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Category: Wildlife Trade

China Signals End To Brutal Dog Meat Trade but the Fight for Animal Rights Is Far From Over

Could a bloody and brutal trade that sees thousands of dogs skinned, bludgeoned, and boiled alive really be coming to an end? China’s new draft policy may be a watershed moment in the efforts to end the brutal trade of dog meat. Animal activists, however, remain skeptical as to whether the Chinese Government will come to the table and implement a full ban on eating man’s best friend. Thirty million dogs are slaughtered a year across Asia for meat. They suffer unspeakable cruelty at the hands of their killers – forced to watch in terror, as other dogs are beaten death or thrown still alive into boiling water to remove their skins before it is their turn to die. The fight to provide basic rights to dogs in China has been raging since the start of time but a new and deadly virus may prove to be the catalyst needed to bring about drastic change. An updated version of China’s Directory of Genetic Resources of Livestock and Poultry has been released. For the first time in history, dogs are not on the list of animals that are allowed to be bred, raised, traded, and transported for commercial purposes. Citing the “progress of human civilization” as well as growing public concern over animal welfare and prevention of disease transmission from animals to humans, China’s Ministry singled out canines as forbidden in a draft “white list” of animals classified as livestock or poultry. The list includes traditional livestock, including pigs, cows, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys, camels, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, and quails. It also covers 16 types of “special livestock”, including sika deer, red deer, reindeer, alpacas, guinea fowls, pheasants, partridges, mallards, ostriches, minks, the American red fox, the Arctic fox, and raccoon dogs. The last four species can be traded, but not for their meat. “While it’s hoped the draft will effectively end the legal trade of dogs for meat and fur, it’s important to note that it is not officially a ban on the consumption of dog meat. To the best of our knowledge, there is no actual ban on consumption. The fight to stop the trade of dog meat is still not over, and won’t be over until the relevant laws are actually revised,” said ASI’s Nicolette Peters. “In addition, while dogs have been removed from the ‘whitelist’ of approved domesticated livestock, it is disappointing to hear that two new species previously considered wild – the emus and Muscovy duck – have now been included, allowing for them to be sold. Others on the list officially declared as livestock include three animals most abused for their fur – raccoon dog, silver fox, and mink.” In a tragic twist of irony, just days after the new draft policy was released, China approved the use of bear bile to treat coronavirus patients. The extraction of bear bile from live bears is gruesome and causes unimaginable suffering and long-term health problems for these animals. All methods for extracting bile are invasive. Bears may suffer infections, starvation, dehydration, diseases, and malignant tumors, and they often die from these ailments. Consumers of bear bile also run the risk of ingesting bile from sick bears, which can be contaminated with blood, feces, pus, urine, and bacteria. “Surely, if the coronavirus has taught us anything it’s that we shouldn’t be relying on wildlife products as the solution to combat a deadly virus that appears to have originated from wildlife. Not only does bear bile farming cause enormous animal suffering, but it also poses an undeniable human health threat with the risk of zoonotic diseases,” concluded Peters.

