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Mountain Gorilla Expedition | Morris Animal Foundation
Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) withalong with the Mountain Gorillas Veterinary Project (MVGP) .
Up close & personal with the highly endangered mountain gorilla made famous by the late Dian Fossey. There are less than 700 of these incredible, gentle giants.
This video is a web exclusive. Morris Animal Foundation (MAF) withalong with the Mountain Gorillas Veterinary Project (MVGP) . ... more -
Eaten into Extinction?
Elephants, gorillas and other large forest mammals may become extinct in central Africa within 50 years if hunting meat to feed starving populations continues at the current pace. Each year, rural peoples consume some 2.2 billion pounds (one million metric tons) of so-called bushmeat from wildlife, the equivalent of four million cattle; the flesh accounts for 80 percent of the protein and fat in their diet.
"If current levels of hunting persist in central Africa, the most vulnerable species will become extinct in the near future," cautions Nathalie Van Vliet, a researcher at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) based in Indonesia. The problem is, she adds, that "if the people that currently rely on bushmeat as a source of protein in central Africa had to rely on livestock, we would see the same catastrophe that is destroying the Amazon Basin: deforestation for pasture land and livestock raising."
In fact, there is no simple solution to this problem. CIFOR, in a report released today, argues that a hunting ban would not work, as evidenced by the failure of antipoaching programs, among other things. But it also says that forest species such as elephants, buffalo and apes that are slow to reproduce need to be protected or they will disappear entirely. Already, roughly 40 percent of jungle species are killed in greater numbers than can be regained through reproduction, according to the report "The Bushmeat Crisis."
The report calls for local agreements that allow hunting of species that can rebound quickly (such as various species of duikers, a type of forest antelope) while nixing kills of species with long gestation periods (such as elephants who give birth after 22 months). This is "hunting that can satisfy the demand from the poorest in future generations as well as ensure the stability in the long-term of hunted animal populations," Van Vliet says. But she notes the "success" of such pacts will depend on local communities' willingness to abide by them.
The only examples of such sustainable hunting, however, are either among people who have almost no contact with other human beings, such as the indigenous Aché people in the forests of eastern Paraguay, or those who have already killed off local populations of slow-breeding animals as is evidenced in the bushmeat market in Takoradi, Ghana.
Further exacerbating the problem: illegal and even legal activities in central African forests, such as logging and mining, that carve out new access as well as attract new people who also crave meat. And laws against the wildlife trade have failed to prevent supplies of everything from rhinoceros horns to tiger bones from reaching the estimated $3.9-billion global market.
That suggests that even granting ownership of the common resource represented by a duikers herd might not solve the problem, as some experts suggest. But it also shows that blanket bans are not working either. "In the tropics, they have genuine needs," says entomologist Paul Ehrlich of Stanford University's Center for Conservation Biology, who was not involved with this study but has been assessing the problems presented by expanding human population since the 1960s. "There are desperately poor people surrounding reserves. If I was there, I would shoot the hippo and eat it, too." Elephants, gorillas and other large forest mammals may become extinct in central Africa within 50 years if hunting meat to feed starvi... more -
Irreplaceable Wildlife
Don't Let Global Warming Take Out Our Irreplaceable Wildlife
The Petition Site
Target: U.S. Congress
Sponsored by: Earthjustice
The polar bear - an icon of a rapidly disappearing Arctic - has just been listed as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. While this is a symbolic step, we need to do much more to protect the polar bear from global warming, which is threatening wildlife not just in the Arctic, but across the world.
The polar bear currently faces great challenges, such as oil and gas development in its rapidly melting habitat. The recent listing, for example, includes a loophole that enables energy exploration to continue in the Arctic despite its obvious threat to the bear's survival.
The action is part of Irreplaceable - a unique campaign that brings together groups from the worlds of art, justice, science and faith. These groups show that people from all walks of life are uniting to protect wildlife such as gray whales, grizzly bears and whooping cranes from global warming.
You can help by telling Congress to save the polar bear and other wildlife threatened by global warming. Please sign the Call to Care today! Don't Let Global Warming Take Out Our Irreplaceable Wildlife The Petition Site Target: U.S. Congress ... more -
2 Women Killed in Gorilla Reserve
TWO women were killed and three people injured when a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) vehicle was attacked in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The WWF vehicle was travelling with 11 people in the Nord-Kivu sector of the vast territory - famed for sheltering more than half the world's 700 remaining wild mountain gorillas - when it was ambushed by armed men, the United Nations-sponsored radio Okapi said.
An 18-year-old girl and her mother, the wife of a park warden, were shot dead, while two conservationists and the wife of another park warden were injured.
