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Lab monkeys rehomed
The three macaques, which had been used in neurology experiments at a major European animal research laboratory, were no longer required and were scheduled to die by the end of the year. The laboratory responded positively when ADI offered to home the animals - and by Christmas they were safe and sound. After six months in quarantine, they will be released into a permanent outdoor enclosure. The European Commission had proposed restrictions on how monkeys could be used in experiments and measures to stop the capture of wild monkeys by dealers supplying EU laboratories. ADI has been dismayed to see these mild proposals seriously weakened by the European Parliament and Council of Ministers. Almost all laboratory monkeys are born of wild caught parents. This means that whilst laboratories claim not to use wild caught monkeys, the dealers that supply them are in fact constantly capturing animals from the wild to re-stock their breeding farms. Bacill, Baloo and Bacillusk saved by ADI this week, were part of this trade. Their parents had been torn from the wild in Mauritius and were sold to Mazor Farm in Israel, who sold their offspring to the research facility that eventually handed them to ADI. The Commission had proposed that the sale of monkeys born of wild caught parents to EU labs would be phased out in seven years. But this been delayed and may even be put off indefinitely. This means that thousands of monkeys will continue to be torn from the wild to satisfy European demand, a trade that is not sustainable. The IUCN has announced that all primate species are under threat – almost half are now either endangered or critically endangered. Tim Phillips: “Against all the odds, three little monkeys have a future and will grow old climbing trees and at play. We hold very different views to the laboratory that handed over these animals but appreciate that we were able to come together for the sake of these animals. I hope that the politicians reviewing regulations for laboratory animals will see these animals and appreciate that they have real lives in their hands and consider serious protection measures.” ADI will be funding the care of the monkeys for the rest of their lives. ADI would like to thank PBS International for its help in organising the transportation of the monkeys; and Djurrattsalliansen and Behind Closed Doors who alerted ADI to the monkeys. Click to see pictures of the monkeys in their new home.
Freedom for lions and tiger saved from life of circus miseryLast year, through the Stop Circus Suffering campaign in Portugal, Shortly after this, the Portuguese authorities moved in to seize the animals and agreed to hand them over to ADI as soon as permits were in place to move them to our rescue centre in South Africa. Disappointingly, the animals were temporarily held at Lisbon Zoo where access to them was even refused to the ADI veterinary team. Just days before Christmas, all of the import and export permits were finally in place after a series of agonising delays and ADI swung into action confirming flights and moving transport crates to Portugal. Then tragedy struck. The zoo reported that the second tiger, Royale, had suddenly died. Just two weeks before she would have left for freedom and with the crate that would have carried her to South Africa already en route to Portugal. Two weeks later, as the other animals headed to South Africa in their crates, the saddest sight was the flat packed crate of Royale going back empty. We still do not know the official cause of death, but do know that the animals rescued can be broken by the lives they lead – be it abuse, lack of appropriate care and diet, the impacts of severe confinement, or even the results of irresponsible inbreeding. It is heartbreaking, that Royale was so close to freedom – one of the few animals that could have made it out alive – but it was not to be. Nonetheless the rescue team were spurred on by the desperate desire to move Tarzan, Ceasar and Sarah to safety and freedom. In late January, the ADI rescue team which included ADI Chief Executive Jan Creamer, were joined in Portugal by Mrs Lente Roode of the HESC, and vet for the operation, Professor David Meltzer. The animals were finally placed in the care of ADI at Lisbon Airport, where a press conference was also staged condemning the continued use of animals in circuses. The animals were given final health checks and water before the journey by ADI Campaigns Director Tim Phillips and Professor Meltzer. Tarzan, the tiger, was especially calm even rolling on his back inside his travel crate. Sarah and Ceasar were less happy, perhaps remembering previous torment in the circus. Ceasar, a truly huge lion (but minus his mane because he had be castrated) was pacing up and down and both he and Sarah would launch themselves at their rescuers whenever they tried to inspect or water them. The ADI have learnt to respect animals which don’t like people – they can understand why! Access to the animals was closely controlled with the media given no access to Sarah and Ceasar, but allowed to take a few pictures of Tarzan who really didn’t seem to care. The animals