1. High Fashion Brand Valentino To Go Fur-Free By 2022 & Will Also Be Closing Down Their Fur Subsidiary, Valentino Polar
Iconic Italian fashion designer Valentinois the latest major fashion house to eliminate fur from its collections. The company will phase out fur by the end of this year, as well as close down its fur subsidiary, Valentino Polar.
This announcement comes as the UK government is considering making Britain the first country in the world to ban the sale of fur. Valentino joins a rapidly expanding group of fashion designers dropping fur, including: Prada, Gucci, Armani, Versace, Jimmy Choo,and Burberry,among many others. Most recently, British high fashion house Alexander McQueen and Spanish designer Balenciaga also declared a fur-free policy.
Humane Society International/UK commissioned a YouGov opinion poll that revealed that 93%of the British population rejects wearing real animal fur, and 72% supports a ban on the sale of fur in the UK.
2. Four Poachers, Including A Former SANParks Ranger, Receive Prison Sentences For Killing Rhinos In Kruger National Park
South African National Parks (SANParks) announced last month the finalization of two long-running rhino poaching trials by the Skukuza Regional Court. One rhino poacher was sentenced on May 14th, while three, including a former SANParks employee, were sentenced a few days later.
Nito Mathebula was arrested in the Tshokwane Section in January of 2019while hunting in Kruger National Parkillegally. Two of his accomplices managed to evade arrest. Mathebula was found guilty of trespassing in a national park, breaking the Immigration Act, and the killing of a rhino. He was sentenced to 13 years in jailafter being found guilty on three poaching related charges.
Phineas Dinda, a former SANParks full corporal in the Rangers Corps, Arlindo Manyikefrom Mozambique, and Alfa Gwebana, a South African citizen, were also arrested in the Tshokwane Section of Kruger National Park in May of 2019.The three were found guilty of trespassing in a national park, conspiracy to commit a crime, as well as possession of an unlicensed firearm, live ammunition, and an axe. Manyike was also found guilty of contravening the Immigration Act. They were all sentenced to 16 years in prison.
3. Four Critically Endangered Red Wolves & Four Pups Were Released From Captivity Into The Wild To Save The Last Seven Remaining From Extinction
Promising news as four critically endangered red wolves were released into the wild in North Carolina. Four red wolf pups were also released to be raised by a female wild red wolf who will serve as their foster mother. The goal of the releases is to assist maintaining the only wild population of the most critically endangered wolf in the world.
The release of the four American adult red wolves from the Endangered Wolf Center, Wolf Conservation Center,andWolf Haven International into a protected refuge in North Carolina took place on April 30th and May 1st.As noted by the Endangered Wolf Centeron its website,this marks the first time since 1998 that adult American red wolves were released into the wild from managed care facilities.
4. Missing Houston Tiger Has Been Found Unharmed & Relocated To The Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch Sanctuary In Texas
Last month, WAN shared a disturbing video of a young tiger on the loose in Houston, Texas.We are relieved to report that the search for the missing tiger named India ended after the big cat was anonymously surrendered to authorities.
During a press conference, Houston Police Commander Ron Borza identified Gia Cuevas and her husband Victor Hugo Cuevas as the owners of the tiger. According to prosecutors, Victor Hugo Cuevas was taken into custody after a Fort Bend Countyjudge revoked his bond on a pending, unrelated murder charge from 2017.
5. Hawaii To Be The Next State To Ban Testing On Animals For Cosmetics; Sign Petition To Pass Federal Legislation
Hawaii is in line to become the next state to ban testing on animals for cosmetics after the Hawaii Cruelty Free Cosmetics Actpassed the state legislature’s final vote at the end of last month. The Bill is now on the desk of Hawaii Governor David Igeto sign into law.
The Bill, introduced by Hawaii Senator Mike Gabbardseveral years ago, calls for cosmetic manufacturers to stop selling any cosmetic products involving new animal testing from January 1, 2022.
Please help push for the reintroduction and passage of federal legislation, H.R.514, The Humane Cosmetics Act, that would end the suffering of millions of animals who are needlessly tortured and killed to test cosmetics in the United States by signing the Care2 petition,HERE!
6. The UK Introduces Legislation To Recognize Animals As Sentient Beings & Publishes History-Making Action Plan For Animal Welfare
Following a speech by Queen Elizabeth last month, the UK Governmentpublished a history-making Action Plan For Animal Welfare.The plan is designed to revolutionize the treatment of animals in the UK and introduce measures to protect the welfare of animals abroad.
The Government also took another significant step forward on animal welfare by formally recognizing animals as sentient beings through a new Animal Sentencing Billthat was introduced in Parliament, putting animal welfare at the very heart of government policy decision making.
7. Bill To End Puppy Mill Pipeline & Ban The Retail Sale Of Dogs, Cats, And Rabbits In New York Passes State Senate; Advances To Assembly
The New York State Senate approvedBill S.1130, to shut down the puppy mill pipeline and end the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores across the state. The Bill, sponsored by Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris,must now be approved by the Assembly, before moving to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
Most of the animals available for sale in pet stores come from notorious dog, cat, and bunny mills, which are known to be inhumane. Offspring of mill animals often have congenital issues resulting from poor breeding and can cost families thousands of dollars in veterinary care.
If the Bill is approved by the House, New York will join many other states and hundreds of localities in taking a strong stand against puppy mill cruelty.
8. The SAFE ACT Reintroduced In The U.S. To Ban The Brutal Slaughter & Live Export Of American Horses For Human Consumption
Last month, United States Representatives Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Vern Buchanan of Floridareintroduced the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act of 2021.This bipartisan legislation would permanently ban the slaughter of horses for human consumption in the United States, as well as prohibit the export of live horses to Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses to be sold overseas.
Although slaughter of horses for human consumption is currently illegal in the United States, the ban is temporary and subject to annual congressional review. No federal law exists to prohibit the transport of horses across American borders for slaughter in Canada or Mexico.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture,more than 100,000 American horses are exported to Canadian and Mexican slaughterhouses each year. Those horses are subsequnetly butchered and then transported overseas for consumption in Japan, Italy,and other countries. More than 90%of these horses were healthy and in good condition.
