International Fund for Animal Welfare ( IFAW ) has a Elephant Nursery: when poachers kill their mothers the defenseless calves have to learn skills from humans

 

2 baby elephants just arrived.  Both their mothers were killed by poachers

The milk bottle is empty

When poachers kill female elephants, defenseless young calves can be left behind. Nursing calves, still dependent on their mothers, cannot survive without intervention.

Learning to drink milk from a bottle

Left to fend for themselves, these orphans struggle without the milk they need to survive, or the opportunity to learn critical social skills from their mothers. The stress of losing a mother often weakens the calves’ immune systems, leaving them vulnerable to malnutrition, dehydration and other stress-related health problems.

Solution

Working with the GRI-Lusaka Elephant Nursery Project (LEN), a non-governmental organization based in Zambia, we helped develop and operate an elephant nursery.

https://www.ifaw.org/projects/lusaka-elephant-nursery-zambia

This is the first elephant orphanage in Southern Africa and the second on the continent. Its mission is to return rescued elephants back to the wild. Our teams take orphaned elephants out for regular walks, put them on feeding schedules and even watch over them while they sleep. 

Foto: Daily walks

The project outgrew the capacity of the original nursery, so we built a new one. A production company, Sinking Ship Entertainment (SSE), asked us to join them in an innovative approach to launching their new TV show, Endlings. SSE included funds for elephant conservation in the show’s overall production costs and worked with us to cover the costs of building a new nursery.  

The new nursery opened in August 2022 in Lusaka National Park. The park is spacious and offers a peaceful environment for the elephants to begin their journey back to the wild.  

The nursery is a part of GRI’s larger Wildlife Discovery Centre, which operates in partnership with IFAW, David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, Olsen Animal Trust and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife of Zambia. 

School children at Wildlife Discovery Centre

Once the elephants are old enough to be weaned from milk, we transfer them to a special release facility in Kafue National Park.

With a thousand other wild elephants near the facility, we help the orphans integrate into a wild herd, gaining the herd’s protection and learning the social skills they will need to thrive.

As that happens, we use satellite collars to track their movements, ensure they integrate, and help them in case of emergency.

 human connections.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is a global non-profit helping animals and people thrive together. We are experts and everyday people, working across seas, oceans, and in more than 40 countries around the world. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals, and we restore and protect their natural habitats. The problems we’re up against are urgent and complicated. To solve them, we match fresh thinking with bold action. We partner with local communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, and businesses. Together, we pioneer new and innovative ways to help all species flourish. 

www.ifaw.org

The problems we face are growing larger and more complex everyday. More online trafficking. More ocean noise. More powerful storms. We’ve been around for fifty years, but we know our solutions can’t stay the same. We have to be nimble, curious, and open to new partners. In short, we have to think, and act, differently.

When euthanasia seemed like the only option for stranded marine mammals, we found another way. We developed new technology to safely release them back into the ocean. When people in Bali were getting sick after natural disasters, we found the source: unvaccinated dogs. Now, we are making sure that island dogs get their rabies vaccines. And when we wanted to stop whale hunting in Japan, we called up the very last entity you could imagine: the Icelandic Tourism Board.

We’re not just finding a different way to do things. We’re finding a better way.

How are tapir Melancia and tapir Valente doing after fires ravaged their home? ( video)

https://oncafari.org/en/about-us/documentary/

Young Melancia was found without her mother, which made her recovery process even more challenging. With your support, she and another tapir Valente who shares a similar fate, are receiving treatment for their severe burns.

While Valente is close to returning to his natural habitat, Melancia will need more time to fully recover. She will need to learn essential survival behaviours before being reintroduced into the wild.

Tapir Melancia with 4 bandaged legs

You are supporting Onçafari in the rehabilitation of two tapirs, Melancia and Valente (pictured), who were rescued after being injured in fires. Credit: Fernando Faciole

 

Onçafari was established in August 2011, when the co-founder and creator of Onçafari, former Formula 1 racing driver, Mario Haberfeld, began his work at the Caiman Ecological Refuge (CER).