Members of the Congolese conservation institute ICCN were also travelling on board with WWF agents.
The attackers stole GPS devices and other personal belongings.
Okapi radio quoted local officials who attributed the attack to Mai-Mai resistance fighters.
Militia in this region have frequently carried out attacks, violating a January ceasefire signed by all Congolese armed groups.
The Virunga park spreads across the DR Congo-Rwanda border. TWO women were killed and three people injured when a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) vehicle was attacked in Virunga National Park in the D... more -
Gorillas: Sights & Sounds
With just 700 mountain gorillas left on earth, CNN's Anderson Cooper finds some high in the African jungles and reports on why they have become so endangered on this Sunday's 60 Minutes.
*VIDEO*
http://video.aol.com/partner/cbs/sights-and-sounds-gori... With just 700 mountain gorillas left on earth, CNN's Anderson Cooper finds some high in the African jungles and reports on why th... more -
African Gorillas in Peril
CNN's Anderson Cooper travels to an African jungle and reports on the endangered mountain gorilla species, as they have been subject to slaughter and oppression at the hands of humans.
*VIDEO* http://video.aol.com/partner/cbs/african-gorillas-in-pe... CNN's Anderson Cooper travels to an African jungle and reports on the endangered mountain gorilla species, as they have been subj... more -
AAF - China Bear Rescue
Have you seen "Not for sale" poster by GreenKorea?
It's bar code says "329 1600 120KG 19GRAM".
19 GRAM' is weight of a dried bear gall bladder.
There are more than 1600 bears in captivity (1400 of them are Asian Moon Bears with distinctive 'V' mark on their chest) at 110 bear farms in Korea.
The Korean Moon Bear, also known as the Asiatic Black Bear, has a diet consisting chiefly of fruits and vegetables, honey and insects. They are regarded as being of no danger to humans unless threatened.
The Korean government is responsible for this as they started importing bears from North America and Japan for breeding and export in early 80's.
Visits to 10 bear farms by in 2004 GreenKorea group confirmed hygiene standards and the conditions of bears were both extremely poor.
Most of the bears were in small dog cages, fed with pig's food for cost cutting measure by bear farmers. All bears showed signs of abnormal behaviour.
Just imagine many bears waiting to be slaughtered for their gall bladder, feet and meat, crowded into small and filthy cages on daily basis.
There are no regulations providing for any specific methods of slaughter, and there is a widespread belief that the bears are killed inhumanely.
Please Sign Petition!
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-bears-in-korea...
For more information on the cruel bear farming, please visit:
http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?module=2&lg=en
http://www.koreananimals.org/info/campaigns/bearfarming... Have you seen "Not for sale" poster by GreenKorea? It's bar code says "329 1600 120KG 19GRAM". ... more -
IAKA - International Aid for Korean Animals - News & Information
Recent news has emerged from Korea, implicating the involvement of several Jincheon County council members in an illegal bear meat restaurant. The story has sparked public outrage in Korea as it highlights the horrible treatment of farmed moon bears and the hypocrisy of the government officials who regard the bears not as a protected species, but as a culinary delicacy.
The restaurant is owned by Kim Dong Ku, also a council member, who along with his wife, operates an adjacent bear farm where the bear meat is obtained on demand. Though the husband and wife have claimed to keep moon bears as pets, news reports reveal that they in fact operate a farm where as many as 20 bears are crammed to a single cage.
When a bear dish is ordered, a bear is brutally clubbed to death and slaughtered on the spot. Restaurant patrons are also given the option of a "take out" menu, in which they can purchase bear cubs directly from the farm.
Though bear farms regretfully remain legal in Korea, slaughtering the bears for their meat violates several laws. The Chef Yoo Young Hun has since publicly apologized for his actions, but claims he did not know that the bears were illegally killed. This is hard to believe, as villagers in the area have witnessed the council members dining at the restaurant very regularly and it is likely that hundreds of bears have been brutally killed and consumed by the council members.
The scandal has created public outrage in Korea, highlighting the cruelty and horrific treatment of Moon Bears and exposing the connection between bear farms and government officials. Now more than ever, we need you to call upon Korea's Ministry of Environment to ban bear farming and to strengthen laws against bear meat restaurants.
