“This is just disgusting & so very cruel! Using animals for entertainment should be banned all over the world; seeing this just breaks my heart. Please watch the videos below; then sign the petition!”
Updated: 14 February 2014
An investigation by ADI into a Korean “attraction” that forces monkeys to perform in degrading shows has revealed shocking conditions behind the scenes.
At the Monkey School, which is located in Gamgyori in South Korea, ADI found:
Monkeys kept in squalid and barren conditions, including mothers and their young babies
Traumatized animals exhibiting abnormal behaviour, such as constantly spinning around and biting themselves
Some monkeys isolated in tiny cages, others crammed together
Animals hit during training and dragged along the floor
Disgraceful contempt for a monkey as it tries to escape with its hands tied behind its back, falling onto its face, as workers laugh at its predicament and terror
These disturbing findings highlight a life of extreme neglect and cruelty for these intelligent and sensitive animals – an all too common occurrence for performing animals which ADI has revealed time and again, suffer terribly behind the scenes.
On seeing the footage, Sharon Shaw, Director of Lakeview Monkey Sanctuary in the UK said: “All aspects of life for primates at Monkey School are appalling, from the inadequate and atrocious housing conditions, the physical and psychological torture, to the lack of empathy and respect shown by the staff. The poor animals who are unlucky enough to live there endure a barbaric, unnatural life.”
During the public shows, monkeys are made to wear clothes, ride around on a motorbike, do handstands, jump through hoops and respond to commands as directed.
It is shameful that these intelligent, social and emotional primates are terrorized and forced to undertake such degrading tricks – especially in light of modern understanding of primates and their use of tools, language and self-awareness – abilities which, at one time, were considered to be unique to humans. This also sends the worst possible message to children about respect for the other intelligent species that share our planet and how we should treat, and protect, animals.
The terrible suffering of the animals at Monkey School – and establishments like them – must stop.
ADI is working with our campaign partner Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA) to encourage the Government and people of Korea to reject the cruel and unnecessary use of animals in entertainment.
We are supporting new legislation, the ‘Zoo Act’, proposed by Congresswoman Chang which, if passed, would ban animal performances and set minimum welfare standards and inspections for places that exhibit captive animals.
Highlighting the need for the legislation, Congresswoman Hanna Chang: “As seen in the ADI footage, it is hard to imagine the pain that monkeys have to go through for humans every day. This clearly shows that it is now time to have regulations to monitor the welfare of animals in captivity in Korea.”
Congresswoman Chang’s proposal has strong support from animal protection organizations. ADI and KARA have joined over 80 national and international groups in sending ajoint letter to the Governmentstating support for the draft law.
It is time to end the exploitation of, and brutality towards, animals used for entertainment.
Help us campaign to end animal shows in Korea, and around the world.
Take action!
Sign our petition calling on the Environmental Committee of the Korean Government to support the Zoo Act
Make a donation to help fund our investigations and campaigns to help animals in entertainment around the world (make a £ donation here)
How do you get a monkey to walk like us?
What you don’t see when you visit an animal show. This little monkey is abused and derided during a training session to teach him to walk like a human.
How do you get a monkey to walk like us?
An investigation by ADI into the Korean Monkey School – which forces monkeys to perform in degrading shows – revealed shocking conditions behind the scenes and cruelty to the animals during training. This video shows the suffering you don’t see when you visit an animal show.
That’s entertainment
The hidden cruelty that performing animals are subjected to. To provide a show for the public, these monkeys are subjected to a life of extreme neglect and cruelty.
Harmless fun? You decide.
It may look like fun to the audience, but monkeys are exposed to shocking conditions behind the scenes and terrible abuse during training.
Most animal charities & the public want to see a ban worldwide of wild animals being used in circuses. Now the owner of this circus is circulating his own petition to keep his Malta circus open. So please if you don’t agree with animals performing degrading tricks, kept behind bars & of course the cruelty that has been documented in circuses: PLEASE SIGN THE PETITIONS BELOW. We can’t let this circus continue, if it does through its petition, the flood gates for circuses using wild animals may open again; that would be tragic after all the hard work has been done to stop them!!
Circus promoter says 2013 could be last year for animal circuses in Malta due to the proposed ban.
But circus promoter Silvio Zammit has collected 5,000 signatures as part of a petition to overturn a proposal to ban animal circuses.
The circus has now moved to Ghajnsielem, Gozo, where Zammit hopes to continue collecting more signatures. The petition will then be passed on to the competent authorities.
Zammit, who has been bringing circuses to Malta for the past 16 years, said he could not allow the banning of animal circuses from Malta without taking any action.
“It was a personal initiative after finding out that the government had moved on to publish a White Paper proposing to ban animal circuses,” he said.
See all the animals, such as, Long horn cattle, Donkeys, Lama, Camels, Lions, Tigers, Zebra, Elephant, Giraffe, Baboon, Horses, Ponies, Donkeys performing pitiful & degrading acts; acts they would never do in the wild. The animal acts stop at 12 mins; then the human artists perform!I believe the only thing not seen is the Hippo; but is in a video below!!
He argued that only 390 persons took part in the consultation process initiated by the government, of which 49% said they were against such a circus.
“We know that the majority of these were NGOs, and NGOs do not reflect popular opinion. I am doing this petition on my own. I know that there are many others who would like to sign it, but I have neither the time nor the manpower to go on a nation-wide petition,” Zammit said.
He said he was “very happy” with the number of signatures collected: “This shows that the Maltese do love the circus. They won’t flood the streets of Valletta with placards to support the circus.”
He also said that a number of MPs from both sides of the House visited Circo Orfei this winter.“Some came with their children while others accompanied their grandchildren. They thanked me for the level of the show and all said they had fun,” Zammit said.
He however refused to name them.
The debate as to whether Malta should ban animal circuses for good has been going on for a number of years, with animal rights NGOs insisting that circuses solely operate to maximise profits while completely disregarding the safety of the animals and the adverse effects they may impose.
Animal Rights Coalition said veterinarians only attend to the animal’s physical needs and as a result, the psychological issues brought about by the circuses are not being addressed.
