Fantastic video of a Sumatran orangutan finally using the canopy bridge to reach a new area of rainforest

https://www.orangutans-sos.org/

 

This is it. The moment we have been patiently waiting for since SOS and TaHuKah first began our canopy bridge project in West Toba over two years ago.

A young male Sumatran orangutan has used our canopy bridge to cross over the road and reach a new area of rainforest!

He confidently strolls across the bridge, pausing to take in the view. Then, with one final glance back at his home behind him, crosses over the road.

This is a world-first for Sumatran orangutans.

This truly is the best video you’ll see all day — all year maybe!

This landmark moment, recorded on a camera trap in the Pakpak Bharat district of North Sumatra, is a world-first for the species. While other primates, including gibbons, langurs, and macaques, have previously been observed using the canopy bridges to cross the public road, this event confirms that critically endangered Sumatran orangutans can and will use canopy bridges to overcome forest fragmentation.

Learn More: A Sumatran Orangutan Crosses the Road!

Whether you’re curious about the science behind our canopy bridges, or a journalist looking to report on this world-first conservation milestone, we invite you to explore the journey of our canopy bridges.

What are canopy bridges? How did TaHuKah choose where to put them? Can they hold the weight of multiple orangutans? Follow the timeline from the very first surveys to the incredible moment a wild orangutan made the first crossingHuKah worked with government partners (North Sumatra Conservation Agency and North Sumatra Provincial Environment and Forestry Service). Thank you to the Pakpak Bharat District Government.  Thank you to all of our wonderful donors, including Size of Wales, IUCN Asian Species Action Partnership, European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)  and DierenPark Amersfoort Wildlife Fund

Brooke Hospital for Animals inside a coal mine in Pakistan life is hard for the mineworkers and equines alike ( video ) donkeys work 10 hours without water, mortality rate is high

 