were then shut into their crates and fork lifted onto pallets and finally loaded into the aircraft. Our special thanks to TAP, Portugal’s national airline who reduced the flight costs of the cats to help make this mission possible. TAP staff where also a huge help along with the ground handling staff Neotrans at Lisbon airport and Johannesburg, our thanks also to our shipping firm PBS International. As the sun set, the ADI team took off from Lisbon on the same flight as the lions and tiger and at 6am the following morning they touched down at Johannesburg airport. The team nervously awaited the cats to be unloaded and immediately checked them on the tarmac of the airport. With a huge sigh of relief all of the cats were in great shape. They were then loaded onto a truck for and eight hour drive up to Hoedspruit in Limpopo. During this our biggest concern was the sudden rise in temperature that the animals had to face, but the crates were well ventilated and we provided water as needed. In the late afternoon, Tarzan was released into his new enclosure of natural bush with a pool in which he can swim if he wishes. The lions were released into a temporary holding pen (albeit much bigger than anything they have lived in to date) whilst their permanent home is finished. Tarzan is only five and could easily live for another 10 years. The lions, Sarah and Caesar, are around seven or eight, and will probably reach the age of 15. At this age they should be at the peak of their physical prowess, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to imagine them living out their lives in cramped cages, never having walked on grass or really stretch their legs and run. These animals will meet bushes and trees for the first time in their lives.
See the 'Big Cat Rescue' on YouTube
Stranded turtles fly to freedomThomas Cook Airlines transports rescued turtles
to new life in Gran Canaria. Two rare stranded loggerhead turtles that were rescued from a popular surfing beach in Devon within the same week, have finally been set free after five months of rehabilitation. The turtles were transported by Thomas Cook Airlines from Gatwick Airport to their new home in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, on Monday 23rd June. Named Dink and James, the turtles measure 28cm and 61cm long respectively. According to the Newquay Blue Reef Aquarium, where they were nursed back to health, it is likely that they were born on a beach in the USA or Mexico and somehow, perhaps following a severe storm, were pushed further and further north, with their journey ending on the south coast of England.Most turtles are cold-blooded and, as James and Dink headed towards the UK coast, the colder waters would have initially stopped them feeding and eventually led them to become unconscious. James was in a critical condition when he was first found and was treated for dehydration, hypothermia, and various fungal and bacterial infections. Dink too, required specialist care from the dedicated aquarists at Blue Reef. They will now be released in Gran Canaria as it is the nearest place where they can be released to join their native area. Joanna Wild, Ground Services Director at Thomas Cook Airlines, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to play a part in helping these beautiful turtles on their long journey back to freedom. It’s fantastic to know that not only were hundreds of passengers on this flight about to embark on a sun-filled holiday, but also, that two turtles were taking a journey of a different kind.” Matt Slater, Blue Reef Curator, commented: “We would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Thomas Cook Airlines and PBS International Freight, who have been instrumental in assisting in the final leg of the rehabilitation of James and Dink. These turtles have been through such an ordeal, but fortunately, their flight to freedom has been wonderfully smooth.” Pet shipping company, PBS International, is based at Gatwick Airport and issued customs documents to enable to transfer of the turtles from the UK to Gran Canaria. Loggerhead turtles can reach lengths in excess of a metre. They are carnivorous feeding on crabs, shellfish, mollusks and jellyfish. Their main nesting sites are in Oman in the Middle East and Florida in the US. They are rare in UK waters but their numbers, along with other warm water species do seem to be on the rise. Thomas Cook Airlines carries hundreds of domestic pets abroad every year. In May alone, more than 80 animals were transported. Most are cats and dogs, although birds, guinea pigs, rabbits and Koi Carp have also taken to the skies with the airline.
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ADI learned of two lions and two tigers apparently abandoned at the roadside in Parmela, Portugal, by Circo Universal. An ADI Field Officer investigating the situation discovered that the animals had not been abandoned but that the circus was simply off the road due to lack of funds. An ADI vet then visited the animals to assess their condition and to vaccinate them and to give them a good hearty meal with mineral supplements to start building up their strength.
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