"Fare Well, Dear Sweet Peanut": Heartbroken we announce the loss of our beloved elephant Peanut a severely injured and traumatised elephant, lived with us WildlifeSOS for 10 years

 

This photo above is how we would like for Peanut (left) to be remembered, frolicking in the river with her best friend Coco (right).

We’re heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved elephant Peanut. Surrounded by veterinary teams and caregivers, the colourful, mischievous elephant unexpectedly passed away January 9. For everyone at Wildlife SOS and Peanut’s many supporters, her loss is heart-wrenching. Born into chains in a circus and kept away from her mother as a baby, Peanut faced many long-term health challenges as a result of malnutrition and neglect at such a young age. She was first found standing in her own feces, chained in sight of her mother but unable to reach her warm embrace, and that trauma had lasting consequences. Peanut (R) and Coconut’s (L) bond was forged in the harsh environment of the circus, where the two young elephants found solace and strength in each other during their difficult and painful experiences. [Photo © Wildlife SOS/Mradul Pathak] Peanut loved water Wildlife SOS cares for some of the sickest, severely injured and traumatised elephants, and Peanut was no different. She had good days and bad days, but her rapid decline stunned even our expert veterinarians who worked feverishly to save her. The dear elephant is a tragic reminder that the damage done to abused captive elephants lasts long after their rescue. After 10 years as part of the loving Wildlife SOS family, we are struggling to find the right words to say goodbye. We’ve attempted to capture some of our special memories with Peanut and her magnetic personality with this tribute. We hope you will cherish the memory of her and find some comfort that Peanut was loved by all, and that we were able to give her almost a decade of kindness, compassion and freedom. In the Memory of a Spirited Elephant Prankster Peanut is dearly missed For she was sweet, vibrant and vivacious. Forever mischievous and playful, Conjuring pranks in her enclosure spacious. Every morning, day and night, She employed varying methods of ploy To keep her caregivers on their toes, Yet a source of immense joy. Rescued from the travails of a circus Her fear of humans she outgrew. With health issues yet a robust spirit To herself everyone she drew. With affection, amazement and laughter She filled those whose lives she touched. A gentle and mischievous soul Shared a camaraderie with her mate such. For inseparable were Peanut and Coconut While at feeding or at play. They shared every moment together Whether it was night or day. We wish, gentle soul, in peace you may rest For having known you we feel blessed. © Shefali Ray

READ MORE ABOUT PEANUT

	This photo above is how we would like for Peanut (left) to be remembered, frolicking in the river with her best friend Coco (right).

In Kruger National Park 3 poachers entering the park at night came face to face with a hippopotamus: 1 poacher was mauled to death the others barely escaped

 

Foto: World Animal News

As a sobering reminder of the dangers and consequences of poaching, Kruger National Park (KNP) management recently reported an alarming incident involving suspected illegal activity within the park’s borders. New details suggest that three individuals illegally breached the park’s perimeter under the cover of darkness, intent on committing a crime. However, their illicit intentions were met with consequences when they encountered a hippo, notorious for its aggressive behavior and territorial instinct. The hippo attacked the group, proving fatal for one of the poachers.

The remaining two individuals dragged their deceased accomplice to a nearby road, where his remains were discovered by a tourist the following morning. The tourist promptly notified the park’s Section Ranger, setting off a chain reaction involving law enforcement.

As the South African Police Service delves into this incident, park authorities have issued a precautionary advisory urging visitors to withhold any photographs of the scene from the public to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation.

KNP Management has reinforced its warning against unauthorized entry into the park, highlighting the numerous dangers, ranging from fatal wildlife encounters to arrest and legal repercussions.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities of poaching—not only endangering the lives of vulnerable wildlife but also putting people at risk. The call for awareness and action is more urgent than ever, as poaching not only decimates individual animals but also jeopardizes entire species and disrupts fragile ecosystems.

Anti-poaching units courageously confront these threats in their mission to safeguard endangered species. Their success is contingent upon generous contributions and support from animal lovers around the world. Supporting anti-poaching initiatives is vital to preserve our planet’s rich biodiversity.

