwet te verankeren, is klaar voor behandeling in de Tweede Kamer. Indieners Femke Halsema en Ineke van Gent hopen dat dieren hiermee straks minder zijn overgeleverd aan de politieke waan van de dag.
De bescherming van dieren is al vastgelegd in onder meer de Gezondheid- en Welzijnswet voor Dieren. Groenlinks vindt dat echter onvoldoende. Doordat de rechten van dieren niet in de Grondwet zijn opgenomen, zijn deze afhankelijk van het heersende politieke klimaat; wetten en lagere regelgeving zijn gemakkelijker te veranderen dan de Grondwet.
Groenlinks benadrukt dat het wetsvoorstel niet bedoeld is om alle vormen van gebruik van dieren te verbieden. "De zorgplicht voor dieren als levend wezen verhindert echter wel dat de gebruiksfunctie voor de mens tot enige maatstaf wordt verheven", aldus een toelichting op het plan. Het voorstel zal niet leiden tot administratieve lasten voor overheid of bedrijfsleven, verzekert de partij.
Bron: agrarisch dagblad auteur: Jeroen Savelkouls
(Bron: http://www.agd.nl/)
donderdag 2 oktober 2008
Zeldzame Bengaalse tijger in Indiaas tijger reservaat gedood door waarschijnlijk een olifant
Tiger found dead in Periyar Reserves
02-10-2008 Times of India, India
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A grown-up tiger was found dead with its stomach ripped open at Anjurili area in the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR)
in Kerala on Thursday. Wildlife Officials said the preliminary assessment after the post-mortem on the carcass was that the tiger died of severe injury received by attack from a powerful animal like elephant, ruling out the possibility of it being a case of poaching. The carcass was spotted last evening by the Wildlife guards. The six-year-old tiger might have been killed four days ago, Wildlife Department sources said. The injury in the abdomen pointed to the possibility of the tiger being kicked hard by another animal, possibly an elephant, the sources said.
The last survey had put the number of tigers in PTR at 24 to 26, sources said. The viscera had been sent for detailed tests at the Regional Chemical Examination Laboratory.
(Bron: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)
(Bron foto bord: http://picasaweb.google.com/DavidGHewitt/Kerala#5012256764730858050 / Bron foto tijger: http://www.india-wildlife.net/periyar-wildlife-sanctuary/index.html)
Huismus in hart gesloten GroenLinks Rotterdam - Partij wil subsidie voor inwoners die schutting vervangen door heg - Heg van levensbelang voor mus
GroenLinks wil ’hegsubsidie’ voor huismus
02-10-2008 Agrarisch Dagblad
GroenLinks Rotterdam wil de met uitsterven bedreigde huismus redden door het invoeren van een subsidie op heggen. Mensen die hun schutting vervangen door een heg, krijgen in het voorstel subsidie van de gemeente.
Daartoe gaat gemeenteraadslid Arno Bonte een voorstel doen op Werelddierendag. Heggen zijn volgens GroenLinks van levensbelang voor bedreigde diersoorten als de mus en de egel.
,Dierendag gaat over meer dan een extra kluif voor de hond of feestelijke brokjes voor de kat”, betoogt Bonte. ”De stad is een woonplaats voor talloze wilde dieren, zoals mussen, vleermuizen en egels. Wil je die een goed huis bieden, dan moet je zorgen voor voldoende natuurlijke plekjes. Voor mussen en egels is gevarieerde dichte begroeiing zoals in heggen van levensbelang.”
(Bron: http://www.agd.nl/)
,Dierendag gaat over meer dan een extra kluif voor de hond of feestelijke brokjes voor de kat”, betoogt Bonte. ”De stad is een woonplaats voor talloze wilde dieren, zoals mussen, vleermuizen en egels. Wil je die een goed huis bieden, dan moet je zorgen voor voldoende natuurlijke plekjes. Voor mussen en egels is gevarieerde dichte begroeiing zoals in heggen van levensbelang.”
