Provinvie Groningen start weer jacht op muskusratten....

PvdD woedend over afblazen stop rattenvangst

12-11-2009 RTV Noord


GRONINGEN - De Partij voor de Dieren in Groningen is zwaar teleurgesteld dat de proef om muskusratten niet langer te bestrijden is afgeblazen.

Fractievoorzitter Anja Hazekamp van de Partij voor de Dieren is furieus. Zij vindt de bestrijding van muskusratten te vergelijken met doodknuppelen van zeehondjes en denkt dat ze de dupe worden van wanbebeleid van de provincie.

De Provinciale Staten hebben woensdag een streep gezet door het plan om de natuur haar gang te laten gaan wat betreft de muskusrat.

(Bron: http://www.rtvnoord.nl/)

Zuid-Holland stopt met gebruik verdrinkingsvallen in jacht op muskusrat

Provincie stopt met verdrinken ratten

12-11-2009 RTV West


REGIO - De provincie stopt met de jacht op muskusratten met verdrinkingsvallen. Gedeputeerde Evertse heeft dat woensdagavond aangekondigd.

De vangers van muskusratten zullen zich voortaan meer richten op preventie, omdat er steeds minder ratten worden gevangen.

Het dieptepunt is vorig jaar bereikt. De provincie zit daardoor met honderd vangers die steeds minder om handen hebben. SP en de Partij voor de Dieren voeren al een tijd actie voor diervriendelijker methodes van muskusrattenbestrijding.

(Bron: http://www.westonline.nl/)

Doe shot in Jaw lived for 4 days in suffering

A few days ago I got a letter from a women named Marilyn in e-mail telling me about a doe who was shot in her lower jaw. I saw the one photo she sent me and I was so shocked and the pain this animal must have endured. I asked for her to send me more photos so I can put it into a video for the public needs to know this is what sportsman does to animals.

Are hunters "ethical" and "care" about animals they kill? NO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw4Myy...

Does hunters leave thousands wounded? Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_i-iM...

Is bowhunting cruel and barbaric and does the bowhunted animals, according to a Veterinarian, die a horrible death? Yes

Have the hunters and hunting organization been lying about Deer Birth Control effectiveness , safety and cost? Yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-SWqu...

Do deer birth control works ? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29zuL9...

"60% in fawn birth reduction!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgA1iD...

Are hunting organization aritificially ballooning deer population for their recreational purpose ? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c-Hp6...

Do hunting worsen Deer Vehicle Accidents? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFkO4r...

Do hunting increase the rate of deer starvation? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvNhCV...

Is hunting dangerous to children? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDgSAb...

Hunting dangerous to the public? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzGjcz...

Do children believe killing animals for fun is wrong? YES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdx2yV...

Is hunting a "tradition"? NO
Tradition should NEVER be an excuse to commit cruelty to animals.!

Overall we DO NOT NEED LEGALIZED SPORTS OF ANIMAL SAVAGERY!

Bow hunting is beyond immoral. It is the ultimate act of despicable cruelty by hunters fueled with a thirst for killing by the most hideous of means. It is pure evil to commit any living being to such a horrible mix of agony, pain, and death.

Overall ALL hunting for sports is WRONG whether be shotgun, bows and arrow, crossbow etc etc etc.

Hunting accident lists 2009
http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/acc...

2008 and back
http://www.all-creatures.org/cash/acc...

Sea Shepherd: Support Operation Waltzing Matilda

Memphis (USA) Animal Shelter Abuse

The horrible abuse that was given to the animals who were in the care of the employees of Memphis Animal Shelter. These people make an annual salary of $90,000. The care of the animals is provided by the taxpayers. The animals were maltreated and starved to death.

Videos of the animals who were starved to death while in the care of the Memphis Animal Shelter. The employees who make money off of the taxpayers and who do not have to pay directly for the care of the abandoned animals, but who also did not see fit to care for these animals. Instead they let them starve to death and neglected them.

Olifanten gaan verdwijnen uit alle dierentuinen en circussen in India - Dieren gaan naar nationale natuurreservaten

Elephants to be banished from all zoos

11-11-2009 Times of India, India


NEW DELHI: Delhi Zoo will soon be bidding farewell to its three elephants. In fact, elephants will no longer be seen in any zoo or circus in the country after the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) issued a notice on Monday to the effect that all of these animals in zoos, numbering about 140, should be sent to national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as soon as possible.

