CAPE TOWN—Humane Society International/Africa has released a new documentary today that highlights the threat to East Africa’s super tusker elephants. These gentle giants, known for having at least one tusk that weighs over 45 kilograms (100 pounds), are being pushed to the brink of extinction by rampant trophy hunting.

It is estimated that fewer than 10 super tusker elephants remain in the Greater Amboseli ecosystem, with fewer than 50 left across the entire African continent. Over the past 18 months, five super tusker elephant bulls from the Amboseli elephant population have been shot and killed in Tanzania’s Enduimet Wildlife Management Area by trophy hunters.

The 16-minute film, directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Nick Chevallier, investigates the tragic plight of super tuskers and their critical importance to the survival of the larger elephant population. Through interviews with influential Kenyan and Tanzanian community members, pastoralists, scientists and global conservationists, including Dr. Audrey Delsink and Claire Bass from Humane Society International, the documentary highlights the biological, ecological, economic and cultural significance of these imperilled animals.

Dr. Audrey Delsink, elephant behaviour expert and senior wildlife director for HSI/Africa, says, “Africa’s iconic super tuskers are being driven to the brink of extinction by the senseless greed of trophy hunters. Beyond their remarkable size, these animals are vital pillars of their societies, crucial for maintaining social and demographic stability and ecosystem health. Their deaths have deeply devastating consequences for elephant culture and African landscapes. These giants must be protected not just for their own sake but for current and future generations of elephants and humans. Urgent action by policy makers is essential to their survival.”

Super tusker elephant bulls are indispensable to their ecosystem, playing a crucial role in bull hierarchy, reproduction, and natural selection. Killing these older animals can have a hugely destabilizing effect on elephant families and herds, leading to increased aggression among younger males and even potentially escalating human wildlife conflict.

Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs at HSI/UK, states, “These animals have survived decades of habitat loss, poaching and climate change and are awe-inspiring icons of the natural world. For trophy hunters to put them in the crosshairs to end their lives just for bragging rights is as selfish as it is sick. Governments need to protect these irreplaceable animals from trophy hunting and the global trophy trade before they are wiped out.”

Super tuskers are currently listed under Appendix II of the Convention on Migratory Species, to which both Kenya and Tanzania are parties. Despite the countries’ collaborative conservation efforts, including a 1995 moratorium to protect these cross-border elephants, the continued killing of these iconic animals by trophy hunters remains largely unaddressed.

Dr. Joyce Poole, co-founder and co-director of ElephantVoices, who has studied this elephant population for over 40 years states, “In my mind, it’s just absolutely insane to compromise a whole lineage of unique, big-tusked elephants for a few hunters who’ve come here and want to stick these tusks on their wall.”

The documentary’s release takes place just ahead of Safari Club International’s annual convention, in Nashville, Tenn., where representatives from over 114 countries, including Tanzania, are expected to attend. The event will feature 950 exhibitors and an auction with 460 hunts and items donated by the convention’s exhibitors. Among these auction items is a safari package from Kilombero North Safaris, a Tanzania-based company previously linked to the killing of at least two Greater Amboseli super tuskers.

ENDS

Media contact: Dr. Matthew Schurch, HSI/Africa senior wildlife specialist, mschurch@hsi.org, +27 66 275 0956

Notes:

• View the film

• Read more about super tuskers

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Mum/Del/Hyd/Guj—As Makar Sankranti approaches, animal protection organization, Humane Society International/India (HSI/India) is urging citizens across India to celebrate a cruelty-free Makar Sankranti by refraining from the use of synthetic or “Chinese manja” used for kite flying. “Chinese manja” is the term used for strings coated with crushed glass and are dangerously sharp and have been known to cut through the skin of birds, animals, and humans – causing fatal injuries. 

