Hugo Liebel and wife arrested for animal cruelty, Nosey Trial in Alabama, #NoseysLaw in New Jersey, Billie, Fight to rescue Hazel begins, Ramba, Tong Kwaw, Thong-Ma, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Animal Defenders International, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), American trophy hunters in Zimbabwe and Zambia and much more at the Elephant In The Room
It was quite a day on Friday at the Nosey trial in Alabama.
First off, both sides stated their case. The Judge has the transcripts and will make a ruling soon.
Second off, The Libel's were arrested for animal cruelty for gods sakes. That was astonishing but it was also so great!
Third off and overall, considering that arrest and granted that it is a criminal issue, but how in the hell can any Judge award an animal to anyone that is even remotely named in an animal cruelty criminal claim? Let alone they cannot award people that get arrested and could be found guilty of animal cruelty for gods sakes.
This is a no brainer and again, I cannot imagine this going any way besides to allow Nosey to live the rest of her life at that Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
The much-anticipated court hearing regarding Nosey's future was held yesterday in Lawrence County, Alabama. After hearing over nine hours of testimony, the judge said she would review all notes and documents and a written decision will be forthcoming.
Until a final decision has been reached, Nosey will remain at The Elephant Sanctuary and will continue to receive individualized care from The Sanctuary’s professional Veterinary and Husbandry teams. The Sanctuary would like to extend its deepest gratitude to every person that used their voice to speak out for Nosey and continues to advocate for the better treatment of elephants in captivity and the wild.
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the owners of Nosey the elephant, Hugo Liebel and his wife, were arrested Saturday morning on animal cruelty charges. They were both released on a $1,000 bond.
PETA Foundation Director of Animal Law Jared Goodman issued the following statement regarding their arrest.
"Cruelty charges are well-deserved for the notorious animal abusers who left Nosey tightly chained, confined in her own waste, and without proper shelter—the very neglect that she's endured in their custody for years, before she was finally confiscated last month by Alabama officials. Local authorities were correct to stand up to cruelty and seize Nosey, whose fate is still to be determined by the court. PETA will continue to fight for her until she's permanently retired to a spacious sanctuary home."
On Friday, Testimony went well into regarding the future of Nosey the elephant. Nosey was seized by animal control officers near Moulton earlier this year after a vehicle pulling the elephant's trailer broke down.
There have been years of complaints about Nosey and the manner in which she is treated. Many people watching the case are curious to see if Nosey will be returned to her owner.
Friday saw a full day and evening of testimony regarding the care and condition of the animal.
Nosey was seized on November 9th after spending several days standing in a small trailer on the side of the road near Moulton. She was sent to The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee pending the outcome of legal efforts to take her from her owner, Hugo Liebel, of Florida. Liebel has owned the elephant for some 34 years.
Animal rights activists maintain the elephant has a long history of abuse and neglect, and has otherwise led a very hard life.
“My concerns are that since 1994, if you look at the exhibits that were entered, the USDA has cited Liebel for the same violations, which are what we would call direct violations which directly affect her health and well being, and also the safety of the public,” according to Denise Gaug of the group Save Nosey Now. She added, “Insufficient barriers to contain an elephant puts the public at risk. Exposure to TB puts the public at risk, not to mention the inhumane conditions in which she's been kept for over 30 years." Gaug says Nosey has become the poster child for animal rights efforts regarding circus animals and other exotic animals hired out for show and display.
Liebel’s attorney, Billy Underwood, of Tuscumbia, says Lawrence County acted improperly when they seized the animal and refused to return her to her rightful owner. He said he is not overly optimistic of a favorable ruling in Lawrence County District Court. “I think we may lose it in District Court, but it's been a good pre-game trial. Coach Saban would be proud of the team's effort and we'll go through the process and win it in front of 12 jurors,” Underwood told reporters Friday night.
