Every month there is an estimated twenty species of new flora and fauna located on Planet Earth. However back in 2013 scientists from the University of Bucknell University and Fauna & Flora International located deep in the heart of South Sudan a new bat species commonly named as the Pied Bat or Badger bat. And what a stunningly beautiful bat this is too which oddly does look identical to the markings of our Chinese Panda.

The scientific name related to this species of bat was thought to be related to the Glauconycteris superba which for now thankfully is listed as [least concern] on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List identified back in 1939 Dr Haymen whom was the first to discover this particular species of bat. However the new “genera” pictured was discovered in 2013 DeeAnn Reeder, an Associate Professor of Biology at Bucknell.

This species of Pied bat (Glauconycteris superba) was bordering endangerment back in the mid 1990’s of which from 1996-2004 was listed as [vulnerable], to date though its population trend or how many Pied bats actually exist is currently unknown.

So whats the news on the “Panda bat” as its commonly named?

This is a special bat, and not just because of its strikingly beautiful spots and stripes. This is a rare specimen, whose discovery in South Sudan led researchers to identify a new genus of bat. The bat is just the fifth specimen of its kind ever collected. DeeAnn Reeder, an Associate Professor of Biology at Bucknell and first author of the paper announcing the new bat genus, recognized the bat as the same species as a specimen captured in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1939. That specimen was classified as Glauconycteris superba, but after detailed analyses she and her colleagues determined it did not belong in the genus Glauconycteris.

It was so unique that they needed to create a new genus for it. Reeder and her colleagues named the new genus Niumbaha, which means “rare” or “unusual” in Zande, the language spoken in Western Equatoria State, where the bat was captured. The bat’s full scientific name is Niumbaha superba, reflecting both the rarity and the magnificence of this creature.

“Our discovery of this new genus of bat is an indicator of how diverse the area is and how much work remains,” Reeder said in a press release.

So what’s the news on this species of bat?

Well firstly we can state that this species of bat (Niumbaha superba) although not the same genera was primarily located by Dr Haymen in 1939 Niumbaha superba oddly is not listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Natures Red List of (threatened species) as this newly discovered genera is listed as [vulnerable] wheres its relative Glauconycteris superba is listed as least concern.

The pied (panda bat) is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ghana and South Sudan, the genus Niumbaha was identified by Reeder, Helgen, Vodzak, Lunde & Ejotre, in 2013. The species lives in natural habitats, tropical or sub-tropical rain-forests or tropical moist lowland forests.

To date we are only aware that the current threats surrounding this species is habitat loss. However this soon could change of which threats from hunters hunting for the bush meat trade could see the species pushed into extinction. Habitat loss or habitat fragmentation is playing quite a pivotal role with regards to many species of bats declining worldwide. However other species of bat that normally roost in caves seem to be less threatened by such habitat human disturbances.

Bats make up a quarter of the mammalian diversity on the planet, and they are the only mammal that can fly. The African continent and Madagascar and its associated islands contain about 258 extant species of bats, which comprises about 25% of the global bat diversity. Bats are an important component in ecosystem health and condition. They occupy a critical niche, the insectivorous species being primary nocturnal predators and are susceptible to increased levels of pesticides, while frugivorous species are critical for forest regeneration. Many plants are dependent on these night time visitors (e.g. Baobab), for both pollination and seed dispersal.

Both groups of bats are also greatly susceptible to environmental change especially Niumbaha superba. The effects of habitat and climate change on these species are unknown, and if so, there is much speculation as to the impacts, both positive and negative. These impacts on bats have a direct impact on food security and human related zoonotic diseases. What is of primary concern is that we know very little about the distribution, abundance or the biology of the various species. Also from a cultural perspective, bats are perceived by most African cultures as associated with dark and evil magic, and are persecuted.

Within western, north and the Central African Republic (bats) are hunted and eaten of which this year has been linked again to the worlds most deadliest virus – Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever (EHF). While hunting though plays a threat to the decline of bat species habitat fragmentation is most certainly the largest threat to the all species/genera.

Because bats have low reproductive rates, populations are very susceptible to elevated mortality or depressed recruitment. There is scientific concern about the conservation status of bats as many species of bats are increasingly affected by multiple actions of humans such as ignorance, suspicion, pesticide poisoning, roost destruction and closure, habitat loss, over-exploitation, and extermination as pests. Avoid disturbance of bats in caves, including the lighting or use of fires in caves. Some bats have moved into residential areas because human expansion has resulted in loss of habitat, forcing bats to look for alternative roosts in which to live and raise their young.

And of course while we know habitat loss is currently a threat to this species of Niumbaha superba other threats could/will also play a role in its decline that could evidently see this new genera of bat killed off. These these threats are as you may have guessed “human made up myths”..

An uncontrollable, irrepressible fear of bats may exist, but it is often the result of centuries of prejudice, misinformation and ignorance about bats. Dracula and other horror stories have contributed greatly to these misconceptions causing people to fear them and therefore be unconcerned about their conservation. Such as;

• The incidence of rabies is rare.
• Bat droppings in buildings usually are not a source of Histoplasmosis.
• Bats are not filthy and will not infest homes with dangerous parasites.
• Bats are not aggressive and will not normally attack people or pets.
• South African bats do not feed on blood. (Vampire bats, which do feed on blood, live in Latin America) and the feasting on blood is mainly of cattle or other large mammalians – although there has been some very small isolated rare cases of Vampire bats attacking humans and feeding of them. Again this is (extremely rare).

So what else do we know about Niumbaha superba other than the threats currently facing the species, future threats and habitat degradation?

OK firstly the Niumbaha superba is really more stripped like a badger but does have we suppose some type of identical markings to that of the Chinese Panda. Niumbaha superba has some pretty amazing spots and stripes with around one and a half centimeters of fur covering most of its body manly on the back and undersides. Its cranial characters, its wing characters, its size, the ears literally everything you look at doesn’t fit that of the previous species located back in 1939 by Dr Haymen stated Reeder. You can read more on Reeder’s discovery here

Niumbaha superba is an insectivorous bat meaning it feeds primarily on just insects, insectivorous bats are critically important to the environment as they help keep pests in control that would otherwise if not controlled damage vast swathes of crops, trees, plants and invade human populated areas. Insectivorous bats are also very important to humans as they help keep mosquitoes in check that endanger human life by the spread of Malaria which is known to be one of the Africa’s largest human killing viruses in.

So if ever your in South Sudan do keep a lookout for this stunning and most beautiful bat commonly named as the (pied bat, little badger bat, badger bat or panda bat).

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Corruption-Poverty-Relocation-Shoot to Kill Policy!

In Central Africa approximately 80% of rangers are, on some level, involved in trafficking. Because communities are small, some rangers and poachers know each other directly and others, occasionally, are bribed. Luc Mathot of Conservation Justice has organized the arrest of 4 rangers in the Congo in 2012 and 3 from Gabon in 2013. Ranger involvement is less common in South Africa. Strict laws are enforced to curtail such actions and rangers found conspiring with poachers are relived from duty. However corruption is more widespread and larger than you could possibly imagine. Within SANParks for instance evidence has yet again emerged of five ranger involved in poaching activities. When this information is passed onto SANParks their response is “silent”. Back in 2013 we advised SANParks that they must routinely undertake polygraph testing of all rangers and staff involved with wildlife duties. Again they fail to acknowledge our concerns.

Illicit wildlife trade is the fourth largest illegal activity worldwide and is worth $23 billion US dollars per year. In order to understand what is happening in illegal trade, the prices that wildlife products yield must be monitored. Scarcity of a product reflects higher prices whereas low prices reflect abundance. High profit and turn over are the driving factor and poachers have a very small window to work in. If the probability of being caught and punished (i.e. imprisonment or death) is high, this will alter the expected price tag. Many reserve barriers are not deterrents for poachers, as they are minimal (i.e. barbed wire and sparse fencing). Moreover, legislation and borders between subsistence hunting and poaching are blurred. The majority of rhino populated countries have low penalty policies. However, Botswana has the lowest poaching rate due to its ‘zero tolerance-shoot to kill’ policy. The Defense Force treats apprehended poachers as aggressive military threats if they do not surrender their weapons immediately they are shot dead on site – International Animal Rescue Foundation supports this regardless of some public outcry we have to show poachers that killing our wildlife will most certainly involve rangers taking poachers out. Other factors that keeps poaching minimal is the country’s remoteness and low populace. Conservationists were looking to relocate South African rhinos via helicopter to Botswana for these reasons (Carrington, 2014). However, due to high cost and inhumane transportation complications this option has been rejected.

What’s more inhumane though? the transportation of rhinos and so called costs or the killing of rhinos? Personally we’d like to see a 50% score of rhinos moved from the Kruger to Botswana were breeding can take place securely and a shoot to kill policy is fair game. Poachers see South Africa as easy pickings. Until an immediate shoot to kill policy is given our rhinos will be in danger.

Poverty and poaching go hand-in-hand. Impoverished communities are more likely to engage in illegal activities so long as there is a demand for goods. Poaching organizations turn to disadvantaged communities to recruit new personnel. The sole source of income for these remote areas is farming, however, because of its remoteness and lack of transportation, selling produce and livestock is limited. If communities had ways of traveling further into more populated areas, they would have a better chance at sales. However, due to word of mouth, some consumers will travel to the farms to purchase goods, which allows farmers to raise their prices. These methods are sill no match for payouts from rhino horns and ivory. Because poachers are well financed and wildlife products can easily be turned into cash, the decision to poach becomes alluring to those in need. Factors such as social, political, and environmental status are also considered.

Those who begin as poachers have the opportunity to get promoted to better paying, less conspicuous positions. A simple poacher can move up to a chief position and organize trafficking for poachers. One could also sell his own ivory and become a trafficker. The ‘middle-man’ position takes product to the richer barons within cities. These people have an actual chance at moving up after accumulating enough money that allows them to work in less conspicuous ranks. According to TRAFFIC-ASIA, there is a direct link between the rise in regional incomes and illegal wildlife trading. Poachers who enter protected areas are more prone to be risk takers. Some are bribed with cigarettes, beer, money, or other items not so commonly found in local communities.

Poverty is not the only driving force in poaching. Illegal trade has become war-like with a complex network of violent militias, terrorists, government corruption, and organized crime, fueled by demand predominantly from Asia and the rising economic status in Vietnam. In 2012, a 10 kg rhino horn would bring in $20,000 per kg on the African-based Asian-run market. Today, prosperous consumers in China and Vietnam have driven the price up to $65,000 per kg and can fetch as much as $100,000 on the black market, making horns more valuable than platinum, gold, or cocaine. Because of its’ increasing prosperity, Vietnam holds the chief market on rhino horns, yet it has little to do with medicinal ailments. They are sold as recreational drugs for partygoers, aphrodisiacs, for detoxification from excessive food and/or alcohol consumption for the more affluent, décor, gifts such as horn bracelets, and necklaces, as well as a deceptive ‘miracle drug’ to cheat cancer patients out of cash. In 2008, the Vietnamese Embassy was found to be a participant in illegal rhino horn trade.

Conclusion:

South African government must implement a shoot to kill policy as soon as arms are not dropped. poverty must be tackled within “all African wildlife organisations” as this is one primary reason our wildlife is being slaughtered. Corruption must be tackled head on and NOW. Relocation of South African Rhinos to Botswana where a more policed approach is seen must be on the agenda.

Dr J. C. Depre and Ambassador S. Farthing
Rhino Welfare Africa.
International Animal Rescue Foundation
externalaffairs@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

RESEARCH TEAM BELOW

Anonymous. (2014, September). Former poacher. (O. Gasaya, & L. Jorgensen, Interviewers)

Burton, J. (2014, September). CEO at World Land Trust. (L. Jorgensen, Interviewer)

Carrington, D. (2014, September). Inside Africa. Retrieved September 2014, from CNN World:http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/11/world/africa/rhinos-on-a-plane/index.html?hpt=hp_c4

Coghlan, A. (2014, January). Record poaching pushes rhinos towards extinction. Retrieved September 2014, from New Scientist-Life: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24894-record-poaching-pushes-rhinos-towards-extinction.html#.VAuOJWSwJZ8

Duffy, R., & St. John, D. (2013, June). Poverty, Poaching, and Trafficking; What are the Links? Retrieved September 2014, from Rhino Owners: http://www.rhinoowners.org/WYSI/assets/Documents/EoD_HD059_Jun2013_Poverty_Poaching.pdf

Hill, G. (2014, September). Director of Risk and Intellegence at Africa.cx. (L. Jorgensen, Interviewer)

Mathot, L. (2014, October). Founder and Director of Conservation Justice. (L. Jorgensen, Interviewer)

Montesh, M. (2012). Rhino Poaching: A New Form of Organised Crime. Retrieved September 2014, from University of Soutb Africa: http://www.unisa.ac.za/claw/news/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/rhion-poaching-for-profit.pdf

Pandolfi, A. (2014). Wildlife Conservation UAV Challenge Supporters. Retrieved October 2014, from Kashmir World Foundation:www.kashmirworldfoundation.org

Peace Parks Foundation. (2014). COMBATTING WILDLIFE CRIME. Retrieved September 2014, from Peace Parks Foundation: http://www.peaceparks.org/programme.php?pid=24&mid=1021

Sandram, S. (2014, September). Wildlife Officer at Gonarezhou National Park. (L. Jorgensen, Interviewer)

Sas-Rolfes, M. ‘. (2012, February). THE RHINO POACHING CRISIS: A MARKET ANALYSIS. Retrieved September 2014, from Save The Rhino Trust: http://savetherhinotrust.org/programmes/84-the-rhino-poaching-crisis-a-market-analysis

Thomas, R. (2012, August). “Loose horns”, surging demand and easy money create “perfect storm” for rhino poaching. Retrieved September 2014, from TRAFFIC: http://www.traffic.org/home/2012/8/21/loose-horns-surging-demand-and-easy-money-create-perfect-sto.html

TRAFFIC. (2008). TRAFFIC’s engagement on African rhinoceros conservation and the global trade in rhinoceros horn. Retrieved September 2014, from TRAFFIC: http://www.traffic.org/rhinos/

Yale Environment360. (2014, January). e360 Digest. Retrieved September 2014, from Environment 360:http://e360.yale.edu/digest/more_than_1000_rhinos_poached_in_2013_south_african_officials_say/4051/

Read more here on the very people trying to stop us from undertaking our work – Liz Bradly from the UK a serial stalker and known sociopath has indulged in countless hours of trying to report the very articles that help save animals just to hide behind a veil of CELLULAR DEVICES. This time she again was caught red handed completely forgetting that the site she had just reported too was only to make her message a cowardly one public.

http://saynotodogmeat.net/2014/07/23/under-attack-from-hate-groups/

Now we know whom the animal hater is – we’re going to deal with that animal hater in the same manner as we do dog fighters.

At the start of the 2000 deep within the Amazon Jungles the massacre began, even the baby dolphins were not spared nor the gestating females that had their young sliced out of womb hung up like a piece of dead flesh in a butchers shop. Without hesitation or even a shred of remorse these barbaric monsters pictured [August 2014] here sliced the baby out off the mothers womb flinging it to one side. Brazil has since laid down a hunting ban however poachers are not stopping and already in Peru, Boto’s are mercifully slaughtered just for bait.

Pink River Dolphins or the Amazon River Dolphin as its commonly known scientifically identified as Inia geoffrensis aren’t hunted to eat, oh no, no. Like many fisherman in the west catch smaller fish to catch the bigger species River Dolphins are caught simply for this reason of which they are butchered up into slabs of meat then thrown back into crates just to catch smaller species of fish commonly known as the piracatinga that feasts on rotten flesh of dead animals – in this case the Dolphin.

You’ve probably by now become quite used to the all to familiar sites of Japans Dolphin massacres – but what about the killing fields within the Amazon?, Some conservationists seem non-to-bothered to print about this, as these bastards rip the hearts and souls out of aquatic life – At the start of this year some two thousand Amazon River Dolphins were slaughtered as can be seen in the pictures below. However European and South and North American Conservation Groups are taking a stand and have since handed in a 50,000 signature petition in. While it may stop hunting in Brazil will it stop the poaching? Furthermore will the illegal hunting in Peru, Ecuador,  Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia, Guyana, Surinam and French Guinea stop too.

No one stopped these killings, many people outside off the Amazon are completely oblivious to the fact this horrifying atrocity actually exists. Now you’ll know though, were not going to stick for this anymore. International Animal Rescue Foundation Brazil plus many smaller conservation groups has known of this slaughter for the past several years. When the Federal government imposed a [temporary ban] five years ago all seemed quiet, unfortunately the hunting ban was lifted with many killed by August, its a wonder if the species will actually recover within this year alone before hunting ends. Since the start of August though Brazil has imposed a new [complete ban] but this hasn’t as explained stopped poachers and hunters that are now working their way down the rivers of the Amazon.

By the second half of the year [2014] over three and a half thousand River Dolphins were expected to be slaughtered. The number could even be higher as were now in November. what’s angered us even more is this – its completely ILLEGAL!

Sixty percent of the Amazon rain-forest is within Brazil and so Brazil is home to more Amazon River Dolphins commonly known as [Botos] than any other South American country. Botos live in the rivers and lakes of the Amazon and enter the flooded forest during high water season. The Amazon, and particularly the flooded forest, are threatened habitats. Since the 1980s the rate of deforestation and exploitation of the Amazon Rain-forest for mining, logging, human settlement and cattle ranching has increased significantly. These commercial activities pose a severe threat to the region’s indigenous people and wildlife.

“Every year, we see in the region Sustainable Development Reserve Mamirauá , the harbor porpoise population decrease by 7.5% per cent. That is not sustainable”, he says. According to Vera, the aggravating factor is that fishermen prefer young River Dolphins, which hardly ever reach reproductive age. A male dolphin takes 10 years to reach reproductive age and the female between 6 and 7 years. Gestation takes between 11 and 13 months, furthermore, the young mother feeds little ones for two years. The slaughtering of the young is having a massive impact on the Amazon River Dolphin species of which even with a ban in place will see the entire species wiped out should the world not come together now to enforce a complete in  Venezuela, Peru, Columbia, Bolivia, Guyana, Surinam and French Guinea.

The Amazon River Dolphin’s diet mainly consists of piracatinga which is a carnivorous catfish eaten by the locals and indigenous tribes. However humans in the Amazon require 4,500 [Boto's] to harvest every year piracatinga.

So why is this slaughter not being seen among the western conservation world? Well basically this method of harvesting piracatinga which is [only illegal in Brazil August 2014] only began back in 2000. And despite the entire practice being 100% [illegal] governments and law enforcement agencies are doing little to stop it.

When the fisherman capture the Amazon River Dolphins slaughtering of the dead animal is usually done there and then so that the carcass doesn’t rot to quickly. the carcass is then placed into wooden crates of which the fishermen use to capture the piracatinga fish. The crates of carved up Dolphin meat inside the crate is then lowered into the water. Fisherman await and the piracatinga fish move in feasting of the dead dolphin rotting carcass. From there its easy pickings for the fishermen.

Its been widely reported in some magazines, articles and media that Brazil has indeed banned this practice which from July [2014] they did. However these media and press reporters [even science based ones] may want to visit the jungles of the Amazon of which this practice is STILL ongoing and has been since 2000. Conservationists were delighted at hearing the ban announced by the government of Brazil which owns the largest part of the Amazon Rain Forest. “It’s the biggest fisheries ban since 1967 when Brazil’s original faunal protection laws were made,” says Jone César of the Friends of the Manatee Association, a conservation group based in Manaus, Brazil.

Just because Brazil has banned the practice though doesn’t mean for one minute in the rivers of Eqador or Peru for example from which the River Dolphin also inhabits and is not within [Brazilian territory] that fishermen will continue the trade. Furthermore until the Brazilian ban is [completely enforced] its expected that fishermen will kill thousands more Boto’s to store for later fishing. Then of course we have poachers that can and will still flout this ban, and sadly this has already been seen.

And before we all start jumping up arms in the air celebrating the soon to be enforced Brazilian ban – Killing Botos for this purpose is spreading all over the Amazon and has been already been reported in Peru. It is a threat to the future of Botos. Should the governments of  Venezuela, Columbia, Bolivia, Peru, Guyana, Surinam and French Guinea not follow suite more River Dolphins will be slaughtered just for a bait. While its also illegal to hunt Boto’s in Brazil by the start of [2015] its not illegal for hunters or poachers to pass up the river to Brazilian fishermen dead River Dolphin Carcasses. Dr Jose Depre – International Animal Rescue Foundation’s Chief Environmental Officer picked holes in this law and sadly this does need amending now to ensure that even the dead flesh of Amazon River Dolphins is not sold onto fishermen upstream.

“Its highly unlikely that the ban within Brazil is actually going to have any affect what-so-ever as policing such a massive area of rain-forest is about as easy as policing mangrove jungles the size of America” said Dr Josa Depre.  Furthermore Dr Williamson Environmental CEO for I.A.R.F Europea stated “While the Killing of River Dolphins is 100% illegal within Brazil coming this new year it will not under any circumstances deter poachers elsewhere, we have much work to do rather than just focusing ones attention on Brazil, we need to push for the same laws in Venezuela, Peru, Columbia, Bolivia, Guyana, Surinam and French Guinea immediately, however don’t think for one moment this is going to be an easy ride”.

The ban within Brazil as explained will be enforced at the end of the year. Fisherman catch on average a year 140 tons of piracatinga fish so in all due respects its highly unlikely cruel and barbaric killing of our Amazon River Dolphin is actually going to stop.

You can help by signing this petition below as soon as possible.

Read more here on the petition that was delivered this August: http://www.ale.am.gov.br/2014/08/21/comissao-do-meio-ambiente-recebe-ativistas-do-alerta-vermelho/

With thanks to Dr Josa C. Depre Chief Environmental Officer and Dr J. Williamson CEO Europa IARFE

Appalling behaviour from tourists in wildlife national parks has resulted in catastrophic consequences for some people and animals. People everywhere must begin to be accountable for their litter and the damage it causes, especially tourists visiting the parks.

Utter Madness!

Kruger Park had to announce that rollerskating and skateboarding within it’s wildlife park is banned. Who in their right mind would want to skateboard past a lion or roller-skate past a resting cheetah?

Day visitors at Kruger National Park are no longer allowed to get drunk either. Neither are they allowed to bring alcohol into the park or buy it from the shops, although they can have a drink at a  restaurant.

Would you really want to roller-skate past these lionesses?

Ladies – Pick Up Your Toilet Tissues!  On safari there is no easy access to toilets therefore you have to stop your vehicle and squat behind the car door. Women, PLEASE pick up your soiled tissue and carry it back to your camp. Do not leave tissues everywhere because it can cause serious injury or death to animals who ingest it.

Litter on the Masai Mara wildlife reserve.

Do not get between a hippo and the water, an elephant or any animal and it’s young and if they wish to cross in front of you then take a wide berth to give them room to do so; they have the right of way. Do not feed them either, they are wild animals, not zoo animals.

Angry hippo charging a human who should not be in the hippo’s space.

Wildlife Game-Viewing Etiquette

If you drive up behind someone and cannot pass please don’t blow your car-horn and hang out your window shouting at them. True life example: cars were crossing the narrow Shingwedzi river bridge in Kruger, from both sides. A few cars would proceed from the north, stop take some pictures of the crocodiles then move on.

Crocodiles fighting on the edge of the KNP bridge.

Then the cars from the south would proceed and so on – until a poor lady stopped to photograph the crocodiles and a taxi pulled up right behind her and the driver proceeded to honk his horn and yell at her to move on.

The taxi driver yelled at the Kruger park visitor while one of his passengers threw a beer bottle out the window into the river!

Angry tourist tossed his bottle in the KNP river, amongst wildlife.

Cigarette butts are a constant problem in all national parks, not only because they are repulsive and can be ingested by animals, but also because of the obvious fire risk. If you smoke please dispose of your cigarette butts responsibly.

An impact of garbage is that some scavengers, such as hyenas, may change their natural feeding habits and became permanent garbage feeders. Most of the rubbish discarded by the tourists and local people is primarily concentrated at the road sites and much of it is very dangerous to the wildlife.

Baby cheetah cub with an empty plastic bottle. If the cub eats the plastic it will kill him.

It doesn’t seem to matter how many rubbish bins are provided, people are happy to still toss litter anywhere. SANParks Honorary Rangers assist the section rangers in Kruger National Parks, by doing structured litter patrols. Rangers are supposed to be tracking poachers and bringing them to justice, while protecting endangered animals under imminent threat of death by poachers.

Instead, these highly trained Rangers and their Honorary Rangers are tracking “plastic bags” because too many tourists are too selfish to care about the safety of the animals they are busy photographing. Have respect for the animals and have respect and consideration for other visitors

Litter in the Kruger National Park.

Tourist Problems In Masai Mara

Chinese tourists are flocking to the Masai Mara to witness the wildebeest migration but sadly, they leave behind a trail of litter and furious fellow tourists who claim their viewing of the migration was ruined because of the Chinese tourists bad behaviour. Some young Chinese tour guides think being loud is important.

On Chinese sites, fellow Chinese tourists were seen shouting at a hippo and when the animal ignored their yells they began throwing litter toward him to get his attention for a good photograph.

Working in Nairobi National Park Peter Kuluo Ba said some Chinese tourists throw things at birds and yell at them to move so they can get an action photograph. Despite being warned of hippo activity at night, many Chinese tourists still wander around by themselves at night, taking photos out of the range of hotel security cameras.

As well as taking close-up photos of Masai people without their permission, Chinese tourists are often frowned upon for chain-smoking and throwing cigarette butts everywhere, as well as spitting, including spitting in hotel lobbies (C.G.V.)

Not only Chinese tourists, but tourists from around the world find it increasingly acceptable to ignore game park safety rules,  they blatantly  lean our of their open car windows and many actually get out of their car and stroll around. Some ignorant people even walk into the bush to go to the toilet!

Many tourists have become so relaxed they feel comfortable tossing food wrappers and plastic bags and bottles our of their window as they drive along. Empty water bottles and plastic bags strewn through animal habitats are potentially catastrophic if animals eat them.

A tourist man named Anjili’s relates his experience,  watching the wilderbeast migration at Masai Mara: “Within 10 minutes a vehicle of Chinese tourists drove up, the tourists jumped out of the car to take closer photos and scared the animals who stopped crossing.

The litter is devastating! Look closely at the litter – it all has Chinese branding on it. After speaking to several guides and rangers, I have now come to realise that to save costs, some Chinese operators are using Matatu (city transport vehicles) drivers to take their clients to the Mara.”

Tourist John Hunt wrote: “It’s not all Asian tourists. At one of the main migration crossing points on the Mara River there is a favourite lunch spot for bus travellers and jeeps that has a tissue behind every bush. Thousands of them. Thanks ladies. Truly disgusting. How hard can it be to give all passengers a paper bag?

Elephant charging a car in Kruger National Park.

Also we witnessed on the Mara, several outrageous displays by drivers concerning the disregard of the welfare of animals. Like 10 jeeps in a line on the savannah chasing a leopard chasing a gazelle, – at 50mph. Then fighting like dodgem cars for a position around the terrified beast trying to eat its meal. Seriously, how long do you think these animals will be able to tolerate such stress?”asks Hunt.

Tourists and Some Wildebeest, 2014

James Cusick says “It looked like a spectators’ car park at a busy Nevada rodeo, where the best way to get up close to the animals is simply to stand on the roof of your SUV and whip out a camera lens the size of a drain pipe. And when the kids get too excited and venture too close to the crazy critters, why you just holler and pull them back.

Masai Mara tourists.

I could see them all. A hundred or so people, surrounding a couple of dozen 4x4s. They were perched on the roofs of their vehicles; or standing outside them, trampling the grass; or edging towards the open dirt space where the action was taking place. This was the Mara River in south-west Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Masai Mara tourists.

The daily spectacle is a reminder that survival of the many often comes with the bloody death of the few. In the Mara, crocodiles pick off wildebeest and turn the river red with blood at “crossing” times and they call it tourism. To read the Mara Triangle Rules, click here. 

Two reasons to let animals have the right of way: the elephant was itchy and scratched himself on this car, which ended up with four blown tires and smashed windows.

Itchy elephant scratching himself on a tourist’s car which would not move out of his way.

Several photos were taken of this itchy elephant, scratching himself against the car. Next time the tourist will allow an elephant to have the right of way. The elephant was not injured during his scratching.

Saving Animals One Plastic Bag At A Time

Although not filmed in a national park, this beautiful video poignantly shows the effects of plastic and litter on birdlife and animals.

In eastern Africa thousands of plastic bags are thrown away every day, killing grazing goats and cows which eat the bags and die. Discarded bags also collect stagnant water which is known to breed mosquitoes – and malaria. American born Lori Anderson discovered a perfect solution: replace plastic bags with durable canvas bags!

Flying to the Jane Goodall Institute in Africa twice a year, Anderson exchanges a free durable canvas bag (which can be reused many times), in exchange for 25 plastic bags. “These women are ridding their entire community of plastic bags,” says Robinson. “The simplicity of this project is what makes it so effective.”

Christmas Holiday Bad Behaviour At KNP Camp

A few Christmases ago, the “day-visitor” area of Kruger National Park was filled to capacity with “day-visitors” celebrating Christmas at the Shingwedzi Camp. People became drunk and were staggering around while some people took off all their clothes and were swimming completely naked in the resident-guest’s pool.

