Poachers in Mexico fled leaving a number of bags behind on the ground when officers of the National Guard spotted them: in the bags 4 monkeys to be sold as pets

Members of the National Guard Mexico were conducting inspection rounds when they saw a group of people in the distance. As the officers approached, the people fled. They left a number of bags behind on the ground. Given the situation, there was immediate cause for concern. To their surprise, the bags moved.The authorities immediately notified the Mexican Federal Public Prosecution Service for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA) and the Institute for Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas of Quintana Roo (IBANQROO). They brought the animals to safety and began the rescue operation.

The four monkeys, a male of about 5 to 6 months old and three females of only 2 to 3 months old, were in bad shape. They were all malnourished and dehydrated, and one of the youngest females had a broken arm.

With support from IFAW  www.ifaw.org them leaving a number of bags behind on the ground the monkeys were transferred to a veterinarian hospital. Although they are safe now, their future remains uncertain. Spider monkeys are very social animals, and as babies, they are completely dependent on their mothers and group members. Because they were separated from them so early and are now bonding with human caregivers, their chances of a successful return to the wild are unfortunately significantly smaller.

To capture baby spider monkeys, poachers must first kill their mothers, and often other animals in the group trying to protect the babies. Entire families are torn apart as a result. The young animals that survive are left traumatized and vulnerable.  

In this specific case, the poachers fled, likely because they were aware of the serious legal consequences. In Mexico, native primates such as spider monkeys may not be legally traded under any circumstances. This means that any animal taken from the wild and sold is part of an illegal market . 

The four monkeys rescued along the route of the Maya train were likely destined for sale as pets. This illegal market continues to grow significantly across all national borders.

As recent cases of smuggling show, baby spider monkeys are regularly transported under cruel and dangerous conditions. They are hidden in bags, cars, and containers, with little regard for their chances of survival. Their value increases significantly once they reach buyers, especially in markets where keeping exotic pets is still permitted.

This demand is one of the greatest threats to the species at the moment. Other threats include habitat fragmentation, infrastructure development, climate change, and the arrival of invasive species. However, the trade in exotic pets provides a direct incentive to remove animals from the wild.

Although Mexico has strict legal protection measures, the trade in wild animals does not stop at the country's borders. The persistent demand for primates as pets works against these efforts, especially in countries where legislation regarding animal keeping is unclear.

In the United States, for example, the patchwork of state regulations ensures that primates may be legally kept in some areas, creating loopholes that smugglers exploit.

Therefore, IFAW advocates for the Captive Primate Safety Act , which would ban the private ownership of primates as pets at the federal level. By reducing demand and closing legal loopholes, this legislation would address one of the root causes of the trade and help prevent these types of situations from occurring.

International Fund of Animal Welfare   www.ifaw.org

In memory of Chanchai the 'Pink Elephant' ( videos )

https://action.wildlifesos.org/page/74446/action/1?ea.tracking.id=refusetoride

• Abhimanyu Sharma
• April 13, 2026

In recent days, a striking image has lingered across media platforms: Shot in Jaipur, it’s a disturbing picture of an elephant named Chanchal painted entirely in pink, with a model sitting on her back. At first glance, it appears whimsical. Almost surreal but look a little closer and you see an animal the size of a giant standing petrified like a prop. Viewers, including animal rights activists, expressed anger and questioned how exploitation of these gentle beings continues in the name of tourism and spectacle.

Then came another blow: The elephant’s owner said that approximately 70-year-old Chanchal had unfortunately died in February 2026 “due to old age”. This statement itself raised another bunch of red flags. Was this just another mask to cover-up for elephants like Chanchal who were constantly carrying the weight of tourists on their backs, which was slowly but surely wearing down their bodies? 

Placed side by side, the viral spectacle and the reporting of her death are difficult to separate. The photoshoot exposed the reality of elephants whose lives are shaped not by choice, but by constant abuse and mistreatment. For years, she remained part of the city’s tourism economy, walking long hours, carrying people on a saddle and existing within a system that rarely prioritised her wellbeing.

Elephant rides in cities like Jaipur are often framed as cultural experiences. The imagery is familiar and seemingly normal for most Indians and tourists alike: decorated elephants, heritage backdrops, and the promise of something “authentic”. However, none of that is natural for the elephant, no matter how historically accurate it may seem. 

At the centre of dominating elephants is phajaan, a ruthless process of traumatising them to such an extent that their spirits are broken. Young elephants are separated from their mothers, restrained, confined, and subjected to repeated torment until resistance becomes pointless. They are not trained, they are broken. They don’t learn obedience, they learn that the only way to survive is a quiet, fearful acceptance of a life where pain follows defiance, every single time. The ones that don’t submit eventually die from the torture. 

