Three elephants in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
World Animal Protection believes that wild animals should be left in the wild
and not used for our entertainment. Credit: iStock. by Getty
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Help protect elephants
by stopping the spread of the elephant ride tourism
industry |
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The
situation for elephants in South-East Asia has improved, but in another part of
the world, it’s getting worse. Since the beginning of this year, I have asked
you to help end the elephant tourism industry in South-East Asia, and we have
been successful. Over 20 travel companies around the world, including Intrepid
Travel and World Expeditions, have stopped offering and promoting elephant rides
or shows to their customers, but I have sad news to report. Wildlife
entertainment attractions are now spreading somewhere else - in southern Africa
- and the cruelty of this “entertainment” is having a devastating impact on the
lives of hundreds of elephants. Currently, 215 captive elephants are being used
as props for selfies or forced to perform tricks, in addition to giving
rides. |
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Captive
wild African elephants, stolen from their mothers at birth or born into
captivity, are forced to suffer an intensive breaking process. The first stage
of this horrific process involves restraining a baby elephant with chains or
rope, forcing them to only move when commanded. If that doesn’t break his or her
spirit then the elephant is beaten with a metal bullhook, wooden batten or whip.
If he or she still does not obey their trainer, they are isolated and deprived
of food and water. With a gift of as little as $25, you help us
educate tourists, tour operators, local stakeholders and decision-makers,
helping to end exploitive elephant tourism
experiences. |
We Need Your Help to Protest Kaavan's Neglectful Conditions!
Thanks to you all, Kaavan has finally been unchained from his shed, however, the Marghazar Zoo still refuses to let him go to a sanctuary. While we are happy Kaavan is finally able to stretch his legs, he remains in the Marghazar Zoo where he is solitarily confined to a small length of grass with a dirty plaster pond. He suffers from behavioral issues from his years of trauma and neglect. Worst of all, his enclosure is made of flimsy chainlink, not secure enough to hold him in. Kaavan had broken out of this inadequate enclosure in 1992, and was consequently chained full time for the next two decades as a result. If he breaks out again, he becomes a public safety hazard, and that would most likely mean another lifetime of chains for him. Things are not looking good: yesterday, he broke the gate of his enclosure with just his trunk. He needs to be sent to a secure and competent sanctuary.
Time is running out for Kaavan and we want to make a big move to show the CDA that we are are serious about getting Kaavan to sanctuary! October 3rd is March for Elephants day, and we are launching a Worldwide protest in Kaavan's name!
We need your help in freeing Kaavan! On this day everyone around the world can gather at their local Pakistan Embassy or any permissible public place to protest/raise awareness about the neglect and abuse inflicted on Kaavan! No matter how big or small it is, every protest is infinitely important in saving Kaavan! Here is the link to the event:https://www.facebook.com/events/354190371421432/
Anyone around the world can help by making their own protest, it's pretty simple and easy! Make a Facebook event and gather friends in your local Pakistan Embassy or any permissible public place on October 3rd! If they are required, do make sure you get necessary permits for your demonstration!
Again, every protest makes a difference BIG OR SMALL! There is a real risk that if the CDA sees that we do not have many protests, they will dismiss this issue and Kaavan will be stuck in the zoo forever. However, if we can show the CDA a good number of protests for Kaavan from people all over the world we have a fighting chance!
As part of your protest: -You can make posters for Kaavan, who was chained for 28 years and is still stuck solitarily in a inadequate enclosure. -Keep a laptop on hand so that you can share our petition. -Please raise awareness about Kaavan in your protest and pass out flyers about his story!
PLEASE send ALL PHOTOS of your protest to our facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaavantheelephant
If you want we can also publicize your protest on our Free Kaavan Facebook page if you send us the link to your Facebook event!
We plan to compile all protest photos and send them to the CDA to show them just how many people are raising their voices for Kaavan!
PLEASE SEND us your protest photos so we can show CDA just how many people want Kaavan to be free!
In addition to the protest please continue to spread the word about Kaavan through social media like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
One of our supporters has made this incredible tweet sheet which allows you to tweet at all relevant public figures in less than two minutes! Please use this! https://sites.google.com/site/unchainkaavanfreehimnow/
In addition contact World Wildlife Fund: Islamabad and voice your concerns about Kaavan! Tel: 051 227 0020-3 Fax: 051 227 0029 E-mail: islamabad@wwf.org.pk
Thanks so much for your compassion and support for Kaavan! He is our elephant now, and we need to continue to be his voice!
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The
breaking process typically lasts for one week, but the trauma stays with
elephants for the rest of their lives. And the cruelty does not end with the
breaking process. Captivity prevents elephants from establishing natural social
relationships, hugely damaging to their physical and psychological wellbeing.
Captive elephants are typically given little veterinary care so a relatively
minor illness can quickly become a big problem, causing unnecessary long-term
suffering.
With
wild African elephants still heavily poached for their ivory and increased
habitat loss, southern Africa’s wild elephant populations are at their lowest.