Trump Rules See Bear Cubs Slain Where Sleeping Bears Lie

Alaskan hunters will be given the green light to slaughter bear cubs while they are safely tucked in their dens. In a shocking revelation, the Trump administration is having the National Park Service crush a 2015 order that safeguarded bears and wolves within protected lands. After President Donald Trump’s signature hits the document, authorities, and hunters will again be able to trap, bait, and kill families of bears while they are in their homes. These new rules to kill predators and their young will be in direct paradox to guidelines written by the Barack Obama administration, which banned certain cruel practices for hunting these seriously misunderstood creatures. These new rules will cause mass suffering to the predatory wildlife that inhabits two million acres of public land in the state’s Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. The slew of despicable new rules includes hunting black bears, wolves, and coyotes, as well as their cubs and pups, in their dens with the aid of artificial lights to draw them out of hibernation. It also allows for the slaying of caribou from motorboats, and, for the first time, bear hunting from “registered bait stations”. Outraged conservation groups, along with most Alaskans, have argued that once sanctioned, these practices will open a dangerous gateway for hunters to use unspeakably cruel tactics in hunting, as well as lead to wildlife mismanagement, including baiting bears and the use of barbaric trapping devices. “We cannot stand by and watch as our national parks are turned into killing fields for trophy hunters,” said Andrea Matthee, a lead campaigner at international animal welfare organization, the Animal Survival International (formerly Political Animal Lobby). “If animals cannot be safe from the hands of hunters while in their own homes, where are they expected to be safe?” Matthee continued to say that baiting bears is a cowardly and cruel practice in which trophy hunters leave out piles of junk food like doughnuts and candy to lure the bears and then shoot them. Females who have recently given birth are particularly attracted to the bait, given that they emerge from their dens in worse body condition than other bears, having lost up to 40% of their body weight. “When a lactating mother is killed, her orphaned cubs are also likely to die, either of starvation or by being killed by other predators. The traps hunters use to immobilize bears also have no place in modern society. Steel-jaw traps are notoriously used to clamp down on the bear’s legs, causing excruciating pain as they cut into the flesh, often down to the bone – mutilating the leg or paw. Some bears, especially mothers with babies to feed, will try to chew off their own limbs in an attempt to escape. These poor animals often struggle for hours or even days before the trapper returns to kill them.” Jesse Prentice-Dunn, policy director for the Center for Western Priorities – a nonpartisan conservation and advocacy organization – said that the rule change was “amazingly cruel” and “just the latest in a string of efforts to reduce protections for America’s wildlife at the behest of oil companies and trophy hunters.” Jamie Rappaport Clark, President and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, agreed, saying that the Trump administration has shockingly reached a new low in its treatment of wildlife and that allowing the killing of bear cubs and wolf pups in their dens is utterly barbaric and indescribably inhumane.

Victory for Common Sense as Sterilization Ban Is Overruled

We asked ASI supporters to sign a petition asking the South African government to reverse its lockdown ban on sterilizing street dogs during the corona crisis. The government acted and we are pleased to report that spaying and neutering is now taking place. In a country where poverty-stricken townships are crowded with stray dogs, the allowance for sterilizations to continue during stringent movement regulations is a landslide victory in the fight against animal abuse and cruelty. The announcement that only emergency veterinary surgeries could take place due to strictly regulated rules set in place to limit the spread of Covid-19 drew heavy criticism across South Africa. Organizations working tirelessly to improve the welfare of animals through sterilization programs found themselves in crisis mode, anticipating a tragic influx of pregnant dogs and puppies in the months to come. Fallen Angels was one of several shelter-and-outreach organizations affected by the bizarre ruling. Their shelter in the Western Cape cares for over 300 dogs, whilst also providing valuable care for thousands of strays living in shantytowns in and around the province. With authorities estimating there could be more than 230 000 street dogs in Cape Town alone, Fallen Angels simply could not afford to turn their back on these dogs. At the beginning of April, Fallen Angels reported they had 65 dogs who needed to be sterilized immediately and 20 puppies waiting their turn but the South African Government’s ban of street dog sterilizations until the end of lockdown meant the NPO’s hands were tied. Animal Survival International (formerly Political Animal Lobby) set out to challenge the ruling, encouraging South Africans to do the same and show their support for the cause by signing a petition to Government, as well as sharing an educational video on the importance of continuing sterilization projects in Cape Town. ASI’s efforts paid off and the ban was successfully lifted. “The Government’s announcement of the protocols relating to animal welfare issues during Level Five were incredibly perplexing. Especially the ruling that stated that only emergency animal surgeries could be performed,” said Nicolette Peters, a ASI spokesperson. “We all know dog over-population is a huge problem across South Africa’s informal settlements, especially in the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape, which is home to the largest percentage of stray animals. Stopping sterilizations in these areas – even for a brief amount of time – was an issue of grave concern for all of us.” While South Africa is facing numerous serious issues at the moment that deserve our attention, preventing cruelty to animals is certainly still one of them. Did you know that just one unsterilized female dog and her offspring can produce 67 000 puppies in only six years? Crunch the numbers and it is no wonder sterilization programs remain instrumental in reducing the number of animals who die every day due to over-population. “Every stray dogs sterilized is a victory for us because it creates a chain reaction and puts a stop to the thousands of animals that would have been born to roam the streets, live in municiASI dumping sites, or end up in rescue shelters,” added Peters. “The overturn of this ban is a giant leap forward to combat animal cruelty.”