Worst of all, because so many “visitors” were drunk, they forgot the time and a lot of people arrived at the gates late, after driving well above the 50km speed limit to the closing gates, hitting, maiming and killing many of the parks wildlife!

Hippo killed after being struck by a speeding driver, inside his own habitat.

When all the “visitors” had gone the Kruger National Park Shingwedzi Camp was trashed. Soiled nappies, empty food containers, leftovers, empty cans and bottles and lots of plastic bags were strewn everywhere. Even areas of grass were still smouldering where “visitors” had illegally lit fires

Conclusion

To see how you can help combat the war against plastic bags and the damage plastic does to wild animals and birdlife, please visit Lori Anderson’s site: click here.

Author:I have spent time in Africa on numerous occasions and its wildlife reserves are truly breathtaking. If you have the opportunity to visit a national wildlife reserve, breathe in the experience of standing where wild animals roam at will, without bars. It is an inheritance to all of us sharing the planet, which we all need to respect and protect.

Thank you for reading,

Michele Brown.

When America shut down it’s horse slaughterhouses in 2007 it was supposed to be great news for horses. But in reality, it was better news for the city of Juarez, Mexico, which is home to many unregulated slaughterhouses steeped in animal cruelty. While commercial horse slaughter is no longer allowed in America, it is still accepted to transport tens of thousands of live horses in cattle trucks to Mexico or Canada. Most horses are sent to Juarez.

American horses destined for slaughter in Mexico are often transported across the country for more than 24 hours without rest, food or water to El Paso, Texas, where they are crossed into Juarez, a place where life is not highly valued. Juarez houses violent drug cartels and criminal gangs that engage in extortion and kidnapping and operate with near impunity. Until recently, less than five percent of human killings in Juarez result in criminal convictions, so animal lives are far from a priority.

Recently one of Mexico’s most wanted men was finally arrested after the US government had set a $5 million reward for his arrest and Mexico had placed a $2.2 million bounty on his head. After a decade of smuggling monthly, multi-ton shipments of cocaine into America, two Juarez cartels clashed in 2008. Over a four-year period more than 10,000 people were reported killed in Ciudad Juarez, earning it the name of “Murder City.”

Juraez is the destination for American horses to die.

Foal born to an American mare, in a Mexican slaughterhouse.

This is what happens when horses are no longer wanted by their owners or carers and end up in Mexico’s disgraceful slaughterhouses or markets.

Its not unusual for pet horses to live into their mid-30s. Shayne, one of the oldest recorded living horses, still enjoys galloping at 51 years old in his home paddock in Brentwood, Essex. The oldest horse ever recorded, Old Billy was 62 years old when he died. However, it is more unusual for a horse to remain with it’s original owner than it is for it to live out it’s natural life.

51 year old Shayne.

Before the last American slaughterhouse closed in 2007, the USDA documented rampant cruelty violations and severe injuries to horses, including broken bones protruding from their bodies, eyeballs hanging from threads of skin and gaping wounds.

Click here to read: Timeline of Horse Slaughter Legislation in the United States.

American Horse Auctions

Most horses begin their journey into hell at livestock auctions, where unsuspecting owners sell their animals to slaughterhouse middlemen known as “kill buyers.” These auctions, where the general public is invited to bid and buy horses, are held all over America. Some owners may carefully braid their horse’s mane hoping for a good home for that gentle pony their child has outgrown, never suspecting that the poor creature is probably destined for a slaughterhouse.

American horses waiting in a slaughterhouse holding yard.

Horse rescue groups go to auctions literally to bid for the life of horses but are usually outbid by “kill buyers” who see each horse as meat for slaughter. The auctions are held all over America and the general public are invited to bid and buy horses. Most of the horses destined for slaughter at auctions are young or middle-aged and in the prime of their lives.

The USDA documented that 92.3 percent of horses sent to slaughter are in good condition and are able to live out a productive life. The number of U.S. horses sent to slaughter through auctions has not decreased since domestic slaughter ceased in 2007.  Kill-buyers are ready to bid as little as $60 for a so-called “salvage” market horses.

Kill-buyers are always looking for cheap horses to buy.

Mike McBarron is a kill-buyer in Kaufman, Texas. He says, “every one of them is either crippled or crazy or don’t ride at all,” and claims it costs him about $100 to send each horse to Mexico, leaving his profit between $20 and $50 per horse. McBarron, 36, has been trading horses since he dropped out of ninth grade. He insists he’s providing a service by saving unwanted horses from abandonment and providing instant payment to owners who would otherwise have to shell out a few hundred dollars to have their animals euthanized and buried.

The Long Journey Across America Into Mexico

In the United States, horses have never been raised for human consumption, yet for decades they have been bought and slaughtered by a foreign-owned industry for consumption in Europe and Asia.

From former pets to show horses and racehorses, all are dragged and whipped into trucks built for cattle, which consequently leaves many horses horrifically injured on their heads, necks and legs as workers cram as many horses as possible into the trucks.

American horses which have fallen to the ground during transport to the slaughterhouse.

“They mix stallions in with pregnant mares, foals and older horses, often leading to fights and injuries,” says Valerie Pringle, Equine Protection Specialist for The Humane Society of the United States.

In transit, horses frequently fall and those that are unable to regain their footing are often trampled to death. Healthy, very young, injured, pregnant and even blind horses all endure the long, grueling journey with no food, water or any chance to rest or stretch, often in freezing cold or scorching heat.

Before entering Mexico, the horses are held at the Texas Department of Agriculture holding yards, usually only for hours -enough time to unload and reload – then crossed over the border through El Paso and Socorro, Texas as well as the Santa Teresa crossing in New Mexico. Once loaded into Mexican trucks, the horses become Mexican property and subject to their regulations, said one U.S. Department of Agriculture Official.

In 2012 ARM Investigations uncovered that American horses are also transported to the San Bernabe Livestock Market, around 700 miles from Juarez, just out of Mexico City. The American horses have already just travelled non-stop for over 24 hours without rest, food or water. Texas border crossings to Mexico have handled 400,267 slaughter-bound horses since 2007.

Read more: Number of Horses Shipped to Mexico and Canada. Wild horses are also slaughtered. To read more on wild horses: Wild Horses For Slaughter.

Arriving At The Slaughterhouse

Once horses arrive at the slaughter plant, their suffering intensifies. Particularly horifying is the practice of returning lame, sick, blind or injured horses with the shipper if they do not pass  inspection by the Mexican plant veterinarian, Jose Cuellar who said ‘Many horses arrive fractured, battered and bruised and some arrive dead.”

The rejected horses are immediately reloaded onto the shipper’s truck and between leaving the slaughter-yard and retuning to their origin, most of the rejected horses miraculously disappear without trace and are unaccounted for. No records are kept about the refusal of horses and no charges against the shipper are filed.

Horses in such condition should not be allowed to leave the export pens. Protection laws require veterinary care and possible euthanasia. 9 C.F.R. Sec. 88.3, .4

American horse arriving at a Mexican slaughterhouse, unable to stand because it’s hind leg has been snapped.

Arriving in cattle trucks, exhausted horses can be left for long periods in tightly packed trailers and subjected to further extremes of heat and cold. In hot weather, their thirst is acute. Downed animals unable to rise are trampled until the upright horses are offloaded, using excessive force.

When the horses are herded through the plant to slaughter, callous workers use fiberglass rods to poke and beat their faces, necks, backs and legs as the animals are shoved through the facility and into the kill box.

Subjected to overcrowding, deafening sounds and the stench of blood, the horses become increasingly desperate, exhibiting fear typical of “flight” behavior: pacing in prance-like movements with their ears pinned back against their heads, nostrils flared and eyes wide open in terror.

Arriving at a Mexican slaughterhouse this American horse’s leg has been snapped and almost severed.

Mexican Slaughterhouses

In Mexican slaughterhouses a small “puntilla” knife is used to severe a horse’s spine. As described by the plant’s director: “It’s like watching someone with an ice pick.”

In 2007 the San Antonio News-Express released shocking undercover footage showing fully conscious horses being held two at a time in a horse crush and being repeatedly stabbed in the neck with puntilla knives as the frantic animals screamed and thrashed until dropping to the ground paralyzed, but still fully conscious!

“The American mare swung her head frantically when the door to the kill box shut, trapping her inside. A worker jabbed her in the back with a small knife seven, eight, nine times. Eyes wild, she lowered her head and raised it as the blade punctured her body around the withers, again and again. At the 10th jab, she fell to the floor of this Mexican slaughterhouse, bloodied and paralyzed, fully conscious and not dead. She would lie there for two minutes before being hoisted upside down from a chained rear leg so her throat could be slit and she could bleed to death,” says the San Antonio News.

An American horse which has been stabbed multiple times in the spine with a puntilla knife, alive and full conscious, but paralysed.

Temple Grandin, a professor of animal science at Colorado State University who has researched ways to reduce stress on slaughter animals called the ‘puntilla’ technique employed in Mexico “horrific beyond belief and one of the absolute worst ways to kill an animal.” Repeated jabs to the spinal cord, she said, would not kill the horse; it would just render it a quadriplegic, but still able to feel pain. Once a horse collapses, a worker attaches a chain to one of the horse’s hind legs and it’s hoisted up in the air by the hind leg and and fully conscious, it’s throat is slit open.

Horses that die on the way to the plant are thrown out with the unused body parts of the other horses. At the Juarez plant, sick horses are dragged to the front of the line and slaughtered.

American horse, still alive and fully conscious, after being stabbed with the puntilla knife, is hung by it’s hind legs to have it’s throat cut.

In 2011 ARM Investigations conducted a week long undercover mission inside Juarez’s horse slaughterhouses, which they called “one of the world’s most inhumane slaughterhouses.” Their mission required extreme caution because of the degree of danger and corruption.

“The military guarded municipal slaughter plant is seated in the ungoverned hills outside of the city of Juarez, Mexico where drug cartels seek refuge. It is the most polluted area of Juarez and is extremely unsanitary. Managers of the unregulated slaughter plant have admitted to the brutality of slaughter methods in the plant,” says ARM.

Europe bars the importation of meat from animals that have not been stunned prior to being bled. The European Convention also says large animals cannot be suspended or constrained before being stunned. Of all Mexico’s horse slaughterhouses only two plants are EU regulated, the remainder are unregulated horse-killing factories. Two plants in Zacatecas serve the European Union, while much of the horsemeat from the unregulated slaughterhouses, including the plant in Juarez, is consumed in Mexico.

Unregulated means cruelty inflicted upon horses is not checked or cared about and horse butchers answer to no-one, with no watchdog agency governing their actions.

San Bernabe Livestock Market, Mexico

San Bernabe Livestock Market, Mexico where animals too ill to stand are slung by ropes until sold as live meat.

Sam Bernabe Market has been in existence for over 60 years without interference from authorities and it is estimated that the site has sold over 10, 000 different animals of various species.  Animals are sold directly as either live animals for work or food, or for slaughter, called the “rastro.” Horses for slaughter, rastro, are considered waste and are kicked and poked with electric barbs that are prohibited for horses.

AMERICAN HORSES ARE BEING SENT HERE (watch the video until the end):

San Bernabe Market is the largest unregulated livestock market in Mexico with the most sadistic and brutal animal cruelty imaginable toward horses, donkeys, mules, dogs, cows and other livestock. No water is available. Animals arrive and depart with missing limbs, fractured legs, missing eyes, bleeding open wounds and ulcers.

Horse at Mexico’s San Bernade’s Market, with it’s leg bone protruding. This level of cruelty is a common sight at this market.

The market has no animal health control. There are no on/off loading ramps at the market, so exhausted horses regularly break legs when being unloaded from cattle trucks and are forced to hobble on fractured bones. At worst, corpses are left on the ground without being buried, with animal viscera strewn about.

Animals which are too sick or too weak to stand upright are slung with ropes. These suffering “animal waste” are kept alive just because a kilo of live meat costs twice that of a dead one. If an animal finally ends its agony and dies it is cut open right there and its vescera is extracted and thrown on the ground in the middle of the market. Gutted animal carcasses and live horses are often transported together to the slaughterhouse.

Typical head injuries afflicted on American horses during long haul transport in cattle trucks not designed for horses.

There is no animal inspection by the SAGARPA, monitoring of transport by the Federal Highway Police or the Ministry of Communications and Transport, or any oversight whatsoever. Federal local police sometimes ask for financial kickbacks to allow access to trucks rather than asking for documentation and health guidance.

In Conclusion

There is no humane way to slaughter horses for human consumption. Euthanasia means a gentle, painless death, but with slaughter there is nothing but terror, pain and suffering. The vast majority of horses that are sent to slaughter are fit and healthy animals that would make good candidates for re-homing.

Shutting down American horse slaughterhouses has not ended the illegal slaughter of stolen horses within the United States, either. Horse owners are recommended to microchip their horses to protect them from being sold at horse auctions, for slaughter.

This horse was stolen and illegally slaughtered in Florida, USA.

Even some of the carriage horses that have spent their lives ferrying tourists through New York City traffic and pollution are sold for slaughter.

“Many of these horses served their owners for years and they deserve better. Horses have helped us settle this country, they’ve been our primary means of transportation, they’ve served us in battle and carried our mail, entertained us and been our companions,” says the Humane Society of the United States.

Some owners sell their horse to slaughter because they think that euthanasia is too expensive. It costs approximately $225.00. Or they may not know what to do with the body. But in many states there are programs to help owners dispose of the remains or cover the cost of euthanasia. The American Humane Society can help you find a way to humanely euthanize your horse or dispose of his remains.

American horses loaded onto a slaughterhouse truck.

American horse owners need to educate themselves about horse auctions and what it means to “their own horse” before even considering sending a horse to an auction. In addition, horse breeders need to be more responsible by thinking carefully about the number of horses they breed and the ultimate outcome of those animals.

Horses are sensitive animals with highly tuned senses and a desire to please humans. It is unforgivable to betray such a loyal and majestic animal by selling them to be hacked to death by a puntill knife in a filthy Juarez slaughterhouse.

Please sign the following petitions and support the following organisations who are fighting hard on behalf of American horses.

Angel Acres Horse Haven Rescue
Her group has helped save and find loving homes for some 600 horses since 2003. Deibel has even set up a special fund to assist horse owners who need help covering the costs of humanely euthanizing their horses.

ARM Investigations
The Animal Recovery Mission is dedicated to eliminating severe animal cruelty.

Petition: Extreme Cruelty To Horses at Mercado San Bernabe 

Petition: Americans Against Horse Slaughter

Petition: Ban Horse Slaughter & Transport 

Petition: Stop Horse Transort To Canada

Thank you for reading,

Michele Brown.

The gentle Australian Koala is in trouble and needs help. Habitat loss is the Koalas’ greatest enemy, causing them tremendous stress which often triggers an organism known as Chlamydia, which lives in the body tissue of most healthy koalas.

At the bottom of this article is the author’s own real life koala rescue which took place last week.

Seriously, can this orphaned joey be any cuter?

“The chlamydia disease is a somewhat silent killer and has the very real potential to finish koala populations in Queensland,” said Dr. Amber Gillett, a veterinarian at the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital in Beerwah, Queensland (the late Steve Irwin’s animal hospital.)

When triggered, chlamydia leads to infertility and blindness and is often fatal. “In situations where you combine habitat pressure, domestic dog attacks and car hits with severe chlamydial disease, the outcome for koalas is devastating,” Dr. Gillett said.

Chlamydia is devastating koala populations and recent surveys in Queensland show it has caused symptoms in up to 50 percent of the state’s wild koalas, with probably even more infected but not showing symptoms.

Seriously injured koala who was hospitalised after being hit by a car.

The bacteria, which is transmitted during birth, through mating and possibly through fighting, comes in two different strains [neither the same as the human form.] The first: Chlamydia pecorum, is causing a vast majority of health problems in Queensland’s koalas; the second: C. pneumoniae, is less common.

Chlamydia causes a host of symptoms in koalas, including eye infections, which can lead to blindness, making it difficult for them to find scarce eucalyptus leaves, their primary food source. The bacteria can also lead to respiratory infections, along with cysts that can make female koalas infertile.

The epidemic has been particularly severe in Queensland, where nearly all koalas are infected with koala retrovirus, said Dr. Gillett. This retrovirus is an H.I.V.-like infection that suppresses the koala’s immune system and interferes with its ability to fight off chlamydia.

There is no treatment available for koala retrovirus, but researchers are working to test a vaccine that would help prevent further spread of chlamydia infection in Queensland’s koalas. As of today there is still no vaccine available.

When the koalas’ habitat is destroyed, they have to cope with the dangers of cars, dogs and lack of food. Loss of habitat pushes koalas further into urban areas where around 4,000 koalas are killed each year by dogs and cars alone.

Koala Facts

Koalas are the only other animal, like humans, that have individual fingerprints with some similarities with human fingerprints. It is noted that each Koala has a different fingerprint from other Koalas, as in humans.

Front paw of a koala.

Koalas are very fussy eaters and have strong preferences for different types of gum leaves. In Australia there are over 600 types of eucalypts, but Koalas will “not” eat a large proportion of these. Within a particular area, as few as “one” and generally no more than two or three species of eucalyptus tree will be regularly browsed, while a variety of other species are used for just sitting or sleeping in.

Koala asleep in a tree.

Koalas have only 11 pairs of ribs instead of 13, the least of any recorded marsupial species. They have a curved spine and a cartilaginous pad over the end of the spine which may make it more comfortable to sit on branches and in tree forks.

Koalas communicate with each other by making a range of noises. The most startling and unexpected of these in such a seemingly gentle animal is a sound like a loud snore and then a belch, known as a ‘bellowE

Koalas are marsupials which means that their young are born immature and they develop further in the safety of their mother’s pouch. Koalas are very passive and live in trees and eat leaves and sleep for about 20 hours a day.

Koalas are not related to bears and their closest relative is the wombat. Most of their time is spent sleeping because it requires a lot of energy to digest their toxic, fibrous, low-nutrition diet of leaves and sleeping is the best way to conserve energy.

Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood nursing a koala, 2014.

Koalas don’t normally need to drink as they get all the moisture they need from the gumleaves. However, they can drink if necessary, such as in times of drought or after bushfires when the leaves may not contain sufficient moisture.

Koalas have 5 digits on each front paw, two of which are opposed to the others, much like our thumbs are able to be moved differently from the fingers. This helps them to hold firmly onto the branches and to grip their food. The 2nd and 3rd digits on their hind paws are fused together to form a grooming claw.

Close up photo of a koala’s hind paw.

A mature male has a dark scent gland in the centre of his white chest which exudes a dark, sticky substance. He rubs this on his trees to indicate to other Koalas that this is his territory.

Trees are the Koalas’ family homes, bedrooms, kitchens and nurseries. If the home range trees are removed, the Koalas lose both food and shelter. Because of the structure of overlapping home ranges, one Koala cannot just ‘move next door’ if its trees are removed, as ‘next door’ already belongs to someone else and cannot support another Koala.

Presidents Obama and Putin meet koalas in Australia.

To read more from the Australian Koala Foundation about the koalas’ life cycle, including his social structure and the remarkable birth and early life of the koala baby, called a joey, click here.

Koalas use a range of sounds to communicate with one another over relatively large distances. Males save fighting energy by bellowing their dominance and they also bellow to allow other animals to accurately locate the position of the caller.

Mothers and babies make soft clicking, squeaking sounds and gentle humming or murmering sounds to one another, as well as gentle grunts to signal displeasure or annoyance.

All Koalas share one common call which is elicited by fear: it is a cry like a baby screaming and is made by animals under stress, which is often accompanied by shaking.

Plant A Tree

Loss of koala habitat over the years.

SaveTheKoala organisation has planted 23,504 trees so far and invite you to plant on on-line tree, by purchasing one of their koala trees and they will plant it for you. Your name will be engraved on a plaque which will be attached to the tree for you to visit at any time.

Do not plant koala trees in places which would encourage Koalas into danger, such as on main roads, fenced in with swimming pools or close to power lines.

Injured mother koala and baby joey, after being hit by a car.

If you have a dog it may be more humane to deter Koalas from entering your yard altogether by having a Koala-proof fence, with no overhanging trees to allow them access.

Although they can swim, some Koalas drown in swimming pools because they often are unable to climb back out if they fall in. If you have a swimming pool, securely tie a sturdy rope to a tree or post at the side of the pool and place the end in the pool. Alternatively, you could ensure that your pool fence is Koala-proof, as well as child-proof.

Research shows that socially stable Koala populations occur only when there are favourite tree species present. Leaving out the key species from tree plantings to restore Koala habitat, could be a waste of time and effort.

With the latest research, it is becoming clear that the Koalas’ selection of tree species influences the social structure of populations and the maintenance of each individual Koala’s home range within the population.

A koala which was just hit by a car and killed.

Koalas are protected by law. It is illegal to catch, transport or interfere with protected wildlife without a permit from the relevant wildlife authority unless it is in distress and in need of immediate human assistance. Sick, injured, orphaned and dead Koalas MUST be referred to registered wildlife rescue authorities.

If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where Koalas also live, you have a responsibility to do everything in your power to ensure that they are safe and receive proper medical attention when they are sick or injured.

Koala after being attacked by a dog.

For more information about what to do if you find an injured or dead koala: click here. 

Unless you are an experienced rescuer, only observe Koalas from a distance. Wild Koalas become stressed very easily. Never try to pat a wild Koala! It is a wild animal and those sharp claws and teeth can inflict quite a nasty wound.

 Author’s Own Real Life Koala Rescue

I am an animal rescuer and a week ago I was called to rescue a koala which was reported to be injured. It took days to locate her and I was shocked to see how frighteningly thin she was. After a difficult rescue which involved wrestling her from a tree truck and getting her into a crate, I was able to take the koala to an ICU Animal Hospital which works with Koalas.

The short video was taken as I was assessing if she needed rescuing. As she moved away, I could see the staining around her rear end, which is a clear sign she needed help. Note in the video how malnourished she is, even though she is surrounded by good quality food.

As I turned around to get my net and crate out of the car, she was already heading to a tree to climb. I HAD to stop her and get her to hospital today! Hobbling along by myself, carrying a large crate and long handled net, I caught up with her as she reached the tree and she jumped up onto the trunk.

Koala rescued by the author, last week. Note how malnourished the koala is.

The situation was now desperate. It was a battle between her and myself – she wanted to get away from me and I wanted to capture her. She started scurrying up the tree trunk. I blocked her off with the net, thankful that I had purchased a very large heavy duty one capable of stopping juvenile kangaroos.

As her extremely strong claws hit the metal of the neck of the net, it took all my strength to stop her from climbing higher. For about two minutes we pushed hard against each other; me clinging to the handle of my net forcing it down on her front legs and her pushing with all her mite to get past the annoying obstruction in her path.

Rear end of the koala which was rescued – the red staining is a precursor to chlamydia infection.

Wrestling with the metal neck of the net I managed to bump one of her front legs and slightly dislodged her, which made her angry. Our struggle intensified against each other as she lashed out with a front leg, claws flared. This worked to my advantage because her claws became tangled in the netting and after some clever manoevurs on my part, as she screamed out stress calls, similar to a baby screaming, she dropped to the ground, under the net.

By now she was yelling loudly, which was rather heartbreaking to know she was screaming stress calls for help, when I was trying my best to help her. Over a matter of minutes, despite her best efforts to claw me to pieces, I somehow got her untangled from the net and dropped the large crate over the top of her.

Rescued koala’s front paw and claws.

I now had her contained but the crate was tipped up on its side, with her in it, but I couldn’t stand the crate up to do the door up or she’d leap out. By this point I had so much adrenaline flooding my own body I was shaking all over and felt like collapsing, but I puled myself together and took an almighty breath and flipped the crate and slammed the door shut as the koala was caught off-guard and rolled upside down inside the crate. She was now safe!

Once she was loaded into the car, safely inside the crate, we headed to the ICU Emergency Animal Hospital. She kept throwing herself at the door and walls of the crate, panicking to get out. This was her first introduction to humans and captivity so she was quite terrified. I was also aware that stress would complicate whatever illness she was already dealing with.

Rescued koala in the author’s car, heading to the ICU Animal Hospital.

Arriving at the ICU after hours, the koala was given 100% top priority. She was taken straight through to the Wildlife Specialist Veterinarian who was on duty who assessed her and placed her in a climate controlled enclosure and assigned a dedicated nurse to watch the koala and monitor her every move for the next 12 hours. She was given pain relief drugs and made as comfortable as possible.

The Specialist then spent 30 minutes speaking with me, thanking me as a rescuer for the part rescuers play in the battle to save koalas. “Without rescuers we cannot treat the koalas” said the doctor.

Koala peeping out of the crate, inside the author’s car.

At 8am the next morning the koala was transported by Animal Ambulance to Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, where some of the world’s leading koala experts are working hard to find a vaccination against stress induced chlamydia. The koala was given extensive tests which take close to 24 hours to be certain of the results before decisions are made.

Sadly, the koala I rescued tested positive to chlamydia and she was humanely euthanised by koala experts who did all they possibly could to save her. Post mortem reveal she had chlamydia which rendered her infertile, she had cysts on her ovaries and a serious bladder infection and retrovirus (an H.I.V.-like infection that suppresses the koala’s immune system and interferes with its ability to fight off chlamydia.) She had been in tremendous pain prior to being rescued, which explained her malnutrition.

Please help koalas by supporting organisations working hard to save them.

A koala which tests positive for chlamydia cannot be released back into the wild because they will further contaminate other koalas. Scientists are working around the clock to find a vaccine to save the koala species, but until they are successful the future of the Koala species hangs in the balance. Once they are gone, they are gone forever.

Please support the work of the Australian Koala Foundation, which is the national organisation which funds Koala research, provides educational resources, pushes for the implementation of state and federal laws to protect Koalas and their habitat and co-ordinates the Koala Habitat Atlas, a vital tool in protecting habitat. Please click here if you wish to donate to the Australian Koala Foundation.

Thank you for reading,

Michele Brown.

Rhino and elephant poaching on the African continent has again raged out of control this year, and as we near the end of 2014 statistical data shows that near to 1200 rhinoceros have been poached for fake medicine and thousands more elephants killed for meat and their ivory. Its expected by the end of 2014 we will have lost some 1400 rhino. Data models have also shown that by the end of 2015 we look set to loose a staggering 2,009 rhinos with thousands more elephants too.

The poaching pandemic within South Africa custodian to the worlds largest populations of Rhinoceros isn’t decreasing, nor are any forms of anti poaching actively working to at least stem the poaching rate. From 2010 we lost 333 rhinoceros of which some 165 people were arrested. 2011 poaching and arrest statistics increased again that saw some 448 rhino butchered and 282 poachers arrested. From 2012 poaching statistics shot up yet again seeing some 668 rhinoceros killed and 297 people suspected or known to have poached arrested. 2013 over 1004 rhino were slaughtered of which a further 298 people suspected of poaching were arrested. 

Statistics for 2014 to date place arrest rates at some 344 with some 1100 rhinoceros bludgeoned to death to provide the Asian medicine market with fake medicinal cures and to show wealth among the rich within the countries of Viet Nam, Laos, China and Thailand.

India has had its fair share of poaching too although poachers do play Russian roulette when they wish to poach rhinos, tigers or elephants within the Indian national parks. Statistics show some 37 one horned rhinoceros poached since the start of the year which is a little over last years poaching records. Arrest rates are up that see some 45 people arrested. Deaths of poachers has increased from last years statistics that was 5 poachers killed compared to this years kill rate that stands at 27 poachers killed within the national parks of India.

Please note the Rhino poaching stats for 2014 are incorrect – to date over 30 Rhinos have since been poached.

While arrest rates are increasing within South Africa [see pic below] with regards to rhino poaching very few poachers are actually brought before the courts with many given bail just to commit the same offence again or flee back over the border from which they remain untouchable just to re-offend again.

Back in early December 2014 International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa and India launched a public debate focusing on [Shoot to Kill] – a method of wildlife preservation now active in the majority of  wildlife parks in India that sends a clear and precise message to poachers – yet within South Africa is barely practiced as rangers and farm security either face red tape court and legal action or haven’t even the weapons to shoot to defend or kill poachers. Red tape or legal action is not seen within the states of India where a one shot to kill poachers has been authorized.

Kaziranga National Park hosts plenty of tigers being the worlds highest density and fleets of endangered one-horned rhinos. (More than two-thirds of the remaining population.) And, since 2010 a take-no-prisoners anti-poaching policy that allows rangers to shoot on sight. Welcome to the future of conservation.

Indian wildlife poacher Naren Pegu briefly became famous back in 2010 with regards to the Indian shoot to kill policy. Poacher Naren Pegu was shot dead on the morning of December 13th 2010 after anti poachers could take no more. Naren Pegu had decimated many rhino and tiger populations making thousands from animals parts and providing an illicit trade to South East Asia.

Time to Get Tough on Poaching;

The fall of India’s most notorious poacher. 

Pegu was a member of the Mishing tribe, one of Assam’s many indigenous groups that, like their equivalents everywhere, have lost land and livelihoods. Mishing villages line the park boundary, their inhabitants pressed against it like kids at a candy-store window. If you can’t pay $50 for a jeep safari, you can’t get inside. Growing up here, Pegu learned to sneak past the border; he knew the park like his own backyard. He’d come and go unde­tec­ted by the forest guards—India’s version of wildlife rangers. Poaching ran in Pegu’s family; his father was a poacher before him. In all due respects Pegu was “allegedly” poaching to provide a stable income for his family of which poachers within Africa of which some opportunistic poachers are merely doing the same. If countries such as Viet Nam, Laos and China were not using tiger, rhino and other animal parts for trade its most likely that Pegu and his family members would either have to resort to other violent crime to feed and provide income to family members or die from extreme poverty.

