Video: After 5 years of campaigning against worlds first octopus farm in Spain, Compassion in World Farming has achieved a major victory: all plans are cancelled

 Plans for world's first octopus farm cancelled: 

 

CIWF celebrates success after 5 years of campaigning 

Compassion in World Farming www.ciwf.nl

 

The plans of the Spanish company Nueva Pescanova to build the world's first octopus farm in the port of Las Palmas on Gran Canaria have been scrapped. After five years of campaigning against the farm, which would be a nightmare for the well-being of the hyper-intelligent, sensitive octopus, animal welfare organization Compassion in World Farming has achieved success. 

Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]

 

Annemarie Brijder, Aquatic Animal Welfare Campaigner for Compassion in World Farming Netherlands: “We are incredibly greatfull! This is a major victory for the octopus and for all those thousands of people worldwide dedicated to protecting it. This beautiful, hyper-intelligent, sensitive animal does not belong locked up in a cage. It is now up to governments and the EU to ban octopus farming for good, before it can start elsewhere.”

 

Annually, 1 million – naturally solitary – octopuses would be kept in crowded, bare tanks in the planned hatchery, which would lead to great animal suffering: including stress, aggression, and cannibalism. Moreover, there is no scientifically approved method to kill the animals as painlessly as possible.

 

The farm would not only be a disaster for the welfare of these animals, but would also lead to environmental pollution and food waste. The animals would be fed wild-caught fish, which would put even greater pressure on already overfished oceans. In the first year, approximately 28,000 tonnes of wild-caught fish would be needed as feed to produce just 3,000 tonnes of octopus meat ^[1] .

 

Campaigning for years

 

The plans led to global outrage among animal welfare organizations, scientists, activists, and the general public. Today's news follows a recent campaign by Compassion in World Farming to urge the Port Authority of Las Palmas to officially withdraw the building permit application for the farm. The company had failed to submit the required environmental impact assessments. More than 43,000 emails were sent to the authority, including thousands from the Dutch.

 

Earlier today, the port authority confirmed that Nueva Pescanova is abandoning its plans to build the nursery in Las Palmas. Compassion in World Farming has campaigned for five years to stop the project. During that period, the organization published three major investigative reports, launched an open letters and postcard campaign in which many Dutch people participated, and mobilized other NGOs, experts, and celebrities to join the campaign.

 

Many people feel a connection with the octopus, especially after seeing the Oscar-winning documentary 'My Octopus Teacher', in which the general public was introduced to this incredibly intelligent, curious animal with the almost magical ability to change shape in a flash. 

 

TIMELINE

2021

In response to the plans for the world's first breeding facility, we published an extensive report with eight reasons not to keep this eight-armed animal in breeding facilities. The report led to a wave of outrage worldwide, including in the Netherlands.

2023

In February 2023, the US state of Washington announced it might ban farming. This followed the closure of a center in Hawaii where experiments with octopus farming were being conducted in secret. Thanks in part to our campaign, the octopus farm was forced to cease operations.

2024

Together with Eurogroup for Animals, we are publishing 'Exposing the environmental risks of octopus farming' : a new report in which we highlight the enormous damage to nature and the environment if the plans for the octopus farm go ahead. 

2025

In the summer, we sent a digital holiday postcard en message to the official Tourist Office on Gran Canaria, with the message: we would much rather come to your island without an octopus farm! On World Octopus Day, October 8, we are releasing a new report: 'The Growing Threat of Carnivorous Aquaculture' and asking key policymakers to support an end to octopus farming.

2026

With two new campaigns, a petition to the Spanish Minister of Agriculture , and massive protest emails to the Port Authority of Gran Canaria , we continue to mount the pressure to stop the first octopus farm in Spain. There is also good news from the United States: after Washington and California, New York is the third state to ban inhumane farming . 

Elephant Zara 20 years of begging on the streets of India mentally and physically broken, rescued by Wildlife SOS India

 

An emaciated female elephant, that dragged herself through the day, with the overbearing weight of a carrier, will no longer suffer after being rescued by Wildlife SOS. Her frail structure held testimony to the life that she lived as a begging elephant moving from pillar-to-post.