By helping to end the elephant tourism industry, you play a role in restoring
elephants back into the wild. Please
make a gift today.
Support
the Ban on Elephant Ivory
The Obama administration just released
its draft regulations to ban ivory sales in the United States and we've got one
week to drum up a stampede of support during the public comment period to make
sure this ban stays intact!
California lawmakers pass sweeping ivory ban to curb elephant poaching.
Hoping to discourage the alarming killing of African elephants, the state Senate on Wednesday voted to ban the sale of old elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn.
California made it illegal to sell ivory in 1977, but state law still permits the sale of older ivory imported more than four decades ago. If signed into law, Assembly Bill 96 would close that loophole and deter more poaching, says Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego.
"This species loss is unsustainable, and African elephants are being poached at a higher rate than they are being born, which will result in their extinction," said Atkins, the legislation's primary sponsor. Strengthening enforcement against the illegal ivory trade will "help put an end to poaching," she said.
A Thai official holds a seized elephant tusk to be displayed before its destruction in Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 26, 2015.
A Thai official holds a seized elephant tusk to be displayed before its destruction in Bangkok, Thailand, on Aug. 26, 2015. (Sakchai Lalit/Associated Press)
The nation's most populous state drew international attention in 2013 with its effort to reduce the killing of millions of sharks in the Pacific Ocean by banning the sale of their fins, a popular delicacy in Chinese restaurants.
The Senate approved Atkins' bill on a 26-13 vote over the objections of critics who said it won't be effective as long as sales of old ivory products are still permitted in other states and countries.
"This is nothing more than feel-good legislation that is basically going to make criminals of law-abiding citizens in California," said Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula.
Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, fired back at that claim, noting that Democrats are the ones trying to safeguard elephants, the symbol of the Republican Party. "We are seeing a poaching crisis that has the potential to influence an entire species of elephants and rhinos," he said.
The measure includes exemptions for musical instruments made before 1975 that are less than 20 percent ivory; antiques over 100 years old that are less than 5 percent ivory; and sales of imports of ivory for educational or scientific purposes if the item was acquired before 1991.
Owners of ivory would be given until July 1, 2016, to sell it. After that, sales would be a misdemeanor, with fines of up to $50,000 and a year in jail.
The bill has been championed by zoos, museums and environmentalists. But it's been opposed by the National Rifle Association and many hunting groups, which are concerned that some antique guns containing ivory will be outlawed. Merchants in San Francisco and Los Angeles Chinatowns also are worried the ban could hurt their businesses.
The Assembly has already approved the bill, but it must now approve the amended measure once more before it heads to Gov. Jerry Brown for his consideration. Brown has not taken a public position on the bill. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Jessica Calefati at 916-441-2101. Follow her at Twitter.com/Calefati.
Help free Kaavan the elephant from 28 years of solitary confinement.
I came across Kaavan the Elephant while visiting the Murghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. Kaavan was all alone, as he has been for the 28 years he’s been at this zoo. His legs were chained up to limit where he could move in his enclosure. But that didn’t seem to matter because for the entire time I was there Kaavan didn’t move. The only thing that moved was his head, as it bobbed repetitively from right and left, a behavior known as "weaving" which elephants adopt in response to stress and depression.
He cut a small, solitary figure against the backdrop of his shed, it was a sorry site. Despite his obvious discomfort, the zoo claims that Kaavan is used to his enclosure and doesn't mind it.
Kaavan needs our help. If enough of us put pressure on Pakistani authorities, we can get Kaavan released to an elephant sanctuary. The global outcry has already resulted in the government ordering the zoo to remove Kaavan’s chains.
Zoos such as this one rob elephants of their most basic needs. In the wild, elephants are active for 18 hours and roam up to 30 miles a day. They live in social herds, and form deep bonds with one another. Nothing even close is being offered to Kaavan at the Murghazar Zoo.
There isn't much time left, Kaavan already has gangrene susceptible gashes on his feet from the chains. Kaavan’s predecessor was Saheli, donated to the zoo by the Sri Lankan government. She died from gangrene and neglect. I don’t want the same fate to befall Kaavan, especially after a lifetime of solitude. It doesn’t have to. Together, we can give Kaavan the life he deserves.
LETTER TO
Chairman, Capital Development Authority, Islamabad Pakistan Chairman CDA
Born Free Foundation Marc
Born Free CEO
and 2 others
Chris
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)
Send Kaavan to an elephant sanctuary after 28 years of solitary confinement in Pakistan's Murghazar Zoo.
Baby Godoma is rescued! ...it was close to nightfall by the time she arrived at the Nairobi Nursery with a carefully prepared stable awaiting her arrival. She cried much of the night, missing her lost family enormously but with the reassuring company of the rest of the Nursery orphans along with loving tender attention from her keepers she… read more: www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/www.facebook.com/thedswt
Urge Travelzoo to Stop Promoting UniverSoul Elephant Abuse.
