We've done it. Not only is obesity a growing problem for Americans, but now it's a growing problems for American PETS too.
Of course, I shouldn't talk. I have a little feline porkchop named Che weighing in at 14 pounds. (That's about 7kg for the rest of the world.)
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Chimps Find Safety in Uganda
Here is a story about a sanctuary for Chimpanzees in Uganda. Many come from neighboring Congo.
It's not often we see positive stories about people and animals in Africa. But, there are a lot of people there who do care (and some pay with their lives, as happens in places like the Congo).
It's not often we see positive stories about people and animals in Africa. But, there are a lot of people there who do care (and some pay with their lives, as happens in places like the Congo).
Monday, September 10, 2007
Boneheaded Whale Hunt
The Makah tribe vows to fully prosecute the 5 men who participated in the illegal whale hunt.
They had better. If they can't show that they can control their own members (and this hunt included a member of the Makah Whaling Commission), they are going to have a tough time getting that exemption to hunt more whales.
Certainly the tribe is in full damage control mode. Members have already planned on flying out to Washington DC to meet with Members of Congress. They certainly have some explaining to do. This was more than just a rogue hunt. Wayne Johnson, who was captain of the last legal hunt in 1999 and is also a member of the tribe's whaling commission, was a participant.
This looks like a political act, and a particularly dumb one at that. It makes the tribal leadership look foolish, and makes the hunters look like incompetent, cruel men who killed a whale purely to make a point.
Is this the cultural heritage they seek to preserve?
They had better. If they can't show that they can control their own members (and this hunt included a member of the Makah Whaling Commission), they are going to have a tough time getting that exemption to hunt more whales.
Certainly the tribe is in full damage control mode. Members have already planned on flying out to Washington DC to meet with Members of Congress. They certainly have some explaining to do. This was more than just a rogue hunt. Wayne Johnson, who was captain of the last legal hunt in 1999 and is also a member of the tribe's whaling commission, was a participant.
This looks like a political act, and a particularly dumb one at that. It makes the tribal leadership look foolish, and makes the hunters look like incompetent, cruel men who killed a whale purely to make a point.
Is this the cultural heritage they seek to preserve?
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Canadian Group Helps Animal Quake Victims
A group of Canadians is going to Peru to help the animals.
Canadian volunteers are going to Peru to help survivors of the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that devastated the central coast of the South American country last week.
But the volunteer group won't tend to wounded citizens. These medical specialists will tend to often-overlooked survivors: pets.
More than 500 people were killed and 1,000 injured when the quake levelled buildings, highways and 34,000 homes on Aug. 15.
The Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT) is sending 31 volunteer veterinarians and technicians to the country next week to treat Peruvians' wounded animal companions.
Here is a link to CAAT.
Canadian volunteers are going to Peru to help survivors of the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that devastated the central coast of the South American country last week.
But the volunteer group won't tend to wounded citizens. These medical specialists will tend to often-overlooked survivors: pets.
More than 500 people were killed and 1,000 injured when the quake levelled buildings, highways and 34,000 homes on Aug. 15.
The Canadian Animal Assistance Team (CAAT) is sending 31 volunteer veterinarians and technicians to the country next week to treat Peruvians' wounded animal companions.
Here is a link to CAAT.
Peru Earthquake-Help Animal Victims
Being out of the country for two weeks, we lost track of the earthquake in Peru and its aftermath. Here are two groups out there working to help the animal victims.
Best Friends Animal Society is always a leader in animal rescue.
Amazon Cares is a new organization we've encountered that does special work in the Amazon area, including Peru.
Here is an appeal from the Peruvian Ministry of Health for help from animal welfare groups around the world and asking for donations to go directly to Amazon Cares. There is also an email for a local Lima contact from the Association for the Protection of Animals.
Best Friends Animal Society is always a leader in animal rescue.
Amazon Cares is a new organization we've encountered that does special work in the Amazon area, including Peru.
Here is an appeal from the Peruvian Ministry of Health for help from animal welfare groups around the world and asking for donations to go directly to Amazon Cares. There is also an email for a local Lima contact from the Association for the Protection of Animals.
Illegal Makah Whale Kill
This story makes me angry; however, I am very happy with the Makah Tribe's reaction...they denounced the members. I'd like to thank them for stepping forward and taking such a position.
