Animals 24-7

News on dogs, cats, horses, wildlife, zoonoses, & nature

“Ban wildlife trophy imports!” pleads former Botswana president to U.K. & U.S.

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Elephants & lions,  alive to be photographed,  seen as keys to a prosperous future LONDON, U.K.;  GABORONE, Botswana––Botswana may have more elephants and lions than anywhere else in the world. Seretse Khama Ian Khama,  president of Botswana from 2008 to 2018,  considers that fact so important to maintaining and improving the prosperity of the nation […]

Buffalo attack death mystery recalls injuries & deaths of other animal advocates

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Shando Mathebula,  Steve Ross,  Jerry W. Brown,  & Angela Glover JOHANNESBURG––The South African National Park Service [SANParks] and South African Police Service [SAPS] are reportedly investigating the May 4,  2022 death of Kruger National Park field ranger and dog handler Shando Mathebula,  36. Mathebula,  while on patrol in the park,  was either fatally gored by […]

Tony Fitzjohn, renowned for wildlife conservation work in Kenya & Tanzania, dies at 76

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Began as a Boy Scout,  became a hippie,  hitchhiked to Africa,  & made himself useful Tony Fitzjohn,  76,  died on May 23,  2022,  “following a prolonged fight against a malignant cancer,”  the Tony Fitzjohn-WildlifeNow George Adamson Wildlife Preservation Trust announced. Fitzjohn recounted most of his long career working on behalf of African wildlife in his […]

Vultures circling overhead are good news for Planet Earth

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Both black vultures & turkey vultures are rapidly expanding U.S. range and numbers Feeling down about global warming,  chemical pollution,  and reports about loss of species? See the vultures circling overhead? Both black vultures and turkey vultures are rapidly expanding in numbers and range across the U.S. Turkey vultures have even appeared in southeastern Alaska […]

Coyotes, parrots, & the ghosts of George & Joy Adamson

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Four older books offer current lessons: The Wilderness Family: At Home with Africa’s Wildlife by Kobie Kruger Ballantine Books (c/o Random House, 299 Park Ave., New York, NY 10171), 2001. 381 pages, hardcover, $26.95. The Daily Coyote,  by Shreve Stockton Simon & Schuster,  1230 Ave. of the Americas,  New York,   NY  10020),  2008.  279 pages, […]

CITES doomed the vaquita, sold the elephant in the room, & worse

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U.N. Environment Assembly calls for yet another report on “the interlinkages between animal welfare,  the environment and sustainable development” after ignoring a mountain of others produced at least since 1950             LYON, France––This is not just a fish story,  nor just a fish-and-elephant story,  nor even just another story about the failures and shortcomings of […]

Wildlife Waystation founder Martine Colette, 79, goes to “walk with tigers”

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Rescued,  sheltered,  & rehabilitated wildlife for 43 years LAKE HAVASU,  Arizona––Wildlife Waystation founder Martine Colette,  79,  died on January 23,  2022. Reported CBS-Los Angeles,  “Colette, who had been suffering from lung cancer,  died at her Lake Havasu home, according to her publicist.” Wrote Mike Barnes for Hollywood Reporter,  “She died surrounded by friends,  and one […]

HSUS to spend up to $20 million on Project Chimps & then kick it loose

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Seeks “peace with honor” & withdrawal after whistleblower campaign BLUE RIDGE, Georgia––The Humane Society of the United States on January 10,  2022 committed $20 million––at least in a media release––to making material improvements at the HSUS-funded Project Chimps sanctuary in Blue Ridge,  Georgia. The HSUS pledge,  observed Their Turn founder Donny Moss of New York […]

Are pigs among our closest kin? Heart transplant revives debate

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Ethics,  genetics,  & relationship of pigs to humans             BALTIMORE, Maryland––The world’s first pig-to-human heart transplant,  performed on January 7,  2022 at the University of Maryland Medical Center,  may or may not extend the life of transplant recipient David Bennett,  57. Certainly it shortened the life of the pig,  trucked five hours from a company […]

Richard Leakey, 77, saved elephants & found missing links to veg past

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Richard Leakey both extended human history backward & helped Kenyan wildlife survive into the future NAIROBI, Kenya––Richard Erskine Frere Leakey,  77,  known to the world as simply Richard Leakey,  died on January 2,  2022,  in Nairobi,  the Kenyan capital city and his home for most of his life. Born in Nairobi on December 19,  1944,  […]