New Podcast Uploaded for 01/30/10

In this week's podcast ending January 30, 2010:

**A Mercy for Animals video spurs calls for a ban on tail docking in the State of New York;

**Animal rights activists try to stop construction of a bullfighting ring in Beijing;

**A PETA protestor gets a pie in the face for protesting against the Canadian seal hunt;

**And legislation is proposed in China to ban the eating of cats and dogs.

PETA Activist Pied in the Face

A PETA anti seal hunt activist was hit in the face with a pie in Newfoundland. This after a PETA activist hit Canada Fisheries Minister Gail Shae with a pie.

In other news, PETA received more publicity for their anti seal hunting campaign when one of their protesters was hit in the face with a pie. That's good, because I really hate Canada's odious seal hunt.

Tiger Farms in China

The BBC has an article about the spreading practice of "farming" tigers.

Eating Cats and Dogs Could Become Illegal in China

The legislation is only being drafted right now and there's a long way to go I suspect before such laws would pass. You can already read the excuses being cited in this article.

Horrible Tail Docking Video Spurs Call for Ban

Just awful.

More great undercover work though by Mercy for Animals.

Zambia Calls for Tougher Wildlife Crime Enforcement

Wildlife crime such as poaching and live animal smuggling is becoming increasingly sophisticated. This because it is being run by organized crime networks with professional and ruthless criminals. It's not just some guy with a gun and snare.

Zambia's Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources is calling for a greater cooperation between her country's agencies in dealing with this serious issue. The worst areas of wildlife crime appear to be in rhino and elephant poaching. Obviously, this is due to one word....ivory.

Moon Bears Rescued from Bile Farm in Vietnam

Ugh. It's great that they were saved, but they arrived at the rescue center in wretched condition. Moon bears are rare, which makes this all the sadder.

Please note that the illegal bile farm was Taiwanese-owned. Again, the China connection.

I can't read such stuff without being sickened by my species.

(Thank Animals Asia for the rescue. They are an amazing organization that we support financially.)

Europe's Pig Industry Mad about Undercover Investigation

Compassion in World Farming led an undercover investigation that showed illegal tail docking and poor attempts at pig enrichment on factory farms, in violation of EU law. Now the pig industry is mad and claiming bias (scroll down in article.)

Too bad! If you complied with the law, you wouldn't look like such jerks!

Wisconsin-Madison Cleared by USDA

The University of Wisconsin-Madison was cleared of animal welfare violations in a report released yesterday. It had twenty violations back in December 2009...

According to the ten-page detailed report from December, the USDA cited sanitation, ventilation and enclosure concerns within the Center’s facilities. In one case, a pen housing a large pig was constructed with slats that regularly caused the pig to fall when its feet fell through.


The report also noted a lack of cleanliness in some facilities. Dried blood, dust and floor stains were cited as deficiencies. Dirty air filters and an “excessive accumulation of flies” were also named as concerns.

Of course they passed the January inspection. They had to do so after the December report or heads would probably roll. But I find it hard to believe they won't let their standards fall again.

Sri Lanka Attempts to Establish Animal Research Guidelines

From the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka....

Last Monday (January 18, 2010), this country reached a milestone with regard to animal research when a booklet on the ‘Guidelines for Ethics Review of Research Proposals Involving Animals in Sri Lanka’, was launched at a simple ceremony held at the Colombo Medical Faculty presided over by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Colombo, Prof. Kshanika Hirimburegama, the Dean of the Medical Faculty, Prof. Harsha Seneviratne and the faculty’s Ethics Review Committee Chairman Prof. Hemantha Senanayake.

The guidelines have been compiled by the Forum of Ethics Review Committees of Sri Lanka and the Ethics Review Committee (ERC) of the Colombo Medical Faculty after several sessions of consultations with a wide and varied group including academics from all universities across the country, government officials and animal welfare groups. The booklet has been sponsored by the World Health Organization.

The need for such guidelines was felt acutely when the National Bioethics Committee (NBC) of the National Science Foundation realized in 2003 that there was no legislation or nationally applicable codes of practice to ensure the humane treatment of animals used in research, states well-known animal lover, Dr. Malik Fernando in his ‘Background’ note.

WA State Man Loses Hunting License Over Elk Killing

This guy is a real piece of work. Click on the link and see the picture. It says it all.

New Podcast Uploaded for 01/26/10

In this week's podcast ending January 26, 2010:

**Animal rescue efforts are underway in disaster-stricken Haiti;

**A research study involving the burial of live pigs is halted;

**The blood sport of dogfighting enjoys a revival in Afghanistan;

**And a report by animal welfare organizations criticize pig farming in the European Union.

Sea Shepherd to Head to Mediterranean to Protect Tuna

Sea Shepherd will be sending the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker to the Mediterranean to help protect Bluefin Tuna.

Announcing their venture into the Mediterranean, the organisation's founder and president, Captain Paul Watson, said: "We need to bring to the attention of the international public that one of the most unique fish species in the world, the Bluefin tuna, is on the brink of extinction due to the illegal fisheries driven by Japan's insatiable demand for this expensive fish."

Chimpanzees in Sanctuaries Reflect Widespread Smuggling

It makes sense. The chimpanzee population is decreasing in the wild, but their numbers are increasing in sanctuaries. There are more rescues because there is more smuggling.

Research shows this is what's happening in Cameroon.

Serious Problems with Quality of Animal Research

The writer of this Guardian article supports animal research, but admits there are many problems with the research itself. His arguments are not based on humane treatment of the animals, but whether these studies are even properly conducted.

I ask if these studies are not properly conducted, then why do them in the first place?