With a number of countries moving to ban animal circuses for good, Zammit said in Italy alone there were 800 circuses. He said the UK was one of the countries which will stop animal circuses as from next year. “But this was the result of many circuses caught mistreating their animals,” he said, adding that the circus he brought to Malta did not see animals performing any tricks and only a minimal part of the show was dedicated to animals.
Zammit argued that the circus animals were born in captivity “and therefore they do not know otherwise. Their trainers threat them like their pets”.
He said Animal Welfare Department officials and veterinarians made regular checks to verify that the animals were well-kept.
Circo Orfei’s travelling team is made up of 60 people, whose living depends on the shows, Zammit said.
“This is their life. They are a community who live on the road and have been doing so for years on end. This is how they earn a living… their bread and butter,” he said.
The Animal Rights Coalition has also called for a full ban on dolphinaria and aquaria. The coalition has said it was unjust to deny dolphins the right to roam free in their natural habitat and called for the ban on dolphinariums as these restrict the creatures to a mere pool.
The Coalition also said that this should extend to aquaria as in this case, animals are likewise being “confined to cages and restricted from roaming in their natural habitat”.
But Zammit feels that two weights and two measures were being applied when talking about animal circuses and aquaria.
He also said that circuses gave people the opportunity to see animals which would otherwise require them to travel abroad to zoos or safaris.
He insisted that a proper discussion was required and said he agreed that animals like elephants, pandas and monkeys should be banned. “What we have in our circus are horses, ponies, donkeys and tigers,” he said, adding that tigers in captivity lived for an average of 25 years while those in the wild lived for 12 years.
Circo Orfei also has a hippo and an emu as part of their travelling repertoire.
Published on 7 Jan 2013 – This video shows the hippo in the ring, but its towards the end of the video, after the trapeze act! What the hell is a hippo doing in a circus? Bloody outrageous!! Search CircoOrfei on You Tube to see all the animals when not entertaining :-http://youtu.be/GEMx3YVIRmg
Published on 6 Sep 2013 – This is about the lions & tigers in the outside enclosure plus RARE WHITE LIONS & TIGERS?? Are they interbreeding??:-http://youtu.be/K40RjOFsX4c
“OMG…what a life…the poor animals, they all look like they have lost the will to live; having seen their habitats, I’m not surprised. Watch the following videos, does this look like a polar bear in good condition, or a bear that wished his life away to end the loneliness & torment of being held captive?? People actually pay to see a polar bear going crazy…WTF…how is this allowed to happen??? People pay to see animals suffering; don’t they see it is wrong?? Please sign all the petitions below to try & end the miserable lives of all the inhabitants of this appalling zoo!
Polar Bear Bedroom Arturo November 2013
Published on November 24, 2013
Visit Arthur’s bedroom Polar Bear November 24, 2013 Mr. Norberto Filippo shows where we rest and cool looking animal in summer -. ecological STATES
“This poor polar bear just goes back & forth, he doesn’t even resemble a polar bear, he looks like a brown bear! Just look at his pool, would you want to swim in that?? This bear is in solitary confinement; literally going stir crazy…I feel so bad for this poor bear; I would gladly put a bullet in him to stop his suffering!
Arturo Zoocosis polar bear in JULY
Published on July 18, 2013
POLAR BEAR ARTURO in Mendoza Zoo, in the month of July 2013 In this video we see him with his long zoocosis of that terrible loneliness that afflicts us -. Walk from one side to another, always in the same place and that grievance and complaint grin on his face that hurts our souls -. their cage We watched from above and do not understand much abuse towards an animal that should be walking on ice and surrounded by sea -. CONTINUE IN THE STRUGGLE FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY LIFE ecological STATES
Mendoza Zoo: captivity is inseparable from suffering…it’s fxxxxxg appalling:–
Speciesism Zero documents the horror Mendoza Zoo
Published on 20 Mar 2013
The stark reality of zoos. March 2013 -. Images taken at the zoo in Mendoza, Argentina on 18 June 1903 are the first animals brought. From that time many other animals were taken there to be exhibited and used for commercial gain and environmentalists as if their lives do not import them or belonged to them. Zoos, contrary to what many people think, are centers where animals suffer and suffer all kinds of hardships. The animals in zoos are caged for life by depriving them of the opportunity to develop their interests and needs. A Zero activist Speciesism imaged stress, anxiety, sadness and suffering zoocosis animals. The unfair reality of Arthur around more visible than other captive animals in the zoo, as the last polar bear Argentina. He presents a clear case of zoocosis. His life was all I had, the least that we should not take.* The zoocóticos animals have suffered mental damage due to captivity, showing obsessive, repetitive behaviors and abnormal.If an animal has no control over his life, not being able to exercise or stimulate your mind begins to develop a series of repetitive or stereotyped ¨ ¨ behaviors. The zoocosis may also include self-mutilating behaviors. * The zoocosis was detected not only in captive animals in zoos, but also in animals used on farms, circuses, animal testing laboratories and other operating centers. If you care about animals, not go to the zoo. financies not slavery of animals. More info:http://especismocero.org/entretenimie … [PHOTOS] Research:http://www.facebook.com/media/set/? is …
Videos showing the appalling conditions these animals live in!
BACKGROUND: (UPDATE: 20 DECEMBER-2013)
◕Activists struggle to get elderly polar bear out of the Argentinaheat..!
Arturo is a 28-year-old polar bear who lives in a zoo in Mendoza, Argentina. Activists have been campaigning to get him out of Mendoza for months, saying the scorching hot weather is taking a toll on him. A zoo in Canada has even offered to adopt him, but local authorities have swayed back and forth on whether to let him go.
◕According to his keepers, Arturo was born in captivity in the United States. He has spent two decades in Mendoza’s zoo, where he is the only polar bear. Local activists have published multiple videos showing his living conditions online, and petitioned the zoo to let him go to Canada – but despite their continuing efforts, it seems he may not be leaving his pen anytime soon.
◕In the wild, polar bears live an average of 15 to 18 years. However, in captivity, they can live well into their 30s; one bear in a Canadian zoo lived to be 42.
✦✦READ THIS REPORT:From Maria Fernanda Arentsen is originally from Mendoza, Argentina. She works as a university professor in Winnipeg, Canada.
