Wildlife/Marine Mammals
Iceland resumes slaughter of fin whales, defying international ban
In defiance of an international moratorium on commercial whaling, the Icelandic ship Hvalur hf left port last week after a two-year pause in that country’s fin whale hunt. Iceland’s goal is to kill up to 238 fin whales this summer – in addition to its . . .
In wake of Skye hunt case, HSUS and allies demand ban on imports of lion trophies from South Africa
Today, we are joining with allies to demand that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service prohibit the import of any lion trophies from South Africa. Our demand comes in the wake of news from South Africa indicating that Skye, a male lion who was considered . . .
Connect, engage and learn at the Taking Action for Animals conference
Animal advocates from around the nation will converge in Arlington, Virginia, from July 20-23 for the Taking Action for Animals Conference (TAFA), to get a better understanding of animal protection issues, and to strengthen their ability to help animals in their communities through lobbying, outreach, . . .
Raccoons are great climbers – and wild neighbors
What goes up must come down – eventually. Americans watched with great fascination this week as a raccoon climbed up a 23-story Minnesota building. A video of the little creature’s derring-do went viral as the social media universe lit up with interest. Millions wondered whether . . .
Duchess Sanctuary, a safe haven for abused equines, celebrates its 10th anniversary
For years, the government, through the Bureau of Land Management, has attempted to control wild horse and burro numbers by rounding the animals up and offering them for adoption. It was during one such roundup in the year 2000 that a flashy sorrel and white . . .
In India, an elephant wins freedom from tourist rides and the illegal wildlife trade
It is a heartrending story, but with a happy ending for one elephant. Suman is born into captivity to Champa, one of dozens of elephants who are used to ferry tourists up and down the hills to Amer Fort, a popular spot in Jaipur, India. . . .
Wyoming has put its iconic grizzlies in the crosshairs of trophy hunters
American trophy hunters, so apt to go abroad in search of the next trophy head, need look no further than Wyoming for one this coming fall. Last week, the state’s Game and Fish Commission approved a trophy hunting season that could result in the killing . . .
Breaking news: USDA tosses plan to allow third-party animal welfare inspections
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has abandoned a disastrous proposal to outsource inspections of puppy mills, roadside zoos and research laboratories to third-party inspectors. If implemented, the proposal would have essentially allowed these industries to police themselves and severely undermined protections for millions of animals. . . .
Vermont bans coyote killing contests, grisly spectacles of animal cruelty
Vermont, like many other U.S. states, has played host for many years to coyote killing contests — gruesome events where contestants vie to win prizes for killing the most, or the heaviest, animals. But in late 2017, when advertisements for the “1st Annual Weston Rod . . .
Trump administration wants to reinstate cruel hunting practices in Alaska, like killing hibernating bears, shooting wolf pups in dens
The Trump administration is trying to bring back some of the worst and most appalling hunting practices for wolves, grizzly bears and other wildlife on 20 million acres of federal public lands in Alaska. A rule proposed today by the Department of the Interior would . . .
Bobcats get a reprieve in Ohio and a win in Indiana
Bobcat advocates have two victories to celebrate this week. On Tuesday, the Indiana Natural Resources Commission voted to withdraw a contentious proposal to open a trophy hunting and trapping season on the state’s only native wild cat, for the first time in nearly 50 years. . . .
Maryland says no to pigeon shoots
The Humane Society of the United States has long been involved in efforts to stop pigeon shoots, horrible spectacles that still happen in some states, where shooters gun down birds for no reason other than the fun of it. This week, we won a significant . . .