He also put Lawrence County on notice saying Nosey's care and feeding right now at the sanctuary is costing about $900 a day. He estimates the final bill could exceed several hundred thousand dollars before the case is settled. He cautioned the county may have to pick up the tab for that and hinted he may also file a lawsuit against the county for what he called the wrongful seizure of the animal.
Liebel was the last to testify and told the court if he gets his elephant back, he'll take it home and love on it, but admitted he may take it back on the road as a means of making a living.
First off, both sides stated their case. The Judge has the transcripts and will make a ruling soon.
Second off, The Libel's were arrested for animal cruelty for gods sakes. That was astonishing but it was also so great!
Third off and overall, considering that arrest and granted that it is a criminal issue, but how in the hell can any Judge award an animal to anyone that is even remotely named in an animal cruelty criminal claim? Let alone they cannot award people that get arrested and could be found guilty of animal cruelty for gods sakes.
This is a no brainer and again, I cannot imagine this going any way besides to allow Nosey to live the rest of her life at that Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee.
Until a final decision has been reached, Nosey will remain at The Elephant Sanctuary and will continue to receive individualized care from The Sanctuary’s professional Veterinary and Husbandry teams. The Sanctuary would like to extend its deepest gratitude to every person that used their voice to speak out for Nosey and continues to advocate for the better treatment of elephants in captivity and the wild.
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the owners of Nosey the elephant, Hugo Liebel and his wife, were arrested Saturday morning on animal cruelty charges. They were both released on a $1,000 bond.
Lawrence County Sheriff’s office says Hugo & Franciszka Liebel’s bond is $1,000 each. Sheriff’s office says warrants for their arrests were issued 3 weeks ago, just waited until after the hearing, which happened yesterday, to be served. #NoseyTheElephant @whnt
"Cruelty charges are well-deserved for the notorious animal abusers who left Nosey tightly chained, confined in her own waste, and without proper shelter—the very neglect that she's endured in their custody for years, before she was finally confiscated last month by Alabama officials. Local authorities were correct to stand up to cruelty and seize Nosey, whose fate is still to be determined by the court. PETA will continue to fight for her until she's permanently retired to a spacious sanctuary home."
On Friday, Testimony went well into regarding the future of Nosey the elephant. Nosey was seized by animal control officers near Moulton earlier this year after a vehicle pulling the elephant's trailer broke down.
There have been years of complaints about Nosey and the manner in which she is treated. Many people watching the case are curious to see if Nosey will be returned to her owner.
Friday saw a full day and evening of testimony regarding the care and condition of the animal.
Nosey was seized on November 9th after spending several days standing in a small trailer on the side of the road near Moulton. She was sent to The Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee pending the outcome of legal efforts to take her from her owner, Hugo Liebel, of Florida. Liebel has owned the elephant for some 34 years.
Animal rights activists maintain the elephant has a long history of abuse and neglect, and has otherwise led a very hard life.
“My concerns are that since 1994, if you look at the exhibits that were entered, the USDA has cited Liebel for the same violations, which are what we would call direct violations which directly affect her health and well being, and also the safety of the public,” according to Denise Gaug of the group Save Nosey Now. She added, “Insufficient barriers to contain an elephant puts the public at risk. Exposure to TB puts the public at risk, not to mention the inhumane conditions in which she's been kept for over 30 years." Gaug says Nosey has become the poster child for animal rights efforts regarding circus animals and other exotic animals hired out for show and display.
Liebel’s attorney, Billy Underwood, of Tuscumbia, says Lawrence County acted improperly when they seized the animal and refused to return her to her rightful owner. He said he is not overly optimistic of a favorable ruling in Lawrence County District Court. “I think we may lose it in District Court, but it's been a good pre-game trial. Coach Saban would be proud of the team's effort and we'll go through the process and win it in front of 12 jurors,” Underwood told reporters Friday night.
