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 […]
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 […]
Hurricane Irma: survival stories from 27 zoos & sanctuaries
No losses of zoo & sanctuary animals reported! (See also Hurricane Irma: first reports on animals in the Caribbean islands, Hurricane Irma: Hemingway cats & dolphin rescuer Rick Trout rode it out in the Keys , and Hurricane Irma: how wildlife endured) Current USDA Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service licensing data indicates that at least 217 […]
Dick Gregory, 50 years a vegan activist, dies at 84
Had record of advocacy for non-violent food nearly as long as careers in comedy and civil rights Dick Gregory, 84, remembered by most media as “a groundbreaking comedian and civil rights activist,” but also actively advocating a vegan lifestyle for nearly two-thirds of his life, died in Washington D.C. on August 19, 2017 from a […]
Will ALDF fight return to Europe of big cats who performed for Ringling?
Endangered Species Act definitions changed while 15 cats were in U.S. on tour ELLENTON, Florida; COTATI, California––The Animal Legal Defense Fund on May 25, 2017 let the world know via media release that it “strongly objects” to an application from the no longer performing Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for a U.S. […]
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 […]
Animal Rights Action Network stages Corker of finale
Limerick’s Carmody leaves ’em laughing CORK, Ireland––Disbanding, 21 years after bringing multi-issue grassroots animal rights activism to Ireland, the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) on October 25, 2016 finished with a rally in Cork against lackadaisical official responses to complaints about cruelty to animals. Allied animal advocacy organizations from Limerick, Clare, Galway, Dublin, Kildare, […]
A tale of two of the world’s oldest tigers, both named Bengali
One Bengali lived at Big Cat Rescue, the other at Associated Humane Societies’ Popcorn Park Zoo Bengali, 21 or 22 years of age, either way one of the half dozen oldest tigers on record, and one of two tigers within that elite half dozen to share the name Bengali, died on May 31, 2016 at […]
Ringling elephant dies of herpes
Blow to breeding & research plans ELLENTON, Florida––The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Center for Elephant Conservation on January 25, 2016 lost a baby elephant named Mike to elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus––a blow to Ringling ambitions both in captive elephant breeding and in disease research. Birthed on June 27, 2013, Mike was among 26 […]