South Africa’s Despicable Live Wildlife Trade With China

South Africa is failing dismally to protect its vulnerable wildlife from illegal trading, provoking a deep-seated sense of outrage among animal welfare experts and conservationists. According to a damning report published by EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading, fatally flawed and poorly enforced regulations are enabling an industry driven by profit and greed to thrive. In a perfect world, wild animals would live where they belong. There would be no wire cages, cramped pens, or dirty enclosures. No money to be made from their exploitation. No enjoyment to be had by their confinement. Tragically, South Africa – with its beautiful and diverse wildlife – is a growing hub for the illegal export of wild animals. South Africa supplies the lion’s share of living wild animal export to Asia. The EMS Foundation and Ban Animal Trading investigated the export of a large sample of wild animals to China. Both NGOs found evidence of dysfunctional regulations and permitting procedures in South Africa, alongside extremely concerning nature conservation issues. The report – titled Breaking Point: Uncovering South Africa’s Shameful Live Wildlife Trade With China – found that 5 035 live wild animals were exported from SA to China between 2016 and 2019. The list comprised of a bewildering array of species, ranging from kudu and giraffe to chimpanzees, African penguins, wolves, ring-tailed lemurs, and no fewer than 45 Bengal tigers, a species not native to Africa. Huge oversights by CITES and a lax approach at enforcing laws included incorrectly dated, undated and unsigned permits, permits listing incorrect numbers, ages, and places of origin for the animals involved, as well as permits giving untraceable or fictitious destination addresses in China and illegal shipments masked as legitimate exports. The authors concluded that in most cases the exports that were permitted should never have been allowed to take place. Another section of the report explored Chinese legislation for the protection of wild animals. It found that laws that attempt to prevent the trade in endangered species contained a myriad of exemptions so as to be “essentially meaningless”. Scientific research, captive breeding, and public exhibitions or performances, for example, were all escape clauses under which animals could be traded. If gross misconduct was not concerning enough, perhaps the fact that these findings have emerged at a time when the entire globe is reeling from a deadly disease that originated in wild animals should be the last straw. Astonishingly, the report notes that South African exports continued even at the time when China reached its peak of the Covid-19 outbreak. The Animal Survival International (formerly Political Animal Lobby)’s Nicolette Peters pointed out that the report emphasized that South Africa seemed to be following China’s laws on wildlife – taking numerous legal steps to ease the flow of traffic in wild animals and their parts. “Wildlife being reclassified as livestock under the Animal Improvement Act, and all species of vertebrae proposed to be included in the Meat Safety Act, for example, are amongst the actions that the South African state has taken, which make it easier for to export wild animals, dead or alive,” said Peters. “The South African Government has the legal framework to control the illegal wildlife trade but chooses to encourage it instead. The Government’s deceit and trickery must be exposed and brought to a halt to save our precious wildlife.” Peters went on to say that immediate steps need to be taken to tackle the inhumane and indiscriminate trade in wild animals. “The international wildlife trade has nothing to do with conservation and everything to do with commercialisation, commodification, and profit,” she said. “CITES must be replaced with a completely different international preventative and precautionary legally binding agreement that establishes universal adherence to, and implementation of, a comprehensive and complete ban on the wildlife trade.” ASI is committed to the abolition of the live trade of wild animals, including captive-bred wild animals; captive breeding and farming of wildlife for trade; the consumption of wild animals, and ‘wet markets’, where wild and domestic animals are held in close proximity to humans in unhygienic conditions.

