Harder Law Against Eating Dogs Urged

The activists for animal rights protested against a Taiwanese prosecutor’s office decision so that they drop the charge against five suspects accused of killing dogs and use them as their foods. They also demanded strict laws against animal abuse, stating that the current law demands too much evidence to be practical.

Ruan Mei-ling one of the activist said that 5 men were caught while killing two dogs hanging them on a tree and having them grilled. The prosecutors dropped indictments against those 5 men last week stating that there was no sign of torture on the dog’s bodies and the men were not caught eating their meat.

Many Taiwanese believe that there is nutritious value in dog’s meat. But in recent years such practices are taken to be illegal and has faded out under a ban on killing or torturing animals.

U.S. Government Participates at the Tiger summit in Russia

U.S. State Department's strong engagement at the Tiger summit.

Let me express my heartfelt gratitude to the U.S. Government for their participation at the tiger summit in Russia and take the next major step in in the process of protecting wild tigers.

I am thrilled to post here about the participation of the America Government in the tiger summit at Russia. In November, 2010 the Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero had joined the International Tiger Conservation Forum. The first summit of heads of state ever convened for the purpose of protecting wild tigers from extinction. Senator John Kerry and Congresswoman Madeline Bordallo have recently introduced resolutions in the U.S. Senate and House to support the goals agreed upon at the tiger summit held at Russia and to support the efforts of Asian countries not only to protect, but also to raise the current tiger populations.

An incredibly fewer number of only 3,200 tigers left in the wild. It is already too late, but still something can be done! This tiger summit acted as a platform for the countries with remaining wild tiger populations, like some countries of Asia and donor countries, like the U.S., to agree on concrete measures to resist the alarming trend directed toward the complete annihilation of the species. The fight begins here! The tiger range states have agreed upon a common target of multiplying two times the number of wild tigers by the next Year of the Tiger in 2022. The United States has been consistently supporting the international tiger conservation, and continued support from the US Government will be helpful to fulfill the target.

Sign up for the WWF Conservation Action Network

Paul – the Football World Cup 2010 Phenomenon Passes Away

Here’s again another news that stirred up sparks again across the world. Paul – the Football World Cup 2010 hero died on October 26, 2010. He was around 2 years and 6 months old. Sad news indeed, although he lived his whole life!

"Management and staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight," the aquarium said in a statement. Paul died in sleep, which means he probably had a painless death.

Very recently, during the Football World Cup 2010, Paul the octopus created a buzz across the web. The octopus, Paul was the first winner of 2010 Football World Cup as declares the before actually the match happened. The incidence of Paul’s revealing the winner beforehand had buzzed up the World Wide Web – especially the sports lovers’ community. Paul had attracted huge volume of fan base with his predictions. Octopus Paul predictions became true in every game of 2010 Football World Cup. Paul the Octopus was hatched on January 2008 in England and shifted to Germany. Paul predicts the winner of Germany’s seven football matches in 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Paul’s prediction had been correct throughout the tenure of Football World Cup, 2010, except two. Before the final happened he declared Spain as the winner of 2010 FIFA World Cup. Spain had encountered with Germany – the home team of Paul. The result of the final match was apparent to the world; Germany lost against Spain. Germany turned out to be quite serious about the Paul’s predictions. Spain requested Germany for Paul, but Germany refused to give Paul to Spain. Finally Spain honored Paul the Octopus grandly in Germany.

It is certainly hard to ascertain the facts about Paul's life. However, he was believed to be born at Weymouth Sea Life Park in the year 2008. Of the genus Octopus vulgaris, there wasn’t anything vulgar about Paul as a young octopus. "He didn't show any special abilities while he was here for his eight weeks of quarantine, but that's probably because we didn't have a chance to give him the opportunity," senior aquarist Matthew Fuller told the BBC in a summer profile of Paul, while at the height of his fame.

"His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself," Stefan Porwoll, manager at Oberhausen. He also said, "We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine."

"He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night, of natural causes," said Oberhausen Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll. "His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself... We had all naturally grown very fond of him and he will be sorely missed." Within two hours of his death, more than 250 messages of condolence were posted on Paul's "official" Facebook page. "Paul, we will never forget you. We love you," wrote one. One user of micro blogging site Twitter wrote: "Paul the octopus is dead. Bet he didn't see that coming."

Paul’s body is now in cold storage while Sea Life management decide how best to mark his passing, though it is thought he will be buried within the grounds and a permanent shrine erected.

