Still endangered after century of recovery, sea otters become scapegoats ANCHORAGE, Alaska––Sea otters are now taking the rap from frustrated Alaskan shellfishers for one of the best-documented and longest foreseen effects of global warming: oceanic acidification, inhibiting the ability of species such as abalone, urchins, clams, crabs and sea cucumbers to build and maintain shells. […]
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 […]
Felony charges filed against Florida shark-draggers
Prosecution protects the image of $7.6 billion recreational fishing industry TAMPA, Florida––The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office on December 12, 2017 announced that two third degree felony counts each of aggravated animal cruelty have been filed against three men who participated in dragging a live blacktip shark behind […]
Exhibitionist shark-draggers upstaged by “reality TV” star friend
“Look, ma! No decency!” MIAMI, Florida––Long seeking social media notice by posting images of himself and friends torturing animals, Michael Robert Wenzel, 21, of Palmetto, Florida, for a few days appeared to have at last achieved the notoriety he wanted with a video posted on July 24, 2017 showing himself and pals Robert Lee “Bo” […]
What “CITES CoP 17” means to animals in plain English
Elephants, rhinos, African grey parrots, & pangolins among the species whose fates are on the block JOHANNESBURG, South Africa––The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) seventeenth triennial Conference of Parties (CoP 17) on October 2, 2016 adopted a resolution of elephant-sized importance to elephants worldwide, more than 140,000 of whom have been […]
Justice is served: 50 years in prison for making “crush” videos
But hunters who videotape themselves illegally killing animals for kicks often get no jail time at all HOUSTON, NASHVILLE–– Harris County Court Judge Jay Burnett on February 15, 2016 sentenced “crush video” maker Brent Wayne Justice, 54, to serve 50 years in prison for cruelty to non-livestock animals, including puppies, kittens, rabbits, crustaceans, and […]
Washington voters trounce hook-&-bullet crowd on behalf of endangered species
71% in favor OLYMPIA––Washington state voters on November 3, 2015 overwhelmingly approved Initiative Measure 1401, introducing state-level felony penalties for the purchase, sale, and/or distribution of products made from elephants, rhinos, lions, tigers, leopards, cheetahs, sea turtles, pangolins, sharks and rays. At least 50 individuals have reportedly been apprehended in possession with such contraband […]
U.S. consumer demand helps push pangolins toward extinction
WASHINGTON D.C.––The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Born Free USA, and the Center for Biological Diversity on July 15, 2015 petitioned the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to list pangolins as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The action came three months after Microsoft founder Paul […]