Conservation Organizations, Wildlife Under Threat as Tourism Collapses During Worldwide Lockdowns

gorilla

Conservation organizations protecting critically endangered species face closure worldwide. This follows the collapse of the tourist industry with lockdowns in place globally to control the spread of COVID-19. Many organizations who work to protect threatened ecosystems and species depend on revenues from ecotourism to fund their conservation activities. Most of them work in resource-rich countries whose ecosystems and biodiversity are under assault from mining, deforestation, industrial agriculture and urbanization. But their work is becoming even more important. People in rural, biodiverse-rich areas are expected to be driven to rely on game meats and activities like illegal deforestation and mining since their source of income from tourism has disappeared. Already, the black rhinos of the Okavango Delta, in Botswana, have been evacuated after six were poached in March. Meanwhile, the largest ever hauls of pangolin scales were seized in Singapore last month just as the Chinese government outlawed the consumption of wildlife because it is believed that the coronavirus epidemic is a consequence of humans eating wild animals. These conservation organizations and their employees – like the endangered animals they protect – are also under threat. Twelve rangers caring for mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were murdered last month while they were trying to protect the giant primates from poachers. In a parliamentary briefing on the wildlife trade and COVID-19 in South Africa, Nick King, an international climate change and biodiversity expert, argued that if we want to reduce the future spreading of diseases from humans to animals, ecosystems that these wild animals occupy need to be nurtured and taken care of. “While we are locked down in our homes, and our attention is fixed on the coronavirus, we must not forget about the animals,” says Animal Survival International (formerly Political Animal Lobby) spokesperson Elizabeth Kruger. “Now more than ever, the work of conservation organizations to protect critically endangered species is crucial. Not only is the wildlife trade implicated in the spread of the coronavirus, but precious species are facing threats in the wake of the virus’s spread across the globe. ASI urges our readers to support conservation and animal welfare organizations during the coronavirus lockdowns, and beyond.”

Cartoon Illustrated by Matt Pritchett – Telegraph Cartoonist

Matt Pritchett’s cartoons delight readers each day. Matt is a Telegraph institution, and his witty sketches are a vital part of the newspaper. In his newsletter, the enormously popular cartoonist explains just what inspires him each day, and shares an extra, unseen cartoon, which will not have been published anywhere else. For more cartoons from Mat you can subscribe to The Telegraph

Widespread Opposition to Wet Markets Across Asia

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Last week, the Australian government described wildlife wet markets as a “biosecurity and human health risk” and urged G20 countries to take action against them. Even though nobody knows exactly how COVID-19 originated, it is thought that the coronavirus was spread through exotic animals at the Huanan wet market in Wuhan in China. Last week, the World Health Organization also called for stricter safety and hygiene standards in wet markets, particularly those selling exotic wildlife. Generally, wet markets are common across the Middle East and Africa where people depend on them as an important food source. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, opinions regarding wildlife wet markets across Asia in particular have turned negative. The World Wildlife Fund published polling earlier this month showing opinions about the markets in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Japan. It found that worries are high regarding the possibility of another coronavirus outbreak. 88 percent of those polled in Vietnam were either extremely or very worried about that occurring, along with 86 percent in Thailand, 79 percent in Myanmar, 78 percent in Hong Kong and 76 percent in Japan. In all countries except Japan, 90 percent or more of respondents would support government efforts to close wildlife wet markets. The report states that Japan’s low figure of 54 percent is due to a large share of those polled saying that there are no wildlife wet markets in the country. Indeed, open wildlife markets are not thought to be particularly prevalent in Japan. Originally posted my statista.com – the original post can be found here

South African Government Plans to Make It Legal to Use Endangered Species For Human Meat

