A weekly round-up of the most important animal stories happening around the world.
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USDA Ends ‘Gruesome’ Practice of Horse Soring
Long condemned by campaigners, horse soring involves using chemicals and devices to inflict pain on horses to produce an exaggerated gait rewarded in some competitions.
Wyoming Wolf Torture Incident Sparks Calls to Prohibit Killing of Wildlife With Snowmobiles
Wyoming and Idaho allow coyotes and wolves to be chased, bludgeoned and run over by snowmobiles.
Saved! Wild Horses To Stay at North Dakota National Park as Roundup Plans Cancelled
Controversial plans to roundup and remove the herd of 200 wild horses have been dropped, and wildlife services will now help to maintain the animals inside the park instead.
Grizzly Bears Will Return to Washington State In Government Restoration Effort
The species was hunted to near extinction during the 20th century, but now federal plans will see the bears finally return to their natural home in the North Cascades ecosystem.
South Dakota Governor Condemned for Shooting Her Family’s Dog and Goat
The politician has been widely criticized after comments in a new book revealed how she took a goat and 1-year-old dog to a gravel pit and shot them both dead.
California’s Salmon Fishing Ban Kept in Place for Second Year as Fish Stocks Still Haven’t Recovered
All commercial and recreational salmon fishing has been banned off the coast of California for only the fourth time in state history.
Birth Control Could Help Manage Rats in NYC, New Bill Suggests
The bill aims for safer and humane alternatives for rat control, and hopes to protect the city’s wildlife who can be killed by eating poisoned rats - including Flaco the Owl who died back in February.
Conservation Groups Launch Legal Challenge Against Government’s Inaction for Wolves in Northern Rockies
The lawsuit says the US Fish and Wildlife Service is illegally denying protections to wolves.
Robotic Police Dog Who Was Shot Three Times Is Credited for Helping to Apprehend Armed Suspect
Massachusetts state police’s futuristic companion shows how innovative solutions like robotics could help reduce the number of animals used in dangerous police missions.
Virginia Man Charged for “Ringleader” Role in Global Monkey Torture Network
The alleged criminal is accused of making sadistic videos of monkeys being tortured and killed for paying customers around the world.
Hope for Elephants: U.S. Restricts the Import of Elephant Hunting Trophies
The move is a win for conservationists, who say America imports more hunting trophies than any other country in the world.
Wolves Spotted in Nevada for First Time in Nearly a Decade
The sighting of three wolves in the Silver State is a positive sign that wolf populations are recovering in the area.
Sixteen Bear Cubs Rescued from Wildlife Trafficker
The orphaned moon bears have been taken to a sanctuary after government officials in Laos discovered them being illegally kept at a house in the country’s capital.
US Bill That Would Ban Trophy Hunting Imports of Threatened Species Reintroduced
If passed, the ProTECT Act would also ban domestic hunting of at-risk species in the US.
Rare “Super Tusker” Elephant Shot to Death in Tanzania Reignites Calls for Trophy Hunting Ban
An American trophy hunter from Texas is alleged to be responsible for the killing, as trophy hunting in the area threatens the survival of the iconic Amboseli elephant population.
Canada Wants to market Seal Meat as a seafood delicacy to Boost Demand for the Controversial Product
The recently appointed Fisheries Minister of Canada is focusing on increasing sales of seal meat, despite widespread international condemnation of the annual hunt, where hundreds of thousands of harp seals are bludgeoned to death each year.
Customs Officials Find Red Panda, Snakes, and Monkeys in Baggage at Thailand Airport
Six people have been arrested after trying to smuggle a total of 87 live animals in their luggage.
Miami Seaquarium Set to Close As County Officials Issue Eviction Notice
Officials cited a “long and troubling history of violations” at the venue, which has faced years of backlash over its animal welfare standards.
Over 400,000 Songbirds Killed by Organised Crime Groups in Cyprus
A new report has revealed that 435,000 migrating songbirds were illegally trapped, killed and eaten on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus last year.
New York City’s Beloved Owl Flaco Has Died, Prompting Calls for Stronger Bird Protections
The Eurasian eagle owl named Flaco, who escaped New York City's Central Park Zoo last year and became a beacon of hope for many, has died after striking an apartment building.