Every year, thousands of birds suffer from injuries, some fatal, due to entanglement in these hazardous strings. As per data shared by Jivdaya Charitable Trust, an Ahmedabad NGO, approximately 4,000 birds were injured in Ahmedabad in 2024 alone. In Mumbai, more than 1,000 birds were reported injured, with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) receiving over 100 reported bird injury cases in just two days. The dangers of synthetic manja extend to humans as well, causing injuries to motorcyclists and children. In 2024, there were multiple cases of serious injuries and death, including the tragic death of a 7-year-old boy in Madhya Pradesh. 

Despite the National Green Tribunal’s ban on the use of Chinese manja in 2017, the sale and use of this hazardous material persists across various parts of India. Alokparna Sengupta, managing director, HSI/India said: “This disregard for the law is troubling as it turns a joyous occasion into a death trap for birds, animals and humans. Not only does this jeopardize public safety and animal welfare, but it highlights the urgent need for authorities to enforce stricter measures. At the same time, we urge the citizens to celebrate a compassionate Makar Sankranti. When you are out shopping for this sankranti, please buy cotton threads to fly your kite. Do not pay for something which is not only illegal but also cruel and can injure and kill those around you.”      

In addition to animal suffering, synthetic manja poses a significant environmental threat. Since it is non-biodegradable, it can stay in the environment for years, causing lasting pollution. Often discarded in public spaces and water bodies, it endangers wildlife and marine life, as animals may become entangled in it or mistake it for food, leading to severe injuries or death. 

HSI/India calls on citizens, communities and local authorities to make the festival safer and more compassionate for all. The organization urges people to: 

• Use eco-friendly manja: Traditional cotton threads, once commonly used for kite flying, are safe for both humans and animals and do not contribute to environmental damage. 

• Report the illegal sale of Chinese manja: If you come across any vendors selling it, inform the local police authorities immediately. 

• Keep a list of bird helplines handy: If you come across an injured bird, immediately contact the nearest helpline in your area.  

• Be mindful of waste: Dispose of kite strings and materials responsibly, avoiding littering in public spaces, roads and water bodies. 

  Facts:   

• Makar Sankranti is a widely celebrated festival across India and kite flying is considered an integral part of the festival. Traditionally, cotton threads were used to fly kites. However, with time, synthetic, glass-coated manjas have taken over.   

• It is common to spot cut pieces of manjas hanging in the air, caught on pillars, trees and other surfaces.  

• The glass and metal coating on manja makes it a conductor of electricity. It often winds up on electrical poles, becoming a tangible source of electrocution causing fatalities to birds and humans.  

• As per Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, the use of Chinese manja is considered a punishable offense with a fine of INR 5,000 or imprisonment up to one year.  

ENDS

Media Contact: Shaili Shah: 9930591005; sshah@hsi.org

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BRASÍLIA—The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has approved the 7th Edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia and has included a human cell-based and animal-free method to test the safety of medicines such as vaccines. This decision will spare many animals from unnecessary testing procedures and mark a significant milestone in the medicinal testing landscape.

Since 2022, HSI in Brazil’s Research and Toxicology department has established a working group to support the implementation of the monocyte activation test, providing a discussion forum where technical and legislative challenges have been discussed and possible solutions explored. The working group held online workshops in 2022 and 2023.

Bianca Marigliani, senior principal strategist, Research and Toxicology, Humane Society International in Brazil, said: “We are delighted at the inclusion of the MAT in the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia. This reaffirms Brazil’s commitment towards eliminating and replacing obsolete animal tests for batch release testing of vaccines, blood-derived products and other medicines. We have been working on this with CONCEA, BraCVAM and local biopharmaceutical companies since 2022, and this collaboration has been pivotal. We look forward to facilitating such advancements in other areas of safety testing of biologicals and medicines too.”

The MAT is a human-specific test method that can detect all kinds of pyrogens—substances that can cause a rise in temperature—and is a significantly more accurate representation of human in vivo reactions to such substances. Its inclusion as an alternative method to the traditional rabbit pyrogenicity test, an outdated test from the 1950s, is a significant step for patient safety. The introduction is also an important step for animal welfare, since rabbits will no longer be required for the release of biological products, like vaccines and blood-derived products, as well as other injectables products.

