tagged w/ Wild Animals
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![Wildlife WayStation in Dire Financial State [Los Angeles, California] | On the Brink of Closure](http://i2.crtcdn1.net/images/spacer.gif)
NBC L.A. ...
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Wildlife WayStation in Dire Financial State
"We are at the end of our rope," said Martine Colette, the sanctuary's founder and director
By Ashley Gordon
| Friday, Dec 2, 2011 | Updated 3:29 PM PST
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Wildlife Waystation in Dire Financial State
Photo: Wildlife Waystation resident Bolero plays with a ball.
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Taking care of wild animals is no easy task. Couple the labor and maintenance involved with a troubled economy and the result is an animal sanctuary on the brink of closure.
Tucked within the Angeles National Forest is the Wildlife WayStation, an animal sanctuary that some 400 wild and exotic animals, birds and reptiles call home. Since it opened its doors in 1976, it has relied solely on corporate and foundation grants, private donations, animal sponsorships and bequests – all of which have dwindled under the current economic climate.
“We are at the end of our rope,” said Martine Colette, the sanctuary’s founder and director. “We cannot stretch a dollar anymore and we are out of dollars.”
Colette said she is experiencing the most significant drop in fundraising activity in her 45 years of animal welfare and rescue work, making it increasingly difficult to meet the $150,000 needed monthly to maintain the WayStation. She even issued a plea for public help.
The nonprofit has significantly cut back on permanent support staff, instead, relying more heavily on volunteers to help with the day-to-day operation.
In addition, Los Angeles County requires such a facility to obtain a conditional use permit in order to open to the public.
“When we have a hearing, we contact the associated [governmental] agencies and they actually formulate conditions that would be appropriate for that facility,” said John Gutwein, deputy director of the Land Use Regulation Division of the county’s department of Regional Planning.
While the WayStation remains a licensed animal sanctuary, the high costs associated with county-required repairs has kept its doors shut to the public for the last seven years.
Because of this, the organization finds itself in a Catch-22: It is in need of money to meet county requirements before the public is allowed on the premises; however, it is lacking the money that would be raised through public visitation to make repairs.
Gutwein said he visited the organization six or seven years ago and at the time thought the level of animal restraint was not suitable for outside visitors. He also expressed concern involving an evacuation plan for the animals if a fire were to start in the high-brush area.
Still, he said the WayStation’s issues are completely due to a lack of resources.
“If [Colette] did have the resources, I have no doubt she could make those improvements so perhaps parts of the facility could be open to the public," he said.
Colette said the WayStation is mostly funded by the Average Joe, the people the economy has hurt the most. For this reason, she believes the best case scenario for long-term sustainability of the organization would be a partnership with a company that could get behind its brand.
“I know that the public will be empathetic and there will be a certain amount of dollars sent to the station,” Colette said. “But the real solutions have to come from any of the options I’ve outlined.”
The worst case scenario would be the closure of the 160-acre property and would leave the government with the difficult task of relocating hundreds of troubled animals.
“We have an opportunity to make a difference in these animals’ lives now. Once we are unable to care for them, governmental agencies step in,” Colette said. “That is a very scary concept.”
Marcia Mayeda, director of the county’s Department of Animal Care & Control, said that if her department had to intervene it would work with the United States Department of Agriculture to find a solution.
“It is not easy. We’ve taken over 300 dogs over time from people who could no longer care for them,” Mayeda said. “Although tigers are way different, we do have a lot of resources to help find new homes from them.”
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Wildlife WayStation in Dire Financial State
"We are at... more
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Los Angeles Times...
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Court ruling keeps Yellowstone grizzlies on 'threatened' list
November 22, 2011 | 1:16 pm
A ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 2007 decision to remove the "threatened" designation for Yellowstone grizzly bears under the Endangered Species Act
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Conservationists won a major battle Tuesday in their campaign to protect Yellowstone grizzly bears when a federal appeals court ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service erred in removing Endangered Species Act protections for "one of the American West's most iconic wild animals."
The ruling by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the wildlife agency's 2007 decision to remove the "threatened" designation for the bears under the Endangered Species Act.
Tuesday's ruling cited climate change as having accelerated a beetle infestation destroying the bears' vital white-bark pine food source. The grizzly is only the second wildlife species, after the polar bear, to earn protection in recognition of harm caused by global warming. Both are considered "threatened."
The three-judge panel embraced conservationists' warnings that the decline in the grizzlies' fodder would likely drive them to forage in more populous areas around the park, increasing incidents of confrontation between humans and the omnivorous bears.
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Los Angeles Times...