According to sources, the circular states that a zoo environment is not the best place for the large animals and they should be shifted to national parks with immediate effect. "CZA's order is binding on all zoos. Elephants are large animals and require a large area to move about freely. The environment of a zoo can be very restrictive. The animals have great use for departmental work, eco-tourism, patrolling etc and a decision has been taken to send them to national parks and tiger reserves where they can be under the supervision of mahauts," said A N Prasad, director, Project Elephant.

According to Dr B K Gupta, evaluation and monitoring officer of CZA, India had 140 elephants in 26 zoos and 16 circuses as on March 31 2009. "Of these, Mysore and Trivandrum have the largest number at 9 and 8 respectively.

Delhi and Mysore are the only two zoos that have African elephants. The decision was taken after evaluating conditions of elephants at various zoos and circuses. We found that circuses specially were not following standards set under the Recognition of Zoo Rules, 1992," he said.

Delhi Zoo director D N Singh confirmed that they had received the order though he restrained from elaborating on it. Sources said that Delhi Zoo's resident Asiatic pachyderms, Rajlakshmi and Hira, and its sole African member Shankar would be moved to Jim Corbett National Park sometime soon. Shankar had been gifted to former president Shankar Dayal Sharma by the Zimbabwian government.

Sources explained that the various zoos would carry out this order in consultation with the chief wildlife wardens of their specific states and the CZA.

Environmentalists saw this as a positive move though some had reservations on the shifting of all elephants as that would be contrary to the principal of ex-situ conservation."There is merit in this decision. It is best for them to be as close to their natural habitat as possible. Elephants needs a lot of space to exercise and move about in and they are being deprived that space in zoos and circuses," said Samir Sinha, head of traffic, WWF India.

(Bron: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)

Erasmus Medisch Centrum gebruikt onder academische instellingen meeste proefdieren in ons land - ADC protesteert 27 november bij EMC tegen dierproeven

Dierenleed in het lab van Ab

Erasmus MC grootste academische proefdiermisbruiker

11-11-2009 St. Anti Dierproeven Coalitie


In het Dierexperimenteel Centrum van het Erasmus Medisch Centrum in Rotterdam zitten op dit moment duizenden proefdieren opgesloten die een triest lot te wachten staan in akelige experimenten.

De laatste cijfers over 2008 laten zien dat in dat jaar 51.568 dieren het slachtoffer waren in experimenten in het EDC. In de afgelopen 3 jaar is er zelfs een schrikbarende toename van 10.000 dieren! Het Erasmus MC is hiermee met afstand de grootste misbruiker van proefdieren van alle academische instellingen in Nederland. Hoofd van het centrum is sinds 2001 Martje Fentener van Vlissingen, bekend van haar veelvuldige mediaoptredens als spreekbuis voor de Nederlandse proefdiersector.

De bekende viroloog Ab Osterhaus, hoofd van de afdeling Virologie aan het Erasmus MC, is één van de onderzoekers die gretig gebruik maakt van de 'faciliteiten' die het proefdiercentrum aanbiedt. In 'het lab van Ab' worden onder meer muizen, fretten, katten en apen geïnjecteerd met schadelijke, potentieel levensbedreigende virussen en blootgesteld aan experimentele vaccins.

Zo werd bij katten en fretten een acute SARS-infectie opgewekt om het ziektebeeld te kunnen beschrijven. Alle dieren kregen last van ernstige ontsteking van de luchtwegen en liepen longinfecties op. Één fretje bezweek hier zelfs vroegtijdig aan. Na 4 dagen werden alle dieren afgemaakt en werd er dissectie verricht. Gezonde katjes worden verder opzettelijk ziek gemaakt met kattenaids (FIV) en feline herpesvirus (FHV) waarna er experimentele vaccins op hen worden uitgeprobeerd.

Ook apen zijn veelvuldig het slachtoffer van de virologieproeven van Osterhaus en co. Langstaart- en resusmakaken zijn de afgelopen jaren herhaaldelijk geïnjecteerd met onder meer het vogelpestvirus (H5N1), metapneumovirus, (wildtype) mazelen, knokkelkoorts (dengue), SARS-virus en monkeypox. Na een infectie met wildtype mazelenvirus kregen de gebruikte aapjes last van ernstige huiduitslag, bindvliesontsteking en ontwikkelden ze hematologische afwijkingen (lymfopenie en neutropenie).

