Tag Archives: Elephants

Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey to phase out the use of elephants

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FINALLY, the elephants have some good news. The Associated Press reports today that the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus will phrase out the use of elephants by 2018.

A special thank you should go out to all organizations who have been speaking out against the use of animals in circuses and to the communities that have passed ordinances against the use of animals in entertainment venues such as this.

I recall many years ago when I attended a local county fair and went into a tent where a circus was performing. There was a pause in the show as I approached the center ring.

Suddenly, an elephant walked over to where I was standing and looked right at me. He was very sad-faced and it really impacted me. I had to walk out.

Hopefully, this news story will lead to more bans on the use animals in similar ways. Certainly greyhound racing is another one. More animals are dying there than in the circuses.

PACK MENTALITY BLOG: Compassion - teamed with Science and Logic

Purchasing poaching products particularly putrid

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Those who are buying products made from elephant tusks or rhino horns or any other threatened or endangered species are the root cause of the horrors of poaching.

And now we know that terrorists are funding their operations in part through poaching. So anyone who purchases ivory now or rhino horn products or any poached items have become promoters of terrorists.

Let’s go ahead and tell it like it is. Too many people in countries like China and Vietnam are buying these products in full support of the terrorists. And clueless people in the United States are supporting the horrors too. A 2008 study showed the US is the No. 2 market for ivory.

Are some people here in the US – supposedly the most advanced of nations – really that uneducated? Stop – You don’t need to tell me. I know … I know. It’s true.

It is pure evil in every way. Poaching is driving animals to extinction and killing innocent people in staggering numbers. And it is driven by clueless people who either wrongly believe rhino horns have medicinal value or are so vain and stupid that they value a trinket over the lives of innocent people and animals.

It’s sick and it’s evil.

PACK MENTALITY BLOG: Compassion - teamed with Science and Logic

IFAW praises New York bill to ban sale of elephant ivory and rhino horn

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The International Fund for Animal Welfare submitted the following press release concerning a bill in New York to ban the sale of ivory and rhino horn:

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IFAW Statement on New York Ivory Ban: We Love New York

Washington, D.C. (June 23, 2014) – Jeffrey Flocken, North American Regional Director, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), issued the following statement regarding a bill passed last week by the New York state legislature which bans  the sale and purchase of elephant and mammoth ivory and rhino horn:

“A big victory for endangered elephants and rhinos, as New York enacts a landmark law to ban the sale of ivory and rhino horn.

These bans are important tools for regulating, and, we hope, eventually ending the ivory and rhino horn trade. Every 15 minutes on average, an African elephant is slaughtered for its ivory tusks to support a mass consumer demand. Rhinos, which are also poached for their horns, are similarly threatened. The U.S. ranks as one of the largest ivory consumers in the world and New York serves as one its biggest entry points and markets.

Promising regulations are gathering momentum at the federal level. As one of the first states to pass such legislation, New York is carving a path for others to follow.

We love New York’s actions and congratulate and thank our coalition partners in encouraging the passage of these bills.”

To learn more about IFAW’s work to crush the ivory trade, please visit http://www.ifaw.org/united-states/our-work/elephants/ending-ivory-trade.

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Horrible, evil, sick people are killing elephants

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Among the planet’s most evil elements are those who are killing endangered elephants and rhinos for their horns and tusks. I will never understand what goes through the minds of people who can torture innocent people and animals – sometimes for nothing more than a motive for profit.

There most certainly is a special, incredibly hot corner of hell waiting these individuals.

The latest news is more than troubling, in that over 20,000 elephants were victims of poachers in 2013.

If the pace of killing continues, our kids could receive the news too soon that some evil humans have wiped two incredible species of animals off the face of the Earth.

The message splashed across the news headlines of late too often involves nasty levels of greed – be it from poaching to massive pay for CEOs, while hiring levels are not where they should be to more.