In a devastating blow to its wildlife, South Africa plans to declare its wild animals as meat for human consumption and to allow unrestricted farming of everything from lions, giraffes and rhinoceros to tiny antelopes.  Under the proposal, no animal is taboo. The proposal specifically lists 104 wild animals that can be farmed, but stresses that the law will apply to all other species of animals including birds, fish and reptiles. Their genetic material, embryos and body parts can be harvested and traded. Even worse, amendment specifically includes “animals that may be listed as threatened species.”  The regulations are to be changed so that any wild animal can be exported, smoothing the way for exporting dead lions and their bones. If this isn’t Machiavellian enough, the government has put a ridiculous time limit on when submissions can be made – April 30. But, because of the corona crisis, South Africa remains in strict lockdown with no end in sight, making meaningful comment very difficult. The Animal Survival International (formerly Political Animal Lobby)’s Nicolette Peters points out that the government seems to be following China’s laws on wildlife, where until recently commercial farming of wild species has been commonplace. “Well, we know how that turned out,” she said. “The corona crisis is killing hundreds of thousands of people as a direct result of Chinese wet markets.” – “China’s ‘wet markets’, where wild and domestic animals are held in close proximity to humans in unhygienic conditions.” The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus is believed to have originated in a wet market, from a wild animal – potentially a pangolin. Peters says that ASI is shocked that, in the midst of a global pandemic that is believed to have originated from contact between humans and wild animals, the South African government is proposing to allow unfettered consumption of any animals whatsoever, wild or tame. It is well-established that lion bones can carry diseases and toxic sedative residues that can be harmful to human health. Even more commonly-eaten game meats are increasingly prone to disease, and the need for antibiotics to treat them. “Opening up the entire South African biota to global consumption is blatantly irresponsible and retrogressive when it is well-established that 70% of new infectious diseases originate from human contact with animals,” said Peters.  “Epidemiologists and climate change experts warn more pandemics are coming as humans disrupt the last remaining wild habitats and come into closer contact with wild animals. What the South African government is about to do, places its entire human population at greater risk, along with tourists who visit the country. “Not only does the South African government propose to put the entire globe at risk of future pandemics, but also the survival of already endangered wild species. Making the parts of endangered animals available for medicine, fetishes or meat increases demand for animals caught in the wild.” Reclassifying wild animals as livestock and legalizing the slaughter and consumption of all species without any off limits is, as far as ASI can make out, an unprecedented law. “The South African government’s proposals are disgraceful and we urge people to speak out strongly against it,” said Peters. The deadline is April 30 to oppose these inhumane and extremely disturbing law changes. ASI urges our supporters and all people concerned about biodiversity and animal welfare to make their voices heard before it is too late. Comments can be sent to: Dr M. Molefe Director: Veterinary Public Health Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Email: VPH@daff.gov.za Tel: +27 12 319 7699 Some of the animals allowed to be killed include: African Buffalo Bushpig Cape Grysbok Crocodile Donkey Duiker Dwarf Antelope Elephant Gemsbuck Giraffe Grey Rhebuck Hippopotamus Horse ImASIa Klipspringer Lechwe Mule Oribi Porcupine Rhinoceros Roan Antelope Royal Antelope Sable Antelope Scimitar Oryx Sharpe’s Grysbok Steenbuck Suni Warthog White Antelope Zebra