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Court ruling keeps Yellowstone grizzlies on... more
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Quarter of all mammals at risk of extinction, group says; Northern White Rhino of central Africa also now ‘possibly extinct’ in the wildQuarter of all mammals at risk of extinction, group says; Northern White Rhino of... more
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After a panic induced day, armed men shot over 50 exotic animals. The dead animals piled up like road kill.
Terry Thompson, the owner of the 73 acre farm, in Zanesville, Ohio is said to have killed himself and released the animals in a final act of spite. He was recently released from prison for possessing illegal firearms.After a panic induced day, armed men shot over 50 exotic animals. The dead animals... more
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World Bank chief urges “definite steps” by Europe
Animals Loose in Ohio: Town Under Lockdown
No “Hope” or “Change” but Obama campaign HQ buzzesWorld Bank chief urges “definite steps” by Europe
Animals Loose in Ohio:... more
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Breaking News: Federal Judge Rules Against Wild Horses and American Public
July 15, 2011
Unedited Press Release from BLM Propaganda Central
Judge McKibben Rules in Favor of BLM Triple B Wild Horse Stampede
The Horses Lose AGAIN!!!
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Reno, Nev. — Today U.S. District Court Judge Howard McKibben issued a decision in favor of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which allows the BLM to proceed with the Triple B gather to remove excess wild horses on Saturday, July 16.
“The BLM is pleased with the decision of the court that allows us to move forward with the Triple B gather, where the wild horse population is five times over the minimum appropriate management level,” said Amy Lueders, BLM Nevada Acting State Director.
The BLM will gather and remove approximately 1,726 excess wild horses from in and around the Triple B, Maverick-Medicine and Antelope Valley herd management areas (HMA) and the Cherry Springs Wild Horse Territory located approximately 30 miles northwest of Ely and 70 miles southeast of Elko, Nev. Removal of the excess wild horses is necessary to prevent degradation of rangeland resources and to ensure sufficient forage and water is available for the wild horse population.
The estimated population for the entire gather area is 2,198. The appropriate management level (AML) for the entire area is 472-889 animals. Any horses gathered above targeted removal numbers will be released back to the range so that the remaining population is within AML.
Any gathered mares released back to the range will be vaccinated with the PZP-22 (Porcine Zona Pellucida) fertility control vaccine. Additionally, sex ratios of gathered animals to be returned to the HMAs may be adjusted to achieve an approximately 60 percent male/40 percent female ratio.
The gathered animals will be transported to the National Wild Horse and Burro Center at Palomino Valley (PVC), in Reno, Nev., Gunnison Correctional Facility in Gunnison, Utah, and the Delta Wild Horse Corrals in Delta City, Utah. The animals will be prepared for the BLM adoption program or for long-term holding.
The Cloud Foundation, Craig Downer and Lorna Moffat filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, and moved to enjoin the Triple B gather. Judge McKibben held a hearing Thursday morning and denied the motion to enjoin the gather.
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Breaking News: Federal Judge Rules Against Wild Horses and American Public... more
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Ranger defends bears after man dies
CNN...
Yellowstone ranger says respect, don't fear, bears
By Patrick Oppmann, CNN
July 9, 2011 11:24 p.m. EDT
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Yellowstone National Park usually has about 600 bears roaming its 3,500 square miles, Ranger Kerry Gunther said.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Hiker killed in front of his wife by grizzly this week
Grizzly bears considered normally tolerant of people
Different hiker has nerve-wracking meeting with a bear two days later
Ranger advises playing dead in emergency
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming (CNN) --
Having spent an hour walking the trails in Yellowstone National Park, Erin Prophet suddenly heard the words that every hiker dreads.
"Bear! Twelve o'clock! He's heading towards you!" yelled a man paddling a kayak on the small lake behind her Friday.
Prophet, who lives in Boston, scanned the hill she had just begun to climb. She couldn't see anything, but then heard the thick brush in front of her begin to crackle.
A bear emerged from the forest. Prophet began slowly walking backwards. "I was pretty afraid," Prophet said. "Especially after what happened a couple of days ago."
"A couple of days ago" was Wednesday, when Brian Matayoshi, 57, and his wife Marylyn were hiking in a different part of the park and encountered a grizzly bear. The bear, a female with cubs, according to National Park Service rangers, charged the couple.
Brian Matayoshi was bitten and clawed by the bear repeatedly. Then the bear latched its mouth onto Marylyn Matayoshi's backpack, hoisting the woman up before throwing her onto to the ground. She lay still until the bear left.
