Wildlife conservation and animal welfare groups say the COVID-19 pandemic ought to spell the end for one of South Africa’s most controversial businesses: the captive breeding of lions. It is widely accepted that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that has precipitated the global crisis, came from wildlife (bats or pangolins are the most likely sources), and campaign […]
Tag: COVID-19
Petition: China Bans Wild Animal Sales But Offers Tax Incentives for Exports
A Wall Street Journal article reports that China is giving tax incentives to exporting wild animals while banning their sale and use within China. Scientists believe that the source of the COVID-19 pandemic was a wild animal market in Wuhan, China. China temporarily banned the sale and import of wild animals to improve public health. […]
Petition: Raising and Killing Animals for Exotic Skins Could Spark the Next Pandemic
Raising and killing exotic animals for “luxury” fashion items can increase the risk of outbreaks of dangerous illnesses such as COVID-19, and PETA is calling for a complete shutdown of exotic-animal farms. Many alligators and crocodiles who are raised on farms for their skin are kept crowded together in highly unhygienic conditions, one on top […]
Petition: Ask Norway To End This Year’s Barbaric Seal Hunt With A Quota Of 18,548 Harp Seals
The Norwegian government is going ahead with their sickening seal hunt yet again this year. They have announced that the seal hunt can be conducted without an animal welfare inspector on board. The reason is said to be the risk of COVID-19. As noted in a statement by Respect For Animals,“among the crews to go hunting without inspection […]
“Energy Dominance”: Three Years of a Disastrous Policy for Wildlife and Communities
March 2020 marked a somber anniversary. Three years ago, the Trump administration announced its so-called “energy dominance” doctrine, which, as the name implies has put energy development as the priority for our public lands. Since then, the administration has tried to lease a whopping 24.5 million acres of public land—land that is meant to be […]
Malaysian authorities seize record 6 tons of African pangolin scales
Customs authorities in Malaysia have made one of their biggest ever seizures of African pangolin scales, recovering 6 tons of the contraband in a container at the country’s busiest port. Officials at Port Klang found the scales hidden beneath 63 sacks of cashew nuts on April 1. The shipment had been labeled as only containing […]
How Rearing, Hunting, Trading, Killing, Dissecting and Eating Animals Leads to Zoonotic Diseases like COVID-19
Two weeks ago, a friend greeted me with a bow and heartfelt “Namaste.” Three days later, a family member taught me how to “footshake.” In the face of COVID-19, people worldwide are ditching traditional handshakes, kisses, or nose-to-nose greetings in favor of touchless gestures with the Indian “Namaste” emerging as a global favorite. The speed […]
Poachers Kill More Rhinos as Coronavirus Halts Tourism to Africa
The past few weeks have not been easy for Nico Jacobs, founder of Rhino 911, a nonprofit that provides emergency helicopter transport for rhinoceroses in need of rescue in South Africa. That’s because times are much worse for the rhinos. Since South Africa announced a national lockdown on March 23 to limit the spread of […]