Posted on August 11, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
7 Easy Ways to Help This World Elephant Day
by Alicia Graef – August 10, 2015
On Wednesday, August 12, animal lovers around the world will be coming together to celebrate elephants and support a future where they’re respected and protected for the fourth annual World Elephant Day.
World Elephant day was launched in 2012 by Canadian documentary filmmaker Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand. On the same day, Sims’ film Return to the Forest premiered, which explores the journey and beautiful transformation that takes place when captive elephants are returned from a life with us to their home in the forest and how vital their presence there is.
Despite being a charismatic species loved by people of all ages, elephants in both Africa and Thailand are in serious trouble. Since the first World Elephant Day, individuals, celebrities and dozens of organizations that are working on solutions that will ensure their future survival around the world, have joined in support because the threat of losing them forever is becoming a very real possibility.
Poaching in Africa has reached unprecedented levels, which some believe could wipe elephants out entirely within the next 10 years if it continues at its current rate, and there are now estimated to be less than 40,000 Asian elephants left in existence, who continue to face the threat of poaching, habitat loss and being taken for the tourism industry.
“So many people around the world love elephants but aren’t aware that elephants are in crisis. World Elephant Day helps increase security for elephants and expand habitat because it creates an opportunity to raise a rallying cry. We have to turn up the volume about the elephant crisis in order to put more pressure on leaders to take meaningful action, attract desperately needed resources, and to convince people to not buy ivory,” Misty Herrin, #SaveElephants campaign director for The Nature Conservancy, said in a statement.
Unfortunately, wild elephants aren’t the only ones in trouble. Animal advocates have also been working to end their exploitation in captivity and entertainment and raise awareness about why elephants belong in the wild, not circuses, zoos or tourist attractions.
How to Help
This year elephant advocates will again be stepping up to raise awareness about the plight of captive and wild elephants by hosting and attending events, urging officials to take action to protect elephants and using social media to gain support and there are a lot of easy ways to help.
Support Increasing Protection Under the Endangered Species Act
In June, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a petition to have African elephants declared as two separate species – forest elephants and savannah elephants – and upgraded from threatened to endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which would add even more strength to laws intended to protect them.
Please sign and share the petition urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reclassify elephants and upgrade their status to endangered.
Tell the U.S. to Crack Down on the Ivory Trade
As the second largest market for ivory behind China, the U.S. has been called on by wildlife advocates to step up its efforts to tackle wildlife trafficking with meaningful action. Now it’s hoped a proposed rule which was formally announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in July will virtually wipe out the market in the states by applying more restrictions to imports and exports and banning the sale of ivory across state lines.
Please sign and share the petition urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to support a ban on ivory.
You can also make a public comment in support of tougher regulations for the ivory trade directly at the Federal Register until September 28.
Don’t Buy Ivory
That should go without saying, but even legal ivory and antique items help keep the market going and help provide a cover for the illegal trade of ivory from recently killed elephants.
Support Elephant Sanctuaries
Be a Voice for Captive Elephants
While more and more areas are banning the use of wild animals in circuses and Ringling Bros. recently took a big step by announcing it would retire its elephant performers, there are still other traveling shows around the world that continue to use elephants. We can send a strong message that it’s time to stop by avoiding companies and venues that continue to use them by speaking out for elephants like Nosey, who desperately needs to be retired, and by signing the petition asking Congress to pass the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act, which would ban the use of wild animals in circuses for good.
We can also help give a voice to elephants in zoos who need help like Asha, Lucky and Lucy by signing petitions on their behalf and asking countries like Zimbabwe to stop taking calves from the wild for captivity.
Make an “Elegram”
The Nature Conservancy, which is an official sponsor of World Elephant Day this year, is asking supporters to get a little crafty and make 20,000 handmade images for its #Elegram Project, which will be matched with $150,000 by generous donors for elephant conservation work in Africa. Just paint, draw, sketch or sculpt an image of an elephant, take a photo of it and upload it to their gallery.
Spread the Word
If you’re spreading the word about efforts to help elephants on social media sites, check out World Elephant day for badges and banners to share and add the hashtags #WorldElephantDay #GoGrey #BeHerd #Elegram #SaveElephants #JoinTheSTAMPede #96Elephants and #SayNoToIvory.
