Animal News

Wednesday’s death of an orca trainer by Shamu was not an accident — it was an accident waiting to happen. American lives are put at risk in the name of entertainment. There is zero conservation or education value to killer whales performing stunts in captivity. Born Free USA believes that wildlife belongs in the wild. The only question is how many captive wild animal attacks have to happen before our citizens stop attending such events and legislators work to close down these dangerous animal acts.

Vote in the New York Daily News poll if whales should be kept in captivity.

On March 13, 2010, the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will gather in Doha, Qatar. As an NGO participant Born Free USA will be there, ready to get into the fight!

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Are you an independent fashion designer? Would you like to win a cash prize, boost your fashion career, and help promote the ethical and environmental benefits of foregoing fur fashion?

Born Free USA and E Magazine are looking for independent fashion designers to enter our 2nd Annual fffashion: Fur Free Fashion Design Competition.

The deadline for entries in the 2010 competition is April 1, 2010. Learn more about the competition, how to enter, and who our winners were in 2009 at www.bornfreeusa.org/fffashion.

On January 20, Will Travers and Adam Roberts (CEO and Executive Vice President respectively of Born Free USA) joined Big Blend Editors Nancy Reid and Lisa Smith for “The Nature Connection” on Big Blend Radio, in a special segment honoring Joy Adamson's 100th Birth Anniversary. Nancy worked for Joy Adamson in late 1970s, and of course Will’s mother, Virginia McKenna, portrayed Joy Adamson in the movie Born Free.

Listen to the show online or download an mp3 of it at www.bigblendmagazine.com/The-Nature-Connection/Jan-20-2010.htm

Two men have been indicted in California on charges of smuggling ivory from endangered African elephants into the United States. Samart Chokchoyma of Thailand is accused of selling the ivory on eBay to Moun Chau of Montclair, Calif. Prosecutors in Los Angeles said Tuesday that both men are charged with violating an international treaty that protects endangered species....

Born Free USA has extensive material on the wildlife trade, of which ivory smuggling is just a part.

2 men indicted in Calif. for ivory smuggling
Associated Press
The Washington Post

A leading rights group that works to protect the well-being of wild animals in Canada says that the mauling death of an Ontario man by his tiger is a wake-up call to governments at all levels to prevent people from owning exotic animals. Rob Laidlaw, the executive director of Zoo Check Canada, said the death of Norman Buwalda on Sunday was the result of Ontario's weak laws that make it too easy for people to keep wild animals as pets without any oversight. ... Barry Kent MacKay, the Canadian representative of Born Free USA, another animal rights group, said his organization has been warning communities for years to toughen laws. "We warned these communities to pass these bylaws, because people can have a plethora of animals," MacKay said. "Private owners don't see the danger, they think everything is fine."

Animal groups urge tougher laws after Ontario tiger owner killed
Mark Iype, Canwest News Service
National Post

After years of legal wrangling, a decision has been rendered in the Ringling Bros. Circus case. Unfortunately, Judge Emmet Sullivan dismissed the case on the grounds that the plaintiffs lacked legal "standing" to pursue their claims. Because he dismissed the case for a lack of jurisdiction, the Judge did not address any of the extensive evidence in the case which showed that the Asian elephants are kept on chains for hours on end and are hit with bull hooks to make them perform tricks in the circus.

Judge rules in favor of circus in lawsuit over treatment of Asian elephants
Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post

Thank you for all you did in 2009 to protect animals from cruelty, abuse, and exploitation. Without your participation — your actions, your donations, your support — we could not have been nearly as successful. Take pride as you read about this past year’s achievements.

But remember, our work is far from done. While we have great plans for 2010, we still need you to join us in ensuring that next December we can all look back with satisfaction on a string of victories on behalf of the animals.