Tot slot zijn ook vele muizen het lijdende voorwerp in het lab van Ab. Dat is op z'n minst gezegd vreemd, omdat Osterhaus zelf meerdere keren heeft toegegeven dat (virologische) proeven op muizen onbetrouwbaar en misleidend zijn. 'Mice lie' riep hij meer dan eens tijdens een recent debat over de Mexicaanse griep om aan te geven dat hij tegen muizenexperimenten is. Sinds 1997 heeft Osterhaus maar liefst 23(!) publicaties op zijn naam staan waarin virologische experimenten op muizen worden beschreven. Vele honderden, zo niet duizenden dieren zijn hierbij de dood in gejaagd. En dat voor proeven die liegen.

Naast de Virologie afdeling zijn er nog tal van andere departementen die op grote schaal proefdieren misbruiken, veelal voor nieuwsgierigheidsonderzoek (zogenaamde ‘niet toegepaste wetenschap’). De Anti Dierproeven Coalitie vindt dit absoluut onacceptabel en eist dan ook dat het Erasmus MC als grootste academische ziekenhuis van Nederland het voortouw neemt met het uitvoeren en verder ontwikkelen van hoogwaardig mensspecifiek onderzoek en dat het onbetrouwbare dierexperimenten links laat liggen.

Vrijdag 27 november zal de ADC protesteren in Rotterdam om de aandacht te vestigen op het systematische proefdierenleed achter de gesloten deuren van het Erasmus MC. Wil je ook je stem geven aan de dieren, stuur ons dan gerust een mailtje.

info@stopdierproeven.org

(Bron: http://www.stopdierproeven.org/)
(Bron foto: archief Kraijer)

In zuidwest Friesland gaan overwinterende ganzen door bordercollies worden verjaagd

Herdershonden verjagen ganzen in Friesland

11-11-2009 De Telegraaf


RIJSWIJK - Bordercollies gaan in het zuidwesten van Friesland overwinterende ganzen verjagen uit gebieden waar de vogels ongewenst zijn. De herdershonden moeten de vogels naar aangrenzende foerageergebieden opjagen.

Jaarlijks overwinteren miljoenen ganzen in Nederland, wat vaak grote schade aan landbouwgronden en natuurgebieden oplevert. Veel van de vogels strijken neer in Friesland.

De komende maanden laten in de zuidwesthoek veertig grondbezitters (gezamenlijk 1750 hectare) herdershonden toe op hun terrein. De gebieden liggen naast terreinen waar de vogels wel de winter mogen doorbrengen. Het gaat in eerste instantie om een proef van vijf maanden. Dat maakte het Faunafonds dat de de proef houdt, woensdag bekend.

Op andere plekken in het land mogen jagers buiten de foerageergebieden ganzen afschieten om schade te voorkomen. De proef met de honden past goed bij de wens van minister Gerda Verburg (Landbouw). Zij pleit voor alternatieven voor het afschieten van beschermde inheemse diersoorten die schade toebrengen.

(Bron: http://www.telegraaf.nl/)

Tegenstanders jacht protesteren bij kerk in Obdam - Mis opgedragen aan Sint Hubertus: niet patroonheilige jacht, maar dieren

Protest bij inzegening jachtseizoen

11-11-2009 Ravage Digitaal


OBDAM, 11 NOV 09 – Tegenstanders van de jacht hebben zondag pamfletten uitgereikt aan bezoekers van de Sint Victorkerk in Obdam. Ze maakten hiermee kenbaar dat Sint Hubertus, waar de speciale mis aan was opgehangen, niet de patroonheilige van de jacht is maar van de dieren.

Jachthonden en jagers verzamelen zich voor de inzegening.

De Sint Victorkerk in Obdam was zondag het toneel van opgezette vossen, jachthoornblazers, wildbeheerders en jachthonden terwijl roofvogels over de hoofden van de kerkgangers scheerden. Pastoor Paul Vlaar zegende tientallen jachthonden en jagers in. De mis werd opgedragen aan Sint Hubertus, de patroonheilige van de jacht.

Maar volgens de Faunabescherming was Hubertus helemaal geen schutspatroon van de jagers, maar juist van de dieren. Hij was het die vlak voordat hij een hert zou schieten, een lichtend kruis tussen het gewei waarnam. Daarop besloot hij het hert niet te schieten en werd sinds die tijd de beschermer van dieren.

Om dit misverstand kenbaar te maakten, kregen de kerkgangers een brief overhandigd, voorzien van 'Het Schietgebed'. Een van de actievoerders maakte foto's van het tafereel voor het kerkgebouw, hetgeen door sommige jagers niet op prijs werd gesteld. Ze vlogen de fotograaf naar de keel en probeerden de geheugenkaart te wissen. Hierbij werd de camera beschadigd. De Faunabescherming heeft aangifte gedaan wegens mishandeling en vernieling.