Here are some of video clips related to Paul the Octopus:

Defiance In Japan -- serious dolphin hunts at Taiji

Sadly, even after repeated campaigns related to anti-cruelty to animals, country like Japan still seems to be staying quite aloof and carrying out their own inhuman acts of animal cruelty. The Japanese government is defiant and has allowed the first dolphin kill of this season at Taiji. A school of 15 Risso's dolphins had been chopped brutally and transferred to the slaughterhouse.

RIC O'BARRY, on behalf of “EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE INC” in his message said, “I can't tell you how angry this makes me. And I know it makes you angry, too. Many of you will be frustrated, but I don’t want you to lose hope. I am more convinced than ever that our campaign to generate worldwide pressure for an end to the slaughter is right and must succeed. We must be vigilant and turn up the heat. The Japanese government's defiance must not be allowed to stand. Change does not happen overnight, and we have only just started to get the word out to the Japanese people.” He also said, “we are working to keep people on the ground in Taiji to monitor the Cove and report back to the world.”

This video was done by one of the dedicated volunteers, Leilani Münter:



According to the officials at the EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE INC are ramping up efforts with their distributor at Japan to get thousands of copies of the Japanese version of “THE COVE” into the hands of general mass at Japan. The situation is seriously grave and can be solved only by the Japanese people themselves. They can only put an end to such cruelty to animals.

A volunteer in Tokyo had interviewed several Japanese regarding “THE COVE” and the dolphin slaughter. According to her all of them had already heard about the mass killing of dolphins at Taiji, and there had been a noticeable change in thoughts from several months ago when nobody was aware of the issue of dolphin hunts.

Good news is the US President Barack Obama is flying off to Japan in November, 2010 in order to urge quick attention to this matter. Thank you and all the best Mr. Barack Obama.

Our keen request to Japanese government... Please stop these types of sports, educate yourselves and be responsible towards nature.

Sasha the Wonder dog

Here is another big news of animal surrogacy. Well, it cannot be called purely surrogacy, I have used the word deliberately, as I hardly find any difference in mothers carrying others’ fetus in their womb and those who do not exactly do that, but give other’s babies a new horizon of life! It’s not about Jasmine - the greyhound this time, but a Rottweiler, Sasha who saved the life of a new born abandoned piglet. Yes, a newly born piglet, who had been abandoned by its mum found her life and a new world, while snuggling down with Sasha and her black-tan puppies. Sasha is indeed a good dog, but more than that she is a great as a mum – a Godmother!

The incidence happened in the farm house of Heidi Rhiann, of Pont Llogel, near Llanfyllin. The Belgian Blue piglet, named Apple Sauce had been abandoned by its mum as a the runt in the litter of 13 piglets. Sasha has changed the way we have been looking into the breed. Rottweilers have earned a great deal of bad fame as being one of the most dangerous dog breed in the world. Some governments have banned keeping Rottweilers. But Sasha has proved things wrong!

Apple sauce was in danger of kissing the dust when her mother rejected her. It’s life was to be decided by Rhiann. She thought Sasha her dog might take on the maternal duties for Apple Sauce, though she wasn’t sure. As a last resort, pig breeder Ms Rhiann was stuck by shrieking surprise to see Apple Sauce was suckling. Sasha, her puppies and Apple Sauce have formed an unlikely bond. Rhiann said, "It was the last chance for the piglet.I wrapped Apple Sauce in a blanket the puppies had been on to try and transfer the scent and left her next to Sasha…. about an hour later I went to see how they were getting along and Apple Sauce was suckling." She also said that the first-time mum Sasha, an 18-month-old, 45-kilo Rottweiler, had been a wonderful mother to Apple Sauce. Said said, Apple Sauce was skin and bone when I handed her over to Sasha and now she's gaining weight and starting to fatten up … Apple Sauce has a poorly trotter at the moment and Sasha knows this and is trying to lick it better. She instinctively knows Apple Sauce isn't in perfect health. We feed Apple Sauce with some supplementary feed and Sasha gives a concerned whine when we pick her up, as much as to say 'what are you doing with my puppy?'."

Mass Death of Hundreds of Sea Animals Brought Wrinkles on the Forehead of WildLife Researchers

More than 500 dead penguins have washed up on Sao Paulo state's shores. Researchers and environmentalists are on a serious investigating session, trying to discover the hidden cause of mass demise of the penguins.

