Sea Shepherd Joins Search for Missing Japanese Whaler

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society:

The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Steve Irwin has joined the search for missing Japanese seaman Hajime Shiraskai 30. Shirasaki fell off the Kyoshin Maru No. 2 and is believed lost at sea…

Sick Pelicans Baffle Experts

Associated Press:

Wildlife experts are trying to figure out why sick, disoriented and bruised California brown pelicans are being found in record numbers along more than 1,000 miles of coastline.

The birds, some of them dead, have been spotted from San Francisco to Baja California, Mexico. Many have been found far from their homes on roads, fields and backyards.

The pelicans started appearing late last month north of San Pedro in Southern California, then began appearing farther north, said Jay Holcomb, executive director of the International Bird Rescue Research Center in Fairfield, in Northern California…

Dog Killed And Disabled Owner Attacked By Gang

BBC News:

A further four men have been arrested after a disabled woman was attacked in her home as she confronted a gang who killed her pet dog in Liverpool…

Orangutan Island Now Showing On Animal Planet UK

From AnimalBlog’s Inbox: 

For those of you who did not get to see it first time around when it aired
last May, there is another chance to see the first series of Orangutan
Island on Animal Planet every Tuesday. (It is at 3am, so we recommend
recording it!!).

The stars of Orangutan Island are 35 orphans that have been rescued by
Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation from oil-palm plantations and the
illegal pet trade.

You can get to know the Bandit Boys, and others such as Compost, Jordan,
Hamlet & Saturnus. Follow these teenagers lives as they prepare for life
back in the rainforest, fine-tuning their nest building skills and
exploring the islands and watch as they form friendships and a community.

To learn a bit more about the stars of the series, please visit
http://www.savetheorangutan.co.uk/?page_id=1040

Thank you.

Borneo Orangutan Survival UK

Do something wonderful in 2009 and become part of the world’s largest
primate rescue operation:
http://www.savetheorangutan.co.uk/adopt

Animal Sanctuary Worker Dies From Rabies

A woman from Northern Ireland who was diagnosed with rabies in December has died in hospital; she is believed to be the first person in 70 years to have contracted rabies in Northern Ireland.

It is thought that Lisa McMurray may have become infected as far back as December 2006 when she worked in a South African animal sanctuary, there was an incident where she got scratched separated two dogs, one of the dogs was later destroyed after it started foaming at the mouth.

Full article: Telegraph

Bristol Man Convicted Of Getting His Dog Drunk

A Bristol man has been the first person ever in the UK to be convicted of ‘the administration of poisons or injurious drugs to a protected animal’. Andrew Wilson forced his dog ‘Bronx’ to get drunk on Stella, and hit the Bull Mastiff cross over the head.

Full story: News:lite

New Website Launched To Help Enforce The Hunting Act

RSPCA:

A new website has been launched by leading animal welfare groups to help police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) with the enforcement of the Hunting Act.

The website – www.huntingact.org – is a factual resource created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) and the RSPCA….

RSPCA Rescues 70 Animals On Christmas Eve

RSPCA:

New homes are needed for 70 animals rescued by the RSPCA in Sussex on Christmas Eve after they were found living in poor conditions with a family who were unable to care for them properly.

Three dogs, 30 cats, 35 birds and two rats were removed from a house in Bexhill, East Sussex, during the afternoon of Wednesday, 24 December 2008…

Sea Shepherd To Return To Land To Refuel

Sea Shepherd News:

After chasing the Japanese whaling fleet for 2,000 miles from the extreme Western end of their hunting territory near Commonwealth Bay in the Australian Antarctic Territory, to the Eastern side of the Ross Sea, the Sea Shepherd ship Steve Irwin has been forced to cut off the pursuit to return to land for refueling…