When you think about it…a change in one’s diet can save an icon of the Wild West.

A change in our diets would not only decrease the amount of grazing land needed for cattle but would also increase the number of wild horses free to roam the land.

Wild horses are rounded up and put into pens to get them off public lands so ranchers can graze their cattle on them. Many people are horrified that these wild mustangs, who run with a free spirit and evoke images of the Wild West, are being hazed and harassed off the land. However, do these same people realize that if they gave up eating meat, beef in particular, there would be less need for land to graze cattle and more land for the mustangs to roam free and wild?

These horses are often rounded up using helicopters to drive them into pens. Steel gates slam shut behind them once they are corralled. Herds are split up, family members separated. All so cattle can roam the land that once belonged to these horses.

According to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), almost 50,000 wild horses are living in captivity with only about 32,000 still left on the range. The horses living in captivity have to be cared for at the government’s expense. Some are adopted by caring individuals but most will live in BLM pens for the rest of their lives.

How can we prevent the destruction of the last vestige of our wilderness? When you think about it…a change in one’s diet can save an icon of the Wild West.

Carriers Commit to Compassion

The more these carrier companies realize the harm that animals are subjected to during shipment, the more likely they are to change.

Paws Up!

To FedEx and UPS for their decisions to discontinue shipping specific species of animals destined for research laboratories.

According to a news article, FedEx and UPS have joined other carriers, including airlines, in declining to ship mammals and nonhuman primates destined for research laboratories. “For researchers who rely on lab animals shipped from distant sources, and for the companies that breed them, the options are narrowing again.”

Live animal transports are often thought of when we consider farmed animals being shipped to slaughter houses. But literally billions of animals are shipped around the world for any number of purposes—to appear in shows and other forms of entertainment, to be sent to zoos and aquariums, to wind up in research laboratories, and, of course, to be slaughtered.

The more the various transport companies realize the harm they are involved in by sending these animals to, in many cases, certain death, and in most other cases lives made miserable by their incarceration in cages, the more these companies will opt out of the live animal transport business and opt into the business of being compassionate carriers.

Take Action: Send a note of thanks to both FedEx and UPS for their decisions to opt out of shipping specific species of animals destined for research laboratories. Encourage them to opt out of shipping any live animals who will wind up in biomedical research laboratories.

Frederick W. Smith
Chairman, President, and CEO
FedEx Corporation
942 South Shady Grove Road
Memphis, TN 38119

D. Scott Davis, CEO
United Parcel Services, Inc.
55 Glenlake Parkway Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30328

 

Belugas in Danger

Belugas living in captivity suffer shortened lifespans and reduced quality of life.

In July, we asked our followers to write the Georgia Aquarium president and chief operating officer requesting he withdraw the aquarium’s application for a permit to import 18 wild-caught belugas from Russia, supposedly for the purpose of conservation.

According to a news story, “…Georgia Aquarium’s permit application has little to do with conserving the species and has everything to do with breeding belugas for captivity and petting pools. This was even admitted by William Hurley, the aquarium’s chief zoological officer who confirmed that the 18 belugas will be used in a breeding program across all US facilities.”

We do not need to capture these animals and place them in pools. They are wild animals and should remain in the wild.

Please contact the National Oceanic and Atmospheric agency and express you position that the permit for the Georgia Aquarium should be denied. The public comment period closes October 29, 2012.

You may submit comments, identified by NOAA-NMFS-2012-0158, by any of the following methods:

Online: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal.

Mail: Submit written comments to:
Chief, Permits and Conservation Division
Office of Protected Resources
NOAA Fisheries
1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Fax: 301-713-0376; Attn: Jennifer Skidmore

Airlines Must Stop Transporting Nonhuman Primates

With so many reliable alternatives to animal testing currently available and affordable, there is absolutely no reason to subject animals to such conditions.

Many airlines have discontinued shipping nonhuman primates bound for biomedical research laboratories. However, a few are still engaging in this practice.

NHES opposes cruelty to animals in any form, especially our closest relatives—nonhuman primates, and looks forward to the day when animals will no longer be subjected to the pain and suffering associated with biomedical research and testing, which is often unnecessary and costly when compared with other non-animal techniques.

Instead of using animals, many scientists use human and animal cell, tissue, and organ cultures; chemical systems; blood products; sophisticated mathematical and computer simulations; and plastic organ models. Alternatives, such as Eytex, Skintex®, epiPack, take the place of harmful tests on animals. Advances in tissue engineering and robotics, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, metabonomics, systems biology, and in silico (computer-based) systems offer alternatives to animal use. Animal testing can take months if not years at expenses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to multi-millions of dollars, whereas computer modeling can take place instantaneously and at far lower costs, especially the cost to the animals and their suffering. In vitro tests involving human cell and tissue cultures are faster, cheaper, and more reliable than animal tests in many instances.

