Wildlife/Marine Mammals
The federal government must protect gray wolves before it’s too late
We just filed a legal petition urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to immediately restore Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The wolves in this region are in grave danger due to new laws passed in Idaho and . . .
How special interest groups are destroying the gray wolf
Gray wolves used to thrive in most states in the U.S. and across Europe. Because of trophy hunting and habitat loss, wolves were extirpated from most states in the U.S. until the 1970s, when gray wolves were listed as an endangered species under the Endangered . . .
Breaking: Texas tiger arrives at our animal sanctuary, Black Beauty Ranch
If you’ve been online at all in the past week, chances are you’ve seen the footage of an alarmed off-duty police officer pointing a gun at an approaching tiger in a sleepy residential neighborhood in Houston. The tiger’s name is India and, after a mysterious . . .
Animals to be recognized as sentient in U.K. — Here’s why that matters
The animal protection movement made some great progress this week when the U.K. announced new legal recognitions for animals and a plan to improve animal welfare policies. Here, Claire Bass, executive director of Humane Society International/U.K., explains what this means for animals. As the political . . .
South Africa to clamp down on exploitative captive lion industry
A key panel appointed by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa recommends banning captive lion breeding and the commercial trade of lion parts such as lion skeletons. Humane Society International/Africa has been a key player in the campaign to phase . . .
NRA chief’s agonizing elephant hunt shows what’s wrong with trophy hunting
The New Yorker broke a story yesterday about the head of the National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, attempting to kill an endangered elephant in Botswana. The newly released footage exemplifies the blithe depravity of trophy hunting. The video shows LaPierre’s botched attempt to kill an . . .
Idaho lawmakers on verge of sanctioning a carnage of 90% of the state’s wolves
UPDATE (5/7/21): Despite overwhelming opposition from Idaho residents, professional wildlife biologists and managers and state fish and game commissioners, Gov. Brad Little signed S. 1211 into law on May 5. We urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to uphold its obligations to review and . . .
House revives bill to end shark fin trade that passed during last session
A bill to end all commercial trade in the United States of shark fins and shark fin products was reintroduced in the U.S. House today. The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, H.R. 2811, already enjoys great support in Congress and a previous version passed the . . .
Bill to ban dangerous wild animals as pets advances in Nevada
Nevada, one of the last remaining states without a ban on the ownership of exotic wild animals as pets, is now moving to pass a law to do exactly that. A bill, SB 344, recently passed the Senate and now awaits action in the Assembly. . . .
U.S. finalizes critical habitat protections for endangered humpback whales
The United States has finalized a rule to protect key ocean habitats used by endangered humpback whales as they migrate and feed in the waters off the U.S. west coast. This is a tremendous development and one we hope will help speed the recovery of . . .
Bill to end keeping big cats as pets, ‘cub petting’ reintroduced in U.S. Senate
A bill that would prohibit public contact with big cats like tigers, lions and leopards and ban keeping these animals as pets has been reintroduced in the U.S. Senate. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, S. 1210, would end the suffering of animals like Elsa, . . .
A resolution for Earth Day — and every day
With spring in full blossom, my favorite escape from Zoom meetings is getting outside for a long walk with my dog, Lilly. That time is a tremendous respite for both of us. In a year when we’ve spent so much time indoors, I think we . . .
