News
The number of news found: 36.
08/31/2009 RUSSIAN COAST GUARDS RETURN 8,000 CRABS TO SEA
Some 8,000 live crabs, confiscated by Russian coast guards earlier in the week, have been released into the Sea of Japan, a spokeswoman for the Coast Guard Service said Friday. Natalya Rondaleva said that coast guards detained the Cambodia-flagged Trojana fishing vessel Aug 24 with 12.5 tonnes of live crab on board, worth some 5.5 million rubles ($174,000).
08/27/2009 BOY DIES AFTER DRAGGED BY OWN COW AT ALASKA FAIR
A 9-year-old Alaska boy has died after he was dragged several hundred feet by his own cow at the Kenai Peninsula State Fair in Ninilchik. The boy's father, Blair Martin, says his son Mathias died at Providence Alaska Medical Center on Friday night, hours after he was dragged by the cow at the fairgrounds. He says his son died from head injuries. Martin says the boy put around his waist the rope attached to the cow's harness, and that something spooked the cow while Mathias was out of his family's view. He says bystanders' cries for help alerted him to the cow "dragging what I just thought was a jacket, and it turned out to be his ragdoll body bouncing in the background."
08/26/2009 VEGAN PRISONERS WIN RIGHT TO CRUELTY FREE PRODUCTS IN JAIL
Vegan prisoners have won the right to order ethically-sourced food, toiletries and cosmetics in jail. They will be allowed to buy in products including nuts, seeds, dried fruits, vegan chocolate bars, soap, shampoo, deodorant, sunscreen, lipstick and facial scrubs after prison chiefs agreed to allow them to place mail order requests to two "eco-outlets." Vegans refuse to eat any food, wear any clothes or use any product which involves the use of animals in any way. There are an estimated 800 in the prison population at any one time and they currently struggle to obtain products they find acceptable, with most jail canteen food and even prison-issue boots excluded. It is the latest in a series of rulings to protect the rights of inmates from minority groups.
08/26/2009 THAILAND LAUNCHES PRIMATE BIRTH CONTROL
Thailand is trying to limit the number of monkeys that roam freely in the town of Lopburi after residents complained the primate tourist attractions are becoming more annoying, and aggressive. About 2,500 macaques live in close proximity to the people of Lopburi, north of Bangkok, scrambling around its famous, ancient Hindu-Buddhist shrine and Khmer-style pagodas as well as homes and the local market. The monkeys often snatch bags away from passers-by, and even enter homes to steal food and play. Barbed wire and iron fences are a common sight on buildings to deter them. For years, residents have tolerated the animals, but the monkey population is growing rapidly and intensifying the battle with humans for food and living space. Veterinarians, who are sterilizing male monkeys, say this will benefit the macaques, not just the people.
08/25/2009 GHENT IS LAUNCHING THE VEGETARIAN CAMPAIGN IN SCHOOLS
On October 1, Ghent, the first city with a weekly vegetarian day, is launching the campaign in schools. At 35 city schools, lunch on Thursday will be vegetarian by default. Parents, teachers and students will be informed about the campaign. The city's hotel and restaurant school will introduce the campaign also. Also on October 1, Hasselt will be the second Belgian city to officially have a weekly vegetarian day.
08/24/2009 MERCURY IN FISH WIDESPREAD
No fish can escape mercury pollution. That's the take-home message from a federal study of mercury contamination that tested fish from nearly 300 streams across the country. The toxic substance was found in every fish sampled, a finding that underscores how widespread mercury pollution has become. But while all fish had traces of contamination, only about a quarter had mercury levels exceeding what the Environmental Protection Agency says is safe for people eating average amounts of fish. The study by the U.S. Geological Survey is the most comprehensive look to date at mercury in the nation's streams. From 1998 to 2005, scientists collected and tested more than a thousand fish, including bass, trout and catfish, from 291 streams nationwide.
08/24/2009 KILLER SANDWICH: HAM LINKED TO CANCER
They might seem a harmless lunchtime filler but ham, salami and devon are on the World Cancer Research Fund's hit list. The cancer charity says eating processed meat is linked to bowel cancer in adults and it is now calling on parents to teach healthy food habits early.