(Bron: http://www.agd.nl/)
Protesten op 4 oktober om aandacht te vragen voor dierenleed
Dierenliefhebbers in actie op dierendag
02-10-2008 De Telegraaf
DEN HAAG - Enkele actiegroepen die opkomen voor het welzijn van dieren grijpen Werelddierendag aan om te protesteren tegen dierenleed.
Zo komen zaterdag bij de Turkse ambassade in Den Haag actievoerders bijeen om te protesteren tegen de aanhoudende stroom van vergiftiging en mishandeling van (zwerf)honden in Turkije door de plaatselijke overheid.
In Rijswijk is een protestmars tegen het Biomedical Primate Research Centre, waar experimenten worden uitgevoerd op apen. De organiserende Anti Dierproeven Coalitie wil dat het centrum aan de Lange Kleiweg wordt gesloten.
(Bron: http://www.telegraaf.nl/)
Anti Dierproeven Coalitie gaat 30 oktober hele dag demonstreren bij conferentie dierproefonderzoekers in Veldhoven.....
De Slag om Het Koningshof
Belegering van VIVISECTIE conferentie in Veldhoven
02-10-2008 Anti Dierproeven Coalitie
800 Leden van de biotechnische vereniging zijn uitgenodigd voor een conferentie in Hotel en congrescentrum het Koningshof in Veldhoven. De biotechnische vereniging is een woord dat de lading niet dekt. Het verhult de werkelijke taken van haar leden.
De 800 leden zijn verantwoordelijk voor de dood van 1 miljoen proefdieren in Nederland. Wanneer de industrie samen met de overheidsinstellingen zich te goed doet aan hapjes en drankjes, zitten honderdduizenden dieren opgesloten in proefdiercentra. Vergiftigd, open gesneden, met buizen en elektroden in hun lichaam, ziek gemaakt en wachtend op de dood.
ADC in actie in mei bij een 'geheim' symposium
van proefdierfokkerij Harlen over dierenactivisten.
'Op zoek naar een nieuw diermodel voor depressie: het gestresste varken?’ is een workshop die wordt gegeven door de Universiteit van Utrecht tijdens de Biotechnische dagen. Notox en het BPRC nemen ook actief deel aan de workshops. Op de infomarkt presenteren allerlei bedrijven en organisaties de nieuwste snufjes op proefdiergerelateerd gebied.
Het programma van de conferentie kan je hier vinden.
In Hotel en congrescentrum het Koningshof worden de dierproefnemers door haar eigen vereniging in de watten gelegd.
De Anti Dierproeven Coalitie pikt het niet langer. Donderdag 30 oktober zullen wij post vatten voor de ingang (Locht 117) van het Koningshof. Van 07.30 's morgens tot 21.00 's avonds zullen we een lawaai protest houden en de dierproefnemers confronteren.
Het programma van de conferentie kan je hier vinden.
In Hotel en congrescentrum het Koningshof worden de dierproefnemers door haar eigen vereniging in de watten gelegd.
De Anti Dierproeven Coalitie pikt het niet langer. Donderdag 30 oktober zullen wij post vatten voor de ingang (Locht 117) van het Koningshof. Van 07.30 's morgens tot 21.00 's avonds zullen we een lawaai protest houden en de dierproefnemers confronteren.
Wij kondigen de belegering van de dierproefnemers conferentie af. De slag om het Koningshof zal losbarsten.
Vermiste visdiefjes uit natuurreservaat Nottinghamshire (Engeland) duiken na een jaar op in Senegal....
Birds feared dead found in Africa
02-10-2008 BBC News, UK
Two small birds thought to have drowned at a Nottinghamshire nature reserve last summer have been found nearly 3,000 miles (4828 km) away - in Africa. The pair of Common Terns - which were too young to fly - were among chicks living on a specially-built platform at Attenborough Nature Centre.
When rising flood water covered the area last year it was thought all the chicks, which were ringed, had died.
But records from March show two survived and migrated to Senegal.
One chick was about two-and-a-half weeks old and the other was about one-and-a-half weeks old when the flooding hit.
