1. WAN Talks With World-Renowned Scientist Dr. Reese Halter About The Controversial Wolf Hunt That Happened Last Week In Wisconsin & How To End It
Tragically, last week, hundreds of gray wolves in Wisconsin became prey to greedy and callous hunters in the state’s first wolf hunt in seven years. The abhorrent and senselessly cruel hunt ran through Sunday or until hunters hit their ‘kill limit’ of 200 innocent lives, which sadly happened early this year.
The controversial hunt was ordered to take place after a Jefferson County Circuit Court decided last week that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesviolated state law by refusing to schedule a winter 2021 gray wolf hunt when the gray wolf was delisted from the Endangered Species Act by the Trump administration on January 4, 2021.
WAN had the opportunity to talk withDr. Reese Halter,a world-renowned scientist and eco-stress physiologist specializing in Earth’s life support systems, as well as the author of the recently-released book,The Gen Z Emergency.
2. A Massive Oil Spill Off The Coast Of Israel Wreaks Havoc Covering Sea Turtles In Thick Tar; Rescue & Cleanup Efforts Are Underway
Israel is in an urgent race to save wildlife after an oil tanker leaked in the Mediterranean Sea.This is Israel’s most serious ecological disaster in recent years.
As per a statementfrom Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, sticky, black tar began washing up and contaminating the beaches last Wednesday, as a result of the stormy weather. It is feared that another storm with high waves will begin this week.
Thousands of trained volunteers across Israel are helping with beach restoration efforts, which include rescuing marine animals. Israel Sea Turtle Rescue Center confirmed in a post on its Facebook pagethat it is treating multiple turtles covered in tar.
3. The Jane Goodall Act Was Recently Introduced In Canada And Will Become One Of The Strongest Animal Welfare Bills In History!
Canadian Senator Murray Sinclairhas partnered with Dr. Jane Goodall to introduce the Jane Goodall Act, which, when passed, will become one of the strongest animal laws in history. This bill could send shockwaves that transform the legal standing of animals, not only in Canada, but across the world.
We need to urge the Canadian Senate to pass this landmark bill to give elephants, dolphins, great apes, and other animals the right to live free from hunting, captivity, and abuse.
The Jane Goodall Act, S218, would ban new captivity of great apes and elephants, and the use of them, including cetaceans, in performances. It would also strengthen an existing but flawed ban on the importation of elephant ivory and other hunting trophies, and would grant legal standing to great apes, elephants, whales, and dolphins. Granting animals legal standing would be a watershed event that would transform the landscape of animal protection in Canada.
4. Following The Historic Texas Freeze, Primarily Primates Is Still In Need Of Water, Produce, Cleaning Supplies, and Donations For Chimps & Other Rescued Animals At Their Sanctuary
Primarily Primates,a non-profit sanctuary in Bexar County, Texas, that provides lifetime care for hundreds of animals including 32 chimpanzees, was among millions without power in the state after an Arctic blast created blackouts due to frozen power lines, natural gas production freezing under pressure, pipes bursting, and increased demand for power.
While the staff and volunteers worked tirelessly around the clock to evacuate dozens of animals from the 78-acre sanctuary and use heaters and generators to keep the remaining animals warm, they are also mourning the loss of approximately 12 animals, including monkeys and lemurs due to the cold.
5. Norway Plans To Slaughter More Than 1,200 Minke Whales During Their Gruesome 2021 Whale Hunting Season
In defiance of a global moratorium on commercial whaling, Norway has again issued an annual kill quota of 1,278 minke whales for their barbaric 2021 whaling season.
Last week, Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, Norway’s Minister of Fisheries,announced the quota, which remains unchanged from last year. Ingebrigtsen said he hopes the “upward trend in demand for whale meat will continue.” Sickening! Echoing Ingebrigtsen’s sentiment, the whaling industry also claims that demand for whale meat has improved, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Norway’s 2020 whaling season ran from April 1st to September 30th.Slightly more than 500 whales were killed, compared to 429 in 2019. This is the highest total since 2016, when nearly 600 whales were killed. Sixteen whaling vessels requested a permit to hunt whales last year, but only 13 participated.
6. The Horse Transportation Safety Act Was Recently Reintroduced In The U.S. With 105 Bipartisan Co-Sponsors
TheHorse Transportation Safety Act (HTSA) was recently reintroduced in the U.S. to ban the transportation of horses across state lines in double-decker trucks or trailers containing two or more levels stacked on one another.
As previously reported by WAN, the billpassed the U.S. House of Representatives last July as part of a larger federal transportation package, but the Senate failed to vote on the legislation. This year’s version of the bill currently has 105 bipartisan co-sponsors.
7. European Zoos Urged To Phase Out Keeping Giraffes In Captivity Following Born Free’s New Report
On February 9, 2014, a healthy two-year-old giraffe named Mariuswas culled and subsequently dissected in front of the public at the Copenhagen Zoo. The zoo shockingly justified their actions, claiming his genes were already represented in the captive giraffe population in Europe, and that there was limited space available for a young, male giraffe in zoos that were members of theEuropean Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Parts of Marius’ body was then fed to the zoo’s carnivores. On the seventh anniversary of that appalling act, Born Freecalled for European zoos to phase out keeping giraffes in captivity, and instead, focus their conservation resources on the protection of giraffe populations in the wild.
8. WAN Exclusive Update On A Controversial Case Of Alleged Neglect Of 20 Farm Animals In Colorado
After receiving a tip about an alleged animal hoarding situation in Colorado, that included starving pigs left outside in freezing conditions, WAN did some research and uncovered an abhorrent case of animal cruelty.
Sadly, the complex case involves a group of 20 farm animalsand others that are innocent victims of severe neglect, allegedly under the care of Halina Morley and Laurel Burchell.
One of the reasons this case is unlike most animal hoarding cases is the small ‘manageable’ number of animals on the property. The Weld County Sheriff’s Officeis currently investigating.
Helping local farmers transition will solidify California’s position as a leader in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, creating jobs in a burgeoning industry, providing wholesome, sustainable food for its growing population, and helping to keep family farms in business.
