High water raises hell in both the Rocky Mountains & below the Himalayas YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, U.S.A.; GUWAHATI, Assam, India––While unprecedentedly catastrophic flooding closed Yellowstone National Park for a week in mid-June 2022, also unprecedentedly severe monsoon flooding closed Manas National Park in Assam state, India, earlier and for longer. Both Yellowstone National Park, […]
Busted again: the secret life of “Tiger King” Kevin “Doc” Antle on the lam from Iowa
Does Antle fear identification with the ordinary more than felony charges? Charged with money laundering mucho bigtime MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina––Kevin Antle, 62, self-styled as “Bhagavan” and “Doc” Antle, was late on June 3, 2022 reportedly apprehended by agents for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Antle and alleged accomplice Andrew Jon Sawyer, 52, also known […]
Save Animals Initiative cofounder Anil Malhotra, 80
Anil & Pamela Gale Malhotra created reputedly the largest non-governmentally managed wildlife sanctuary in India Anil Malhotra, 80, died on November 22, 2021 at the SAI (Save Animals Initiative) Sanctuary he and his wife Pamela Gale Malhotra cofounded in 1991 at Theralu Village & Post, South Kodagu, Karnataka state, India. Posted Pamela Gale Malhotra to […]
Siegfried Fischbacher, 81, follows tiger act partner Roy Horn, 75, in death
Illusionist Fischbacher, of Siegfried & Roy, created image of partner Horn as “positive reinforcement” trainer & conservationist Both were role models for “Joe Exotic” et al LAS VEGAS––Entertainer Siegfried Fischbacher, 81, died of pancreatic cancer on January 14, 2021, at the Las Vegas home he had shared with Roy Horn, his partner in life […]
Big Cat Public Safety Act clears House after Big Cat Rescue mauling
Accident to volunteer emphasized need for the bill TAMPA, Florida; WASHINGTON D.C.–– December 3, 2020 began as a very bad day for Big Cat Rescue founder Carole Baskin. But it was an even worse day for five-year volunteer Candy Couser, 69, of Land O’Lakes, Florida, mauled by Kimba the tiger at the Big Cat […]
Last acts for animal circuses in Russia, India, New Jersey, & Hawaii
Russian law protects Moscow State Circus monopoly MOSCOW, NEW DELHI––New legislation in Russia, whose circuses have for almost a century been the most attended worldwide, and in India, where the circus tradition started, appear to be among the final acts in several thousand years of traveling exhibitions of performing animals. The new Russian “Law […]
“We can still save them”: wild cat conservationist Alan Rabinowitz, 65
The “Indiana Jones of wildlife conservation” was an optimist in a field dominated by doom-and-gloom NEW YORK CITY––Wild cat conservationist Alan Rabinowitz died of cancer on August 5, 2018 in Manhattan, New York City, after an 18-year struggle that began with a diagnosis of leukemia in 2001 and spanned most of the achievements for […]
Tony, the truck stop tiger since 2001, dies at 17––will he be the last?
Had at least 13 predecessors in 30 years IBERVILLE PARISH, Louisiana––Tony, 17, the latest and perhaps the last of a succession of at least 13 tigers exhibited for 30 years at the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete, Iberville Parish, Louisiana, was euthanized due to advanced kidney failure on the evening of October 16, […]
Payments for predation losses spark alleged attempts to get away with murder
Schemes meant to save lives may be “gamed” for profit PILIBHIT, India; MADISON, Wisconsin; KALAMAZOO, Michigan––As many as seven alleged murders in the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve of northern India, near the border of Nepal, may help to spotlight a fatal flaw in schemes to pay compensation for wildlife depredation, already evident in the U.S. […]
“Ban white tigers & lion/tiger hybrids,” sanctuarians beg feds
Petition seeks rulemaking under Animal Health Protection Act & Animal Welfare Act WASHINGTON D.C.––Nearly 200 years of entrepreneurs speculatively breeding white tigers and lion/tiger hybrids are enough, say a coalition of animal advocacy organizations and several leading sanctuaries where “tigons,” “ligers,” and “liligers” have lived out their days after proving no longer profitable for […]