South African Wildlife Under Government Assault, Humans Under Threat

In a devastating blow to its wildlife, South Africa plans to declare its wild animals as meat for human consumption and allow unrestricted farming of everything from lions, giraffes and rhinoceros to tiny antelopes. Under the proposal, any wild animal may be used – no distinction is made between domestic animals and wild creatures. No animal is taboo. The proposed Act of Parliament specifically lists 104 wild animals that can be farmed, but also stresses that the law will apply to all other species of animals including birds, fish and reptiles. Their genetic material, embryos and body parts can be harvested and traded. The mighty lion is already treated just like a cow: lions can be bred and slaughtered for their bones to be sold on international markets as a substitute in tiger bone wine and used in jewellery. Lion cubs can be taken away too early from their mothers, who will give birth to many more offspring in their lifetimes in captivity than they would in the wild. The proposed amendment to the Meat Act (2000) will worsen the conditions of lions and all wildlife in South Africa. There will be no more wildlife, only livestock and meat. The South African Meat Safety Act of 2000 regulates the safety of meat and animal products, abattoir standards, and the import and export of meat. This February, the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural put forward motions to include in the act an inexhaustive list of creatures that “may be slaughtered as food for human and animal consumption”. Even worse, the amendment is to include “animals that may be listed as threatened species in accordance with conservation provisions”. This could be an important development for game farmers, according to the Farmer’s Weekly, and would allow them to legally slaughter their game populations, and distribute the meat in a sanitary and safe manner. According to WWF, the wildlife game meat economy can contribute to rural development, job creation and security through the establishment of abattoirs in private and state-owned conservation areas. Why the law should extend to cover animals such as lions is a troubling mystery, since South Africans do not customarily eat lion meat. EMS Foundation sheds some light on the matter. They report that a challenge to the lion bone export trade in South Africa has been that, until now, the bones have been exported as “trophies”, but because they are used for human consumption, they need to be exported under a food export permit – and therefore regulated under the Meat Safety Act. The same would apply for any species being exported for human consumption – be that food or medicine. Until now, lions have not been included on the list of meats suitable for human consumption in the Food Safety Act, nor in the Meat and Animal Export Procedures of South Africa, according to EMS. The same applies for rhinoceros. The new Meat Safety Act amendments change all of this. Now, any animal can be exported under the new food safety and export laws, and the way for trading in the prized lions and their bones has been smoothed. The Meat Safety Act amendments argue that the new rules might benefit land owners seeking to slaughter their excess animals, but in combination with the recently passed Animal Improvement Act, the scenario becomes more sinister. The new laws leave many grey areas for an already murky and poorly-regulated captive game industry, and there are no guarantees that wildlife would be kept under the same free-ranging conditions as the WWF might suggest. The proposed laws raise other questions, such as why endangered species like the rhinoceros, oribi – or any other species for that matter – should be included on a list of species deemed appropriate for human consumption and export. As Italian magazine, La Stampa, points out, the export market is highly profitable, and the “meat” is not limited to what people will eat. Effectively, the combination of these acts promulgated by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development together with the Department of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries, allows for the export of any of South Africa’s endangered wild animals, not just those on the list. The government can simply introduce the new regulations based on advice from ‘experts’. In practice, that largely means people sympathetic to the government’s wishes, with animal welfare organizations mostly excluded from the process. If this isn’t Machiavellian enough, the government has put a time limit on when submissions can be made – April 30 is the deadline and South Africa is in total lockdown until then because of the corona crisis. Insult is piled on to injury because the legislation is being driven by South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development which is charged with ensuring the well-being of numerous endangered species. Minister Thoko Didiza seems to be following China’s laws on wildlife, where until recently stock farming of wild species has been commonplace. “Well, we know how that turned out,” said the Animal Survival International (formerly Political Animal Lobby)’s Nicolette Peters. “China’s so called wet markets, where wild and domestic animals are held in close proximity in unhygienic conditions and in close contact with humans.” The outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, is believed to have originated in a wet market, from a wild animal – potentially a pangolin. ASI is outraged that, in the midst of a global pandemic that is believed to have originated from contact between humans and wild animals, the South African government is proposing a law that will allow unfettered consumption of any animals whatsoever, wild or tame. It is well-established that lion bones can carry diseases and toxic sedative residues that can be harmful to human health. Even more commonly-eaten game meats are increasingly prone to disease, and the need for antibiotics to treat them. Opening up the entire South African biota to global consumption is blatantly irresponsible and retrogressive when it is well-established that 70% of new infectious

Coronavirus

URGENT! Animal cruelty caused Coronavirus, now is the time to stop China’s live market trade FOREVER.

Philippines Court Cases

ASI has been fighting for decades to end the illegal dog meat trade in the Philippines. We work closely with law enforcement agencies to track down the evil people who kidnap dogs for slaughter. During a police raid on a dog meat trader’s secret “stash,” officers discovered kidnapped dogs being held for slaughter in a cruel, concrete pit. We rescued them all. It felt so good for our team to lift those suffering souls from that sweltering hellhole in the Philippines, and supporters like you made it happen. But what if our work stopped there, with the rescue? What if there was no prosecuting, convicting, or imprisoning of these brutal dog meat criminals? It would be the saddest kind of dust in the wind, and the killing and the kidnapping of defenceless dogs would continue. This must never be! That’s why we are asking for your help today to fuel a battle against the Philippines dog meat trade that is as critical as our raids and rescues. The battle in the courtroom. Rush your donation now to help us serve up justice to dog meat traders and traffickers in the Philippines, and end their ugly reign of terror. Let us tell you about what has unfolded since we rescued those five poor dogs (they are all safe and in loving homes today). THIRTEEN traders convicted! THREE now locked in prison! OVER ONE MILLION pesos in fines to the government! My team appears at trial after trial, no matter how slowly the judicial process takes. One recent case stretched 24 months but ended in the conviction of two traders. Another took nearly NINE years! Just imagine the grim fates of untold numbers of dogs if we’d run out of funds to pursue each case. Justice is deeply worthwhile, but costly. Sadly, all fines go to the government. My team receives no help for their heroic work and determination. So, I turn now, to you. I know a court hearing isn’t as dramatic as a rescue or a raid. But they are transporting poor, dead dogs by the truckload! Can you imagine stopping even one of these heartless criminals in their tracks? It’s dangerous but VITAL work. Your support now WILL SAVE MORE DOGS, so please be as generous as you can. Thank you so much for being a true friend to dogs in the Philippines.