Please note: this video contains intense footage Despite the harshness of their world, your compassion gives donkeys something they rarely feel - hope. Because of you, we can reach them with care, relief, and dignity. Thank you, truly, for caring so deeply. Warm wishes, Jaz Jasvir Kaur International Director of Fundraising & Communications at Brooke Background Coal mines in Pakistan A coal mine usually operates with a mine owner, a manager, an electrician, a person in charge of organising labour called 'mat', equine owners, drivers and a watchman. The 'mat' is responsible for the provision of donkeys and for setting labour rates for the mine. Rates for carrying coal are fixed per ton and vary from mine to mine. Typical rates are 1100-1500PKR (approximately £6-£9) per ton, depending on quality and depth of mine - some mines go as deep as 8,000 feet. For the mine workers in Pakistan life is hard  A typical coal mine is around five foot by five foot wide at the entrance.  Inside, the roof and walls are supported with the help of wooden planks. Air is provided every 40 to 50 feet through tunnels dug into the rock. Some mines have a standby generator to provide electricity. Donkey owners work in teams of four - two dig the coal, one loads the coal on to a pack donkey and the fourth leads the donkey out of the mine and unloads. A small number of mines use a generator-powered trolley system known as 'haulage', but this is only effective in mines with a steep slope. Life in the coal mines Life is hard for mine workers and equines alike. Most owners live nearby in huts or abandoned mine sites. They work at the mines for six to 12 months, visiting their families just once or twice a year for festivals such as Eid. The mines are far away from towns and other amenities so it's difficult to buy routine items such as food and medicine. At such high altitudes, drinking water is scarce for both people and animals. The mine owner is responsible for providing drinking water for the workers which must be brought up from the city in tanks, usually three to four times a day. The working day lasts for eight to 10 hours and the donkeys usually work without drinking water. The donkey mortality rate is high - in each coal mine area, between four and seven donkeys perish in the summer, often from heat stress or suffocation in the intense heat of the mines. Winter can be even more difficult as donkeys suffer from heat injury and muscular cramps due to the extreme changes in temperature. Around five to 10 in each area do not survive the winter. The local environment in Choa Saidan Shah The area is 28 km from Kallar Kahar and 32km from Chakwal City. There are currently no rail or airport facilities in the district. Landline and mobile telephone networks are, however, available. There are approximately 8,610 equines in the Choa Saidan Shah and Dandot coal mine area, 97 percent of which are donkeys. There are few non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in Choa Saidan Shah, Plan International is working in a small number of nearby villages, and there are some mine welfare organisations in the area but these are for the welfare of mine workers only. There is no other NGO working for the welfare of equines. Services and healthcare There is no farrier in the area because owners have no knowledge of hoof care or farriery needs of their animals. There are around 12 packsaddle makers and dealers who trade in packsaddles, panniers and accessories. There are a number of government veterinary hospitals across Choa Saidan Shah. However, living and working in the hills means it's difficult for animal owners to reach these facilities. Similarly, government vets will rarely visit the coal mines due to their locations: coal mines are located uphill, and the steep roads are not easily accessible by 2x4 vehicles. Coal mine inspectors pay routine visits and ensure protocols for the safety of the workers are being observed. The coal mine association has strict rules and policies for visitors. Equine owners - knowledge, attitudes and practices In addition to the welfare assessment, a knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) survey was carried out with equine owners to measure existing knowledge of basic equine management practices. Five focus group discussions were held with groups of eight to 10 owners, as well as in-depth interviews with another 13. Grooming and hoof care Owners did not know about the need for grooming or foot cleaning. It was not seen as important as the animals could work without it. Hooves were only picked when an animal started to limp. Similarly, owners do not trim hooves on a regular basis, but will sometimes cut them with a hoe, pick or axe when too overgrown. Water awareness Most owners were not aware they should offer water at least three times a day; twice a day was considered to be enough. There is a limited supply of water, which is brought from the city daily. Power shortages mean that sometimes everyone has to rely on the previous day's reserves. Stable management The majority of owners did not know about the importance of a proper resting place or of clean and dry animal housing. They were not aware of the adverse effects that damp and dirty surroundings can have on their animal's health, and none had ever cleaned their animal's housing. Existing animal housings did not offer protection from the elements. Harness maintenance Packsaddles are often a rough combination of hessian or gunny bags, old clothes and rubber panniers. Most owners did not know about the benefits of getting their packsaddles repaired before they became unusable, and few knew how to maintain them. The majority of owners did not know to store them away from dirt and the elements. Heat stress management Owners did not know the signs of heat stress, nor how treat it, such as by cooling the animal with water. In fact, most believed that cooling heat-stressed animals will make them worse or cause a fever. In extreme cases, they might call a vet, or simply leave the animal alone until it recovers - or perishes. Wound management Wounds were not considered a problem, even if bleeding. Owners did not know they should wash them or apply antiseptic ointment. Some had been spraying wounds with an unknown medicine, available locally for around 150 to 200 PKR (approximately £1). Feeding The advantages of offering more than one type of feed, and of different feed ingredients, were not known. Owners were unaware they should clean the feed before giving it to their animal. They are currently feeding rice husk ('puk'), bought for 500 PKR (around £3) a bag which will feed five donkeys for a day. Owners are usally unable to afford higher quality feed such as wheat bran or grain, but some allow their animals to graze in the nearby mountains. Other observations Muzzle mutilation is a particular problem in the coal mines, as it is across Pakistan. The cruel and painful practice of slitting nostrils is believed by owners to help their donkeys breathe more easily. Owners' earnings depend on the quality of the coal, but because this is not known until it reaches the surface, they may overload their animals to deliver as much usable coal as possible. A supply of good quality coal means owners can afford to buy better quality feed and their donkeys are loaded with less weight. If the coal is not good, donkeys will carry heavier loads and will be given poor quality feed. Key findings Equine owners in the area lack knowledge and skills in basic equine healthcare and management. The working environment is extremely difficult but suffering can be reduced through better practices. There's a lack of access to vital equine welfare resources such as shelters, water, quality feed and grooming kits which is significantly affecting the health of working equines in the mines. Service providers are generally not available. Packsaddle makers and saddlers are available but not adequately trained. There are government vets in the area but they're out of reach of owners. Two senior vets, however, have received prior training from Brooke and are amenable to working with the team. No other working equine welfare organisations are operating in the area, so there is a good opportunity for Brooke to make a difference. How Brooke can help Strengthen local service providers by training and connecting them to equine owning communities in the coal mines. Develop a mechanism to monitor the performance of Brooke-trained local service providers and arrange follow-up visits to address any gaps in skills. Build the capacity of owners and users in basic equine management to address the welfare issues of each individual coal seam. Train community change agents and link them with coal mine communities. People working as 'mats' could be prospective change agents. Provide emergency veterinary care until service providers have been trained by Brooke and can offer services which at least reach Brooke's minimum standards. A demand must also be created for these quality services at reasonable rates. Raise awareness among coal mine communities of wider issues relating to working equines and help them to find a solution themselves - for example, a community savings fund, as they all share the same resources (they already have the option to contribute towards resources like shelters and water troughs) or a co-operative feed project, so they can buy quality grains at concessionary rates. Animal welfare assessment data A baseline assessment was carried out in three coal mines in Choa Saidan Shah. Key findings of the 63 donkeys assessed using the standardised equine-based assessment tool were: 10 percent had lesions on their hindquarters 19 percent had lesions on their breast or shoulder 33 percent had lesions on their withers or spine 49 percent were below body condition score 2* 19 percent had slit nostrils 14 percent suffered from eye problems 37 percent displayed minor tethering/hobbling wounds 79 percent display varying degrees of lameness * Numerical scale used to evaluate amount of fat on an equine's body. Equines scoring 2 or below are considered thin or very thin.

