ANIMALS FIGHT BACK

this-mad-world:

A film by greenrenaissance.co.za

The orphaned rhino calf, named Tanner 2, that survived the horrific poaching incident last month at Shamwari Game Reserve unfortunately died yesterday -5.12.2011.

The Shamwari Veterinary team really did their utmost to recuperate Tanner 2 with the finest veterinarian care and 24 hour love and attention and he was responding well once he was relocated to the boma at the Wildlife Centre.

Initial concerns were eye damage and pressure to lower limbs as well as the wound where his horns were brutally removed. The biggest initial challenges were to reduce pain and to get him to eat and drink and administer eye drops at six hour intervals.

The solution to his anorexia was to introduce him to Clint, another orphaned white rhino calf. Clint taught him to once again enjoy the lush green grass in a camp at the Wildlife Centre. As Tanner’s eyesight was deteriorating, he also followed Clint to water troughs and a mud wallow and a strong bond developed between the two of them and they became best of friends, which was incredible to witness.

In the meantime Tanner had to be treated on a regular basis. As Clint became very protective over Tanner, it was a challenge to anaesthetise Tanner for treatment while Clint had to be kept at a distance. Although Tanner’s appetite improved, he had severe problems with tissue damage to one of his hind legs as well as deterioration of his eye sight.

States Joe Cloete - Group General Manager - Shamwari Group: “Things unfortunately turned to the worst on Sunday 4 December. Eye damage proved to be irreversible and sloughing of necrotic tissue to his leg affected his hock seriously. He struggled to stand up and walk. There was no reason to prolong his suffering. Thus Tanner was euthanised on yesterday, Monday 5 December. We cannot thank everyone enough for all the emails of well wishes and support to Tanner 2 and the Shamwari Anti Poaching Unit is not only going to put even further measures in place to prevent such incidents but also along with our alliances we are following all leads to bring rhino poaching syndicates to justice.”

Everyone at Shamwari, including Clint will definitely miss Tanner 2 and Clint will be relocated back to Kariega Game Reserve soon where he will join the existing herd of white rhino.

For more info go to - shamwari.com

Please help stop Rhino Poaching by supporting the Wilderness Foundation - wildernessfoundation.org

(via this-mad-world-deactivated20120)

Shark Finning - 73 Million Sharks Get Killed Every Year for Fins
Here is a quick 6 minute documentary on shark finning to help with understanding its disastrous consequences. Over the summer, I started to better understand the significance of the ocean and its link with the biodiversity. I helped with a fundraiser with Earthwatch Australia to raise money for marine science research and essentially conservation of marine species. Sharks and other marine animals are incredibly important linkages to the whole system and the disappearance of them will lead to terrible consequences down the chain such as the eventual loss of other animal species/plants, the deterioration of the ocean’s health which will directly effect human survival. The ocean is a lifeline. Shark finning is pulling the sharks out of the ocean, clubbing or beating them so they do not harm humans, cutting off their fins and then throwing them back in the ocean. The capture and finning of these sharks are also not monitored making it impossible to document shark populations and planning for sustainable practises. With over 73 million sharks killed per year for shark fin soup served as a delicacy in asian countries and other cities around the world, there is no doubt that it will have an effect on the survival of ocean life and already some shark species have disappeared. 

Thankfully not all is loss as some areas have started to ban shark fin soup like in Toronto, Hawaii, some restaurants in Hong Kong, and Europe is working on following in these footsteps. 

“It’s not really a cultural thing, we can change our cultural practises if it is not sustainable. We can change our cultural values into sustainable value.” “[Shark finning] is destroying the world’s oceans and killing the regulators of our oceans.”

Coming from someone who is scared mad of birds, I don’t understand how our culture, our world, has seeped this deep into hunger. Really, we’re hungry? That’s it. That’s what asks of billions of animals to be salvaged? Defaced, bodies pulled apart, and left in a pile of thousands alike. All because we are hungry for homonely-enraged, disease ridden, inaudible heartbeats. Inaudible! Not a sound to be heard, we shut them up as quickly as we bring them to life. Give alternatives a chance, a little chewy but far more disgestible, nutritious, eco-friendly and harm free. Give those birdies their wings back!  

Yes, I just pulled the vegan card.

(via thechookhouse)