It ain’t a horse opera because the fat lady doesn’t sing Wild Beauty: Mustang Spirit of the West Directed by Ashley Avis. Premiered on May 12, 2023. 101 minutes https://wildbeautyfoundation.org/films/wild-beauty-documentary/ Reviewed by Merritt & Beth Clifton Never before, in almost a century of combined experience with equines and in environmental journalism, have the ANIMALS 24-7 […]
New Zealand exempts cats from killing contest, finds cure for FIP
But all other land predators & even non-native waterfowl remain in the crosshairs CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand––Nationally hellbent on destroying any semblance of a natural, normal predator/prey ecology since the introduction of the Predator Free 2050 program in 2012, New Zealand might be the last place the rest of the world might expect to produce a […]
Even the giant new Wild Horse Refuge can’t catch up to the mustang surplus
Sanctuaries & anti-slaughter legislation address the wrong end of the problem DENVER, Colorado––Wild horse advocates rejoiced on February 8, 2023 when the $29-million-a-year Wild Animal Sanctuary announced the purchase of 22,450 acres near Craig in northwest Colorado, to become The Wild Horse Refuge. “Spanning 29 square miles, a landmass larger than Manhattan, the refuge […]
Caribbean tax shelter wants to kill 450 tiny vervet monkeys––why?
Technically not a banana republic, Sint Maarten acts like one PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten––Suddenly globally infamous for a scheme to exterminate an estimated 450 feral vervet monkeys, who have colonized the 16-square-mile Caribbean island nation for nearly 400 years, the former Dutch colony of Sint Maarten might be considered a banana republic. Sint Maarten does have […]
Cat-friendly Portland Audubon director Bob Sallinger retires
Fought against many schemes to kill one species to “help” another PORTLAND, Oregon––Few changings of the guard anticipated among animal advocacy leadership in 2023 may be felt more than the impending retirement of Bob Sallinger, 55, longtime public face of the 124-year-old Portland Audubon Society and a distinctly different voice from the stodgy, conventional […]
Shooting cats to save lizards, or to please billionaire birders?
The Cayman Islands may have more billionaires’ mansions than rock iguanas, but cats are not to blame GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands––If free-roaming cats were really a significant threat to iguanas––of any subspecies––one might expect most of Florida to be devoid of iguanas. Florida, after all, has reputedly the most optimal habitat for feral cats […]
Monkey-laundering? Busts of lab suppliers follow 15 years of warnings
Wild-caught macaques may have flooded into U.S. labs for more than 15 years before the feds moved to stop the traffic HONG KONG–Did a small amount of monkey-eating in southern China cover for the development of large amount of monkey trafficking from the wild to U.S. labs? ANIMALS 24-7 and the International Primate Protection League […]
Smelling rats after alleged major mink release in Van Wert, Ohio
The numbers & time frame don’t add up, & neither does the money VAN WERT, Ohio––Something happened at a mink farm here. What it is ain’t exactly clear, despite saturation coverage by both local and national media. Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach announced on November 15, 2022 that his office “is investigating a […]
The Coasts of California, ecological apocalypse, & evolution
Written & illustrated by Obi Kaufmann 639 pages $55.00 from HeydayBooks.com Yes, The Coasts of California would make an excellent holiday season gift for anyone interested in nature, ecology, hiking, or just in California generally, if only by reason of living there and wanting to understand the habitat and the socio-economic and political issues associated […]
Rats or guinea pigs––which rodent will inherit New York City?
Pending bill to ban guinea pig sales is far more likely to succeed than rat control bills passed by 44-6 margins NEW YORK CITY–– “Legislation to prohibit New York City pet stores from selling guinea pigs has 35 co-sponsors in the New York City Council – this is incredible!” exulted Voters for Animal Rights […]