Most Mishing involved in the trade are content to serve as illegal guides for the bigger regional guns—sharpshooters and brokers from Nagaland—whom they lead in and out of the vast park, taking a small cut. But ­Naren Pegu was enterprising. He taught himself the rules of the trade, cutting deals in seedy hotels. Learned where to get black-market .303 rifles from the separatists who control the Nagaland hills. He thought big. Typically, poachers blow any money they come into, but not Pegu: he’d saved enough to invest in three vehicles, a big house, even a plot of land, where he was starting his own tea garden in some sort of psychological stab at legitimacy. While Pegu was bringing down more than $20,000 per year through poaching, his Mishing relations scrabbled to earn $200 a year in the rice paddies.

Pegu had every right to feel cocky as he and an accomplice slipped into Kaziranga on the evening of December 12, waiting out the night munching on rotis and precooked rice; a fire would have given them away. At dawn, rhinos scatter across Kaziranga to feed on the rich grasslands, and Pegu was ready. He came upon a mother rhino feeding with her calf. Got out his rifle. Shooting a rhino is like shooting a barn: when you take aim, they stop and stare, deciding whether to charge. Pegu shot the mother dead, hacked off her horn, and left the baby standing there. The park border, his village, and a payday in Naga­land were not far away.

Pegu should have been home free. He knew the landscape, and Kaziranga employs only about 500 forest guards to cover more than 300 square miles of tall grass and jungle—on foot. What were their chances of finding him? Yet, unbeknownst to Pegu, before he even fired his shot three forest guards had entered the area, searching for him. As soon as he fired, they closed on the spot. Unlike most guards in most parks in India, they were armed. And they had license to kill.

Pegu saw the guards first and opened fire. Missed. The guards took cover. As the shooting continued, one guard calmly raised his antique .303 Lee Enfield rifle to his shoulder, lined up Pegu in his sights, and blew his head off.
Pegu’s accomplice was shot in the hip by another guard. An hour later, he, too, had died “from his injuries,” according to the park’s report. Pictures from that day show the two men lying on the forest floor. The accomplice has dried black blood around his eyes, nose, and ears. Pegu’s head is split open like a watermelon.

The photography we have on Pegu and his accomplice is to graphic to include within this article however one can Google it by searching in the Punjabi language.

Licence to Kill – Smack in the Face to South Africans…

Indian rangers and forestry guards are paid an extra allowance should they locate and shoot dead poachers. While some may not believe this is actually helping to deter poachers – it actually is. India has the lowest rhino poaching rate compared with Africa of which to date over 1100 South African rhinos have been poached dead this year alone [2014]. 91.74% of voters agreed this year that a shoot to kill policy should be drawn up within South Africa.  6.46% of people stated a shoot to kill policy should not be given to rangers while 1.73% stated they were unsure. Either way this is desperate times and desperate times calls for some serious defensive measures. No mater what legislation the South African government is bringing in – its not working, This year alone as explained over one thousand rhinos have been bludgeoned to death. Something has to give and now we know poachers are feeling somewhat afraid to enter Indian National Parks the same sense of fear must apply to African poachers that wish to rid Africa of rhinos and other large fauna.

India is quite a poor country however they take wildlife crime as serious. Back in 2012 In addition, the government in Maharashtra reserved a fund of 5 million rupees ($90,000), to be used to reward people who can give information about alleged poachers. This year alone within rhino and tiger reserves alone we have seen an increase of poachers being shot dead and government handing out cash rewards. We must also reiterate that India has stated no legal action will be brought against those whom kill poachers. So why the same practice is not being adopted within South Africa is quite baffling. Are certain government ministers in on the poaching?

Indian forestry teams mostly now print on how they have shot dead poachers – rather than arrest them. Back in November 2014 yet another shoot out entailed the seventh for that month that left two rhino poachers dead and yet another message sent to the poaching community that wildlife crime will not be tolerated. Sadly since November to December we’ve lost a further seven rhinos however a four poachers out of them seven incidents were shot dead.

The two poachers were killed in an encounter with forest guards [picture below] in the Kaziranga National Park, famed for its one-horned rhinoceros.  Acting on a tip-off, forest guards spotted the duo in a forest area between Diffloo and Borbhag camp in Burapahar range in Nagaon district and an encounter ensued in which the poachers were killed, a senior forest official said. The forest guards also recovered a .303 rifle, eight live cartridges, seven empty cartridges, some foodstuff and a mobile handset. The slain poachers have since been identified and their bodies have been sent for postmortem. A total of 14 poachers have been killed this year in Kaziranga National Park.
Poachers had arrived into the park in search of the endangered one horned Rhinoceros.

While some may agree hunting the poachers is extreme, its unfortunately the only [extreme] method of preserving our wildlife. Human Rights Organisations have yet to really speak out on the issue however are monitoring the increasing death rate of poachers within India. Their argument is poachers are trying to support their families financially.

Tiger and rhino populations within India are at their lowest though and while still extant their presence brings in revenue from tourism which helps to secure parks, pay wages, and decrease poverty within areas that border the main rhino and tiger parks. So in all the government is trying its hardest not only to protect its wildlife but also impoverished communities. Taking Indian wildlife poacher Naren Pegu case to hand too – while some journalists have stated he was only poaching to secure his families welfare, the vast majority of money was being used to fund his lavish lifestyle. While Naren Pegu was funding his own way of life, meanwhile on the border of Kruger National Park, South Africa “poachers that derive from poverty stricken Mozambique” are living the life of Riley. Poaching African rhino and living off the funding that is generated from the sales of the cut down horn. It truly is disgusting and a complete smack in the face to all Africans. 

In Western Mozambique a now not so tiny nor impoverished village named as Kabok is now known as Mozambique’s millionaires rhino row. Poverty stricken individuals that are [untouchable] have for the past several years been wandering over the non-secure South African-Mozambique border taking down rhinoceros left right and center. While many face arrest and in some rare cases have been short dead [when a shoot out occurs] the village is growing and so too is its greed for Kruger’s Rhino horn and the wealth such horn trade brings in. Mansions and new vehicles can clearly be seen along the border to the disgust of anti poaching units and rangers alike.

In neighboring South Africa, these mansions would be called matchboxes. Most are flat-roofed, single-storeyed structures. Some look similar to RDP houses [public housing]. But what separates these homes from the usual reed houses in Kabok is that they are made from brick.

This part of Mozambique is dirt poor and the remnants of the civil war scar the landscape and the psyche of the people. War amputees wander the dirt roads. The new Kabok has been built on the horns of the hundreds of rhinos slaughtered just kilometres away in Kruger National Park. It is not alone – there are other towns spread along the border that lines Kruger National Park. They are the staging posts for rhino poachers.

There was a time when the bordering Corumane Dam supplied the community with its main source of income – fishing. Now, under the silvery full moon, fishermen ferry poachers across the lake, rowing them up the Sabie River and dropping them close to the Kruger fence. In South Africa Kabok has long had the reputation of being a haven for robbers and hijackers who take refuge across the border. Rhino economics filters through the town, the anti-poaching officer explains. Everyone gets a piece of the pie, builders are paid to construct those houses. Spaza shops have sprung up, some built with rhino money. The funeral industry, it appears, gets its cut too. Mozambique has in the past year acknowledged rhino poaching as being a crime and is actively helping to reduce communities along the border of the Kruger National Park. Sadly while the Mozambique government have acknowledged rhino poaching its still seen as a misdemeanor offence rather than a punishable offence. In all this is a smack in the face to all South Africans and our wildlife too.

Rules of Engagement – African Rangers can Face Legal Action;

Member of the SANDF Anti Poaching Unit patrolling the Kruger National Park

While the Indian Government has actively authorized in tiger and rhino reserves a shoot to kill policy of which forest guards are immune from legal action, in South Africa the rules of engagement are somewhat more cloudy of which there have been few cases where rangers and Anti Poaching Operatives have faced the wrath of their own government taking legal action against them for protecting their own wildlife. Animal rights activists must also remember when screaming and shouting at conservation units to shoot poachers – there are rules that must be obeyed at all times. These very rules are what International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa are now going to challenge in the wake of last months rhino poaching statistics and intelligence that has pinpointed South Africa as being the next country to be hit hard by elephant poachers. Activists must also remember that the vast majority of South African Anti Poaching Units are just that and not members of SANDF – South African National Defense Force that have the capability and authorization to take a shot at poachers and are 99.9% of the time armed while many Anti Poaching Units that consist of volunteers and/or rangers are lacking basic equipment or in some cases one unit only has one shooter. Least forgetting do not have the authorization to just kill poachers.

Unlike soldiers in combat, rangers pursue criminals, not enemy combatants. Rangers enforce national laws and work under specified rules, and in South Africa and elsewhere, they’re permitted to fire only in self-defense. That need for restraint can be stressful,  states the now retired Major Jooste. “Here’s this [ranger], tracking poachers in 45 degrees [Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit] for many days. He gets a sighting, but he cannot shoot at the person. He must now stalk the person.” Yet the thick bush hinders tracking. When the ranger finally finds his quarry, “then he must challenge the poacher. Only when that person picks up his rifle may he defend himself. And that is taxing.”

According to Jooste, in 2013 SANParks rangers engaged in 65 firefights, but they recorded 108 sightings of poachers. “Because we’re law abiding, they get away. Because they run away into the bush, [the poachers] have the advantage.”
In addition, when a ranger in South Africa kills a poacher, the ensuing police investigation puts pressure on the ranger and his or her family—even if the case is dismissed. “You’re on the defensive all along,” Jooste says. “You know that when you sight them, in a split second you’ll have to make a decision whether to defend yourself, and there will be consequences.”

The consequences can range from legal action from the poachers themselves or from families against rangers of which is time consuming, taxing on the already impoverished country and sees rangers time taken up in courts rather than where they should be operating – in the fields.

Murder – Rangers risk their lives in the fields for pittance;

“Many who become game rangers go into it knowing that the position goes with many dangers of wild animals, dehydration, irritating insects, never mind the poachers—and most are the type of tough personality that can handle the rigors of the job,” says Kevin Bewick, head of the Anti-Poaching Intelligence Group of Southern Africa.

A recent ranger recruitment drive for Virunga yielded 1,800 applicants for 112 spots, despite the high death toll in the park during the past decade. For many, the attraction is the promise of a job, but that’s not the only, or even the main, factor.

Picture above – KWS monument in honor of Kenyan Wildlife Rangers killed on active duty.

“Being a ranger was not a choice but a calling,” says Stephen Midzi, whose base is Shangoni Post in Kruger. “I was born for this, so had to fulfill what has already been written in my book of life.” Zakouma’s Ndotoingar says simply, “I’m proud of my work.” “Not a single guy has quit,” SANParks’ Jooste notes, adding that without the rangers like Midzi, poaching statistics would be a lot worse. “Look what would happen if we weren’t here.”

Every four days in Africa and around the world a ranger or Anti Poaching Operative is killed in their line of work. Many either face a quick death, are killed by contract shooters or tortured to death. The risks are endless yet wildlife security forces still risk their lives despite pittance [very little monetary income].

As explained International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa is challenging the South African government on shooting to defend of which the organisation wants a clear and precise “shoot to kill” law introduced for wildlife rangers and Anti Poachers not just SANDF. Furthermore I.A.R.F.A. calls on the government to not only authorize rangers to adopt this method of conservation but implement a NO conviction No Legal action clause within contract. Training and more equipment to be supplied to rangers too and rangers with no firearms to be equipped without delay.

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa doesn’t stand alone either when it comes to such licence to kill policy. Over 90% of South Africans questioned agreed that a shoot to kill policy must be enforced to send a clear and precise message to poachers and king-pins that poaching will not be tolerated within the country. Should the organisation win it could see rangers in other countries authorized a licence to kill. Kenya is one such country on the continent of which KWS – [Kenyan Wildlife Service rangers] not only face death from poachers but are also heavily outnumbered by poachers that are slaughtering rhino and elephants.

The Peoples Verdict – Licence to Kill;

Back in November International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa and India started a public debate with regards to the shoot to kill policy. The debate has thus far seen quite a prolific response from which can be read below. Quite astonishingly we counted a mere dozen or more responses that were against the shoot to kill policy, whereas over 2,000 responses based from our Indian and South African debates called for a shoot to kill policy to be implemented.

Below is a handful of extracted responses for you all to read. You can join the debate by logging onto Facebook and clicking the link below. Alternatively you vote via our poll that will be the second third poll this year of which we will collect all results and begin passing these on to the government and ministries throughout Africa.

Roxanne Cochran stated – I am from South Africa. I agree fully with this notion. If they’re willing to take a life, they should be prepared to be shot down dead too. It’s very sad to see that most rhinos here have had there horns cut down for protection. It’s not natural and it breaks my heart that we have to go to such extremes to protect these beautiful creatures.

Gavin Hastings stated – Hello all, I am a serving soldier of the SANDF; I am just back from my 3rd deployment of 6 months from the Kruger. The problem id like to address is not man power or resources, it is the government of the country of South Africa and Mozambique who are now collaborating in the elimination of the species of rhino thanks to the bureaucratic impasse given to poachers of rhinos. As a soldier I am now “arresting” poachers. It is very difficult to maintain success and morale if you capture a person and he is extradited to re-do his killing the next week. I ask the international community to pressure my government. We need legislation to properly take care of the species survival and give the killers their fair due.

George Chimbai stated – In my country Malawi rhinos were once extincted and were re-introduced in the 1990s with rhinos from South Africa, without that Malawi wouldn’t have been boasting of having the BIG FIVE in its national parks and game reserves. South Africa as a supplier of endangered species to countries where they’re facing extinction I welcome and support the SHOOT TO KILL POLICY of these poachers.

Leisa Cope stated- I agree with shoot to kill only because I don’t see any other option. The consequences of killing animals not only brutally but into extinction needs to be this intense to at least make poachers think twice about what they are doing. If poachers choose to risk their lives then this is their own decision. How sad it is when it comes to this form of action.

Berdine Helderberg stated - Definitely shoot to kill – although, a warning shot might be needed first? (Legal wise..) Poachers know what they are doing, they know it is wrong and because they know they are untouchable, they continue committing these horrible horrible crimes. They simply do not care about the intense suffering of the animals and sometimes the babies too. If you can do it to a defenseless, helpless animal, you will do it to a human being too. Lastly, they will shoot any person that comes in their way, not thinking twice.

Kerryn Hay stated – Shoot to kill definitely. I have no sympathy for poachers even if they are disadvantaged/uneducated and trying to put food on table as some of you have argued – they are making the decision to brutally murder helpless animals and every action has consequences. Kill these criminals! why are we even considering giving them rights when animals have none. If it’s working in India then we must try it because nothing South Africa has done has helped thus far and time is running out while we debate the rights of ruthless criminals! I would prefer to see them die as slowly and painfully as the animals that they murder but let’s shoot to kill and make an example of them!

Heather Smith stated – These poachers are killing innocent animals, so why shouldn’t they expect the same treatment. Rangers are shooting to save these animals lives, poachers are shooting purely for money. You have my support all the way. Shoot to kill!!! Just as the poachers do.

Debbie Olivier stated – South Africa wake up! Allow our rangers to shoot to kill – no questions asked. We have entrusted our wildlife to them – we need to trust them with this too as they are well trained.

Donny De Mars stated – Why shouldn’t there be a shoot to kill law? I mean what makes you think these poachers would not do the same for any unarmed ranger who tries to bring them in. They are no better than drug traffickers and deserve even more severe punishment! A life for a life.

Robert Cates stated – I think a shoot to kill policy/law should be enacted not only to stop dead the ones doing it now, but also to SHOW/deter others thinking about doing it. I don’t think it should be even controlled by the police department… I think it should be an open season sort of policy… that should really put the scare in them.

Whoozie Blue Marlene stated – If you were running away from a bank having stolen a rare pink diamond the. The police would shoot you down dead. Are our rhinos not rare enough, aren’t they our beautiful pink diamonds?. Telling a poacher to stop or else does not work and if it does they are back in business chop chop. If this was installed it would work simply because no one wants to die. God left these animals in our care, so far the care has not been good enough I’m afraid. Protect our Rhino please because enough is enough !!

James Kipterem stated – I agree! Because rangers too are being targeted by these evil minded poachers. Even poachers, they have the same thought of “shoot to kill” whenever they meet rangers. So shoot to kill is the only remedy to a poacher, because, why break the law which we were passing together? that, ‘it is illegal to kill wild animals’. Instead of defending the law you break it. That is very bad. Always law defenders are more than breakers.

Jannette Slabbert stated – Any bad behavior must have real and costly consequences or you will never change it prison is obviously not enough of a penalty so if loosing your life is the price then so be it. It has proven effective in India then I say put the policy in SA too.

Russell Gordon stated - Future generation will blame us for not doing enough to have prevented the total extinction of the Rhino. So to address this now to preserve the Rhino for our future generations poachers and their ring leaders need to feel pain and by that I mean the ultimate sentence, the death penalty.

Laurian Knop stated – I vote shoot to kill poachers in self defense. Poachers are always armed and chose to kill the helpless and innocent. How many rangers have lost their lives to poachers? Self defense is not murder. Protecting those unable to defend themselves is not a criminal offense. Poachers are a scourge that need to be wiped out as they facilitate a bigger epidemic of terrorism, trafficking of drugs and children and general corruption. Why is this even being second-guessed? Do those opposed have something to lose should it be implemented?

Chris Switzer stated - I believe the continuity of a species, far outweighs any issues that might be brought up with regard to a shoot to kill policy. Poaching an endangered species, many of which on the brink of extinction, should be punishable by death.

Annmarie Botelho stated – I think that south Africa should have shoot to kill laws… if it keeps going the way it is we are going to lose are elephants and rhino …. it’s such a cruel trade and there really isn’t any need for it.

Gillian Curley stated – I don’t like the shoot to kill as the poachers are just doing what they are told to do and feed their families BUT something has to be done and if we can’t get the leaders and the buyers then yes sadly I agree to shoot to kill.

Marisol Davila stated – A policy of shoot to kill poachers will be a deterrent for the poaching business. Due to lax policies wildlife numbers are in the brink of extinction. Many economies depend on the tourism that wildlife attracts. Therefore, a harsh policy against poachers and their customers is key if any country wants to strengthen it’s economic survival in the long run. The message need to be loud and clear zero tolerance to poaching, no bits or ifs allow.

To take part in the debate that International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa is running you can comment by clicking here alternatively you can also hit the poll button below and tell us what you want. Please be aware that the poll expires one week from the date of this article of which we will not run another poll.

BEFORE voting please view the video below.

Conclusion;

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa last year created data models that indicated their worst fears regarding wildlife poaching based on poaching deaths, natural deaths, gestation, deaths of unborn fetus, decreased populations of other larger fauna such as elephants and more. Model data has already shown that South Africa’s poaching rate will continue to increase and has provided very worrying numbers of final statistics supported by defense organisations working hard to stem the flow of poaching.

While none of us wants to see, read or hear of any living creature death – We must send a more stronger and decisive message into Asia and African poaching communities, and while tackling poaching is one thing we’ve also poverty to engage that will take the temptation away from individual opportunistic poachers that kill to fend for their families. Its these very communities that Asian traffickers and king-pins target as they know they are easy prey.

Look at it simply like this. If your living with no food, no electricity, no sanitation and require health support, are barely feeding your family or even yourself and living within a country that is doing little to decrease poverty then you will snap the chance up at anyone given moment to make money. Conservation organisations and leaders of Africa and world leaders must do more to decrease poverty around wildlife parks.

Failing this Data Models have shown that the white rhino will be verging near endangerment by 2017 of which the black rhino could be extinct in under five years within the wild [despite populations increasing]. Furthermore while the continent of Africa is still custodian to thousands of elephants, elephant populations are becoming more fragmented. Yesterday I.A.R.F.A reported a massive decline in South Sudan elephant populations that now stand at some 2,500. Giraffe populations are now at some 40,000 for the entire continent of Africa.

Bottom line is should Africa lose vast swathes of her wildlife then tourism will be affected too. Tourism brings in billions for the entire continent of Africa of which Africa’s wildlife is seen as the number one tourist attraction. A large number of countries depend on tourism for the economic growth. A recent study done for DFID concluded: “While poor countries only command a minority share of the international tourism market, tourism can make a significant contribution to their economies.

Eighty percent of the world’s poor (below US$1 a day) live in 12 countries. In 11 of these, tourism is significant and/or growing. Of the 100 or so poorest countries, tourism is significant (accounting for over 2% of GDP or 5% of exports) in almost half the low income countries and almost all the lower-middle income countries.” Using these same criteria and 1996 data, tourism is “significant” in an impressive number of African countries: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zimbabwe. Zambia and Mali just missed the cutoff in 1996.

According to the World Tourism Organization (WTO), Africa as a whole attracts just fewer than 4% of total world tourists and accounted for 2.0% of international tourism receipts in 1997. Of the Sub-Saharan countries, only South Africa is listed in the top forty tourism destinations worldwide, where it was 26th in 1997. The WTO calculated [1996] that Africa had just over 3% of world accommodation capacity (796,000 beds). The Africa region showed the strongest expansion in arrivals of any world region in 1997, up 8.1% over 1996. Furthermore, during the 1988-97 decade, Africa had an average annual growth of 7.2% in visitor arrivals, only slightly lower than East Asia/Pacific, which had the highest growth rate of all regions though from a much higher base than Africa. The average annual growth rate for tourist arrivals worldwide has averaged 5.0% for the past decade.

However – the number of tourists now arriving in SSA has grown over 300% since 1990, with 2012 marking a high of 33.8 million tourists who visited the region. Income generated from tourism has also climbed: Receipts from hotels, tours and other attractions in 2012 amounted to over US$36 billion and directly contributed just over 2.8% to the region’s GDP, according to the report issued by the World Bank back in 2013.

Wild animals are probably one of the first things people think of when asked about Africa. Seeing all the documentaries on television, we can only wonder and watch in awe as these mighty creatures roam the plains and jungles. Many are now protected in reserves and tourists can venture out on varying safaris to watch them in their nature habitats. What an incredible experience for both the amateur and professional photographer! Zambia holds the most natural of parks because the area is not accessible between November and March due to the waterways. Since the animals, plants, birds, and other natural elements are left alone, the area is truly spectacular when viewed each year after this rejuvenation period.

Safari rates as number four on many tour guide questionnaires when asking tourists why they wish to visit Africa. So in all if we continue to see such a vast decline in wildlife and lack of hard core enforcement we’ll most certainly see a copious decline in tourism revenue. I don’t need to explain what that will spell either.

International Animal Rescue Foundation has been challenged by only Humans Rights Christian Organisation of which stated we should not lobby or enforce a licence to kill poachers. All that can be said to the Human Rights players is that when there are no animals left, and revenue is seen as shrinking because of this then the Human Rights organisations can visit Africa and tackle more violent crime, lack of any employment, rape, murder, and more.

The time to act is now and not tomorrow. Stand by International Animal Rescue Foundation and help us enforce a shoot to kill policy within South Africa, Kenya and Tanzania.

Thanks

Board of Directors for External Affairs – Ead 

Chief Executive Officer of Environmental Projects Africa – Michael L. Rooste 

Chief Environmental Officer & CEO Dr Jose C Depre 

Chief Environmental Registrar Europa – J. F. Williamson 

External Affairs and Lead Investigation Officer – Vincent Van der spuy 

externalaffairs@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

You can help us by donating, to donate click the picture below that will take you to our donation application on Facebook. Alternatively you can donate to our communications site listed hereto at

www.international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

Hon Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam Minister of Environment 

Hon Dr. Akinwumi Adesina

Hon. Hajiya Asmau Asabe Ahmed

Hon. Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, fnia

Hon. Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of Health

GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA.

Re: Nigerian Pet Meat Trade: 

The Nigerian pet meat trade and culture has been responsible for many deaths this year and previous years from rabies and other viral diseases passed on from dogs and cats slaughtered in the pet meat trade. Pet meat traders and market sales-people continue to place their own lives and the public’s in danger via selling tainted, contaminated or diseased riddled pet meat. Furthermore the unsanitary conditions that pet meat, either dogs or cats are slaughtered within, cooked or contained for public consumption have led to wide outbreaks of food poisoning this year and past – some of these cases have led to the deaths of those consumers.

The majority of Nigerians look down on this form of food culture of which view felines and canines as companion pets. However the trade still continues, and within the last few years we have witnessed traders openly killing peoples pets either stolen within the local states or illegally trafficked from Niger into Nigeria in the most appalling conditions. Most of these dogs and cats never make it alive into Nigeria if trafficked from Niger. Their bodies cramped into tiny holding cages on the back of dirty wagons they suffer agonizing pain, heatstroke, dehydration, crushing injuries from pets placed on top of them -these-being just some of the many abuses witnessed. International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa can now confirm that over 1.2 million dogs and cats are killed for the meat trade every year alone in Nigeria which proves this trade a deadly one at that is one of the largest on the planet and inline with some Asian pet meat traded – however still rarely documented on.

While we recognize animal abuse cases as serious we must also continue to address the case of rabies that sees over 60,000 people a year die from the rabies virus. Studies of Abia State in the south-eastern part of Nigeria whose native population consumes dog meat as part of the traditional diet, detected the rabies virus in the saliva and brain tissue of 5% of slaughtered dogs, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC) reported on.

The study, by Nigerian researchers published in ISRN Veterinary Science, was carried out in eight dogs slaughtering outlets within four Local Government Areas of the State for the determination of rabies antigen in the saliva and brain of apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption. What they found was after testing (The saliva was subjected to rapid immune-chromatographic test (RICT) while direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) was carried out on the brain samples) samples of apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption, 5% tested positive for rabies antigen with the use of both tests.

None of the butchers in this study were previously vaccinated against rabies, although majority of them (94.7%) were previously bitten during the course of slaughtering. Following dog bite, majority of the butchers sought traditional method of treatment ( using traditional leaves and teethes of the offending dog, which is burnt to aches, mixed with native gin; part is given to the victim to drink and vomit while the rest is applied at the site of bite), as against proper medical care, a practice which will further complicate the problem as none of the methods used have been tested to be effective.

The GARC reports, because dog meat is habitually consumed, and local butchers are unable to screen out infected animals and remove them from the food supply, the handling of infected dog meat may have implications on regional public health. Furthermore tourists that visit the country sampling the local tropical delicacy are also placed at risk from death and/or disease.

There is potential for virus transfer if fluids or nervous tissues of infected animals come into contact with breaks in the skin before the meat is cooked.

The researchers conclude that the presence of rabies in apparently healthy dogs slaughtered for human consumption in Abia State signifying its endemicity as it is in other states where studies have been conducted. This study also revealed the practices of dog slaughtering as a possible source of exposure to dog meat processors in Abia State. Hence mass enlightenment program for dog meat processors, consumers, and children in the state is highly recommended.

Rabies is a viral disease that is transmitted through the saliva or tissues from the nervous system from an infected mammal to another mammal. Rabies is a zoonotic disease. Zoonotic diseases can pass between species. Bird flu and swine flu are other zoonotic diseases. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system causing severely distressing neurological symptoms before causing the victim to die.

Rabies is the deadliest disease on earth with a 99.9% fatality rate. While such a fatality rate is clearly understood we question again why the government of Nigeria continues to allow traders to place not only Nigerian local citizens in danger of death but also those visiting the country and African citizens visiting from neighboring African countries.

Butchers take few precautions around symptom-free dogs prior to slaughter, using their bare hands to muzzle animals without using adequate protection against bites, potentially placing butchers at high risk for contracting rabies. A recent rabies outbreak in neighboring Cross Rivers State in Nigeria this year again claimed the lives of 8 people who suffered dog bites, showing that rabies is a growing regional problem.

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa and Say No To Dog Meat.Net have amassed over 40,200 signatures to date calling on the Minister of Environment, Minister of Public Health, Minster of Agriculture and Food and Governors of surrounding Nigerian States to now impose a ban on the sale, slaughter and trafficking of pet meat immediately to preserve human life, control the increasing menace of rabies and reducing animal abuse.

While we recognize dog meat joints within Nigeria as being established for “medicinal purposes” such as 1. to make men stronger, 2. to increase male impotence, 3. to ward of bad spirits, 4. to heal disabled children of their disabilities and more there is to date no proven evidence that has indicated or even shown that pet meat can cure such illnesses or disabilities. Furthermore by stating in chop joints or “404” joints that pet meat holds medicinal powers it only confuses the public more into believing such lies thus placing human life in danger significantly.

International Animal Rescue Foundation Europe has since September 2104 began working with Japanese Food and Alternative Medicine Researchers that has been provided dead dog and cat meat purchased from the markets in Lagos state and shipped to the independent research team. The team has been instructed by our Environmental Team to conduct research on any such medicinal properties and to exhaust every possible examination and study that either proves pet meat is medicinal or not.

We hope to have within our hands for public disclosure the full research papers within the next six months. Finally International Animal Rescue Foundation Great Britain have liaised and asked scientists from East Anglia, United Kingdom to conduct a more in-depth study of which have been instructed to locate whether dog meat is tainted with pharmaceutical properties to fool individuals into believing pet meat has active working properties.