The inclusion of the MAT as an alternative method to the RPT follows the official recognition of the method by CONCEA in 2019 and shows the commitment of ANVISA and others in Brazil on moving away from the use of animal testing in the regulatory environment.

By recognizing the advantages of a human-based test, like the MAT, Brazil aligns with the European countries, India, China and Japan which have included the MAT as an alternative method to RPT and contributes to the global regulatory alignment of tests for biopharmaceutical products, in particular vaccines.

Please access the official text here

ENDS

Media contact:

• Antoniana Ottoni, aottoni@hsi.org  +55 61 98140 3636

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JAMNAGAR, Gujarat—Nearly 400 buffaloes and goats rescued by animal charities Humane Society International/India and People for Animals from the mass animal sacrifice at Gadhimai in Nepal, have found forever homes at Vantara, an animal care centre in Jamnagar, and the Happy Home Sanctuary run by PFA Uttarakhand. The 347 goats and 74 buffaloes were among more than 750 animals rescued by HSI/India and PFA, alongside Indian border police from the Sashastra Seema Bal, at the Indo-Nepal border check post just days before the Gadhimai animal sacrifice  on Dec. 8 and 9. The groups also rescued hundreds of birds; 328 rescued pigeons were released back into the wild, and two chickens were adopted locally.

A team of ten veterinarians and para-veterinarians from Vantara reached Bihar on Dec. 8 and carefully examined the animals before they began their journey from the sanctuary. At Vantara, the animals will receive further veterinary care, including necessary medical treatment to help them recover from the hardships they have endured.

Alokparna Sengupta, managing director, HSI/India, said: “This is the best possible outcome for these animals who we were able to rescue from the Gadhimai sacrifice. There could be no better places than Vantara and Happy Home Sanctuary to provide safe haven for animals who have been abused and who would have met a horrific end. This collective effort marks a major victory in the fight against animal sacrifice and other forms of animal cruelty and sends a powerful message about the importance of protecting and respecting animals worldwide.”

Gauri Maulekhi, trustee at PFA, said: “This is a new chapter of hope for the animals. We are filled with joy knowing they have been saved from the horrors of the Gadhimai sacrifice and will now live and flourish in a safe, loving environment. We extend our heartfelt thank you to Vantara for their generosity in offering a forever home to these goats and buffaloes. Their successful relocation will ensure the best possible long-term care and well-being for these animals”

The Gadhimai festival, the world’s largest ritual animal slaughter, has long been a tragic event for hundreds of thousands of animals including buffaloes, pigs, mice, pigeons and goats. HSI/India and PFA deployed teams to the Indo-Nepal border checkpoints over a week prior to the sacrifice, to assist border police in intercepting and confiscating animals illegally transported for slaughter. Their combined efforts saved the lives of more than 750 animals—74 buffaloes, 347 goats, 328 pigeons and two chickens. Despite these efforts, estimates based on buffalo entry receipts and eyewitness accounts suggest that between 250,000 – 500,000 animals were slaughtered over the course of two days.

Visuals:

• Download videos from 2024 Gadhimai Vantara rehabilitation operation 
• View photos and video of HSI/India’s 2024 Gadhimai border work

To download these visuals, use the following logins:

• Login: Gadhimai24PR1 Password: t_o15iNe1
• Login: Gadhimai24PR2 Password: t_o15iNe2
• Login: Gadhimai24PR3 Password: t_o15iNe3

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Shaili Shah: HSI/India media relations specialist: sshah@hsi.org

The post Nearly 400 animals rescued by HSI/India and PFA from the Gadhimai sacrifice find forever homes at Vantara animal care centre and Happy Home Sanctuary appeared first on Humane Society International.