“Incidents like this highlight the dangerous environments rangers face every day while protecting wildlife and ecosystems,” Mike Veale, Founder of Global Conservation Force, told WAN. “Wild animals and the unforgiving conditions of these habitats are often the greatest risks, not only for those who enter parks illegally but also for the rangers who work tirelessly to safeguard these areas. This serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable and dangerous nature of wildlife conservation and the importance of supporting those on the frontlines.”

The Global Conservation Force exemplifies their commitment to this cause, actively supporting anti-poaching units, wildlife rangers, and conservation programs across the globe. Their relentless efforts are integral to protecting at-risk wildlife and ensuring ecosystems thrive for the benefit of future generations.025

Br
Karen Lapizco

Animal Rights: "de minachting voor het welzijn van dieren in de eenden industrie is structureel" De dieren worden als vuile was ruw in transportlades gegooid en gepropt

Op 24 augustus zond RTLNieuws dronebeelden van Animal Rights uit waarin te zien was hoe eenden die gefokt worden voor de slacht, hardhandig behandeld worden. De dieren werden hard in kratten gegooid met het risico op letsel en het oplopen van stress.

Is het einde van eendenslachter Tomassen Duck-To nabij?

De NVWA reageerde meteen: “De NVWA heeft deze, en andere niet in de uitzending getoonde beelden, voorafgaand aan de uitzending gezien. De NVWA constateert op basis hiervan dat de eenden veelvuldig onnodig ruw worden gevangen. Zo is te zien dat medewerkers van vangploegen eenden hardhandig in kratten stoppen en bij het sluiten van kratten op sommige momenten de nek van een eend bekneld raakt. Hierdoor lijden de dieren onnodig.”

Een woordvoerder van de NVWA haalde in de uitzending van RTLNieuws de eerdere Animal Rights undercoverbeelden van het vangen van eenden uit 2018 aan: ”Het is natuurlijk bizar dat we hier weer staan. We hebben die beelden gezien in 2018 en we zien dat de dieren nog steeds op een ruwe manier worden behandeld en er nog steeds overtredingen worden begaan.”

Aan de hand van de beelden uit 2018 concludeerde de NVWA: “Uit de beelden die u mij hebt toegestuurd blijkt een dergelijke minachting voor het welzijn van de dieren, in woord en daad, dat ik niet anders kan dan concluderen dat er sprake was van een bedrijfscultuur van veronachtzaming van het welzijn van de dieren.”

Animal Rights kondigde na de RTL-uitzending in augustus al aan dat de dierenrechtenorganisatie niet opnieuw jaren zou wachten met het aan de kaak stellen van de mishandelingen in de eendenindustrie. In november trokken onderzoekers van Animal Rights er opnieuw op uit om op veilige afstand een lege eendenvrachtwagen vanaf het slachthuis te volgen naar een eendenmesterij. De tocht eindigde bij een eendenconcentratiekamp in bezit van eendenslachter Duck-To aan de Parallelweg 20 te Hierden in de gemeente Harderwijk. Animal Rights filmde het vang- en laadproces van begin tot eind.

Uit deze nieuwe dronebeelden blijkt dat ook de onthullingen uit augustus 2024 Tomassen Duck-To niet tot inkeer hebben gebracht. De “minachting voor het welzijn van de dieren” is structureel. Aan de “bedrijfscultuur van veronachtzaming van het welzijn van de dieren” is niets veranderd.

Ook nu weer brengt Animal Rights in beeld hoe eenden ruw in de transportlades worden gegooid; hoe de laatste eenden in de lades worden gepropt als vuile was in een wasmachine; hoe de eenden door het smijtwerk keer op keer tegen het frame van de container en tegen bovenliggende lades aan klappen; hoe eenden bekneld raken waneer lades achteloos worden dicht geduwd; hoe eenden uit lades op de grond vallen en ruw weer worden opgeraapt en terug in een lade gesmeten; hoe eenden te lang bij de nek worden vastgehouden en zelfs soms aan één van de vleugels. Een aantal keren is te zien hoe eenden die waarschijnlijk te klein, of om een andere reden ongeschikt zijn voor de slacht, weer uit een lade worden gerukt en als afval op de grond belanden.