Pastoor Vlaar voelde zich niet verantwoordelijk voor het incident. "Dan hadden ze maar niet moeten demonstreren voor de kerk", reageerde hij nuchter. Volgens Vlaar is de Hubertusmis in het zuiden van het land een goed gebruik in de katholieke kerk. "En de Nederlandse bisschoppen hebben aangegeven dat het algemeen geaccepteerd is. Bovendien staat Hubertus ook juist voor een goede balans tussen mens en natuur."

De Faunabescherming denkt dat de jagers in Noord-Holland van de Koninklijke Nederlandse Jagers Vereniging (KNJV) weer eens last hebben van een imagoprobleem. "Zij moeten de hulp inroepen van de rooms-katholieke kerk om hun geschonden blazoen door middel van een kerkdienst ter ere van de heilige Hubertus weer een beetje op te poetsen."

(Bron: http://www.ravagedigitaal.org/)
(Bron foto: Ravage Digitaal)

Dief steelt in Duitse Wuppertal wagen waarin circusleeuw blijkt te zitten.....

Autodieb stiehlt aus Versehen Zirkuslöwen

Das Tier gehört zur Illusionsshow eines Magiers und parkte in einem unauffälligen Transporter in der Nähe eines Zirkus.

11-11-2009 Hamburger Abendblatt, Germany


Wuppertal . Ein Autodieb hat in der Nacht zum Mittwoch in Wuppertal offenbar ungewollt einen leibhaftigen Zirkuslöwen gestohlen.

Nach Angaben eines Polizeisprechers befand sich das fünfjährige Raubtier mit Namen Cäsar in einem Transporter, der nicht als Zirkuswagen gekennzeichnet war. Allerdings war das Fahrzeug nahe einem Gelände geparkt, auf dem ein Zirkus ein Gastspiel absolviert.

Laut einem Zirkussprecher gehörte das Tier zur Illusionsshow eines Magiers, der im aktuellen Programm auftritt.

Dem Autodieb dürfte wohl nicht bewusst gewesen sein, welch brisante Fracht er entwendet hatte. Etwa fünf Kilometer vom Tatort entfernt fuhr der Täter mit dem Transporter ein Verkehrsschild um und floh zu Fuß. Das Fahrzeug wurde von der Polizei sichergestellt. Offenbar befand sich der Löwe weiter an Bord. Er soll den Ausflug gut überstanden haben.

(Bron: http://www.abendblatt.de/)

Singapore gaat twee panda's vanaf 2e helft 2011 lenen van China voor periode van 10 jaar - Al 6 andere landen lenen panda's van China

China to loan two pandas to Singapore for 10-year

period

11-11-2009 By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia, Singapore


SINGAPORE : China will also be loaning two baby pandas to Singapore for a 10-year period, as part of a collaboration between the China Wildlife Conservation Association and Wildlife Reserves Singapore to mark the 20th anniversary of Sino-Singapore relations.

According to Wildlife Reserves, Singapore will be the 7th country to get these animals on loan - after the US, Japan, Austria, Australia, Spain and Thailand.

There are only 1,600 pandas in the world, of which 268 are in captivity, with only 30 of these outside China.

But Singaporeans won't get to see these bears soon.
They will arrive in the second half of 2011, but they will have to be quarantined for a month, and there will be a further 5 months of acclimatisation.

The baby pandas will be housed in the zoo's new attraction, the River Safari, and visitors will probably get their first glimpse of them in the first quarter of 2012.

The pandas will be located in a special area to be constructed - a 1,600 sq-metre climate-controlled enclosure that is fully air-conditioned with temperature set between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius and humidity controlled at 50-60 per cent all year round.

Ambient conditions will be adjusted to simulate the 4 seasons similar to their natural habitat.

Since the pandas' diet consists mainly of bamboo - they consume some 20 kg a day - the zoo will be planting 8,000 sq metres of bamboo plantation to cater for this.

Property firm Capitaland will be adopting the pandas with what it called a significant donation over the 10-year period.
This is not the first time Singaporeans will see pandas here. The city-state had a pair on loan for 100 days in 1990.

(Bron: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/)

WWF gaat Syberische (Amur) tijgers terugplaatsen in noordoost China

Russian tigers to be relocated to northeastern

China

11-11-2009 RIA Novosti, Russia


MOSCOW, November 11 (RIA Novosti) - The WWF has approved the relocation of several Russian Amur tigers to northeastern China to restore the wild animal's population, World Wildlife Fund Russian department director Igor Chestin said.