Wildlife experts believe they swam to a nearby island to escape, where their parents continued to feed them until they could fly and become independent.
A spokesman from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said the chicks had been ringed which enabled the birds to be recorded alive by South African bird ringers.
The record of the captures was sent from the South African bird ringing scheme to the British Trust for Ornithology.
Tim Sexton from Attenborough Nature Centre said: "We couldn't believe it when we found out two chicks had survived.
"We were devastated when the tern platform was sunk in the floods and feared all the chicks had died.
"News of the South African ringer's records were relayed to us....its great to know that at least two managed to survive and make the long trip to Senegal."
Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers are hoping they will both return to breed at Attenborough in spring 2010 or 2011.
(Bron: http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: http://www.derbyshireos.org.uk/Gallery.html)
Record-Breaking Puppy Mill Raid Reported In Lehigh County, Pennsylvania (US) - 800 Animals found at puppy mill
(Bron: http://www.myfoxphilly.com)
7-Jarige jongen breekt in in reptielencentrum Alice Springs (Australië) en voert 13 hagedissen en 1 schildpad aan krokodillen
Reptiles fed to crocodile during break-in
Alice Springs police say no action can be taken against a seven year-old boy who killed more than a dozen reptiles, because he's not legally responsible.
02-10-2008 ABC Local, Australia
Staff arrived at the Alice Springs Reptile Centre yesterday morning to find thorny devils, blue tongues and a goanna dead or missing. Security camera footage revealed a seven-year-old boy had jumped a rear fence and killed the animals, throwing some into the crocodile pen.
Police have spoken to the boy and his family about the incident.
The centre's director, Rex Neindorf, says he'll consider further action.
'This is a juvenile so unfortunately nothing can be done but we'll probably look at taking the family to court and getting restitution that way.
"Parents of children need to learn that they have to keep their children under control and they just can't wreak havoc like what's going on."
Mr Neindorf says 13 lizards and a turtle were killed, with most thrown into the crocodile pen.
He says the gruesome discovery was made just before 8:00am yesterday.
"One of the staff was actually out the back and actually heard a noise going on in the crocodile pond.
"He put his head over to investigate and the crocodile was actually eating one of the animals then upon a quick look around the back he discovered more had gone missing.
"The saddest thing is we've lost our female spencer's goanna. We've had her for close to 10 years and she's around 20 years old, so that's a big loss for us."
Mr Neindorf says he's saddened someone so young was involved in the killings.
(Bron: http://www.abc.net.au/)
(Bron foto: http://www.reptilecentre.com.au/)
Quebec (Canada) is hoofdstad van puppy fokkers in Noord-Amerika - Binnen een week 268 jonge hondjes uit fokkerijen gered
150 dogs saved as animal welfare workers bust
Quebec puppy mill
02-10-2008 Metro, Canada
MONTREAL - For the second time in less than a week, animal welfare workers have busted a puppy mill north of Montreal. Officials have not revealed the exact location of the mill but say they've seized about 150 dogs of varying sizes.
The animals were living in squalid conditions and had suffered serious neglect, says Rebecca Aldworth, director of animal programs for Humane Society International Canada. It took nearly five hours to transport all the dogs to the Montreal shelter of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. No charges have been laid.
Alanna Devine, acting executive director at the SPCA's Montreal chapter, says she hopes that two busts in less than one week will ratchet up public support to shut down the mills.
Last Friday, 118 animals were rescued from a puppy mill in Rawdon, Que. where other dogs were found dead.
Quebec is often described as the puppy mill capital of North America.
(Bron: http://www.metronews.ca/)
woensdag 1 oktober 2008
Minister Verburg (Landbouw) kan juridisch niets doen aan couperen Nederlandse paarden in Frankrijk - Couperen in Nederland bij wet verboden
Paarden via sluiproute gecoupeerd in Frankrijk
01-10-2008 Agrarisch Dagblad
Het couperen van staarten bij paarden is in Nederland verboden, maar toch staan er veel veulens in de wei waarvan de staart verwijderd is.
