India Outlaws Captive Dolphin Shows and Importing Them For Entertainment

India is the world's fourth nation that banned catching and importing cetaceans for commercial entertainment. Other countries are Costa Rica, Hungary and Chile. India Government has been influenced by the outcome of the research on dolphins that established that these creature are highly intelligent and very sensitive. The government has taken a decision to close all dolphin parks in India.

Puja Mitra from the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO) in this context said, "the scientific evidence we provided during the campaign talked about cetacean intelligence and introduced the concept of non-human persons," she added, "the majority of dolphins and whales in captivity have been sourced through wild captures in Japan, in Taiji, in the Caribbean, in the Solomon Islands and parts of Russia. These captures are very violent"

It is really a great news that India's Government has given dolphins a status of “non-human personhood”, making the country unique in the way the people there thinks about the endangered species like dolphins. The decision of granting dolphins the status of “non-human personhood” was officially announced by India’s Minister of the Environment and Forests. The government outlawed captive dolphin shows and the ministry said that dolphins “should have their own specific rights.”

Initiative to save Indian Elephants - London

London, Monday, May 27:

Two life-size Indian elephants statues have been installed in Sloane Street, London to flag the launch of the awareness program and the initiative to save India elephants. A charity - 'Elephant Family' founded by Mark Shand, the well known travel writer and conservationist collaborated with another London charity Habitat Humanity for the Animal Ark programme with a noble motive to raise funds that would be used to save Indian elephants.

Shand said that "the two beautiful floral elephants" in the Sloane Street of London indicated the huge "Animal Ark" that they are going to build the coming year - 2014. As a part of the Animal Ark program they will bring in 100 pairs of distinctive species of animals and each of them will be auctioned to raise the funds for protecting the endangered Asian elephants.

"We have cleared the Nilgiri corridor and are now moving to a smaller corridor in Assam. In India, a person kills an elephant and vice versa every single day now as the traditional migratory routes are blocked leading to conflict... Our project with Habitat for Humanity involves building homes for people to clear these corridors. It is a win-win situation for everybody...", said Shand. Over 2013 and 2014, the activities of Elephant Family and Habitat for Humanity include raising awareness about Indian elephants and helping communities to resettle beyond the danger area. Most interestingly the program also includes restoring the paths that have been in use by the Asian elephants for migration for millions of years.

One of the sponsors of the initiative Viscount Chelsea, chair of Cadogan Estates Limited said, "to see these life-size elephants decked out with flowers by (florists) Wild At Heart on an iconic fashion street of London like Sloane Street is a first".

Callous Act of Stabbing Staffordshire Bull Terrier To Death

Quite recently in February, 2013 the news of a man stabbing a pet bull terrier to death created a buzz amidst the dog lovers’ community across the globe.

The man - Terence Micheal Renton, 31, of showed his insanely wild behavior by killing a bull terrier – a pet dog after his mother complained that she had been given a bad scare by some dog of the same breed (Staffordshire Bull Terrier). Her son – Renton started looking for a dog of the same breed in the locality and went on asking people if they had seen a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in that region, and was told that a dog of the breed he was looking for was kept fenced in the nearby garden. Renton who was armed with a knife, went into the premise and stabbed the dog in the neck and the poor dog died from just a single fierce stab.
People who had witnessed the incidence were shocked and called the cops and the RSPCA. Hannah Bryer, the RSPCA inspector said, "To inflict any physical harm or violence on any animal is inexcusable but to intentionally go out with a view to harm an animal and cause its death is a cold, calculated and callous act of cruelty."

Sever Penal Action Taken Against Terence Micheal Renton

The man pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to an animal that had been kept protected. A severe penal action has been taken against Renton and he has been put behind the bar for 6 months. According to the magistrates his act has been described as "cruelty of the gravest gravity". Moreover, Renton has been banned from keeping any animal throughout his life. The criminal will not be allowed to appeal the order for 15 years. In this context Hannah Bryer of RSPCA said, "I am pleased the court has recognised the serious nature of this type of offending and has also imposed a lifelong disqualification order from keeping animals."

More Incidences Of Inhuman Acts On Dogs

Renton’s is not the only case of inhuman conduct to animals. There have been series of similar incidences that have been traced in the different parts of the world. Rescued by Scottish SPCA Sheila, a Staffordshire bull terrier, had been shot15 times by her owner with an airgun. Another incidence of a Staffordshire bull terrier being burned to death by his owner was reported in Peebles. One more incidence was reported in Brechin, Angus by Scottish SPCA, where a dog was fastened to a barbed wire fence and was made to starve till he was dead. Yet another incidence… the beloved dog (Lucky) of a Henderson man was firstly poisoned and secondly, was fed sewing needles along with the food with intent to kill him.

 

 Come Facts About Cruelty Towards Animals

• Many healthy Greyhounds are put to death each year because they lack potential for racing due to injury or for some genetic cause.
• Even today dog fighting are still reported the urban and suburban regions in many parts of the world.
• Wild animals are killed for their skin and bones
• Animals like rats, monkeys, felines, canines, birds, guinea pigs etc. are killed in mass in the laboratories for drug and cosmetic testing each year.
• Animals like bears, wild cats, wild boars etc. are used in hunting sports. 
• Lots of websites still offer the opportunities of buying tickets for the bullfights

Botswana and Zambia bans hunting of lions and leopards

Here's a great news!!!

Botswana an Zambia used to be the most premier wildlife destinations. The Governments have banned trophy hunting of big cats in Botswana and Zambia. Late, but both Zambia and Botswana are now aiming at promoting Ecotourism. The rapid and shocking decline in the population of lions and leopards has been a big loss, affecting the ecosystem adversely. This encouraged the government to stop issuance of hunting licenses from January, 2013.

According to Zambia's tourism ministry game-viewing tourism was more valuable than blood sport, which brought in just $3m (£1.9m) last year. Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo told Reuters, "tourists come to Zambia to see the lion and if we lose the lion we will be killing our tourism industry". However, on the contrary according to Chuma Simukonda from the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) said that that ban would be harmful for tourism. Chuma's words are really ear assaulting, especially when the world is on a move to save life. Chum should understand that ecotourism can generate more revenue and can add real value to wilderness through creating more scopes for employment . It is important to spread the awareness; Chum should be proud for his precious wildlife.

Photographer by guide Lee Whittam in the Okavango, Botswana. (essentialafrica.co.za)

Neighbouring Botswana committed that they are going to ban all kind of hunting on 2014 and onwards. Kenya has already made a halt to sport hunting for years ago.

It really feels nice to think that Africa has realized their wildlife is actually a global treasure. Banning of hunting lions and cats in is a highly appreciable step of African Governments.

Steve Boyes of National Geographic Expeditions talked about banning of trophy hunting in Botswana and Zambia in the Explorers Journal on January 22, 2013.