According to the Institute of Environment and Natural Resources 530 penguins, five dolphins, three giant sea turtles PLUS many other sea birds have been found in the coastal towns of Peruibe, Praia Grande and Itanhaem, with more likely on other nearby beaches. A team of researchers at and biologists of Sao Paulo and a wildlife research center have spared serious thoughts on this issues trying to find out the possible reasons for the sudden and strange death of so many animals and birds all at a time.

According to Andrea Maranho, a veterinarian for the Sea Animal Rehabilitation Center in Praia Grande,  one of the most the probable causes for the mass death of the penguins is the sever exhaustion and hunger during their long migration from the waters off Argentina's southern Patagonia region.

Tiger Facts

The grace and beauty of the big cats have earned them a place in the list of world's most talked about animal, but at the same have also made them become one of the most endangered animals, with not even 4000 specimens left in amidst the wild world wide.

2010, being the tiger, stress have been laid down on evaluating the tiger population and strengthening strategies for their conservation. In the Chinese calendar 2010 is the Year of the Tiger, which is a zodiac sign associated with power, passion and courage.

Here is a list of most precious links to know more about tigers...

• ZSL. org
• Top 10 tiger trouble spots, 2010
• Jungle Walk tiger information
• Wildlife Protection Society of India
• Save the tiger fund
• WWF - Year of Tiger
• Indian tiger
• Andymcdermott tiger facts

Save Our Tigers - Part II

After sparing serious thoughts, the biologists have placed the tigers (panthera tigris) at the top of the list of most important endangered animals that are presently facing the menace of extinction. This is become the center of focus for the most significant conservation efforts that have been or going to be made in the year 2010, being the tiger year. The slogan “Save our Tigers” has created a buzz across the web with the fall of 2010. Models and celebrities have stepped forward alongside the many organizations and companies to raise their roars for “Save our Tigers”. Noble job indeed! But can this really make any difference? We, being animal lovers, have been blogging on animals and have posted our thoughts about Save our Tigers campaign. But we hardly feel that we can make any difference in the present situation that tigers across the globe are facing theses days! Yes… the tiger traders are quite aware of the fact that tigers are facing the threat of extinction and they are sure to find a place in museums if trading is not stopped. Who cares?? We, at In Love of Animals, don’t expect them to spare minutes on this blog and think about the poor animals. We have spared serious thoughts on the issue and raised our roars for the campaign in our post save our tigers. What we have written there is what we mean!

Diane Walkington, the head of species program for the WWF in the UK said, “this year has been designated the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations and so we have created a list of 10 critically important endangered animals that we believe will need special monitoring over the next 12 months…” He added, “there is particular importance in selecting a creature such as the tiger for special attention. To save the tiger, we have to save its habitat – which is also home to many other threatened species. So if we get things right and save the tiger, we will also save many other species at the same time.” Right said Mr. Walkington. We have to save the habitat. But how? Who will stop cutting forest? What’s the meaning of these kind of campaigns like “Save our Tigers”, if the criminals are not caught and punished?

With only around 3,200 tigers left on the planet, as per the census report 2010 goes, what are the steps to protect them from extinction? Most probably the 2010 tiger census that had begun on January 22, 2010, will sharpen up the debate on resettling forest dwellers. While this will go definitely in favor of the conservation but this may spark up confusion regarding the settlement of the forest dwellers. The primary report laid by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) states, "the principle components that significantly contributed to explaining variation in tiger densities were primarily those containing information on tiger sign indices, prey indices, anthropogenic disturbances and wilderness values." Tigers have to be protected. Studies have shown that they indirectly protect the habitat for Indian Gaur, wild dogs, Sloth Bear, leopards, Sambhar, wild boars, Cheetal and Nilgai in the wild. The Indian government seems quite optimistic with the conservation methods this year about protecting the big cats, although the last census delivered a terribly shocking figure. The death of 59 tigers from January to November 2009 was really worrying.

Note: The all-India 2010 census on the tiger population is being conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as a joint effort. There had been allegations that the states had fudged tiger counts in the past, which is said to be varying somewhere between 1,165 and 1,657. This is why the present campaign to save the tigers opted for settling for an average figure which is 1,411 tigers.

Rajesh Gopal, the head of NTCA said, "for the first time, we will be using the double sampling method which will be a combination of using camera trapping of the big cat. We will also be using GIS maps to help factor in the habitat and the status of the forests."

Save our Tigers

This post is made to support the petition, "save our tigers". Now the time has come for all hunters and animal lovers to come together for a common cause to save our tigers. Just 1411 tigers are left in India and as fewer as 350 are counting their days in the Mekong River region of Asia! The tiger population all over the world has slashed down at a shockingly alarming rate.