Veel eigenaren van paarden maken gebruik van een "sluiproute'' naar Frankrijk en daar kan minister Gerda Verburg (Landbouw) juridisch niets tegen doen, zei de CDA-bewindsvrouw vandaag in de Tweede Kamer.
Dit tot verdriet van Harm Evert Waalkens (PvdA) en Esther Ouwehand (Partij voor de Dieren), die hierover een motie indienden. Verburg vindt met hen dat dit eigenlijk niet kan en is daarom met organisaties van fokkers in gesprek om eigenaren van paarden tot beter gedrag aan te sporen.
(Bron: http://www.agd.nl/)
PETA Asia/Pacific: 'Mannen hebben groente nodig voor beter sexleven in plaats van viagra'
Go vegan for happier sex life
01-10-2008 By Thea Alberto, INQUIRER.net, The Philippines
MANILA, Philippines—What men need to "keep it up" is not popular erection medicine Viagra or any other sexual enhancers. Vegetables, surprisingly, can prevent or even reduce chances of having erectile dysfunction (ED), the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said Wednesday.
Health websites described ED, sometimes called "impotence," as the repeated "inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse" or the lack of sexual desire and problems with attaining orgasm.
Improper eating habits -- including eating too much fat, or poor gaining diabetes, prostate cancer and inflammation -- could also lead to impotence.
PETA said vegetables also help remove "plaque from arterial walls" caused by fatty food, and eventually prevents ED from happening. The result? A happier sex life.
Actress and FHM cover girl Alicia Mayer, a PETA-Asia Pacific advocate, attests to this and even posed to promote vegetarianism and combat animal cruelty.
In a very sexy pin-up, Mayer challenged men to "get it up" only by going vegan.
“Maaring tumagal kayo ng isang gabi sa tulong ng viagra, ngunit mapapatagal kayo habang buhay ng pagiging vegetarian,” said Mayer.
Mayer said the cholesterol accumulated from oily food processed from animals only prevents proper blood circulation, which could lead not only to impotence but various heart ailments.
(Bron: http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/)
(Bron foto: The Inquirer)
Tuinman in Blackburn (Engeland) ziet zeer lange python in zijn tuin aan voor boomtak
Gardener mistakes 17ft python for tree branch
A gardener working in his allotment was shocked to find a branch he was ready to throw away was actually a 17 foot-long python.
01-10-2008 By Chris Irvine, The Daily Telegraph, UK
Ronnie Kenyon was looking at his potato patch when he picked up what he thought was a branch, intending to throw it into a nearby river. But 58-year-old Mr Kenyon, a retired signmaker from Blackburn, Lancashire, was surprised when it moved.
He said: "I got the shock of my life when it turned its head towards me and I put it straight down.
"It was as long as a truck. I thought somebody must have put it there as a joke.
"Then I thought it might be preparing to make a meal for itself out of my baby chicks and ducklings."
Mr Kenyon used bales of hay and chicken wire to construct a makeshift pen to trap the snake before calling the police Photo: JEFF MORRIS
He used bales of hay and chicken wire to construct a makeshift pen to trap the snake before calling the police.
Mr Kenyon, who has an 800ft allotment behind his home where he keeps more than 100 animals, including chickens, goats, ducks, geese and rabbits, discovered the python under a cart.
Lancashire Police handed the giant snake over to local vets. It is now being cared for by the RSPCA.
Sgt Graham Brownsmith, who handled the snake after advice from the RSPCA, said: "This is the largest snake I have had to deal with.
"I certainly would not advise anybody to approach a snake.
"If they see one they should contact the police or the RSPCA."
(Bron: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Daily Telegraph)
Proefdieronderzoekers Engeland moeten lijden proefdieren exact kwalificeren....
Scientists may be forced to report exactly how
much animals suffer in laboratory experiments
01-10-2008 By Daily Mail Reporter, The Daily Mail, UK
Scientists may for the first time be legally required to describe the level of suffering endured by animals in their laboratories under new proposals unveiled today. Currently institutions have to say in advance whether planned procedures are likely to inflict "mild, moderate or substantial" suffering on animals. However the degree of suffering animals actually experience is not reported.