PETEN, Guatemala—Responsive to the threat that illegal trafficking poses to wildlife in Guatemala, Humane Society International and its local partner Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre recently provided training on proper handling of confiscated animals to wildlife technicians from the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), and delivered specialized equipment to support their work.

The equipment includes kennels of different sizes, humane cages for birds, mammals, and snakes, herpetological bags, gloves and digital scales, among other resources, to help authorities to safely and properly manage wild animals.

During the workshop, held at the ARCAS Rescue Center in Peten, participants received training on the current regulations in Guatemala regarding wild animals; human-wildlife interactions and coexistence; and the biology and management of reptiles, primates and Psittacidae (birds such as parrots and macaws).

Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, said: “Wildlife trafficking represents a serious threat to animals who are removed from their habitat and illegally sold. That is why HSI supports the work carried out by CONAP in Guatemala, providing equipment and training to its officials so that they can safely and humanely care for confiscated wild animals.”

Fernando Martinez, director ARCAS Peten Rescue Center, said: “It is very important to strengthen biodiversity management in Guatemala, so we work with CONAP’s technical staff to train them on the proper handling and care that trafficked and confiscated wild animals should receive, as well as the equipment to do so. The result will be providing wildlife with the well-being they deserve outside their natural habitat.”

Miriam Quinonez, wildlife and hydrobiological resources manager of CONAP in Peten, said: “Wildlife is key to human survival and the care of wild species must be a priority; all species fulfill particular roles that help maintain the natural balance that gives us life. Wild animals were born to be free, every day we must learn to live and respect our wild urban and rural neighbors.”

According to CONAP, illegal wildlife trafficking in Guatemala ranks third among environmental crimes for the period 2014-2019, with the most cases taken up in the nation’s judiciary branch, only behind crimes committed against forest resources and attacks on natural and cultural heritage. The animals most affected by illegal trafficking are birds, spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, as well as the green iguana and the Jicotea turtle.

ENDS

Media contact: Alejandra Zuniga, CommsLatAm@hsi.org

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BUCHAREST, Romania—Humane Society International/Europe and the Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department hosted a groundbreaking debate titled “Efficiently and Humanely: How to Properly Manage Animal-Human Issues” at the Palace of Parliament. This first-of-its-kind event in Romania brought together over 80 participants, including mayors, county council presidents from 24 municipalities and 10 counties, as well as parliamentarians committed to finding humane, sustainable animal welfare solutions.

The debate marks an important milestone in HSI/Europe’s broader initiative to support local authorities in implementing compassionate and effective dog population management strategies. While figures are rough (without any official count), across Romania, it is estimated that there are between 500,000 and 1,000,000 stray dogs on the streets. Many suffer from malnutrition, disease, while others, housed in shelters, are sadly euthanized if unclaimed.

In 2024, HSI/Europe launched a strategic partnership with the Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department, recognizing the agency’s innovative, holistic approach to animal welfare and dog management. This collaboration began in September with a comprehensive program offering free veterinary services—including spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, de-worming, and first aid—for dogs and cats in Ilfov County. These services, delivered by HSI/Europe through collaboration with veterinary teams, such as WAVE and Nomad Vet, target areas with significant animal welfare challenges, such as disadvantaged communities, industrial zones, and former military sites.

Data-Driven, Humane Approaches

During the event, HSI was represented by Dr. Amit Chaudhari, director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Analysis, Humane Society International/India; Kerry Zaleski, director of Companion Animals and Engagement, HSI; and Andreea Roseti, country director for HSI/Europe in Romania.

“There is no true animal welfare without compassion for people,” said  Roseti. “Stray animals often originate from someone’s backyard, reflecting a failure in responsibility and resources. Humane solutions require tailored interventions, informed by ongoing data and analysis. Together with the Ilfov County Council team and our colleagues from North America, we’ve been collecting data to design and implement the most effective pet management programs possible.”

