As if Tommy Lee’s original letter to SeaWorld about the park’s disturbing orca-breeding practices weren’t high-five-worthy enough, it gets even better! A SeaWorld rep responded, “The process of collecting semen for [artificial insemination] doesn’t differ in any meaningful way from the techniques employed in managing livestock or other species for zoological display. … [O]ur trainers … Read more »
Caring folks continue to plead for basic compassion at SeaWorld and call on officials to enforce anti-cruelty laws. But Tilikum, the orca who has killed three people, is still confined to a cramped, claustrophobic tank that’s barely bigger than the size of his body to prevent him from having any physical contact with the trainers—except when they … Read more »
Tokio Hotel has no reservations about speaking out against animal abuse in circuses. Just check out PETA Germany’s edgy new “Stop Circus Cruelty” ad featuring Bill and Tom Kaulitz, the talented vegetarian twins behind this überpopular German rock band: Ah, what wunderbar boys! That’s German for “wonderful.” Now here’s the part where you can do something wunderbar … Read more »
In light of news that Amazon.com has stopped selling a manual for pedophiles after a massive public outcry, PETA fired off a letter asking the online bookseller to protect other vulnerable beings by refusing to sell products that promote cruelty to animals, such as books on dogfighting and cockfighting. Right now, anyone can visit Amazon.com … Read more »
After learning from PETA that great apes used in commercials are torn from their mothers when they are just babies and beaten into submission, pharmaceutical company Pfizer has replaced a new TV ad for Robitussin that originally featured an orangutan with a new ad that includes a computer-generated ape. Grey Group created the old commercial just … Read more »
… but in a good way. The circus has joined dozens of innovative and entertaining productions in leaving animals out of the act. We campaigned against Circus Vargas years ago when it still forced elephants, llamas, and other animals to perform, but now we’ll sing its praises. People who care about animals don’t want to … Read more »
The impossible happened—for a split second anyway. I momentarily laughed during a bullfight—or rather, during a matador’s wardrobe malfunction, which drew plenty of guffaws and catcalls from the audience. Watch as Alvaro Marin runs, bare-bottomed, from a bull—and then fashions an adult diaper out of a piece of cloth. Of course, just like the … Read more »
Video
Getting ready to listen to a radio interview with Álvaro Múnera—who was once known as “El Pilarico” (Spanish for “the star bullfighter”)—I was prepared to hate him. But after Múnera was gored by a bull and became confined to a wheelchair, he reflected on his cruel past with sincere regret and renounced bullfighting. Today, this … Read more »
Officials responding to a complaint about the smell of decaying animals at Florida’s Ebro Greyhound Park found 33 dead and decomposing dogs who had apparently starved to death as well as four more dogs who were near death. Racer Ronald Williams was arrested and charged with 37 counts of felony cruelty to animals in connection … Read more »
The U.K.’s Chipperfield’s Circus—which has been exploiting animals since 1684(!) and was in the news following the beating of a baby chimpanzee some years back—has gone animal-free! Between 1996 and 1998, a long-term investigation of the circus led to successful cruelty-to-animals convictions of the circus’s owners, Mary and Roger Chipperfield; jail for the elephant handler; … Read more »
“For over 100 years, the Shriners have sponsored this World Famous event with proceeds going to a great cause—helping less fortunate children in your community.” That quote was lifted from the Shrine Circus website. But a Shriner in Fort Worth, Texas, was determined to let Animal Connection Texas members who were protesting the Moslah Shrine … Read more »
Another day, another death at SeaWorld. The latest casualty is a 25-year-old orca named Kalina who died yesterday at the theme park’s Orlando location, far short of most orcas’ expected 50- to 60-year life span. As usual, SeaWorld will likely try to keep this death on the down low. Kalina spent two and a half … Read more »
For years we’ve asked Los Angeles Zoo officials to follow the lead of more than a dozen progressive U.S. zoos and close down its elephant display for good. Despite overwhelming public outcry over the cruelty and the cost to taxpayers involved in keeping elephants in captivity, the zoo has pushed full speed ahead to build … Read more »