The new system would additionally make it necessary to grade animal suffering as "mild, moderate or substantial" after an experiment is over.
Out of a group of 10 mice
, for example, seven may have experienced "mild" suffering, two "moderate" and one "substantial". Under the new proposals this information would have to be reported to the Home Office. It would be used to provide national figures on the actual experience of animals in Britain's laboratories. But there would be no "league table" of distress caused to animals. The figures would be pooled together to provide an overall picture without individual institutions being named.The retrospective reporting system, modelled on one that has already existed for 10 years in Switzerland, was drawn up by experts on the Animal Procedures Committee, which advises the Home Office. Government officials will now consider the proposals before deciding whether they should be adopted.
As the recommendations stand, they would not require new legislation. At present, scientists tend to over-estimate suffering bands when making licence applications to conduct experiments. This minimises the danger of accidentally breaking the law by inflicting more pain on an animal than the licence allows. Many animals selected for "moderate" or "substantial" procedures are actually thought to experience mild suffering. This is not reflected in figures published by the Home Office.
Dr David Smith, chief executive of the Laboratory Animals Science Association (Lasa), who chaired the APC working group which set out the proposals, described the change as a "milestone". He added: "At the moment the information available in the public domain is very limited."We hope that this is going to be a way forward. Transparency is going to be increased, and animal research scientists themselves are extremely pleased. It enables them to be a lot more open in their work."
Colleague Professor Dominic Wells, a scientist from Imperial College London, said: "We record all the animals that enter into a particular procedure but don't recall what happens to the animals during the procedure." Now we will make available to the public a clear record of what happens to every single animal that undergoes a procedure."That will enable the public to have a better understanding of animal suffering and enable us to be really transparent."Speaking at the Science Media Centre in London, he defended the decision not to let the public know how animals fare at particular institutions."There has unfortunately historically been persistent threats and physical violence and damage to institutions," he said."It's currently felt that until that essentially terrorist threat is removed there is a need for security."Consideration was given to a more complex system with more categories of suffering. But keeping the existing broad brackets meant the proposals could be easily introduced without bringing in new legislation.
The Committee also recommended that a glossary be made available with the published figures explaining what the suffering bands mean.
"Mild" procedures are classified as those which may give rise to "slight or transitory minor adverse effects". Examples included the taking of small blood samples and minor surgery under anaesthesia.
"Moderate" procedures include non-lethal toxicity tests and surgery followed by post-operative pain reduction and care.
"Substantial" procedures can result in a "major departure" from an animal's usual state of health or well being. They might include poison tests leading to significant illness or death, major surgery, or genetic engineering to model diseases that seriously compromise an animal's welfare.
Scientists would provide their own assessments, but laboratories could be visited at any time by Home Office inspectors, the experts said.
Dr Smith said even though no individual institutions would be named or shamed, the scientific community as a whole would be motivated to improve the lot of laboratory animals."I'm quite certain we will refine our methods so we don't get so many animals undergoing substantial procedures," he said.
Animal welfare in laboratories may yet require new laws as a result of a new European Union directive that could be introduced as early as this year.
(Bron: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)
(Bron foto: Daily Mail)
Olifanten wandelen rustig door de lobby van Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia...
Pictured: Elephants march through hotel lobby
after it was built on their migration trail
01-10-2008 By Mail Foreign Service The Mail on Sunday, UK
These amazing pictures show why you shouldn't get between an African elephant and its favourite food.
When Mfuwe Lodge in Zambia happens to have been built next a mango tree that one family of pachyderms have always visited when the fruit ripens. When they returned one year and found the luxury accommodation in the way, they simply walked through reception.
Andy Hogg, 44, Director at the Bushcamp Company that runs the Lodge, has lived in the South Luangwa national park since 1982.
But in his 26 years of dealing with wild animals in the Zambian national park, Andy has never seen such intimate interaction between man and beast.