“There is no way for him to escape the heat, which can rise to more than 40 degrees Celsius in Mendoza”
◕◕I first heard of Arturo’s plight through friends of mine in Mendoza who are part of environmental groups there. It was clear from their reports and from videos they filmed of Arturo that he was suffering from the terrible heat in Mendoza, which is not suitable for an animal meant to live in much colder temperatures. We became especially worried about his situation after another polar bear kept in a zoo in Buenos Aires died from the effects of the heat there last year. And that bear lived in much better conditions, in an enclosure with a deep pool and big blocks of ice
.◕As you can see in the videos,(**see below) Arturo lives in a concrete enclosure with only a shallow pool. There is no way for him to escape the heat, which can rise to more than 40 degrees Celsius during the summer months in Mendoza. [The polar bear in Buenos Aires, who was 16 years old, died on a day with a high of 36.7 degrees]. He has been filmed rocking back and forth in a way that animal experts say signals distress. It breaks my heart to see this.◕◕Since I live in an area that is much more suitable for polar bears, I contacted a polar bear conservatory here, which offered to send their experts to evaluate Arturo’s condition and, if he was found fit to travel, take him back to their centre to live out the rest of his life, at no cost to the Mendoza zoo.◕At first, Mendoza zoo officials refused, but then changed their minds and invited the conservatory’s experts to come see Arturo in November. However, just days before the scheduled trip – when the Canadian experts had already booked their tickets, packed all their equipment, etc – the invitation was retracted. [Editor’s Note: The province’s environment minister commented on this decision in a local radio interview by saying that the Canadians were “like pirates” who wanted to steal their bear, and alleged that the trip would kill him.] We were all very disappointed by their decision.
“It seems to me that the zoo is putting its pride ahead of Arturo’s well-being”◕It seems to me that the Mendoza authorities are putting their pride ahead of Arturo’s well-being – and may not want to lose an attraction that brings revenue to the zoo.◕◕Activists in Mendoza are not giving up the fight, however; they have collected more than 60,000 signatures and presented the petition to the local governor. My fingers are crossed, though I worry that nothing will change as long as the local authorities are in office.✦✦FRANCE 24 contacted Don Peterkin, the director of Winnipeg’s Assinoibe Park Conservancy. He replied with the following statement: “We have left our offer to accept Arturo open but have not had any recent communications with officials in Mendoza. As Arturo is ultimately their responsibility, we have to leave the next step, if any, to their discretion.”
✦✦VIDEOS:PLEASE WATCH THESE 2 VIDEOS OF THE CONDITIONS OF ARTURO THE POLAR BEAR IN MENDOZA ZOO
◕VIDEO:1 Published on Mar 26, 2013
Sadly we can observe the behavior and suffering from a life behind bars, “Arthur” is the last polar bear Argentine zoos, and hopefully so is to not have more of their kind to suffer captivity like.No species should be behind bars..
►http://youtu.be/A_HeschSqss
◕VIDEO:2 Mendoza Zoo, exhibition ‘POLAR BEAR’
repeated movements, permanent complaint, the closure put him insane?
►http://youtu.be/X_X-tZPT6Ys
✦✦Watch as these 2 videos of Arturo the Polar Bear IN WINTER:loneliness…!!
▬►http://youtu.be/_93JILqnQOM
▬►http://youtu.be/K7RhUGhnadg
—————————-
✦✦MENDOZA ZOO IS ALREADY KNOWN FOR THE VERY MISERABLE CONDITIONS OF THE ANIMALS..
This video, filmed by activists, shows several different animals in their pens at Mendoza zoo, including Arturo.
Published on Mar 20, 2013
The stark reality of the zoo..
March 2013 -. Images taken at the zoo in Mendoza, Argentina on 18 June 1903 are the first animals brought. From that time many other animals were taken there to be exhibited and used for commercial gain and environmentalists as if their lives do not import them or belonged to them. Zoos, contrary to what many people think, are centers where animals suffer and suffer all kinds of hardships.
The animals in zoos are caged for life by depriving them of the opportunity to develop their interests and needs. A Zero activist Speciesism imaged stress, anxiety, sadness and suffering zoochosis animals. The unfair reality of Arthur around more visible than other captive animals in the zoo, as the last polar bear Argentina. He presents a clear case of zoochosis. His life was all I had, the least that we should not take. * The zoocóticos animals have suffered mental damage due to captivity, showing obsessive, repetitive behaviors and abnormal.
If an animal has no control over his life, not being able to exercise or stimulate your mind begins to develop a series of repetitive or stereotyped ¨ ¨ behaviours. The zoochosis may also include self-mutilating behaviors. * The zoochosis was detected not only in captive animals in zoos, but also in animals used on farms, circuses, animal testing laboratories and other operating centers. If you care about animals, not go to the zoo. financies not slavery of animals
“The problem is with the press,” Nabil Sedki said on a recent afternoon, taking a deep drag on his cigarette as he settled into a giraffe-patterned armchair in his office. He was five days into the job. “The media fabricated the suicide.”
From ‘Occupy for Animals’ Please sign the petition below
The giraffe in question was a 3-year-old named Roqa, who, Sedki said, inadvertently hanged herself earlier this month after getting tangled in a wire inside her enclosure.
The state has launched three investigations — one purely forensic, another by the government’s official veterinary body and a third by a legal committee — “to see who will hang instead of the giraffe,” Sedki said with a wry laugh.
Zoos are prone to bad publicity, especially when something goes wrong. The government-run Giza Zoo, in the heart of Egypt’s chaotic capital, may be particularly susceptible, given the country’s floundering economy, the tumult of nearby political demonstrations and an overall poor track record in animal care.
In May, three black bears died in a single night under mysterious circumstances. Zoo authorities called it a bear “riot.” In 2007 and in 2008, local media reported that zoo-keepers were slaughtering the park’s camels for meat — to eat themselves, and to sell to other hungry Egyptians.
And this month, the independentAl-Masry Al-Youm newspaper reported that Roqa had committed suicide. The article went viral. (The same newspaper reported in August that the giraffes and other large animals at the zoo were so troubled by Egypt’s ongoing political unrest — especially the chants of protesters from the Muslim Brotherhood in a nearby public square — that they had been mulling suicide for a while.)