For these reasons, we urge you to write airlines still engaging in the practice of transporting nonhuman primates bound for biomedical research laboratories and ask them to change their policies.

Calin Rovinescu
President and CEO
Air Canada Centre 1235
P.O. Box 14,000
Dorval, Québec
Canada H4Y 1H4

Jean- Cyril Spinetta
Chief Executive Officer
Air France
45, rue de Paris
95 747 Roissy CDG Cedex

Jeff Smisek
President and CEO
Continental Cargo
1600 Smith Street
Houston, TX 77002

Elephants Need Your Help

Elephants are majestic creatures who in the wild travel dozens of miles each day. They do not belong in captivity.

Paws Up!
To the Honorable Superior Court Judge John L. Segal for ordering the Los Angeles Zoo to make changes in the way elephants are treated at the zoo.

Judge John L. Segal is quoted as writing in his decision, “The evidence at trial shows that life at the Los Angeles Zoo for Billy, Tina, and Jewel is empty, purposeless, boring, and occasionally painful.” While the judge did not issue an order to close the exhibit, he did order the zoo to make changes in how they care for the elephants. Such changes include increasing exercise time for the elephants, rototilling the soil to soften it, and banning bullhooks and electric shock devices.

NHES opposes zoo elephant exhibits in which the elephants:
• Have inappropriate space for roaming and foraging. Elephants typically roam 10 miles a day over ranges measuring hundreds of square miles.
• Reside on hard ground and cement surfaces, contributing substantially to painful foot and leg ailments. Foot disease is a common cause of death in captive elephants.
• Endure conditions that induce psychological and emotional suffering; for instance, living in isolation for extended periods of time.
• Suffer from the inability to partake in natural behaviors, like forming family groups. Infant elephants are often shipped to other zoos or circuses.
• Develop stereotypies, such as swaying or patterned walking, which are considered symptoms of psychological distress.
• Are subjected to inhumane treatment through the use of bullhooks and other negative training devices.
• Live in climates that do not replicate their natural environment, causing them undue stress.

While the judge’s order will help the elephants in the short term, they are not the best solutions for their long-term welfare.

Take Action: Thank Judge Segal for his order to protect the elephants at the Los Angeles Zoo and urge him to reconsider his decision to let the elephant exhibit remain open.

The Honorable John L. Segal
Judge, Superior Court, Los Angeles County
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
111 North Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Save Kittens’ Eyes

With advances in biomedical research using non-animal related techniques, there is no reason for subjecting newborn kittens to such invasive tests.

Paws Down!
To Cardiff University for using kittens for research into human eye conditions.

According to a news story, Cardiff University has been “conducting ‘cruel’ experiments in which kittens’ eyes were sewn up and newborn litters raised in total darkness.”

With advances in biomedical research using non-animal related techniques, there is scant reason for the university to continue subjecting newborn kittens to such devastating tests. Instead of using animals, many scientists use human and animal cell, tissue, and organ cultures; chemical systems; blood products; sophisticated mathematical and computer simulations; and plastic organ models. Alternatives, such as Eytex, Skintex®, epiPack, take the place of harmful tests on animals. Advances in tissue engineering and robotics, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, metabonomics, systems biology, and in silico (computer-based) systems offer alternatives to animal use.

Animal testing can take months if not years at expenses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to multi-millions of dollars, whereas computer modeling can take place instantaneously and at far lower costs, especially the cost to the animals and their suffering. In vitro tests involving human cell and tissue cultures are faster, cheaper, and more reliable than animal tests in many instances.

Take Action: Write a polite letter to the vice chancellor of the university urging him to curtail experiments on kittens and suggest the university use alternative, non-animal tests instead.

Dr. David Grant
Vice Chancellor
Cardiff University
Park Place
Cardiff CF10 3AT
United Kingdom

Save Cotton-top Tamarins

Biomedical research today does not require an extensive use of animals; tamarins belong in the wild or a wildlife sanctuary.

The New England Primate Research Center has nearly 170 cotton-top tamarins in its laboratory. These animals need to be moved immediately to appropriate and responsible sanctuaries or wildlife refuges. Biomedical research today does not require the extensive use of animals once thought necessary.