'This is the only place
in the world where elephants freely get so close to humans,' says the 44-year-old. 'The elephants start coming through base camp in late November of each year to eat the mangoes from our trees.
'When they are ripe they come through and they stand about for four to six weeks coming back each day or second day to eat the mangoes.'
Living in the 5,000 square mile national park, the ten strong elephant herd are led to the lodge each day by Wonky Tusk.
'They come through the lodge to eat the fruit.
'There is ten in that herd and it is only that herd that comes through. It is a strange thing.
'The matriarchal in the herd is Wonky Tusk, and she brings the nine others through and they come and go as they please.'
Employing 150 staff over the eight camps, the management of the lodge are happy to report that there have been no incidents involving the elephants to date.
'The elephants do get reasonably close to the staff as you can see with the pictures of the elephants near the reception,' he explains.
'But we do not allow the guests to get too close.
'Guests can stand in the lounge are but as long as there is a barrier between the elephants and the guests that is okay.
'The elephants are not aggressive but you don't want to tempt anything as they are wild animals.
'It is the elephants choice to come into base camp and they have been doing it for the last ten years.
'There are other wild mango trees around and they seem to prefer this one.'
And even thought the lodge was unwittingly built upon the path, Andy says they had no idea the elephants would insist on returning.
'It wasn't a design mistake - no-one really knew they were going to come through,' he says.
'The lodge was built and then the elephants started coming through afterwards.
'We keep people at a safe distance. They are obviously close enough to see what is going on from pretty close quarters but we also make sure we have staff around to make sure the elephants don't get too close.'But as I said they are still wild and still dangerous. They are huge beasts and untamed.
'We have bricks and walls between the elephants and the guests such as the counter and other barriers to stop them getting to people and if they try to there is enough time for people to get away.'
'We find that we get more people visiting us during the elephant migration because of the unique experience of being so close to wild animals in an unusual environment.,' says Andy.
'But as I said this is a totally natural phenomenon, the elephants come here of their own accord and it is certainly a rare but magnificent sight.'
(Bron: http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk)
(Bron foto's: Mail on Sunday)
Neushoorns Zuid-Afrika bedreigd door meer en meer stropers
Meer stropers bedreigen neushoorns in Zuid-Afrika
01-10-2008 De Morgen, Belgium
De neushoornpopulatie in Zuid-Afrika wordt bedreigd door het stijgend aantal stropers die de viervoeters vermoorden voor hun waardevolle hoorns, aldus een rapport. De krant The Witness meldde dat er dit jaar al twaalf witte neushoorns zijn gedood in reservaten in de oostelijke provincie KwaZulu-Natal. De hoorns werden verwijderd en hun lichamen achtergelaten.
Bekend wildpark
Een woordvoerder van Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, bevestigde de moorden. Tegenover de voorbije jaren is het aantal gedode dieren sterk gestegen. Het aantal gestroopte neushoorns in de reservaten in de provincie ligt normaal niet hoger dan twee à drie dieren per jaar. De meest recente moorden op neushoorns in het gebied vonden in september plaats in het Hluhluwe-Omfolozi Park, een van de meest bekende wildparken van Zuid-Afrika, ten noordoosten van havenstad Durban.
Rangers die in het park patrouilleerden vonden de karkassen van vier neushoorns, waaronder twee volwassen vrouwtjes. De vier neushoorns waren neergeschoten met wapens met een hoog kaliber. De hoorns van de vier dieren waren netjes verwijderd met een scherp voorwerp, wat erop wijst dat iemand met veel ervaring hier aan het werk was" zei Jeff Gaisford, woordvoerder van KZN Wildlife aan de krant.
Medicijnen
De eenheid voor georganiseerde misdaad van de politie heeft een onderzoek geopend naar de slachtpartijen, waarvan wordt geloofd dat ze gerelateerd zijn aan de bloeiende handel van hoorns van neushoorns op de zwarte markt. De hoorn is vooral populair in Azië, voornamelijk China, waar ze menen dat er een geneeskundige kracht aan is. Vaak wordt ook gedacht dat de hoorns een afrodisiacum zijn.