For more info on ways to help elephants and support organizations working to resolve conflicts and stop poaching, visit World Elephant Day.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, CIRCUS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere !, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 3, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
A Minnesota dentist’s killing of the famous lion has sparked outrage, but it remains to be seen whether it will spur a crackdown on big game hunting.
With one shot of his bow, Walter Palmer went from being a Minneapolis dentist to the world’s most reviled big game hunter.
The public outcry following his hunt of Zimbabwe’s famous tourist attraction, Cecil the Lion, has not only led to the closure of his dental office but could be a galvanizing force in altering the trophy hunting industry in the United States that’s fueling wildlife loss in Africa, according to conservationists.
Killing rare animals is nothing new for the dentist, who has crossbow records for killing a menagerie’s worth of wildlife, including rhino, warthogs, buffalo, and more. But none of his kills brought a spotlight on the contentious issue of trophy hunting until he and his hired Zimbabwean hunters lured the black-maned Cecil out from the protection of national park boundaries with bait.
The heavily studied lion—he had a GPS collar on when he was shot—wandered wounded for 40 hours before finally being tracked down and shot with a gun by the hunters.
“I’ve never seen any sort of animal issue resonate like this before,” said Beth Allgood, campaigns director at the International Fund for Animal Welfare. When she first heard the reports about Cecil’s death at the hands of a Spaniard, Allgood was a little surprised, but then it was revealed the hunter was an American—a story line Allgood with her 20 years in conservation work is familiar with.
“Americans don’t like to accept the role we play in wildlife trade,” Allgood said.
“We like to look at China fueling demand and Africa not doing enough to protect these animals, but when it comes to lions, we have a big part in it.”
Americans travelling to Africa make up more than 60 percent of the foreign-participated lion trophy hunts carried out each year, according to John Jackson, president of the lobbying group Conservation Force. About 15,000 hunters make the trek annually, and a majority of them want to bring back a trophy, Jackson said. The group argues that lion hunts are integral to the species’ conservation, and the big game industry—worth $675 million in South Africa alone—brings in money for habitat expansion and species conservation efforts.
But those efforts haven’t stemmed the rate at which lions are dying off. Across the continent, there has been a 60 percent decline in lions over the past 30 years. Habitat loss and poaching have contributed to the demise, but hunting also plays a role, said Allgood.
Oxford University (UK) professors have also been studying the effects of big game hunting on lion populations in Zimbabwe. Of the 62 lions they tagged in the region, 24 have been shot and killed by sport hunters. Ten have died from other causes.
There were once 200,000 lions roaming Africa. Today, there are fewer than 32,000.
That has prompted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider listing African lions as a threatened species.
The move could potentially limit the countries from which big game hunters can bring back lion trophies. Eleven countries currently allow lion hunt safaris, but new regulations would require these countries to show FWS officials that their lion populations are healthy and managed properly, and that plans are in place to conserve the species.
But listing the lion only puts a Band-Aid on a bigger issue, argues Eric Jensen, a University of Warwick professor who studies public engagement in wildlife issues.
“The problem is a long-standing association between hunting large animals and masculinity,” Jensen said. “While most Americans don’t support the activity, it still resonates with key ideas like Davy Crockett and Theodore Roosevelt. The fact that in 2015 people are still travelling thousands of miles to kill exotic animals and bring back trophies shows that there are deep-seated cultural problems in Western societies, where such behavior should be unthinkable.”
Pro-hunting advocates argue that removing the older lions like 13-year old Cecil, who are less prone to breed, is actually beneficial for species populations because it allows more vigorous and youthful cats to mate more successfully.
That was not the case with Cecil, however. Hwange National Park officials said Cecil had been muscled out of his pride five years ago by a younger, stronger male. He subsequently mounted a comeback by forming a coalition with another older male lion named Jericho. For the past 18 months, Cecil had been back in charge of two prides—one of which consists of three lionesses and seven cubs under seven months old. Without Cecil to protect them, researchers who have been studying the animal expect a new lion to come in, take out Cecil’s cubs, and start his own bloodline.