Dr. Chaudhari also shared insights from a pilot census conducted in 14 localities in Ilfov County, underscoring the importance of data-driven, long-term planning to address stray dog populations effectively.

Empowering Local Authorities

The Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department showcased its ongoing dog welfare projects and provided participants with practical tools for implementation. Attendees received resources, including templates and legal frameworks, enabling other municipalities to adopt similar models.

“The issue of stray animals is as much about people as it is about animals,” said Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection at Ilfov County Council. “While laws allow us to fund sterilization for owned dogs, the larger issue lies with stray animals. Through partnerships with NGOs, we’ve developed solutions that go beyond what legislation permits. At the event, we distributed USB drives with detailed documentation to make it easier for other authorities to replicate our programs and adapt them to their regions.”

A Path Forward

The roundtable highlighted the critical role of collaboration and innovative thinking in improving living conditions for both people and animals. With the active engagement of local authorities and the support of organizations like HSI/Europe, Romania is taking significant steps toward a more compassionate approach to animal welfare.

ENDS

Media Contact: Raluca Simion: commsromania@hsi.org

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TORTUGUERO, Costa Rica—Humane Society International/Latin America recently provided free veterinary care to dozens of dogs and cats in Tortuguero, a small but much visited community in northeastern Costa Rica situated on the country’s Caribbean coast in proximity to an ecologically sensitive national park. The examinations and treatments were carried out as part of an initiative intended to strengthen Tortuguero’s status as an animal-friendly community.

Over two days, 63 pets including 44 dogs and 19 cats, received essential veterinary services including examinations, vaccinations, deworming and microchipping. This included 24 animals from the neighboring community of San Francisco, who were brought to the clinic by boat.

According to Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, the event marked the last activity of the year in Tortuguero under a pilot project aimed at empowering the community to become more animal-friendly. “Excellent results were achieved in both animal health campaigns, as well as in the other approaches taken throughout the year, mainly due to the high level of commitment from the community and the work of our ‘Animal Ambassadors,’ local individuals committed to leading animal welfare initiatives and helping make them sustainable over time,” Borel said.

Ahead of the event, the community’s Animal Ambassadors learned how to recognize stress in pets and take steps to create a calm, positive environment. One Ambassador, Scarleth Centeno, highlighted the impact: “Both campaigns ran smoothly and were well-organized, with minimal stress for the animals. The techniques we learned helped us identify and address any signs of discomfort, ensuring the dogs and cats felt safe and supported.”

The veterinary care services were complemented by educational sessions for community members on interactions between domestic pets and local wildlife. Tortuguero is uniquely situated near a national park that is home to diverse species, including sea turtles and jaguars, making responsible pet ownership critical to protecting both pets and wildlife.

HSI/Latin America developed the initiative in close collaboration with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC–MINAE), the Tortuguero National Park, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), the School of Veterinary Medicine of the National University, the National Commission for Biodiversity Management (CONAGEBIO-MINAE), ASVO Costa Rica, Narime Foundation, Tortuguero Environmental Committee, and Sea Turtle Conservancy, among other parties.

ENDS

Media contact: Alejandra Zúñiga: alezuniga@outlook.com

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BIHAR, India—Animal charities Humane Society International/India, People for Animals, Sneha’s Care and the Federation of Animal Welfare of Nepal have condemned the mass animal sacrifice at the Gadhimai festival in Nepal as “an appalling bloodbath” and urged the Nepali government to take action to make this the last Gadhimai festival where animals are killed. HSI/India, PFA and the border police managed to confiscate and save from slaughter more than 750 animals being illegally transported across the border into Nepal from India.

Held every five years in Bariyarpur village in the Bara district of Nepal, the Gadhimai festival sees hundreds of thousands of animals killed. The killing began in the early hours of the morning on Dec. 8 when, according to entry receipts, 4,200 buffaloes were beheaded in the arena and thousands of goats, pigeons and more were killed outside. It ended today with the killing of thousands more goats, as part of an historic ritual to appease the goddess Gadhimai.