This same type of public trading in animal parts is seen within Viet Nam and China where Rhinoceros horn is infused with – say – Viagra of which when the the public (mainly men) purchase Rhino horn and use it they are in the belief that the horn really has increased male erectile dysfunction syndrome. While there is little evidence to back such claims up with regards to the pet trade within Nigeria we have already proven and witnessed countless times Anti Malaria drugs found within dog meat in Zimbabwe – dog meat is then palmed of as a miracle  cure aimed at treating malaria when in reality traders are only selling tainted dog and or cat meat out of sheer poverty.

With over 40,000 signatures calling for the Nigerian pet meat to stop we publicly call on Hon Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam Minister of Environment, Hon Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Hon. Hajiya Asmau Asabe Ahmed and Hon. Arc. Sonny S. T. Echono, fnia Minster of Agriculture and Food and Minister of Public Health Hon. Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of Health to now impose a ban on all pet trade. A ban that will see no killing, trafficking of dogs and cats to preserve human life immediately and halt the onset of rabies. 

Public can engage the following ministers by copying and pasting the above open letter calling for an end to the trade. Lastly when concluded scientific research has reached us regarding pet meat and supposed medicinal properties this evidence will be passed on to the above named ministers and made public. We hope to see a trade ban imposed using our mission within the next five years.

Sincerely

Environmental and Animal Welfare Team

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa.

Copy and paste the letter above to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development here  – Please use this link contact form to send the above copy and pasted communication to the Minster of Environment Nigeria here and lastly please use this link to contact Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu sending the above copied and pasted email and petition to the top Minster of Public Health, Nigeria. 

Members of the public can continue to sign our petition hereto by clicking on the petition picture that will direct you to our petition addressed to the above ministers. 

An organisation called Say No To Dog Meat.Net are holding an event on the 4th April 2015 at 10:00 am internationally. The event that’s been in the planning since last year is to be held in many countries from London, Australia, Canada, America, Serbia, Indonesia, South Africa and more. For more information on Say No To Dog Meat’s global demonstration please click this >here< that will direct you to their Facebook page event forum.

Say No To Dog Meat was formed by three Chief Executive Officers that work within the environmental and animal rescue sector. The organisation has to date attracted hundreds of thousands of people worldwide, readers and supporters to their cause. Say No To Dog Meat is within the transition process of becoming an Australian registered charity, furthermore have recently purchased a run down derelict building within Viet Nam of which will be their main Asian pet medical rescue and rehabilitation clinic. Once dogs and cats are safe from the clutches of pet eaters, traders and snatchers they will be re-homed internationally to loving and caring adopters.

The rescue and rehabilitation clinic is incredibly important to the three Chief Executive Officers their volunteers and staff. Say No To Dog Meat’s rescue and rehab clinic will be one of few such rescues within Viet Nam that actively help to remove strays of the streets within Viet Nam that have no home thus removing dogs and cats from the snatchers clutches whom feed into the cruel and diseased pet meat trade.

B.A.R.C. IS ALSO MARCHING WITH Say No To Dog Meat in their Global March for dogs and cats in the meat trade; 10am Saturday April 4th, 2015. Will you be marching with them too, in your country? For more information email Say No To Dog Meat here at – contact@saynotodogmeat.info for a march location in your country. 

While the Organisation is being heavily supported by its sister Environmental Organisation – International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa via media, press and private funding, funds are limited. Say No To Dog Meat need public support both financially and via its supporters through sharing articles, news and helping with organizing events and educational classes worldwide to help reduce the pet trade through honest youth and adult education. Not forgetting educating the public about meat food viruses and viruses as a whole that are passed on or mutate from live or dead animals and meat kept in unsanitary conditions. Some amazing media articles have already been released about Say No To Dog Meat such as here on Dogster and even while underfunded Say No To Dog Meat have already helped shut down a small dog meat market and rescued dogs from the meat trade – Read more here 

A unique organisation:

Say No To Dog Meat are unique as their main ambition is not only to end the pet meat trade within Asia and Africa but also the cruel and barbaric bushmeat trade that poses a serious disease and health risk threat to humans and animals. The term bushmeat, also called wildmeat and game meat, refers to meat from non-domesticated mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds hunted for food in tropical forests. Commercial harvesting and the trade of wildlife is considered a threat to biodiversity and human security. Should the bushmeat trade trade continue to be ignored we’ll see catastrophic declines of wildlife in areas of Africa and Asia of which extinctions are already occurring both locally and regionally of some exotic species.

Say No To Dog Meat also appeals to all tourists visiting Viet Nam to please refrain from making their jobs harder to ban the trade. Its commercials such as this seen below that only feed the trade.

Mission Statement:

Say No To Dog Meat’s founders have decades of experience fighting this inhumane industry and have worked hard to achieve unprecedented access into areas of the trade not readily accessible to most outsiders. The organisations investigative work allows them to gather current, accurate and up-to-date information and images, evidence that is paramount in spreading global awareness and pressuring governmental organizations to enact enforceable animal welfare laws that protect companion animals. Ultimately, the organisations intention is to help create meaningful social and governmental change that results in a more humane world for dogs and cats and wildlife endangered by the bushmeat industry.

The organisation is determined to expose the cruel and ruthless activities within the dog and cat meat trade that are perpetrated by dog farmers, cat farmers, animal traffickers, butchers, vendors and dog and cat eating customers. “This is a billion dollar industry” Co-Founder Donna Armes stated, centered on live companion animals being tortured, killed and served as menu items. “It is a gruesome, violent trade that must be halted” stated Michelle Brown Director of Say No To Dog Meat and Co-Director for International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa.

Video below shows Viet Nam dog snatchers this October caught on CCTV – these dogs are most likely now dead – fed into a cruel and horrific pet meat industry, Say No To Dog Meat aims to stop this with new laws they are lobbying the Viet Nam government with on two separate petitions. 

By tackling poverty in the nations of Africa where dog meat is being consumed, Say No To Dog Meat will work with aid organisations and companies, as well as welfare groups and communities. Founder Dr Jose Depre states “we are positive that by improving dietary needs and wiping out poverty in these small areas of Africa, we can wipe out the dog meat trade and black market, thus decreasing infectious diseases, rabies, H1N1, mutations and food poisoning”.

Further to this awareness and education, within the arable agricultural section, Say No To Dog Meat hope to improve the lives of families and increase employment, thus decreasing crime, however the CEO stated “this is going to be the toughest area both within the pet meat industry and black market trade we’ve ever tackled, these actions will bring a better welfare for all though and we’ll not stop marching forwards for animal welfare nor will anyone get within our way in conquering our goals set, we have a job to do and we’re going to do it”

INDONESIA IS MARCHING WITH Say No To Dog Meat in their Global March for dogs and cats in the meat trade; 10am Saturday April 4th, 2015. Will you be marching with them too? For more info email Say No To Dog Meat.Net @ contact@saynotodogmeat.info for a march location in your country. INDONESIAN SUPPORTERS: please join Animal Defenders Indonesia in the JAKARTA march.

Founders of Say No To Dog Meat aggressively opposes legislation that promotes or legalizes companion animal slaughter. They do not believe in the myth of “humane meat,” reject the concept of “humane slaughter” and strongly believe that dog and cat butchers cannot be relied upon to implement “humane” practices. The organisation founders also oppose dog farmers, cat farmers, slaughter unions, individual farmers or any persons being permitted to “farm” small numbers of dogs and/or cats for personal consumption. In addition, they are against dog and cat elixirs and tonics, despite (unproven) claims of their health benefits.

Through educational efforts, Say No To Dog Meat hopes to enlighten the global public about the miserable lives farmed companion animals face and how this trade impacts dogs and cats throughout the world. Education will also be provided for those wishing to adopt rescued animals from the live meat trade. These animals have been through varying degrees of trauma, so guidance is needed in ensuring adoptive families understand the process of restoring their new pet’s health, happiness and well-being. In addition, Say No To Dog Meat will provide education for people in dog and cat eating countries who wish to learn about responsible pet ownership and providing safe, long-term environments for dogs and cats as loved family members.

Please Donate:

Say No To Dog Meat has commenced fundraising, from which their efforts will include rehoming rescued dogs and cats from the live meat trade once the Viet Nam rescue and medical clinic has been established. “All fundraising will be conducted with full transparency and information pertaining to our monetary activities will be made readily available” stated Michelle Brown wildlife rescue specialist that resides in Australia. Donna Armes that resides now in Canada stated “participating in Say No To Dog Meat campaigns and signing our petitions supports our work furthermore to bring change for a better world for dogs and cats victimized by this trade”. “We invite you to join our fight to halt the live dog and cat meat trade and Say No To Dog Meat” stated the team of elite environmentalists and animal rescuers.

Say No To Dog Meat’s donation link is below. The link will direct you to their Facebook page from which you can also subscribe to their site for news and events plus lots more.

Please Make a donation TODAY and help Say No To Dog Meat – Thank you

The organisation now requires public funding to help establish their rescue and medical facility for dogs and cats in Viet Nam and hopefully over the borders too. Say No To Dog Meat requires funding for renovation, water, gas and electrical services to be reinstated, pet triage and surgical clinic, rehabilitation and special needs area, isolation clinic, cages and pet boxes, surgical equipment, bedding and blankets, medical supplies, food, and much more.

Once the rescue and rehabilitation clinic is fully operation specialist staff employed will then commence rescuing strays from the streets of Viet Nam of both sick dogs and cats and pets in need of a loving forever home. There’s more too. The organisation will also be holding rabies and vaccination clinics to help reduce disease and decrease rabies within the country and over the borders. Lastly while Say No To Dog Meat recognizes the honest work undertaken by groups of Asian activists that actively seek out pet meat traffickers – no animals that Say No To Dog Meat’s staff rescue will come from traffickers or butchers that require payment. “What’s the point in paying pet meat traffickers and marketeers just for them to purchase more dogs and cats from public funding” stated Jose Depre, “that is defeating the main objective and continues to feed the pet meat trade, were here to help and rescue pets not to continue a trade a circle of abuse”.

SAY NO TO DOG MEAT.NET is calling on the public to help them with their global march planned since January 2014. Demonstration event organizers and demonstrators are required eagerly to beef up numbers to make change happen. For more information you can contact Say No To Dog Meat hereto at contact@saynotodogmeat.info

Liam Williams – Publisher Environmental News and Media 

info@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

What’s wrong with this photograph taken from a Viet Nam road side dog market stall?

You may think that is somewhat of a rather stupid question, a photograph of a dog meat traders stall in Viet Nam, seems rather innocent looking doesn’t it. Look beyond the photograph though. What do you see, nothing? Good now we’re onto a winner as this article you need to take heed off, share, and use in your quest to halt the global unregulated pet meat trades. If you cannot see nothing other than two dogs on a filthy dirty market traders stall then its time I opened your eyes a little more.

My name is Dr Jose C. Depre Director one for Say No To Dog Meat and the Chief Environmental Officer and Executive for International Animal Rescue Foundation and the Environmental Protection and Animal Welfare Agency.

Okay, so, many people believe that dogs and cats should not be eaten in Africa or Asia simply because they are pets. While I and my founders agree with this statement [to a degree] we cannot just leave it at that. When we read, hear or witness the act of [unregulated food trades] it seriously does send shivers down our spine…. The THREAT of DISEASE is why we should not be consuming any form of pet meat or any meat that derives from an unregulated trading source.

The pet meat trade is no different to the bush meat trade that our environmental company is actively targeting in western Africa. Both trades are again unregulated and both trades have shown to harbor infectious diseases, contagious pathogens, and added pharmaceutical synthetic medications which has led to many deaths worldwide, poisonings and illness. So when we hear or read that one should not eat pets because they are simply friends it does concern us especially when we read such information published from allegedly reputable charities. These charities should be looking more further afield than merely seeing dogs and cats or bush meat animals as just pets and wildlife.

AFRICAN AND ASIAN FOOD: RUSSIAN ROULETTE

Trading and Slaughtering of Pets and Infectious Diseases

FACT: Seventy-five per cent of emerging diseases move to humans from wildlife or stray dogs and cats, either directly or via our livestock. The bushmeat and pet meat trade could provide a hidden conduit for disease transmission which has been concerning environmental teams and scientists for some years.

FACT: The legal trade in exotic pets and live dogs and cats is already known to pose a similar risk. In 2003, an outbreak of monkeypox infected dozens of people across several US states. It was traced to an animal dealer near Chicago, where an imported Gambian giant rat gave the virus to prairie dogs that were later sold as family pets.

Live dogs and cats that are abducted from the streets of Asia and Africa could/do potentially harbor human killing virus’s. The SARS coronavirus, sometimes shortened to SARS-CoV, is the virus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In April 16th of 2003, following the outbreak of SARS in Asia and secondary cases elsewhere in the world, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a press release stating that the coronavirus identified by a number of laboratories was the official cause of SARS. Samples of the virus are being held in laboratories in New York, San Francisco, Manila, Hong Kong, and Toronto.

Below I have included reams of information that Say No To Dog Meat and International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa are currently utilizing at our disposal to end the barbaric and highly infectious pet meat trade. I please ask all Non-Profits to contact myself and team here at contact@saynotodogmeat.info to help us in our quest to now close down illegal and legal traders of pet meat.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Evidence is still somewhat sketchy regarding the transmission of SARS from dogs and cats to humans, however research has pinpointed the virus to have emerged from the markets that dogs, cats and other live stock are sold within.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of 8,098 people worldwide became sick with SARS during the 2003 outbreak. Of these, 774 died. In the United States, only eight people had laboratory evidence of SARS-CoV infection. All of these people had traveled to other parts of the world with SARS. SARS did not spread more widely in the community in the United States.

The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact. The virus that causes SARS is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets (droplet spread) produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplet spread can happen when droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled a short distance (generally up to 3 feet) through the air and deposited on the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, or eyes of persons who are nearby. The virus also can spread when a person touches a surface or object contaminated with infectious droplets and then touches his or her mouth, nose, or eye(s). In addition, it is possible that the SARS virus might spread more broadly through the air (airborne spread) or by other ways that are “not now known”. [This area of research is still open].

The CDC and a Canadian laboratory identified the SARS genome in April, 2003. Scientists at Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands demonstrated that the SARS coronavirus fulfilled Koch’s postulates thereby confirming it as the causative agent. In the experiments, macaques infected with the virus developed the same symptoms as human SARS victims.

In late May 2003, studies from samples of wild animals sold as food in the local market in Guangdong, China, found the SARS coronavirus could be isolated from masked palm civets (Paguma sp.), but the animals did not always show clinical signs. The preliminary conclusion was the SARS virus crossed the xenographic barrier from palm civet to humans, and more than 10,000 masked palm civets were killed in Guangdong Province.

Virus was also later found in raccoon dogs (Nyctereuteus sp.), ferret badgers (Melogale spp.), and domestic cats. In 2005, two studies identified a number of SARS-like coronaviruses in Chinese bats. Phylogenetic analysis of these viruses indicated a high probability that SARS coronavirus originated in bats and spread to humans either directly or through animals held in Chinese markets.

The bats did not show any visible signs of disease, but are the likely natural reservoirs of SARS-like coronaviruses. In late 2006, scientists from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of Hong Kong University and the Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention established a genetic link between the SARS coronavirus appearing in civets and humans, bearing out claims that the disease had jumped across species.

SARS never did originate from canines however more from felines and other wild market animals. There is no evidence to date that proves SARS ever did infect people via the consumption of infected dogs however evidence is clear to day that SARS sufferers that consumed infected cat meat did later on become SARS positive. It must also be noted that investigations pinpointed a wide range of animals both domestic and wild that can host and pass the deadly SARS virus on.

Rabies

Eating dog meat is common in many Asian, western and northern African countries, but research conducted as part of the South East Asian Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Network has discovered a potentially lethal risk associated with preparing dog meat: rabies.

Rabies is a very serious – and in nearly all cases fatal – disease. It is estimated to kill over 30,000 people each year in Asia, and the number of cases in China and Viet Nam is increasing. Symptoms include agitation, severe spasms, fever, fear of water and inability to drink liquids, and eventually death. Humans are usually infected after being bitten by an infected animal such as a dog or bat.

Researchers investigated whether the patients had come into contact with infected animals in the preceding months, they found that both had been involved in preparing and eating animals which may have been infected. In the first patient’s case, he had prepared and eaten a dog that had been killed in a road traffic accident; rabid dogs were known to inhabit the neighbourhood. The second patient had butchered and eaten a cat that had been sick for a number of days.

In both cases seen by Dr Wertheim and colleagues, it is thought that infection occurred during the slaughtering, and not by eating the meat as the meal was shared by others who did not become infected. In Asia, it is believed that eating dog meat enhances health and longevity. It is eaten throughout the year in the second half of the lunar month, particularly in the winter months, when it is believed to increase body heat. In Viet Nam, dogs with rabies have been detected in dog slaughterhouses and workers at dog slaughterhouses are vaccinated against rabies as part of the national programme for rabies control and prevention. However, the private slaughter of dogs is relatively common in the country.

Moving over to Africa there slaughterhouses are very uncommon however still do exist. In Liberia and Nigeria for instance dogs and cats are either take from the streets dead or alive then transported for hundreds of miles within dirty unhygienic meat trucks. Dead dogs and cats are thrown into heaps ready to be butchered without a care in the world as to weather these dogs and cats have the deadly rabies virus. Meanwhile live dogs and cats that survive the long haul road trips from Niger or Southern Africa into Liberia and/or Nigeria are thrown into cages where their fate comes quickly. No thought nor care goes into weather these dogs and cats may harbor rabies virus.

Rabies occurrence in man and domestic animals is well known but the importance of wild animals in its spread has not been determined. To date, no effective medical therapy has been established for overt rabies. Preventive vaccination against rabies virus is a highly effective method for preventing rabies in humans and animals. The rabies Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), which is a serial vaccination against rabies starting as soon as possible after the patient was bitten by a suspected rabid animal, is the only way to prevent death. In Nigeria where dog bites continue to be the main mode of transmission of the disease to man, it remains a serious public health hazard. People that visit meat traders or actively kill dogs and cats are more at risk of contracting the deadly rabies virus that is estimated to kill over 35,000 alone in Africa and Asia every year.

Dr Chika Nnwosu has said that about 55,000 persons die of rabies disease every year in the world with 55 deaths recorded per hour. Of these deaths According to him, 30,000 of such death was from Asia, and 10,000 recorded in Nigeria alone, while the remaining 15,000 occur in other parts of the African continent. Say No To Dog Meat and International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa have shown that the majority of these deaths recorded are within “pet meat consumption zones” and “known stray dog and cats zones”. Records have also shown that about three million people mostly from Africa, Asia and other developing countries of the world are living in rabies endemic areas which is concerning.

Food-borne Viruses: Pet meat trade

KNOW THE FACTS – USE THE EVIDENCE – END THE TRADE

The information below is extracted from medical sources and my own medical education of which proves the following viruses can infect people via the consumption of pet meat. There is no reliable evidence to publish [as yet] into the public domain showing the number of people that have fallen ill or sadly died from consuming pet meat infected with food borne viruses.

Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is the disease caused by one of the many serotypes of the bacterium, Salmonella enterica. It is one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne illness worldwide, second only to campylobacteriosis. All species, including humans, may be infected by Salmonella bacteria, which live in the intestine and may be shed in faeces. However, Salmonella can survive and multiply very well outside the intestinal tract, which makes eradication impossible. Moreover, fecal contamination of carcasses, milk and eggs cannot be completely prevented. Humans that are carriers may inadvertently spread infection if they handle food without washing their hands after using the toilet. Direct contact with infected animals, including pets, can also be a source of infection. Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor Salmonella and hands should always be washed after handling pets e.g. reptiles. Live dogs or cats that are infected with Salmonellosis can easily infect those killing the dogs and cats and those consuming. Furthermore the unhygienic practice of preparing pet meat and selling within an environment that is not temperature controlled will only see the bacteria multiply by the millions placing human life in danger.

Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter jejuni was identified in the early 1980’s as an important enteric pathogen in humans. Prior to this, the organism was thought to be a minor animal pathogen, causing abortion and enteritis in cattle and sheep. Other Campylobacter species are occasionally involved in human disease, including Campylobacter coli. The organism is widespread in the intestines of most warm blooded animals, including cattle, sheep and poultry, and survives particularly well in birds. It rarely causes disease in livestock, although a significant number may be asymptomatic carriers.

Transmission of Campylobacter to humans can occur via contaminated raw or undercooked poultry and meat, unpasteurised milk and untreated water. The organism is particularly common on poultry carcasses, and poultry meat is thought to be an important vehicle for infection. Contact with infected pets can also be a source of infection. While there is little evidence that shows Campylobacter being present in dog or cat meat the dangers are still there and are documented. For instance if dogs and cats are slaughtered within an area where pigs and chickens are slaughtered that are host to the virus its quite easy for both dog and cat meat to become “cross contaminated” with other meats thus leading to secondary food infection and lastly – chronic food poisoning.

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by the various species of the bacterium Brucella. The organism affects cattle, sheep, goats, deer, elk, pigs, dogs and many other species, including humans. Brucella organisms persist within the host’s own cells, where they are protected from the animal’s immune response and can give rise to chronic, recurrent infections.

Humans may be infected through eating contaminated food or drink or through close contact with an infected animal when the organism may be inhaled or acquired via skin wounds. Most cases occur following consumption of contaminated raw milk or dairy products.

Areas of Europe that are currently listed as high risk for brucellosis include the ‘Mediterranean Basin’ (Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa) and Eastern Europe. It also occurs in South and Central America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Consumption of ‘village cheeses’ in these areas may pose a risk. Consumption of infected dog meat is known to also pose a significant risk to human health. While trade goes un-monitored we’ll never know the full health scares that surround all viruses listed hereto.

Pathogenic E. coli

Escherichia coli is a common bacterium that is found as part of the normal flora in the intestines of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. There are many strains of E. coli, and most do not cause disease. However, some strains can result in serious illness in both humans and animals. The presence of high numbers of E. coli in raw food or water may be a sign of faecal contamination by humans or animals, but does not cause illness in most cases. E. coli multiplies readily wherever the temperature, humidity and nutrients are favourable. As explained above there is very little “regulated documented evidence” carried out on meats such as dog and cat meat.

Its quite possible that deaths have occurred all over Africa and Asia from the consumption of Pathogenic E. coli pet meat. Say No To Dog Meat and International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa will begin taking samples of meats from the pet meaty traders in Africa and Asia sending them onto clinics for clinical studies to further evaluate weather such viruses can indeed be a “danger” to humans from [unregulated, unhygienic and open air traders]… By undertaking such scientific analysis it helps to not only put people off from consuming such potentially infectious foods but also helps in proving to the governments that no trade that is open, unregulated and unhygienic should be open to the public and thus closed down immediately to preserve human life and prevent any form of mutation of viruses. E. coli can be located in dogs and cats as they are both warm blooded animals. “Whats wrong with this photograph taken from a Viet Nam pet meat market stall” the heading of this article states. Well here is one prime example. While one cannot see E. coli E. coli could very well be present on this pet meat above that is neither in a controlled environment nor refrigerated to reduce bacteria from multiplying.

Every year without fail we see many tourists visiting Asia to try out the “local delicacies”. Yet these are not really local delicacies nor hygienic ones. In the modern western world such practices that see meats sold in this manner [pictured below] would see the traders closed down immediately and/or charged with violation of food safety laws. We’ll never know the true extent of how many people have fallen ill or even died from eating contaminated meats.

The picture above illustrates are concerns with regards to food pathogens and humans that place themselves are risk from consuming meats that are not stored in a controlled environment, temperature controlled environment that should be standing at [-0-5oc], vermin and pest controlled or within an unhygienic establishment. The average temperature within say Viet Nam here ranges from 25-29oc. Keeping cooked or even raw meats on display such as this is a recipe for disaster and a food virus perfect environment. How many people have fallen ill from such food borne viruses again we will never know. So for this reason the pet meat trade must be banned.

Trichinellosis

Trichinellosis, or trichinosis, is a parasitic disease of mammals caused by a nematode worm (roundworm) of the Trichinella genus, mainly Trichinella spiralis. The worm gains entry to the body when larval cysts are eaten in infected muscle meat. Gastric juices break down the tough cysts and release infective larvae, which then invade the small intestinal lining and mature to adults. Adult female worms subsequently release larvae that penetrate the intestinal wall and are distributed throughout the body via blood and lymphatic vessels. Only in skeletal muscles, they form cysts, which can remain viable for several years. The life cycle is perpetuated when the infected muscle is eaten by another host.

Although all mammals are probably susceptible, infection is usually confined to carnivorous species, mainly pigs, dogs, cats, carnivorous game, rodents and humans. Horses may occasionally be infected after eating fodder contaminated by decaying rodents. Most infections in domestic and wild animals go undiagnosed, but heavy infestations can give similar signs to those seen in humans.

Human infections are traditionally associated with eating raw or undercooked pork (such as ham or sausage) or wild carnivorous game (including wild boar, bear and seal), concerning we have seen and reported on many Asian citizens that have consumed under-cooked dog meat that have then come down with the Trichinella infection. However, recent outbreaks in Europe have been linked to eating undercooked horse meat. Current EU regulations dictate that all pig, horse and wild boar meat intended for Community trade must be inspected for the presence of Trichinella according to EU standards. There is no evidence to suggest that Trichinella is currently present in UK pigs or horses, and a recent survey found no evidence of infection in the UK fox population. However in Asia and Africa its quite possible there are hundreds if not thousands of cases of Trichinella infection every year – again we’ll never know the full extent as trade is not regulated. We are working though to prove to the governments in Africa and Asia that by allowing such a high risk meat trade to exists one is only placing human life in danger furthermore.

Trichinella is most commonly found in pork however can be located in all mammals including dogs and cats. If the dog or cat you have eaten is not cooked adequately and is infected with the virus you could end up like this rather sorry state of a hunter and his fiends that fell down with the virus. We have decided to show the video – not in support of hunting but to make aware how serious this virus is. Feeling squeamish, look no further.

 Taeniasis

Taeniasis is a parasitic disease of humans caused by the tapeworms Taenia saginata (from cattle) or Taenia solium (from pigs). The adult tapeworms are found only in humans, where they attach to the wall of the small intestine and can grow to several metres in length. Egg-containing segments, which are independently motile, are shed by the tapeworm and passed in faeces or migrate through the anus. Infection is usually asymptomatic, but may be associated with diarrhoea, flatulence, abdominal discomfort and weight loss.

Cysticercus cellulosae was found in the brain of three (2.5%) out of 120 rural dogs investigated. The cysts were located in the ventricle, cerebral cortex and subarachnoid spaces. Two (1.7%) of the 120 dogs had dumb rabies and this was confirmed by biological tests. One of these dogs had both cysticerci and Negri bodies in the brain. Apart from locomotor imbalance no other typical clinical signs of rabies were observed. Dumb rabies and cysticerci in dogs being sold to people in rural communities pose potential public health hazards. In areas where dog flesh is used as a source of food, human cysticercosis may occur, and the danger of human rabies must not be overlooked.

Out of a total of 150 carcases of rural dogs examined in Eastern Nigeria, 4 (2.7%) had Cysticercus cellulosae in the heart, tongue, thigh muscles and liver. Visual examination, palpation and multiple serial incision technique were used in locating the cysts. The cysts uncovered were collected in specimen bottles and transported in ice to the laboratory for morphologic assessment. The ages and sexes of the dogs were also recorded. Viable cysts were found only in young dogs. Environmental pollution with human excreta predisposes dogs to cysticercal infection. Thus environmental sanitation and health education should be an ongoing exercise for successful control of cysticercosis in dogs.

Environmental sanitation and public education are necessary in order to reduce the incidence of cysticercosis in rural dogs. Unfortunately in Ghana and some Asian countries such as Nagaland and China dog brains and flesh is consumed on a daily basis. We are still unsure as to how many deaths and infections have occurred from the consumption of Taeniasis infected meat. It could be hundreds or thousands. Again with no regulation people are placed in serious danger of death and ill-health of which the trade in pet dogs, cats even bush meat animals and wild game must be banned.

The video below depicts a serious case of hook worms. Cats that are infected with these parasitic worms in the pet meat trade place not only the trader at risk from infection but the general public that come into contact with “live” felines.

Canine Influenza (H3N8)

As yet there is no evidence that indicates Canine Influenza (H3N8) can be passed onto humans from dogs. There is quite a substantial amount of misinformation on the internet that has stated this disease can be passed on. This is not factual. However, just because [as yet] there are no known cases doesn’t mean that the virus can mutate and jump from infected canines onto humans thus causing a new influenza outbreak. The CDC stated – People cannot get infected by this virus. Influenza viruses are specific for their host species and require a dramatic mutation in order to jump species. You should not be concerned about getting an influenza infection from a dog, horse, or any other species other than a fellow human being. – Merck Animal Health has information on the canine influenza vaccine, H3N8. Dramatic mutations though can happen and have occurred in past history. Its only a matter of time before such virus do begin to turn ugly and mutate thus jumping host. Canine H3N8 may not be as yet a real cause for concern. Months, years even decades down the line this soon could change. Virus are becoming more intelligent. Governmental leaders must begin looking at “nipping potential problems” in the bud before any such “dramatic mutation” emerges.