Five rogue members of the Makah Tribe in Washington State killed a gray whale yesterday without tribal permission.
The former captain of the whaling crew that in 1999 took the Makah tribe's first whale in 70 years, Johnson confirmed that the hunt that shocked his own tribe and anti-whaling activists Saturday was done without the permission of his tribal council or the whaling commission. And it was done without conforming to conditions of the federal permit that controlled the 1999 hunt.
That hunt was carried out legally, with a permit secured from the tribe first, and with prior notification to a federal observer, who had to be in place at the time of the kill. The permit also required the hunt take place only on the outer coast, to protect so-called resident whales known to frequent nearshore waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Under the 1999 permit, the whalers were to spear the animal with a harpoon thrown from a traditional canoe, then dispatch the whale with a. 50 caliber gun.
There was none of that on Saturday: no permit, no observer, no canoe. No restricting the hunt to the outer coast, either. Just five whalers, four of them from the 1999 hunt, casting loose from the downtown dock and heading out to meet the whale on their own terms.
As stated earlier, the Makah Tribe itself has denounced the hunt.
Among members of the Makah tribe, Saturday's hunt is very controversial. The tribe is already receiving death threats over the kill. Tribal-council and whale-commission members were in a closed-door session most of this morning.
In the early afternoon, the council issued a one-page statement denouncing the actions of the whalers and promising prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The tribe said it would cooperate with federal officials in the investigation of the hunt and that the whalers will stand trial in tribal court at a future date.
"We hope the public does not permit the action of five irresponsible persons to be used to harm the image of the entire Makah tribe," part of the statement said.
Five rogue members of the Makah Tribe in Washington State killed a gray whale yesterday without tribal permission.
The former captain of the whaling crew that in 1999 took the Makah tribe's first whale in 70 years, Johnson confirmed that the hunt that shocked his own tribe and anti-whaling activists Saturday was done without the permission of his tribal council or the whaling commission. And it was done without conforming to conditions of the federal permit that controlled the 1999 hunt.
That hunt was carried out legally, with a permit secured from the tribe first, and with prior notification to a federal observer, who had to be in place at the time of the kill. The permit also required the hunt take place only on the outer coast, to protect so-called resident whales known to frequent nearshore waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Under the 1999 permit, the whalers were to spear the animal with a harpoon thrown from a traditional canoe, then dispatch the whale with a. 50 caliber gun.
There was none of that on Saturday: no permit, no observer, no canoe. No restricting the hunt to the outer coast, either. Just five whalers, four of them from the 1999 hunt, casting loose from the downtown dock and heading out to meet the whale on their own terms.
As stated earlier, the Makah Tribe itself has denounced the hunt.
Among members of the Makah tribe, Saturday's hunt is very controversial. The tribe is already receiving death threats over the kill. Tribal-council and whale-commission members were in a closed-door session most of this morning.
In the early afternoon, the council issued a one-page statement denouncing the actions of the whalers and promising prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. The tribe said it would cooperate with federal officials in the investigation of the hunt and that the whalers will stand trial in tribal court at a future date.
"We hope the public does not permit the action of five irresponsible persons to be used to harm the image of the entire Makah tribe," part of the statement said.
Book Review-Night Game by Kirk Russell
Night Game is the first book I've ever read by Kirk Russell. It is the second book in his John Marquez series about a California Fish and Game agent and his work pursuing illegal poaching.
It's called an "eco-thriller," but it's basically a mystery series with a highly unusual detective. There is a human body count, but the crimes and the law enforcement principles in the book are definitely focused on the wildlife.
Marquez, the protagonist, is a former DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent who now works for California Fish and Game. He leads a team of agents on an undercover assignment to nail poachers and illegal bear bile farmers in the State of California. The story starts simply enough, but there is a number of plot twists. I really enjoyed learning about the challenges Fish and Game agents have in being taken seriously by fellow law enforcement officials and having their jurisdiction and cause respected on equal terms. I really felt that I was seeing real life situations which made me respect these men and women a lot.
I also learned a lot about bear bile farming, poaching and illegal trophy hunting. The perpetrators can be a tough and dangerous lot. I really felt like I got a glimpse into this world and its cruel practices.
