Dirty Challenge: Pythons in Peril

Burmese pythons are a threathened species in Southeast Asia.

Paws Down!
To the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for supporting the killing of Burmese pythons in that state.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has a partnership with the Python Challenge to remove Burmese pythons from the Florida Everglades. At first glance, this looks to be a noble attempt to save the Everglades, but what is not said is that the snakes will be killed. National Geographic News has commented that Florida’s great snake hunt is nothing more than a cheap stunt. The Burmese python is a vulnerably threatened species in Southeast Asia and is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Relocation is the best alternative to repopulate the species in Southeast Asia.

The Python Challenge website states, “Increasing public awareness about Burmese pythons and how this invasive species is a threat to the Everglades ecosystem, including native wildlife, is the goal of the 2013 Python Challenge™.” Increasing public awareness is an immense goal, but this Python Challenge is similar to a canned hunt and is an unwise way to broaden awareness about Burmese pythons and native wildlife.

The FWC is also offering prizes to the public for the killings of these pythons. The Python Challenge website continues, “The public also is invited to this upcoming free educational and exciting event in south Florida: The 2013 Python Challenge Awareness and Awards Event on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2013 at Zoo Miami.” The website also encourages people to share their Python Challenge photos.

Instead of killing pythons, the FWC should be capturing and relocating them to their native environment.

Take Action: Contact the executive director of the FWC and urge him to discontinue the Python Challenge’s current method of removal. Encourage the FWC to relocate these beautiful snakes back to their natural habitat to help Florida’s Everglades and the conservation status of the Burmese python.

Nick Wiley, Executive Director
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600

When you think about it…nature creates the best colors for animals.

Pigeons’ colors don’t need our approval.

A recent story noted that pigeons in Venice, Italy, were dyed red, blue, and green as part of an International Architecture Biennale. They were lured to feeding stations where they were spray painted with food dye.

In April of this year, Rick Scott, governor of Florida, approved an agricultural bill that would allow the dyeing of animals neon green and dayglo pink. There had been a ban on dyeing animals for 45 years in Florida before it was overturned this year.

In China, the latest craze is to dye companion animals to look like wild animals. So a chow chow dog might be made to look like a panda or a retriever dyed to look like a tiger.

Let’s, for a moment, set aside the issue that the ingredients in some dyes might be harmful to companion animals. Let’s instead look at what it means for us to alter so dramatically the appearance of our companion that he or she no longer looks like the dog or a cat nature produced. What gives us the right to alter nature in such a way that our animal may actually be unrecognizable?

Nature did a pretty awesome job creating the various colors we find in our cats and dogs. Why would we want them to be pink, purple, blue, or green? If we cannot appreciate them for who they are in their natural state, what will changing their fur color do? When you think about it…nature creates the best colors for animals…not chemists.

The Score Is Fish 0, Marlins -0

The beauty of these sea creatures is being cheapened by making them nothing more than a ballpark spectacle.

Paws Down!

To Marlins’ baseball team president David Samson for incorporating giant fish tanks in the new stadium design.

Can you image a baseball pitcher hurtling a ball at you at 104.8 mph? That’s the fastest speed ever recorded. While most pitchers don’t reach that speed, 90 mph is not unheard of. So, again, put yourself in the line of a 90 mph pitch coming straight at you.

That’s what is going to happen to the tropical fish at the new Marlins baseball stadium in Miami. The design of the stadium calls for two 20-foot-long tropical fish aquariums to be placed directly behind home plate.

While the president of the Marlins thinks such a design “screams Miami,” it also screams animal abuse. The beauty of these sea creatures is being cheapened by making them nothing more than a ballpark spectacle.

Take Action: Write a letter to Marlins’ president David Samson letting him know fish belong in the sea, not in a tank behind home plate.

David Samson, President
Miami Marlins
501 Marlins Way
Miami, FL 33125

Source:
The Huffington Post

 

SOS

Without measures to prevent the trade of shark fins within its borders, the United States will still contribute to the millions of sharks killed every year for their fins.