Saved by Wildlife SOS just in time. Mentally and physically broken. A blanket to keep her warm

Wildlife SOS named her “Zara” which means princess – something that she rightly would have been, in her herd in the wild, but the evil clutches of illegal wildlife poaching snatched that joy from her and pushed her into a lifetime of captivity.

On the way to a better life. Thank you Wildlife SOS I have been following you for 20 years and I am so proud of you !!

Due to Zara’s rapidly deteriorating health, primarily affecting her joints, her owner was unable to meet her urgent medical needs. The nationwide lockdown that was imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, was the primary cause for Zara’s owner not being able to begin her medical treatment. As soon as relaxations were levied, he was determined that his elephant would live a better life under the care of Wildlife SOS at the Elephant Hospital situated in Mathura. The Elephant Hospital opened its gates for Zara’s arrival and to provide her with the necessary medical treatment that would give her the relief she rightfully deserves.

When Zara arrived at the Elephant Hospital, the fresh air and the unfamiliar whiff of her lush green surroundings made her cautious, as well as anxious.

At just the tender age of 21, Zara has developed a serious case of osteoarthritis that has seriously affected her forelimbs and compromised her posture and gait. Her right forelimb, in particular, is damaged, along with an inflamed elbow joint that is the main reason of the slight limp that she has as she walks.

It is heartbreaking to imagine that with such a seriously compromised leg, that she was able to survive all these years of abuse. It is clear that Zara has an unfathomable amount of strength and willpower. Zara also has a wound on her left elbow and shoulder, which will be regularly cleaned and dressed with antiseptic ointment for quick recovery.

Her joints, however, are of serious concern and the Wildlife SOS veterinarians will be conducting X-Rays, as well as a complete blood report to assess the exact condition and seriousness of her limbs. Zara will be administered joint supplements and anti-inflammatory ointment for relief.

Zara’s right fore limb is the primary cause of concern for the veterinarians. Zara presently weighs 1970kgs, which is visible in the distinct, protruding shape of her spine that is due to her malnourishment. To everyone’s relief, her vision is proper and she is slightly anxious about her new surroundings, which is why the elephant care staff and veterinarians are giving her the time that she needs.

Her first ever shower!! What a joy, 

Even in her pain and discomfort, Zara appears to have a zeal for life as she was quick to take a liking to her bucket of watermelons and splash her trunk around! Her enclosure is equipped with mud beds for her support, to take the weight off of her legs, and for her to rest. Although Zara just wishes to look around her enclosure and watch her neighbors, the resident pachyderms instead.

While Zara has been on a tiring journey, emerging from her past life and taking small steps into her new home, Wildlife SOS requests everyone to keep her in your prayers while their team of veterinarians, elephant care staff, and hospital staff work to make her comfortable.

She will no longer be paraded around on hot tarmac roads, or have just a few stalks of dry grass and bananas while tethered to a confined, concrete space, pushing to break free.

As this fragile and battered creature finds comfort in her new home, Wildlife SOS requests that you show her your support and love by making a donation HERE!

Elephant Manu also rescued from begging in the streets  ( video )

.www.wildlifesos.org

 

A small monkey dehydrated and frightened found in bus 302 in London hidden in a cage inside a laundry bag: RSPCA "more abandoned monkeys will follow due to new legislation"

 

Photos RSPCA  Royal Society Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Abandoned monkey found in laundry bag on London bus

Animal welfare charities say marmoset could be ‘first of many’ since new law on primate licenses and microchipping

Tue 21 Jul 2026 17.05 CEST

A “stressed and dehydrated” monkey has been found in a laundry bag on a London bus in what animal welfare charities warn could be the “first of many” abandonment's now owners must obtain primate licenses.

The female common marmoset was discovered on a 302 bus waiting in Kensal Rise, north-west London, on Friday by a passenger whose buggy was obstructed by the bag containing the monkey in a cage. The monkey has since been named Oyster after the London transport payment system.