The book is not sentimental, but hard-nosed and practical. The situation with wildlife is what it is and there are no easy solutions.
The book is very much a police procedural and there are some slow parts. Sometimes the dialogue reminded me of Dragnet and sometimes I just didn't understand what the protagonist was thinking. But the author made this a compelling read for me and I could never bring myself to put it down.
It's called an "eco-thriller," but it's basically a mystery series with a highly unusual detective. There is a human body count, but the crimes and the law enforcement principles in the book are definitely focused on the wildlife.
Marquez, the protagonist, is a former DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) agent who now works for California Fish and Game. He leads a team of agents on an undercover assignment to nail poachers and illegal bear bile farmers in the State of California. The story starts simply enough, but there is a number of plot twists. I really enjoyed learning about the challenges Fish and Game agents have in being taken seriously by fellow law enforcement officials and having their jurisdiction and cause respected on equal terms. I really felt that I was seeing real life situations which made me respect these men and women a lot.
I also learned a lot about bear bile farming, poaching and illegal trophy hunting. The perpetrators can be a tough and dangerous lot. I really felt like I got a glimpse into this world and its cruel practices.
The book is not sentimental, but hard-nosed and practical. The situation with wildlife is what it is and there are no easy solutions.
The book is very much a police procedural and there are some slow parts. Sometimes the dialogue reminded me of Dragnet and sometimes I just didn't understand what the protagonist was thinking. But the author made this a compelling read for me and I could never bring myself to put it down.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Who Let the Dogs Out?
I've heard about the debate over outdoor cats and their impact on bird populations, but now it looks like dogs are a problem too.
Dogs are the four legged foes of natural wildlife and not their friends, according to the first study to quantify the effects on local birds of taking them for a walks.
Experiments show that dog-walking causes more than 40 per cent reduction in bird abundance and more than 35 per cent reduction in bird diversity in woodlands, even if the pets are kept on a lead.
We live near a city park that is pretty much an urban forest. While I love dogs and truly believe walking them is a joy, I can definitely see the impact they have on wildlife. They are loud, excited and active. This makes them highly disruptive to shy and sensitive wildlife.
CN Recommendation: Ocean Conservancy
Sometimes it's hard to find an organization to support. There are so many groups and so many different causes.
However, if you are a supporter of marine animal and environment issues, then we'd like to recommend the Ocean Conservancy. We've been supporters for years and they are a good group. They have a great magazine too and action alerts.
Check them out.
However, if you are a supporter of marine animal and environment issues, then we'd like to recommend the Ocean Conservancy. We've been supporters for years and they are a good group. They have a great magazine too and action alerts.
Check them out.
Sea Turtles Becoming Livestock?
One definition of "livestock" on the internet says "domesticated animals such as cattle or horses raised for home use or profit, especially on a farm."
Where do wild animals fit in here? Because I'm seeing more and more talk about "wild animals" being farmed for food and other products. Are they on their way to becoming domesticated and, therefore, new livestock?
The latest is the endangered sea turtle. The sea turtle has been eaten for centuries and it is a delicacy in such places as Baja California where sea turtles virtually disappeared due to "overharvesting." But now I'm seeing that they are being farmed for local use, even though the international trade has been illegal since 1977.
Oh good, let's get them onto the dinner plate. That will conserve the species in the long run. No one wants to save a living thing, but a TASTY thing....that's different!
Here's a turtle farm out on the Cayman Islands. Apparently, the enterprise failed a couple of times in the 60s and 70s due to those darn conservation regulations about selling sea turtles in countries like the US. They refer to their "herd," but also indicate all the research made possible due to their farm. They release turtles and have been the site for a number of research dissertations. Judge for yourself.
The Property and Environment Research Center (Improving Environmental Quality through Markets) seems to like it. They wrote a piece on it.
The Humane Society wrote a piece too, but they don't like it so much.
Where do wild animals fit in here? Because I'm seeing more and more talk about "wild animals" being farmed for food and other products. Are they on their way to becoming domesticated and, therefore, new livestock?
The latest is the endangered sea turtle. The sea turtle has been eaten for centuries and it is a delicacy in such places as Baja California where sea turtles virtually disappeared due to "overharvesting." But now I'm seeing that they are being farmed for local use, even though the international trade has been illegal since 1977.