In this context, Chanchal’s viral images take on a different meaning. An elephant standing motionless while being painted may appear calm, but it is often displaying years of acquired helplessness. The physical toll of such a life is severe as well. Captive elephants in tourism hubs frequently suffer from chronic foot ailments due to prolonged standing on hard surfaces, joint degeneration from carrying excessive weight, and stress-related conditions that remain largely unaddressed.

Infographic (c) Wildlife SOS

Organisations such as Wildlife SOS have repeatedly highlighted these concerns through both advocacy and on-ground intervention. Our Refuse to Ride campaign calls on tourists to reconsider participation in elephant rides altogether, as exploitation does not survive in isolation. It survives through demand.

Perhaps a silver lining in this incident is that the public response suggests that perceptions are beginning to shift. The discomfort is no longer silent, and the outrage is becoming harder to ignore. Unfortunately, though, awareness alone is not enough.

Chanchal’s story leaves behind an urgent and uncomfortable question, not just about what happened to her, but about what we continue to allow.

Because every elephant ride taken, every photograph posed for, every moment of passive participation keeps phajaan alive.

Elephants are not props, nor are they passive participants in such interactions. They are individuals with complex physical and emotional needs, needs that are fundamentally 

If Chanchal’s story has moved us, then that discomfort must translate into action. It must lead us to refuse the ride, to walk away from the spectacle, and to recognise the cost behind these experiences.

Chanchal died after a lifetime of being abused and if countries like Indonesia, which share so much history and tradition with India, can choose to ban the practice of elephant rides in 2026, why can’t we?

Feature image: Julia Buruleva

Tiny, malnourished, and cramped into a plastic washing basket. That’s how two bear cubs 2 months old, were found, advertised for sale on Facebook

Short video of the little cubs

Two tiny moon bear cubs saved from illegal Facebook trade Tiny, malnourished, and cramped into a plastic washing basket. That’s how two moon bear cubs were found, advertised for sale on Facebook in Laos this Easter weekend. Our staff uncovered the post while searching online platforms to track and expose wildlife traders – a critical, undercover part of our work as illegal wildlife traders increasingly move from physical markets to online platforms in order to sell wildlife. The seller had posted videos of the cubs, two sisters, who looked to be just 2 months old and under 3 kilograms each. They were illegally taken from the wild, their mother likely killed in the process. Found in a plastic washing basket We worked alongside the Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Inspection of Oudomxay province and local police, to plan and carry out a coordinated operation to locate and secure the cubs immediately. Thankfully, the cubs were intercepted, the perpetrator was arrested, and the cubs are now receiving urgent care from the Free the Bears team. Their rescue comes just three weeks after the rescue of two other moon bear cubs, brothers Jose and Fitz, from an illegal wildlife market – placing greater pressure on our cub nursery. They will need: Feeding every few hours Milk formula and cub supplies Monitoring day and night Specialist veterinary care Dedicated bear carers These little cubs deserved so much better than to be stolen from their mother and traded online like commodities. We will do everything we can to give them a safe and stable home from hereon, but we need help. The rescue of these two sisters brings the number of bears in our care in Laos to a record 150 – the highest number yet. Across Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, we now care for 312 rescued bears total, placing increasing pressure on our resources as rescues continue. Please donate if you can. DONATE Short video See the bear cubs P.S. All donations for Australians are tax deductible & UK donors can Gift Aid their donations. If we can find many willing to give a little, many more bears can be rescued from a lifetime of suffering.

Copyright © 2026 Free the Bears, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website or have otherwise supported Free the Bears and expressed an interested to be kept updated. Our mailing address is: Free the Bears PO Box 1393 Osborne Park DC Stirling, Western Australia 6916 Australia Add us to your address book Free the Bears is a registered nonprofit charity in Australia (Charity No: A1004507U) & the UK (Charity number: 1135682)  Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

 

Jakarta Animal Aid Network intercepted a shipment of 24 Long-tailed Macaque babies destined for illegal pet trade ( 11 photos)

 

Rescue & Early Care

‍In 2021, JAAN's K9 Wildlife Detection program intercepted a shipment of Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) infants destined for the illegal pet trade. Over time, more rescues followed, eventually forming a group of 24 individuals in our care.

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Baby monkeys in illegal smuggling box

Raising infant macaques is demanding work. The team provided milk every four hours, from morning until night, to ensure each animal received adequate nutrition for healthy development. As the group grew, they were moved into larger enclosures fitted with natural climbing structures — tree trunks, branches — designed to reawaken their wild instincts for climbing, foraging, and socialising.

