RSPCA: Swine Flu Outbreak

From The RSPCA Website:

We have issued the following statement from an animal welfare perspective, together with answers to some frequently asked questions, for anyone concerned about the current outbreak of swine flu.

Swine flu viruses don’t normally affect humans, but sporadic human infections have occurred – as in the case of the current outbreak in Mexico.

As this particular strain has mutated to affect humans only, it is believed that this strain cannot be passed onto animals, including farm animals such as pigs or domestic pets.

We believe – based on current evidence – that this particular variant of the virus has never been seen in pig herds across Europe.

It cannot be transmitted through eating pork, although people should always make sure any meat is cooked properly.

“It is important to keep this news in proportion,” says Dr Julia Wrathall, head of farm animal science at the RSPCA.

“There is no evidence that this strain of swine flu can be transmitted to other animals such as pets, or could be passed back to pigs or other farm animals.

“So far there have been no reported outbreaks on UK farms, and at present the disease has been limited to a small number of confirmed human cases in this country – all of whom have recently returned from Mexico.

“However, we will be monitoring the situation closely with regard to any animal welfare implications.”

Proposed New Laws To Protect Scotland’s Wildlife

BBC News:

Proposed new laws to protect Scotland’s marine life while safeguarding offshore jobs are being unveiled by ministers.

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said current legislation needed to be simplified, while ensuring the marine environment had a sustainable future…

PIG Cull A Mistake Says OIE

ABS CBN News:

The world’s paramount agency in the trade of farm animals on Thursday said culling pigs in the belief this would stop the spread of so-called swine flu was a mistake.

In a statement issued after Egypt declared it would slaughter all pigs in the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said culling “will not help to guard against public or animal health risks presented by this novel A/H1N1 influenza virus.”..

Swine Flu: Is Intensive Pig Farming To Blame?

The Guardian:

Finger pointing towards intensive farming is spreading like the H1N1 virus itself; it’s time for an urgent inquiry to find out the facts…

Dumped Pets Rise By 57%

The Guardian:

From fancy cars to foreign holidays, Britons have had to relinquish all sorts of luxuries as the credit crunch takes hold. To this list we can now add pets: 57% more animals were abandoned last year than in 2007, according to figures from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)…

Whale Wars Tonight 9PM

From AnimalBlog’s inbox:

*Whale Wars* is a high-adrenalin new series providing an insight into the endeavours of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a radical group of environmental activists attempting to stop the Japanese from hunting down and killing one of the most magnificent species on the planet. Cameras follow the crew of self-proclaimed eco-pirates as they put their lives on the line, spending 3-4 months on the most remote and hostile seas in the world, implementing their direct action tactics. From launching missiles to ramming and disabling ships and even boarding one of the Japanese vessels, what they do is highly controversial.

Whale Wars screens at 9pm on Mondays from 27th April, only on Discovery Channel; visit http://www.discoverychannel.co.uk/web/whale-wars/ for more information and behind-the-scenes footage.

Albino Fallow Deer Discovered In Sussex Woods

Wildlife Extra:

Volunteer rescuers had a surprise when they went to rescue a deer that was caught in a rope swing in some Sussex woods. To their amazement the deer, a male fallow deer, was completely white and is thought to be a very rare albino…

Badger Cull Debate Begins In Wales

NewsWales:

A consultation on proposed legislation to beat bovine TB – including a cull of badgers and possible vaccination of the animals – began today.

Last year more than 12,000 cattle in Wales were slaughtered because of TB. By 2014 taxpayers could be paying more than £80m to farmers in compensation if the disease continues to escalate at the current rate…

Good News For The Gray Whale

BBC News:

Conservation campaigners are hailing a victory for the “critically endangered” gray whale.

The groups have won agreement from some oil and gas companies in Russian waters to end seismic work, giving gray whales a chance to breed undisturbed…

Bronx Zoo Gets Rid Of Animals To Save Cash

Daily Mail:

New York’s Bronx Zoo is being forced to lose hundreds of animals in a desperate bid to fill a $15 million budget shortfall.

Bosses at the Bronx Zoo said they were devastated at the losses but could see no other alternative after being hit hard by the credit crunch…