The bus driver contacted the RSPCA, which handled 238 reports of primate neglect and cruelty between 2021 and 2025.

New legislation passed in April mandated that all primates kept in England are licensed and micro chipped. Owners who failed to obtain a license by 6 April risk an unlimited fine or jail

Oyster was abandoned on a 302 bus in Kensal Rise, north-west London, in a cage inside a laundry bag. 

Alison Cronin, the director of Monkey World and a contributor to the new legislation, said over the past decade “a lot of well-meaning people … have fallen victim to people on social media promoting these wild animals as good domestic pets”.

She said UK breeders were “making a killing” out of this misconception, though she welcomed the law change’s requirement for them to ensure they were only selling monkeys into homes with suitable environments.

Although a Born Free survey in January suggested there had been limited uptake of the new licensing system, Cronin said she had observed that many owners have since obtained licenses.

She said abandoned monkeys were “nothing new” and not necessarily a reflection of the law change. “These animals have been out there and subject to abuse and neglect for all of the years running up to this,” she said.

The driver and Metroline staff are aiding RSPCA inquiries to trace the person responsible for dumping the marmoset, which had not been microchipped.

Clare Dew, RSPCA London’s chief investigator, said Oyster’s abandonment “was clearly intentional”, and she suspected it was “a direct result of the new legislation”.

The “frightened marmoset” was well concealed in the bag, Dew said. “She’d been left with some apple but was, understandably, very stressed and dehydrated.”

Oyster is now healthy and living in a sanctuary with specialist primate facilities, where she “settled in really well over the weekend” and will be introduced to a male companion shortly.Evie Button, a RSPCA exotic animals expert, described primates as “highly intelligent and social wild animals who need a lot of space, mental stimulation and appropriate companions – needs that can’t be met by human company alone”.

She added: “There is a real concern that keepers who cannot or do not want to license their pet may now instead abandon them.”

The government estimates that 5,000 primates are kept as pets in England.

Chris Lewis, the captivity research and policy manager at Born Free, called on local authorities and the government to raise greater awareness of the law change.

“Primates are complex, intelligent animals whose needs cannot be met when kept as a pet,” he said. “Although not the complete ban which experts and primatologists advocated for, the introduction of the Animal Welfare (Primate Licences) (England) Regulations represented an important step towards protecting privately kept primates, but their suspected it was “a direct result of the new legislation”.

The “frightened marmoset” was well concealed in the bag, Dew said. “She’d been left with some apple but was, understandably, very stressed and dehydrated.”

Oyster is now healthy and living in a sanctuary with specialist primate facilities, where she “settled in really well over the weekend” and will be introduced to a male companion shortly.

Rachel Hall

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Readers asked me: "How are the animals in Gaza getting along ? "We donated but don't hear about them anymore" ( video's an photos)

There is some food and water for the Palestinians, some kibbles for the animals, doctors and veterinary care, but not enough. The most shocking news is that they have no future. Trying to survive and cope with this hopeless situation. Each day more of their country is being occupied by Israel, there are no schools for the children, hospitals have been bombed,  the tents leak, water to wash themselves is scares. Hygiene is a huge problem. Baby's are born, nappies hard to come by or too expensive to buy. Countries such as my own, keep silent. They watch from a distance but are afraid to stand up against the country that is terrorizing the moslim people. They feel guilty because the Netherlands allowed 104.000 thousand Jews to be murdered in camps in WWII. Therefore they support  Israel.

Video in Gaza taken a year ago

https://sulala.ps/articles written last year.

Medical Point: Due to the intense and devastating war that has ravaged Palestine , animals are suffering from pain and wounds with no one to treat them. This is due to the mass displacement of people who were forced to evacuate from their homes. As a result, people have not been able to tend to animals as much, and many veterinary clinics have closed. To address this problem, Sulala has launched a pop-up medical point dedicated to treating animals.

Sulala Animal Rescue5 months ago

A lady brought her cat to the medical point today. He had wounds all over his body. The doctor found that he is suffering from sarcoptic mange, that he has almost no more teeth, and that his eyes were infected as well. we treated the skin affected by mange with saline solution and iodine, administered eye drops, and gave him other appropriate treatments.