Please sign the online petition:
http://www.moonbears.org/
http://www.animalsasia.org/
http://www.koreananimals.org/info/campaigns/bearfarming... Recent news has emerged from Korea, implicating the involvement of several Jincheon County council members in an illegal bear meat res... more -
eBay Still Selling Illegal Ivory
llegal Ivory Trade Thrives on eBay Despite Year-Old “Ban”:
Despite eBay Inc.’s announcement exactly one year ago today of a global ban on all international trade in elephant ivory, investigators with IFAW have found that auctions of illegal or potentially illegal ivory have skyrocketed on eBay in the U.S. Further, eBay Canada faces persistent challenges as U.S.-based sellers of ivory list their contraband on the Canadian site.
In response to these developments, IFAW today is renewing its call for eBay, Inc. to institute a full and complete ban on all elephant ivory products worldwide.
“eBay’s affiliates in countries including Germany, Australia, France and China have virtually eliminated the illegal ivory trade on their Web sites thanks to severe restrictions and outright bans, ” said Jeff Flocken, IFAW’s Washington, DC, Office Director. “Unfortunately, according to the findings of IFAW’s investigations, it seems that this deadly trade has shifted to North America.”
“The ivory trade is directly responsible for the slaughter of over 20,000 elephants each year,” according to Peter Pueschel, Director of IFAW’s Wildlife Trade program. “As the world’s largest online marketplace, eBay is one of the more significant conduits for illegal trade in wildlife products on the Internet. This puts eBay in a unique position to set an example for the rest of the industry by implementing and enforcing a comprehensive ban on ivory,” says Pueschel. In fact, such a step is not unprecedented, as eBay, Inc. already prohibits the sale of other contraband such as firearms and ammunition.
With its nearly unlimited scope, largely unregulated access and relative anonymity, the Internet is emerging as the preferred method for the illicit trade in ivory and other endangered animals and their parts.
“Banning all ivory sales would give eBay an opportunity to become a conservation leader and take immediate action to protect elephants and other illegally traded species,” said Flocken. “IFAW stands ready to offer any assistance to eBay necessary to quickly develop and implement a strict and clear global policy banning ivory and to jointly inform and educate the public.”
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=22954... llegal Ivory Trade Thrives on eBay Despite Year-Old “Ban”: ... more -
10,000+ Elephants on an Auction Block
Going once, going twice: Remnants of 10,000 elephants may be on the auction block
For the first time in nearly a decade, the international sale of ivory from endangered African elephants has been authorized by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) Secretariat. An estimated 119 tons (108 tonnes) of ivory, put up for sale from four southern African nations, which was in part conditionally approved in 2002, has been audited and verified by the CITES Secretariat. This sum represents the deaths of over 10,000 African elephants.
Japan is the sole country yet approved by CITES as a trading partner for these ivory stocks while China is up for consideration at CITES SC57 next month. “China is the single largest destination for illegal ivory and to accept them as an importer for these legal stocks will only sustain the rampant poaching that African nations are faced with today,” says Michael Wamithi, Director of the global Elephants Program at International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW – www.ifaw.org), and former Director of Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS).
“Furthermore, each day rangers are putting their lives on the line to defend elephants and other wildlife. Poor African nations do not have the resources to endure the level of ivory poaching being experienced today. There are an estimated 20,000 elephants slaughtered each year for their tusks. And, the bloodshed extends to human lives as well. There are countless rangers continuously killed in the line of duty. How many lives must be lost to realize the gruesome reality and reach of the elephant ivory trade?”
http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=22964... Going once, going twice: Remnants of 10,000 elephants may be on the auction block ... more -
From Cage to Consumer report - World Society for the Protection of Animals
The global trade in bear parts from China to Asia and beyond
A new report by the World Society for the Protection of Animals uncovers evidence of the ongoing illegal trade in bear bile products. From Cage to Consumer summarizes the results of an extensive undercover investigation conducted in 2006 and 2007. Bear gall bladders and bear bile products were found on sale in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM) shops across the United States as well as in cities in Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
With more than 14,000 bears suffering on bear farms in Asia so that their bile can be extracted for use in traditional remedies and non-essential products such as shampoo and wine, WSPA will use this data to help us end bear farming.
Results of global investigation:
% of stores surveyed selling bear bile:
Japan 75%
Taiwan 42%
Korea 33%
Singapore 22%
United States 15%
Canada 14%
New Zealand 9%
Australia 4%
Results of U.S. investigation:
% of stores surveyed selling bear bile:
Boston 50%
Chicago 27%
New York City 20%
Seattle 14%
San Francisco 12%
Los Angeles 4%
Washington D.C. 0%
Portland, OR 0%
Highlights from the U.S. investigation:
Illegal bear products were found for sale in 6 of 8 U.S. cities examined: Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Intact gall bladders made up 63% of all bear products found for sale in the U.S.
$2800 was the price tag on a gall from a wild U.S. bear offered for sale in Los Angeles.