I’ve included above a handful of known viruses, food pathogens and infectious diseases for your immediate information that are known to infect dogs and cats both live and dead that can/do infect humans too. We hope you can put this information above to some use as we are, lobbying governments around the world in pet meat consumption zones to now ban such trades before more people die or more deadlier diseases emerge placing human security in danger of death.

Recorded Deaths and Incidents from Pet Meat Consumption

Accidental deaths and virus/disease related

2014 – September – Nigeria.

Case – Accidental/Deliberate 

FIVE persons, a man and two of his children and two others were confirmed dead on Friday in the village of Uchenyim , Wanikade, North Ukelle in northern Cross River State after eating the meat of a dog.
Reports from the area said the dog was fond of eating the eggs laid by native chicken in the Odareko-Uchenyim village and one of the villagers allegedly laced the eggs laid by his chicken with gamalin 20 insecticide and as expected, “the dog ate the eggs and fell ill and when it was about to die the owner quickly killed and prepared it into a delicacy which he, his family consumed and some neighbors consumed”

2007 – October – Namibia.

Case – Diseased dog meat

Sixty-eight people in Namibia found out the hard way that eating a dog that has died of disease is not a good idea. The people from two Namibian villages ended up in hospital after “eating a dog that had died of disease”.
Said mutt from Oikokola in the Omusati region was killed by its owner last Saturday after falling ill, and he duly ordered the carcass to be incinerated. However, the iron stomached people of Oikokola insisted there was nothing wrong with eating a diseased dog.

Throwing all caution to the wind they decided to invite the neighbouring village over to share the feast. After chowing down the health of 68 of them rapidly deteriorated forcing them to get medical treatment. The more serious cases required hospitalisation.

Happily, local councillor Bernadinus Shekutamba Shikongo said “many of the people have since recovered”, while the director of health of the Oshana Region, Dr Naftali Hamata, duly warned against “eating dog meat and the carcass of any sick animal”. Dog meat is considered a delicacy in Northern Namibia, and people continue to enjoy its delights, despite animal rights campaigners’ objections.

2008 – January – Madhya Pradesh – India.

Case – Contamination from dog with rabies left over 80 ill after consuming goat meat. Accidental

After the New Year, the villagers in Multai decided to eat a goat though it was bitten by a dog. Almost 80 persons became sick and many even showed signs of rabies. The story is quite intesting. One, Kundlik Rao owned the goat. But a mad dog bit this goat and a buffalo the same day. Three days after the buffalo died and later the condition of the goat also worsened.

But Rao sold the goat to some persons of the same village who slaughtered it for a grand bash. They ate the mutton curry. No less than 80 persons consumed the mutton. From January 3 onwards they started falling sick one after the other. From vomiting to fits, the victims’ condition began to deteriorate. But in remote village in Multai (Betul) in Madhya Pradesh, there was no doctor anywhere near their village. The closest town was also far away.
The 30 persons whose condition had worsened were taken to a place near the village where a witch-craft practitioner gave them ‘medicine’, which was nothing but bhabhut (holy ash). Villagers developed signs of rabies. Now when the condition of most these persons became critical, the district administration realised the gravity of situation. Their blood samples were sent for test though doctors admit that such delay can cost them dear and some of them may lose their life.

Case – Unsolved.

October – 2013 – China. 

Case – Woman dies from eating infected cat meat 

Last year a 32-year-old woman named Yang made headlines when she died in Wah Hospital, Guangzhou from eating cats. Her body was dark purple. Wah Hospital neurologist Dr. Kang told reporters that this is pneumonic plague and the death rate is very high. Yang’s family members said they had been eating cats with no plague symptoms, but Professor of Infectious Diseases, Chen Jumei confirmed that Yersinia Pestis (plague) can lie dormant in the cat’s body.

August – 2012 – India 

Case – A potentially life threatening case of food poisoning from dog meat was uncovered. 

Five people held with carcasses, comatose dogs;

When local residents near the Jakkur airfield stopped a man who had an unconscious dog slung over his shoulders on Saturday morning, they were hardly prepared for what was to follow. The moment he was questioned, the man dropped the animal and sprinted into a hut at the far end of an open field. When the residents who gave chase caught up with him, they were shocked to discover nine more dogs in a semi-conscious state tied to trees around the hut.
Inside the hut were three men and a woman. Asked what was going on, they explained in faltering Kannada that they were from Hindupur in Andhra Pradesh. Claiming to be pig farmers, they said they were taking the strays to guard the pigs.

STOMACH-CHURNING SIGHT

Even as they were spinning this yarn, one of the residents discovered a pile of malodorous gunny bags in a nearby storm-water drain. He opened the bags and found putrefying carcasses of 10 dogs inside.
Convinced that this was part of some sinister plot, the residents called the Amruthahalli police. The police too were not sure how to handle the case and called in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s Animal Husbandry Department.

BLOOD, TISSUE SAMPLES

The department’s Joint Director Parvez Ahmed Piran reached the spot and took samples of blood and tissue from the dead dogs as well as from those tied to the trees. The Amruthahalli police said based on Dr. Piran’s advice, they registered a case against the five under various sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Dr. Piran told The Hindu, “There is a strong suspicion that these dogs were being killed for their meat.” There are several dhabas on Bellary Road and the gang might have been supplying the meat to some of these eateries, he added.

THE DANGER

While dog meat is not harmful by itself and indeed is a delicacy in some cultures, Dr. Piran said: “These dogs appear to have been drugged. Tests will reveal what drugs were used. If people ate this meat, they could fall seriously ill.” He said the dead dogs must have been injected with an overdose. The other possibility, Dr. Piran said, was that the dog carcasses were being used as compost by nearby vineyard owners. “Dead dogs are said to be very good fertilizer for grapevines,” he pointed out.

The arrested persons have been identified as Narayanamma, Lakshmana, Madappa, Redappa and Anji.

PREVIOUS INSTANCE

In January 2005, MLCs cutting across party lines expressed concern after a discovery that several eateries in the city were passing off dog meat as mutton. The discussion was held during Zero Hour by the then Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council D.H. Shankaramurthy. The issue had come to light after the arrest of one Anand from Andhra Pradesh, who was found stealing dogs from the city’s neighborhoods and selling them to eateries.

August – 2014 – China. 

Case – Dog hunters with contaminated meat caught is just the tip of a very large iceberg

Chinese police have dismantled a gang that hunted down dogs with poisoned darts before selling their contaminated carcasses to restaurants. Seventeen men pleaded guilty to trading in “toxic dog meat” at a court in the eastern province of Zhejiang, state media reported on Wednesday. Seven of those men were allegedly members of an urban hunting team that prowled the streets of cities in east China in search of dog meat that eventually found its way onto restaurant tables. The group was responsible for slaughtering at least 95 dogs in Ningbo, a major port city, between 2012 and August last year, the court heard. The hunters confessed to using cyanide and tranquilizer darts they had purchased online to subdue or kill their prey. It is unclear if anyone had fallen ill after consuming such meat. Chinese state owned media are very reluctant to press on this issue in fear of losing finance of which the Chinese government have been noted as being involved in the pet meat industry.

September – 2005 – Philippines 

Case – Nine people taken ill after eating rabid dog. 

Nine people who ate a neighbor’s dog are being monitored in a hospital isolation ward in the southern Philippines after the canine’s owner died of rabies, a local official said. Farmer Teresita Estanol, 48, died Friday, said Mayor Efren Pinol of the town of Magpet. The dog bit Estanol in mid-August, and days later her angry neighbors, apparently unaware that it had rabies, killed the animal and ate it, the mayor said. Dog meat is a delicacy in some parts of the Philippines.

Conclusion:

Un-regulated pet meat trade poses more of a danger to human and animal life than the regulated trade of say cattle. When humans embark on such trades they do so at their own risk and its these risks that must now be addressed with trades banned rather than regulated. Rabies will continue to be the worlds largest killing virus within the developing worlds such as Asia and Africa. The viruses listed above seem to have gone rather unnoticed by many conservation and animal welfare organisations. While I myself accept that rabies is a rather concerning virus that must be controlled within Africa and Asia so too must food hygiene and public health security.

We live within a world that see’s humans populating faster and faster by the day, space is running out, and while humans continue to over-populate, land decreasing in size it opens the doors up for an array of unhealthy and deadly virus to form. Its only a matter of time now before we see a super virus emerging from such unregulated trades. When that happens we are most certainly going to see a very large loss of human life.

Say No To Dog Meat.Net and International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa are targeting key areas of Asia and Africa where we know trades can be controlled and human life secured.

For further information on our projects please contact

contact@saynotodogmeat.info or info@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

www.saynotodogmeat.net – www.saynotodogmeatevents.info – www.speakupforthevoiceless.org

Environmental and Animal Welfare: Contact our communications site here at:

www.international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

Please donate today – Your donation goes exclusively to the building, modernization and re-equipping of our Viet Nam Pet and Wildlife Rescue – Please click below to make a donation:

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SAY NO TO DOG MEAT.NET ARE HOSTING THEIR INTERNATIONAL DEMONSTRATION THIS APRIL 2015 AT 10:00AM FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THEM HERE 

CONTACT@SAYNOTODOGMEAT.INFO

Thank you for reading 

Dr Jose C. Depre 

Chief Environmental Officer – Find me on Facebook here 

Michele Brown – Animal Welfare and Rehabilitation – Director 

Director of Say No To Dog Meat – Donna Armes

Board of Directors

International Animal Rescue Foundation W12 London, Holloway Head Office.

Say No To Dog Meat 4214 Arundul, Australia 

External Affairs – United States of America, Ohio. 

Filed under: You must be the change you want to see in the world Tagged: International Animal Rescue Foundation, International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa, rabies virus, SARS coronavirus, SARS virus, wild animals

As the elephant took a mouthful of food the hunter pulled the trigger exploding a bullet into the back of elephants head leaving this magnificent beast writhing on the ground in a pool of its own blood. What a cowardly bastard.

Why are we still hunting elephants for? This is a question I constantly ask oneself, why? What encourages a hunter to hunt Elephants for? Power, adrenalin, or the fear than an elephant could kill the hunter?.. Much research I undertook about hunters back in the 1990’s revealed that many hunters feel the need to hunt (dangerous game) due to the thrill and rapid adrenalin rush, the cardiac muscle beats faster and harder, surges of hormones are released and the “type” of sexual gratification which has been said to be addictive continues to push hunters to kill more and more.

Back in 1994 I researched a group of American game hunters from Dallas Safari Club. I found in my research that vast surges of adrenalin was mainly responsible for hunters hunting larger and more dangerous game [this of course is not uncommon to most people]. The “adrenalin rush” is in a sense though addictive especially when in the heat of the moment or leading up to a “fight or flight scenario”. In medical terminology we better describe this type of behavior as Impulse Control Disorder (ICD) which is a class of psychiatric disorders characterized by impulsivity – failure to resist a temptation, urge or impulse that may harm oneself, others or in this case the “impulse to kill more dangerous and bigger” game.

These “type” of psychiatric disorders concern oneself more than say those whom have been abused. Furthermore are these type of psychiatric disorders the reason why so many more game hunters are entering Africa to kill. Lastly while the hunter is lavishing within the trills of killing does such killing displayed in videos such as YouTube encourage other people not within the hunting theater to become active in the killing fields? The answer to them two questions is yes, to what extent though I and Professor A. Ball are still investigating in great depth. I’ve included a YouTube video for you to better understand what I am explaining.

As one can clearly see within the video the hunt is very action packed, emotionally charged and driven, one can just feel the edge and thrill. This leads me to my next issue and question which is – why are online video sites such as YouTube allowing such imagery to be broadcast? Research has already proven as of 2010 that large and medium sized game from lions to elephants, antelope and giraffe for instance are not as densely populated within Africa as they were over two decades ago. Hunting activities have been noted to have dropped quite significantly.. Not because activism is stopping hunters or even restrictions but literally because there have been major reductions in wildlife populations over the course of the past twenty years..

Keeping to the main subject many psychiatric disorders feature impulsivity, including substance-related disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, conduct disorder, schizophrenia and mood disorders. Please note that I nor my colleague are labeling any hunter or huntress with any form of mental illness, disorder or disease[s]. We are merely both stating that many hunters we have interviewed such behavioral characteristics have been noted. Hunters are not the only people that can suffer from adrenalin addiction or Impulse Control Disorder, everyone can at some stage in their life suffer from such neurological disturbances, disorders or addictions.

We can all relate to such hormonal and chemical discharges within the brain and body when we were children for example, many youths would feel such rushes of adrenalin within their childhood: Examples of this can be stealing money, their first kiss, sexual activity or as explained participating in an activity that is either immorally wrong or incredibly dangerous.

2004 I researched weather adrenalin was either “psychologically addictive or physically addictive” within youths and weather such addictiveness then spurned youths through their adulthood to then move onto more dangerous activities such as murder, rape, burglaries or in this case large game hunting. Our research thus far has proved such cases of early adrenalin addictiveness and Impulse Control Disorder does in deed in many cases if not monitored or treated later leads to more dangerous activities carried out simply for the sheer “rush or natural high”.

Research carried out by previous consultants and scientists had already proved adrenalin was in a way (psychologically addictive), however never did the research focus on weather such addictiveness spurned individuals in the trophy hunting industry say, to then move onto more dangerous game or even murder. Within this brief article the attention focuses on what drives a trophy hunter to kill more larger and dangerous game, the thrills they obtain and the after-effects of such behavior. The article is not focusing on mass murder, abuse, or anything other than what has been explained.

Myself Dr Jose Depre and Professor Adriana Ball consultant Forensic Psychiatrist have now completed our findings on [What spurs a hunter to kill].. This research document (to be released soon in the Online Scientific Studies of Neurological Disorders in Sweden) 1/6 was aimed at showing other examples as to why trophy hunters hunt. Article [4] details children that were abused that then become the abuser will hopefully be released this June. Please note this is not the title of the 4th article and should one wish to purchase that article in paper back you will need to contact myself nearer the time when I release this book in leading high-street stores..

So is it correct to say that adrenalin is an addictive chemical release that can lead an individual say a trophy hunter, in this case to turn into a dangerous game hunter? Furthermore like opiates or illicit narcotics when one becomes use to the highs of such neurological and/or synthetic pleasures will the individual turn to more dangerous and destructive activities, is adrenalin in its self additive too? Indeed it is of which can be quite difficult for a sufferer to overcome, furthermore failing to treat the sufferer that is clearly on a mission to kill more and more then its quite right to say that adrenalin can lead to more destructive activities being played out. Would this be then the main reason as to why hunters that start of killing small game then go on to killing larger and more dangerous game, in this instance elephants?

The answer to that question is yes. Its quite wrong though to state that “trophy” hunters whom kill animals kill because they were abused as children, or have small penises, lack femininity and masculinity, or need to prove oneself. While there is evidence relating to such human past and present behavior regarding abuse and lack of say (masculinity) there is by far more evidence within the scientific world that indicates and proves hunters can suffer from Impulse Control Disorder or are addicted to adrenaline and noradrenline which are two separate but related hormones and neurotransmitters.

I myself would be more concerned about an “unstable” hunter that is suffering from (ICD) and/or addiction to adrenaline and noradrenline than say, an unstable hunter that needs to prove oneself, or has been abused as a child. Child abuse indeed “may” lead to more sinister and violent activities carried out by the abused however counselling and cognitive therapy can in many cases solve these problems if caught in the early stages before onset of serious mental illness. Proving oneself or weather the individual feels they lack masculinity or femininity is easily treated again with therapy, of which is more a low key behavioral and complex problem treated by a Psychologist rather than a Psychiatrist. Medication is rarely required too.

While the elephant is indeed the prime catch for many experienced hunters and huntresses, the main reasons trophy hunters, say, will hunt is literally for this sheer addictive pleasure of knowing they’re pushing dangerous limits.. In a way one could say that hunting dangerous game is more identical to ones first time stealing from a sweet shop, or being dared by a mate to do something that is either dangerous or very wrong.. Like small game hunting the thrill and adrenalin is there and identical to that of stealing, both hunter and common thief feel the urge after their first mission to push for bigger and better trophies, the need to fulfill ones inner desires is a crave that in itself is very addictive.

Over the past fifteen years I have interviewed many hunters and poachers around the globe of which in my findings I have found that most hunters and illegal poachers that start of with say, small game suffer from as explained Impulse control disorder and adrenaline addictiveness behavioral problems. What I myself did note is that these “obsessive behaviors” seem more related to (trophy hunters) rather than (hunters for food). Trophy hunters are themselves hunting for the sheer thrill while (hunters for food) take only what they require. Furthermore there was quite a lack of “obsessive characteristics” in poachers – which is mainly because they themselves are either being given the order to kill say a Rhino or elephant.

This infant elephant was hunted for what reasons we’ll never fully understand. The elephant posed no threat, it wasn’t a problem animal, in pain nor suffering. There is no real trophy to take home, no tusks, Why?

Elephants are to myself a magnificent gentle giant that has roamed the plains of Africa for hundreds of years. Identified by Dr Blumenbach in 1797 the species listed below killed by Mr Jofie Lamprecht being the African Elephant scientifically identified as Loxodonta africana has been hunted now for hundreds of years. This particular hunter caught my eye, not because of the fact he slaughtered this colossally sized African elephant but more the speech he made after the killing aka [trophy] hunt.. That speech can be read below which is typical and classical behavior of an individual suffering from Impulse Control Disorder and adrenaline addictiveness behavioral problems.

The speech reads:

I honor you my friend. I will follow your round and oval until the end of my time. May your presence in the wilds of Africa continue so that generations from now my prodigy may view your glorious splendor and hunt you like I have had the privilege of doing. Thank you for walking the trails of Africa. Thank you that I can hunt you. Your protein now fills the bellies of many in the surrounding villages. The money you generated will in good faith preserve these wild lands there you walk for your prodigy to be safe and grow old.

Farewell my friend. I will join you when it is my time.

The speech is classical to that of the war with Veii and the Etruscans, under Servius Tullius of which the Rome’s sixth King Servius Tullius went to war with Veii (after the expiry of an earlier truce) and with the Etruscans. King Servius Tullius like many Roman warlords had to prove themselves -fight to the death, after fighting such a glorious and splendid battle did they then lay down their arms and celebrate with a triumph speech. Mr Jofie Lamprecht is in reality no different to King Servius Tullius – however King Servius Tullius was more gentleman like.

Many people have problems that occur repetitively, disrupt their lives and seem completely out of control. Sometimes we’re asked if these problems are examples of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). And indeed, there are some similarities to OCD. Nevertheless, these problems are not considered to be in the same category. So what are we talking about here? Specifically, we’re referring to the category of emotional disorders known as Impulse Control Disorders. The similarity to OCD is seen in the fact that impulse control disorders, like OCD, are repetitive and very difficult for the person to bring under control. Furthermore, like OCD, they greatly disrupt and impair the sufferers’ lives. However, Impulse Control Disorders also differ from OCD in important ways. Impulse Control Disorders, unlike OCD, often do not cause a great deal of distress to the person who has them—that is, unless or until legal authorities are called in. Furthermore, distress, anxiety and upset do not play a very large role in most Impulse Control Disorders. In fact, many of those with Impulse Control Disorders actually report feeling pleasure from their behaviors even though their lives are impaired by them.

When I myself and Professor Ball interviewed all hunters not one hunter showed any signs of distress, anxiety and upset, the last of the hunters whom we interviewed this past month hadn’t hunted elephants or dangerous game such as elephants or lions, rhinos or wildebeest.

No empathy or guilt was shown when they were shown images and videos of other hunters killing. However what was shown on the sudorometer and electrocardiograph was increased heart rate and perspiration which indicated to ourselves that the interviewees were feeling excited. When shown video imagery from YouTube levels of sweat and heart rate increased by 2.5% When asked if “If you had the chance to hunt an elephant now would you do it?” 19/27 hunters said yes. So in reality when we question ourselves why are we still killing elephants, or any dangerous game its quite right to say programs on television and YouTube really are not doing our wildlife any form of good. For example if your shown a video of a chocolate bar advertisement from which you’ve never indulged in that sweet the chances are “that advertisement” will encourage you to purchase that sweet.

The full results of the above examination and all test experiments will be released later this year.

Looking at our past we can also see that elephants were not just hunted for the sheer fun of it..The main reason that elephants were hunted was for their ivory. This is worth a ton of money and so huge numbers of elephants were slaughtered in order to be able to cash in on such a business. With each tusk weighing up to 200 pounds, this was amazing. Early attempts to remove the ivory tusks and to leave the elephants alive didn’t work. The elephants were simply too aggressive for this type of process and it was too dangerous for humans to take part in.

Elephants are taking quite a hit all over Africa and its quite evident from past research and present researching “why” elephants were and still are legally hunted. One cannot just point the blame at natural neurological issues though as I myself have explained, above I’ve clearly detailed why [we still are hunting] from past to present but more from a different perspective of things.

Moving back to just how big a problem adrenalin addictiveness and Impulse Control Disorder’s can be – curing such disorders that are quite natural is more easier said than done. At the end of the day its down the individual hunter and huntresses to come forward should they feel they have an “obsession” or (ICD). One cannot force a hunter to visit a therapist however what we can do is make aware the problems that some hunters if not all believe is quite actually typically normal behavior. One very good article that I do suggest people read is that of Serial Offenders which details much of the above in this book, however its very broken down. Read more here.

Excessive adrenaline build up changes a trophy hunters physiology. The trophy hunter becomes sensitized to the epinephrine and used to what it does to them. Initially it may be difficult to cope with, but after awhile, the individual becomes so accustomed to it that you can function. This is not always the case though as it has been noted adrenaline junkies feed of such fear which in turn provides a type of sexual gratification afterwards and relaxation. Adrenaline sends your brain into full throttle and your wit becomes majorly amplified. This is because your slower brainwaves in the alpha and theta ranges become severely diminished. Alpha rhythms are drowned out by high amounts of mid and high-range beta brainwaves. This leads to further production of dopamine, epinephrine, and cortisol. Trophy hunters have long stated that the majority of the time they hunt is not for the actual trophy but more the “adrenaline hit”.

Author Louis Schlesinger quoted as Professor Ball did “emotional, impulsive murderers are less able to regulate and control aggressive impulses”. If you’ve being paying attention and scroll back up to the very top of the article one will read very identical characteristics relating to narcissistic psychopathic murderers to that of those whom kill large game, dangerous game and small game…

Treatment of Impulse Control Disorders has lagged behind the treatment of many other emotional disorders such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. There are some indications that treatments such as Habit Reversal Training may have value for Trichotillomania. However, most of the Impulse Control Disorders beg for more research on potential treatments. Of course, even if we had a plethora of effective treatments, there’s still the problem that most of those with Impulse Control Disorders aren’t all that interested in getting help. Sigh.

Why are we hunting Elephants again?

Thank you for reading – Stay tuned for my book on Impulse Control Disorders and Trophy Hunting.

Dr Jose C. Depre Md, VetMed, EnvStu, Phd

Is euthanasia a gift of love?

Back in December 2012 I witnessed the harrowing suffering of a dog being kept alive for reasons I still cannot understand. The dog named Tidus had been viciously assaulted by child thugs and had a flammable substance flung over his delicate little body, thugs then set the dog ablaze. The injuries were some of the worst burns I myself have witnessed in years of veterinary medicine.

Tidus suffered some 75-80% third degree burns and was suffering dearly. Third degree burns in both humans and animals are the worst kind of burn injury you can sustain. A third-degree burn involves the full thickness of skin and extends into the subcutaneous fat. These burns appear charred, dry, and leathery. The hair comes out easily when pulled. Deep burns, because they destroy nerve endings, usually are not as painful as second-degree burns.

When nerve endings are destroyed either in animals or humans from third degree burns one cannot feel any pain within the effected area. Had Tidus’s life been preserved he would have had to been monitored round the clock twenty four seven to reduce any risk of him harming himself accidentally. A mere slip up and any injury sustained to the “third degree burned area” he’d neither feel any pain or be able to make his pain known to humans through crying or yelping.

Upon viewing medical online X-Rays, documents from the medical team caring for Tidus I also noted the little dog suffering from 10% second degree burns, and where skin hadn’t been torched down to the nerve endings first degree burns too mostly around the ears, nose, eyes and genitalia. Second degree burns are the most painful and can leave both humans and animals withering in pain and traumatic shock syndrome. A second-degree burn is deeper and there is blistering. If there is no infection, healing is usually complete in 21 days.

From a “professional” point of view if more than 50% of the dog’s body surface is involved with second-degree burns, or if more than 30 percent is involved with third-degree burns, survival is unlikely. So I still to this day question why a vet whom is supposedly acting professionally continued to place Tidus through further treatments, minor operations involving anesthesia down to experimental skin replacement that still today is not widely used on domestic animals with such massive skin burns.

Putting the animal under for minor operations with over 50% skin burns is dangerous too. I do question the motives of this vet, veterinary team and why this suffering animal was not euthanised compassionately. I’ve included pictures below for your information that depict Tidus under anesthesia, Tidus before any non-surgical and surgical operations were carried out and Tidus awake.

Picture (2) depicts Tidus before treatment commenced. Burned skin and hair is easily removed when third degree burns are present, the areas flesh can be seen would have caused the dog incredible amounts of pain and discomfort. Unfortunately Tidus’s treatment was in vain

Picture (3) Tidus can barely stand up and within videos online one can see he is clearly in Trauma shock which is quite typical for this type of injury. One can clearly see parts of the hind leg skeleton structure on display too – this in itself is a clear indication that Tidus had been alight for some minutes

From November to December 2012 a total sum of over $44,300USD was raised for the treatment of Tidus. Burns such as these would have required much funding for primary “veterinary care” in itself. Furthermore had Tidus’s life been preserved, secondary and tertiary care would most certainly have run into hundreds of thousands for care and medicine.

Based on the owners own financial position, the organisations responsibilities for other animals but more importantly the “survival rate” regarding second-degree burns, or more than 30 percent of third degree burns Tidus should have been humanely euthanised after a complete professional assessment was undertaken by professional vets and veterinary specialized burns teams taking all factors into consideration.

Was Tidus kept alive to prove a point, was it an act of love, or was it due to the copious amount of funding that flooded into protect Tidus? I’ll never know myself, however if I or any qualified and professional veterinary team was presented with an animal with such appalling and life threatening injuries we have to weigh the chances of survival up, financial position and community care, whilst leaving emotional feelings out.

Tidus had no chance of survival, however Tidus is one of many animals we see daily where owners will fight tooth and limb to prolong life without listening to the professional advice from those whom have treated and cared for animals for years. Unfortunately Tidus didn’t make it, weather he died peacefully or in pain we’ll never know.

Fortunately there are many loving and caring animal lovers throughout the world that go heaven and earth, spend hundreds of thousands and would do anything to save the life of their dog, cat or favorite rabbit Etc. There’s nothing wrong with this and we as veterinary officers respect such care. Compassionate and caring adults, children down to complete strangers acting unselfishly we admire. However as much as we love an animal this very love can seriously hinder or even lead to animal abuse occurring if such cases of animal mistreatment are not properly managed by veterinary teams. In Tidus’s case and being frank the vet was only prolonging life whilst the little dog was suffering. That is abuse. We wouldn’t keep a human alive that’s been seriously injured who’s chances of survival are nil, so why an animal?

Making the Call: Euthanasia

I’ve witnessed in many veterinary practices men, women and children emotionally distraught at the sheer thought of knowing their companion animal may have to be humanly euthanasied. Its a very tough decision for the best of pet owners to make however their decision is quite understandable. Pet owners have grown use to their loving companions needs and socialization, their wittiness, in a way they are not really seen as a pet, more another human like species. Making the call is quite difficult however we all have to take into consideration the suffering of the animal and work quickly to reduce any needles suffering, cost and after care Etc.

Veterinary officers also have to take into consideration care, can the owner whom for example may too have medical conditions themselves, has work commitments, or lives by oneself with little monetary income actually cope with the care of looking after a seriously ill, injured or neglected animal?

Do the owners have insurance, can an animal charity help? In some cases charities can help. In Tidus’s case he had a 501 (c) 3 helping however to what extent I still question. Tidus was in my own eyes was used as a mere pawn to garner as much funding as possible, much if not all of that funding didn’t even go towards Tidus’s care. In fact I do believe around $3000 out of the $44,000 raised for care went into helping.

Some examples below are indicators that your pet dog or cat Etc are suffering of which is the time to consider humane euthanasia or to take your companion animal to the vet for a re-evaluation. 

Chronic – Non-treatable

• He/she is experiencing chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication (your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet is in pain).
• He/she has frequent vomiting or diarrhea that is causing dehydration and/or significant weight loss.
• He/she has stopped eating or will only eat if you force feed.
• He/she is incontinent to the degree that he/she frequently soils themselves.
• He/she has lost interest in all or most of his/her favorite activities, such as going for walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats or soliciting attention and petting from family members.
• He/she cannot stand on their own or falls down when trying to walk.
• He/she has chronic labored breathing or coughing.

Non-treatable – Injuries/symptoms/disabilities that have outweighed overall life

• He/she has suffered non-treatable burns either over 30% of their body, quality of life is way below average – prolonging life would be considered abuse.
• He/she is suffering from incurable cancer Etc, treatment would only incur more suffering in any animal that is considered not fit to undergo any further treatment.
• He/she has been involved in a serious road traffic crash, accident Etc, injuries sustained resulted in complete incapacity. If all four or all two legs have been incapacitated keeping the animal alive would be considered abuse.
• He/she has no use of either the front or hind legs however can still walk with the aid of disability wheels, However where such contraptions cannot be located or purchased  euthanasia must be considered as a last resort.
• Where insurance is not in place and animal is going to suffer without treatment/no funding can be obtained euthanasia must be considered. Prolonging the life of any “suffering” animal where funding/grants/loans/insurance cannot be obtained the welfare of that animal must come first over the overall owners love for keeping the animal alive.