The World’s Most Trafficked Animal Is on the Verge of Extinction

Pangolins are under threat. Their extinction is imminent and once again it’s all thanks to mankind. More than one million pangolins have been poached or trafficked in the last decade alone and this lucrative business is thriving. In some parts of the world pangolins are beaten and suffocated with smoke, then boiled alive. Some restaurants in Vietnam even go a step further and slaughter live pangolins at the dinner table. The Animal Survival International’s (ASI) is actively involved in global campaigns to get governments to pass stricter laws and mitigate this catastrophe. “We cannot allow this horrendous slaughter to continue, something has to be done. These solitary and peaceful creatures are one of the most trafficked mammals in the world, accounting for as much as 20% of all illegal wildlife trade,” said ASI’s Andrea Matthee. Pangolins are mainly traded for their scales, which Chinese medicine incorrectly states can be used to treat several illnesses. The plight of the poor pangolin dates as far back as 1820, where King George III was presented with a coat and helmet made with their scales. “This trade is still thriving today, 200 years down the line and it has always been driven by money. The scales from a single pangolin can fetch up to $100,000 (£81,000) on the black market,” explained Matthee. All eight pangolin species are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being threatened or vulnerable. Two of these species are critically endangered. International trade in pangolins is prohibited in terms of the global Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreement and yet the trafficking continues unabated. In April, 2019, Malaysian authorities uncovered 27 tonnes of animals and scales – a record breaking bust to the value of over $2 million (£1.6 million). Moreover, in Singapore 26 tonnes were intercepted and in Vietnam five tonnes were confiscated after being found hidden under a container of cashew nuts. Beyond unfounded medicinal ignorance, pangolin meat is also treated as a delicacy and forms a big part of the multibillion-dollar bush meat trade. “It’s time for us to rise up and fight for these voiceless creatures. Authorities around the world continue to turn a blind eye to this scourge but we will continue to fight for the survival of these creatures because if we don’t do it, who will?” said Matthee. Pangolins, or scaly anteaters as they are otherwise known, are solitary and secretive mammals that live in underground burrows or tree hollows. They are found in parts of Asia and across the African continent and are the only mammals in the world to be covered in scales. They’ve got small heads, long snouts and even longer tongues for slurping up ants from inside ant nests.

Pangolins

Pangolins are on the verge of extinction. Most people don’t even know what a pangolin is – nor that this shy, nocturnal creature is the most trafficked and hunted animal in the world. Their situation is so serious we really need your help to stop them being wiped out. Pangolins, also known as scaly anteaters, are solitary and secretive, living in underground burrows or tree hollows in parts of Asia, and throughout Africa. Global warming and deforestation threaten their habitat – but there’s a more dire, existential threat: human ignorance and greed. They are slaughtered for their skin and scales and hunted for a fake medicine or status meal. More than ONE MILLION pangolins have been poached or trafficked in just the past decade! The shy, reclusive, almost unknown creatures are being wiped out because of criminal activities that are out of control. The trade is driven by money: the scales from a single pangolin can fetch up to £80,000 ($100,000). In China and Vietnam, they are boiled to make potions falsely believed to cure cancer and skin conditions, and boost virility. To make it worse, pangolin meat is prized as a delicacy in these countries. These meals are routinely accompanied by unspeakable cruelty. The Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) has documented live creatures beaten and suffocated with smoke, then boiled alive. Waiters in upmarket Vietnamese restaurants offer to procure live pangolins and slaughter them at the table. The pressure for horrific poaching and trafficking is as strong as ever. Pangolins range in size from really small, at just 12 inches (30cm) long, to the giant pangolin, at around five feet (1.5m). All eight pangolin species are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as being threatened or vulnerable, and two are critically endangered. International trade in pangolins is prohibited in terms of the global Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreement. Yet, the trafficking continues unabated. In April, Malaysian authorities seized a 27-ton consignment of animals and scales, the highest ever in that country, with an estimated black-market value of £1.6m ($2-million). Police in Singapore intercepted shipments of scales totalling 26 tons, and in Vietnam, authorities confiscated five tons hidden in a container of cashew nuts transported from Nigeria. In separate recent discoveries, a further ten tons of scales were seized in Uganda, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. With numbers like that, it is only a matter of time before all the pangolins have gone. Pangolins need better law enforcement if they are to be saved from extinction. ASI needs your help to spread awareness about an impending global disaster. Please, if you possibly can, donate today so that we can make sure these precious creatures don’t slide unnoticed into extinction. Soon, the expression will no longer be: dead as a dodo, but dead as a pangolin, another creature that the world failed to save.