"We are talking about a particular Chinese territory where tigers used to live before, where they come to from time to time but do not live permanently," Chestin said, adding "There are good conditions for feeding and a good number of hoofed animals," he continued.

However, WWF has not supported a project to relocate three Russian tigers to South Korea as there are concerns that this environment is unsuitable for them due to the lack of hoofed animals essential for their survival.

Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are the largest subspecies of tigers, growing to over 3 meters in length and weighing up to 300 kilograms. They are on the World Conservation Union's critically endangered status list, and there are only about 500 of them left in the wild. Since 2006, poachers are known to have killed around 10 in Russia's Far East.

(Bron: http://en.rian.ru/)
(Bron foto: RIA Novosti)

PETA filmt undercover in Universiteit van Utah (VS) ernstig proefdiermisbruik - Organisatie dient officieel klacht in tegen universiteit

PETA spy infiltrates U. animal-research labs,

documents alleged suffering

Research » Group alleges staff, scientists 'consistently' violate animal-welfare rules.

11-11-2009 By Brian Maffly and Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune, USA


A leading U.S. animal-rights organization placed an "undercover investigator" inside two University of Utah biomedical research facilities, where she used hidden cameras to record alleged mistreatment of research animals.

Representatives from the Virginia-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said they will file formal complaints Wednesday based on an eight-month probe in which their agent, identified only as LZ, gathered video, photos and log entries. She worked as an animal support technician at the U. from Feb. 12 to Oct. 29, and shot "hundreds of hours" of video inside U. labs, the group says.

The University of Utah bought Robert from the Davis County animal shelter. Experimenters cut a hole into his skull and implanted electrodes in his brain.

University officials disputed the PETA investigator's interpretation of what she saw, arguing she does not understand animal research.
"None of the things she alleges are substantive," said Tom Parks, the U.'s vice president for research. "It's a remarkably banal list of ordinary events in an animal-care facility."

PETA officials will file the complaints with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which funds much of the U.'s research, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The group alleges scores of violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act and other medical research standards by U. scientists, animal technicians and research support staff.

Each year, the University of Utah uses hundreds of rabbits in experiments. A 4-inch incision was cut into this rabbit's back in an orthopedic experiment.

The complaints, which involve monkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, cows, pigs, dogs, cats and kittens, rats, mice and frogs, allege systemic violations at the U.'s Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research & Training Institute and the Comparative Medicine Center. PETA also targets the U. oversight committee responsible for animal research policy, known as the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, or IACUC.

PETA leaders contend their evidence reveals "flagrant disregard" for the animals' well-being and violations have become "business as usual" at the U.
"The ongoing lack of veterinary care means that animals who were already doomed to live and die in laboratories are suffering much more than they have to," said Kathy Guillermo, PETA's vice president over laboratory investigations.

Support Materials
PETA's complaint to the National Institutes of Health (with PETA redactions)
PETA's complaint to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (with PETA redactions)

The group plans to release video images it says show mice dead from neglect, dying mice bloated with ulcerated tumors, rabbits and cats with surgically implanted devices on their heads and spines, and U. lab staff, their faces blurred, casually describing deplorable conditions for the research animals.
"Betcha if you squeezed that, that would pop," a lab worker says, holding up a mouse with a bulging abdomen to the camera.
"How would you like to be sitting in a little square box with half your skin missing and your eyeball hanging out for a week, just shivering in trauma?" another mouse-lab worker says.

The PETA allegations also shed light on a little-known state "pound seizure'' law that requires government-supported animal shelters in Utah to hand over animals to authorized researchers upon request. PETA claims to have identified at least 30 dogs and six cats that left shelters for use in research.

Guillermo will lead a news conference Wednesday in Salt Lake City, unveiling PETA's allegations that U. employees:
» Failed to ensure that experiments minimized discomfort, distress and pain to the animals. In one case, up to 17 kittens from three litters died or were euthanized -- with no experiment data generated -- after injections to induce hydrocephalus.
» Discouraged the filing of health status reports to staff veterinarians -- "even when animals were clearly in distress.''
» Failed to provide adequate housing and management for animals that, in some instances, led to unnecessary stress, pain, injury or death.
» Failed to provide minimal enrichment for animals -- companionship for monkeys, balls for pigs, paper towels for mice -- to reduce emotional stress.

Frik was kept constantly thirsty so that he would cooperate with experimenters in exchange for a few drops of water.