“It’s called the ripple effect,” Allgood said. “You take out a pride leader like Cecil, and in the fight for dominance, the other males kill the young cubs.”
The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force said the $54,000 Palmer spent to kill Cecil pales in comparison to the millions of dollars the big cat would have garnered in tourist dollars over the course of his life.
Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 3, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
1.5 BILLION Euros as sweetners for Serbia’s EU pre accession; and still the EU is doing very little about enforcing animal welfare legislation in Serbia – the ‘rule of law’. Is that not what all pre-accession states are supposed to prove to the EU prior to them becoming member states of the EU ?
For animal welfare, truckloads of EU cash going into Serbia from the EU taxpayer – but the Enlargement Commission doing very little in return to EU citizens and actually asking Serbia why it is NOT enforcing its own laws on animal welfare – the ‘rule of law’ as the EU spouts !!
The following was sent to use by Vesna in Serbia – it is un edited or modified. What you see is what you get.
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Dear all,
Money that Serbia received from the EU through the IPA funds, EUR 203 million, 2013. is not known where was spent because the situation in Serbia has not changed much since 2013. And still the executive power does not respect and does not apply the applicable law and not EU legislation in the field of nature, although the domestic Law on Nature Protection registered Article, to EU legislation has applied in domestic legislation. But this does not applies.
The latest debacle shows that the executive and legislative power have the greatest impact profiteers and tycoons, is passing amendments to the Regulations on closed hunting season.
In this case, it is for one month, from 28 June 2015 to 29 July 2015 changed 3 times.
To the end it turned out that despite the ban handed down turtle dove hunting, can be hunted, and this year, which is a kind of degraded Regulations, turtle dove Streptopelia turtur, which is located on the European Red list of endangered species will be killed this year in Serbia. This was done for the profiteers in the field of hunting, which have ravaged the fauna of Serbia.
In addition, the EU has long been banned all exports of meat of game from Serbia to the EU. (Council Regulalation No. 338/97 of 9.December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein) .
In the hunt for turtle doves and quail comes a lot of Italians who will defiance smuggle the corpses of birds in Italy.
One killed the turtle dove here costs 2.5 euros, and the moment arrive in Italy, Minimum cost is 25 euros, the resale for restaurants, the price reaches over 50 euros per bird. The same applies to quail, which the European Red List has the status of sparse species.
Quail and turtle doves are species of international importance and in the majority of European countries hunting both species is prohibited.
In Serbia hunt both species begins 01.08. and lasts until 30.09. and that the playing time, ie. raising cubs in August, and September is the time of peak migration of birds from northern Europe, where they are fully protected from hunting.
For Serbia fields falling exhausted from a grueling migration, to rest, feed and water, and then in moments of greatest exhaustion flocks, gathering hunters and kills everybody. None flock that was discovered by hunters, occurred on the territory of Serbia, no longer flew.
So protection pursued by the northern European countries and the money spent in conservation, here, on the territory of Serbia, everything is canceled, the mass killing of birds in migration.
I forgot to mention that over Serbia, from north to south migratory corridor for Africa, and for birds migrating in Central Asia.
In short, Serbia does not respect and do not apply the EU Directive on the conservation of wild birds in 2009 (Directive 2009/147 / EC, 30th November 2009). As Bern and the Bonn Convention on the conservation of wild fauna and its habitats.
Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of quail would not even discuss a turtle dove protect it for 1 month during the closed season or during the hunt is this decision reversed and allow hunting.
Today, 01.08. he began to hunt for turtle doves and quails, with a strong zeal of hunters, they are angry and want to kill as height can, I have no doubt that will happen. This is due to what was first hunting was banned, which led them to anger, and then a few days before the start of hunting, hunting is allowed, and now they will carry out revenge against the poor birds.
In short, the authorities in Serbia wants money from the EU but will not respect its own laws and even less EU legislation. Stakeholders and profiteers continue to tailor policies and legislation in Serbia and it is not, the debacle of turtle doves clearly visible for us.
Authorities in Serbia know that exports of meat of wild animals is prohibited in the EU and know that they will be smuggling corpses of birds in the EU, but do nothing to prevent it, but to make all help to carry out smuggling.