Humane Society International/India and People for Animals deployed teams to the Indo-Nepal border checkpoints more than a week prior to the sacrifice, to assist border police in intercepting and confiscating animals illegally transported for slaughter. Their combined efforts saved the lives of more than 750 animals―74 buffaloes, 347 goats, 328 pigeons and two chickens. The newborn and infant goats needing immediate or specialist treatment will receive life-long care at Happy Home Sanctuary run by HSI/India’s partners PFA Uttarakhand; permanent homes are being found for the buffaloes and chickens while the pigeons have been safely released back into the wild. Despite this, estimates from eyewitness accounts are that between 250,000 – 500,000 animals were slaughtered across the two days.

Arkaprava Bahar, Humane Society International/India’s senior manager of campaigns, who led animal rescue efforts at the border, said: “We rescued buffaloes from the back of trucks, goats smuggled in scarves on the back of motorbikes, chickens strung upside down by their feet on the side of vehicles and baskets and boxes of pigeons. The suffering these animals endure is so upsetting and so unnecessary. They have been put through exhausting journeys, many weak from lack of food, water and rest, only to be thrust into the mayhem of Gadhimai where all around them they see other animals being slaughtered. I’ve never seen anything as upsetting and disturbing as what I have witnessed at the Gadhimai sacrifice. The scale of the animal killing is unfathomable, there are animals being beheaded everywhere you look and pools of bright red blood on the ground wherever you tread. Animals such as buffaloes and goats are sensitive, sentient creatures very much aware of what’s happening around them. It must be a terrifying ordeal. This appalling bloodbath must end.

It’s some comfort to know that we and the border forces were able to save hundreds of precious animals from such cruelty. They will now live happy lives being cared for at partner shelters. Every buffalo, goat and pigeon we saved is precious, but we urge the government of Nepal to take decisive action to ensure that in future we have a bloodless Gadhimai.”

Prior to the border work, HSI/India and PFA held a press conference with spiritual teacher and author Acharya Prashant who encouraged devotees to celebrate the festival with compassion and to honour traditions without harming animals. Prashant said: “Devotion should inspire compassion, not cruelty. Slaughtering animals in the name of the divine diminishes the spirit of worship. Let us honour the Goddess by upholding the sanctity of all life during Gadhimai.”

HSI/India teams also conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns and distributed around 3,500 local language pamphlets in 12 villages near the Indo-Nepal border, urging devotees not to sacrifice their animals.

Sneha Shrestha, founder of Sneha’s Care and president of the Federation of Animal Welfare of Nepal, said: “The local government has been intimidating journalists, NGOs and anyone calling for a stop to the sacrifice, violating the rights to free communication. The local government along with the central government has also failed to support the campaign as promised. This year the festival management committee has increased the height of the wall around the compound area where the sacrifices take place and have deployed police forces around the compound. The government in Nepal has had five years to comply with the Supreme Court judgment banning sacrifice but it has failed to take any action and instead has promoted the sacrifice.”

HSI/India and PFA have been working since 2014 to stop animal sacrifice at Gadhimai. There were an estimated more than 500,000 animals killed in 2009 and around 250,000 animals in both 2014 and 2019.

Ahead of the 2024 sacrifice, the Gadhimai Temple urged devotees to bring animal sacrifice numbers back up to 500,000.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India took a significant step to curb this practice by directing the Indian government to prevent the illegal transport of animals across the border into Nepal for sacrifice at Gadhimai. The court also called upon animal protection organizations, including HSI/India, PFA and others, to formulate an action plan to ensure its orders, which HSI/India has implemented ever since, were effectively enforced. Subsequently, in September 2019, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered an end to live animal sacrifices at Gadhimai and urged authorities to create a plan to phase out this practice nationwide, but this has been widely ignored.