A U. researcher said the monkeys in question are not only housed with companions and plenty of toys, but they also enjoy their own Netflix account. A flat-screen television mounted in their room plays nature films and jungle sounds, said Bradley Greger, an assistant professor of bioengineering named in the PETA complaint.

PETA initiated its investigation of the U. in response to inquiries from "whistleblowers," according to Guillermo.
"I received calls from three people, who said they were in a position to know, saying there was terrible suffering," she said. She refused to divulge LZ's name, but said PETA has employed her regularly to go undercover at other labs. PETA makes no secret of its agenda to put a stop to the use of animals in research, even though the research community contends biomedical advances would slow without animal subjects.

Parks blasted PETA's use of a mole who obtained U. employment under false pretenses. As an employee, she failed in her obligation to report the alleged problems she witnessed to higher ups, he noted.
"She defrauded the university and if she believed the animals were mistreated, she did nothing to stop it," he said.

One of the U.'s most vocal critics defended PETA's tactics, given what he claimed was a lack of cooperation in providing documents to him concerning research using primates.
``They've put up obstacles wherever they can to keep the public from knowing what's going on in their labs,'' said Jeremy Beckham of Utah Primate Freedom. "I don't think the U. of U. denying our records requests has helped their cause at all. It's just confirmed that going through the system doesn't work.''

The U. might keep Beckham out of its labs, but it fully cooperates with monitoring agencies, Parks said. The Department of Agriculture and an international accrediting body regularly visit the university's research labs and have issued clean reports on their activities for the last five years, according to documents provided by the U.
"Research is the most heavily regulated use of animals in our society," Parks said. "We have four full-time vets who are the ultimate guarantors and experts on care of animals. We have extensive review of protocols by our IACUC, composed of animal-care staff and faculty. We monitor protocols with regular inspections. We require mandatory training of all personnel who work with animals. We follow the highest level of requirements for certification."

These kittens and others purchased from local animal shelters had a chemical injected into their brains to cause a build-up of excess fluid. All these kittens and two additional litters died before the experiments were completed.

University researchers who receive federal funding are obliged to follow the Public Health Service's oft-revised "Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals." PETA's filing to NIH documents alleged deviations from this guide, while the Department of Agriculture complaint documents alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

PETA contends its allegations "represent a larger issue of failed oversight and institutional noncompliance" warranting immediate investigation by these federal agencies. If violations are substantiated, PETA insists, research grants should be revoked, the funding repaid, and offending employees disciplined and barred from handling animals.

bmaffly@sltrib.com
tsemerad@sltrib.com

(Bron: http://www.sltrib.com/)
(Bron foto's: http://dev.peta.org/FeatureUtahLabsPhotos.asp)

Uit weiland in Vught 19 schapen gestolen....

Negentien schapen uit weiland gestolen

11-11-2009 De Telegraaf


VUGHT - Uit een weiland tussen de Raaikampenweg en de Gementweg in Vught zijn negentien schapen gestolen. De eigenaar trof dinsdagmiddag bij aankomst om 17.00 uur een leeg weiland aan. Dat meldde de politie woensdag.

De afrastering rondom het weiland was vernield en er waren sporen van vermoedelijk een kleine vrachtwagen of aanhangwagen. De eigenaar was maandagmiddag om 17.00 uur voor het laatst bij zijn schapen geweest.

(Bron: http://www.telegraaf.nl/)

Het gaat goed met het met uitsterven bedreigde Australische kleine buideldiertje Gilberts potoroo

Endangered potoroo on track for survival

11-11-2009 ABC, Australia


A south west conservation group is hoping an expanded breeding program will help ensure the long-term survival of the gilberts potoroo.

The critically endangered marsupials were thought to be extinct until a small population was found on the south coast at Two People's Bay in 1994.

A breeding program on Bald Island has increased their numbers and some of the animals will soon be transported to Norman's Beach, near Albany.

Ron Dorn from the Gilberts Potoroo Action Group, says a rapid increase in population is expected once the potoroos settle in and planning for a third translocation site is underway.

"If the habitats become saturated with animals to the point where there are too many for that habitat then it does affect the rate at which reproduction takes place," he said.
"So we've got to try to stay below those maximum levels of habitation."

(Bron: http://www.abc.net.au/)
(Bron foto: http://www.potoroo.org/)

Dierenbeschermers in Amerikaanse Reading halen 41 verwaarloosde dieren en een bevrozen stinkdier uit woning

41 animals, dead skunk removed from Reading

home

11-11-2009 Reading Eagle, USA


Workers from the Animal Rescue League of Berks County removed 41 animals and a frozen dead skunk from a house on North 11th Street, the league said Tuesday.