08/23/2009 COCKFIGHTING RACKET BUSTEN IN INDIA, 143 ARRESTED
The New Panvel police busted a betting racket in cockfighting and arrested 143 people from a farmhouse under the Bombay Prevention of Gambling Act and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Those arrested include mainly businessmen from Mumbai, Pune as well as Mangalore. Talking to TOI, deputy commissioner of police (zone 2) Ashok Dudhe said, "The New Panvel police carried out a raid at Abhishek farmhouse in Waje village near Panvel. A cash amount of Rs 2.1 lakh was seized along with some of the cocks that were used in the betting matches.'' Small knives were tied to the feet of the birds so that they could fatally wound the rival fighter cock. The spectators placed bets on the birds while enjoying the blood-sport. Over 25 live cocks were rescued by the police, but they have been kept in a dark room at the police station.
08/23/2009 SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY DIES DURING BULL RUN IN NAVARRA
During festivities in Navarra, a sixteen-year-old boy from Cabanillas fell to the ground during a bull run and was attacked by a bull. He was seriously hurt. The boy was taken to Reina Sofia de Tudela Hospital, where he later died. Ana Maria Rodriguez, mayor of Cabanillas, confirmed the death.
08/22/2009 OCEAN TEMPERATURE BREAKS THE RECORD
Once again, the world sets new temperature records. According to an analysis by NOAA's National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, USA, the planet's ocean surface temperature in July has broken the previous high mark from 1998. The global ocean surface temperature for July was 0.59oC (1.06oF) above the 20th century average of 16.4oC (61.5oF). All in all, the planet was warmer than normal, though July ranked "only" fifth-warmest since world-wide records began in 1880. The combined average global land and ocean surface temperature for July 2009 ends at 0.57oC (1.03oF) above the 20th century average of 15.8oC (60.4oF). According to the federal scientists, it was hotter than usual in Europe, Northern Africa and a large part of Western North America. Across these regions, temperatures were about 2-4oC (4-7oF) above average. However, Southern South America, Central Canada, the Eastern United States and parts of Western and Eastern Asia experienced cooler than average conditions, where region-wide temperatures were nearly 2-4oC (4-7oF) below average.
08/21/2009 NIA LONG GETS NAKED FOR PETA
PETA continues to get sexy celebrities to drop trou for its anti-fur campaign. Actress Nia Long is the latest to join the animal-loving organization's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign, posing suggestively in a subway car. "There's no difference, in my opinion, [between fur and] slavery or the Holocaust," Long said. "It's just that we're not dealing with human beings, we're dealing with animals, but it's still a living thing."
08/21/2009 FOOD CRISIS COULD FORCE WARTIME RATIONS AND VEGETARIAN DIET ON BRITONS
The British people face wartime rations and a vegetarian diet in the event of a world food shortage, a new official assessment on the UK's food security suggests. Even though the nation is 73 per cent self-sufficient in food production, higher than during the 1950s, the food chain is at risk from global influences such as a worldwide increase in population, climate change bringing extreme weather patterns, higher oil prices and more crops being grown for bio-fuel instead of food. Supplies in future may also be disrupted by animal disease outbreaks, disruption of power supplies, trade disputes and interruptions for shipping and at ports.
08/20/2009 LIMA WOMAN DISGUISES HERSELF TO SAVE HER DOG
A woman whose dog was taken to be killed at the Experiment Institute of the San Marcos National University which is based in the Arzobispo Loayza Hospital, resorted to disguising herself as a doctor so that she could enter the hospital and save her dog. Carmen Valverde, 36, managed to enter the Institute to rescue her dog whom she found shaved and under anesthetic, ready to be used for surgery practice. Ms Valverde was detained by the hospital's security staff and taken to the police station for having entered the institute illegally. She was later freed. Ms. Valverde stated that her pet was stolen by a man who receives 40 New Sols (US$14) to take animals to the Loayza Hospital for use in student practicals.
08/20/2009 RISING CANCER LEVELS IN ANIMALS
Manmade chemicals are increasing cancer rates in animals - threatening some with extinction, according to a report published in Nature. The report, "Wildlife Cancer: a conservation perspective," said high cancer levels were found in wildlife populations living in environments heavily contaminated with chemicals. It also said there was a danger that cancer levels could lead some species such as the Tasmanian devil into extinction.
08/19/2009 OBAMA DAUGHTERS IN CONTROVERSIAL AD
A controversial ad campaign you might see on the Metro is drawing a comparison between school lunches and what President Obama's children eat at their school. It shows an eight year old girl who points out Sasha and Malia get healthy lunches and asks, "Why don't I?" A non profit group, Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine sponsored the ads. It says the Obama girls have vegetarian choices at Sidwell Friends and so should public school kids across the country. It claims children in public schools are more likely to be offered meat and cheese items.
08/19/2009 INDIA PLANS REFORM SCHOOL FOR MONKEYS
Wildlife officials in India plan to build a special school to improve the behavior of delinquent monkeys. They say the aim is to target monkeys that pose a serious threat to people in the state of Punjab. Officials say monkeys are a growing menace in Punjab as the animals move into towns and cities looking for food. The state government has asked India's Central Zoo Authority for funds to build the country's first monkey rescue and rehabilitation centre.
08/18/2009 PIGEON CULL IN AUSTRALIAN PORT LINCOLN
Pigeons might be dropping out of the sky around Port Lincoln but it is just part of an annual cull conducted by ABB Grain. ABB has a procedure to control pigeons at all of its sites in South Australia and western Victoria, which is ongoing throughout the year. The procedure includes deterring, trapping, storing or destroying pigeons in a way that minimises stress to the birds and also complies with guidelines set out by the RSPCA. Port Lincoln RSPCA shelter manager Narelle Biddell said this latest cull involved poisoning the pigeons, which was considered humane, and generally the pigeons would die around the ABB site. She said poison was put in the grain, which the birds ate and in turn euthanised them. People should not be alarmed if they noticed a few dead pigeons around town she said, because the cull was controlled.
08/17/2009 MAN IN COURT OVER TORTOISE CARE CHARGES
An animal salesman who admitted failing to properly care for 150 tortoises and five iguanas was given a four month prison sentence suspended for a year. Ian Crosby, 48, of Fouracres, Llantwit Major, who sold tortoises and other animals through his internet business, appeared before magistrates in Barry to admit seven charges brought by the Vale of Glamorgan council.
08/17/2009 TWO WILD BOAR PIGLETS MASSACRED, PRIEST INVESTIGATED
On July 20, two wild boar piglets made a surprise appearance in a public square during a supper near the church of Saint Bartolomeo di Sori. Children enjoyed the unexpected and funny encounter but then had to witness in horror how six adults, some probably under the influence of too much alcohol, cornered the animals and beat them to death with shovels. The carcasses of the animals were later found in the freezer of the church; they were confiscated. Attorney Biagio Mazzeo opened an inquiry. Italian activists protested by organizing demos in front of and in the church and writing mails to newspapers and to the catholic hierarchy.
08/15/2009 AUTHORITY REJECTS PERMIT FOR EXPERIMENTS ON PRIMATES AGAIN
The Health Authority in Bremen has confirmed that the experiments of brain researcher Kreiter may not be continued. The University wants to appeal against the decision and is prepared to take it to Germany's highest court, the Federal Constitution Court. In October 2008 the authority who is responsible for granting licenses for conducting animal experiments in Bremen denied a further extension of the permit. Until then Kreiter's permit had been extended every three years, the last extension expiring on November 30, 2008. The neuroscientist filed a formal objection against Bremen's health authority's decision and simultaneously applied for an interim court order allowing him to continue the experiments until the legal dispute is settled. This can take years. In December 2008, Bremen's Administrative Court ruled that the experiments may be continued for a maximum of two months subsequent to service of the health authority's pending decision on the objection. This decision has now been made. This means that the experiments may be conducted only for another two months from now on. However, Kreiter want to apply for another interim order allowing him to continue his experiments beyond this two months period.
08/14/2009 CHE GUEVARA'S GRANDDAUGHTER GOES NAKED FOR VEGGIES
For the first time ever, PETA is readying a campaign to promote vegetarianism in South America. How fitting then that the woman they chose to front it is none other than the 24-year-old granddaughter of Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. The animal rights group approached Lydia Guevara in recent months after finding out that she was vegetarian. In the ad, Guevara wears camouflage pants, a red beret, and bandoliers of baby carrots while standing with one fist on her hip and the other outstretched. "It very much evokes the tag line of the ad, which is 'Join the vegetarian revolution,'" PETA spokesman Michael McGraw told the AP. "It's an homage of sorts to her late grandfather." The full print is expected to hit magazines and posters this coming October.
08/14/2009 MAN THREW DOG OFF 6TH-FLOOR NYC ROOF
A New York City man has been accused of throwing his dog from the roof of a six-floor city housing project, critically injuring the animal. Animal welfare officers arrested 19-year-old Fabian Henderson of Brooklyn. He has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals and reckless endangerment, both felonies. Joseph Pentangelo with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says surgeons had to reassemble Oreo's front legs. The 1-year-old terrior mix is able to walk. Residents of the housing project called the animal welfare group last month, saying a dog was being beaten inside an apartment. Neighbors later called to say a dog had been thrown off a building's roof. Officers do not know if Henderson has an attorney.
08/13/2009 BELUGA WHALE SAVES DROWNING DIVER
A beluga whale saved a drowning diver by hoisting her to the surface, carrying her leg in her mouth. Terrified Yang Yun thought she was going to die when her legs were paralyzed by crippling cramps in arctic temperatures. She had been taking part in a free diving contest without any breathing equipment. Competitors had to sink to the bottom of an aquarium's 20ft arctic pool and stay there for as long as possible amid the beluga whales at Polar Land in Harbin, north east China.
08/12/2009 SECOND GOLDEN EAGLE FOUND POISONED IN SCOTLAND
A golden eagle has been found dead on a Scottish estate after being illegally poisoned, police have confirmed. The bird was being tracked by wildlife experts, but her movements came to an abrupt stop at the beginning of July. Police and wildlife investigators have been searching the Millden Estate, near Brechin in Angus, in connection with the death. It is the second golden eagle to be poisoned in Scotland this summer, following the discovering of a carcass last month in the Glen Orchy area of Argyll.
08/12/2009 RUSSIAN GENETICISTS SUGGEST BREEDING MAMMOTHS TO FIGHT CRISIS
Russian geneticists are working to resurrect the mammoth, the enormous cold-tolerant mammoth is an ideal animal for agricultural breeding, they say. "Our studies dedicated to decoding the mammoth's genome will soon allow us to resurrect this long extinct animal," Alexei Tikhonov, secretary for the National Mammoth Committee told Life.ru.
08/11/2009 RESCUED KOALA SAM DIES IN SURGERY
A koala named Sam which became a celebrity in Australia after being rescued from bush fires earlier this year has died during surgery. She was put to sleep during an operation to remove cysts, after veterinary surgeons found her condition was too advanced to be treatable. Sam had become a symbol of hope for Australians after the deadliest bushfires in the the country's history. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the 4-year-old koala's death was "tragic". Sam was found by fire fighters carrying out preventative back burning operations in Victoria state. She was picking her way through the scorched bush on badly burned paws. Images of her drinking water from a bottle held by fire fighter David Tree were seen around the world.
08/10/2009 MASSIVE FISH DIE-OFF IN SHELBURNE
Thousands of fish died last Wednesday in Shelburne Pond, probably due to oxygen starvation, wildlife experts say. Laboratory tests for diseases and water quality will began to determine with greater certainty the circumstances that left the shores of the pond matted with dead and dying fish, said Bernie Pientka, a fisheries biologist with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
08/09/2009 DOLPHINS "TALK" TO EACH OTHER WITH TAIL SLAPS
Dolphins "talk" to each other with body movements like the slap of a tail, in a form of sign language based on similar rules to human communication, scientists have found. They observed them using body "language" that also included diving and flopping sideways on the surface, in behavior they believe to be a form of linguistics.
08/08/2009 RUSSIA BANS AUSTRALIAN KANGAROO MEAT IMPORTS
According to Rosselkhoznadzor's spokesman Alexey Alexeenko, the violation of kangaroo meat import supplies by Australia was the main reason for such actions from Russia. For instance, traces of E. coli have been detected by the Russian veterinary inspectors. Alexeenko added that the Australian meat in Russia was mainly used for processing purposes. Moreover, Rosselkhoznadzor has included 27 enterprises from Argentina on the list of meat importers to Russia. "Taking the guarantees of the Argentine Veterinary Service, Rosselkhoznadzor decided to expand the list of meat producers from Argentina - another 27 producers are approved to be importers to the Russian meat market," the Rosselkhoznadzor’s press-service noted.
08/07/2009 NEW BALD BIRD DISCOVERED IN LAOS
A rare bald songbird has been hiding out in the rocky limestone cliffs of central Laos. Dubbed the "bare-faced bulbul" because of its unusual feather-free head, the newly discovered species is the only example of a bald songbird in Asia and the first new type of bulbul reported in the last 100 years. It's not clear how such a distinctive-looking bird escaped detection for so long, but the creature's preference for rugged terrain probably played a role. The rocky limestone-dominated regions of Laos are generally uninhabitable by humans but home to a variety of unique animals, including new species of rabbit and rat discovered in the last decade.