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Hall of Fame drummer drums up support for ivory ban

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I just received the following release from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW):

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Matt Sorum Drums Up Musicians’ Support for U.S. Ivory Ban

(Washington, D.C. – June 4, 2014) – Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, legendary Grammy Award-winning drummer of Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, The Cult and Kings of Chaos, and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) supporter Matt Sorum, penned an open letter urging fellow musicians to support the U.S. government’s National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking, which seeks to dramatically reduce the U.S. role in elephant poaching by enacting new rules on ivory trade.

Under the new regulations, owners of ivory objects would still be allowed to own their items, or give them as a non-commercial gift. However, owners (including musicians with instruments that include ivory) would not be allowed to sell them without removing and replacing the ivory first. Additionally, musicians would need to secure proper documentation before they travel with their instruments overseas.

As Sorum noted in the letter, “This is an issue that needs the attention and support of the music community. We need to be a part of the solution, not the problem.  As much as we all love our instruments, they are in the end just things – not worth contributing to the demise of a species.”

Elephants are being poached for their ivory at an alarming rate. The elephant population in Africa has declined up to 95 percent in the last century, and on average, poachers are killing one elephant every fifteen minutes. Some populations are well on the path to extinction.

“Elephants are in crisis. This rule will bring about meaningful action to reduce the amount of illegal ivory smuggled into the country, while helping to protect this dynamic and most intelligent species. But we need the support of many stakeholders to ensure its success,” added Jeff Flocken, North American Regional Director, IFAW. “We thank Matt for bringing attention to this important issue and hope fellow musicians will band together to protect elephants.”

Sorum is among many celebrities supporting the ivory sale ban. In April, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jane Goodall and Dave Matthews, alongside a coalition of businesses and conservation organizations, signed a letter to the Administration commending them for their actions to protect elephants.

To read Sorum’s letter, visit g.ifaw.org/mattsletter. Learn more about IFAW’s work to protect elephants.
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Clueless commentary misrepresents the animal-welfare movement

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Once again, we find someone trying to justify the abuse of animals – as somehow something that should be protected as freedom.

An individual named Michael Rubin produced an editorial for Commentary Magazine, which was posted on March 19 under the headline – “Are Animal-Rights Activists Really Concerned About Animals?”

The writer jumps into two huge propaganda strategies often used by those who wish to defend the abuse of animals. He calls it “animal rights” and he attacks PETA.

In reality, the movement is about animal welfare and yes, we feel animals should be protected from abuse. If he wants to call that animal rights, fine. But anyone suggesting animals should not be protected from abuse is way over on the extremist end of the scale.

And look, PETA is PETA. It sometimes uses provocative means to draw attention to animal abuse. No matter what opinion anyone might have about PETA, talking about it does nothing to alter the reality animal abuse.

But Rubin goes beyond these two diversions to defend the use of animals – particularly elephants – in circuses. First, the use of hooks to train elephants is terrible. Secondly, elephants belong in their natural habitats.

He claims elephants are “healthy and stimulated” in circuses and “often become bored and depressed” when their entertainment days are over. And he uses the typical greyhound-racing defense in calling them working animals. And then he attempts to make two wrongs into a right by suggesting the dangers of poaching means it’s okay to pull them from their habitats for circus entertainment.

The far better option is putting the full effort into protecting the habitat from poaching.

Rubin certainly has a right to express his opinion in a commentary, but this doesn’t mean he can get away with misrepresenting the animal-welfare movement. And certainly he needs to educate himself in the area of animal suffering and self-awareness.

And getting back to the headline, he does nothing to show “animal-rights activists” are not concerned about animals.

 

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Big News: NBC Sports cancels Under Wild Skies

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After finally realizing what a huge blunder it was to ever air a series like Under Wild Skies and after tremendous public outcry after the airing of a very controversial episode, the NBC Sports Network has cancelled the show.