In short, we in Serbia, we can to deal with everything, what is written and Slavica, we need the help of the EU, which is funded and supported by our government.
If, and this can help to improve the text, asylums and abandoned animals is not the only problem, no local government does not apply the Law on Veterinary and Animal Welfare Act.
I apologize for the bad English, with the help of Google translator and dictionary. I hope you’ll understand.
P.S. Oral vaccination of wild animals is carried out, provided the information and photographs from some areas in Serbia, where people find a vaccine and photographed, the last thing I received photos of the vaccine in reserve Great Bustards/ North Serbia. There is no longer a local declaration of rabies as earlier worked to hunters killing cats and dogs in the streets or at the periphery of the village. As well as the massacres of foxes in nature, which they consider to vermin.We still have no evidence that vaccination conducted regularly throughout the territory of Serbia.
Kind Regards
Vesna
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia, The "Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) ALLIANCE | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 29, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Not just Cecil, which is disgusting enough, but Palmer is probably responsible now for the further deaths of Cecil’s six cubs which will be killed by another male lion.
The animal had a GPS collar fitted for a research project by UK-based Oxford University that allowed authorities to track its movements. The hunters tried to destroy it, but failed, according to the ZCTF.
On Monday, the head of the ZCTF told the BBC that Cecil “never bothered anybody” and was “one of the most beautiful animals to look at”.
The six cubs of Cecil will now be killed by the new male lion in the pride, Johnny Rodrigues added, in order to encourage the lionesses to mate with him.
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29/7 further updates – looks as if Walter Palmer has gone on the run.
Suggest you look at the CNN last link as it appears Mr. Palmer may have past links with the illegal killing of a bear. Lets hope that the book and everything possible is thrown at him and his hunter friends; all trying to buck pass over to each other at the moment !
BBC – Zimbabwean pair appear in court over Cecil the lion killing
Whats Up ? – So called ‘Hunter’ Theo Bronkhorst does not have such a smile now – see other photos. The two Zimbabwean men, who accompanied him on the hunt, could face up to 15 years in prison if found guilty. They are and lets hope they get the full term.
The other one is called ‘Honest’ – honest he is is NOT ! – maybe he should be called ‘moneyloverkiller’.
Killing of Cecil the lion prompts calls for EU ban on importing lion trophies
Cecil the lion’s killer revealed as American dentist
Walter Palmer: Leopard, rhino and bison among other big game hunted and killed by US dentist
Photos 1 – 4 below – thanks to the Daily Mirror UK newspaper – London.
Cecil the lion: Ricky Gervais and Cara Delevingne lead outpouring of anger after trophy hunter is identified as Walter Palmer
Zimbabwean officials: American man wanted in killing of Cecil the lion
– click on this link to see the video report about the Brown bear killing in the past.
Further Update – another new petition:
Shows how much money American dentists charge their customers when they can undertake ‘hunting ??’ trips like this.
Cecil the Lion was lured from his home, shot with a crossbow, then shot with a gun, beheaded and skinned.
Cecil justice petition links –
And
Bet Your Not Smiling So Much This Morning !
** Palmer owns the River Bluff Dental practice in
Bloomington, Minnesota **
Lots of comments in the following:
An American Dentist Killed Zimbabwe’s Famous Lion
Taylor Hill is TakePart’s associate environment and wildlife editor.
New reports reveal that Cecil’s killer was a U.S. citizen who paid $50,000 to have the 13-year-old male lured out of the park boundaries with bait.
Cecil the lion, a famous black-maned resident of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, died at the hands of an American dentist, conservationists claim.
They say Walter Palmer paid $50,000 to hunt and kill Cecil with a bow and arrow. The incident occurred around July 6, with a professional hunting outfit reportedly luring Cecil outside the boundaries of the protected reserve using a dead animal as bait.
“Mr. Palmer shot Cecil with a bow and arrow but this shot didn’t kill him,” Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force, said in a statement. “They tracked him down and found him 40 hours later when they shot him with a gun.
Cecil, who was known all over the world would have earned millions of dollars just from sightseeing. Walter Palmer apparently paid $50,000 for the kill.”