By the time help arrived, Brian Matayoshi had died of his wounds. He was the first bear fatality in the park since 1986.
A ranger on the scene at the lake said he believed the bear to be a juvenile grizzly. But Ranger Kerry Gunther, who saw video footage of the bear, said he is certain it was a black bear. That species is smaller and typically less aggressive than grizzlies, but is known to occasionally attack humans.
Gunther, who has studied bears at Yellowstone for nearly 30 years, said the park usually has roughly 600 of both kinds of bears roaming its approximately 3,500 square miles. Typically, more than 3 million people will visit the park each year.
Despite the ample opportunity for humans to cross paths with bears, Gunther said there is usually only one bear-related injury each year. In the park's 140-year history, he said, six people are known to have been killed in bear attacks.
"Bears are really very tolerant of people," Gunther said. "I have had a few times where I was bluff charged but the bear always pulled up short. You don't really know if you are a 'runner' or a 'stander' until that happens."
Gunther said the park tries to keep visitors and bears a safe distance apart.
But more often than not it's the humans that don't follow that plan.
"We can have hundreds of visitors alongside the road filming and viewing bears," he said. "When the bears want to cross the roads you'd think to a big, 200 pounds-plus bear people would show a little bit more respect (and) get back to their cars or let the bear cross the road. Sometimes people are letting the bear walk just feet from them."
If a bear does show signs of aggression, Gunther said there are a series of steps people can take to survive the attack.
"That nanosecond before the bear hits you we recommend dropping to the ground and playing dead," he said. "Put your hands behind your neck so your elbows are protecting the sides of your face. Bears bite to the head and face a lot. By going passive usually they'll let you alone."
Gunther differentiates between defensive and predatory attacks by bears. If a bear shows signs of hunting and eating humans, Gunther said rangers will attempt to track down and euthanize the animal. But rangers don't typically kill a bear --like the grizzly that attacked the Matayoshis for defensive behavior.
That decision to let the bear live, Gunther said, has drawn both praise and criticism from the public. But, so far, Gunther said he is not aware of anyone canceling their stay at the park as a result of the mauling.
"People shouldn't fear bears," he said. "They should respect them." Respecting bears, Gunther said, means traveling in large hiking parties, leaving an area where bears are and carrying bear spray, a supersized can of pepper spray to ward off attacks.
As she watched the bear advance down the hill toward her, Prophet said she was all too aware that she was alone and had neglected to bring bear spray on her hike. She discarded the backpack she was carrying food in and retreated into the icy lake water while wondering what to do next.
"Grab on," said a voice behind her. The two men in the kayak who had first warned Prophet of the bear, now about 30 yards away from her, had reached the shore. Prophet grabbed onto the kayak as the two men pulled her through the water and away from the bear.
The bear appeared not to pay attention and took a quick swim around the lake before disappearing again into the woods.
Shaking from the cold lake water and adrenaline, Prophet was relieved to find herself on the far shore from the bear.
"There's a lot that runs through your head," she said. "What you've seen and heard about bear attacks. But I felt as long as I was not threatening him, he would go away."
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CNN...
Yellowstone ranger says respect,... more
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The Independent | London...
Victory in the campaign to ban circus animals
Government concedes defeat after bribes and intimidation fail to deter rebels
By Martin Hickman, Consumer Affairs Correspondent
Friday, 24 June 2011
MPs of all parties unanimously backed a ban on circus animals
MPs voted to ban wild animals in circuses last night after David Cameron's attempts to bully Conservative backbenchers into voting against the measure backfired and ended in a humiliating public defeat. In a decision hailed by campaigners as an "historic victory for animal welfare and protection", MPs of all parties unanimously backed a ban and the Government signalled that it would introduce one, ending forever the days of lions, tigers, elephants and other wild animals in the big top.
In an act of desperation, Conservative whips had warned they would impose the most serious parliamentary voting sanction, a three-line whip, to bring recalcitrant backbenchers to heel and get them to support the Government's alternative proposal of a licensing system. But in a victory for The Independent's campaign for a ban and for the long campaigns waged by animal welfare organisations, Downing Street backed down when it became apparent that it would lose the vote despite what backbenchers described as "desperate" measures. One of the three MPs who brought the cross-party motion for a ban disclosed that he had first been offered a government job – and then threatened that the Prime Minister would look "very dimly" on his recalcitrance – unless he amended or withdrew the motion. Mark Pritchard, a Conservative backbencher, stood firm and insisted that the measure be voted upon.
