News Releases:
Missouri tiger maulings illustrate need for legislation banning dangerous wild animals in private hands
Springfield, MO — Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute (Born Free USA), a national animal advocacy organization, is calling on the Missouri legislature to ban the keeping of inherently dangerous wild animals as “pets” after two separate incidents in as many days involving tigers. In the first, a tiger escaped his enclosure and mauled a volunteer at Wesa-A-Geh-Ya, a roadside zoo in Warrenton that has previously been under investigation for improper care of animals and public safety concerns. And, on Monday, a 16-year-old employee at Predator World in Branson, which has also been under investigation by authorities, was attacked by three tigers.
Born Free USA calls on Columbia city council to ban dangerous monkeys as pets
Columbia, MO — Born Free USA, a national animal advocacy organization, today sent a letter to the Columbia city council calling on officials to ban the ownership of wild and exotic animals in the city. This request follows reports of a July 4th attack on a human by a primate — in this case, a Japanese Macaque, or snow monkey — being kept inappropriately as a pet. This is the second such attack in Columbia in less than a year.
Ringling circus arrives in CA amid allegations of abuse and looming federal court date
Los Angeles, CA — As Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus prepares to open in Los Angeles, animal groups are up in arms over Ringling’s record of animal abuse, a looming federal trial on abuse of endangered Asian elephants, and Ringling’s role in weakening L.A. city requirements for animal care.
State Ordered to Take New Action to Protect Lynx from Trappers
Minneapolis, MN — After issuing a critical ruling in March declaring the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) in violation of the Endangered Species Act for its authorization of trapping within lynx habitat, a Minneapolis federal court yesterday issued a ruling mandating:
- Restrictions on use of certain types of body-gripping traps and snare use in Lynx habitat;
- Prohibition on the use of fresh meat as bait;
- DNR must operate a telephone hotline during trapping season to receive reports of incidentally trapped lynx; and
- DNR must rehabilitate lynx injured from trapping.
Elephants At Risk Again
Geneva — The illegal black market in “white gold” seems ready to cause parts of Africa to run red with elephant blood once more after today’s decision by the Standing Committee of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to approve China as a “trading partner” for more than 100 tons of stockpiled ivory from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Many conservationists and wildlife managers have been left stunned and appalled.
U.S. House of Representatives passes bill to stop the trade of primates as “pets”
Washington, DC — Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute (Born Free USA) applauded today’s Congressional passage of the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2964). The bill, championed by Born Free USA and The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS), prohibits interstate and international movement of nonhuman primates if they are to be kept as “pets.” The Act is sponsored by Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).
Animal advocacy group calls for investigation into deadly snake dumping in N.C.
Jacksonville, N.C. — Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute (Born Free USA) today publicly challenged the unfounded reports that it released two Monocled cobras in a North Carolina neighborhood. Despite the discovery of a flyer from someone who had lost two Monocled cobras in the area, reports quoted unidentified “officials” who allegedly claimed the snakes had been purposefully released by Born Free USA.
Animal Protection Groups Ask Federal Court to Halt Ringling Bros.’ Cruel Chaining and Confinement of Endangered Asian Elephants
Washington, D.C. — Today, a coalition of animal protection organizations and a former Ringling Bros. employee asked a federal district court in Washington D.C. to immediately order a halt to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus (Ringling Bros.)’s cruel practice of shackling and confining endangered Asian elephants for days on end in a manner that prevents them from walking or even turning around in place.