Petition by Occupy for Animals Luxembourg, Luxembourg
“Is there anyone who actually believes that this giraffe committed suicide?” Sedki asked. As he spoke, a fresh, stinging cloud of tear gas wafted in through an open doorway, and the thudding blasts of tear-gas cannons could be heard from the latest clashes between student protesters and police at neighbouring Cairo University.
The campus is just northwest of the 122-year-old zoo, the biggest and oldest of Egypt’s seven zoological parks. On its north flank, just outside the zoo’s main gate, is Nahda Square, which served as a permanent protest encampment for supporters of ousted Egyptian presidentMohamed Morsifor more than a month in the summer. Police used bullets and tear gas todisperse the protesters in August, killing scores of people.
When police fire tear gas at protesters, the irritating vapors inevitably make their way toward the animal enclosures, compelling zookeepers to wrap their faces in scarves on the worst of days. It has gotten to the animals, too, Sedki said.
“The sounds of the bullets and the tear gas affect the animals,” Sedki said. Some of the large animals, such as lions and hippos, have displayed “restlessness and tension,” he said.
Sedki said zoo authorities had moved some of the animals to different enclosures but found that they had few good options, given that all 80 acres of the zoo are bordered by roaring traffic and gritty urban sprawl.
For that same reason, Egyptians see the zoo as a rare — if dilapidated and underfunded — oasis of green. It costs about 70 cents (5 Egyptian pounds) to enter. Families bring picnics and set up camp for the entire day on the grassy medians. Couples stroll hand in hand, and bands of giggling teenagers roam.
“I know that in the West, going to the zoo is like going to a museum — you go to get knowledge,” Sedki said. “But here, they come to visit a garden, not a zoo.”
Animal rights activists — themselves a rare breed in Egypt — have long been concerned about conditions at Giza, which echo the nation’s widespread poverty and bureaucratic failings after decades of authoritarianism and turmoil.
“This is not a zoo,” said Mona Khalil, a founder of the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals, which runs two shelters and provides free veterinary care to poor farmers on Cairo’s outskirts. “This is hell for animals.”
Many of the zoo’s employees earn less than $60 a month, activists say, and have little experience or training and even less incentive to protect the animals they care for. Instead, the employees follow visitors over the zoo’s muddy and potholed paths, offering scattered “facts” about the animals’ daily lives or an opportunity to get closer to them — in the hope that it will yield tips.
On a recent afternoon, some keepers touted the chance to hold a lion cub — or, if the visitor would prefer it, a monkey or a baby crocodile — for the equivalent of about $3.60.
Adult lions, cramped in iron-barred cages that resembled the circus pens of an earlier era, crunched on animal carcasses, as visitors used their cellphones to take pictures. Hippos and pelicans drifted through murky water. And a sickly black bear watched as a pair of stray cats hunched over its food dish.
“Anyone want a picture with a baby lion? Anyone want a picture with a baby lion?” an employee droned as he stood next to a row of cages, a camera around his neck.
Another zoo-keeper gestured toward a rhinoceros that was nosing around in the shade of some trees. “Her husband died six months ago,” the keeper said in a cheerful, casual tone. “She killed him with her horn.” Without further explanation, the keeper quickly walked away.
No one in the zoo’s administrative office was quite sure how many animals are kept on the premises. Staff members searched through files in the high-ceilinged administrative headquarters — a building full of binders, and apparently devoid of computers — but were able to find figures only from 2009: 78 species of mammals, 82 species of birds and 26 species of reptiles — for a total of 4,631 individual animals. Of those, about “forty-something” are lions, Sedki said.
Chained elephant – Giza Zoo – August 2012
Published on 24 Aug 2012 – Investigation conducted by Hatem Moushir, 3 August 2012 – in Giza Zoo
In 2010, the zoo began to separate most of its forty-something lions by sex — an effort to stem the sky-rocketing population. Meat is pricey, and space is limited.
To cope, many of the big cats are packed two per cage. They eat mostly donkey carcasses, zoo-keepers said, and they “fast” one day a week.
Black in the Giza Zoo 09/21/2012 – Living conditions of Lions
Published on 22 Sep 2,012 – Part of investigation conducted by Hatem Moushir, 21 September 2012 – in Giza Zoo
News comments:– Felinis Wrote – 12/18/2013 6:27 PM GMT
Kabul, Afganistan: Marjan the lion was injured in 1994 when a visitor tried to impress his friends by climbing into his den. When the animal’s mate attacked and killed him, the man’s brother came to the zoo the next day and threw a grenade at Marjan in revenge. The explosion blinded him, broke his jaw and destroyed seven teeth.
The 25 year-old beast who was half-blind, lame and almost toothless died of old age in 2002 only weeks after an international animal rescue mission arrived to help him.
At another mid-east zoo four animals died after being fed tobacco by visitors.
Giza Zoo – August 2012
Listen to an interview on Wildtime RadioAnimal rights activist Dina Zulfikar talked to WILD TIME RADIO about the zoos, CITES, the lack of green space in their country, and more.
Sara Abou Bakr / May 11, 2013 “Calling all animal activists:-“
Reports on the news stated that the three female bears were fighting over a male.
Two days later, the Al-Watan newspaper broke the story; the three bears died because of a sedative overdose, leading to two falling over and breaking several bones, while the remaining one drowned.
A photo of a starving lioness at Alexandria Zoo ignited anger last August, gaining international scrutiny from animal activists. The zoo manager assured them the case was under control. A day later, the lioness died.
Similar stories of the negligence of the seven governmental zoos in Egypt can be easily dug up. One only has to walk through one of them to see the abuse; malnourished lions, hippos swimming in filthy ponds, wild dogs injured and left untreated, seals that perform tricks on command, brown bears spoon-fed and petted by visitors
You do not have to be a specialist to see the abuse first-hand.
Giza Zoo, because it is located in the capital, gets the lion’s share of media attention, followed by Alexandria Zoo. The conditions of the other governmental zoos in Beni Suef, Fayoum, Kafr El-Sheikh, Mansoura, and Tanta are even worse. Puny and injured animals suffering from malnourishment is a major concern.