Facts:

• The Gadhimai festival involves a month-long celebration or “mela,” culminating in the ritual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals.
• Water buffalo, goats, chickens, pigs, ducks and rats are decapitated with blunt metal swords in an alcohol-fueled killing frenzy.
• The majority of these animals are illegally transported from India into Nepal owing to porous borders.
• This rule is being openly flouted as the majority of animals are transported illegally across the border without an export license.
• Mass sacrifice events pose serious public health risks, exacerbated by the unsanitary conditions at the festival site. With no toilets for millions of pilgrims, the air is filled with the stench of feces, blood and death.
• The origins of Gadhimai date back around 265 years, when the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, Bhagwan Chowdhary, had a dream that the goddess Gadhimai wanted blood in return for freeing him from prison, protecting him from evil and promising prosperity and power. The goddess asked for a human sacrifice, but Chowdhary offered an animal instead and this has been repeated every five years since.

Visuals:

• View photos/video from the 2024 Gadhimai sacrifice day. (Email whiggins@hsi.org for access to download.)
• View photos/video of HSI/India’s 2024 Gadhimai border work. (Email whiggins@hsi.org for access to download.)

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Wendy Higgins, director of international media: whiggins@hsi.org
• Shaili Shah, HSI/India media relations specialist: sshah@hsi.org; 99 3059 1005

The post Mass beheading of hundreds of thousands of animals takes place at Nepal’s Gadhimai festival, although animal groups and border police save over 750 lucky buffaloes, goats, pigeons and chickens appeared first on Humane Society International.

BRUSSELS—Today’s decision by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to downgrade the protection of the wolf represents a dangerous step backwards for biodiversity and sets a worrying precedent for wildlife conservation in Europe, according to several animal protection organisations.

Meeting in Strasbourg this week, the Committee agreed to reclassify the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected” under the Bern Convention. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Eurogroup for Animals and Humane Society International/Europe warn that this politically motivated decision undermines decades of slow but steady progress in the recovery of the species.

“This decision disregards science and opens the door to political interference in conservation efforts,” said Ilaria Di Silvestre, IFAW’s Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe. “The wolf is still endangered in many parts of Europe, and weakening its protection will only lead to further conflict and threaten its recovery.”

Dr Joanna Swabe, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Humane Society International/Europe (HSI) added: “The EU decision-making on lowering legal protections for wolves sets a dangerous precedent for other European species, such as bears and lynx. All decision-making relating to the protected status of wildlife species must be based on robust scientific evidence. Instead, decisions on wolves have clearly been driven by political expediency and succeed only in appeasing vocal interest groups, such as hunters, who prefer to take recourse to rifles, rather than seeking coexistence with large carnivores.”

Although the wolf has recovered in parts of Europe, six out of nine European wolf populations remain in a status of near threatened or vulnerable. Conservationists emphasise that protective measures are vital to ensure that the species reaches and remains in a favourable conservation status. If transposed into EU legislation, the downgrade of the wolf’s protection status would allow for greater hunting flexibility, but experience and scientific evidence have shown that culling is an ineffective solution to reducing attacks on domestic animals, as opposed to preventive measures successfully   implemented by many farmers across the EU.

Léa Badoz, Wildlife Programme Officer at Eurogroup for Animals commented: “The wolf is unfortunately the latest political pawn, a victim of misinformation. Downgrading protection will not solve the challenges of coexistence nor help farmers. It is based on misconceptions and threatens wolves, while failing to provide real support for farmers and local communities, many of whom are in favour of coexistence with the wolf. Proven coexistence measures must be the priority, and the EU should help through financial means.”

The three NGOs are committed to promoting coexistence with wildlife and closely monitoring any subsequent changes to the EU Habitats Directive, to ensure that the protection of European species is not further compromised.

ENDS

Editor’s Note: Survey on attitudes towards large carnivores in rural communities.