Somehow, some NBC Sports executive thought this show was good idea. And somehow – through the process of shooting the episode where NRA strategist Tony Makris shoots an elephant in the face – and through the process of editing the episode and setting it up to air – someone approved it to be shown on the network.

It shows an unbelievable lack of awareness about the plight of endangered elephants, who are being slaughtered off the face of the earth by poachers and by people like Makris. How could anyone be this clueless about something so prevalent in the news and so important?

I realize people make mistakes, but even considering this show to air is more than a mistake.

After cancelling the show, NBC Sports released a statement that in part said –

“Under Wild Skies will no longer air on NBC Sports Network due to the program’s close association with its host, whose recent comments comparing his critics to Hitler are outrageous and unacceptable.”

So the big deal for NBC Sports was his act of comparing his critics to Hitler – but not shooting an incredibly intelligent, important and feeling animal in the face, before openly celebrating the horrible act? It took a good bit of twisted, reverse non-logic to bend around his critics as Hitler. It took a complete lack of compassion to shoot the elephant and celebrate the suffering.

It’s 2013, not 1713. We should have advanced to a point in our society where acts such as those depicted in Under Wild Skies are only shown as part of a criminal investigation or to make a point about the suffering of elephants at the hands of people like this. But apparently, some people are still living in 1713.

The Guardian article I linked to above notes that killing elephants in Botswana will finally be illegal as of  January 1, 2014. How it took so long defies logic. But at least the time is approaching.

 

PACK MENTALITY BLOG: Compassion - teamed with Science and Logic

The documentary “An Apology to Elephants” should be seen by everyone

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This HBO documentary should be seen by EVERYONE. What we allow, as a society, to happen to animals can sometimes be beyond belief.

Some of the images in the film are heartwarming, while the images of extreme cruelty are difficult to watch – heartbreaking in fact.

The videos of elephants being trained are harsh. How could anyone believe this is NOT a crime? How could anyone be that cruel and uncaring?

Clearly, we desperately need better animal-cruelty laws and clearly we need to outlaw the use of bullhooks. But we also need to ban the exploitation of animals in circuses and in other shows – including racing.

PACK MENTALITY BLOG: Compassion - teamed with Science and Logic

Huge News – Thai Prime Minister pledges to end ivory trade

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The World Wildlife Fund reports Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has pledged to work on ending the ivory trade in her country. A petition calling for this move was signed by more than 1.5 million people.

The WWF quotes the Prime Minister as saying –

As a next step we will forward amending the national legislation with the goal of putting an end on ivory trade and to be in line with international norms.

The WWF also called Thailand the “world’s largest unregulated ivory market.” So this decision could really save the lives of many endangered elephants.

We can only hope this happens – very soon. Evil acts of greed like this need to be fought everywhere.

 

Bob Barker teaming with ADI to stop the exploitation of elephants at fairs

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Bob Barker continues his ongoing efforts in helping animals, and this time it’s elephants. The former Price is Right host is teaming with Animal Defenders International (ADI) to bring attention to the suffering of elephants used at fairs.

The Press Release –

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Bob Barker Spearheads New ADI Campaign to End Elephant Suffering at Fairs

February 28, 2013, LOS ANGELES, CA – Animal Defenders International (ADI) has launched the first nationwide initiative in the United States about the use of elephants giving rides or making appearances at public events.  At the heart of the campaign is a new DVD narrated by Emmy award winning TV host Bob Barker entitled ‘No Fun For Elephants,’ featuring harrowing undercover footage from inside elephant training facilities in California, as well as abuse of an elephant on tour by a Texas-owned company.

Bob Barker introduces the video, “To many, it looks like harmless fun, but elephants pay a heavy price for the few minutes of entertainment they provide when performing in circus shows, giving rides, or making appearances at parades, weddings or other events.  Most of us marvel at the majesty of wild animals and I can understand why people want to see animals like elephants up close.  But isn’t it especially tragic when animals are suffering and being abused simply to entertain us?”

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