ISSUE 15 2010 GLOBAL NETWORK CONNECTING WSPA MEMBER SOCIETIES WORLDWIDE EAGLE RELEASE Rehabilitation of three injured chicks WHO ARE YOU? Getting the right message across SHARK FIN SOUP A cruel trade that is endangering species AN INSPIRATIONAL INTERVIEW Enforcing wildlife law in Africa contents Features The demand for shark fin soup .............................10 Bullfighting is banned in Catalonia! ......................24 A world of animal welfare awaits you! ..................27 A whaling update ..................................................32 Member society news The latest news from the network ..........3–9, 12, 23 Member society profiles Tree of Life for Animals .........................................16 Animais de Rua .....................................................17 Association for the Protection of Animals and Plants ...........................................20 Dear Member Society Association of Friends and Defenders of Animals and the Environment ...........................21 Kalaweit Association .............................................22 Welcome to the 15th edition of Global Network. As we come towards the end of another year, I would like to WSPA news share with you some major achievements that animal welfare The rabies problem ...............................................26 groups around the world have worked together to accomplish. Education online for Latin America .......................33 However, while we celebrate these successes, we also take a look at the issues that still need addressing and the many The true cost of milk? ...........................................34 challenges ahead of us. Masterclass I would like to share the excitement around a landmark victory Who are you and what do you want? ...................28 for the PROU campaign, which lobbied to achieve a ban on bullfighting in Catalonia (see page 24). This fantastic outcome was a culmination of years of dedicated work by animal Interview welfare groups in the region and strong support from the Talking to Ofir Drori, founder of local people. We hope this landmark vote by the Catalonian the Last Great Ape Organisation ..........................13 government will set the ball rolling for other regions and countries to follow suit and ban this cruel ‘sport’. Book review We also celebrate the news that the Balinese government, Such a nuisance to die .........................................35 with the help of BAWA and WSPA, has agreed to adopt the humane, scientifically-proven method of vaccinating dogs to tackle the spread of rabies (page 26). WSPA agreed to help WSPA International fund the vaccination project, which will save up to 400,000 World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) dogs from inhumane culling and tackle the spread of rabies 222 Gray’s Inn Road London WC1X 8HB within the human population. It will also help other countries United Kingdom see the benefits of this revolutionary and cost-effective model of rabies control. T: +44 (0)207 239 0500 F: +44 (0)207 239 0653 E: [email protected] Unfortunately, in other parts of the world, and for other W: www.wspa-international.org species, the situation is not so positive. The feature on shark A charity registered with the Charity Commission for finning in Costa Rica (page 10) is a sobering one. The desire England and Wales (Registered charity number 1081849) for shark fin soup is a real threat to the survival of these magnificent creatures and the horrific number of animals Editor: Michelle Clark Sub-editor: Michelle Harrison and Claire Harper affected means groups like Pretoma are fighting a tough Production: Michelle Harrison battle. Design: www.modoworks.co.uk Print: www.triangleprint.co.uk 2010 has been an impressive year for organisations in the Printed on 100 per cent recycled paper. network. I hope that through 2011 we will continue to support each other as we strive to make animals matter © WSPA 2010 around the globe. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, Thanks for all your hard work, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers. Mike Baker, CEO WSPA Cover image © Webb Canepa 2 MS NEWSUPDATES UPDATES Canada INDONESIA The fight to save Lucy goes on Protecting parrots the city of Edmonton could not move forward. His opinion was that this legal action was not the correct procedure to seek a remedy for the alleged harm to Lucy. For Zoocheck Canada and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, this was a devastating blow. “Of course, we’re disappointed, but these things happen. They got off on a technicality. Our legal team doesn’t agree with his opinion, but he’s made © Profauna his ruling. What is unfortunate in all Through their Parrot Protection this is that the overwhelming evidence Campaign, ProFauna have been from world renowned elephant experts encouraging and supporting the confirming Lucy’s poor living conditions government in North Maluku, Indonesia and inappropriate social isolation was in tackling the illegal trade in wild parrots. never heard,” said Julie Woodyer of There has been fantastic progress Zoocheck Canada. and the authorities have succeeded in Associate Chief Justice Rooke identifying the perpetrators of the trade was very clear that his ruling did not and stopping the smuggling. Forestry address Lucy’s living conditions and officers recently confiscated health. He said “While this litigation 27 chattering lories (Lorius garrulus) before the Court makes allegations from a dealer in the north of the Maluku about the health and care of Lucy, Island. The parrots were about to be this decision does not address those smuggled off the island, but the officers allegations. Rather, it addresses the succeeded in exposing the smugglers health of the legal system to properly during a patrol of the area. As the © Zoocheck © consider such allegations.” parrots were recently caught from the Zoocheck Canada and its partner Lucy the elephant is the lone elephant wild, after quarantine and veterinary groups say the decision does not at the Edmonton Valley Zoo in Canada checks they were released back into impact on their efforts to provide relief and is the most northerly elephant in their natural habitat. ProFauna will to Lucy’s suffering and other initiatives the world. Her needs simply cannot continue to work together with the local are already underway. be met at the zoo and she must be government, forestry department, local moved to a more suitable climate people and communities on parrot Zoocheck Canada immediately. protection in Maluku. In August, after weeks of waiting, W: www.zoocheck.com E: [email protected] Associate Chief Justice John Rooke Profauna ruled that the legal action against W: www.profauna.org E: [email protected] ZIMBABWE An elephant update In the last issue we highlighted the We have received exciting news that Zimbabwe National Society for the not only are the elephants doing well and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals adapting to their new home, but that the (ZNSPCA) elephant rescue project in herd has some new members! Following which nine elephants were rescued the release, one of the females gave from a training ranch to be rehomed at birth to a healthy young baby and an Hwange National Park. older 25 year-old elephant has joined the These elephants had been original group. taken from the wild and subjected This is a special milestone for the to cruel training practices for use in reintroduction of these animals back safaris. After months of negotiation into the wild and a huge achievement to and support from the Minister of all those who took part in making this Environment and Tourism, as well happen. Congratulations! as many animal welfare groups, the elephants were successfully ZNSPCA © ZNSPCA rehabilitated. E: [email protected] 3 MS newsMS NEWS AUSTRALIA Tasmania takes the lead Following a state-wide newspaper by the flawed national code, and flood of supportive letters and emails advertising push by member society recommended to Minister Green that from thousands of caring Animals Animals Australia and the Brightside Tasmania lead in becoming the first Australia supporters. It is hoped that the Farm Sanctuary, Tasmania’s Primary state to outlaw this cruel practice. At the measure to ban sow stalls will become Industries Minister, Bryan Green, AWAC, Animals Australia was present effective from 2017. Until this time the announced in parliament that he will to provide crucial input on the scientific industry will be able to change practices ban cruel sow stalls in the state! and ethical arguments against confining so as to comply with the new legislation. Pigs are among the most intelligent sows in tiny stalls. species on the planet. Despite this Despite heavy lobbying from Animals Australia they have been subjected to one of Australia’s intensive pork industry, W: www.animalsaustralia.org the cruelest practices ever inflicted Minister Green has accepted this E: [email protected] on animals in Australia. Sow stalls recommendation, encouraged by a are typically used in factory farming operations across the country to isolate mothers during pregnancy. The National Code of Practice permits these animals to be confined in tiny crates, unable to turn around for months on end, denying them exercise and any quality of life. As a result, pigs suffer painful physical ailments and even depression. Until