The Thai Police have struck at the heart of the wildlife trade in Bangkok by raiding a slaughterhouse used to kill and dismember endangered species such as tigers and elephants. In the raid 7 people were arrested and the Thai police are now chasing the wildlife trafficker involved with the operation.

The raid on the premises in Bangkok saw officers catch the people in the process of chopping up a 400 kg male tiger. The residential building being used as the slaughterhouse contained other dead and dismembered wildlife such as tigers, elephants, crocodiles, endangered birds  and even zebras…

Hundreds of animals rights protestors covered themselves in fake blood and lay on the ground half naked in a demonstration against bull fighting in Mexico City.

An estimated 250 people took part in Saturday’s protest, taping imitation barbed darts that bull fighters use against the animals onto their bodies.

The protestors were from AnimaNaturalis, an animal rights group who were demonstrating on the eve of the bull fighting season outside Mexico City’s Fine Arts Palace…

‘Parasitic individuals’ are cashing in by claiming that they are collecting on behalf of an animal sanctuary near Haverhill.

Carol Harris who runs the Jaybeth Animal Sanctuary in Barnardiston is now reporting the matter to the police.

“I am horrified. I am totally disgusted with whoever these parasitic individuals may be,” said Carol who set up the sanctuary 35 years ago.

She says she has been made aware of pages on Facebook and other internet sites claiming to collect on behalf of the sanctuary, while she has also been told of people holding collections at car boot sales and fetes…

Just sign up to Gold Challenge for us by February 27^th 2012^* and you will be put into a ballot to win this once-in-a-lifetime prize.  For runners-up, you will get the chance to walk around the track as part of a charity parade.  Help London 2012 prepare to put on the greatest show on earth and do something special for the DHT.

The 100m stadium package per runner includes:

• Pre-race warm up with an athlete on the indoor track
• Enter the stadium via the official athlete route
• 1 lane in a 100m race
• Photo finish
• Medal
• +1 guest pass for a stadium seat

Starting your Gold Challenge couldn’t be easier, choose between one of three challenges, register with Gold Challenge and choose the DHT as your chosen charity to raise money for.  For more information and to register click here.

If you are a school or a business that would like to get involved with the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games and raise money for the DHT, please contact Danielle Goodwin on 01462 436819 or email d.goodwin@drhadwentrust.org.

* You must have selected the DHT as the charity you wish to support in order to be in with a chance of winning and have started your fundraising.

Visitor numbers at Edinburgh Zoo are up 200 per cent thanks to the recent arrival of giant pandas.

Around 70,000 people have seen Tian Tian and Yang Guang since they went on public display in December, more than three times the number who visited the zoo in the same period of 2010…

A Detective Inspector has received a special commendation for his dedication to tackling wildlife crime.

The Inspector from Lothian and Borders police was presented with the commendation yesterday Thursday, Feb 2 by the Environment Minister Richard Benyon MP from the Internation Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)…

This summer could be the worst for wildlife in more than three decades if the drought continues, it is feared.

The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, which has a reserve in Welney, fears farming and wildlife could come into conflict if the current period of low rainfall continues.

Rainfall has been so low that in many areas of the UK the level of moisture in the soil is lower than in the severe droughts of 1976.

In Welney, one of the worst-affected areas by the drought, there has not been enough rainfall to flood the grassland habitats, which has meant less food for grazing waterfowl, causing a decline in the number of wintering birds, such as wigeon…

Author Sir Terry Pratchett warned that Britain’s wildlife was in serious decline – as he launched an appeal to fund a new multi-million pound animal hospital.

The fantasy writer, 63, spoke out in an effort to inspire nature-lovers to look after endangered creatures such as the hedgehog and the sparrow.

He passionately backed a new campaign to build a new #4.4million wildlife teaching hospital – which would include an education centre to train young vets.

The bearded Discworld author launched the fund appeal from Secret World Wildlife Rescue Centre, in East Huntspill, Somerset – the site of the proposed venue…

Experts carrying out DNA tests on the carcass of a mutilated deer for evidence of a big cat on the loose have drawn a blank.

The only DNA found by extensive tests on remains of the roe deer, discovered by dog walkers on National Trust land near Stroud, Gloucestershire, last month, was that of a fox.

The National Trust asked the University of Warwick to test samples from the deer after examination of the animal raised the possibility that it could have been killed by a big cat, such as a panther or puma.

The injuries to the neck of the deer and the way the carcass had been consumed were thought to be highly indicative of big cat activity…

Several rescue animals died and others fell ill after a power failure in a sanctuary’s heated shelter.

Volunteers at Woodlands Animal Sanctuary are now appealing for help to finance repairs to the unreliable electric system in the site’s main shelter.

A number of the animals taken in by the Holmeswood-based charity depend on a heat source to survive, and several hedgehogs died last week when the electricity supply tripped – leaving the animals in wintry conditions.

Rebecca Boyd-Preece, from the animal sanctuary, said: “Due to the heat source being out of action for a considerable length of time, our already sick residents have regrettably suffered…