Guest column by Kenneth W. LeVasseur Editors’ note: Kenneth W. LeVasseur, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, a dolphin intelligence and communication researcher for more than fifty years, with colleague Steven C. Sipman on May 29, 1977 released into the ocean two dolphins, Puka and Kea, who had been held at the University of Hawaii marine mammal laboratory, where […]
What do “rescued” beluga deaths signify for marine mammal captivity?
Sanctuary proponents square off against captivity defenders, as both sides invoke the name & teachings of Ric O’Barry CHICAGO, Illinois––Four of the 30 belugas evacuated from the defunct Marineland of Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, during July and August 2026 have died at their new homes, along with a fifth beluga who was […]
Marineland of Niagara belugas evacuated, but move to the Shedd goes badly
Taiji dolphin captures for sale to marine mammal parks go on––& still no viable sanctuaries for displaced whales & dolphins CHICAGO, Illinois; NIAGARA, Ontario; TAIJI, Japan––September 1, 2026 ended one long chapter in the history of marine mammal captivity, as the last six beluga whales left Marineland of Niagara Falls. Another chapter began, however, […]
Mutilating horses & steers’ tails is cruel, agree Scotland & Illinois judge
McHenry County case brings first known convictions for steer-tailing GLASGOW, Scotland; WOODSTOCK, Illinois––August 2026 may be noted in some quarters as the month in which both the government of Scotland and circuit judge Justin M. Hansen of McHenry County, Illinois formally recognized that removing the tails of large quaduped grazing animals from their hindquarters constitutes […]
Behind the Calgary & Omak Stampede wild rushes of frightened animals
Neither Stampede’s signature event resembles any authentic Old West or Native American tradition OMAK, Washington; CALGARY, Alberta––The 2026 “stampede” subset of the rodeo season, consisting most notoriously of the annual Calgary Stampede and Omak Stampede, ended on August 16, 2026 with the fourth and last running of the year of the Omak “Suicide Race.” Riders […]
Jaripeo Baile rodeo participants don’t know a downed bull from a piñata
The mayhem at the rented home of the California Rodeo Salinas was not bull-riding, steer-tailing, or even bullfighting as done by the rules SALINAS, California––If the Jaripeo Baile held on August 1, 2026 at the Salinas Sports Complex in Salinas, California had been an authentic exhibition of Mexican culture, the participants who kicked and […]
Steer-tailing yanked down by the tail in Ogle County, Illinois; SHARK wins
Venue owners surrender conditional use permit rather than face Showing Animals Respect & Kindness and the Humane Farming Association application for emergency injunction ROCHELLE, Illinois––Steer-tailers in the habit of converging on Rancho La Esperanza will have to jerk something else, somewhere else, after the property owners on July 10, 2026 relinquished the Ogle County conditional […]
L.A. city council likely to buck rodeo ban; Ogle County stalls on steer-tailing
Commercialized cruelty hides behind “culture” & pols follow the money LOS ANGELES, California; ROCHELLE, Illinois––A Los Angeles City Council bill to ban rodeo, pending since December 2023 and set to expire on July 18, 2026, appears likely to be bucked off the council agenda by opposition from Arts, Parks, Libraries & Community Enrichment Committee chair […]
Oh deer: Marineland belugas rehomed, but deer & elk allegedly slaughtered
Belugas likely to be rehomed, anyhow. Marineland history suggests not holding breath unless swimming underwater NIAGARA, Ontario––Tentative good news about the fate of animals left by the 2024 closure of Marineland at Niagara Falls was offset within a week by more of the frequent bad news about Marineland that has emerged since Ontario animal advocate […]
Both disappointments & hope for animals on June 2026 court docket
Kevin Antle walks in Virginia, murder rap reversed in Elijah McClain case, & animal groups seek justice for barred owls & bison RICHMOND, Virginia; DENVER, Colorado; PORTLAND, Oregon; MISSOULA, Montana––“I broke no law. Not one,” asserted animal exhibitor Kevin Antle on June 6, 2026, claiming “Total vindication” after the Virginia Supreme Court dismissed all state […]