World Society For The Protection Of Animals Seeks Museum For Unique Wildlife Crime Display

Culture 24:

A 10-day-old “decorative” stuffed tiger cub and a three-metre long polar bear skin will feature in a carousel of curiosities when the Wildlife Crime Unit – a branch of the Metropolitan Police cutting out the trafficking of animal-related products – finds a venue for a one-off display of some of the amazing items it has seized.

Organisers are looking for a home for an interactive exhibition to highlight the impact of crime on exotic animals whose populations are often already dwindling. It will also celebrate the resurgence of the Unit, whose modest team of one Police Sergeant, one Constable and a civilian police member appeared under threat themselves during the recent government funding cuts…

Bred For Looks, Born To Suffer

New RSPCA research shows that many people still think pedigree dogs are healthy, quality animals that come from good breeding stock.

In fact, many pedigree dogs are vulnerable to unnecessary disease, disability, pain or behavioural problems. This is because they’re bred primarily for how they look rather than with health, welfare and temperament in mind.

The RSPCA is concerned that people are continuing to buy puppies that are prone to serious health and welfare issues because they are choosing dogs for the way they look – such as the current trend for toy breeds and ‘handbag dogs’ – and aren’t doing enough research before they buy.

If you agree that the health, welfare and temperament of dogs should be prioritised over their looks, please join our campaign now.The first step to protecting pedigree dogs from suffering is adding your name to our petition to change breed standards.

Take Action

Join the campaign by clicking on the link below: Join the campaign to stop their suffering!

Villagers Wait On Big Cat DNA Result

This Is Gloucestershire:

Conservationists and villagers are waiting with bated breath for test results which could confirm big cats are living in the Five Valleys and Severn Vale.

Tomorrow, the National Trust is hoping to release results of DNA tests on two deer carcasses which appeared to have been stripped by a large feline…

Sumatran Elephants Edging Closer To Extinction

Wildlife Extra:

WWF is calling for an immediate moratorium on habitat conversion in Sumatra in order to protect the future of the country’s elephants. The Sumatran elephant has been uplisted from ‘endangered’ to ‘critically endangered’ after losing nearly 70 per cent of its habitat and half its population in one generation. The decline is largely because of elephant habitat being deforested or converted for agricultural plantations.

IUCN has classified the Sumatran elephant subspecies as critically endangered on its Red List of Threatened Species. There are only an estimated 2,400 to 2,800 of the animals remaining in the wild, meaning numbers have halved since the 1985 population estimate. Scientists say that if current trends continue, Sumatran elephants could be extinct in the wild in less than 30 years…

Giving A Monkey’s About Bishop’s Stortford Animal Rescue Charity

Herts & Essex Observer:

Monkey business was on the agenda at East Herts District Council’s most recent scrutiny committee meeting.

The plight of elderly capuchins Mouella and Fudge, who live at Bishop’s Stortford’s Animal Rescue Charity (ARC) in Foxdells Lane, was raised by Cllr Michael Newman.

Following the death of 90-year-old animal lover Elsie Quarmby in 2009, the pair of monkeys – who belonged to the much-loved former bank clerk from Hunsdon – were left in the ARC’s care for the rest of their lives.

But to be able to house the primates legally, the charity has to pay the authority £530 every two years for a wild animal licence. Although it was left some money by Ms Quarmby, this does not cover the cost…

Nuneaton Woman Kept 69 Animals In ‘Filthy’ Conditions

Coventry Telegraph:

A woman who kept 69 animals in “filthy and appalling conditions” has been given a life ban.

Carole Cartledge, 65, admitted ten charges of cruelty when she appeared before Nuneaton magistrates yesterday.

The case was brought by the RSPCA after inspectors and police visited her semi-detached home in Cherry Grove, Bilton, Rugby, following a tip-off.

They found rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and birds in cramped, dirty cages and diseased, starving cats in locked rooms and cupboards…

Dog Walker Tasered For Not Having His Animal On A Leash

Telegraph:

A man walking his dogs in a federal park was hit with a stun gun and arrested by a park ranger who accused him of not putting a leash on the animals and giving a false name, astonishing passers-by who say the reaction was excessive…

Leopard Seized From Ohio Home Zoo Is Euthanized

Los Angeles Times:

A spotted leopard that survived a wildlife massacre at a ramshackle home zoo in Ohio has been euthanized after an accident at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, where it was being held in quarantine.

The leopard was being moved between two enclosures  about 11 a.m. Sunday when it was struck in the back of the neck by a heavy security door that was being lowered at the time. The change in enclosures appears to have been part of the zoo’s normal cleaning and feeding routine…

Trial Begins For Dutch Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen In Taiji, Japan

Sea Shepherd:

Thursday January 26 marked the start of court proceedings for Dutch Cove Guardian Erwin Vermeulen, who has been detained for more than 40 days on false charges of assault. Erwin was in Taiji documenting the town’s annual dolphin massacre, which runs from September until March, in an effort to bring global awareness to this horrific slaughter, when he was falsely accused of pushing one of the dolphin resort employees…

Animal Artist Given Own Exhibition

Press Association:

Orang-utans, gorillas, chimpanzees and an elephant are among animal artists being given their own exhibition of paintings.

The event, opening next week at University College London’s Grant Museum of Zoology, will feature works from zoos in the US and Thailand…