Gaza is another place you wouldn’t necessarily think of having a zoo. In recent years the Palestinian city has suffered from Israeli blockades and internal conflicts, and its zoo hasn’t fared much better. Today it houses two lions, a few monkeys, some birds, rabbits, cats, dogs and two fake zebras: donkeys painted with black and white stripes (pictured).
The zoo once had two real zebras in its collection, but they died of malnutrition during the Israel-Hamas war, when there was actual fighting within the zoo itself. Zoo officials later tried to replace the zebras, but finally opted for painted donkeys due to limited funds.
Donkeys painted to look like Zebra:-http://www.animals-zone.com/saddest-zoos-world
Founded in 1891, the Giza Zoo in Cairo, Egypt, was once among the best zoos in Africa. But today it’s a shell of its former glory, expelled from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2004 after failing an inspection. WAZA director Peter Dollinger wouldn’t tell Reuters in 2008 why exactly the zoo was expelled, saying only that “There were things that were not acceptable.”
Zookeepers reportedly augment their salaries by charging patrons to enter the cages with the animals, and two men broke into the zoo in 2007, killing two camels. Dozens of birds died from avian flu in 2006, and more than 500 were slaughtered to stem the outbreak. According to the Global Post, zoo workers also inhumanely killed two gorillas in 2004 thought to be infected with the Ebola virus.
Their circus shows, which include jumping tigers, cycling bears and monkeys riding goats, attract throngs of people at 10 am and 2 pm every day.
Trainer Zhang Jiafeng performs with five tigers onstage. Photo: IC
During peak seasons, like the National Day holidays, the show is put on up to eight times a day, pushing both trainers and animals to the limit.
The trainers’ job is by no means an easy one. For Zhang Jiafeng, 21, who has been performing with the tigers for four years, maintaining safety is still paramount.
During performances, a fence separates the audience from the stage. However, the most dangerous moment for the trainers, Zhang said, is the journey between the den and the stage before and after the show, during which the trainers are placed in an enclosed space with the animals without any protection.
Trainer Zhang Jiafeng sends the tigers from their den to behind the stage ahead of a show. Photo: IC
Despite the danger and psychological pressure involved in this work, the performers and trainers in this circus make at most 4,000 yuan a month.
A goat named Xiaofang and a monkey are one of the most popular duos in the circus. Photo: IC
Animal performances are facing tighter controls in China. The country so far hasn’t legislated onanimal welfare, which is still a fairly new concept for the nation. However, the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Developmenthas ordered twice, in 2010 and 2013, an end to all kinds of animal performances. The ban has not been seriously observed
“Viewer Discretion Advised; I am not ashamed to say I screamed, cursed & cried whilst watching the following videos. No human being has the right to take a wild animal, beat it & deprive it of food etc. to make it perform pathetic tricks; all under the illusion of love & kindness, so as to entertain the paying public. Human greed knows no bounds when it comes to exploiting the voiceless species, whom we share this planet with…which is why animal advocates must stand up & speak for them!!”
Behind the scenes of the circus. Investigation “Vita” 2012-2013. Part 1.
Centers for animal rights “VITA” congratulates all the good and fun people in the world who love this wonderful art – to make people happy!Tightrope walkers, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, strongmen, gymnasts, jugglers – in the twenty-first century, the circus is no place … only trained animals! After all, the atmosphere of joy can not be kept where there are slaves and oppression.
In civilized countries, taming animals clearly perceived as a bad taste, and most Europeans prefer circuses without violence. In Russia, unfortunately, circuses with animals are considered traditional entertainment and trainers continue to spread the myth of the humanity of their profession.
But once all the secret becomes clear! To dispel the myth of humanity circuses with animals we had a unique investigation, first implemented in Russia. During the year (2012-2013) cameras recorded the event in one of the typical circus, which was set up to work activist “Vita”.
Search Circus was performed spontaneously, it is found that the selected circus is considered one of the best circuses in Russia. The investigation was conducted solely for the
Charlie beat the rehearsals
purpose of the public – to convey to the Russians accurate information on the status of animals in the circus and circus dressage, which a priori is never humane.
“I took this step, knowing that this is the only thing that I can help animals – circuses prisoners – said an employee of” Vita “XXXXXXX. – People need only TRUTH that this age-old industry, based on tyranny collapsed like a house of cards . idillisticheskie My idea of the circus changed when I was in his time behind the scenes of the circus in his hometown. I am sorry that at that time I was not in possession of the camera.
Indeed, the best evidence – it’s captured video, which, as I have been able to thoroughly study,
Kangaroo Charlie died in captivity circus
there is little about the Russian circuses. A second reason that I got a job in the circus – my desire to deeply explore the mentality of the public okolotsirkovoy – circus performers, staff, visitors – from the inside to understand the ways of solving the problem. This experience gave me a lot of food for thought …
Honored sadistic artist; Russian Murad Abdullaev.
“Johnny the monkey from the video surveys his broken fingers; caused by the sadistic beatings of trainer Murad Abdullaev. I wouldn’t mind breaking a few of his bones & horse whipping him, so he knows how much it hurts…the cruel evil bastard shouldn’t be allowed near any animals; let alone train them!”
Johnny – Broken Fingers From Training Beatings
From the account of the employee “Vita” XXXXXXX:
• “My children’s ideas about the circus changed once I got behind the scenes of Saratov circus …”
• “One day we came to the classmate, but the watch we were asked to wait a little, well,
Charlies Farewell Glance Before he died
now there are shot the bear, for the fact that he attacked the trainer … ”
• “One of the haunting moments – a bear, gone mad, pushes down on the bottom of the cage and byuschayasya her head on the low ceiling. As the ball ping-pong table. Only a measured boom-boom-boom for hours …”
• ” The sun, the sky, the people on the streets … and, on the other hand – the cells, the cries of animals, confined space from which there is no escape … ”
• “unbearable atmosphere of concentration camps. Claustrophobic. life in a concentration camp in the 21st century. With joy and smiles around ”
• “Before the next training Johnny – survey traces after yesterday’s beating, probed – everything is intact? – … and the new – the violence, beatings, Johnny cries of pain, the trainer mat …”
• “In the cells of animals spend all remaining from rehearsals, training and performances while – approximately 23 hours a day. ”
All the collected footage, excerpts of which can be seen here , “VITA” sends to the prosecutor , insisting on bringing criminal cases related to torture animals.