League officials did not have a more specific address for the house.
Removed Saturday were 19 dogs, 13 cats, three birds, three opossums, two lizards and a tarantula.
The dead skunk was in a freezer.

The animals were living in filthy conditions, said the Cumru Township-based league. Some animals had to be euthanized, the league said.

The league was called by someone who knew the animals were in the house and not receiving care because the only female resident who lives there is in Berks County Prison on unrelated charges, league officials said.

Authorities have not decided whether charges will be filed against the woman, the league said.

The remaining animals will be put up for adoption once they are deemed to be healthy, the league said.
Some animal hoarders begin with the best intentions to rescue animals but often end up in over their heads, the league said.

The Rescue League asks that anyone who knows of a similar situation contact the league at 610-373-8830.

(Bron: http://readingeagle.com/)
(Bron foto: Reading Eagle)

Accra (Ghana) gaat zwerfdieren in beslag nemen - Zwervende honden, geiten, schapen en koeien hinderen verkeer

AMA To Confiscate Stray Animals

11-11-2009 Peace FM Online, Ghana


The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) will from today, confiscate all stray animals, a measure to control animal rearing in the metropolis. Subsequently, owners of the animals who fail to report to the AMA after the confiscation of their animals will be summoned and prosecuted at the law courts.

The animals include dogs, goats, sheep and cattle. The Chief Executive of AMA, Mr Alfred Vanderpuije, announce this in Accra yesterday during an inspection of some on-going projects in the metropolis.

Some of the projects are the Mamponse Storm Drainage Improvement Project, the Mallam-Apenkwa road, solid waste management at the Arts Centre and a 2.3 kilometre Dansoman road project.

He said a team of 170 sanitary officers would be deployed to embark on the exercise to ensure its smooth implementation.
Mr Vanderpuije said the situation of stray animals in the metropolis often created ugly scenes on the roads and sometimes resulting in heavy traffic jams.

He said this situation posed danger for both pedestrians and motorists since the animals could sometimes attack passers-by. The director of the AMA Public Health Department, Dr Simpson Anim Boateng, spoke of the assembly’s readiness to effectively eliminate the menace. As part of the assembly’s readiness, he said, a holding area had been put in place to house confiscate animals.

Dr Boateng said as an alternative punishment, the animals could be auctioned to the public when the owners fail to come for them, which could generate some revenue for the assembly. He said prior to the start of the exercise, a number of sensitization programmes would be undertaken to raise public awareness. Dr Boateng advised owners of animals, especially livestock, to exercise due care in order not to fall foul of the by-law.

(Bron: http://news.peacefmonline.com/)
(Bron foto: Peace FM)

Wales wil hondenfokkers strenger aanpakken....- 249 Fokkers in Wales 'werken' zonder vergunningen

'Puppy farm' laws to be reviewed

11-11-2009 BBC News, UK


Stricter licensing for dog breeding in Wales could be introduced in an effort to regulate puppy farming. Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones is announcing a review of the law in a speech later after new evidence of unlicensed premises was uncovered.

The assembly government is also considering whether to introduce compulsory microchipping of all dogs.

The RSPCA and Dogs Trust Wales welcomed the moves, saying the suffering some dogs endured was "terrible".

Ms Jones is also expected to confirm a blanket ban on the sale and use of electric shock collars for dogs in Wales. Previously there had been a suggestion some exemptions would be permitted.
The assembly government has funded projects at local authority level to look at animal welfare issues including neglect and cruelty in so-called puppy farms, which it said was a serious concern.
Data gathered from the projects showed there were 249 unlicensed dog breeding premises in Wales.
While there was no specific evidence of welfare issues associated with those premises, Ms Jones said the figure warranted further investigation of the licensing requirements.

She said: "While the breeding of dogs for sale is a legal and legitimate trade, the production of puppies on a commercial scale with little or no consideration of welfare issues, is unacceptable.
"I will be establishing a task and finish group to review existing guidance on the licensing of dog breeding establishments, and look at whether existing legislation should be amended."

Ms Jones added: "In order to improve traceability of dogs, I will be encouraging voluntary microchipping while we consider the need to make microchipping compulsory."

Gethin Russell-Jones, of RSPCA Cymru, welcomed the two reviews and the prospect of a shock collar ban.
"It all looks good to us, and it's going to improve animal welfare, so we're delighted," he said.
"There's a huge issue with puppy breeding or puppy farms in Wales, particularly in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

"The environment in which these animals is kept is very often terrible and the suffering they endure is terrible.
"Anything which insists local authorities get more involved and take action to prevent this suffering can only be for the good, so we're happy about that."