It wasn’t the first kill for Palmer, who has multiple photos posted on the website Trophy Hunt America showing the Minnesota resident posing with dead lions, rhinos, water buffalo, warthogs, and other animals.
The Telegraph is reporting from two independent sources that Palmer was indeed the hunter listed on the permit documents, and a spokesperson for Palmer told the news outlet that Palmer believes he is the one responsible for the lion’s death.
“As far as I understand, Walter believes that he might have shot that lion that has been referred to as Cecil,” the spokesperson said. “What he’ll tell you is that he had the proper legal permits and he had hired several professional guides, so he’s not denying that he may be the person who shot this lion. He is a big-game hunter; he hunts the world over.”
In a statement sent to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Walter said he didn’t know the lion he killed was a local favorite, or that it was radio-collared for study by Oxford University professors.
“I relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt,” tthe statement said. “Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion.”
Theo Bronkhorst—the professional hunter who led Palmer to Cecil—and another hunter associated with the baiting, have reportedly been arrested by Zimbabwe police over the death of Cecil. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said they are trying to reach Palmer regarding the illegal hunt, and he could face poaching charges.
The Zimbabwe Professional Hunters and Guides Association said they have suspended Bronkhorst indefinitely from the organization for the way the hunt was carried out.
“ZPHGA reiterates it will not tolerate any illegal hunting or any unethical practices by any of its members and their staff,” the organization said in a statement. “We will await the completion of the current investigation by Zimbabwe Parks Wildlife Management Authority before commenting any further.”
Park rangers and regular visitors knew the 13-year-old lion as a tourist attraction, easily approached by safari guide jeeps for photo opportunities. Cecil had a propensity for lounging in the middle of roads, said Bryan Orford, a former park guide and a longtime visitor to Hwange. Hunting such an easy target only made the killing of Cecil even more wrong, he said.
“I used to drive down the railway line road following Cecil and had to wait for him to get off the road,” Orford told TakePart last week. “This walking in front of the vehicle would go on for ages. Other times he would lie in the road, and you had to drive off the road to go around him.”
The death of Cecil not only means one less endangered African lion in the world but also could mean the demise of a whole line of cubs sired by the leader of the Hwange pride.
“The saddest part of all is that now that Cecil is dead, the next lion in the hierarchy Jericho will most likely kill all Cecil’s cubs so that he can insert his own bloodline into the females,” Rodrigues said. “This is standard procedure for lions.”
Now, conservationists and animal activists are flocking to a petition asking Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe to stop issuing hunting permits that allow for the killing of endangered animals. The petition was started July 22 and has picked up steam with the revealing of the hunter’s name. More than 90,000 have signed the Care2 petition as of Tuesday afternoon.
Cecil the lion video link –
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The big man dead beat hunter photo selection
Walt Palmer (right) with a White Rhino he shot in South Africa.
Photo: Trophy Hunt America
Below – Palmer with a Cape Buffalo. (Photo: Trophy Hunt America)
Above – Walter Palmer poses with a warthog. (Photo: Trophy Hunt America)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=158&v=_LzXpE1mjqA
RIP Majestic Cecil – free from ‘big hunter men tossers’ like Palmer
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany, PHOTOGRAPHS - **WARNING** (Animal Suffering) | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 14, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
14/7 – Message from the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) regarding the David Cameron U turn today. The BBC are calling it the government’s “turn your back and run away” moment.
Dear Mark,
Following the SNPs announcement that they would vote against the Government’s proposed amendments to the Hunting Act, and the fact that there was substantial cross party support to keep the ban, the government has decided to drop the vote. But we don’t think this is the last we’ll hear about it.
The Government knew this was a vote they would lose. Increasing numbers of MPs from all parties now oppose re-introducing bloodsports and the Government has recognised that public opinion is overwhelmingly against hunting.
So it would be a mistake for the Government to return to this issue in the future, and any attempts to repeal the Hunting Act by the back door would clearly be wrong.
Not withstanding all the other issues facing the country, it has becoming increasingly clear that most of the UK is against the cruelty of hunting. With 8 out of 10 people in both countryside and urban areas against hunting, any attempt to bring it back would be deeply unpopular whenever it takes place.