Nearly a century ago there were some 40,000 tigers that ruled the Indian subcontinent, said WWF. Poaching, wanton destruction of the natural habitat of the tigers and hunting of their natural prey are some of the major causes of the dire situation that threatens the existence of tigers across the globe today. But who doesn't know these things? What's the point of simply blogging and spreading awareness. I am sure such awareness programs will never work. Why? Because, everyone - every educated person across the world is quite aware of this threatening situation. We all know what is happening. We all know why tiger population has shrunk down so fast all over the world. I'm sure whoever is reading this post knows everything. So no point shouting about "Save our Tigers" across the web. Its a game that governments can only come up with an end. Here are just a few questions that I would like to be answered...

• How many tiger traders were caught in the past 10 years?
• How many tiger hunters have been hung to death in the past 10 years?
• How many tree traders have been put behind the bar in the past 10 years?
• If they can kill tigers, why cannot the security force kill them?
• What steps have been taken against the paralyzed security system?
• Why is it that in just 10 decades the tiger population in India has come down from 40,000 to 1411 despite spending so much time and money on of spreading awareness?
• Why is it that even after knowing everything tigers in China are in the verge of extinction?
  

If just shouting and blogging for the prevention of tigers would have been worthy enough, their wouldn't have questions for law, security and punishments! I would love to blog on Save Our Tigers all year round if it could be a real solution. Years are passing by without any remarkable changes in the conditions that are causing the tiger population shrink down at high pace.

Why despite of such awareness programs tigers and many other species are getting extinct?

This is not something that general mass can solve simply by spreading awareness on something that people are already aware of. Governments have to be more proactive and must change the way they have been looking to it. Laws and securities must be stronger and should not be just to know, but to implement too! Punishment.... if they can kill tigers, they MUST be killed too.

Tiger Year 2010 : Save the Tigers

Save Our Tigers


If you are an animal lover, you are on the right blog that talks about animals, prevention of cruelty to animals and any kind of information about animals. With the fall of 2010, the tiger year, the news about their existence has been so bad that it brought in wrinkles between our eyebrows!

There had been as many as 8 distinctive subspecies of tigers that could be found across the globe. Unfortunately three of them have already become extinct, and amongst the rest one is certain to become so within a short spell of time. Their range of existence used to be several pocket on the planet including Siberia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, China, India and southeast Asia, including the Indonesian islands. Sadly today, their population is severely on the wane, and just 1411 is left.

Better late than never. We still have time to spare thoughts over this. We can still do something to prevent tigers from going to museum and in the pages of history. If dogs can do, why can't we??? But my question is "what?" What can we really do? How? Will just spreading awareness work?

Stay tuned... I will share my serious thoughts.

Big cat's trade slashes down the tiger count in Asia

Hey folks... I have been into hibernation since long. Time has turned out to be really crucial for me and life got too busy! Work hard on creating a couple of dog websites -- one on German Shepherd Dogs (my dream breed) and the other on general info about dogs. Both these websites are going to be the richest online resources of their kind across the web. So, friends, I hope you can understand very well, how deeply involved I am into my projects.

Today I'm here to just run a report that popped up in my mail box this morning. Yes... a report on the tiger population in Asia! Just a meager number of wild tigers can be found in Asia. The wanton deforestation and tiger trade has turned out to be a menace to the existence of the majestic animal - the tigers. As fewer as only 350 tigers are remaining in the Mekong River region of Asia. This is what the new report from the conservation nonprofit WWF states. This tremendous loss in the number of tigers in this region has been driven by killing and illegal trading of these animals and their parts like bones, skins etc.

The tiger population in Southeast Asia has dropped by over 70% in just over a decade... claims the report run by the WWF. According to WWF there was an estimation of around 1200 tigers in that Greater Mekong region during the last “Year of the Tiger”, 1998. The Greater Mekong stretches a vast area including China, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. So what are the governments doing to prevent the stiff fall in the tiger population from 1200 to 350 in that region? What is it that wipes out the existence of this majestic animal in some of the conservation projects that had been set up with an aim to protect them? Why is it that the enforcement of law against illegal poaching has had a limited success? What can be done to increase the awareness to stop tiger trading?

2010 is the Year of the Tiger, according to the Chinese Zodiac. Later this month, ministers from 13 tiger range countries are going to get together in Thailand for a to hold up a conference on tiger conservation.Let us hope for the best. The governments should agree on future requirement to resist the extinction of these big cats.