Let's stay connected

Together, we create a world in which working horses, donkeys and mules are free from suffering and have a life worth living.

Watch the 2025 Campaign Video: Sea Shephard Operation Antartica ...... stop the plunder and protect the Antartica before it's too late

62,013 views Premiered on May 21, 2025 #Antarctica

*This video is already available to our monthly donors at warriors.seashepherdglobal.org*

We returned to #Antarctica for the third time, not because we wanted to, but because we had to. This year, we go later in the season, through rougher weather and harsher conditions, because the world needs to see what's happening when the industry thinks no one is watching.

SaveKrill.com

With a scientist onboard, we documented what few have seen: more wildlife than ever before, and trawlers operating in dangerously close proximity. A few weeks ago, that closeness turned fatal. This final campaign video reveals what we've witnessed, what we've uncovered, and what must change to protect one of the last truly wild places on Earth. 💥Watch. Share. Act. Visit www.savekrill.com to help stop the plunder and protect Antarctica before it's too late. Learn more about our campaign here: https://seashe.ph/antarctica 🎥 Chris Roman, Robbie Newby / Sea Shepherd Sea Shepherd is an international, non-profit marine conservation organization that engages in direct action campaigns to defend wildlife, and preserve and protect the world's oceans from illegal exploitation and environmental destruction. Learn more about us: https://seashe.ph/ForTheOcean Support our efforts: https://seashe.ph/don

Our Sole Mission

Established in 1977, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is an international non-profit dedicated to ending the destruction of habitat and slaughter of wildlife in the world's oceans. We use innovative direct-action tactics to investigate, document, and confront illegal activities on the high seas, protecting ecosystems and species for future generations.

No compromise in defense of marine life.

‘Stappen naar een Dierwaardige Veehouderij’ officieel ondertekend: beste lezers het is een begin wat er voor moet zorgen dat de veehouderij in 2040 dierwaardig is

Samen versnellen naar een dierwaardigere veehouderij

Vandaag is het convenant ‘Stappen naar een Dierwaardige Veehouderij’ officieel ondertekend. Een belangrijke mijlpaal, want hiermee leggen wij samen met sectoren, overheid en markt- en ketenpartijen de basis voor een versnelde transitie naar een veehouderij waarin het welzijn van dieren centraal staat. Ook minister Wiersma van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur (LVVN) heeft haar handtekening onder het convenant gezet.

Na intensieve en langdurige onderhandelingen is de Dierenbescherming met de varkens- en pluimveesector, en de jonge boeren van het Nederlands Agrarisch Jongeren Kontakt (NAJK), tot belangrijke afspraken gekomen waarmee dieren een aantoonbaar beter leven gaan krijgen. Eerder al was met de melkveesector en het NAJK overeenstemming bereikt over een ‘Routekaart naar een dierwaardiger en toekomstbestendige melkveehouderij’. Deze plannen, zijn net als het Koploperplan van Caring Farmers, opgenomen in het convenant.