In their natural habitats, tigers don’t jump through hoops and elephants don’t engage in confusing and sometimes painful tricks—at the circus, they do these things because they are afraid of what will happen if they don’t. Animals used in UniverSoul Circus shows are no exception, and exhibitors hired by UniverSoul have lengthy histories of abuse and public-safety violations. UniverSoul has even worked with Hugo Liebel, who has been racking up Animal Welfare Act violations concerning his treatment of the ailing elephant Nosey for two decades, and Carson & Barnes Circus, whose trainers were caught on video using blowtorches and electric prods on elephants. In addition to the cruelty inherent in animal acts, two elephants currently on the road with UniverSoul—Betty and Bo, who are exhibited by Larry Carden—have yielded over five years of reactive tuberculosis (TB) tests, suggesting that they might carry the disease. These elephants risk exposing arena and circus workers, members of the public, and other animals to TB.
Please ask Travelzoo to stop promoting the cruel UniverSoul Circus and to enact a policy banning promotions of animal acts immediately—then forward this alert widely!
Send polite comments to:
- Ralph Bartel, Director and Chief Talent Officer
Travelzoo Inc. 590 Madison Ave., 37th Fl. New York, NY 10022 rbartel@travelzoo-inc.com
- Christopher Loughlin, Chief Executive Officer
Travelzoo Inc. 590 Madison Ave., 37th Fl. New York, NY 10022 cloughlin@travelzoo.com
- Glen Ceremony, Chief Financial Officer
Travelzoo Inc. 590 Madison Ave., 37th Fl. New York, NY 10022 gceremony@travelzoo.com
Please also call Travelzoo’s customer service department at 877-665-0000, option 4, and ask the company to stop promoting animal acts.
A mother lion will stop at nothing to make sure her cub survives – and so will we. That's why we need 250 supporters like you to make a monthly pledge to save these animals from being ruthlessly slaughtered. |
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100 elephants are gunned down by poachers every day. |
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Almost 60 rhinos are killed for their horns each month. |
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Lions like Cecil are massacred, only to become hunting trophies. |
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Right now, humans are the biggest threat to these animals. We need to be their solution, or it will be too late. |
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Justice for Beloved Elephant Murdered for His Tusks
Target: Indonesian Attorney-General HM Prasetyo
Petition: Click Here To Sign This Petition, It Takes a few Seconds tops!
Goal: Severely punish the hunter who killed Yongki, the endangered Sumatran elephant, and ripped out his tusks.
Just when Cecil the lion’s murder is beginning to blow over, yet another amazing and innocent creature has been murdered. Yongki, an endangered Sumatran elephant, who helped patrol Indonesian jungles to protect threatened habitats has been murdered for his tusks.
He was found dead with his tusks cut off and with bloody stumps in their place in a national park camp where he lived on the island of Sumatra. Yongki was a sweet creature who worked well with elephant keepers in the national park by being involved in patrols that help reduce tensions of wild elephants stampeding through villages. Yongki’s patrolling also helped rangers look out for illegal logging and poaching that threaten the Indonesian rainforests.
The Sumatran elephants are endangered, with estimates that there are less than 3,000 left in the wild. The creatures are a target of poachers because of their tusks, which hold a high value because of their use in traditional Chinese medicine. Its not yet known how Yongki was murdered, but his tongue was blue when he was found, leading officials to believe he may have been poisoned.
Some online activists are calling for enforcing life sentences for hunters of legally protected animals. Regardless, when Yongki’s killer is found, he or she must face the consequences. Urge officials to punish this murderer under the full extent of the law for his or her horrific crime against an innocent animal.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Attorney-General HM Prasetyo,
Yongki, an endangered Sumatran elephant, has been murdered for his tusks. To make the story even sadder, Yongki helped officials to protect villages from wild elephants and to look out for illegal logging and poaching going on in the Indonesian rain forests.
Not only that, but Sumatran elephants are endangered, with 3,000 or less left in the wild. At this rate, we cannot afford to lose them, even just one. It’s ridiculous that someone would commit such a heinous crime over tusks.
I am deeply saddened by the murder of this sweet, helpful creature and hope that his murderer sees justice. I urge you to punish this murderer under the full extent of the law for their horrific crime against an innocent animal.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Elephants are the one of
the most iconic and intelligent animals in the world.
But in the wake
of extensive killings, their days might be numbered.
We’re racing against the
clock. We need urgent action to win this race against time. Passing
our ballot initiative on November
3rd, 2015 will help us win that race.
Will
you chip in $5 or more now to help us end the worldwide slaughter of
elephants?
We only have 41 days
left until our election.
That means time is running out to end to the
purchase, sale, and distribution of products made from elephants and 9 other
endangered animals in Washington state -- and set a model for the
nation.
If we want to keep these majestic elephants from going extinct,
it is VITAL that we take action immediately!
Click
here to donate $5 or more to help prevent elephants from becoming an extinct
species.
Thanks for your support
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