Quality of life as a whole

• Quality Of Life: looks at the overall experience of a pet’s present existence.
• Pain Assessment: looks for signs of pain and suffering.
• Insight: Looks into the companion animal’s mind, in order to find out what they want us to do.

Animal euthanasia is the act of humanely putting an animal “to death” or allowing it to die as by withholding extreme medical measures. Reasons for euthanasia include incurable (and especially painful) conditions or diseases, lack of resources to continue supporting the animal, or laboratory test procedures.

Euthanasia methods are designed to cause minimal pain and distress. Euthanasia is distinct from animal slaughter and pest control, which are performed for purposes other than an act of mercy, although in some cases the procedure is the same.

In domesticated animals, this process is commonly referred to by euphemisms such as “put down”, “put to sleep”, or “put out of his/her/its misery”. Euthanasia can be as explained extremely distressing to all pet owners, however veterinary officers and vet technicians are here to explain the entire procedure, why euthanasia has been considered too. The vet and technicians will go into as much detail as possible, detailing from start to finish why they have come to their decision.

Explanations into the pets medical condition will be discussed too. The vet will allow you if the animal is not in serious pain to think about the decision made. Lastly you also have the right to a second opinion however it must be noted that if the animal[s] chances of survival are only minutes or hours it would be deemed as irresponsible for the owner to then remove the animal[s] for a second opinion of which would only increase suffering and pain greatly. At the end of the day the vets decision must be seen as the final one.

As emotional and upsetting it is to make the final call as long as the “vet has proven to you that nothing more can be done” or has shown to you “every avenue of preserving life has been exhausted within the vets hands” then the vet must be allowed to go ahead with his or her humane procedure. Vets must not be victim of a verbal or physical assault, and must carry out their jobs accordingly within the practice of good veterinary medicine, code and ethics.

Below I have highlighted two major problems that vets face within the pet medical world. 

Disabilities: The problems.

Three years ago my parents sadly made the call to have their beloved pet Spaniel humanely euthanised. Zelda was quite an old dog, had enjoyed life to the full. Unfortunately one day she tried to stand up, tumbling to her legs she yelped in agonizing pain. Zelda was suffering from temporary paraplegia of the hind legs. Zelda was taken to the veterinary surgeon of which steroid injections, antibiotics and a course of massage were given.

The paraplegia was only temporary however Zelda began to suffer more and more. Gradually paraplegia went from temporary to permanent paraplegia. Zelda lost control of her bladder and sadly the vets were unable to preserve little Zelda’s life. Had the veterinary team been able to provide doggy wheels Zelda may still be with us today. Even then with both parents working doctors who’d care for Zelda? Regrettably there was none else to care for Zelda, placing her into to a foster home would have induced depression as she loved both parents dearly. Neighbors couldn’t help either as the nearest neighbor was oven ten kilometers away and was elderly.

Over the years I’ve read numerous comments from members of the public on Facebook that see a very sick, diseased and dying animal of which they demand the owner does everything they can to ensure the pet dog, cat Etc is saved from death. Some people believe that life is sacred and will not take a life even if the animal is in misery for example paralyzed from the neck down or a multiple amputee. They judge animal life by human standards and insist on a natural death, however miserable the quality of life. Animals are not human and must never be classed as the same.

They consider that ending a life for any reason other than to eat, is the right of god alone. Most religions depict a god (or gods) who has trusted humans to take wise decisions. Where euthanasia is concerned, the challenge may be for the owner to be an instrument of their god and choose euthanasia to prevent further suffering. For example in the Judaeo-Christian belief system, God gave man stewardship over the animals – refusal to make a humane decision is a prime example of passing the buck!

Veterinary officers do have quite a tough job on their hands when all avenues have been exhausted to help prolong life of any animal. For example in many countries pet wheels (as seen above) are not provided by all veterinary practitioners. In fact I do not know of any vet that I have met or are friends with that have such disability contraptions at their disposal to freely hand out or sell.

Furthermore we must all remember that dogs, cats even horses Etc are not all equal. Where human doctors can freely hand out wheel chairs (E.g) of which require very little tuning, in the case of dogs and cats this is more easier said than done. Vets in many countries do not have the resources, man power, funds or even the access to disabled equipment. As many vets do not have such disabled equipment within their clinic they then have to weigh up the quality of life of their pet patient, bearing in mind too can the owner physically cope with looking after a non-walking animal, cope with the strains of incontinence, exercise Etc. In Zelda’s case both parents could not give their fourteen hour day jobs up, and didn’t have information on where to locate pet wheel chairs.

When viewing such comments from mainly online Activists demanding that the owner[s] not humanely euthanise sometimes I feel like shaking some sense into them. Its not just the pet owners that have to make decisions here its also the veterinary team and the limitations, obstacles and overall care the vet has to decide on.

When do we call euthanasia?

Even in today’s modern world there are more sick repulsive individuals then there was over three decades ago whom abuse and harm animals. Three out of every ten animals I see within my own private medical practice have been seriously abused or neglected by children. Dogs or cats set on fire, horses cut with knifes, or in Xixi’s case children gouged Xixi’s eyes out and cut his genitals off back in 2010.

Xixi was viciously assaulted in Guangdong province, China and while many of you may think such cases are seen only in China you are very wrong, throughout the world there are many selfish, twisted and sick people that go even further to fulfill their deprived desires to abuse an animal.

The report reads:

Child animal abusers cut both eyes, even his genitals were cut off, and his body was covered with holes. Yet Xixi still tenaciously supported his own hurt body, roaming around the neighborhood. The surrounding people did not dare approach him, because Xixi’s appearance was very frightening. Only until a volunteer appeared was Xixi rescued. According to the rescue group, when Xixi was being taken for medical treatment, he desperately bit at the rope that tied him, because Xixi was afraid of being hurt again.

Picture below depicts a savage act of animal abuse by children.

This alone is enough to prove how strong Xixi’s will to live is. However, according to several doctors’ diagnosis, Xixi first suffered external injuries all over his body from human abuse, and then because of not being immediately treated, his wounds became infected and he developed leukemia, causing white blood tumors to form in his body, however since the attack Xixi’s wounds began to quickly fester, his situation was serious and unable to be controlled.

After careful observation by volunteers over a day and a night, it was very exerting and painful for Xixi to urinate and defecate, leading to a part of his intestines to be expelled. Apart from that, Xixi kept going to dark corners. Those who have raised pets and have some experience all know that this is what dogs (and other animals) do when they know they are about to die and want to find a peaceful place to leave the world, and eventually Xixi chose to leave…

End of Report…. 2010. 

Every single day we are presented with yet another case of serious animal abuse, and everyday we are challenged on how best to proceed with these cases, is it in the best interests of (any animal) to continue any such medical treatment or is it in the interests of the screaming, shouting and pressuring individuals online? Furthermore will medical treatment help or just increase further pain, discomfort and suffering? While many animal Activists online scream at us all to do something they do at the very best of times fail to see that animals are in a way no different to humans when it boils down to actually “saving” life.

Had Xixi or Tidus been presented to myself and based on the injuries, prognosis, underlying medical condition’s, primary suffering, mental stability Etc both animals would have been there and then after all reports had been completed humanly put to sleep. Both animals would have been put to sleep only after reports concluded injuries, pain, mental state and suffering outweighed both present and future life.

Cost, care, rehabilitation and “would the owner or career be able to continue with such care would also have been taken into consideration, the type of care too. I.e specialized burns, in Tidus’s case he would have required specialist treatment, after care and would have to have been virtually wrapped into a bubble to protect his third and second degree burned and damaged skin.

Xixi’s case though is not identical to Tidus’s case. Tidus was kept alive despite the fact his injuries heavily outweighed his chances of survival. Volunteers that done their very best for Xixi and within a country where medical services are limited worked their hardest to save this little dog. However sadly Xixi like Tidus eventually succumbed to death.

In cases where abuse and neglect are at there very worst veterinarians are challenged greatly. Putting animals to sleep is not one of the hardest parts of being a veterinarian. That’s because euthanasia is often a blessing and gift to a suffering animal. In most vets experience, the hardest part of being a veterinarian is telling owners that their beloved pet has a terminal illness and will soon be leaving this world. The emotions that pass across their faces, even if they have suspected the worst for some time, are heart-wrenching.

Below is a quality of life assessment that you can use yourself to asses your animal and whether its the best time to now take your loved one for medical attention or just a friendly chat. Many characteristics are not, by themselves, an indication for euthanasia. For example, stiffness and reduced interest in play have small numerical values. Adding the smaller values together may generate a score which is high enough to indicate the time has come to euthanize, or the score may only indicate that the pet should be re-evaluated periodically. Vets will only put an animal to sleep after every avenue has been exhausted, however it must be noted in serious cases of abuse putting an animal to sleep quickly to reduce further physiological and mental suffering must be paramount.

The Pain Assessment allows the human companion to estimate the amount of pain which a pet is experiencing. Unfortunately animals do not speak in human languages, so they cannot tell us in our language what amount of pain they are experiencing. As a result, the human companion must look for behavioral signs which are then interpreted as indicators of pain. When veterinarians are presented with severe cases though such as that of Tidus or Xixi the call has to be made much faster to reduce further suffering. Unfortunately for Tidus his pain and suffering continued.

Since 2012 I have been researching more and more cases that are either identical to Tidus or worse. Within the majority of cases I have viewed veterinarians taking the relevant actions where and when needed, consulting with the pet owner, and acting completely professional. Unfortunately I have also witnessed cases even worse than Tidus and Xixi’s where veterinarians are being pounded daily by online Activists or individuals in general that seem to force them into prolonging life.

This behavior is grossly unprofessional and if I myself continue to witness it I will call these veterinarians to account and demand what their game actually is here. Are they trying to help the animal or are they merely looking for fame, are they in it for the money or are they acting competitively to prove a point?

Animal abuse is a crime and not something I or my team take sitting down, there are all forms of abuse carried out by a wide range of people. Keeping “any” animal alive just to increase a Facebook page’s likes is considered abuse, to increase monetary income – its abuse, seeking fame and glory – abuse, for ones own egodriven manner – ABUSE.

Is euthanasia a gift of love? Yes euthanasia is very best gift of love when an animal cannot any longer be saved or where treatment has failed. Leaving an animal to suffer while promoting to millions failing medical treatment is neither professional nor acceptable.

Thank you for reading.

Dr Jose C. Depre

INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION Inc

Filed under: You must be the change you want to see in the world Tagged: America, animal abuse, China, Euthanasia, Neglect, Tidus, Xixi

Recently we was made aware of a very defaming article published onto a unknown authored WordPress site tilted “Who Is Say No To Dog Meat. NET“. We found that the article was not only filled with inaccuracies but, yet again had the old rival No To Dog Meat trolling supporters all over it. Nothing new there to be honest, what more could we or Say No To Dog Meat.Net have possibly expected in the weeks leading up to the worlds largest anti pet meat demo.

The information in this article is the truth and nothing but. We have been forced to write this article as of the slander and continued defamation of one of our staff members, her father, our colleagues dead brother, our director, our supporters and loss of donations. We will not tolerate this unruly behavior while the Police sit back and await for someone on our side to be attacked. 

Pushing everything to one side about the article briefly, we focus on one single email that is dated the 13 January, this alarmed us, especially after our own directors have in the past five years sent donations to Soi Dog amounting to over $5,000. You wouldn’t bite the hand that feeds you would you? of course not.

The email:

Pic (1)

Now the email as you can that was sent to a woman that as yet we not naming (but have the evidence to hand), has deliberately blanked out certain information. Why though? Would it be because the original author was trying to incite hatred, fear or in their own evil and wicked way disrupt the good work that SAY NO TO DOG MEAT.NET do? Lets take a look at that email again from Soi Dog. Yes, FROM Soi Dog!

Lies and Defamation!

Pic (2)

Say No To Dog Meat has one Facebook page, and is listed as “Say No To Dog Meat.Net”. The organisation is a registered entity of which is in the process of becoming a registered organisation both in the United Kingdom and in Australia. Registration in the United Kingdom will come at a later date.

Early 2014 the CEO of International Animal Rescue Foundation was ordered by Decadent in a eight hour recorded conversation to remove all mention and names relating or showing “Say No To Dog Meat.Net” as she wanted all domains and all Facebook names under her own banner.

Ms Decadent stated in her own words “Failing to remove all names of Say No To Dog Meat will result in me creating more pages and domains under the name of No To Dog Meat”. E.g Say No To Dog Meat.Com, Say No To Dog Meat.Org Etc, and No To Dog Meat Foundation. Confusing? Indeed it is.

Above though is what she created and has at times confused many, which is why Say No To Dog Meat.Net has its own branding and unique registered name with comical white doggy logo.

When the female Facebook user contacted Soi Dog, Soi Dog did not under any circumstances state that “Say No To Dog Meat.Net” in their words “has a very bad reputation” nor did Soi Dog denounce Say No To Dog Meat.Net, after all the organisation has a following of over 40,000 supporters, is supported by countless organisations and has only been in operation for a year and half. Say No To Dog Meat.Net was not even taking donations back in 2013 and what donations they receive now are little, the organisation is 80% self funded. So to state Say No To Dog Meat are not transparent in the first year just doesn’t make sense.

Confusing!

Picture three depicts how confusing things can be at the best of times, but then this is what the “No To Dog Meat Foundation.Org.Com Etc wanted to do, its all about power at the end of the day. Nothing more nothing less.

Pic (3)

While we could not give to toots how many pages, sites or domains this woman owns we do call the line when altered images, altered screenshots and emails are placed into the public domain to incite violence, fear, public misinformation and scrutiny of another organisation. Lastly as one can see, the above email is dated 13 January, so why has it taken now for the internet thug to release that email for? Simple answer – to try their utmost hardest to disrupt and remove all support from the organisation “Say No To Dog Meat.Net”. The correct term for this is called “sabotage”.

Moving on the next subject. Houston and San Antonia. Say No To Dog Meat.Net announced on their Facebook page that they would be holding a peaceful event in Houston and San Antonio. Due to the short time frame and lack of interest in Texas the peaceful event in San Antonio never materialized. Not forgetting one doesn’t need a permit to hold a small rally in a public park either. Regarding the information stand in Houston this neither needs a permit, so why the author even bothered to contact the government for one will never know. Was it because she too was a troll supporter of No To Dog Meat? We’ve included the picture below of her malicious communications to disrupt a well advanced demo.

Moving through the tacky blog that was written on the 25th March we cannot help but laugh at the text that has clearly been imputed by the troll that states “Yes I have informed the IC3 and Interpol” yet have heard nothing back, who do I contact to report these people to have their permits revoked”.

Now before we move on, the woman whom wrote this is allegedly an animal lover YET wants to stop a demo for dogs and cats in the meat trade? Doesn’t make sense, why would anyone whom loves animals and hates abuse wish to stop a mass global demo for? Furthermore the IC3 deals with online fraud and terrorism in the United States and Interpol deals with serious international crime. Sorry troll, they don’t deal with legitimate organisations holding legitimate and caring peaceful events and rallies. They may though deal with a complaint that reads “US woman damaging a legitimate organisation terrorizing supporters and more leading to finical loss”? That is kind of listed in their index.

Contradicting!

Below I have included another screenshot from this site. I’ve titled it “contradicting” as the text and the picture is contradicting. Back in February Jose Depre paid a total of over 10,000 euros to advertise Say No To Dog Meat.Net on major “Google Boards” and the main “Facebook login page”. There is no crime in doing this, most organisations, companies and individuals also undertake the same projects to increase public support. Please read below the trolls account and how they like to twist and manipulate their words. This is how trolls work you see, of which are compulsive lairs. Firstly your hooked into a lie, your shown or communicated the most “alarming of things” for shock and ore. Now lets place the trolls very words into the below text. We’ve included their words in screenshot.

The trolls account:

Quite clearly the troll neither knows how to read or understand a simple comment. What’s more, what the CEO of International Animal Rescue Foundation does with his OWN money has nothing to do with trolls, or the public. When Say No To Dog Meat.Net are a fully fledged charity the CEO will then cease self funding, Say No To Dog Meat then stands on its own two feet. Where do you get your money from troll to stay online all day whilst on government handouts? Who knows, who cares to be honest. If a self funded organisation wants to fund projects that’s there business and not anyone else’s. And as Jose did quite rightfully state “I don’t believe the public should be funding such projects” then what part of that sentence did you not understand?

Contradiction;

Intention to Confuse the Public!

Below I have included another lurid statement that the troll wrote. They seem to forget that little word again “contradiction”, not forgetting tripping on their lies.

Intention to confuse the public? They state Say No To Dog Meat.Net created many pages online, many domains and more “to confuse the public”. The troll must have gotten a little too carried away as they printed the evidence for us on their “Who Is Say No To Dog Meat” WordPress site. Confusing the public? Please take a look at the screenshot that shows all domains purchased by the NTDM CEO back in 2013. What are you trying to insinuate Troll? Say No To Dog Meat.Nets directors cannot own any name that looks “identical to yours”. NTDM is the (campaign arm) its not the actual charity’s name known as WORLD PROTECTION FOR DOGS AND CATS IN THE MEAT TRADE. Say No To Dog Meat.net looks nothing like the WPCDMT or does it? Nope it doesn’t.

Above are the many domains purchased in 2012-2013 by the founder of No To Dog Meat. Yet Say No To Dog Meat.Net has only only two registered domains and, has only one Facebook page with branding logo, the sites are listed here www.saynotodogmeat.net and a further here for events www.saynotodogmeatevents.info (hardly confusing, purchased back in 2014, and 100% non-related. I repeat Say No To Dog Meat.Net has one Facebook page – yet No To Dog Meat has many, in the region of eleven, and growing. None has rights over domain, there is no law either on who can purchase a domain or how they use that domain nor the name of that domain. If my name was say Joe Bloggs and someone else’s name was Joe Blogs II I wouldn’t be upset, I’d just get on with it. Like you should, get on with it, mind your own business and stop bullying this organisation.

Transparent!

Say No To Dog Meat.Net has stated since founded that they are in the process of registering their organisation as a charity in Australia. The troll whom wrote the gibbering nonsense obviously forgets this information that is placed into the public domain every single week or month. The troll also forgets that at this moment in time all donations that travel to Say No To Dog Meat are banked for their pet and wildlife rescue. And as yet, because they are not a “registered charity” they do not have to show under EU law a single thing. Why? Because their self funded, they are registered as a entity in Australia to which are applying for charitable status. The comment screenshot below is neither relevant or even worth reading, but we’ll let you read it anyway.

Now on the subject of receipts. I have been instructed to log into the Say No To Dog Meat.Net Pay Pal bank (of which 90% of charities use) to locate some receipts. I have blanked out the private and confidential information too. The public whom donate are sent as Say No To Dog Meat.Net are receipts every-time a donation transaction is made. See more below;

And just to prove to the public that Say No To Dog Meat.Net and the public receives receipts here is one (of many) below. As Say No To Dog Meat.Net aren’t as yet a registered charity (this takes time) all receipts come in the form of a charitable tax document at the end of the tax year and not as seen above or below. I and others do remember asking NTDM for such proof, they have been in action since 2013 and their tax documents have been published, however under British law they do not need to show these documents if under £50,000. Yet you Mrs Troll are asking to show ours, where is your bosses too? Not very polite of you is it now.

The above and below is more than enough evidence that Say No To Dog Meat.Net and their supporters receive ample receipts. And guess what trolls, all this will eventually be made public in the form of a “tax document” as that is how we believe a charity should work – 100% transparency and 100% public friendly. Please note we have removed sensitive banking details, names and addresses as Say No To Dog Meat have been FORCED to show this information by BULLIES. Now moving back to the first Soi Dog email of which they state (now proven to be false) Say No To Dog Meat are not transparent – if this is not transparent enough then we have some major problems. Regarding International Animal Rescue Foundations transparency – Please view here. http://speakupforthevoiceless.org/funding-african-wildlife-survival-update/ This link is updated every six months to one year due to the vast projects that we and International Animal Rescue Foundation (work on).

Now were going to cut this short article here for a breif time and give the trolls a little time to digest this information. Lastly we’re more than prepared to continue with this article providing even more details of harassment, death threats, stalking, sending malicious communications to our supporters down to contacting the press and showing to them whom the original author of Who Is Say No To Dog Meat blog is. Lastly we will print many of your lies, your bullying and more.

Your choice at the end of the day. We’re just being honest, like you asked us too.

UPDATE – 03.31.2015

So as we have not seen no removal of the trolling lies we’re going to briefly continue unpicking the obsessive lies in the “Who Is Say No To Dog Meat. NET” blog until the entire abuse filled blogger whom we’re still not naming is shws some respect. Please be aware we are defending Say No To Dog meat.Net and not under any circumstances attacking anyone. We have a right to defend ourselves or an organisation against false and defamatory remarks. As it would seem these trolls can get away with just about anything there not going to get away with attacking a large organisation that is doing wonders for animals.

So, here we go.

I never done nothing!

In this paragraph I touch up on a few things that should be made public. The information within the emails I have hidden to protect both the senders privacy and confidentially, their names and the first name of the accused.

Please see screenshot below (1) lifted from the trolls page that has set about attacking Say No To Dog Meat.Net The author states that 1. they “Say No To Dog Meat.Net” have lied about their event hosting and have shown nothing but defamation, libel and slanderous remarks. Firstly were not sure how they can lie about their event hosting when over five thousand people are attending over 50 locations worldwide in some twenty countries – see here for more information > http://saynotodogmeatevents.info/say-no-to-dog-meat-official-invitation/ (Not entirely sure how one can possibly lie about a global event that has been in the planning for over two years)? that statement just doesn’t make an ounce of sense, lastly how people can even fall for such nonsense is beyond us.

Now moving on to the slander, defaming and libelous remarks that apparently are true. To protect the senders, receivers and the embarrassment of the aggressor we’ve blocked out names of all those in email 1/15 however have left in the surnames. We have every right to publish this email, are neither harassing nor causing harm. What we are doing is defending Say No To Dog Meat.Net as were sick and tired of seeing this daily abuse. Say No To Dog Meat are working day and night to host their demos but are being daily trolled by NTDM supporters and their CEO. Call us liars as much as you want – were just showing your behavior sent to them.

What the troll aggressor says: (pic 1 ) 

Below is one of fifteen emails of which is neither slanderous, defaming or libelous. Unfortunately its the truth. Michele Brown was the victim of threatening behavior, whilst she was on the other end of the recorder listening she heard how her elderly father would be the victim of a hit man paid by the NTDM director. Lastly her her own ex husband who is black African was called a n*******. Furthermore Michele herself was called a “n***** loving bitch”. We also hold in Sweden all proof of them recordings on file should any of them threats be played out.

Apparently there was NO Police investigation that Michele was forced to launch after her and her family were threatened in an eight hour video recording. Due to the sensitivity of that recording we cannot show nor play onto this site. The police investigation that has been ongoing since last year of which the file is still opens proves that Say No To Dog Meat.Nets founder had to pursue a Police complaint via the Australian Police to the British Police.

Due to the nature of the threats and the fact the NTDM founder then set about to send the caring Mr Hughes (now deceased director – NTDM) to Michele’s own home Michele was forced to contact the police in Australia (we have evidence of that to show and the letters printed below marked A-B-C) that was sent to Michele’s home – hand delivered. We question why one would hand deliver for? Would it be because it would have been seen as harassment? The Police confirmed this was.

This resulted in a transatlantic investigation that is still open by Sussex Police in UK. STILL OPEN – Meaning that should their be any more interference such as threats, or aggression by anyone the Police will possibly act. We thank Sussex Police for keeping the file open. Not only did all this silliness waste Police time it also took up much time of those that had to be questioned on both sides. Not forgetting the animals that suffer. Why can’t we all just get along. Put ones one issues to one side, and concentrate on the main job in hand I dare ask? Whilst Say No To Dog Meat.Net are and have been doing this we still see trolls and the NTDM CEO attacking. Coincidentally just one week before Say No To Dog Meat.Nets main international events. That’s actually quite spiteful for someone to do, and as it has all the hallmarks of the same offenders on then, we’ll defend Say No To Dog Meat.Net and their sister organisation by showing the REAL TRUTH.

Please refer to picture 2 below that relates to the trolls screenshot of which stated Say No To Dog Meat.Net was allegedly basically lying about anything that the organisation stated on a spam post posted onto their page some months ago.

Now as you can see we’ve not printed nothing but the truth, now please refer to the Police letter sent to Michele above. We’ve included for the public all information to cross reference and have linked the aggressors blog with our official news and media site. There has and still proceeds to be a Police investigation, and even in the last sixty minutes there is more harassment of our organisation by the copycat page listed below for your information. B.F.C have sent to Say No To Dog Meat many pictures of their Operation Unite campaign and demos this April 4th. However as usual the aggressors continue to spam Say No To Dog Meat.Net’s posts knowing to well that they cannot be removed. Fortunately it has in the past few minute been removed.

Pic (1) – 03.31.2015 (they’re post has since been removed) but can you see what a fledgling organisation and its directors are up against? spam is one thing, but calling Say No To Dog Meat.Net frauds and cons is totally below the belt and sabotaging leading up to their demo.

The above post was posted today some 60 minutes ago onto a post that was addressed to Say No To Dog Meat.Net Please do take a look at how the CEO of this organisation or their admins have deliberately used the Facebook page “SayNoToDogMeat.Org” (not related to Say No To Dog Meat.Net) then including their own link to try yet again to confuse people and misinform the public. Why do this for? And if you dislike Say No To Dog Meat.Net then move on, forget about them, do your own thing, mature and grow up.

Letters A-B-C that were sent on the orders of the CEO NTDM by the caring deceased Mr Hughes, Mr Huges sadly was a loving man that was brought into this sordid state of ego’s. Please read carefully.

The above letters were hand-delivered which resulted in Michele then later contacting the Police whom placed her house on Police watch-call. Meaning if they received an emergency call they would be there in under a minute, lastly on some eight hours of recorded conversations the NTDM founder stated some worrying words that later led to Michele then filing another Police complaint. The above letters were also sent to Michele’s own elderly Father – all were hand delivered. That caused him distress and heart pains. Michele has always been honest with regards to donations that were sent and received. Please see the screenshot below that I have linked into the document too.

Plagiarized!

Below we have included a screenshot from the trolls page that states International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa basically in the trolls OWN WORDS stole information from the “Cee4life” that was allegedly ONLY being run by the good Aussie animal welfare organisation Cee4life. Keeping Cee4life out of this, as this is what the troll wants – to bring others into their pettiness we’ve included all emails below and other information too. A select few emails have been retrieved from the office of the EAD whom have more on file to send to us.

Pic (1) – The trolls account:

Now lets undo the trolls lies.

Below are emails directly from Mr Apir to and from Jose Depre and his now deceased brother. Mr Apir was contacted later by the CEO of Cee4life whom tried in vain to discredit the work that I.A.R.F.A undertook, she tried to discredit us and I.A.R.F.A as the CEO of I.A.R.F refused to provide to her any information about the Zoo. Cee4lifes exact words which we have on file stated “if you do not tell me who your contact is and show to me proof of Benue I will tell everyone your nothing but a fraud”. Now that’s not very nice is it?

The organisation (Cee4life) was not the first organisation at all helping this zoo. International Animal Rescue Foundation communicated to the investigations department of which them emails are below. Take note of what is included within them too. Nat Apir also confirms in the email no other groups at that “time” were involved and under no circumstances at all did anyone steal Cee4lifes work. We have the dates and the picture files sent to us of which you can cross reference, unfortunately Cee4life has since removed their Facebook Benue copycat page with a vast majority of ours and Nat Apirs photos on too.

You see trolls this is why we and the main INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION keeps records and historical data at hand to show in a court of law should it be felt that you have gone to far with your defamation. You have actually gone to far and its advised that you think clearly now of just how your going to explain your defamation in a civil case.

So let’s take a look at the evidence. Please note International Animal Rescue Foundation no longer requires the help off Nat Apir as they consulted the help of other Zoos in the region.

As one can quite clearly see above Nat Apir clearly states in his email that there was no other groups involved in this rescue. However after Cee4life then set about to remove images from the main I.A.R.F. OP Freedom Force Facebook page, down to copying the exact words from Jose and Joseph documents, Nat Apir became so confused that he sent pictures to Cee4life, he was also informed by Cee4life that I.A.R.F.A were complete frauds – that actually led to them poor animals suffering as Nat Apir would not provide to us his banking details to send over $1000 of food relief. That we actually thought was a very nasty thing to do and something that we still have not forgotten about. From there we and I.A.R.F.A and Nat Apir went our won ways. Nat Apir was sadly a pawn in battle of egos between Cee4life and other trolls whom wanted to seek fame for work that was actually began by International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa.

Below are the files on Facebook for your immediate attention – Operation Freedom Force was established by I.A.R.F.A

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Operation-Freedom-Force-Benue-State-Zoo/378402295567689?fref=ts

Below we’ve included a screenshot from the EXTERNAL AFFAIRS INVESTIGATION dept that was sent all imagery direct from Nat Apir from 2012-2013 no other person was sent this imagery other than us, the Facebook posts and creation of the Facebook Op Freedom Force page, chipin, and more date back to when the organisation began their work.