Media contacts:

• HSI/Europe: Yavor Gechev, EU communications director: +359 889 468098; ygechev@hsi.org
• IFAW: Jürgen Noack, Communications Consultant: +32 470 48 49 05; jnoack.contractor@ifaw.org
• Eurogroup for Animals: Theresa Bonnici, Press Officer: +32 456 42 11 99; t.bonnici@eurogroupforanimals.org

The post Animal protection NGOs deplore decision to downgrade wolf protection appeared first on Humane Society International.

BIHAR, India—Ahead of the Gadhimai festival in Nepal, which is the largest mass animal sacrifice event in the world, animal protection organizations Humane Society International/India and People For Animals are urging devotees not to bring animals for sacrifice. HSI/India and PFA have deployed teams to assist the border police in their work prohibiting the illegal transport of animals across the Indo-Nepal border. HSI/India and PFA will work to ensure that confiscated animals are taken to safety in accordance with Indian law.

Held every five years in Bariyarpur village in the Bara district of Nepal, the Gadhimai festival sees hundreds of thousands of animals, including buffaloes, goats, pigeons and more, beheaded as part of an historic ritual to appease the goddess Gadhimai.

Arkaprava Bhar, HSI/India’s senior manager of campaign capacity building, who is leading on-ground efforts at the border, said: “Along with our colleagues from PFA, we are at the checkpoints around the borders and assisting law enforcement officials to ensure every animal we find brought for sacrifice is protected. Our mission is not just about stopping the illegal transport of animals but about standing up for compassion in our traditions. Under the leadership of border forces, we are conducting thorough vehicle checks to ensure that no animals are smuggled across. In the past few days, we’ve stopped trucks and vehicles carrying buffaloes and goats, all bound for the festival where they would have been beheaded had we not been there. They are the lucky ones, spared this terrifying ordeal. We will save as many lives as possible and spread the message to end blood sacrifice.”

A few days prior to the border work, the teams also conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns and distributed around 3,500 local language pamphlets in 12 villages near the Indo-Nepal border, urging devotees not to sacrifice their animals.

HSI/India and PFA have been working since 2014 to stop animal sacrifice at Gadhimai. Following persistent efforts, the gruesome animal sacrifices have declined from an estimated more than 500,000 animals killed in 2009 to around 250,000 animals in both 2014 and 2019 including an estimated 3,500 buffaloes.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India took a significant step to curb this practice by directing the Indian government to prevent the illegal transport of animals across the border into Nepal for sacrifice at Gadhimai. The court also called upon animal protection organizations, including HSI/India, PFA and others, to formulate an action plan to ensure its orders, which HSI/India has implemented ever since, were effectively enforced. Subsequently, in September 2019, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered an end to live animal sacrifices at Gadhimai and urged authorities to create a plan to phase out this practice nationwide, but this has been widely ignored.

Facts:

• The Gadhimai festival involves a month-long celebration or “mela,” culminating in the ritual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals.
• Water buffalo, goats, chickens, pigs, ducks and rats are decapitated with blunt metal swords in an alcohol-fueled killing frenzy.
• The majority of these animals are illegally transported from India into Nepal owing to porous borders.
• This rule is being openly flouted as the majority of animals are transported illegally across the border without an export license.
• Mass sacrifice events pose serious public health risks, exacerbated by the unsanitary conditions at the festival site. With no toilets for millions of pilgrims, the air is filled with the stench of feces, blood and death.
• The origins of Gadhimai date back around 265 years, when the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, Bhagwan Chowdhary, had a dream that the goddess Gadhimai wanted blood in return for freeing him from prison, protecting him from evil and promising prosperity and power. The goddess asked for a human sacrifice, but Chowdhary successfully offered an animal instead and this has been repeated every five years since.

HSI/India representatives are available for interview on request.

View photos/video of our 2024 Gadhimai border work. (To download these visuals, email whiggins@hsi.org.)

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Wendy Higgins, director of international media: whiggins@hsi.org
• Shaili Shah, HSI/India media relations specialist: 99 3059 1005; sshah@hsi.org

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