As astonished MPs listened, Mr Pritchard said: "Well I have a message for the whips and for the Prime Minister of our country – and I didn't pick a fight with the Prime Minister – I may just be a little council house lad from a very poor background but that background gave me a backbone. It gives me a thick skin and I'm not going to be cowed by the whips of the Prime Minister on an issue I feel passionately about and have conviction about.
"There may be some other people with backbones on this side and they will speak later, but we need a generation of politicians with a bit of spine, not jelly. And I will not be bullied by any of the whips."
MPs from all sides of the House including the Liberal Democrat MP Don Foster, Labour's Nia Griffiths and the Green leader Caroline Lucas attacked the Government's position, saying that both public and parliamentary opinion was in support of a ban.
The motion was to "direct" the Government to introduce a ban.
Shortly before the vote, the Animal Welfare minister, Jim Paice, said: "If at the end of this debate the House were to approve this motion then of course we will have to respect that."
Animal welfare groups were ecstatic. The RSPCA said: "This is a win for democracy as well as animal welfare." It said it hoped the Government would quickly and formally announce a ban.
Animal Defenders International, the group which shot undercover footage of the beating by a Romanian groom of Anne the elephant at Bobby Roberts Circus, said: "This debate and vote has exposed the Government and demonstrated just how out of touch they have been with their peers, the public, and animal welfare groups."
Mary Creagh, the shadow Environment Secretary, said: "The public will be absolutely delighted that MPs from all parties have stood up to the Tory-led Government on this issue to achieve such a fantastic result. The vote brings to an end 48 hours of chaos and confusion from the Government about their position on a ban. It is extraordinary that David Cameron used such bully-boy tactics to threaten his own MPs and tried to impose a three-line whip on the vote."
The Government had initially planned to ban wild animals from circuses but the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was forced to do a U-turn, and instead proposed a licensing system, after Mr Cameron, a keen hunter and shooter, blocked the move.
Mr Paice blamed a court challenge to a ban in Austria for the decision, but there was no court challenge and he was forced to admit during an emergency debate, called because of the misinformation, that he had misled the Commons. The Government's subsequent claim that a ban could be challenged under the Human Rights Act or the EU Services Directive was challenged by lawyers and the European Commission.
The Government and MPs came under intense pressure from voters. More than 32,000 signed The Independent's online petition calling for the Government to change its mind, and supporters of the protest group 38 Degrees, which had forced Defra to abandon plans for its forests sell-off, deluged MPs' offices with hundreds of emails, letters and phone calls.
During the debate, MPs said the issue was emblematic of wider animal welfare issues. But the most astonishing contribution came from Mr Pritchard who had secured the backbench debate, which should have had a free vote. He said: "On Monday if I offered to amend my motion or drop my motion or not call a vote on this motion – and we're not talking about a major defence issue or an economic issue or an issue of public-sector reform, we're talking about a ban on wild animals in circuses – I was offered reward and incentive. If I didn't call for a ban – I was offered a job. Not as a minister, it was a pretty trivial job.
"Then it was ratcheted up to last night and I was threatened. I had a call from the Prime Minister's Office directly and I was told unless I withdrew this motion that the Prime Minister himself would look upon it 'very dimly indeed'."
He told MPs: "It remains a mystery why the Government has mounted such a concerted operation to stop there being a vote on this motion."The Independent | London...
Victory in the campaign to ban circus animals... more
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So maybe you are okay with President Obama reneging on Gitmo, single payer, transparent govt, and his promises to not sign bills for five days after passage. Perhaps you are even okay with the Obama administration going after medical marijuana providers or doing nothing about the invasion from the South. But what do you think of the administrations plan to kill animals?
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/jun/01/forest-service-and-blm-plan-exterminate-countys-wi/So maybe you are okay with President Obama reneging on Gitmo, single payer,... more
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Malaysian wildlife authorities said they have rescued 130 pangolins and arrested two men attempting to smuggle the protected species, destined to be sold to restaurants and medicine shops.
Officials from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks said the two men were detained at a cemetery in central Pahang state, national news agency Bernama said late Saturday.
"The cemetery is believed to be the transit point before the animals are taken to (southern state) Johor and illegally exported to China, Japan and Hong Kong," state department head Khairiah Mohamad Shariff told Bernama.
He added the 130 pangolins seized were worth 40,000 ringgit (11,500 dollars).
Malaysian marine police on Thursday rescued 62 pangolins.