A Boston shop offered 30 galls for sale.
Bile from wild bears is considered to be more potent and therefore demands a higher price.
Help End Bear Farming!
Please Visit: http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/29_bear_farming.cfm The global trade in bear parts from China to Asia and beyond ... more -
The Bear Protection Act - World Society for the Protection of Animals
WSPA uncovered evidence of the illegal trafficking of bear bile in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand in 2006.
Illegal bear products were found for sale in traditional Asian medicine shops in 6 of 8 U.S. cities examined: Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Intact gall bladders made up 63% of all bear products found for sale in the U.S.
$2800 was the price tag on a gall from a wild U.S. bear offered for sale in Los Angeles.
A Boston shop offered 30 galls for sale. A U.S. bear gall was offered for sale in a traditional medicine shop in Taiwan.
One of the biggest threats faced by bears in the United States today is an illegal yet thriving trade in bear parts, including bear gallbladders. Each year wild bears are killed so that their parts can be sold in Traditional Asian Medicine (TAM) shops in the United States and internationally. In our recent undercover investigation, WSPA found that the trade in intact gallbladders had actually increased since our previous investigation in 2000.
Unfortunately, state laws pertaining to the trade in bear parts are inconsistent and, in some cases, non-existent. The solution is clear: a unifying federal law is the only viable solution for bears.
U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) recently re-introduced H.R. 5534, the Bear Protection Act of 2008, to protect North American bears. The Act specifically bans the import, export and interstate trade of all bear parts and products, while closing loopholes in existing state laws.
PLEASE SIGN THIS LETTER & HELP SAVE BEARS FROM THIS TORTURE!
http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/2101_support_the_bear_pro...
http://capwiz.com/wspausa/issues/alert/?alertid=1110940...
Please visit:
http://www.wspa-usa.org/pages/29_bear_farming.cfm
http://www.cites.org/gallery/species/mammal/mammals.htm...
For more information on bear welfare (& many other animals!) visit:
http://my.care2.com/julesrs007
Thank you all for reading this! WSPA uncovered evidence of the illegal trafficking of bear bile in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Australia and Ne... more -
The Denver Gorilla Run
5th Annnual
Denver Gorilla Run
2008
Do Halloween this year as a Mountain Gorilla
and help save these animals from extinction.
GET READY........GET SET.............GO...............rilla!
9:00am Registration Open
11:00am Start time
Saturday, October 25, 2008
5.6K RUN
"Most Creative" Gorilla Contest 10:30am
The Denver Gorilla Run is a charity fun run with a difference. Everyone who takes part wears a full gorilla costume - from fluffy head to furry toe - and helps raise funds for the Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund, the international charity working to save the world's last remaining mountain gorillas and keeping Dian Fossey’s dream alive for the past 23 years.
You can run, jog, walk, rollerblade or skateboard around the 5.6K route that weaves its way around the City of Denver, Colorado. Or if you like, you can do it gorilla style: on all fours!
With your entry, we will provide the gorilla suit (which you may keep afterwards), the spectators, t-shirt and all kinds of entertainment. All you have to do is get registered, be assigned to a gorilla team, get fit and have some fun!
Every participant in The Denver Gorilla Run will represent a group of real live gorillas in the wild. You will be assigned to either the Amahoro Group, Mubare Group, Sabinyo Group or the Rushegura Group - so with limited entries available you must register soon to secure your place.
Also visit: http://www.saveagorilla.org/ for more information. 5th Annnual Denver Gorilla Run 2008 Do Halloween this year as a Mountain Gorilla and help save these animals from extinction. ... more -
Mountain Gorillas Fading into Mist| GorillaDoctors.wildlifedirect.org
'On Day 15 of the Susa Group respiratory outbreak, a cool, rainy morning, I stood in one place for two hours watching three sick gorillas. The longer I stayed, the more I worried about what we’d find the next day. Ururabo, a first-time mother with a three-month-old baby, coughed and picked her nose. Her baby coughed and sneezed; white fluid ran down from each nostril. He breathed through his mouth through pursed lips. Poppy, the oldest female in the family, sat motionless, huddled with her two older offspring. She’d been sick for almost two weeks.'
From: http://gorilladoctors.wildlifedirect.org/2008/06/03/uru...
There are less than 700 Mountain Gorillas...that is unbelievably sad. Especially, when taking into consideration, that the 'discovery' of this magnificint & gentle creature was only ~100 years ago.