Oh good, let's get them onto the dinner plate. That will conserve the species in the long run. No one wants to save a living thing, but a TASTY thing....that's different!
Here's a turtle farm out on the Cayman Islands. Apparently, the enterprise failed a couple of times in the 60s and 70s due to those darn conservation regulations about selling sea turtles in countries like the US. They refer to their "herd," but also indicate all the research made possible due to their farm. They release turtles and have been the site for a number of research dissertations. Judge for yourself.
The Property and Environment Research Center (Improving Environmental Quality through Markets) seems to like it. They wrote a piece on it.
The Humane Society wrote a piece too, but they don't like it so much.
Grizzly Killed by Hunter
The hunter was out to kill a black bear.
Federal and state wildlife officials said Friday they are investigating the killing of a grizzly bear in north-central Idaho, where the last confirmed sighting of the species was in 1946.
The bear, a member of a threatened species, was killed Monday by a hunter near Kelly Creek about three miles from the Montana border, said Steve Nadeau, statewide large carnivore manager for the Idaho fish and game department.
Nadeau said the bear was not confirmed as a grizzly until Friday, after the hunter and guide had packed it out of the remote, roadless area and contacted authorities.
Officials did not release the identities of the hunter or the guide, who was not present when the bear was killed.
Federal and state wildlife officials said Friday they are investigating the killing of a grizzly bear in north-central Idaho, where the last confirmed sighting of the species was in 1946.
The bear, a member of a threatened species, was killed Monday by a hunter near Kelly Creek about three miles from the Montana border, said Steve Nadeau, statewide large carnivore manager for the Idaho fish and game department.
Nadeau said the bear was not confirmed as a grizzly until Friday, after the hunter and guide had packed it out of the remote, roadless area and contacted authorities.
Officials did not release the identities of the hunter or the guide, who was not present when the bear was killed.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Senate Holds Hearing on Factory Farming
Found this in the daily digest.
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the potential human health, water quality, and other impacts of the confined animal feeding operation industry, after receiving testimony from Robert M. Hirsch, Associate Director for Water, United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency; W.A. Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma Attorney General, Oklahoma City; Leonard Blackham, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Salt Lake City, on behalf of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; Catharine Fitzsimmons, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Urbandale, on behalf of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies; Thomas P. Bonacquisti, Loudoun County Sanitation Authority, D1166Leesburg, Virginia, on behalf of Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies; Olin Sims, National Association of Conservation Districts, McFadden, Wyoming; Chris Chinn, American Farm Bureau Federation, Clarence, Missouri; Nicholas Nemec, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Holabird, South Dakota; Michael R. Dicks, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; and Richard J. Dove, New Bern, North Carolina.
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the potential human health, water quality, and other impacts of the confined animal feeding operation industry, after receiving testimony from Robert M. Hirsch, Associate Director for Water, United States Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency; W.A. Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma Attorney General, Oklahoma City; Leonard Blackham, Utah Department of Agriculture and Food, Salt Lake City, on behalf of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture; Catharine Fitzsimmons, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Urbandale, on behalf of the National Association of Clean Air Agencies; Thomas P. Bonacquisti, Loudoun County Sanitation Authority, D1166Leesburg, Virginia, on behalf of Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies; Olin Sims, National Association of Conservation Districts, McFadden, Wyoming; Chris Chinn, American Farm Bureau Federation, Clarence, Missouri; Nicholas Nemec, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Holabird, South Dakota; Michael R. Dicks, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater; and Richard J. Dove, New Bern, North Carolina.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Whaling Ship Sunk
According to Bite Back, the Willassen Senior was sunk in Norway while at dock.
They have pictures.
Here is more on it from Roots of Compassion. Also includes a short video clip of the Willassen Senior in action taking over 15 minutes and numerous rifle shots to kill a whale (it's not a particularly bloody video as it is taken from some distance).
They have pictures.
Here is more on it from Roots of Compassion. Also includes a short video clip of the Willassen Senior in action taking over 15 minutes and numerous rifle shots to kill a whale (it's not a particularly bloody video as it is taken from some distance).
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