Concrete stappen naar verbetering

De afspraken die gemaakt zijn, zijn essentieel en maken uiteindelijk het leven van miljoenen dieren ingrijpend beter. Een aantal voorbeelden per sector zijn:

• Varkenshouderij: een einde aan het couperen van varkensstaarten, invoeren van vrijloopkraamhokken en het inrichten van varkenshokken met functiegebieden zoals een varkenstoilet. Zodat de stallucht gezonder wordt en de rest van het hok beter door het varken kan worden gebruikt.

• Pluimveehouderij: minder dieren per vierkante meter, inrichting van stallen die beter aansluit bij de behoeften van de dieren (functiegebieden) en een einde aan kooihuisvesting.

• Melkveehouderij: het stimuleren van vrijloopstallen, meer weidegang, experimenteren met het houden van het kalf bij de koe en stoppen met onthoornen.

Zie onze dossierpagina voor de volledige plannen

Naar de dossierpagina

Geen volledig dierwaardige veehouderij, wel belangrijke stappen naar

De ondertekening van het convenant door Ellen Bien, directeur van de Dierenbescherming

“Het convenant leidt nog niet tot een volledig dierwaardige veehouderij zoals beschreven in ons Deltaplan Veehouderij.” aldus Ellen Bien directeur van de Dierenbescherming. “Wel bevat het belangrijke, concrete stappen, waar het dierenwelzijn significant door zal verbeteren. De Dierenbescherming staat klaar om met veehouders, verwerkers, retailers, foodservice en overheid aan de slag te gaan om de plannen uit te voeren. Daarbij zullen in de komende jaren de nodige barrières en onvoorziene gebeurtenissen overwonnen moeten worden. Maar door daar flexibel op in te spelen en vast te houden aan de doelen, wordt de veehouderij stap voor stap steeds dierwaardiger.”

Minister Wiersma tekent het convenant ‘Stappen naar een Dierwaardige Veehouderij’

Minister Wiersma van van Landbouw, Visserij, Voedselzekerheid en Natuur (LVVN): "Het is een ontzettend intensief traject geweest. Ik kan de verantwoordelijkheid niet verder voor me uitschuiven door de bal weer verder vooruit te schoppen. Sectoren steken hun nek uit om hier te komen, maar ook de organisaties die voor dierenwelzijn opkomen zoals de Dierenbescherming en Caring Farmers. Het zijn toch twee uitersten die hier samen zijn gekomen.”

Volgende fase en vervolgafspraken

Om de ambities uit het convenant waar te maken, willen wij samen met de betrokken partijen snel aan de slag in zogeheten werkplaatsen per sector. In deze samenwerkingsverbanden wordt onder andere onderzoek gedaan naar best practices die vervolgens snel uitgerold kunnen worden. Ook is het nodig dat over fokkerij, transport en slacht afspraken worden gemaakt, en voor de andere diersectoren. Het convenant laat ruimte om hier in de toekomst naar te kijken en als Dierenbescherming vinden we het belangrijk dat dit daadwerkelijk gebeurt.

Autoriteit Dierwaardige Veehouderij

Stappen voor dierenwelzijn blijken in de praktijk niet makkelijk. Het is belangrijk om inzicht te hebben in de voortgang van de convenantafspraken. Daarom komt er een onafhankelijke Autoriteit Dierwaardige Veehouderij, die meet, monitort en rapporteert of de gezamenlijke doelen die convenantspartijen zich hebben gesteld ook daadwerkelijk worden gerealiseerd. De autoriteit moet ieder van de convenantspartijen aanspreken om binnen hun vermogen de noodzakelijke stappen te nemen om een dierwaardige veehouderij in Nederland te realiseren.

Nieuwe wetgeving

Lees ook: Een aantal goede stappen, maar belangrijke zaken ontbreken nog

Naast het convenant start vandaag ook de consultatie van nieuw voorgestelde wetgeving voor een dierwaardige veehouderij. Dit is de invulling van een vorig jaar aangenomen amendement op de Wet Dieren, wat ervoor had moeten zorgen dat de veehouderij in 2040 dierwaardig is. Dat is met de nu voorgestelde wetgeving helaas nog niet het geval. Op sommige punten is er overlap tussen de wetgeving en het convenant, maar in het convenant wordt juist ook gefocust op wat er bovenwettelijk gedaan kan worden om dierenwelzijn te verbeteren.