International Day of the circus. Russian circus cruelty
Behind the scenes of the circus. Investigation “Vita” 2012-2013. Part 2
Please note viewer discretion is advised.
Published on 21 Apr 2013
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN RUSSIAN CIRCUS behind the scenes of the circus. Investigation “Vita” 2012-2013.Part 2. “Education” Kuzya. See Part 1: http://www.vita.org.ru/new/2013/apr/1 … All the “heroes” of video – Honored Artist of Russia, Russian State Circus. employee of the full text of the story, “Vita” XXXXXXX: http:// www.vita.org.ru/new/2013/apr/1 … All the collected footage, excerpts of which can be seen here, “VITA” directs the prosecutor’s office, insisting on bringing criminal cases related to torture animals. Centre for Animal Rights ” VITA “blames exorbitant cruelty honored artists of Russia http://www.vita.org.ru/new/2013/apr/2 … See the movie “The Circus: The Illusion of Love”.http://www.vita.org. ru / video / razvlvid …
InMovie Clip – is the best way to wean people lie, hiding behind the mask of love and virtue. After all, no trainer never voluntarily talk about what is going on behind the scenes. Outsiders were not allowed there, and if invited, will show “majeure” image “- says the president of the Center animal rights” VITA “Irina Novozhilova.
“Today, I am sorry that I took part in the project” Circus of the Stars “in the role of tamer, but now I understand well, – says Olga Shelest – why circus animals do not raise a paw on his trainer. Because when they were little, their beaten with sticks so that they are afraid to disobey the trainer at all. ” (From an interview for the film “The Circus: The Illusion of Love” ).
“I appeal to everyone who trusts me: do not go to the circus, where there are animals, In Tashkent circus told me about how dogs thrown against a wall, and one trainer during rehearsals injured cow-elephant’s uterus! Can you imagine what they are doing? ” – Says Lyme Vajkule.
“Illusion of Love” The film awarded the V International Festival “Steps” (2012) for best documentary on animal rights in the “See this inconvenient truth.”
The film tells about the history of circuses with animals, the fate of animals in captivity, the cruelty of dressage, the development of the global movement against the use of animals in circuses, etc. FILM: The Circus: the illusion of love
Petition text:-
To: State Duma, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education of Russia, Moscow Mayor, the Governor of St. Petersburg, the artistic director of Circus on Fontanka Slava Polunin
Objective: To complete the legislative ban on the use of animals in circus acts in Russia
The use of wild animals in circuses and other entertainment events associated with the forcible seizure of their natural, natural habitat, they are denied the most expensive – of liberty, forced to perform various tricks against their will, all in the name of entertainment, fun and comfort of man.
At that time, as the civilized countries have adopted legislation prohibiting participation and taming animals in entertainment, in Russia the use of animals in circuses is not regulated by any legislation. The only attempt to adopt the Federal Law “On Protection of Cruelty to Animals,” which was a section for the protection of animals used in circuses was a fiasco in 2000.
Cruelty to animals and, as a consequence, to the people, for the existence of society becomes rampant, because it is absolutely unpunished due to the gap in the law.
We, the undersigned, demand urgently adopt the Federal Law “On Protection of Cruelty to Animals.” Please sign petition:-http://www.vita.org.ru/petition/
“Please note the following are videos are what I found whilst looking at the above; Its never ending torture for the poor animals. Please, don’t support circuses who perform with live animals. Those animals only do the tricks through fear of pain, hunger & beatings!”
“At last, the big top is falling…but I wish it applied to all animals. All animals in circuses are deprived of their basic needs to exercise, roam, socialize, forage, and play. Horses will still be forced to perform confusing and physically challenging tricks. Former Ringling animal crew employees contacted PETA & reported that horses are grabbed by the throat, stabbed with pitchforks, punched in the face, given painful “lip twists,” and whipped. All animals feel pain, fear, loneliness, stress etc. So why ban one & not the other?? Or am I asking too much? I am very happy that wild animals will finally be banned; but I would have felt a lot happier had it been a ban on all animals performing in circuses!”
The Born Free Foundation has worked consistently for an end to the use of wild animals in circuses since its inception in 1984. Foundation representatives participated in the first Circus Working Group in the mid-1990s, and the second in 2004. Over the years Born Free has seen many lows, and precious few highs. Yet, throughout, the message has been the same: a travelling circus simply cannot meet the needs of wild animals.
Virginia McKennaOBE, Founder of the Born Free Foundation, said: “It has taken a long time – too long – but at last the end is in sight. I know for many, many people this will be a reason to rejoice. I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make a ban a reality, including Parliamentarians of all Parties. Victories for common-sense and compassion are all too rare. “
It is disappointing that it has taken this long to get to this stage, given that the recent initiative to ban originated in discussions that took place prior to the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Nonetheless, the draft legislation should be welcomed as finally reflecting public, Parliamentary and expert opinion.
Born Free remains committed to supporting the enactment of similar legislation in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and for an end to the use of wild animals in circuses worldwide.
Will Travers OBE, the Foundation’s CEO, commented: “I hardly dared imagine we would see such a day when, year after year, meeting after meeting, the NGOs participating in the various Circus Working Groups churned through the evidence, debated the practicalities, fought against Defra’s institutional inertia and Government opposition to a ban. Our supporters have been amazing as have our colleagues in other organisations. One more form of wild animal exploitation is on its way out.”
It would not have been possible to achieve this without the support of campaign partners the RSPCA, CAPS and the BVA, and without the help of Born Free supporters. The work of the Zoo Check team is central to the work of the Foundation, and they work tirelessly to protect animals in zoos, circuses, as pets and in the tourist trade around the world.
Anne The Elephant, Abused in Great British Circus By Groom. Owners were charged
If you would like to help support the Foundation’s work on captive animal welfare, please consider becoming a member of the Born Free Foundation or making a donation: www.bornfree.org.uk/give
The United States and the small African nation of Gabon are the only two countries in the world that continue to use chimpanzees as test subjects in behavioural and biomedical research. Such testing has brought little in the way of scientific breakthrough, but has, instead, inflicted a host of horrors on our closest genetic relatives.
