Smuggling of endangered wildlife such as apes has long been a reality, yet authorities can never seem to prevent its illegal trade despite international legislation. Recently there has been media coverage regarding the illegal importation and smuggling of baby chimpanzees, which took me back forty years when I worked at…
On Saturday during the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Whitehall, London it was heartbreaking to witness yet again police horses being used and mistreated as political tools, this time by people attending. Horses quickly turn into authoritarian entities as people normally treat animals with kindness but suddenly turn violent in…
Hares are not protected by law Many people may be surprised to learn that the iconic hare, which is loved by many, is a pest animal and a wild game animal. It has no closed season and is therefore not protected under UK law. It is therefore not protected from poachers,…
The Portuguese celebrate their Storks Residents of the Algarve, Portugal can teach us a lot about how to live in harmony with nature. It is a delight to watch the Portuguese embrace the Stork as they arrive from their migration. Every year, they settle in their nests like the human tourists. The nests…
Animals or Toys? Recently, UK animal charity spoke out about an increasing trend of pet owners using pet claw covers as fashion statements – something many felt was unnecessary and harmful to their animals; others saw no harm done. Since then there has been less media coverage but images and…
Cats Are Footloose and Free Domestic cats enjoy special legal protection under most countries’ legislation that grants them the “right to roam”. In the U.K. this freedom means they do not have to be securely confined and may roam freely without fear or legal repercussions from their actions – no…
Most of us do not appreciate having what is known as their ‘personal space’ invaded, and can become quite angry when this occurs. When dealing with wild animal encounters we often assume they should tolerate our intrusion without protest or reprisals from them. Wild animals usually avoid our approach until…
Religion is not a friend to animals. Noah may have saved a number of animals on his ark but what else has theology done to protect their rights and welfare? The interpretations of religious creeds throughout history have firmly rooted our belief that animals are under our control and we can…
James Herriot, the legendary kindly Yorkshire vet known for coming to animals’ aid 24/7 and accepting only tea or homemade cake as payment, is long gone; even more troubling is the prospect that modern traditional independent veterinary practices in the UK may soon go away altogether. Large corporate franchise groups…
These gentle dolphins using ” classical defensive actions“, is proof of their stress and upset. Three serious injuries occurred in one week on Ningaloo Reef off the coast of Australia’s north-west. The incidents involved tourists who were swimming with whales during new organized tours. Flying Doctor had to fly a 27-year-old woman to Perth…