Please see the following links (as well as this page) on how you can help this extremely threatened species:
http://www.worldwildlife.org/gorillas/
http://www.worldwildlife.org/gorillas/
www.iccnrdc.cd/
www.wildlifedirect.org/blogAdmin/gorilladoctors
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshi...
http://getinvolved.conservation.org/site/PageServer?pag...
http://www.wcs.org/international/Africa/gorilla
http://www.igcp.org/gorillas/gorillas.htm
http://mgvp.32ad.com/
http://mgvp.32ad.com/default.aspx
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshi...
http://www.gorillas.org/
http://gorilla.wildlifedirect.org/2008/05/16/video-tshi...
http://www.conservation.org/fmg/pages/videoplayer.aspx?...
www.uwa.or.ug/
www.rwandatourism.com/home.htm
discovery.blogs.com/quest
www.wildlifedirect.org/blogAdmin/gorilladoctors
Videos:
http://www.conservation.org/fmg/pages/videoplayer.aspx?...
http://www.conservation.org/fmg/pages/videoplayer.aspx?...
http://www.conservation.org/fmg/pages/videoplayer.aspx?...
* Please contact me directly for more info & links. 'On Day 15 of the Susa Group respiratory outbreak, a cool, rainy morning, I stood in one place for two hours watching three sick ... more -
Tortured Animals stuffed into 60 gal barrel: Pet-Abuse.Com
* Does anyone have an update(s) to the following story?...
Zachary W. Famuliner, 20, pleaded guilty to animal abuse for stabbing an opossum multiple times during a fraternity prank in Columbia.
Associate Circuit Judge Larry Bryson suspended imposition of a sentence and placed Famuliner on 2 years of UNSUPERVISED probation. Bryson also fined him $500 for illegal possession of wildlife and DISMISSED a 2nd count of animal abuse.
The judge ordered Famuliner to complete 50 hours of community service, 20 hours of counseling & not consume alcohol during his term of probation. If completed successfully, the court will SEAL ITS RECORDS of the case.
"Far be it for me to criticize Judge Bryson," Assistant Prosecutor Connie Sullivan later said of the suspended sentence, "but I think the conviction should have been on his record."
Bryson told her he agreed that Famuliner should not be allowed to hunt but said state law already bars him from hunting because FAMULINER HAS A PRIOR COVICTION for deer POACHING.
Defense attorney Pat Eng said after the hearing that his client understands what he did was wrong but described the incident as a "stupid college prank." "No one SET OUT to ABUSE ANIMALS in this process," he said. "That is what we hoped to make clear to the judge."
Early that day, Columbia police responded to a disturbance call and found members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity standing around a barrel full of about 40 OPOSSUMS - half of them ALIVE - outside the fraternity house at 602 S. College Ave.
Famuliner and fraternity brother Adam P. Thomas, told police they’d COLLECTED the critters as part of a FRATERNITY CONTEST. Members drove around COLLECTING opossums and returned them to the fraternity for POINTS, getting 1 point for each dead animal and 2 points for each live one.
The fraternity expelled Famuliner and Thomas after the incident, and MU placed the fraternity on PROBATION through the fall semester. Thomas paid a $500 fine in May for illegally possessing wildlife.
* In an unrelated incident, Famuliner pleaded guilty in December to killing four deer out of season two months earlier in Boone County. He paid a $377 fine, according to court records.
When Sullivan asked her whether opossums are animals and whether they can feel pain, Eng objected, saying that he would STIPULATE that opossums are animals that can feel pain. The exchange elicited chatter and SOFT LAUGHTER from some spectators in the courtroom.
Asked by Sullivan whether she knew about her son’s poaching, Famuliner said, "If you’re trying to say I don’t know my son, you’re wrong." Then the mother said she had not known about her son’s illegal deer hunting before he was caught. "No, I don’t know what he does 24/7," she said. * Does anyone have an update(s) to the following story?... ... more -
Gen Art Cinema Circle presents Sharkwater @ The W Hotel
Shark fin soup. Yummy, right? WRONG! Gen Art hosts Cinema Circle - Poolside at the W Hotel in Los Angeles, introducing us to first-time director, Rob Stewart. The film takes viewers on an unforgettable journey into the underground world of poaching, warning us of the price we might pay for the further depletion of one of the ocean's most misunderstood creatures, the shark. These events have become a great way for filmmakers to get closer to their fans, while shedding light on their creative processes. So meet Gen Art VP of film Jeffrey Abramson and filmmaker Stewart, and get the inside scoop on why YOU need to catch this important film! www.sharkwater.com - www.genart.org/film Shark fin soup. Yummy, right? WRONG! Gen Art hosts Cinema Circle - Poolside at the W Hotel in Los Angeles, introducing us to first-tim... more
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illegal hunting