Big Five
In het grootste wildpark van Zuid-Afrika, het Kruger National Park, werd vorig jaar ook een zachte stijging van het aantal moorden op neushoorns gemeld, met minstens zeventig doden op zes jaar tijd. Ook Zimbabwe is een belangrijk doel voor neushoornstropers. Het land heeft al duizenden neushoorns verloren aan stropers sinds 1980. Neushoorns maken deel uit van de 'Big Five', net als leeuwen, luipaarden, buffels en olifanten. (dpa/gb)
(Bron: http://www.demorgen.be/)
(Bron foto: http://torch.cs.dal.ca/~riordan/sa2007/EastCape.html)
Vermiste 62-jarige kampeerder in Queensland (Australië) waarschijnlijk gedood door krokodil
Second sandal found after suspected croc attack
01-10-2008 LiveNews, Australia
Police say they've found a second sandal, belonging to a 62-year-old man they suspect has been taken by a crocodile in far north Queensland. Arthur Booker from Logan, south of Brisbane, hasn't been seen since he went to check a crabpot at the Endeavour River Escape campsite near Cooktown, north of Cairns, about 8.30 (AEST) yesterday morning.
The Vietnam veteran and his wife Doris were on a two-day holiday at the campsite. Cairns Police say a sandal belonging to Mr Booker has been found 400 metres upstream, after earlier efforts turned up his wristwatch and the other sandal.
The area where Mr Booker disappeared is home to a 20ft salt water crocodile named Charlie, seen here when he was tagged for conservation purposes.
The only other clues to his disappearance are a camera left on the bank, the track marks of a crocodile and a snapped crabpot line.Police say 15 people are continuing the search for Mr Booker and will continue tomorrow if nothing eventuates today.
Mrs Booker has been admitted to Cooktown hospital for observation after being deeply distressed over the incident.It's expected a family member will front a media conference this afternoon.
(Bron: http://www.livenews.com.au/)
(Bron foto: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1065197/Pictured-The-British-pensioner-eaten-alive-crocodile-Australian-outback.html)
(Lees ook / Read also: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/10/01/scot-killed-in-outback-by-giant-crocodile-86908-20763878/)
Overheid VS wil 45 planten, 2 vogels en 1 insect op Hawaii plaatsen op lijst bedreigde diersoorten
Feds propose listing 48 Hawaiian species at once
30-09-2008 By DAVID BRISCOE, Associated Press Writer, One Local News, USA
HONOLULU - The federal government took a new, ecosystem-based approach to the endangered species list on Tuesday, proposing an all-at-once addition of 48 species, including plants, two birds and a fly, that live only on the Hawaiian island of Kauai.
The same approach is planned to help protect rare species on Oahu, the Big Island and Maui over the next several years, and it could be considered for the Arctic, big river systems of the Southwest and areas of the mountain West, according to department officials.
Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, in Honolulu for an island health conference, said the new "holistic approach" will benefit not only the listed species but also the rest of the ecosystem.
The species include 45 plants, two birds and an insect, the Hawaiian picture-wing fly.
It pointed out that no recommendation has been made for 23 other species the administration had told Congress it would be proposing for this fiscal year.
The two Kauai birds are the akikiki and the akekee
, both honeycreepers and prized finds for birdwatchers. The akekee is yellow and green with a short blue bill and long notched tail. The akikiki has dark feathers above and light feathers below and a pink bill.Scientists blame nonnative plants, feral pigs and goats, disease introduced by mosquitoes and storms for the decline. Development also has hurt Kauai‘s ecosystem, though much of the land proposed for critical habitat is mountainous and roadless.
Hawaii has more endangered species than any other state with 329, and Kauai has more than any other Hawaiian island with the greatest diversity of plants and animals.
All but 1,646 acres of the 27,674 acres proposed for the 48 species overlap existing critical habitat for other species. Most of the land is federally owned, but nearly 6,000 acres is held by 12 private owners.
