Wildlife/Marine Mammals
Efforts in Congress to help save critically endangered right whales
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson North Atlantic right whales, once decimated by whalers, have continued to face an onslaught of other threats to their survival in recent decades, including entanglement in commercial fishing gear, collision with large ships and climate change. These gentle giants, . . .
Breaking news: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes stripping federal protections for wolves
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that it will issue a proposed rule to strip Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves in all of the lower 48 states, further jeopardizing animals in a fragile state of . . .
Cuddling a baby tiger or riding an elephant could leave you more guilty than gratified, study says
Walking alongside a lion in South Africa or feeding a baby tiger with a milk bottle at a roadside zoo stateside as you smile into the camera might seem like a novel idea, but it never has a good outcome for the animal. And increasingly, . . .
USDA further loosens oversight of puppy mills and other operations, leaving foxes to guard the henhouse
U.S. Department of Agriculture inspectors documented 60 percent fewer violations at facilities that use animals in 2018 compared to 2017. The drop, reported by the Washington Post this week and also documented by our researchers here at the Humane Society of the United States, is . . .
Bill in Congress would ban private ownership of tigers, lions and other big cats
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Thousands of tigers, lions, leopards and other big cats are kept in private homes and poorly run exhibits across the United States. These wild and dangerous animals are forced to spend their lives in inhumane conditions, locked up in . . .
Botswana moves closer to lifting ban on trophy hunting despite declining interest in such kills
The southern African nation of Botswana may be on the verge of bucking the global trend against trophy hunting. Last week, a subcommittee appointed by the president made the recommendation to end a ban on trophy hunting which has been in effect in the country . . .
Iceland says it may kill 2,000 whales over next five years
Iceland has announced it may kill more than 2,000 whales over the next five years, despite a declining market for whale meat and a growing sentiment against whaling among the Nordic country’s own citizens. Earlier this week, the Icelandic fisheries minister issued new commercial whaling . . .
In defiance of federal law, Wyoming passes illegal statute to allow grizzly bear hunts
Wyoming’s crusade to declare open season on grizzly bears hit an unprecedented low this week when Gov. Mark Gordon signed into law a statute that gives state officials the authority to open a trophy hunting season on grizzly bears and relocate bears to other states . . .
Fish and Wildlife Service fails in its mission to protect critically endangered species
The other day, the Washington Post’s Pam Constable published a story about a wealthy American hunter who paid $110,000 for the right to kill a rare and magnificent mountain goat in Pakistan. There are just several thousand markhors alive, so it’s hard to see how . . .
Zimbabwe rips 35 baby elephants from their mothers for export to Chinese zoos
It is the worst kind of wildlife abuse, and it is happening right now – again – in Zimbabwe, where 35 baby elephants have been torn away from their mothers in the wild and are awaiting export to zoos in China. According to The Times . . .
At South Florida Wildlife Center, staff rehabilitate pelicans, other wildlife hurt and orphaned by human actions
I was at the South Florida Wildlife Center yesterday when workers there released six pelicans back into the wild. The birds, who can be found wintering in South Florida this time of year, had all been brought in last month with injuries that need never . . .
Bill in Congress will require puppy mills, roadside zoos and other businesses to have emergency plans to protect animals during disasters
By Kitty Block and Sara Amundson Weather-related disasters such as floods and wildfires are occurring more frequently and with increasing intensity across the United States. While there is a federal law that requires state and local authorities to consider household pets and service animals in . . .