We had hoped that a vote would go ahead tomorrow and that debate about hunting would finally be consigned to history. Nevertheless, we are resolved, whatever the Government does, to continue to highlight the cruelty involved in hunting and undermine any suggestion that hunting has anything to do with wildlife management or fox control. I encourage you, Mark, to carry on speaking out against hunting and continue to make your concerns known to your MP.
We are pleased that the Scottish government have recognised that the ban in Scotland needs examining. This is actually as a result of a recent League investigation into hunting in Scotland! You can view the investigation at www.league.org.uk/scottishhunts and take a look at this new footage we have released today.
We are looking forward to working with the Scottish government to ensure the law is as strong as possible, and those who break the law are brought to justice.
Mark, as always we are doing everything that we can to protect the Hunting Act. I say this in many emails that I send out to supporters but I truly mean it when I say none of this could be possible without people like you. Its my pleasure to extend a heartfelt thank you from everyone at the League.
Together we are making a difference for animals.
Kind regards,
Mark McCormick
Senior Communications Officer
P.S. As I said the threat to the Hunting Act remains. We will keep you updated on developments but in the meantime why not get in touch with your MP with your thoughts on today’s developments? You can do this by going to the website www.writetothem.com. Enter your postcode, scroll down until you see your MP, click on their name and write to them.
U Turn Dave
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Posted on July 12, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
UPDATE – Monday 13th July 2015
For the ‘non Brits’ who visit this site; here is another angle on foxhunting – is it as ‘essential’ to get it back as David Cameron thinks ?
– the reality says NO:
Brian May to lead fox hunting protest on Parliament ahead of vote to water down ban
The Queen legend and animal rights campaigner will lead a rally outside Parliament against the watering down of the hunting ban
Dr May and his animal trust ‘Save Me’ will be there, along with PETA, the League Against Cruel Sports and Humane Society International will head down to Westminster to urge MPs to keep the fox hunting ban intact.
But why might the ban be revoked, where are the protests taking place and how can I get involved?
Where and when is the protest?
The current legislation makes it illegal to hunt foxes with dogs
The protest will take place tomorrow at Old Palace Yard, SW1 Westminster, at 11am. That’s directly outside the Houses of Parliament, where the statue of Richard Coeur de Lion is.
Brian May is also suggesting you rally your MP to the cause by asking to meet them on the day to make your argument to them.
You can contact your MP by finding their email address/ office phone number here.
Above – A Major Pratt !
David Cameron has made no effort to hide his opposition to the hunting ban, writing in the Countryside Alliance magazine earlier this year: “There is definitely a rural way of life which a born and bred Londoner might struggle to understand.”
“I have always been a strong supporter of country sports. It is my firm belief that people should have the freedom to hunt, so I share the frustration that many people feel about the Hunting Act and the way it was brought in by the last government.”
What happens on Wednesday?
Before the election, David Cameron promised a free vote on scrapping the Hunting Act altogether – a vote he would most likely lose.
Critics believe this is an underhand way of repealing Labour’s 2004 fox hunting ban without having to completely overturn legislation.
If passed, it may mean packs of baying hounds could be back chasing defenceless foxes by Christmas.
Because it’s a free vote, it means that Tory MPs don’t have to vote in line with their party policy- and with a slim majority anyway, this could mean a very close vote either way.
That’s why it’s important that if you don’t want to see the barbaric sport of fox hunting be introduced back into UK culture, you need to get on to your local MPs by writing and emailing them, and joining in the protests tomorrow so that Westminster has to listen.
The ban on fox hunting was introduced 10 years ago, in 2005. It bans hunting foxes with dogs, and also deer, hare and mink.
It was introduced by the Labour government, which is thought to be one of the reasons David Cameron and the Tories criticise it- because they feel that it shouldn’t have been a priority for the government at that time.
Scotland also banned fox hunting a couple of years before England, and has separate legislation on the matter.
The act bans the pursuit of foxes with dogs as it is seen as inhumane and a cruel blood sport- a fox is no match for a pack of dogs and hunters on horseback.