08/07/2009 SHADY SEALERS CASHING IN ON ANIMALS MEANT FOR PERSONAL USE
Some sealers may be abusing special permits that let them hunt seals for personal use by cashing in on the animals instead, newly released documents show. Commercial sealers complained to the federal Fisheries Department last year about unscrupulous hunters selling animals meant for personal consumption.
08/06/2009 SOUTH ADA RANCHER GETS 10 YEARS PROBATION
Ada County rancher Hermis Sparks pleaded guilty at a hearing to four counts of improper disposal of dead animal bodies, carcasses and body parts and one count of permitting animals to go without care. The state dismissed the remaining charges as a part of a plea deal. Sparks was charged in January with 10 criminal counts after state officials found a large number of dead and dying cattle on his property. More than 40 cow carcasses were found on the property. Judge Theresa Gardunia sentenced Sparks to five consecutive two-year terms of probation. As part of his probation, Sparks will not be allowed to own more than 20 cows at one time. The property will be inspected by the Idaho State Department of Agriculture and Idaho Humane Society. Sparks was ordered to pay $34,128 in restitution to the state Department of Agriculture and Idaho Humane Society for the cost of their investigations and care of the animals seized from his property.
08/06/2009 STRANDED SHEEP SHOT AFTER RSPCA RULES RESCUE BID TOO DANGEROUS
A sheep which was stranded on a cliff ledge for a month was shot dead after a rescue attempt was deemed too dangerous, the RSPCA said. The animal, nicknamed locally as Shaunetta, became stuck on the 200ft cliff near Hawsker, North Yorkshire, after it strayed from fields. RSPCA staff, who were alerted by members of the public, were hoping to carry out a rescue using ropes but it was decided the operation would be too risky for the sheep and its rescuers. Instead, the ewe's guardian decided to call in an independent marksmen to "humanely" destroy the animal after discussions with the animal charity. It was believed a rope rescue would have put the welfare of the sheep at "high risk" in case it fell or became injured and would also be dangerous to those carrying out the rescue.
08/04/2009 MASS CATLE DEATH ROCKS KASHIPUR
Thousands of cattle and poultry like cows, calves, buffaloes, goats and hens in many Indian villages under Kashipur block have died in the last couple of days, triggering panic amongst the people, especially the farming community. It is reported that more than 100 cows at Lakrasi village, 150 at Podipai, 60 at Jhirigumma, 150 at Kutinga, and 80 in the Upporopadikhal villages under Mandibisi, Godibali, Sunger and Kodipari panchayat of Kashipur block have died in the recent past. A team of experts, including veterinary doctors from the animal disease research institute at Phulnakhara, will be arriving here soon to identify the disease, official sources said.
08/04/2009 SEAWORLD: 3 DOLPHIN DEATHS IN 3 WEEKS
Not too many people have heard about the three dolphins who died at SeaWorld Discovery Cove in less than three weeks time. Although there's a big fuss when a dolphin is born at SeaWorld, the theme park tends to be pretty tight-lipped when a dolphin dies. But a whistleblower told PETA that Dixie, a dolphin used in Discovery Cove's "swim with the dolphins" attraction, gave birth to a stillborn infant on July 9. The whistleblower alleges that, even though Discovery Cove knew that the birth was imminent, a veterinarian was not summoned during or after the birth. A similar incident reportedly occurred in June.
08/03/2009 EU APPROVES BAN ON SEAL PRODUCTS
The European Union has endorsed a regulation to ban the trade of all seal products within the EU. Despite a last-minute plea from the Canadian government, the Council of the European Union approved the ban last Monday. "The government of Canada is gravely concerned that the European Union is continuing to push for a ban on seal products without any consideration of an exemption for Canada's humane and sustainable seal hunt," said a joint statement from Minister of International Trade Stockwell Day and Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea. In May, the 27 member states of the EU agreed to a bill that would regulate the hunt before the next sealing season. According to the Fisheries Department, 5,000 to 6,000 people in Newfoundland and Labrador derive some income from sealing. Sealing is also practised in Quebec and elsewhere in Atlantic Canada, and by Canada's aboriginals. The department estimates the population of seals in Canada at 5.6 million animals.
The number of news found: 36.