Tragically, many chimpanzees have served as research specimens for decades without relief, often confined to small cages with no access to other members of their species or the outdoors—conditions tantamount to physical, emotional, and psychological torture. It is widely acknowledged that such terrible conditions irreparably harm these highly intelligent and social creatures.
Late in 2010, theNational Institutes of Health (NIH)forecasted that a change in policy might be on the horizon. After decades of scrutiny and pressure from animal rights groups, the general public and, increasingly, the international community, the NIH requisitioned a study from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to examine the use of chimpanzees in NIH-funded behavioural and biomedical research.
That report, issued one year later in December 2011, concluded that “most current biomedical use of chimpanzees is unnecessary” and suggested that future research on chimpanzees be limited and guided by the following three principles:
(1) the research must be necessary to advance public health; (2) there is no other suitable research model available; and (3) the chimpanzee research subjects be maintained in an ethological environment focused on meeting both their social and physical needs.
Following the IOM study, a Working Group was tasked with reviewing the IOM proposals and advising on their implementation. The Working Group issued a report on January 22, 2013, which offered twenty-eight recommendations. The NIH published this report as part of a “Request for Information“ through which it sought public comment on the recommendations.
ALDF, together with pro bono legal counsel from the law firm ofProskauer Rose, once again welcomed the chance to defend captive chimpanzees from the agonies of behavioural and biomedical research.
Although long overdue, the Working Group’s recommendations are an important step forward in the fight for chimpanzee rights. Importantly, the report recommended that “[t]he majority of NIH-owned chimpanzees should be designated for retirement and transferred to the federal sanctuary system.”
The report also proposed dramatic improvements in the housing of research chimpanzees—by requiring them to cohabit in social groups of at least seven individuals and improving the size and layout of their living space, as well as requiring access to the outdoors and veterinary care. These changes to policy, if implemented, would help to alleviate the suffering of chimpanzees used in research.
But they do not go far enough.
To demonstrate that NIH policy is out-of-step with international standards and still lags behind the rest of the world in its treatment of chimpanzees, our comments included a survey of the laws of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, which, particularly in recent years, have banned or otherwise restricted chimpanzee-based research.
Our comments also urged the NIH to embrace public opinion, as polls have shown that a majority of Americans favour banning the practice of experimenting on chimpanzees. Moreover, we exhorted the NIH to follow the lead of other federal government agencies taking steps to provide greater protections for captive chimpanzees. In particular, we highlighted the recent petition to the Fish & Wildlife Service to classify captive chimpanzees, like their wild counterparts, as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
Accordingly, our comments insisted that the NIH go beyond the Working Group recommendations and implement a ban on all future chimpanzee testing in any NIH-funded research. With such a ban, not only would there be no need to retain at government expense the proposed colony of fifty research-ready chimpanzees, but such resources could be better invested in developing non-animal research models. Indeed, it is our long-term goal that the NIH will forego the recommendation to explore alternative animal research models (such as genetically altered mice), and instead adopt more humane, ethical, and reliable research protocols.
Given recent trends, the NIH should seize this seminal moment in history and stop the suffering of research chimpanzees once and for all. As the Working Group report conceded, “in light of evidence suggesting that research involving chimpanzees has rarely accelerated new discoveries or the advancement of human health for infectious diseases,” it is not logical, ethical, or humane to squander precious government funds to exacerbate the plight of our fellow primates.
“The following made me cry, we have no right to lock up the innocent & perform horrific experiments on them. Why don’t we put all the rapist’s, murderers & child abusers to good use, instead of giving them a warm place to sleep, food, recreation, etc. all that we pay for…experiment on them instead, then at least we would know the drugs being tested, might actually work on humans!!”
Release of chimpanzees, 30 years after undergoing experiments
Air Cruelty: Inside the Labs of Two of the Largest U.S. Primate Importers
Published on 27 Sep 2012
Shocking undercover and whistleblower footage from inside the laboratories ofCovance and Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories (SNBL), two of the largest importers of primates into the United States for use in cruel experiments.
Every year, tens of thousands ofnonhuman primatesare transported from countries such as China, Mauritius, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia to the U.S. to be imprisoned in laboratories and tormented in experiments. Some are bred in captivity on cramped, squalid monkey factory farms, while others are stolen from their families in the wild.
The traumatized monkeys are crammed into small wooden crates and transported in the backs of trucks and the dark and terrifying cargo holds of planes, often on passenger flights just below unsuspecting customers.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, nearly 23,000 nonhuman primates were brought into the U.S. in 2010—nearly all of them destined for laboratories. Nearly 3,000 monkeys were imported by animal testing conglomerate Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories (SNBL), where recent photos and video footage leaked by a whistleblower show sick, distraught monkeys suffering horribly from tests in which they were injected with experimental chemicals.
However, an increasingly small group of airlines—including Air France, Philippine Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines—continues to profit from animals’ misery by transporting monkeys destined for U.S. laboratories.
Please be a voice for the monkeys who are suffering in the primate trade. Take a minute of your time now to urge airlines that still transport monkeys to U.S. laboratories to join their peers and adopt a formal policy against the transportation of nonhuman primates for use in experiments.
“As the CITIES conference comes to the end of its first week, I thought I would just add the video in along with this post. Born Free’s CEO Will Travis, talks about some of the issues raised. Although I can’t believe the bid to halt the polar bear trade, was just swept under the table…WTF… Russia, Canada & the US…really have left the polar bears out in the cold…literally! I’m disgusted with their decision; same goes for the poor manatee!! I can’t wait to see what rubbish they come up with next week, for protecting species round the world; who are just about hanging on with their teeth!! Do the delegates from their respective country, actually know the danger some species are in?? I have my doubts given the first weeks bungles, honestly some of them are about as much use as a chocolate fire guard. Take about 30 of us animal advocates from face book, stick us round a table; & I’m sure we could come up with plans to help those in need!!”
Today saw the launch of the first ever internationally coordinated enforcement investigation into the online ivory trade.
Summing up week one at the CITES meeting in Bangkok
Published on 8 Mar 2013
Will Travers, CEO of Born Free, sums up week one at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meeting, covering secret ballots, elephants, rhino, polar bears, manatees and turtles.