Pangolins are indigenous to the jungles of Indonesia, parts of Malaysia and areas of southern Thailand. The animal's meat is considered a delicacy in China, but it is classified as a protected species under the UN's Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.Malaysian wildlife authorities said they have rescued 130 pangolins and arrested two... more
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In Gastonia, North Carolina, a deer crashed through a ceiling into an indoor swimming pool. The deer circled the pool, and then jumped in. Once in the pool, it swam around, and at one point, appeared to actually be swimming laps, within the lap lanes. The whole scene was caught on security camera. Watch it below.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/31/deer-swims-laps-in-north_n_341061.htmlIn Gastonia, North Carolina, a deer crashed through a ceiling into an indoor swimming... more
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A Naturalist and Other Beasts is a medley of nineteen short essays written with the author's unabashed love of his subjects of animals that live in the wilderness.
A Naturalist and Other Beasts is a collection chosen from among the dozens of articles and books written by George B. Schaller over half a century. It includes studies of the daily lives of such exotic beasts as jaguars in Brazil; tigers in central India; lions, wildebeest and cheetahs in Tanzania's Serengeti Plain; giant pandas in China; snow leopards in Pakistan, and chiru (antelope) in the uplands of the Tibetan Plateau.
Read more: http://wildlife-conservation.suite101.com/article.cfm/a_wilderness_pilgrimage#ixzz0TMPC4rTsA Naturalist and Other Beasts is a medley of nineteen short essays written with the... more
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This is part 2 of my walk into the Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife Management Area located atop Suck Creek Mountain on Waldens Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Venturing into the woods I find myself surrounded by trees and fallen wood from awhile past. I discover a bone lying next to a tree. It is very old and decayed, however, there are marks on it as if a wild animal may have been biting on it and I see there are what would appear to be blood spots on one end.This is part 2 of my walk into the Prentice Cooper State Forest and Wildlife... more
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Sometimes Peta goes overboard but I think they are right on with this one. Peta was recently turned down at their request to temporarily place a 4 1/2 foot statue of a weeping, shackled elephant in a park or the plaza while the Barnum and Bailey Circus is in town. The city refused.Sometimes Peta goes overboard but I think they are right on with this one. Peta was... more
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Please view in HQ and full screen.
Menacing, dangerous, confrontational – these beasts bellow, howl and groan!
Paintings and drawings by Gary Zaimont, from his Large Animal Series of 2007-08. “Growler” by Judith Lang Zaimont is one movement from her “Symphony for Wind Orchestra in Three Scenes”. The University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble is directed by Dr. Jerry Luckhardt in the 2004 World Premiere performance. Videography by Michael Bregman.
Score available from Subito Music Corporation – http://www.subitomusic.com - tel: (973) 857-3440 - fax: (973) 857-3442.
More about the composer at http://www.jzaimont.com and http://www.MySpace/com/judithlangzaimont.Please view in HQ and full screen.
Menacing, dangerous, confrontational –... more
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Tuesday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
Turn around.
One leather glove.
A crystal castle.
Carl & I agree.
Help finding a track : Him by Sarah Brightman.
Keeping it clean.
It wasn't my year.
What is an anorak ?
Straight through the window.
Nosey cats.
A story for motor bikers.
Mundane things.
Taking photographs in shops.
Nice police lady.
Susan is having a hard time.
Chat chat chat.
Do I like the sound of my own voice.
Tyres.
A light T shirt.
Locking doors & windows.
A demonic squirrel.
The Eurovision girl sends me a Christmas card.
Fussy.
There has been an attempted burglary.
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTAK.CO.UKTuesday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on... more
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Thursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on CURRENT TV on Tues, Thurs & Sats.
In today's show :
Tissues are standing by.
Mombasa.
I've never had bad neighbours.
Advice on the new rides in Orlando.
Sometimes the translation between languages doesn't quite work out.
My peppers have been eaten.
Where's that bit of paper ?
Fly that plane Robert !
Tea bags on the garden.
Anyone been on a safari ?
We can't be getting up too early on holiday.
Joe's back from Peru.
Too much homework.
Plastic's.
Merlin - making things out of mud.
A shield of snakes.
Bjork.
A Wildebeest and a pregnant Giraffe.
They try very hard.
Teeth Whitening.
A suggestion from Suko.
Justin in concerned.
An accident in the studio.
Spiders everywhere.
Banging on the ceiling.
chris@unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk
WWW.UNITEDKINGDOMTALK.CO.UKThursday's edition of my three times a week talk show.Watch the show here on... more
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It was madness... a wild and reckless risk... she was suddenly a slayer of her most feared enemy... quite suddenly, this momentous kill took an amazing twist...
If this doesn't warm your heart, then you're probably dead inside.It was madness... a wild and reckless risk... she was suddenly a slayer of her most... more
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