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Vetrinary care for baby monkeys

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Rehabilitation

‍Once in the larger enclosures, keepers monitored the group daily, watching for signs of conflict or poor adaptation. Any individual showing stress or aggression was temporarily separated and reintegrated gradually. The team sourced most food from their own garden, with a fruit-dominant diet supplemented by vegetables and foraged leaves on a rotating schedule — always fresh, always cleaned before feeding.

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Monkeys are reaching adulthood

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Site Selection

‍As the macaques reached adulthood, JAAN coordinated with Indonesia's Balai Konservasi Sumberdaya Alam (BKSDA) to identify a suitable release site. In January 2026, a joint team of biologists, keepers, BKSDA officers, and National Park officials conducted a field survey across three locations within Berbak and Sembilang National Parks in South Sumatra: Alanggantang Island, Bogem River, and Barong River.

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Alanggantang Island was selected based on its natural vegetation, adequate food and water sources, and minimal human activity — ideal conditions for a successful release.

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Advance Team & Habituation Enclosure

‍On February 10, 2026, an advance team was deployed to the island five days ahead of the main release. Over four days, they constructed a habituation enclosure from netting and natural materials, stocked with fruit, vegetables, and clean water to support the macaques during their initial adjustment to the new environment.

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Pre-release for adjusting to new environment and recovering from the long journey

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Transport

‍On February 14, the release team at the Sumatra Wildlife Center (SWC) carried out health examinations and transferred all 24 individuals into transport cages. The following morning, the team (accompanied by BKSDA and National Park representatives) began the journey from South Lampung: a 10-hour overland drive, followed by a 2.5-hour sea crossing by barge to Alanggantang Island. Animals were checked every three hours throughout, with rehydration solutions and multivitamins administered to manage stress. The barge maintained minimum speed to keep conditions as calm as possible.

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Release

‍Upon arrival, cages were carefully carried to the habituation enclosure and opened gradually to minimise disturbance. The team kept noise to a minimum and maintained distance while the macaques settled in. One individual managed to breach the netting during the process — a reminder that even well-prepared releases carry their uncertainties.

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Post-Release Monitoring

‍From February 16–22, 2026, a monitoring team conducted daily observations of the group's adaptation. Supplementary food was provided and reduced incrementally over four days to encourage independent foraging. The team recorded movement patterns, social interactions, feeding behaviour, and stress indicators throughout.

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By the end of the monitoring period, the group showed strong signs of successful adaptation: active exploration of the mangrove habitat, stable social dynamics, and growing reliance on natural food sources. Long-term monitoring will continue to confirm their sustained success in the wild.

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‘It’s not AI, it’s real’: shock as RSPCA releases images of 250 dogs found at property: dozens of dogs crammed into a living room space

 

Dozens of dogs were found crammed into single living room space at property in undisclosed location in UK

More than 250 dogs have been found at a property in scenes so shocking that the RSPCA was forced to deny allegations that the images were faked by artificial intelligence.

The animal welfare charity said it took in 87 dogs from the property at an undisclosed location in the UK and the remainder went to the Dogs Trust, another charity.

After the RSPCA posted images of the property online showing dozens of the animals crammed into a living room space, members of the public accused the charity of generating the photos with AI tools.

But the RSPCA said the images were real and it had seen a 70% rise in multi-animal incidents across England and Wales since 2021, referring to calls involving 10 or more animals.

The property owners told RSPCA inspectors they had lost control of the breeding of the poodle-cross dogs and the situation quickly “got out of hand”.

The property owners told RSPCA inspectors they lost control of the breeding of the poodle-cross dogs. Photograph: Brett Harkness/RSPCA

Jo Hirst, an RSPCA superintendent, said: “This shocking image is the reality of many multi-animal cases and the situation our frontline officers seem to be confronting more and more – with reports of cases involving 10, 20 and even 100 animals on the rise.

“We understand that people are so aghast they don’t believe what they are seeing. But this photo is not AI, it’s real. This is the staggering reality of what can happen when even well-meaning owners become overwhelmed – over-breeding can take over and conditions can spiral out of control.”

It is understood the owners in the case were considered “extremely vulnerable” by the charity, which decided not to prosecute them for any criminal offences.

The charity said cases of large numbers of animals being kept at one address could be linked to mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis, or breeders operating with poor practices. RSPCA experts say initially well-meaning individuals often see situations get out of hand.

Cocker spaniel Stevie, recovered in the rescue, is blind and deaf and needs to be rehomed. Photograph: RSPCA

Two of the dogs who were among the 250 found in the recent multi-animal rescue are Stevie and Sandy, both now looking for forever homes out of the RSPCA’s Southridge Animal Centre.

Last year, the charity responded to 4,200 incidents that involved at least 10 animals at the same address across England and Wales.

Jamie Grierson