“India ain’t big enough for both of us.” KOLKATA, India––The Howrah-Mumbai Mail train in the wee hours of April 16, 2018 killed four elephants on the same stretch of track in Jharsuguda district, Odissa state, where two others died after falling into trackside ditches in separate incidents in September and October 2017. […]
Daphne Sheldrick, 83, showed Kenya that wildlife is worth most when alive
Known for elephant & rhino rescue, but contributions were much bigger than that NAIROBI, Kenya––The facts of the life of the late Daphne Sheldrick, who died at age 83 on April 12, 2018 after a long battle with breast cancer, are much more easily summarized than her legacy to wildlife, elephants in particular, and […]
Will videotaped beatings kill the last elephant polo tournament?
PETA video shows mahout hit elephant on the head “approximately 15 times” BANGKOK, Thailand––The likelihood that the recently completed 16th annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand will mark the end of the sport increased on March 9, 2018, the second day of the four-day event, concluded on March 11, when PETA/Asia […]
Who killed ivory trade investigator Esmond Martin, why?
Survived more than 30 years of work in some of the world’s most dangerous places, only to be stabbed in his bed NAIROBI, Kenya––Nairobi police homicide detectives appear to believe that renowned elephant ivory and rhino horn trafficking investigator Esmond Bradley Martin Jr., 75, was murdered on February 5, 2018 in connection with a […]
China halts ivory sales, but leads the world in live elephant imports
No more “state-approved ivory dealers” BEIJING, China; HARARE, Zimbabwe––All trade in elephant ivory is now illegal in China, effective January 1, 2018, except in Hong Kong, which is reportedly soon to enact a similar prohibition, to take effect in 2022. “From now on, if a merchant tells you ‘this is a state-approved ivory dealer’… […]
Elephant polo follows woolly mammoths toward extinction
Scheduled at only one place, for just four days, in 2018 BANGKOK, Thailand––Elephant polo might in theory stagger on for years or even decades after the four-day 2018 King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament––if the last tournament host, Anantara Hotels & Resorts, remains willing to pour promotional effort into it and mahouts have elephants to […]
Has China made trains animal-friendly, while U.S. & India fail?
The dog survived, but the elephants didn’t. The pandas may never know the trains are there. DUPONT, Washington; GUWAHATI, India; CHENGDU, China––Just like in the movies, the dog survived. A Dachshund/terrier mix belonging to passenger Shaheim Lewis, Daisy went flying but suffered no serious injuries, according to the Tacoma Tribune, when Amtrak Cascades passenger train […]
A cry from the elephant pit
We need your help to stay out of the hole The time has come for us to speak to you forthrightly and directly about the “elephant in the room,” who is unfortunately not an elephant but a pit bull. The time has also come for us to ask you forthrightly and directly if you value what […]
Why the Oregon Zoo euthanized Packy the elephant
Antibiotic-resistant asymptomatic TB strain had epidemic potential PORTLAND, Oregon––Oregon Zoo veterinary staff on February 9, 2017 euthanized Packy, 54, the oldest male elephant in the U.S., after a multi-year losing battle against an antibiotic-resistant strain of the lung disease tuberculosis which had already killed two other Oregon Zoo elephants and infected seven zoo staff […]
Ringling Bros. circus folds, upstaging last SeaWorld San Diego “Shamu” show
Last Ringling performances set for May 2017 ELLENTON, Florida––The epoch of performing animal extravaganzas drew closer to an end over the weekend of January 14-15, 2017 with the near-simultaneous announcements by Feld Entertainment that the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus will cease performing in May 2017, and by SeaWorld that the Sunday “Shamu” show […]