Lastly we will if forced too include telephone calls that are all recorded that state even more than the above and the below. In one telephone call Mr Apir is clearly distraught pleading with us to get to the zoo in time as there is none there helping. Due to the fact the organisation HAD to ask for permission via the Markudi government I.A.R.F.A was powerless to act immediately. However with much thanks and appreciation to the SPCA’S in South Africa, Zoological Societies, and PAZAB we finally began helping these poor and defenseless animals (we have proof of them communications too). The help would have come more sooner had it not been for ego driven trolls and power-driven unprofessional directors whom saw it to try and destroy the good work we do.

I.A.R.F.A sent many donations and food supplies to Benue Zoo and still to this day continues to support the Zoo through the help of Benue government and have included zoologists and food for the animals. The Zoo is secure for now however more work needs to be done.

Pic (1) shows all dates, times and imagery attachments that was sent to INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL RESCUE FOUNDATION AFRICA’s EAD unit. These were the photos that were lifted off our Facebook page and Website and then placed into Cee4lifes imagery to raise donations. While Cee4life did help the zoo – to discredit or bully another organisation that was and still is helping is totally uncalled for, unprofessional and not how a professional charity should conduct themselves whatsoever.

Now were going to leave this here for now and let the trolls digest this information and compose themselves. As we have proof of everything we do, all work we undertake we can continue publishing. while we don’t want to continue this “defending other organisations” we will do so if the female troll thug doesn’t stop printing lies about us or others.

Aggressor!

Update – 03-04-2105 (02:29am)

As the troll whom were not naming yet – but will do, has failed to remove the vile blog of lies on her web page named “Whois Say No To Dog Meat” then we will continue with our publication that is within the realms of freedom of speech and fair comment.. The content of this recording has been cut from eight hours to 45 minutes each way. The content is not altered, has not been edited nor has there been any special effects placed into the recordings to make out that this is fake (any professional videographer will say the same too).

We’re here to show the truth and as the evidence above only shows written – hereto is the audio. Please click on the link below.

Enjoy your blogging trolls.

Editor.

Two years of intense planning finally paid off for the Say No To Dog Meat organisation this April with mass peaceful demonstrations organised around the globe hitting cities internationally by storm. Only one minor disruption was seen in Cambodia with a further three events called off due to sickness and weather events.

Say No To Dog Meat a registered Australian organisation that’s in the process of becoming a legitimate charity in Australia and soon in the United Kingdom kicked off events in Brisbane, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne. From there the organisations events then began sweeping the globe hitting Malaysia, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Viet Nam, Philippines, Cambodia, Borneo, Israeli, India and finally South Africa in Durban and Johannesburg.

Excited and jubilant animal lovers then began their events in London, Yorkshire, Belfast then onto to mainland Europe where events where held in Sweden, Germany, Portugal and France. By the time events had just come to a finish in Africa, Australia, Asia and Europe Say No To Dog Meat’s events then kicked off big time in America and Canada that saw over ten states in America hosting peaceful demonstrations from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Ohio, Seattle – Washington, Texas, San Francisco, Alaska, Florida, Hawaii and finally Oregon.

As dawn arose over Indonesia masses of people then began meeting up in Jakarta, Bali, Surabaya and Jogja. Meanwhile in countries where people were not able to hold events due to work commitments or coming on board to late citizens all over the globe sent into us their personal message which was not only heart-warming but did bring a tear to some of the Directors eyes. Schools in China, Belgium, Philippines and Cambodia held their own small awareness event. Be it sending us in photos or in the video below saying “Say No To Dog Meat”.. Children in the Philippines wrote the message “Say No To Dog Meat” on their hands then verbally sent their message that is going viral. Well done children.

Say No To Dog Meat events management team and and Directors Michele Brown, Jose Depre and Donna Armes stated that they never expected to see such a massive turnout especially within Asia where demonstrations are not always allowed. However going through the thousands of emails we received going back a year a half ago we can see now that people did hold to their promise and joined us for the worlds largest anti dog and cat meat trade demonstration ever held stated Jose.

We cannot put a number on how many people turned up however, can say that it was in the thousands of which we are so proud of everyone involved. The most important people behind this event were of course the event organizers all of which joined early last year. If it were not for them or the many active organisations that stand with us this demonstration would never have blossomed into the worlds largest event for dogs and cats in the horrific pet meat trade stated Michele Brown.

Much positive feed back has come back from the event organizers, organisations and members of the public.

Brisbane – Australia.

Michele, Director of Say No To Dog Meat whom kicked the first of all rallies off in Brisbane stated:

The Brisbane rally made my heart swell, at the outpouring of love and support in our fight to end the pet meat trade. Around 30 people attended and a few hundred people passed-by to sign petitions. In a city that’s known to be tough to hold rallies in, our Brisbane supporters were outstanding and I felt incredibly humbled to be surrounded by such passionate and kind hearted people, who worked so hard to help us raise awareness on the day. It was a privilege to be amongst them. Thank you to all Brisbane supporters; I couldn’t have done it without you!

America – Seattle, Washington. 

Cindy whom held the Seattle Washington rally stated:

I felt that We were  part of a larger movement and we were happy that attention is being brought to this gruesome trade. Happy to be part of an organization working to end it!

America – New York.

Meanwhile in New York Zannah Mass pictured at the front center stated:

New Yorkers and New York dogs took a sky-scraping stand for less fortunate dogs in Asia, Africa, Switzerland as well as US and Canada in smaller numbers as part of the disastrous pet meat trade of kidnapping, torture, and lies for money. Say No To Dog Meat.Net is Run by champions of the cause, brave folks on the front lines. SNTDM is a great resource for the rest of us.

South Africa  – Durban and Johannesburg.

Both Celeste Manfron and Celeste Zeilinga from South Africa hosted events too. Celeste Manfron whom appeared in the local press stated and who’s participants are above stated:

The trade is absolutely horrific, it sees the torture of innocent cats and dogs for medicinal reasons, and the more torture the dog and cat endures the better tasting the meat. It includes skinning, blow torching and boiling the dogs alive or semi conscious so that they can still fell pain. Manfron went onto say “we want to let the world know, and let these countries know trade must end”.

Celeste Zeilinga and team are pictured below, both South African animal lovers not only helped but became part of the worlds first international global demonstrations for dogs and cats in the horrific pet meat trade never seen on this scale.

When Say No To Dog Meat officially launched they included within their program an “Anti Racism” mission that has been supported by thousands of Asian citizens across the globe. International Animal Rescue Foundation and Say No To Dog Meat launched the Anti Racism mission to prove to the non-Asian public that the people of Asia want the barbaric dog and cat meat trade banned just as much as non-Asians do.

Dr Jose Depre Environmental and Botanical scientist stated “When ever we documented on the pet or even bush meat trade we’d read countless comments from members of the public that stated Asians were all hateful down to consuming anything that walked, that statement is just not true furthermore as part of our Anti Racism program we’ve proved its not true”. Jose said “winning the hearts and minds of Asian citizens was incredibly tough and at times a frustrating task, especially when you heard or read the most vulgar racist comments spat at innocent Asians just because they’re facial features appear identical, that’s uncalled for and something we had to work to stop”..

We did it and we’re going to continue winning more hearts and minds internationally until this trade is banished from the entire Asian continent for good he said. The proof is in the video that shows hundreds and hundreds of Asian citizens marching with Say No To Dog Meat 4th April 2015.

Meanwhile though in Africa banning the trade outright without taking into account poverty, hunger and climate change would see people die from hunger and malnutrition as many actually rely on dog and cat meat as their only form of food income in poverty stricken villages, communities and countries. The organisation stated that in countries such as Kenya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana and Niger climate change has ravished many communities of which rain fall in some villages hasn’t been seen in either months or over year.

We have an incredible mission on our hands of which we need to improve soil structure, increase irrigation and water wells, implement tougher X breeds of flora I.e maize and corn to withstand the extreme drought and further worsening of climate. Lastly an education and awareness program must be introduced to slowly ween people in pet and bush meat eating communities off the both via education on diseases, virus and food safety not forgetting the largest problem which is rabies that kills one person in Africa every 10 minutes.

Meanwhile all over the globe thousands of people took to the streets and demonstrated peacefully to highlight the barbaric treatment of dogs and cats in the meat-trade.

Sharna from Melbourne, Victoria – Australia pictured below stated “I felt our numbers couldn’t of been greater but still an amazing turn out. Including a member of parliament in our mist”.

Rain did threaten to put a stop to some events in Australia however, kind compassionate citizens a-stand with Lorraine Price pictured speaking in Sydney still braved on despite Australia under heavy monsoon weathers. Check the Sydney crew below of which all helped create history.

In Perth, Western Australia Leanne and team pictured below hosted a further Australian event with good turnout too. Well done ladies.

Amanda and her fellow comrades pictured below from Ottawa, Canada held a peaceful demonstration in Canada where its still unknown weather the dog and cat meat trade is legal or not. Talks are still ongoing to get to the bottom of the truth in Canada regarding a statement that had been placed on a “Wikipedia” website. Say No To Dog Meat investigated this issue further and was told no such trade was permitted however, when asked if its illegal to kill dogs for private consumption this question out of all was neither answered or responded too by Food Safety and Agriculture.

In Tel Aviv, Israel compassionate activists took to the streets to hold a sarcastic theatrical demonstration educating the public and children on the horrors of the dog and cat meat trade (pics 1-2 below). As one can see many people were either unaware the trade existed or knew very little about the trade at all.

India, Chennai Say No To Dog Meat supporter Arya pictured below hosted an educative demonstration about the dog and cat meat trade to some forty or more people.

Las Vegas, America Nancy really kicked off the events in style marching for justice of dogs and cats in the African and Asian pet meat trade. This demo was pretty large and was headed by drummers and professional photographers. The event really went down well seeing members of the public and children educated kindly without the use of graphic images.

Meanwhile in Los Angeles pictured below some fifty or more people attended to show their support at the Santa Monica Harbor of which was a great day for all. In over fifty cites worldwide Say No To Dog Meat’s events were not just about holding a banner or poster up. Educative speeches or events and petition signing were held to educate and make aware up to date facts and history on both the African and Asian pet meat trade. Zaida and Christina hosted this event featuring on major news channels across Los Angeles. Christina stated “It’s great to connect with compassionate people. To see people taking action in what they believe in is powerful”. While Zaida said “It was wonderful to see the people come together. to march for what they believe in, to stop the dog and cat meat trade. Together we will end the barbaric trade”…

Regardless of how small an event was or how large the fact is you attended and made your voice heard throughout the planet. Meet April below. She may have had only a small number of people attend however, she had one of America’s well known journalists cover a brief story for her beaming live across the United States.  Check out the coverage >here< by April who achieved marvelous results. Well done April..

Animal lovers united even in Alaska. Rhonda and co took to the local park to make their voices heard. Pictured below setting up their event.

Peaceful demonstrations took a-hold in San Francisco hosted by Liesel. Donning banners and posters saying no to dog meat dogs were dressed as little sausage dogs as a statement to show dogs are not food. Liesel can be seen pictured with peaceful activists.

Meanwhile in Hawaii information points were established of which Say No To Dog Meat directed people to the stands via international advertising and awareness. Information stands are very important in large foot traffic zones and were held in Europe too. Handing out flyers and brochures Michele from Hawaii educated inquisitive members of the public on both the Africans and Asian pet meat trade.

Michele left and friend to the right – Hawaii.

Peaceful activists took the beeches of Florida holding a small event showing their support for our mission and innocent dogs and cats brutally tortured and killed slowly in the pet meat trade. Karina and co are pictured below. Great job ladies. 

Due to the high volume and incoming images and videos we have decided to split the document in to three parts. Don’t forget to book mark us for more amazing images and videos from Say No To Dog Meat’s first of many global demonstrations and events. If you’d you like to know more or become involved in #OperationUnite which is set to take the globe by storm please contact us here today at: contact@saynotodogmeat.info

Thank you for reading and, don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more amazing images and stories.

Editor

“California mega drought is impending”

DESPITE man-made circulation systems, concrete canals and pipes that bring water from distant mountains to farms and populated areas California is still under an intense three year drought. California’s drought not only affects local citizens but the economy, wildlife and can increase crime and anti-social behavior.

Scientists have already stated a “mega-drought” could be one of the worst in California’s history that’s reduced much Californian landscape to a brown frazzled patch of soil. The people of Los Angeles are not new to drought or lack of rainfall though.

Back in 2011 California recorded a total of 12 inches of rainfall, in 2012 eight inches of rainfall was recorded and, in 2013 a measly (two inches) of rain was recorded for the entire year. Records for the first six months of 2014 recorded a total of one inch of rainfall. 2015 records to date do show a slight improvement although nothing to write home about.

Drought has been recorded within the “California area” since 4000 BC way before the state was founded. Climatologists recently recorded a dry period of some 1,300 years via the use of measuring aged tree stump rings. And, more recently, an extended dry period that began about 1,050 years ago likely helped cause the absolute collapse of intricate Southwest American-Indian societies.

Meanwhile while this three year extended drought is being recorded as “possibly” the worst “mega-drought” in California’s history floods have also took their toll onto the state of America founded in 1850. While the area has been affected by what we consider natural drought since 4000 BC floods have also been noted although these are mostly caused by riverine flooding. Floods of 1825 changed the course of the Los Angeles River from its western outlet into Santa Monica Bay following the course of Ballona Creek to a southern outlet at San Pedro Bay near where it is today. January 1850 floods devastated Sacramento.

Image: 1955-1956 California was hit by some of the worst floods in 90 years. 

The Feather River, the Sacramento River’s main tributary in the northern Sierra, rose to 250,000 cubic feet per second and flooded Yuba City and Marysville. The flood destroyed hundreds of buildings (image above) and killed at least 60 people. Such flooding provided support for A. D. Edmonston’s 1951 plan to build the Oroville dam.

December 1861 residents within California witnessed the largest floods since the state was founded in 1850 known as the “Great flood of 1861″. The great flood began December 24th 1861 lasting some forty five days. The “Great flood of 1861″ lasted until January 9th to the 12th, 1862. Further flooding events have been noted from 1909, 1933, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1950, 1955, 1964, 1976, 1986, 1995 and 1997.

The most recent recorded flooding event for California was noted December 11th 2014. Documented as “Big Wednesday” Hurricane Marie was blamed for this latest event of flooding. Hurricane Marie‘s center remained well away from land throughout its entire existence, its large size brought increased surf to areas from Southwestern Mexico northward to southern California. Off the coast of Los Cabos, three people drowned after their boat capsized in rough seas.

In Colima and Oaxaca, heavy rains from outer bands caused flooding, resulting in two fatalities. Similar effects were felt across Baja California Sur. Toward the end of August, Marie brought one of the largest hurricane-related surf events to southern California in decades. Swells of 10 to 15 ft (3.0 to 4.6 m) battered coastal areas, with structural damage occurring on Santa Catalina Island and in the Greater Los Angeles Area.

A breakwater near Long Beach sustained $10 million worth of damage, with portions gouged out. One person drowned in the surf near Malibu. Hundreds of ocean rescues, including over 100 in Malibu alone, were attributed to the storm, and overall losses reached $20 million.

While floods have been recorded in California’s history a mega-drought is still threatening many communities, farms and rural populations. International Animal Rescue Foundation’s – Environmental News and Media uncovered startling evidence of “some” farmers now selling their collected water instead of crops as the water is netting more profit at the moment than staple crops are.

“Climate change is not the main aggressive factor here affecting California’s residents and farming communities” Jose Depre stated. “The main problems surrounding California’s drought is the misuse of water and increasing populations”. “People are mostly to blame here and poor water management rather than just “climate change” stated Depre, Chief Environmental Director for International Animal Rescue Foundation, Say No To Dog Meat and Speak up For the Voiceless.Org”.

May 5th 2015 California introduced a newer and tougher water restriction since since the drought of 2012 began. California’s state water board have have approved emergency drought regulations that aim to slash the misuse of water down by some 25%. The measures call for cities and water agencies to reduce water usage by amounts ranging from 8% to 36%. The State Water Resources Control Board drew up the rules to meet Gov. Jerry Brown’s order for a 25% cut in urban water use statewide.

It’s the first time that California has ever put in place mandatory reductions in water use. The plan reflects just how bleak the state’s water picture has become. The snowpack in the Sierra Nevada has shrunk to a record low. Groundwater levels have plummeted across much of California, and in some areas of the Central Valley, the wells of hundreds of families have run dry. Furthermore while families and farming communities are suffering so too are wildlife.

Environmentalists at International Animal Rescue Foundation are now concerned the shortages of water and the impending summer that’s just around the corner will begin to have more than an adverse impact onto local wildlife that are already threatened with drought and wildfires.

While the residents of California can voice their concerns and take the relevant actions to adapt to drought the “silent sufferers” are those non-human species that rely on water to live, feed, bathe and hunt. Many native species of flora and fauna are already being forced to change their routines due to the serious ongoing drought that’s reported to increase this summer 2015. Furthermore the threat of wild fires is only around the corner that will increase pressure on native flora and fauna species furthermore.

75% of Southern California’s water supply derives from the Sierra Nevada Snow Pack. Should this 75% melt Southern California’s wildlife will be placed in extreme danger of death. Human civilization will undoubtedly suffer while the economy, businesses and organisations will feel more than hot pressure. Crime and unemployment will rise too followed by murder and gang related crimes.

From January 1 through to January 25th of this year CalFire responded to 406 wildfires. But in that same time period for the past five years, the average was just 69 wildfires. Meteorologists don’t expect much rain in 2015 during the usually wet spring months, so the heightened fire danger is expected to continue straight into the summer.

One of the very worst recorded wildfires to hit California for “2015” was recorded this February that saw some 50-75 km winds fanning wild fires leading to over five hundred residents being forced to evacuate the two small California towns at the eastern base of the Sierra Nevada. Brown said even rain wasn’t enough to put out the fire because a three-year drought across California created extremely dry timber brush that fueled the flames.

Should the three year drought continue its course of destruction thus seeing wildfires occur the effects onto local wildlife would be catastrophic and something that we do not think the locals are prepared for. Wildfires displace animals, displacement means some if not many of these animals caught up in wildfires can unfortunately end up in human populated areas which can cause some concern especially if larger predatory animals are displaced.

 Image: Wild roundfire – 2015 California. 

International Animal Rescue Foundation has voiced its concerns regarding drought and black bears that could/will begin to breach California’s human populated areas in search of food. Black bears are very adaptive and very mobile, so they will usually be able to take care of their daily needs in a drought situation. But then they’re coming down to the lake to drink a lot, coming down for food. If the drought persists, it greatly increases the odds of a negative interaction with people.  When or if this happens we’ll most likely see hunters brought in to control the species to keep populations intact or even possibly a temporary cull of black bears to reduce human species conflict.

Quote: “It was a surprise to see a bear in this part of the neighborhood”

Farm animals are also affected by California’s “unusual drought” of which residents have reported sightings of cattle and smaller animals within their back gardens. Migrations and hibernation’s are also being thrown of course due to the drought. One commonly known species, the Monarch Butterfly has been seriously affected by the drought of which its populations are decreasing.

Monarch butterfly numbers are falling, in part due to lack of food and the changing weather patterns along their migration route. The butterflies’ winter destination is Mexico; they travel thousands of miles south from Canada and the United States. Some settle along the warmer parts of the California coast, like Pacific Grove, near Monterey.

The larvae (caterpillars) of monarch butterflies eat “only” milkweed. The larvae stage is the only stage of the monarch butterfly that feeds on milkweed; there is something in milkweed that allows the caterpillar to grow and keep all of the vitamins needed to transform into a beautiful butterfly. In turn, the adult butterflies consume all sorts of different foods including nectar, water and even liquids from some of the fruits we consume.

Image: Monarch butterflies decline since records began in 1993

California’s drought has pretty much affected the vast majority of fresh and lush fruit trees that the monarch butterfly requires to thrive on. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature concluded last year in the Sierra Madre of Mexico saw the lowest population count of monarch butterflies since 1993 of which California’s drought was being blamed for.

Newts are staying in hibernation for longer periods too which is not considered normal. Newts would normally be seen out and about now. In Ben Lamond both newts, toads and frogs are literally being overcome by drought that’s seen devastating declines and deaths. While most amphibious creatures dig deep into the soil to take evasive action from such harsh environmental events sadly, the evasive actions taken are not helping to reduce the number of newt, frog and, toad deaths all of which are critically important species of fauna that are required to keep insect populations intact.

When early settlers arrived in California they drained Some 90% of California’s wetlands to create farmland and goldmines of which has had an adverse effect to amphibious species of fauna. Ecologists are trying though to reverse this trend that would help to increase amphibious species. Many amphibians breed and lay their eggs in wetlands. After their aquatic young develop they can survive on land, but they must return to a wetland to create the next generation. With such harsh drought increasing in its third consecutive year many amphibian creatures will be wiped out.

Image: Ben Lamond newt rescued from its natural habitat that has since dried up

Things do work out better for native amphibians though if a wetland dries up for “part of the year”. When it comes to amphibians’ predator control, drought can be a good thing, and timing is everything. While most of the three year drought period has dried up substantial amounts of wetland California’s native frog, toad and newt species will undoubtedly suffer in the long term too.

Unfortunately its not just our smaller species of wildlife that are affected by the impending “mega-drought”. International Animal Rescue Foundation’s marine and fresh water wildlife department has uncovered starling evidence of marine and fresh water mass deaths. 26th May 2015 in Baja, California, thousands of lobsters were washed up on the shoreline dead and alive. Jose Depre, CEO stated “in under two months this is the forth such event occurring on the Baja coast of which the same species of marine life has washed up dead and alive with no apparent reason or cause.

Image: Thousands of lobsters was ashore for the third time this year. 

In under two months many more whales have also without reason nor cause washed up along the coast of California. 24th May 2015 a further seven dead whales were sadly seen washed up onto the shoreline. 24th April four dead whales were again washed ashore which has baffled scientists. 7th March 2015 – 1,450 Sea lion pups have washed ashore this year ill and dying – ‘possibly 10,000 have died’ in California, America since the drought began three years ago. Some environmental groups are claiming that ships are the main cause of death however, the sheer fact that California also has seal pups and fish washing up now whales and sharks deepens our concerns regarding such deaths.

Image: Whales and sharks washing ashore along the coast of California. 

This year alone California’s Animal Rescue Clinics have been inundated with call after call regarding stranded cold and emaciated sea lion pups. 2015 has been said to be the worst year for sea lions in California of which the drought has been noted as the main blame. Unusually warm ocean water caused fish to move away from the islands where the sea lions give birth.

Due to sea lion prey moving further and deeper away, the moms are actually gone away longer from the pups. Because they’re gone longer, the pups aren’t getting enough (food) over time. They’re leaving the islands early, and they’re showing up on the shores here, starving to death. Environmentalists have stated the warmer ocean water has more to do with local conditions in the eastern Pacific. The current drought event of three years hasn’t more to do with global warming or anything along those lines. It’s more of a local climate event that we’re looking at. Experts hope the warmer-than-normal water is a fluke and not a pattern.

Meanwhile, while the state of California is under an immense drought California’s citizens are trying their hardest to adapt to what appears to be more locally human induced events rather than as explained “global warming or climate change”. However as much as the local non-celebrity citizens are doing their bit for their state, some celebrities have been noted as either doing nothing or simply flouting the laws.

One only has to take a drive around the suburbs of California to view most non-celebrity citizens once lush green lawns now nothing more than a frazzled piece of sod. Look a little further and one will see many celebrity houses with lush green lawns, filled fresh clean swimming pools and, sprinklers to hosepipes at the ready. Its truly crazy and a sharp smack into the face to our local wildlife and communities that would if they dared use a hosepipe fall prey to enforcement.

Picture above is celebrity Khloe Kardashian’s home that is decorated with lush green lawns, trees and crisp blue swimming pool. While on the left hand side of this image you can clearly see the impacts of California’s drought slowly but surely destroying even the hardiest of drought resistant grasses.

Celebrity Rob Lowe’s immaculate garden can be seen above that is flowing with green lush lawns and shrubs. Meanwhile on either side and circled in red for your attention are the effects of drought. One doesn’t really need to research or understand how much water is required to keep such lawns in this acquired condition.  Even within the United Kingdom where rainfall is a weekly occurrence such lawns of this type would not be seen in your everyday garden. Again this really is a slap in the face of those small animals that have no voice to shout for help. Furthermore if such celebrities that are supposed to be setting a good standard continue to flout the laws so will the local citizens.

Celebrity Jennifer Aniston does set a small example with the use of solar panels however then, lets herself and community down with lush green lawns and fresh crisp blue swimming pool. While on the left hand-side of this image one again can view the impacts of California’s three year drought slowly browning even the hardiest of drought resistant lawns.

Out of ninety celebrities gardens viewed within California sixty three had lush green lawns and with some thirty eight out of the ninety owning at least five swimming pools. Out of just the ninety observed, forty had hosepipes on show with a sprinkler attachment clearly visible. Only one home that we did view which was that of Kayne Wests that actually showed nothing but bare grey-ish, brown scorched grass.

California’s drought is expected to continue through to next year with little or no hope of the much needed rainfall. Concerning is that should the state of California continue to dry up into a slate of rock any such intense and prolonged rainfall will simply run off placing water reservoirs and concrete canals under immense pressure. Furthermore the longer dry spells persist with misuse of water the chances of heavy rainfall must be taken on board by all Californian residents. Floods may be uncommon but they can occur very quickly without warning and cause untold damage to large swathes of communities and the local wildlife.

There are many community projects that are now taking place all over the state such as Water Free Wednesday, horticultural drought resistant gardening and rebates for those that knowingly help to reduce their water intake. Furthermore tips on how you can save water can be viewed here below.

Thank you for reading.

Dr Jose C. Depre

Environmental and Botanical Conservation.

 Endangered Species Friday: Hispaniolan Solenodon

This Fridays endangered species article we focus on a very peculiar looking animal scientifically named as the Hispaniolan Solenodon pictured above.

Listed as (endangered) the species is endemic to the Dominican Republic and Haiti of which was identified back in 1833 by Dr Johann Friedrich von Brandt (25 May 1802 – 15 July 1879) was a German naturalist.

Dr Brandt was born in Jüterbog and educated at a gymnasium in Wittenberg and the University of Berlin. In 1831 he was appointed director of the Zoological Department at the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences, where he published in Russian. Brandt encouraged the collection of native animals, many of which were not represented in the museum. Many specimens began to arrive from the expeditions of Severtzov, Przhevalsky, Middendorff, Schrenck and Gustav Radde.

At first glance one would be led to believe that the H. solenodon was a type of rodent. The species is in fact a a type of shrew in the family of Solenodontidae identified by Dr Gill in 1872. While they may posses the same characteristics as rodents they do not fall into the super-class of Euarchontoglires that rodents do.

H. solenodon has been classified as (endangered) since early 1982 up to 1996 when a more in depth census undertaken on the species failed to locate any significant evidence of species population increases. To date 29th May 2015 the H. solenodon commonly named as the Haitian Solenodon or Hispaniolan Solenodon remains endangered and is nearing extinction level.

Solenodons which in (Latin means – slotted tooth) are not a creature to be underestimated either as of their pretty nasty venomous bite that does pack a rather large punch. Solenodons are one of very few species of small “rodent like shrews” that’s bite is much worse than its bark.

The solenodon is particularly fascinating because it delivers its poison just as a snake does—using its teeth as a syringe to inject venom into its target. Not a lot is known about these unusual mammals. There are only two solenodon species: One lives on Cuba and the other on Hispaniola (home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic). At night, they dig in the dirt with their Pinocchio snouts and long claws, looking for grub and waiting to disarm their prey—insects, worms, snails and small frogs and reptiles—with a toxic bite.

While their venom is not dangerous to humans we do advise that if handling to please wear a good protective layer of gloves. There have been no reports of humans falling ill or dying from being bitten by a solenodon.

The Haitian solenodon is found in forests and brush country, as well as around plantations. It is mainly nocturnal, hiding during the day in rock clefts, hollow trees, or burrows which it excavates itself. Its diet includes insects and spiders found in soil and leaf litter. Solenodons obtain food by rooting in the ground with their snouts and by tearing into rotten logs and trees with their foreclaws. This species is relatively social, and up to eight individuals may inhabit the same burrow. Litter size is 1 or 2 young. The young are born in a nesting burrow. Young solenodons remain with their mother for several months, which is exceptionally long for insectivores.

Population trends are unfortunately decreasing of which its major threats are listed below for your immediate attention.

Threats

The most significant threat to this species appears to be the continuing demise of its forest habitat and predation by introduced rats, mongoose, cats and dogs, especially in the vicinity of settlements. In Haiti persecution and hunting for food (Samuel Turvey pers. comm.) is a threat, and there is devastating habitat destruction also occurring.

Please view the video below for further information.

Thank you for reading 

Dr Jose C. Depre 

Chief Environmental & Botanical Officer. 

Chief Executive 

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa. 

Endangered Species Monday – Pseudalopex fulvipes

In this Monday’s endangered species article we focus our attention on the species of fox commonly known as the Darwin fox. Identified by Dr William Charles Linnaeus Martin (1798 – 1864). Dr Martin was an English naturalist.William Charles Linnaeus Martin was the son of William Martin who had published early color books on the fossils of Derbyshire, and who named his son Linnaeus in honor of his interest in the classification of living things.