The report revealed that there were hundreds of ivory items conservatively valued at approximately EUR 1,450,000 for sale during a two-week period on Internet auction sites in nine European countries.
During this survey of sites by enforcers, more than 660 advertisements for ivory on 61 different auction sites were analysed and as a result of the surveillance, six national and three international investigations were launched in cases where ivory was described as new or where ivory was being traded from abroad.
The 177 countries that are Party to CITES have already agreed, thanks in part to IFAW’s lobbying efforts, to investigate and prosecute wildlife criminals trading online as well as evaluate or develop their domestic measures to ensure they are sufficient to fight online wildlife crime.
While at least one country has strengthened their legislation to specifically target online wildlife crime and a small number of countries have started to develop strategies for tackling illegal wildlife sales on the internet, many more countries need to deliver on their promise and stamp out online wildlife crime.
Since 2004 IFAW has been highlighting the growing global threat posed by online wildlife crime to endangered wildlife. A series of IFAW investigations have repeatedly shown that there are thousands of wild animals and wildlife ‘products’, such as ivory, available for sale on the internet all over the world.
Stop The Ivory trade
IFAW has found live primates, big cats, birds and reptiles advertised online while animal parts from rhino’s, elephants, sharks, Tibetan antelopes and sturgeon have also been available to purchase on the internet.
In January 2012, IFAW’s online monitoring found 17,847 ivory products listed on 13 Chinese websites, even though none of these products had the necessary Government approval.
Meanwhile, a four-week investigation in the United Arab Emirates and some neighbouring Arab countries in the same year found 796 adverts featuring live wildlife over 11 websites. None of the adverts had any documentary proof to demonstrate that the sales complied with the law.
In Europe an IFAW investigation in 2011 found a thriving trade in ivory items. The investigation tracked 43 sites in the UK, France, Portugal, Spain and Germany for a two-week period and found 669 advertisements for ivory.
The statistics are disturbing but can be hard to comprehend so let me give you one example that shows the horrors of this illegal trade.
In 2010 a British couple admitted 12 counts of illegally exporting, three of illegally importing, seven of illegally selling and two of illegally possessing specimens under the Customs and Excise Management Act.
The couple in question had been selling animal body parts from owls, a baboon, macaque monkeys, a python, an African penguin, an African lion cub and a Malaysian flying fox.
These items were kept in a store room full of skulls and other animal body parts which, when I saw the pictures, made me think it as a room of death for wildlife.
Highlighting the problem of this trade is an important first step but IFAW has been going one stage further and engaging website companies, law enforcers and Governments in our campaign to stamp out online wildlife crime.
After our 2008 Killing with Keystrokes investigation, where we found ivory was the number one wildlife product being traded online, we encouraged eBay to ban the sale of ivory on their websites and IFAW was very pleased to see them announce this ban in January 2009.
Meanwhile other websites have since followed suit including Alibaba (www.taobao.com) in China, the world’s largest business-to-business and outsource portal site for traders.
However, while banning the sale of wildlife products on websites does restrict unscrupulous traders’ ability to easily profit from these products, there is clearly a need for enforcers to ramp up their efforts.
We have seen traders time and again attempting to disguise their wildlife products to avoid detection by police, customs or website companies such as eBay.
In addition to working with INTERPOL IFAW is working with enforcement agencies across the world to catch online wildlife criminals by sharing the findings of our online investigations, facilitating international enforcement operations and by bringing together website companies and enforcement agencies in order that they can work in partnership in their fight against illegal wildlife sales on the internet.
DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
You can find out more about me & this blog by reading "ABOUT THIS BLOG" on the menu (when i finish it) lol
PLEASE NOTE.....
Not all of my posts will be current news, or even about animal abuse! I do like to share other animal news, uplifting stories or videos; some that are funny or just touch the heart!
If I have anything to say on any post, you will see it in bold blue writing. I try to remain a lady, but it's hard to contain my anger & emotions at the some of the stories I post; I don’t have a heart of stone, tears stain many articles I write!
Lastly, my apologies for any errors; I am learning whilst posting, so if you find anything that doesn't work or a broken link, sorry, I'm only human!!!!
ABOUT THESE POSTS
I would just like to make readers aware, that I search for stories on the internet; regards animal abuse etc. I copy stories etc. from the internet; assuming these stories are correct at time of publishing. Having said that, sometimes the press get it wrong! So I just want to add that at the time of me posting a news story, I presume all the facts seem present & correct.
Please note....all people mentioned in this blog, are presumed innocent, until proven otherwise, in a court of law.
Error: Please make sure the Twitter account is public.
Flag Counter Added May 2012
Face Book – Please Take Notice
For anyone wishing to connect to me via my Facebook page...PLEASE NOTE, ONLY PEOPLE I ADD AS ANIMAL ADVOCATES CAN SEE MY WHOLE PAGE...I do this out of respect for those friends I have who do not wish to see graphic images, videos or links of animal abuse!
As 99% of my page is animal related; anyone not in the above group of friends; will only see a limited amount of posts!!
DUE TO ANIMAL HATERS...I WILL ONLY ADD PEOPLE WHO CAN PROVE WHO THEY ARE via Facebook, Wordpress, Twitter etc. & WHO HAVE A GENUINE INTEREST IN ANIMAL WELFARE... i.e. if your Facebook page has absolutely nothing to do with animals, I see no point in joining my page. My Facebook is solely for animal welfare, I am not interested in playing games etc. I don't mean to sound rude but I am not interested in the amount of friends I have, its the quality of those friends that count.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND REQUESTS FOR YOUR FRIENDS TO JOIN. I do not want anyone to be upset by graphic images etc.
My aim is to educate & raise awareness to the horrors animals face, at the hands of humans, every day, around the world!!
We can not hope to achieve better laws, to protect animals, unless we unite as one, to speak up for those who are voiceless!!
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DUE TO THE NATURE OF THIS BLOG - SOME PICTURES & VIDEOS CAN & WILL BE VERY GRAPHIC - SO PLEASE, VIEW THIS BLOG AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION.
STOP ANIMAL ABUSE 
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