Notable supporters of the ban include Ricky Gervais and Brian May, but it also has some notable opposers, like Prince Charles (who said he “might as well leave the country and spend the rest of his life skiing” if hunting was banned.)
Are the SNP voting on Wednesday?
The changes to the law don’t actually affect Scottish legislation- they introduced their fox hunting ban earlier and separately to us.
SNP MPs don’t normally vote on issues that don’t affect Scotland, but a spokesman for the party has said today that they will examine the precise details of the proposal before deciding what to do.
How else can I help?
One thing that you could do quickly and easily is sign a petition against the watering down of the fox hunting ban.
Or, you could sign all three.
Vote against cruelty
We are calling on our readers to tell their MPs to vote NO to an amendment of Labour’s Hunting Act on Wednesday.
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Past Information – weekend 11 / 12 July 2015.
Things are going absolutely mental in England over David Cameron and his attempt to overturn the current hunting act which has been legislation for the past 10 years. He is just doing this in a pathetic attempt to please the hunting fraternity of which he is one – sort of look after your mates and stuff the people who are anti hunt.
It is impossible to keep track of it all things are happening at such a rate. Lots of demos planned everywhere – including Parliament in London over the next few days.
Some Conservative MP’s (Cameron’s party) are so worried about what he doing that they have formed a group called ‘Conservatives Against Fox Hunting’. Read some of the comments on their Facebook site (link below) to see just what a real gripe the English have as a whole about ripping foxes apart using a pack of hunting hounds.
David Cameron is hated by a large contingent of the English, despite being ‘their’ Prime Minister. Maybe this time his off the cuff brainwave will sink him well and good – lets hope so !
Above and earlier dead fox photo – The Result of the Hunt
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany | Leave a comment »
Posted on July 1, 2015 by Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)
Further Important Update 2/7. Good News Possibly ?
We have been following up today (2/7) on the issue of migratory birds being killed in Serbia; and we can confirm that Serbia IS on the route for migratory birds heading from Africa into Europe.
Serbia wishes to join the EU as soon as it can. The EU has a Directive (the EU Birds Directive) which does not allow the Spring Hunting of birds. Only Malta does not enforce this in the EU.
Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (this is the codified version of Directive 79/409/EEC as amended) is the EU’s oldest piece of nature legislation and one of the most important, creating a comprehensive scheme of protection for all wild bird species naturally occurring in the Union.
The directive recognises that habitat loss and degradation are the most serious threats to the conservation of wild birds. It therefore places great emphasis on the protection of habitats for endangered as well as migratory species (listed in Annex I), especially through the establishment of a coherent network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) comprising all the most suitable territories for these species. Since 1994 all SPAs form an integral part of the NATURA 2000 ecological network.
The Birds Directive bans activities that directly threaten birds, such as the deliberate killing or capture of birds, the destruction of their nests and taking of their eggs, and associated activities such as trading in live or dead birds,
As Serbia wishes to join EU, we at SAV think that Serbian campaigners thus have a very good case for migratory birds in Serbia being protected by EU Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament. We think this really should form the main area for anything that they approach the Serbian government with regarding changes to the animal welfare laws which the government are currently attempting to do.
We consider that birds should get protection in Serbia with EU Directive !!
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Update 1/7 –
very informative articles –
All across south-east Europe but particularly in Romania, Serbia, Albania and Bulgaria, Italian hunters have become public enemy number one for bird lovers and conservationists.
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We (in UK) are trying to help Serbian campaigners regarding the proposed new Serbian animal welfare legislation; which currently seems to be all over the place – we are attempting to get accurate information but it is difficult at present.
One of the main questions that is currently being thrown in our direction it is regarding Albania – and we’re asked “if Albania has banned hunting, then can it not be achieved in Serbia ?”
Well our response is initially that there are several very important issues which have to be considered as part of any response to what appears to be a simple question.
Issues include:
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Albania has introduced a two-year ban on hunting; not currently a permanent ban. Regardless of this, as animal welfare people, we very much welcome the decision.
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Albania is a Balkans country (like Serbia); which lies along a major migratory flyways, and which encompasses wetlands and other habitats that provide crucial refuelling stops for millions of migrating birds.
