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 fishing in False Bay is killing Bryde’s whales
Octopus fishing off the coast of Cape Town is supposedly being carried out for ‘research purposes’. But no research has been published and the gear being used is killing not just octopi, but also Bryde’s whales. Read the full article at Daily Maverick. … [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...]
Shark finning killing 100 million sharks annually
“From a conservation perspective we are very concerned about our sharks,” said Dr Jean Harris of WILDTRUST. “Illegal fishing, bycatch and shark finning are depleting global shark populations at a dramatic rate, resulting in a large percentage of shark species being identified as threatened and endangered.” Shark finning is mainly driven by a demand for a delicacy in the East … [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...]
We’re not lovin’ it, activists tell McDonald’s
An online petition supported by thousands and additional pressure from four local animal protection groups might just get McDonald’s South Africa’s attention to source eggs from cage-free hens in South Africa, despite the popular franchise’s refusal to commit when appeals were made earlier this year. To date, more than 17,373 people have signed the petition. During … [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...]