In fact, instead of using live animals, many scientists use human and animal cell, tissue, and organ cultures; chemical systems; blood products; sophisticated mathematical and computer simulations; and plastic organ models. Alternatives, such as Eytex, Skintex®, epiPack, take the place of harmful tests on animals. Advances in tissue engineering and robotics, bioinformatics, genomics, proteomics, metabonomics, systems biology, and in silico (computer-based) systems offer alternatives to animal use.

In addition, animal testing can take months if not years at expenses ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to multi-millions of dollars, whereas computer modeling can take place instantaneously and at far lower costs, especially the cost to the animals and their suffering. In vitro tests involving human cell and tissue cultures are faster, cheaper, and more reliable than animal tests in many instances.
Urge the director of the center to act now to protect these rare animals.

R. Paul Johnson, MD
Director
New England Primate Research Center
Harvard Medical School
Southborough, MA, 01772

Atlanta Aquarium Wants to Import Whales

Belugas congregate in large, transient groups in the wild.

According to a news story, “The Georgia Aquarium has applied for a permit to bring 18 beluga whales into the country, to be housed in aquariums and zoological parks at locations around the country.”

In the wild, whales live in tightly knit social units called pods. Some of these pods stay together for life. Yet, when they are captured, they are torn from their family units. They are either chased to the point of exhaustion or herded into a cove where they are trapped. Only the young and healthy are taken for exhibition, yet many of them do not survive the transition from ocean to tank. During these violent chases, the ecosystem from which they are taken is also disrupted. Beluga whales live to be around 50 years old—in the ocean. Life in a fish bowl is rarely that long.

As with zoos, aquariums try to defend their existence by stating they promote educational and conservational agendas when in fact they are nothing more than profit-based enterprises. What they are teaching the public is that capturing, confining, and exploiting marine mammals for our entertainment is acceptable.

Please write a polite letter to the head of the Georgia Aquarium requesting he withdraw the application. Suggest his organization, along with other organizations operating captive breeding programs, demonstrate that they can improve the gene pool, as is their stated goal, and that they can release young adult belugas into the wild to successfully breed with their pod-mates. Once there have been successful releases, then the conservation aspect of their program will have merit.

David Kimmel
President and Chief Operating Officer
Georgia Aquarium
225 Baker Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30313
Tele. No.: 404-581-4000

When you think about it…petting zoos—good idea or bad?

The best way to save baby animals from being raised in a petting zoo is to avoid visiting one.

When we think of petting zoos, we think of baby animals all sweet and innocent and young children fascinated by the little creatures they can touch and maybe even feed. However, there is nothing sweet about the lives these baby animals live. Babies belong with their families, especially their mothers. They do not belong in a zoo where they are kept together with animals of other species, often in inadequate environments, with little thought to their development. Once they are no longer babies, and therefore no longer cute, what happens to them? They may be sent off to another zoo, a roadside show, a slaughterhouse, or an individual who wants an exotic pet to keep in his or her home. All of these solutions are detrimental to the animal.

Along with the danger to the animals comes a danger to the humans who come in contact with them as many of these animals carry diseases which are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to humans. So, a trip to the petting zoo might end in a case of mange, a parasite infection, or worse.

When you think about it…petting zoos are definitely a bad idea. The best way to save baby animals from being raised in a petting zoo is to avoid visiting one. If there is no audience, there is no income for the owner. With no income, there is no purpose in establishing a petting zoo.

Switzerland respects dolphins and whales

Please do not visit or donate money to organizations that house dolphins and whales for entertainment purposes.

Paws Up!

To the National Council of Switzerland for banning the import of dolphins and whales to the country.

The National Council passed a bill banning the importation of dolphins and whales. Originally, the bill banned both the keeping and importation of dolphins. However, this is still a victory for these sea creatures.

“It’s a good measure as well because it complies with the Swiss constitution, which is unique in protecting animals’ dignity,” [Antoine Goetschel] added. In addition, [the veteran animal rights lawyer] questioned the ethics of keeping wild animals captive. “When you consider dolphins live in schools of 300 to 400, using their sonar system to communicate, then even a spacious pool is obscenely small.”

Take Action: The best action you can take is not to visit or donate money to organizations that house dolphins and whales for entertainment purposes. These animals belong in the wild living in family units, not housed in concrete pools . Residents of Switzerland, let your leaders know you approve of their actions to protect dolphins and whales.

The Honorable Hansjorg Walter
President
National Council
Parliamentary Services
Parliament Building
CH-3003 Bern
Switzerland

Source:
The Local, Switzerland Edition
SwissInfo.ch