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While many Albanians, including a substantial number of hunters, realized that the situation had to change, the (old) government showed no interest in strengthening conservation laws, or even in enforcing the regulations that were in place. But elections last June brought a new party to power, with government ministers more sympathetic to conservation.
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Albania’s move combined with a more pro-environment government clearly highlighted the clear connection between overhunting and species loss, which so many other countries (including Serbia) have yet to address, perhaps afraid of upsetting hunting lobbies or hunting “tradition”.
Today, 1/7, we have attempted to contact the UK RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) to ask them for more information on major migratory routes from Africa to Europe; because if Serbia IS one of these prime routes then we can work with Serbian campaigners to press the Serbian government to introduce the same type of anti hunt legislation as now introduced in Albania.
Clever eh ? – especially as Serbia is seeking EU membership and wants drastically to be viewed as being very ‘pro EU’. We say simply, and we know, that the EU does not like the killing by hunters of migratory birds, and so it is solely down to the Serbian government to review the current situation and take decisive action. But we also have to ask will they put corruption aside and protect migratory birds and other protected animal species killed by hunters ?; or will they just continue down ‘corruption road’ as they have done; making no changes to the real benefit of any living thing apart from themselves ?
For your information, here below are a few links to the current (no) hunting situation in Albania, which we very much welcome. We will be back at the UK RSPB tomorrow to get more info on the Africa – Europe migratory routes for birds; especially asking the question if Serbia is included as a major transit route for birds flying into Europe from Africa.
SAV.
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Vast numbers of European birds and other wildlife will be spared from illegal slaughter, thanks to a two-year moratorium on all hunting enacted by the government of Albania.
The Balkan country, which lies along a major migratory flyway, encompasses wetlands and other habitats that provide crucial refueling stops for millions of migrating birds. But poor law enforcement, a surge in gun ownership, and an influx of foreign hunters had made Albania essentially a year-round shooting range. Targets were not just game species but also eagles, cranes, shorebirds, and even small songbirds.
While many Albanians, including a substantial number of hunters, realized that the situation had to change, the government showed no interest in strengthening conservation laws, or even in enforcing the regulations that were in place. But elections last June brought a new party to power, with government ministers more sympathetic to conservation.
Albania’s coast is part of what’s called the Adriatic Flyway zone – an important resting spot for birds migrating between Europe and Africa. According to figures from EuroNatur, an NGO that runs conservation programmes in the region, an estimated two million birds were being hunted along the Adriatic coast before the moratorium came into effect.
The ban will be introduced in February. The new law suspends all hunting licenses and use of hunting areas. The government will use this hiatus to study ways to reform conservation regulations and bring control to what had become almost complete lawlessness.
The story “Last song for migrating birds” impressively shows how bird hunting in the Eastern Adriatic is persistently ruining extensive conservation programmes in the birds’ breeding areas. “The article was circulated within the relevant ministries and was very well received”, Spase Shumka, president of Albanian EuroNatur partner PPNEA, said to National Geographic. “The article strongly influenced the debate on hunting in Albania.”
Read the interview with Jonathan Franzen and an article on Albania’s hunting ban on the website of National Geographic:
Interview with Jonathan Franzen
Article “Albania’s Hunting Ban: Birds and Mammals Get a Two-Year Break”
Interview with Jonathan Franzen about his experiences at the “Adriatic crime scene” (2013)
Albania’s environment ministry spoke with AFP, and reported that the country’s brown bears and eagles have become “seriously endangered” and that “the number of pheasant and wild quail have also fallen dramatically.”
“We have been forced to adopt strict measures to protect endangered species from illegal hunting,” Environment Minister Lefter Koka told AFP.
The ban is set for introduction later this month, and while it will only remain in place for two years (unless revised later on), Albania’s move highlights the clear connection between overhunting and species loss, which so many other countries have yet to address, perhaps afraid of upsetting hunting lobbies or “tradition”.
Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, DOCUMENTS, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, HUNTING - Primarily UK and Germany, SERBIA (Central Serbia: Capital - Belgrade) and (Serbia | Leave a comment »
Serbian Animals Voice (SAV) 