Known habitat for one of the species on the list, the Pritchardia hardyi plant, was left out of the proposal. Officials said it was not considered prudent to include it because the rare palm is often illegally gathered and designating its habitat would tell collectors where to find it.
(Bron: http://www.onelocalnews.com/)
(Bron foto akekee: http://www.surfbirds.com/sbirdsnews/archives/2007/04/)
Australische regering stelt onderzoek in naar mogelijke onethische dierproeven in 'Northern Territory'
Govt promises to investigate animal testing
01-20-2008 ABC Darwin, Australia
Related Story: NT animal tests an unknown quantity, says animal rights group
The Government says it will thoroughly investigate whether any invasive animal research or testing is being conducted in the Northern Territory.
The Australian Association for Humane Research lobby group says despite repeated requests, the Northern Territory Government has never provided them with any figures on whether the practice occurs.
The Territory Minister for Local Government, Rob Knight, says its difficult to know which portfolio should respond, but his department will investigate.
He says he's not aware of any unethical animal testing practices happening in the Northern Territory and there are legislative safeguards in place to protect animals.
"We have legislation in place here in the Territory which we obviously support, but we're also looking at improving the legislation with respect to the care and treatment of animals."
(Bron: http://www.abc.net.au/)
Onbekenden hebben vacht verwijderd drie kalfjes boederij Penssylvania (VS) - Een kalfje heeft mishandeling overleefd....
Skin removed from calves on farm
01-10-2008 UPI United Press International
SMITHFIELD, Pa., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Three calves have been found skinned on a western Pennsylvania farm. The calf in the most recent incident survived and is expected to recover, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The other two died.
Louie Diamond, who owns the farm near Smithfield in Fayette County, said he found the 87-pound female Holstein calf Monday morning with a strip of skin taken from her back.
Dr. Donald Tummons, whose partner closed up the wound on the calf's back, said it is expected to make a good recovery.
"This is kind of an unusual thing, and very sad," Tummons said. "Someone is out to try to kill these animals. I don't know what the message might be. ... We just treat the animals. They certainly didn't do anything wrong."
(Bron: http://www.upi.com/)
Na verbouw kroeg in Britse Jarrow is bekendste klant, paard Peggy, niet meer welkom....
Why the long face? Pub bans horsey regular
30-09-2008 By Paul Sims, Daily Mail, UK
You can lead a horse to water, as the saying goes. But, given the option, this one preferred a pint of bitter - until recently. For Peggy the beer-swilling horse has been barred from her local.
Landlady Jackie Gray called time on the 12-year-old Dales pony's visits and gave her the hoof after The Alexandra Hotel bar in Jarrow, South Tyneside, was refurbished.
Peggy first started drinking in the Alexandra two years ago.
Her owner, 62-year-old Peter Dolan, said he used to leave her tethered to a post outside when he went in for a drink.
But because her rope was so long, one day she walked in and stood at the bar beside all the regulars.
Peggy became a local celebrity overnight - appearing in newspapers, magazines and even on German television.
'No one even took any notice of her in the pub,' said Mr Dolan, a retired rigger from Jarrow Slake. 'Everyone just saw her as one of the locals.'However, after two years drinking and munching on her favourite beef-flavoured crisps, she has been shown the door for fear that she will leave her hoof prints on the new carpets.
She now has to stand outside looking in at her erstwhile drinking buddies.
'People come into the pub and the first thing they say is 'where's Peggy?',' said Mr Dolan, who has never had a problem with his neigh-bours before.
'In fact, she reminds me of Red Rum. She's a proper lady.
'Sometimes she's better than some of the ladies we get in here.
'She still gets her favourite John Smith's bitter now and again and loves her beef crisps but she'll not be back in the pub.'
Dennis Podtt, a regular at The Alexandra Hotel, described Peggy as a lovely horse.
'She just stands by the door now and watches us from outside,' he said. 'No matter what the weather, even if it's pouring down with rain, she knows not to come in.'
'It's like having lost one of the locals, but at least it leaves more beer for me,' added the 76-year-old retired labourer.
(Bron: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/)
(Bron foto's: Daily Mail)
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