Final Update on Gracia Del Mar Tragedy

Source: CIWF

CIWF have reported the final outcome for the animals stranded on the Gracia Del Mar vessel in Egyptian waters.  Unfortunately, whilst passing through the Algerian Coast on the way to Egypt, the ship was caught in a snow storm and extremely low temperatures.  Many of the cattle could not withstand these severe conditions and thousands died.

The ship attempted to dock in a number of places along the Red Sea and was refused at Egyptian ports and in other nations.  It is now understood that all live cattle have since been transferred from the Gracia Del Mar and taken inland, it is still not clear which country the animals are residing in.

Over half the animals on-board the ship (around 3,000) are thought to have now died.  The exact details have still not been revealed but what this tragedy does show is that the long distance transport of animals needs to stop.

CIWF thanks the over 40,000 people who sent e-mails to Brazil, Egypt and the OIE for their compassion and called the response "astounding".  CIWF states that "this latest tragedy provides yet more evidence that long distance live transport has no place in modern farming".

For more information on CIWF's campaigns and how you can help, please view their website here.

Save Chilean Sea Lions from Needless Slaughter

WSPA reports that sea lions in Chilean waters are in dire need of our help to protect them from needless slaughter.

Sea lions are protected species in Chile, however, the Government is attempting to use loopholes in current legalisation to begin a mass cull as they are blaming the sea lions for the scarcity of fish in Chilean waters.  It is not sea lions to blame but decades of overfishing.  The Government are ignoring this factor as well as vehement opposition from the people of Chile.

Without protection, thousands of sea lions will be culled, many will be exposed to further exploitation such as a life in captivity "performing" in aquariums and zoos and others are at risk of having their body parts exported to Asia for use in "aphrodisiac medicines".

You can help!  Please click here and enter a few details to contact President  Piñera  and ask him to reject any recommendations that encourage the outcomes listed above. 

Fluffy Friday #50 ~ Woo Hoo!

I wasn't sure how to celebrate our 50th Fluffy Friday so have looked through all the past Fluffy Friday pictures (Warning: Extreme Fluffiness Overload!) and come up with a few of my favourite images to remind you of.  Also, I have added some lovely pictures of Suki and Rusty, that you may not have the pleasure of seeing.

Sit back, relax and let's get fluffy!

Thank you for sharing the past 50 Fluffy Fridays with me!  As a last gift to you, here is a link showing the Best Animal Photos of 2011.  This really will make you smile and fill you with fluff!


Happy weekend!

Save the Last 130 Western Gray Whales

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Back in February, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) launched a 11 metre replica of a whale on London's River Thames to highlight the threats facing the critically endangered Western Gray Whales in Eastern Russia.  With fewer than 130 of these amazing creatures left, it is extremely urgent that we protect their feeding grounds in Sakhalin Island from a proposed drilling platform.

WWF have created a petition reminding the banks funding the new platform by opposing this they can help make a difference for the remaining Western Gray Whales.  Please sign the petition here and ask your friends to do the same.  

After entering your name and e-mail address you are taken to a page in which you can share your action on Facebook and Twitter and you can even draw your own whale on the website (mine was too poor to share on here!).

Lunch Time Links #12

Is it me or has the past few weeks been exceptionally busy?  Not only has Spring come, and gone leaving us with another lashing of Winter weather, but my inbox has been full of campaigns needing urgent attention.  

Can you help with a few actions this lunch time please?

Save Prairie Dogs from slaughter in Colorado

Ban Shark Meat at Intermarche

UPDATE on Animals Stranded at Sea ~ Further Action Required

CIWF have reported further news about the cattle currently stranded on the Gracia Del Mar transporter in the Red Sea, 13,500 people have yesterdays action to help the animals which is fantastic news.

A well placed source has reported that the remaining live cattle have been transferred to another vessel, CIWF state that they "will continue to monitor the situation as it develops and work hard to ensure the cattle are receiving the treatment they need".

Despite this dreadful situation, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have appallingly not responded.  The Animal News joins CIWF in voicing outrage at their lack of action.  The OIE have informed CIWF that they don't plan on taking any action until 12th March!  The CIWF have called this "in blatant disregard of the OIE's own rules on the transport of animals by sea, under which they are meant to take a leading role in emergency situations".

Please join us in e-mailing the OIE calling on them to help bring this disaster to an end and ensure procedures are put in place to guarantee that any future incidents like this are dealt with more promptly and effectively.

URGENT ACTION REQUIRED! Animals Stranded at Sea.

CIWF has reported a horrific situation occuring near Eritrea on a converted cargo ship in the Red Sea , thousands of cattle are dying or already dead after being stranded on the ship.  The vessel, Gracia Del Mar, is carrying cattle from Brazil to Egypt and it has been suggested that one of the ships engines has broken down resulting in ventilation failure and ultimately the extreme suffering and death of many animals.  

It is reported that more than 2,750 cattle have died already and the situation is worsening with every passing hour.

Conditions on the ship have been described as desperate, however, the ship has been refused permission to dock at a number of ports, including its destination of Egypt, due to the number of dead and dying cattle on board.  The surviving animals urgently require veterinary care or to be humanely euthanised, if necessary.

The Brazilian and Egyptian authorities must take action urgently, it is their responsibility and they have the resources to provide the support and veterinary care that is so desperately needed.  CIWF states "back in 2005 the World Organisation for Animal Health issued guidelines on animal welfare during transport at sea, both Brazil and Egypt signed up and as the exporter and importer they have clear responsibilities for the welfare of these animals."

Please click here to be directed to a readily prepared e-mail to the Brazilian and Egyptian Agriculture Ministers calling on them to fulfil their responsibilities and to allow the ship to dock, so that treatment can be administered to the surviving animals on board.  

Please do this as soon as possible!

Protection Needed for Elephants in Cameroon National Park

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Sad news from Cameroon, in less than one month it is estimated that over 200 elephants have been killed.  Mongabay have reported that the protected elephants have been killed for their tusks by Sudanese ivory poachers.

The elephant population of Cameroon is estimated at around 1000 - 1500 and this slaughter is a shattering loss to the population.

Please sign this petition asking the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya and the Prime Minister Philemon Yang to do more to protect their elephants.  The elephants that were killed were situated in a National Park but more measures need to be put in place to protect them further.

Fluffy Friday #49

I have a rule that I don't have favourites when it comes to animals, but these little guys certainly would come close to being my favourite, if I were to have one...

I could drown in those eyes.

Twin Slender Lorises were been born in the Zoological Society of London earlier in February (why have I not been to visit them yet?), this is a very special occurance as Lorises very rarely give birth to twins.

Babies clutching Mummy tightly.

Can you spot a teeny tiny little ear poking out?  Altogether now, awwwwwww!

Source.

Finally! Wild Animals in Circuses WILL be Banned!

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We're kicking off March with a bang!  According to the Daily Mail, Ministers will today announce that circuses will be banned from using wild animals within two years!

Pressure from members of the public (like us), MPs and celebrities have forced Minsters to make a U-turn and implement the ban.  Until the ban is introduced a tough licensing regime will be put in place for any circuses still using wild animals.

Read the full article here.