He also put Lawrence County on notice saying Nosey's care and feeding right now at the sanctuary is costing about $900 a day. He estimates the final bill could exceed several hundred thousand dollars before the case is settled. He cautioned the county may have to pick up the tab for that and hinted he may also file a lawsuit against the county for what he called the wrongful seizure of the animal.
Liebel was the last to testify and told the court if he gets his elephant back, he'll take it home and love on it, but admitted he may take it back on the road as a means of making a living.
Today the New Jersey state Assembly Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to pass Nosey’s Law (A4386/S2508), a bill to ban wild animal circus acts, out of committee. The bill passed the NJ Senate last year as S2508 (sponsored by Senator Raymond J. Lesniak), to ban circus elephant acts. After meeting with ADI, Assembly sponsor Rep Raj Mukherji agreed to amend the bill to protect ALL wild animals suffering in circuses. Many thanks to the sponsors, for all their work on this.
Nosey’s Law (A4386/S2508) now moves to the full Assembly for a vote January 4th, and then to the Senate January 8th (to concur on the amendment).
If you live in NJ, please call your legislators today, and stay tuned for ADI’s week of action January 1-5, to support Nosey’s Law A4386/S2508, as amended to ban all wild animal circus acts. Find your legislators here: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp
Wherever you live in the US, please support TEAPSPA, to end traveling wild animal acts nationwide: http://bit.ly/SupportTEAPSPA
Asian #elephant Billie discovers a pineapple in her habitat, gifted by a generous donor. Your gifts to The Sanctuary's Holiday Charity Challenge campaign make experiences like this possible for the elephants at The Sanctuary. https://www.crowdrise.com/
The fight to rescue little Hazel is on. And it might be the most difficult battle we've had; but Hazel is the most vulnerable elephant we've encountered. Our promise to Mohan's legacy is to do whatever it takes, however long it takes, to see this five-year-old girl walk free. We will not allow Hazel to live 50 years in chains.
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We went undercover after an informant told us about her situation. And what we found is a baby elephant immobilized in chains, struggling in unsanitary conditions just to get comfortable. This is intolerable. We hope you'll join us in the fight to get her out of there.
We believe Hazel was illegally purchased, and that there's an effort underway to sell her to another abusive owner. We're preparing to intervene with a legal battle on her behalf. Please help us honor Mohan's enduring legacy by saving little Hazel.
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The organization Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) just began the rescue of Thong-Ma, a 50-year-old elephant who spent most of her life enduring confinement and abuse. The animal, along with her friend Pum-Puang, was discovered at a tourist camp in Thailand. Both elephants have been forced to work seven days a week, giving rides to hundreds of tourists every single day. But now, Thong-Ma’s life is about to completely change, as she is beginning her journey to her new home!
Thanks to the WFFT Rescue Team, Thong-Ma has finally been freed from the chains she has been kept in for so long!
Before being housed at the tourist camp two years ago, both Thong-Ma and Pum-Puang were being used as logging elephants in Southern Thailand. The scars of this past are visible all over their bodies.
So far, the organization has managed to raise $12,710 of its $22,000 fundraising campaign total to free both friends.
Reaching the campaign goal would allow the rescuers to save both Thong-Ma and Pum-Puang – and they hope to be able to do it before Christmas.
The team managed to completely change the life of the beautiful Thong-Ma by securing the funds and organizing the rescue. Now, they are hoping that they will soon be able to do the same for the other elephant who deserves respect and care just as much as her friend.
You can help give freedom to Pum-Puang by making a donation. To learn more about Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, click here. All image source: Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand/Facebook
It took decades for Tong Kwaw the elephant to finally break free from her chains and find a safe place to call home. The elephant spent 20 years being exploited in the logging and trekking industries. She worked exhausting hours and also had to perform in shows for human entertainment. Finally, the beautiful Tong Kwaw, who should have never been forced to leave her natural habitat at all, was freed from her unbearable life in captivity – and now she is starting all over again at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.