Saeed is the founder of Sulala Animal Shelter Gaza.before the war began he had an animal shelter and was feeding stray animals

https://www.facebook.com/SulalaSociety/owner_reels

These many reels are heartwarming and at the same time terribly sad.

A citizen from Khan Younis contacted us to report a small kitten suffering from an abdominal issue since birth, as he noticed that he is not growing like his siblings and is still very small. After conducting a veterinary examination, it turned out that he is suffering from a hernia. The little one is now in a happy foster home with a nursing mom to provide him with warmth and natural nutrition, while our medical point follows up on his condition and provides him with continuous care and treatment. We will do everything necessary to support him and monitor his progress until he fully recovers

Cats are, in many ways, the forgotten victims of Vietnam’s illegal dog meat trade. 400 cats were seized by police from a profit-driven network in Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Petition: 

https://secure.humaneworld.org/page/165612/action/1?ea.tracking.id=web_blog

In Vietnam’s cruel and illegal meat trade, it’s often the suffering dogs who are in the spotlight. But cats too are caught up in this cruel and illegal trade—stolen from homes and streets, trafficked across provinces and slaughtered by the thousands every month. Cats are, in many ways, the forgotten victims of Vietnam’s illegal meat trade. 

That changed this week in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Two local organizations, HavePaws and Vietnam Cat Welfare, have been at the forefront of the massive effort to meet the urgent needs of the rescued cats on site, along with volunteer veterinarians. They have been providing around-the-clock care, helping to meet the animals daily welfare needs.

More than 400 cats were seized by police in what appears to be one of the largest single cat meat trade interceptions in Vietnam's history. Several cats have already been reclaimed by their families who had been desperately searching for their stolen pets.

Inside Viet Nam’s cat meat trade 

Viet Nam's cat meat trade is a profit-driven network that stretches across the country. Cats are stolen from homes and streets, transported in overcrowded cages with no food or water, and sold through a chain of traders before reaching slaughterhouses and restaurants. Many die during transport; those who survive will face brutal slaughter. 

Investigations have documented cats arriving at slaughterhouses still wearing collars—a stark reminder that many are beloved pets. 

It’s estimated that more than two million cats in Vietnam are taken or stolen for the trade each year, yet the issue receives far less attention than the dog meat trade. 

Why this seizure matters 

Historically concentrated in northern provinces such as Thai Binh and Hanoi, the cat meat trade has increasingly expanded south. Investigations have exposed restaurants in Ho Chi Minh City openly selling and slaughtering cats, making this seizure of cats by local authorities especially significant. 

The cat meat trade poses significant public health threats. The movement of unvaccinated animals of unknown health status across provinces and borders undermines efforts to thwart the spread of rabies. Cats who carry rabies and end up in the stressful, overcrowded conditions of the meat trade pose dangers to everyone: other cats, handlers, transporters and butchers. 

Humane World for Animals Viet Nam has provided initial emergency assistance and is working with local groups on the ground to assess longer-term support needs for the cats as the case progresses. 

The response from volunteers, local organizations, businesses and authorities reflects a growing concern for animal welfare in Viet Nam and increasing recognition that the cat meat trade has no place in modern society. The number of cats reunited with their owners, along with the sheer volume of people descending on the holding station searching for their lost pets, is a testament to the great affection of millions of people within Viet Nam, as well as their concern about the dreadful toll exacted by pet theft for the meat trade.  

What comes next 

The immediate priority is securing a longer-term solution for the cats still being held as evidence while legal proceedings continue. We are thankful to the groups on the ground handling this intensely difficult work and hopeful that the cats can soon be transferred to veterinary clinics for their ongoing care and recovery. 

This rescue demonstrates what is possible when authorities act. It also highlights the need for stronger legal protections. Vietnam previously prohibited the capture, slaughter and consumption of cats for more than two decades before the ban was revoked in 2020. Reinstating and enforcing clear legal protections would be one of the most effective steps toward ending this trade and preventing future suffering.

Source: Humane World USA