Animal Rights zal de beelden opnieuw delen met de NVWA. De NVWA is nog bezig met het onderzoek naar de beelden uit de eerste helft van 2024.

Landbouwminister Wiersma antwoordde in september op vragen van de PvdD: “Op de beelden is te zien dat het vangproces niet altijd zorgvuldig uitgevoerd wordt en dat vind ik onacceptabel.”
En: “De manier van vangen die op de beelden te zien is, leidt tot onnodige stress en mogelijk tot pijn en lijden.”

De stevige woorden doen niets voor de eenden. Ze liet het net als haar voorgangers aan de eendensector zelf over om verbeteringen aan te brengen. Animal Rights hoopt dat deze nieuwe beelden haar tot inkeer brengen.

Morocco plans to kill 3 miljoen stray dogs to clean the streets for FIFA World Cup 2030 : URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP from Salima, founder of animal shelter SFT Morocco

https://www.sftmorocco.org/

Meet the team: 

SALIMA KADAOUI

Salima (Sally) is our founder and SFT was her childhood dream. Born from a Moroccan father and British mother, she was raised in Tangier and grew up seeing the suffering of the strays on the streets, desperately needing help. In 2013 she returned to Tangier to turn her dream into a reality.

Sally’s mission is for the humans and animals in Tangier to live in harmony. And for every animal to be shown the care and compassion they deserve.

She believes that the key to this is to educate the community and be an example for others to follow.

DR LAHRECH

Dr Lahrech is an honorary member of SFT. He is a vet based in Tangier and works day and night to help the sanctuary.

From treating and neutering strays for our TNVT programme to attending to emergency cases at all hours.

We are so very lucky to have this man working with the sanctuary. We owe him a great deal

Cruel and illegal ways to kill dogs’

Moroccan authorities are using cruel and illegal ways to cull the stray dogs. These methods include poisoning them with a deadly chemical called strychnine, shooting them in public, and reportedly beating surviving dogs to death with shovels, The Daily Mail reported.

The International Animal Welfare and Protection Coalition (IAWPC) has said that up to three million dogs could be killed in this campaign. The organisation also launched a campaign titled “Morocco’s Ugly Secret”.

“Almost every day, individuals acting on behalf of the Moroccan Government, tour the streets: Shooting dogs around the clock armed with rifles and pistols. Rarely killed outright, wounding is a major consequence. Poisoning dogs using either ‘stick’ type implements with a syringe on the end containing the poison, to stab the unsuspecting dogs in the body, or through the alternative method of feeding them poisoned bait by hand,” IAWPC said. The International Animal Welfare and Protection Coalition 

.

Animal Welfare Organisations Four Paws, Bangkok Cat Society and Lanta Animal Welfare sterilised and vaccinated 200 stray cats in a Buddhist Temple Thailand

  Wat Klong Toei Nok temple in Bangkok 

Nearly 200 stray cats were sterilized and vaccinated in just two days at a Buddhist temple in Thailand, animal welfare organization Four Paws shared on Monday.

The initiative aimed to humanely control the growing stray cat population using the TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) method. It was held at the Wat Klong Toei Nok temple in Bangkok on December 13-14, 2024.

Four Paws, Bangkok Cat Society and Lanta Animal Welfare worked together to offer free vaccination and sterilization of stray and community cats in low-income areas around the temple. 

Residents care for cats in the area, but limited access to affordable veterinary care has led to overpopulation.

The campaign raised awareness of the benefits of TNVR. It helps to reduce stray populations, improve animal health, and prevent diseases like rabies.

The involvement of the temple monks and residents was key to the campaign’s success. Monks helped identify cats needing medical attention and encouraged community participation.

Matt Backhouse from Four Paws said sustainable stray animal population management can thrive when communities are actively involved.

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