While the practice of finning sharks is illegal in the United States, current federal laws do not ban the trade in shark fins. Therefore, shark fins can be imported into this country. Each year, millions of sharks are killed for their fins, mostly to make shark fin soup. The sharks are pulled out of the water, their fins sliced off, and their bodies returned to the ocean. This barbaric industry has depleted shark populations by as much as 99 percent is some areas, threatening the delicate balance in our marine ecosystem.

New York State and Maryland residents, please contact your legislators and urge them to support bills currently before them. In New York State, the bill is A 7707a/S 6431and in Maryland it is SB 465/HB 393.

Florida, Illinois, and Virginia residents, contact your legislators as well since similar legislation has been introduced in those states.

Hawaii, California, Washington, and Oregon have already passed legislation restricting the trade of shark fins.

Acoustical Assault

Paws Down!

To Connyland theme park, Switzerland, and Miami Seaquarium, Florida, for holding raves in proximity to the sea creatures.

In a line we all use at times, “What were they thinking,” two organizations decided to hold raves in proximity to aquariums that house captive dolphins, orcas, and other marine mammals.

Isn’t it enough that we capture and contain these magnificent creatures in oversized bath tubs, do we now have to have pyrotechnics, ear shattering music, and hundreds, if not thousands, of partygoers in close proximity to their unnatural homes?

According to one news report, noise levels at the Connyland theme park reached the level of pneumatic drills set on top volume. In addition, it was reported that attendees tossed all manner of debris into the animals’ pools, including drugs.

It was reported that two dolphins at the Connyland theme park died most likely as a result of the 2-day rave. While no deaths have been reported of animals at Miami’s Seaquarium, one has to doubt the dolphins, orcas, and other sea creatures were in a partying mood while the event was going on.

What were the owners of these parks thinking?

Take Action: Write the owners of Seaquarium and Connyland urging them to discontinue holding events that place the animals in unsafe conditions that may lead to their deaths. Of course, the strongest action any of us can take is to stay away from these theme parks where captive wild animals are made to live in oversized bath tubs all year around.

Roby Gasser, Management
Connyland
Post Strasse 38
8557 Lipperswil
Switzerland
Tele. No.: +41 52 762 72 72
Fax: +41 52 762 72 73
E-mail: info@connyland.ch

Arthur Herman Hertz, CEO
Andrew Hertz, General Manager
Wometco Enterprises Inc.
Owner, Miami Seaquarium
3195 Ponce DeLeon Blvd.
Coral Gables, FL 33134
Tele. No.: 305-529-1400
Fax: 305-529-1466

Sources:
Simorgh.DE
The Daily Mail

Greyhounds Vindicated

Paws Up!

To Washington County, FL, judicial system for prosecuting a greyhound trainer for the deaths of numerous dogs, and to the judge for meting out the maximum sentence under Florida law.

According to news reports, “Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson…accepted [Ronald John Williams’] plea to 39 counts of felony animal abuse.” And, sentenced him to five years on each count to run concurrently with no credit for the nearly one year he spent in jail.

Photo by glindsay65/Flickr

Williams had been charged with 39 counts of felony animal abuse for having abandoned over 40 racing greyhounds at the Ebro Greyhound Park, Ebro, Florida, in late 2010.

Take Action: The first action any of us should take is to avoid entertainment and racing venues that feature animals. The fewer people who attend these events, the less likely greyhound racing, for example, will continue. Greyhound parks are closing around the country because of lack of attendance. If greyhound racing goes on in your state, write your legislators urging them to legislate against this vicious and cruel “sport.”

Residents of Florida, thank the members of the Washington County judicial system for prosecuting this case to the fullest extent of Florida law.

The Honorable Christopher Patterson
Circuit Court Judge, Fourteenth Judicial Circuit
1293 Jackson Avenue
Chipley, Florida 32428

Glenn Hess, State’s Attorney
c/o Washington County State Attorney’s Office
PO Box 590
Chipley, FL 32428

Sources:
Northwest Florida Daily News
WCTV Florida/Georgia

Animals and Domestic Violence

Photo by NHES

Our animals, whether companion or livestock, must be spared from the horrors of domestic violence just as the humans in the home need to be spared. Support, however, for the humans sometimes comes at the expense of the animals. Yet, many victims of domestic violence will refuse to leave their violent situation for fear their animals will be abused. As more state legislatures realize the issue of human domestic violence is entwined with the issue of animal domestic violence, more laws are being enacted to protect all inhabitants of a home.

