VICTORY: International Cherry Blossom Festival Cancels Cruel Shark Encounter

After learning that the Haai Shark Encounter was planning to harass gentle nurse sharks at the International Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon, Georgia, PETA told festival organizers that trucking sharks thousands of miles around the country so that someone can pull on their fins and tails in front of screaming children is not educational—it’s cruel. Following months of hearing from our members and supporters, the festival board canceled the encounter and decided not to host any events exploiting animals at all!

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 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind