The RSPCA have slammed the Australian government’s annual kangaroo culling as a ‘killing frenzy’.

The government have increased the numbers allowed to be shot by commercial hunters from 5million every year to 7million.  The Farmers’ Association of New South Wales claim a leap from 8million to over 13million in the past 12 months justify the extra Kangaroo culling. The Association also blame the overpopulation causing damage to fences, crops, and depletion of the Outback’s water supply. But with the meat Kangaroo goods now becoming a multimillion dollar industry, animal rights groups see this as an excuse for commercial gain.

It’s not just animal rights groups who disagree with the cull either. 8 Aboriginal elders scaled the fences of the former naval communications post in Canberra where a cull was taking place. Once inside the elders held a smoking ceremony, to ‘claim back their land’. Local Aborigines have been closely involved in the protest against the cull for several weeks.

Ngunnawal tribe spokeswoman Isobel Coe told police -

“If you are going to treat us like trespassers you will have to arrest us and take us to jail. We are claiming our land and that’s what our sacred fire means.”

It is now possible to help fund the work of the RSPCA by using their charity credit card. MBNA will pledge £20 to the RSPCA for each card issued, with a further 25p being donated for every £100 spent.

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Animal charities have now officially listed the Tasmanian Devil on the Endangered Species List. Experts predict that the carnivorous marsupial could be extinct within the next 20 years.

Nearly 64% of all the Tasmanian Devil population have been infected by a deadly facial tumour. The disease itself is spread to each creature through biting, leaving the animal unable to eat, and inevitably leading to organ failure.

Recent research suggests that some devils may have a genetic resistance to the disease. Experts are currently observing a Devil who is showing the first signs of being immune, whilst 47 of the species have been shipped to mainland Australia to help preserve the genetic diversity from total extinction.

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Over 75% of the world’s 500million dog population are strays, a problem the WSPA are fighting to eradicate. With the lack of animal medical care in third world countries, most stray dogs can expect to contract fatal diseases through tumours and rabies. The WSPA are looking to develop sustainable dog population management throughout poverty stricken countries, whilst also funding mobile veterinary services.

The WSPA run recreational and school based workshops worldwide to help educate children and pet owners on the responsible treatment of animals, while also providing medical services for all animals, stray or cared for. The work is a never ending cycle, as one animal is vaccinated, another is put down, but the tireless efforts of the WSPA will continue to fight what to most would look like a lost cause.

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Recent reports from the WSPA prove conclusively that bear farming is still an ongoing trade in China. The bears are generally locked in a cage no bigger than a telephone box, then have daily incisions into their abdomen to remove the bile from the gall bladder. The bile is then used in medicines as a treatment for chronic stomach disease and other related ailments, particularly gall stones.

Even though it has been medically proven that there are far more practical alternatives to bear bile, there are still approximately 13,000 bears currently being farmed in Asia. Over the last 2 years the WSPA have managed to secure verbal agreements with both Vietnam and Korea to phase out bear farming, and hope that China will follow suit.

The WSPA are currently in direct discussion with high ranking officials in the Chinese government and lobbying companies to halt this unnecessary practice. Whilst mobilising support within the Chinese communities of the United States, the UK and Australia, the WSPA will demonstrate to China that practical alternatives to bear bile exist.

With the bile extraction procedure being extremely painful and traumatizing for the bear, the sooner this cruel ‘farming’ is halted the better. With Vietnam and Korea leading the way, surely China must realise that this barbaric method of cruelty done for the sake of producing medicinal goods should be consigned to the history books.

> > click here to make a donation to the WSPA

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The WSPA are fighting hard to stop the dreadful sport of bear baiting, which is still being performed in countries such as Pakistan. The WSPA managed to halt an event in February, saving the lives of two bears, who would almost certainly have been murdered by dogs for the pleasure of a baying crowd.

The WSPA’s first attempt to confiscate the bears was met with fierce resistance from the event organiser, who makes a lucrative wage from staging such events. In reaction to the objection, an appeal was made to the bear owners personally, explaining that they could help them find an alternative livelihood away from this barbaric sport. Thankfully, the owners recanted, and allowed the bears to be taken into the care of the WSPA.

Working alongside the Punjab Wildlife Committee (PBRC), the WSPA have helped dramatically reduce the number of bear baiting events, through working with the Pakistani government to push for the prosecution of illegal bear owners and calling for greater action against bear cub poachers. Also, by creating the Kund Park Sanctuary, the WSPA have created a home and a possilbe future for confiscated bears who would struggle to re-adapt to life in the wild.

> > click here to make a donation to the WSPA

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We received a letter of thanks from the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) for us promoting their extremely worthwhile  charitable cause through the site - and more importantly they sent us an update on how the money you have donated has helped their animal charity work.

WSPA 2007 Progress Update

A first for the whaling campaign
Earlier in 2007, following pressure from WSPA, Tony Blair became the first head of state ever to make a statement on the cruelty of whaling at the International Whaling Commission.

WSPA score victory against poor zoo conditions
As a result of campaigning by WSPA and other member societies the Canadian government has committed to strengthening zoo regulations, improving inspection programs and toughening Ontario’s animal cruelty law, which hasn’t been significantly revised in 88 years.

Bear baiting in Pakistan
The WSPA have employed teams to work with the Pakistani authorities and their member society, the Wildlife Society of Pakistan, to seek out and stop bear baiting activities in Sindh and Punjab provinces. They have stopped 112 out of 153 bear baiting events in 2007. They have also persuaded 235 out of 243 landlords to stop holding bear baiting events at their fairs and festivals. As an alternative attraction they have created a mobile unit designed to entertain local people and spread the word against bear baiting.

Progress in the call to ban bullfighting
It has been an active year in the anti-bullfighting campaign: WSPA and seven member societies attended an International Anti-Bullfighting Summit in Portugal, and many of WSPA’s member societies took part in a hugely successful anti-bullfighting demonstration in Barcelona in summer, which attracted over 5,000 supporters.

The WSPA have great plans for 2008, and will be focusing heavily on Long-distance transport and factory farming, both of which involve animal cruelty on a huge scale. Factory farming is simply the biggest single source of cruelty to animals in the world. Every year 61 billion farm animals are reared for meat, eggs and milk.

Plans for 2008

New campaign for 2008: Long distance transport
WSPA has completed an 18-month scientific investigation into the suffering of farm animals being transported long distances. This will be published by an academic publisher in May and forms the basis for the international Long Distance Transport campaign launching internationally in February 2008.

Exporting good ideas: model farms come to Brazil and China
We have started to train China’s first ever team of welfare experts to improve conditions in slaughterhouses, and we have signed agreements with academics and other partners in China and Brazil who will work with WSPA to promote humane and sustainable model farming alternatives.

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