He said microchipping would help to address the issue of lost and stray dogs.
"Microchipping is a very simple cheap procedure which means an animal can be traced within minutes or hours. A lot of heartache is resolved," he said.

Staffing levels

Figures from the Dogs Trust charity showed the number of stray and abandoned dogs in Wales had risen by over 25% between 2008 and 2009, up to 12,232.

Sian Edwards, from Dogs Trust Wales, said at present people who were breeding from five dogs or more were supposed to be registered with their local authority.
However, she pointed out if the dogs were not chipped, there was no way of knowing if the same animals were being used when the council came back to check on them.

She said staffing levels at breeders were a concern, adding: "A couple of litters is a hell of a lot of work and there are issues of manpower to make sure there are enough staff to be able to care for the dogs."

On microchipping for dogs in general, she said: "Microchipping is the best protection for the dog and peace of mind for the owner.
"This is a one-off fee to get the dog micro-chipped.
"It's also an issue of responsibility - if you get the dog chipped, you have a duty of care towards it."

(Bron: http://news.bbc.co.uk/)

Op 4 km. hoogte in 'Jigme Dorji national park' (Bhutan) is Himalaya beer gedood door Bengaalse tijger - Tijgers leven zelden op dergelijke hoogte

Himalayan bear killed by tiger

Is it effect of climate change on habitat?

11-11-2009 Kuensel Newspaper, Bhutan


11 November, 2009 - In the first recorded incident of its kind in Bhutan, a Himalayan black bear was killed and eaten by a royal Bengal tiger in the Jigme Dorji national park.

The carcass of the bear, with only its head, skin and paws remaining, was discovered by a team of foresters in Domenda, two days walk from Dodena in Thimphu, on November 7 at an altitude of 4,079 m. The kill has thrown up several questions on tigers being found at such high altitudes in winter, the relationship between bears and tigers in Bhutan’s wild and the implications of the tiger’s presence on the snow leopard habitat.

“It’s a confirmed kill by a royal Bengal tiger, since there are canine puncture marks on the bear’s throat and spine, as well as tiger claw marks lacerating the bears face and tiger pug marks in the area,” said Phub Tshering, the JDNP park beat officer, who discovered the carcass. He said that there were also signs of struggle between the bear and the tiger with rhododendrons bushes uprooted and claw marks on trees.

“Usually the Himalayan black bear is a powerful foe for any tiger and they avoid each other, but here the bear seems to be a juvenile at 2-3 years and hence did not have the muscle and fighting abilities it gets by the time it reaches its adult age of 5 years,” said Dr Sonam Wangyel, the chief forestry officer and wildlife biologist. He said that it was likely that the two animals met accidentally.

Phub Tshering said that some people, who were on tsam in the area, said that they had seen the same bear feeding on berries in late October. They also noticed tiger pug marks in the same area.

“We have, for the last three years, started noting multiple signs of the presence of tigers in such high altitude areas, ” said Phub Tshering.

Dr Sonam Wangyel said that, though there was no conclusive proof, it is possible that due to climate change the tree line was being pushed higher giving cover to the tiger. “This may also be due to shrinking and disturbed habitat at lower altitudes and hence the mountains may be the only undisturbed areas for the tiger,” he said. However, the real impact of tigers moving higher could be on the snow leopard, whose own snowline habitat could be shrinking. He said that clear scientific evidence was needed to establish the above hypothesis.

The incident has also given a peek into the relationship between the Himalayan black bear and the royal Bengal tiger.

In a camera trap set up in Nabji in 2006, it was found that a bull killed by a tiger was also being fed on by a bear at alternate intervals. “One day, the bear took away the whole carcass and the camera captured a bewildered look on the face of the tiger when it came back to feed again. The bear could be benefiting from the tigers kills,” said Dr Sonam.

He said in the wild carnivores would try to eliminate competition and the bear killed may have been a potential competitor. “Though it happens, this is rare incident since the tiger usually goes after smaller, less aggressive and weaker prey,” he said.

He also said that it was possible that tigers would be coming to these heights to cross into other valleys and that more of them were being detected due to better detection devices.

Old data show that around 115-150 tigers are found in Bhutan on the basis of sightings.

By Tenzing Lamsang

(Bron: http://www.kuenselonline.com/)
(Bron foto: Kuensel Newspaper)