Looming Brexit Could Be a Disaster for Animals

The Animal Survival International is deeply concerned that the chaos surrounding Brexit is very bad indeed for animals. 80 percent of current animal welfare legislation comes from EU law. If the UK leaves Europe on October 31, as planned by the Conservative government, UK animal welfare may well suffer enormous setbacks. A raft of new legislation will be needed to protect animals at a time when the country will be wrestling with an array of serious legislative issues. There is no indication from the government that animal welfare will be on any priority list. As just one example of the scope of the problem is that a million pets have travelled with their owners from the UK to Europe on Eurostar since 2013. The UK government’s response to this is to state that pet travel requirements will change on the day Brexit happens, and that it is possible from then on – and we quote: “You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped and vaccinated against rabies before it can travel. You must wait three months from the date the successful blood sample was taken before you can travel.” The hardship for pets and owners, should this happen, is hard to overstate. The tests will be expensive and the paperwork time consuming, holidays will become more difficult to arrange and finance, and pets more likely to be abandoned. There are massive concerns about the welfare of farm animals. Britain will have to urgently negotiate new trade agreements, which will almost certainly be made with countries with lower animal welfare standards. Britons could be faced with a flood of beef from the USA where cattle are given growth hormones, and pork which is produced from pigs raised in sow stalls, where the sow is barely able to move and unable to turn around and is without proper bedding. Sow stalls have been banned in the EU since January 2013. Then, there is the problem of chickens as many countries still allow battery cages that are inherently cruel to the fowls. Animal lovers may well have no way of knowing under what conditions animals are raised. Abusing animals is cheaper than raising them under reasonable conditions which means that meat produced by cruel treatment will be cheaper than that produced domestically where rules are stricter. Economists predict financial hard times for the UK after Brexit, and people will naturally lean towards cheaper products. The consequences are obvious: poorer animal welfare and poorer UK farmers. The UK has always been a key player in the EU on international animal welfare matters to ensure the EU has a block vote in international bodies like the International Whaling Committee, and the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has animal welfare and protection at its heart, from elephants to whales. Any change brought about by Brexit must ensure that the UK’s commitment remains unwavering, using its influence to protect endangered animals and their habitats. ASI is working to support MPs and prospective MPs from any party, who are animal friendly and prepared to fight for laws and regulations that protect animals. In these uncertain times, we urgently need your help to ensure that animals are not casualties in post Brexit times. Please donate today to ensure that ASI will be in a position to ensure that animal welfare does not become a forgotten issue.

Botswana’s Elephants: Myths vs Facts

Botswana

In the final analysis, the southern African countries represented at the Kasane Conference appear intent on moving against science and cogent argument.

UK Introduces Strict Ban on Sale of Ivory

Ivory Sales

The number of elephants living in the wild has declined by almost a third in the last decade and around 20,000 elephants a year are being slaughtered due to the global demand for ivory.

Singapore Seeks a Ban on Ivory Sales

Ivory Sales

If the ban is passed, it means individuals and local businesses will no longer be able to sell or buy any form of elephant ivory in Singapore.