Florida and Massachusetts have introduced legislation to help protect animals in domestic violence situations by granting custody and care of animals residing in such households to the victims of abuse. Approximately 20 states have laws already allowing courts to issue orders of protection to include animals.

If you live in Florida or Massachusetts , please contact your state legislators and let them know you are in support of legislation protecting animals in domestic violence situations. The Florida bill was just introduced, and the Massachusetts bill went into hearings early in October.

For residents of other states, check to see if your state has such legislation. If not, encourage your legislators to introduce bills that will protect animals in your state who find themselves in the midst of domestic violence situations.

Victory for the Witnesses

Paws Up!
To the Florida House for failing to act on an “ag-gag” bill before the session ended.

The Florida legislative session ended without the passage of a bill that would make it illegal to film and/or photograph animals on farms without the owner’s permission. The so-called “ag-gag” is a violation of free speech and an attack on those who risk their safety to expose cruelty found on factory farms.

Photo by Compassion in World Farming

Florida residents can’t relax as the bill could be introduced in the next legislative session, so make sure you let your representatives know you disagree with any bill that infringes on the rights of whistleblowers to do their job, which is ultimately to protect the animals raised for food and ourselves from being party to animal cruelty on factory farms.

Take Action: Residents in Iowa and Minnesota, legislation is still pending in your state houses that would subject whistleblowers to criminal prosecution. Please contact your representatives now and urge them to support freedom of speech and compassion by denying passage of ag-gag legislation.

Source:
organicauthority.com/

When you think about it…what should Tilikum’s future be?

Photo by Drew Bennett

Tilikum is back. He returned to public performances last month at SeaWorld Orlando for the first time since he killed a trainer at the marine park more than a year ago.

While SeaWorld contends the company has made many safety upgrades to the killer whale facilities in all its parks, and plans to do even more, there are those who wonder about placing these animals in near contact, if not direct, contact with humans. SeaWorld has assured everyone that no trainers will be allowed in the water with Tilikum.

But is that really the issue now—whether humans should be in the water with killer whales and other marine mammals? Or should the question be: why do we keep these animals confined in oversized fishbowls to begin with?

Following the most recent Tilikum-related death, Tilikum was moved out of sight into a pool by himself. One day he’s a superstar for SeaWorld Orlando and the next he’s 12,3000 pounds of deadly mammal (the largest orca in captivity), who by the way, had killed humans before. Is keeping him isolated good for him? Probably not. Is putting him on display at SeaWorld so people can get to see the killer whale in action (and pay big bucks to do so—tickets start around $70)? Maybe not. Should he be released? Maybe. Could he survive in the wild? Who can say for sure? After all, he was removed from the wild when he was just two years of age in 1983. He’s known no other world than oversized bathtubs, first in Sealand of the Pacific in Canada and since 1992 in SeaWorld Orlando.

When you think about it, how can we in all good conscience place these animals in such precarious conditions leaving them and us sometimes little choice as to the best possible future for them? By removing any wild animal from his or her natural setting and forcing that animal to perform for our benefit, we have created untenable situations for them and for us. But mostly for them. Whatever the decisions, Tilikum’s future looks dim.

Make Sea World Hearings Public

Photo by Drew Bennett

Sea World Orlando is petitioning for a hearing on the findings of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration regarding the investigation into the death of trainer Dawn Brancheau by the orca Tilikum. Sea World is requesting the hearing be closed and all documents sealed.

We have to wonder what is Sea World Orlando afraid the public might learn through such a hearing? Are there other incidents that will be discussed that have been kept from the public? Will we learn that Sea World has been jeopardizing not just its trainers but possibly the paying public? What would we learn about the training of orcas that might turn us off from supporting such animal entertainment?

If the proceedings are closed and the results sealed, the public will not have the knowledge they need to determine if Sea World Orlando offers reputable protective programs for those involved with orcas nor will they be able to assess the welfare of captive orcas.

Write the secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor requesting the hearings be open and the records made public.

Hilda Solis, Secretary
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20210