Listed as CRITICALLY ENDANGERED the species was scientifically identified as Pseudalopex fulvipes endemic to Chile, Los Lagos. Charles Darwin collected the very first evidence of this rather stunning species back in 1834 however was not the primary identifier despite the species name. Since 1989 the fox has been re-monitored to determine its current population sizes and future classification. I am somewhat skeptical that this species will survive into the next five years even with more in-depth wild analysis – the species in my own expert opinion is doomed.

One fox was observed and captured back in 1999 for data and breeding with a further two adults captured back in 2002 in Tepuhueico. That same year it was noted a local as killing a mother and her cubs which amassed to some four Darwin foxes witnessed dead and alive within the wild since revaluation of species began from 1989. Some evidence although (little documented) has confirmed “sightings” of Darwin foxes during the year of 2002 however, these are sketchy reports.

On mainland Chile, Jaime Jiménez has observed a small population since 1975 in Nahuelbuta National Park; this population was first reported to science in the early 1990s. It appears that Darwin’s Foxes are restricted to the park and the native forest surrounding the park. This park, only 68.3 km² in size, is a small habitat island of highland forest surrounded by degraded farmlands and plantations of exotic trees. This population is located about 600 km north of the island population and, to date, no other populations have been found in the remaining forest in between.

Darwin’s Fox was reported to be scarce and restricted to the southern end of Chiloé Island. The comparison of such older accounts (reporting the scarcity of Darwin’s fox), with recent repeated observations, conveys the impression that the Darwin’s Fox has increased in abundance, although this might simply be a sampling bias.

As explained even with a very, very small increase in sightings – populations are declining and sadly we may be reporting in the next year or two an (extinction in the wild) occurring if not a complete extinction overall. Should that happen we’ve lost the entire species for good.

Darwin foxes are said and known to be forest dwelling mammals which could be why environmental surveys are proving to be fruitless.  Darwin foxes occur only in southern temperate rainforests. Recent research on Chiloé, based on trapping and telemetry data on a disturbance gradient, indicates that, in decreasing order, foxes use old-growth forest followed by secondary forest followed by pastures and openings. Although variable among individuals, about 70% of their home ranges comprised old-growth forest.

Protected under Chilean law since 1929 the Darwin fox are listed on Cites Appendix II (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species wild flora and fauna).  Conservation actions that are under way in the Nahuelbuta National Park are to increase species populations and establish overall protection within this range. Temuco zoo did hold one single species of which was believed to be held for protective captive breeding however the fox has since died back in 2000.

Threats

Although the species is protected in Nahuelbuta National Park, substantial mortality sources exist when foxes move to lower, unprotected private areas in search of milder conditions during the winter. Some foxes even breed in these areas. This is one of the reasons why it is recommended that this park be expanded to secure buffer areas for the foxes that use these unprotected ranges.

The presence of dogs in the park may be the greatest conservation threat in the form of potential vectors of disease or direct attack. There is a common practice to have unleashed dogs both on Chiloé and in Nahuelbuta; these have been caught within foxes’ ranges in the forest. Although dogs are prohibited in the national park, visitors are often allowed in with their dogs that are then let loose in the park.

There has been one documented account of a visitor’s dog attacking a female fox while she was nursing her two pups. In addition, local dogs from the surrounding farms are often brought in by their owners in search of their cattle or while gathering Araucaria seeds in the autumn. Park rangers even maintain dogs within the park, and the park administrator’s dog killed a guiña in the park. Being relatively naive towards people and their dogs is seen as non-adaptive behaviour in this species’ interactions with humans.

The island population appears to be relatively safe by being protected in Chiloé National Park. This 430 km² protected area encompasses most of the still untouched rainforest of the island. Although the park appears to have a sizable fox population, foxes also live in the surrounding areas, where substantial forest cover remains. These latter areas are vulnerable and continuously subjected to logging, forest fragmentation, and poaching by locals. In addition, being naive towards people places the foxes at risk when in contact with humans. If current relaxed attitudes continue in Nahuelbuta National Park, Chiloé National Park may be the only long-term safe area for the Darwin’s Fox.

No commercial use. However, captive animals have been kept illegally as pets on Chiloé Island.

Current estimates place the species population count at a mere 250 left within the wild. 

Thank you for reading.

Please share and lets get this fox the protection it requires through education, awareness and funding.

Links for interest:

Survey of infectious agents.

Adopt a Darwin Fox.

Darwin M&E Project.

General Information.

Dr Jose C. Depre. 

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa.

info@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa. 

Donate to Say No To Dog Meat today.

Contrary to popular belief native Africans were not the first people on the continent to pursue a career or “sport” of trophy hunting. The history of trophy hunting dates as far back to the early 1800’s when southern and central European hunters sought out large or small game. Not much has really changed since the early 1800’s although hunters did out of mutual respect show much veneration to their kill more than today’s modern hunters that flock to the continent of Africa from far and wide in their droves.

Southern and central European hunters were known to keep the trophy head or entire animal as a sign of prowess however did leave much waste of which little of that waste was provided to local villagers and communities struggling financially or in times of famine when free food was much sough after. Today most professional hunters (PH) or outfitters allege that their trophy kill’s are evenly distributed out to the local communities and villagers in dire need of food.

Today in most of Southern Africa we see a mixture of international citizens hunting animals from lion, elephant, zebra, cheetah, impala down to hippopotamus and plains game. The vast majority of hunters visiting the continent range from northern Europe where hunting has long been associated with their history. Back in the 1800’s northern European hunters within their native range would mostly hunt for meat and in Africa evidence has shown that the majority of northern European hunters do indeed demand their kill or any waste is equally handed out to local villagers and communities. After all its their tradition and a tradition in northern Europe that is steeped in history.

Sport hunting has long gotten up Animal Rights Activists noses which today’s hunting generation rarely follow any rule of the land or continue to practice the family tradition as if its a heirloom. Environmental researchers from the Environmental News and Media team have long argued now that western disrespect within today’s hunting generation is now rubbing off onto our own African citizens that have been witnessed killing animals then parading the parts of bodies of animals or jokingly fooling around with the corpse as if it was nothing more than a piece of shit on ones shoe.

One such hunter witnessed back in 2012 that our investigative team noted last year named as Mr Henning Pretorius from Krugersdorp Gauteng, South Africa didn’t just grotesquely slaughter this non-threatened Zebra below – he then set about jumping on the animals dead back jokingly  fooling around and acting as if he was on some rodeo. Hardly professional hunting nor conservation. We will though give him his due respects where given of which the animal was slaughtered – however made into a rug for his own home. The meat was distributed among family members and friends which back in the 1880’s was uncommon.

Since Henning pretorius became aware of this image circulating Mr Pretorius not only demanded its removal but, has been given special cyber protection – I.e his profile has been blocked from the United Kingdom. We do find this move by Facebook rather peculiar as 1. we’re not British citizens or even residents and 2. why has he been given this rather suspicious preferential treatment? Did we touch a sore nerve. Mr Henning has also taken the rather unusual step of removing this image or at least concealing it amidst his other nauseating images that Facebook’s administration platform seems to be protecting.

Kalahri’s Historian on hunting and Animal Rights stated: 

Trophy hunting is the most controversial aspect of hunting for opponents of hunting, who argue that modern economics or vegetarianism should eliminate the need for most killing of animals, if not animal domestication entirely.

They see such killing as an issue of morality, citing British fox hunting as an especially inhumane “blood sport.”
Hunting in North America in the 1800s was done primarily as a way to supplement food supplies. The safari method of hunting was a development of sport hunting that saw elaborate travel in Africa, India and other places in pursuit of trophies. In modern times, trophy hunting persists, but is frowned upon by some when it involves rare or endangered species of animal. Other people also object to trophy hunting in general because it is seen as a senseless act of killing another living thing for recreation, rather than food.

In all due respects Henning and Kalahari are nothing more than a CON in Conservation.

Africa holds the largest custodian of lions in the world. However their populations are dwindling quite rapidly. To date and based on the most recent up to date International Union for the Conservation of Natures report a population count of some 30,000 lions remain in the wild. Listed as vulnerable and nearing endangered they remain the second species within the big five that’s populations are actually declining. Central African elephant “populations” could be considered within this count too however based on census reports elephant populations within the central African republic are known to be “endangered” as a population not as an entire species.

The African lions main threat is that of habitat destruction and human species conflict with some reports of “unregulated hunting” as being problematic mostly within Tanzania. However while the IUCN lists certain dangers regarding the lion such as habitat destruction, persecution and unregulated hunting they fail to list the dramatic decrease of male African lions that are required within the prides to keep species intact. Continued hunting of males lion or even female lionesses will eventually have an adverse effect onto lion populations thus pushing this species into the realms of endangerment.

Environmental News and Media has duly noted from 2011 to 2014 a stark increase of eastern and southern European hunters visiting Africa to hunt the big five. Increases from Ukraine, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia and Turkey have been noted. More worrying are increasing numbers of trophy hunters such as Jacine Jadreško from Croatia (pictured below).

Croatian, Albanian, Russian, Czech Republic and Polish trophy hunters are second to that of American hunters with British hunters slowly creeping up. While sport hunting is not currently considered a major threat to the species, habitat loss, a lack of prey and increasing conflict with humans are to blame for the decline in the numbers of African lions, whose numbers have dropped by two-thirds since the 1980s, according to  2014 USDA report. There were 76,000 lions in Africa in 1980, but that number has declined to about 30,000 today.

Zambia has since lifted the ban on hunting lions and cheetahs. The ban wasn’t lifted because lion and cheetah species populations began increasing but more for sustainable wildlife projects. In other words while the ban on hunting was in place funding to secure wildlife from poaching just didn’t hit the target – so – therefore Zambia has limited the ban to generate funding to preserve its natural wildlife.

A Con or practical thinking?

Environmental News and Media’s External Affairs Investigations Dept noted a stark and worrying increase of youth hunters to the continent too. Most African countries hold certain rules in place the forbid a minor under the age of sixteen from carrying or even shooting a loaded rifle. As one can see in the case below this is not so. From Howick, Kwazulu-Natal laws are being flouted daily.

Con or gun conservation?

A further worrying trend were witnessing in South Africa are tiger farms springing up everywhere in the Eastern Cape – for the gun. From 2012 to 2014 Environmental News and Media recorded a total of 63 tiger farms in the Eastern Cape. Since 2012 a further 21 have been established. Tigers are listed as critically endangered – yet are bred and for the gun.

One of the world’s largest and most iconic predators may soon go extinct in the wild – yet in South Africa the species are being bred for for the bloody gun!

Amid all the fuss over global warming and alternative energy, the continued loss of biodiversity is being largely overlooked and forgotten. And the trend may claim its highest profile victim to date in just a couple decades, say conservation groups. For at least a million years tigers have roamed the forests and jungles of Asia, ruling the top of the food chain. But today Tigers are facing a final bow from the world they once ruled as their habitats have been destroyed and their numbers slashed by poaching.

At the start of the twentieth century there were an estimated 100,000 tigers. Over the course of the last century those numbers shrank and several subspecies — the Bali, Javan, and Caspian Tigers — went extinct.

The WWF has released a new report estimating that there are now only 3,200 tigers left in the wild in India, Southeast Asia, Russia, and China. They estimate that within a generation tigers will become extinct in the wild, if drastic action is not taken to conserve them.

Sybille Klenzendorf, director of the WWF-US species conservation program comments, “There is a real threat of losing this magnificent animal forever in our lifetime. This would be like losing the stars in the sky. Three tiger subspecies have gone extinct, and another, the South China tiger, has not been seen in the wild in 25 years.”

World Bank, a multinational financial institution that provides loans to developing countries, is partnering with the WWF in a push to save the beasts.

Keshav S. Varma, program director of the World Bank’s Global Tiger Initiative comments, “Unless we really crack down on illegal trade and poachers, tigers in the wild have very little chance. If the tigers disappear, it is an indication of a comprehensive failure. It’s not just about tigers. If you save the tiger, you are going to save other species. It provides an excellent indicator of commitment to biodiversity. If they survive, it shows we are doing our job right. If they disappear, it shows we are just talking.”

Despite the fact that so few tigers remain, demand for their body parts is at an all time high on the Asian black markets. Crawford Allan, director of TRAFFIC-North America, which monitors the trade in wildlife, comments, “The demand for bones and skin, meat, and even claws and teeth … is driving a major crime campaign to wipe tigers out in the wild.”

Lixin Huang, president of the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine has teamed with the WWF to try to fight Chinese natives from using tiger parts in their traditional remedies. States Huang, “Traditional Chinese medicine does not need tiger bones to save lives. What we are dealing with is an old tradition, an old belief that tiger wine can make their bones stronger. That is not medicine, that is from old tradition.”

The WWF’s ambitious goal is to try to get the tiger population doubled to 6,400 tigers in the wild by 2022. To do that, they say they will need $13M USD a year and cooperation from the governments of Bangladesh, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Russia, the United States, Vietnam, and the Greater Mekong region, which stretches across Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Nearing extinction in the wild – Bred in captivity in South Africa for the gun.

Hardly Conservation is it?

Tame Kangaroo Fatally Injured By A Great Dane Dog

This was not just any Kangaroo, this was one of “my” Kangaroos, who had the lower half of his hind leg torn off by a vicious Great Dane pet dog whose owners knew was vicious, but still illegally let the dog onto the golf course to roam and cause havoc. Waiting for vets to arrive, I watched my Kangaroo drag himself on exposed bones for 2 hours, crippled with agonizing pain.

Dragging exposed bones on the ground, for 2 HOURS before help arrived.

I watch over around 80 Kangaroos, a dozen or so Koalas, countless other marsupials, plus prolific bird life, raptors, marine life and reptiles and have done this for 10 years. Living on a private golf course, which is my back yard, I consider these “my” wild animals.

The phone call came in at 9.45am last Tuesday, that one of my Kangaroos was “in a bad way and needed help.”

The First View.

I arrived on the scene within several minutes of the distress phone call and was met by the head Greens Keeper, from the golf course. A second greens keeper looked worried and pointed in the direction of the injured animal. Kangaroos are native Australian marsupials who camouflage and for a moment my eyes had to search to find him. He was down on the ground, propped up on one elbow, as if he was relaxing in the sun. Except he was in the shade of the trees, laying on a hard surface between two fairways, so something was terribly wrong.

His face was semi-relaxed but when I spoke he relaxed his “I’m OK” pose and the pain flashed across his face as his body jerked.

As my eyes traced down his body, I momentarily went weak at the knees to see one of my own dear Kangaroos with such a horrific injury. I let out a few swear words as a reflex then dropped my hands on my knees and had to re-stablise myself to think and act fast.

The greens-keepers told me two people witnessed the attack, from a golf course resident’s dog. For the past two years I have had a running battle with one family who also live on the golf course, who think it’s their right to let their pet dogs run free on the fairways. Absolutely no dogs are allowed on the golf course. It is private property and because it has prolific wildlife, dogs are absolutely not allowed.

The offending dog’s owner has had a series of dogs, which I have collected off the course and taken to the dog pound. The adult Great Dane was their latest dog and this was the first I was hearing about it.

This injured kangaroo stood about 7 foot tall and although he knew me well and wasn’t nervous of me being close to him, he was still a wild animal which had never been handled by humans. Even though he would let me get within a few feet from him, that’s not the same as overpowering him and containing him, consequently I had to get someone with a dart to come to me.

I made a series of frantic phone calls and from the small list of people with dart guns, each of them had genuine reasons why they could not attend on this day. Finally, the RSPCA said they would attend but it would be at least another hour before they could arrive. I was incredibly thankful to hear help would arrive at some point.

Meanwhile, the kangaroo was mobile! I was driving a golf buggy to stay with him so I didn’t lose him. When kangaroos camouflage you cannot see them unless they move. Because of his size I could not contain him other than try to keep him in the trees and off the fairways. We were located between two fairways, with golfers hitting golf balls around us. If he crossed the fairway and got into the longer grass I could lose him for good.

My injured kangaroo on the move.

I cannot emphasize how distressing it was to watch my kangaroo drag himself on exposed bones for two hours before the RSPCA arrived. The pain the animal was in was horrific. His body would twitch and jerk and agony was written across his face.

Caught between despair and rage, I phoned the Gold Coast City Council and told them what was taking place and they sent out two Animal Management Officers who photographed and documented the situation so this case can proceed to the full extent of the law.

When the RSPCA Animal Ambulance eventually arrived, the RSPCA lady attempted to use a blow-dart. By now the kangaroo was trying to lay on a steep slope on a putting green, but when he realized he was being pursued by strangers he let out ‘stress-calls’ and started flailing his front paws in clawing motions, with his sharp claws hooking the air as he roared, to warn them he meant business.

Still letting out stress calls, he got up and awkwardly took off, bounding on one hind leg and his tail, with his torn-off leg sideways like a broken rudder. It was absolutely pitiful to watch. I wanted to fall to the ground in sympathy for him – but I had to keep my composure.

Gold Coast City Council Animal Management and the RSPCA Animal Ambulance were both in attendance.

Bounding as hard and fast as he could, I could hear him grunting in pain, as he reached a sand bunker. He momentarily stopped and just stared at it – normally he would have bounded over it. He just couldn’t do it. He half fell into the bunker, then dragged himself through the sand and dragged himself up the grass on the other side and collapsed.

We seized the moment as I drove the golf buggy close to him and the lady blew the sedative dart into his side. He leapt up and yelled another roar (similar to a shortened lion’s roar) and took off again, this time heading to a running creek. He balked at the running water, unable to leap it and he lost his balance and fell in. As he rolled over in the water and scrambled up the dart fell out! Somehow he managed to cross the water and scramble into very long grass, where unbeknown to me, his mob were waiting for him.

Kangaroos live in family units so when one of the family is injured, it affects all of them. As the injured kangaroo became tangled in the long grass on the other side of the creek, a hidden female kangaroo and her at-foot-joey jumped up into the air and the critically injured kangaroo collapsed again, disappearing into the long grass. The females were from his mob and they stayed with him, standing guard over him. They too were now distressed. He may even have been her son from a previous year.

Over view of the horrific injury, showing the thickening of the leg at the amputation, from the exposed bones and flesh being dragged and scraped on the ground for 2 hours.

I held my breath that the dart would take some effect, at least enough that we could sedate him further and get him unconscious. The RSPCA lady and myself drove to a narrow part of the creek and waded across on foot, along with the volunteer helper who was traveling with her. As I located the injured kangaroo, I spoke kindly to the females, who know me very well. They moved back but were clearly distressed.

The injured kangaroo woke up startled and we had to seize our only chance – we jumped on him and began to wrestle with him. Because we are both experienced kangaroo handlers, we already knew to approach from behind him. I took the front end, with his head and slashing front paws. Partially laying on him, I wrapped a blanket around his eyes, to remove his vision and grabbed both front legs which were slashing the air as he was twisting and roaring.

My kangaroo, immediately after wrestling him to get him sedated.

The power in his front legs was astonishing. It was only because he was already partially sedated that we could overpower him at all. Without the first dose of sedation he would have been far too powerful to even consider overpowering. The volunteer had panicked and was hiding behind a tree.

The RSPCA lady was great; she took the rear end and got sedative into him. Now he was drifting to unconsciousness. We had him. We gave him several minutes, then loaded him into a trailer and drove him to the RSPCA Ambulance vehicle where he was unloaded and humanely euthanized.

My kangaroo, sedated and being moved back to the Animal Ambulance to be euthanized.

It still brings tears to my eyes to recall this tragic day where such a sweet animal lost his life in such terrible circumstances.

The lady from the RSPCA was extremely professional and I cannot thank her enough for attending. Her manner was calm and she had a genuine love of animals. I was probably not the easiest person to deal with on this day, as I was distressed and angered and at my wits end. But the RSPCA lady wasn’t phased. I am also an RSPCA first responder and animal rescuer, but when its one of your own animals with a horrific injury, it really hits home.

Euthanized and no longer suffering.

The City Council

The case is now with the City Council and yesterday they met with me again. There are witnesses to the attack so I am confident justice will be served on my kangaroo’s behalf.

It has since come to light that the same Great Dane has severely attacked two other pet dogs, almost killing one of them. The Great Dane is 9 years old and residents have photographed him roaming in their street, which is illegal. We do not have ‘stray dogs’ and dogs are not allowed to wander outside your own property.

The vicious Great Dane which fatally injured my Kangaroo, wandering around the streets!

On behalf of the Kangaroo, the golf course has agreed for me to write a letter to all residents clarifying the no-dog rule, with no excuses and no exceptions. The first two council fines are only $113 but once you hit the third fine it jumps up to almost $600.00 and keeps escalating. It is terrible that one selfish family can cause so much grief and damage to so many!

The vicious Great Dane which fatally injured my Kangaroo, wandering around the streets, pooping on people’s lawns.

How Can A Dog Inflict Such Damage To A Kangaroo?

Almost everyone would usually back a kangaroo winning a fight with a dog, however, this situation was slightly different. This was a tame kangaroo who was possibly sun baking on the side of a putting green (on the downward slope) when he was set upon. If the kangaroo jumped up on the downward slope, his balance would not be as stable as normal and because of the size of the dog (Great Dane) and the slope of the land, the dog just happened to get the kangaroo at the exact moment when his defenses were down.

Kangaroos have hollow bones, as they are designed for buoyancy. They are the only large animal in the world who use hopping for locomotion and can jump 30 foot in a single jump.

Kangaroos have hollow bones, designed for buoyancy.

Having hollow bones also means their bones are somewhat brittle. The Great Dane found himself in a perfect storm, meaning not only did he catch the kangaroo in a compromised situation, because of the size of the dog, when he seized the kangaroo’s leg and twisted it and shook it, it snapped the bones as the kangaroo twisted to get away.

In a usual kangaroo / dog attack, the kangaroo would stop and turn toward the dog, sit bolt upright on it’s tail and grab the dog with it’s front paws, lift it up and disembowel it with it’s hind legs. If water is near by, kangaroos are known to swim into water and if followed by a dog, the kangaroo will seize the dog with it’s front paws and hold the dog under water to drown it.

Kangaroos are a fleeing animal, with monocular vision, while dogs are predators with forward set eyes. In a normal situation a dog cannot even begin to match the strength and speed of a kangaroo, but kangaroos are shy and will always try to flee first.

Conclusion

My wild animals know my voice and we have a mutual respect for each other, hence, they let me get very close to them. When a 7 foot tall Kangaroo allows you to get close, it is a real privilege. I have worked closely with kangaroos for over 40+ years and have hand reared baby ‘joeys’ to adult hood, bottle feeding them every 4 hours around the clock, for an entire 12 months. That includes getting up in the middle of the night for 12 months, plus taking them in the car everywhere you go. I do not take it lightly when gross injury is inflicted upon any animal, including my own!

Please support the RSPCA as we need their help to provide care for our wildlife.

If the dog owner had been responsible in the first place this sad situation would never have taken place. The kangaroo lost his life in horrific circumstances because of a dog who was simply doing what dogs do when their instinct to kill takes over. The dog owners knew their dog was vicious but selfishly didn’t care. The City Council will now help the dog owners ‘care’ by stepping in on behalf of the Kangaroo.

If you own a dog or cat please be responsible and think of the effect your “cuddly pet” may cause to other animals and people. It is not only dog owners who allow their pets to roam, but pet cats are perhaps worse than dogs because cats kill so many smaller animals, including bird-life. I am just as happy taking cats for a ride to the pound as I am taking dogs, and as much as I love dogs and cats, I strongly urge all animal lovers to be responsible and also look out for wildlife and notify officials in your own area when you see wandering animals.

Someone has to speak up for wildlife. Let that someone be you!

For further reading about the plight of Australian kangaroos, please read: Kangaroos: Hundreds Of Thousands Annually Slaughtered

Thank you for reading,

Michele Brown.

Endangered Species Friday – Anas bernieri

This Friday’s endangered species article I focus on my eighteenth “Madagascan” species of wildlife since establishing International Animal Rescue Foundation’s Endangered Species Watch Post one and half years ago. I very much doubt too that this will by mine or the teams last such species of Madagascan native animal to print on nearing extinction, simply because the island is rapidly being overcome by humans, habitat destruction and poaching.

Endemic only to the Africans island of Madagascar the the A. bernieri as the species is scientifically known was primarily identified back in 1860 by Dr Karel Johan Gustav Hartlaub (8 November 1814 – 29 November 1900) was a German physician and ornithologist.

Dr Hartlaub was born in Bremen, and studied at Bonn and Berlin before graduating in medicine at Göttingen. In 1840, he began to study and collect exotic birds, which he donated to the Bremen Natural History Museum. He described some of these species for the first time. Dr Hartlaub has been described by many leading ornithologists as an expert in bird wildlife and conservation and, has been ranked as one of few such experts that has identified over hundreds species of birds globally.

Listed as (endangered) the species is commonly known as the Bernier’s Teal or just Madagascar Teal. The species is uncommonly viewed within western Madagascar of which it can be found along the western coast and, north east. Bernier’s Teal is known to breed at the Menabe and Melaky on the central west coast, and at Ankazomborona on the far north-west coast. Between July and August (1993) the species was observed at Antsalova and Morondava of which a census recorded a total of some 200-300 mature individuals. Back in 1998 a small flock was observed in Tambohorano totaling some 60-70 mature individuals.

Furthermore in 1998 a new a new breeding colony numbering some 200-300 mature individuals was recorded in Ankazomborona. Meanwhile the population noted at Baie de la Mahajamba was estimated to be between some 100-200 mature individuals. (Please note that due to lack of census counts and close monitoring these population numbers above may differ from any future or now census counts) however the Durrel Wildlife Conservation Trust is helping to preserve one of the worlds most incredibly rare birds.

The total mean population count of which could be lower than the last census undertaken back in 2007 stands at a pathetic and measly 1,200 to 1,700 mature individuals today. However due to mass deforestation, pollution, habitat fragmentation and destruction and, poaching, Etc, its quite possible populations of the A. bernieri have plummeted way below the last 2002 and 2007 census count.

The Madagascar Teal is of the Anas genus and is a dabbling duck. Huge areas of wetlands are being drained or altered for human activities such as farmland, rice paddies and prawn ponds. Their wooded habitat is also being destroyed for timber which effects their breeding. Due to the increase of humans in their area, hunting has also increased for so called sport and meat.

Threats

Listed on (Cites) Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species Wild Flora and Fauna the species is listed on Appendix II of which is threatened by a large number of mostly human threats. The species is now extremely threatened throughout its breeding range, by extensive habitat loss and disturbance. The distribution of known sites suggests that the single subpopulation is being fragmented as areas of habitat become unsuitable.

The species has limited dispersal capabilities and isolation may result in the loss of genetic diversity. Furthermore it is threatened by virtue of being highly specific to a series of habitats – which are themselves threatened – throughout its annual cycle. Conversion of shallow, muddy water-bodies to rice cultivation has been so widespread on the west coast that in the non-breeding season the species now appears to be confined to the few suitable wetlands that are too saline for rice-growing, i.e. some inland lakes and coastal areas such as mudflats.

In 2004, during a dry-season survey in Menabe, this species was only found in saline wetlands. Pressures on coastal wetlands are exacerbated by the movement of people from the High Plateau to coastal regions, which is driven by the over-exhaustion of land. Mangroves are under increasing pressure from prawn-pond construction and timber extraction, which also leads to massively increased hunting. Subsistence hunting during the nesting season and the trapping of molting birds are major threats too. It is considered a delicacy by hunters and was found in markets in Sofia in 2011.

See more here on the video above. http://harteman.nl/pages/anasbernieri

In contrast, the breeding site at Ankazomborona is not threatened by aquaculture and there is little pressure from subsistence hunters, though there is some pressure from “sport hunters”. Breeding birds may suffer disturbance from human activity, such as the collection of crabs. The species is potentially in competition for the use of suitable nest-holes with the Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos, parrots Coracopsis species and nocturnal lemurs, Lepilemur species and Cheirogaleus species, though lemurs are absent in mangroves. Breeding is from December to March. Diet consists of mainly insects.

In all its very likely that we will lose the Madagascan Teal within the wild in next to three to five years unless conservation efforts drastically and rapidly improve and, the Madagascar Ministry of Environment and Forests tackles poaching, habitat fragmentation, destruction and human interference sooner rather than later. I personally believe from my last visit to Madagascar back in 2013 its very unlikely the M. Teal or any other species listed as critically endangered will continue to thrive for years to come. Catastrophic habitat destruction on the island is threatening hundreds of over a hundred species of medium and large mammalians.

How can I help? The “Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust” are currently undertaking amazing captive breeding programs of the Madagascan Teal that is known to be one of the worlds most rarest birds. You can help by supporting the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and making a donation to their organisation that will help increase captive breeding colonies for later release back into the wild. Even if the species cannot be released back onto the island of Madagascar (should extinctions occur), reintroduction programs elsewhere will continue to keep this species alive for future generations to come. You never know the species may be coming to a home somewhere near you soon. Please donate and contact the D.W.C.T <here for further information.

Thank you 

Dr Jose C. Depre 

Environmental and Botanical Scientist. 

International Animal Rescue Foundation Africa.

For further information or if you’d like to help in upcoming events this year or in the future please contact the Environmental team here today.  info@international-animalrescue-foundation.org.uk