Today, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) joins a large-scale global cage-free campaign launched against Restaurant Brands International (RBI), owner of leading brands Burger King and Popeyes. The campaign – led by a coalition of more than eighty (80) influential animal protection non-profit organizations worldwide – urges the company to … [Read more...]
Animal Rebellion calls on government to prevent future crises
Today, the civil disobedience group Animal Rebellion have organised an online protest action commenting on the government’s contribution to the climate and ecological crises and calling on them to prevent future crises and end animal farming. Stating that the SA government has “blood on their hands” the animal and climate justice organisation referred to the government’s … [Read more...]
EWT responds to China’s illegal wildlife trade ban
The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) welcomes the announcement by the Chinese Communist Party to enforce the ban on illegal wildlife trade and increase regulation of wildlife markets. Evidence points to wildlife markets as a source of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which has resulted in human and economic costs. The EWT emphasises their position that these markets pose … [Read more...]
Octopus traps a threat to whales in False Bay
For many years now permits for trapping of octopus in the False Bay area have been issued to a local fishing company and during this period there have been numerous entanglements and deaths and it is now time to put an end to the suffering and deaths. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (which has recently been incorporated into Environmental Affairs) … [Read more...]
Calls for captive lion breeding ban welcomed by civil society
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) have come out strongly in favour of a new Parliamentary report that calls for a ban on captive lion breeding in the country. Entitled Captive Lion Breeding for Hunting and Bone Trade in South Africa, the new report finds: Captive lion breeding holds no conservation value; There is no … [Read more...]
Japanese government stops testing pesticides on dogs
The Japanese government has announced that it will no longer conduct year-long poisoning tests for pesticides on dogs. The one-year program was developed in order to test the toxicity of agrochemicals. According to Humane Society International (HSI), the tests subjugate groups of beagles to daily doses of pesticides in order to gauge the toxicity to humans. Dogs involved are … [Read more...]
New report finds inadequate protection for SA wildlife
In a joint report published today, the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) set out findings of a review of the regulation of the welfare of wild animals in South Africa. The report, entitled Fair Game? Improving the Regulation of the Well-being of South African Wildlife finds that there are major gaps in both legislation and the … [Read more...]
South African walker hopes to raise animal abuse awareness
If you could carry all your belongings in a backpack, what would you take? Keegan Horn was working in the film industry, where he saw the world focused on a materialistic lifestyle. A world he didn't want to be a part of. He knew he wanted to do something more meaningful and for a cause that was close to him. He embarked on a trip to Hogsback to reflect about his beloved … [Read more...]
Key conservation organisations secure global support to end canned hunting
The fight against canned lion hunting has had a small victory by gathering global support. This support will be formally announced at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, which is taking place in Hawaii from the 1st to 10th September. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in association with Wildlands, the South African Wildlife College (SAWC), and a range of other … [Read more...]
Europe: Stop the elephant slaughter!
Every 15 minutes an elephant is brutally slaughtered for its tusks, and at this rate they will be gone forever in just a few years. Momentum is growing for a complete global ban on ivory -- but the European Commission has just come out against it! The elephant crisis is heartbreaking. In some areas these magnificent, sensitive creatures are so terrified of people they only … [Read more...]
Another gin trap casualty: threatened leopard needlessly killed
Cape Nature's Corne Claasen shot and killed this leopard on Saturday that was caught in a gin trap and broke from its anchors. The Police was present and so was a veterinarian that attempted, unsuccessfully, to dart the leopard, says the Landmark Leopard and Predator Project of SA. The incident occurred on the Jakkalsvlei Farms of Mr Marais Rossouw in the Koo Valley near … [Read more...]
Dog fighting must fall
I saw her on the pavement outside Surfside Restaurant in Strand. She was big and black; her coat was drenched in an oily wetness; she crouched as if to resist going further and cringed in a way so horrible that I heard myself asking: “What’s wrong with your dog? Why is she so scared?” Young and tall and lean, tattooed and pierced with earrings across his face, he laughed … [Read more...]
Fate of wild cats at predator park unclear
Confusion surrounds the future of a number of wild cats which were reportedly darted during an attempt to remove them from the Jugomaro Predator Park, in Limpopo, on Wednesday afternoon. One of the owners of the park, Justin Fernandes, made an impassioned plea for help on Facebook when he heard one of the tigers had been shot by the men darting the animals. Fernandes and … [Read more...]