Tong Kwaw, which, as her carers explain on their Facebook page, means a beautiful white Thai flower, proved to be a very calm and gentle animal.
After the first good night’s sleep at her new home, she was shown around the sanctuary by her carers.
She was eager to dip her trunk in the pond to cool down …
Afterwards, she set down to calmly graze on the hillside.
Tong Kwaw turned out to be naturally very curious and she would stop eating to listen to other elephants at the sanctuary.
Two of the other elephants, Kannika and Madee, became truly excited about the new friend – and were loud and clear about it, trumpeting and squeaking.
Her night shelter is next to another sweet elephant. Hopefully, the two will soon be good friends.
Tong Kwaw had to endure years and years of abuse, pain, and fear at the hands of humans. Now, she is learning that people can be very different from those who have kept her in captivity and forced her to work. Thanks to the sanctuary and its team, she is starting to slowly taste all the little joys of being an elephant – and trusting that nothing bad will happen to her ever again.
To learn more about Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, click here. All image source: Phuket Elephant Sanctuary/Facebook
Send Ramba to Freedom. Ramba the Asian elephant was snatched from the wild when she was just one year old. For decades she worked as a circus elephant in Chile and Argentina. But while she brought thousands of families joy, she suffered.
At 51, Ramba has been alone for most of her life. She was deprived of a life in the wild with her family, and once in captivity she was deprived of even the most basic elephant necessities, the ability to socialize with others of her kind.
8 years ago the Government of Chile confiscated the her from the circus with hopes of sending her to a sanctuary where she could finally be free. But plans fell through and for years she has lingered, waiting for another chance to come along. Her current home is a roadside zoo.
Now she has a chance, no not only live in a sanctuary, but also be around other rescued elephants. An elephant sanctuary in Brazil has offered to take her. But as of yet, there isn't enough money to get her from Chile to Brazil. The sanctuary needs a quarter of a million dollars to transport the 4.5-ton pachyderm where she will get to spend the rest of her days on a 2,800 acre paradise. If they can't raise the funds, her second chance at freedom could also fall through.
Chile rescued Ramba once, and now they have the chance to do it again. And this time make it final. Let's ask the nation of Chile to donate the remaining amount of money to the fund to send Ramba to Brazil so she can once and for all - after 50 long years - know freedom.
Elephants (and lions) are in deep trouble right now, and they need you to fight for their lives.
Recently, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced it would permit elephant and lion trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia, giving American trophy hunters a green light to slaughter these iconic animals. We are relieved that the President called to put this decision on hold, labeling trophy hunting a “horror show.” But no decision has been finalized and we need formal action from this Department.
Please protect elephants and lions by urging the government to withdraw its ill-considered decision and deny these trophy imports.
Recently, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced it would permit elephant and lion trophy imports from Zimbabwe and Zambia, giving American trophy hunters a green light to slaughter these iconic animals. We are relieved that the President called to put this decision on hold, labeling trophy hunting a “horror show.” But no decision has been finalized and we need formal action from this Department.
Please protect elephants and lions by urging the government to withdraw its ill-considered decision and deny these trophy imports.
African elephants and lions are some of the most beloved animals in the world, yet they’re both listed as a threatened species and their very survival is at risk.
Let your voice be heard all the way to the White House. President Trump’s reconsideration of this awful Department of the Interior decision is undoubtedly a result of expressed public outrage. That gives us hope for elephants and lions.
Please take urgent action today to keep the pressure on the Administration not to sanction the killing of Zimbabwe’s and Zambia’s precious wildlife.
Let your voice be heard all the way to the White House. President Trump’s reconsideration of this awful Department of the Interior decision is undoubtedly a result of expressed public outrage. That gives us hope for elephants and lions.
Please take urgent action today to keep the pressure on the Administration not to sanction the killing of Zimbabwe’s and Zambia’s precious wildlife.
Ivory only belongs to elephants.
