A weekly round-up of the most important animal stories happening around the world.
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Kiska, ‘World’s Loneliest’ Orca Dies Alone in Captivity
Originally taken from the wild back in 1979, Kiska spent over four decades in a tank at Canada’s Marineland.
405 Coyotes Slaughtered During Illinois Wildlife Killing Contest
The competition featured categories such as ‘the smallest kill’, with participants seen celebrating amount piles of dead coyotes.
New York City Could Ban Elephant Captivity As Landmark Bill Introduced
If passed, the legislation will outlaw the keeping of elephants in zoos in the city, and will require current captive elephants - like Happy in Bronx Zoo - to be transported to a sanctuary.
Entire Population of Vervet Monkeys to be Eradicated from this Country
Primate experts are calling for the government-funded cull to be replaced with a humane sterilization program.
Fish May Be Self-Aware, New Study Finds
The new study suggests that some fish can recognize themselves in photographs, challenging our existing assumptions about these animals.
Amazon is Being Sued for Selling Donkey Skin
A new lawsuit is suing Amazon for violating California state law for selling products containing “ejiao” or “donkey-hide gelatin,” an animal product made from donkey skin.
Major Travel Companies Still Selling Exploitative Animal Attractions, Report Reveals
Trip.com and TUI are among the worst offenders in the report, which shows the companies still profiting from the likes of elephant riding and tiger selfies.
This Robot Elephant Could Replace India’s Captive Temple Elephants
Amid animal welfare concerns and hundreds of human deaths caused by temple elephants, one temple is now welcoming a mechanical elephant as an innovative and ethical alternative.
Six Notorious Tiger Poachers Have Been Caught in the Act
A tiger skin, a tiger skeleton, and a leopard skeleton were also seized during the joint operation by the Tamil Nadu Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and Wildlife SOS.
Fourth Dolphin Dies in Under a Year at Las Vegas Attraction
The bottlenose dolphin who had been living at the hotel venue for over 30 years, has passed away, bringing attention to the ongoing debate about the ethics of keeping marine mammals in captivity.
Latest Whale Death in NY, Amid Investigation Into Increased Number of Deadly Incidents
A 25-foot minke whale found dead last week is the latest in an ongoing increase of whale deaths across the East Coast.
Elephant, Lion, and Polar Bear Trophy Hunts On Sale at Infamous Hunting Convention in Tennessee
The event will sell hundreds of domestic and international trophy hunts, including a $100,000 Alaska trip to kill a grizzly bear and a $143,000 lion and leopard hunting trip in Zambia.
How Elephant’s Bodies Are Damaged by Tourist Rides
An elephant sanctuary has released striking images of how their rescue elephant’s spines are visibly deformed from years in the riding industry, in an effort to help raise awareness amongst tourists.
Plans to Remove Federal Grizzly Protections Move Forward
Trophy hunting of the animals could return to several states if the legal protections for grizzly bears are removed.
List of Top Ten “Worst” US Zoos Highlights Suffering of Elephants
Receiving support from the likes of Bill Maher and Sarah Silverman, the list exposes the plight of captive elephants, who suffer from a lack of space, unsuitably cold climates and unnatural conditions.
Millions of People are Holding Out Hope for this Collapsed Elephant
Moti, a 35-year-old bull elephant, was ‘on the verge of death’ when Wildlife SOS was called in to provide urgent veterinary treatment. Now his ongoing story has captured the hearts of people across the globe.
Biggest Wolf Slaughter in Modern Times Begins in Sweden
Hunters have been granted permission to kill a quarter of the country’s population despite outrage from wildlife experts.
Tokitae, the Orca Held in Captivity for More Than Five Decades, Could Finally Return to home waters
After being taken from her family in 1970, the female whale has spent the past 52 years in a pool in the smallest orca enclosure in North America. Now, there’s a chance she could finally be returned to her natural home.
Veterinarians are Joining Together to Help End the Slaughter of American Horses
Support for federal legislation to permanently prohibit the slaughter of American horses for human consumption is growing as more than 200 veterinarians sign a letter expressing support for the act - but will Congress listen?
Vietnamese Province Granted $2.2m to Phase Out Elephant Riding
Dak Lak, home to the country’s largest elephant population, will end all riding by 2026 in favor of elephant-friendly alternative tourism ventures thanks to financial support from the Animals Asia Foundation.