When visiting iconic cities such as London or New York City, many tourists are enchanted by the sight of horse-drawn carriages. To some, the use of horse-drawn carriages is a delightful activity. Others, however, perceive this as a cruel and unnecessary practice. The horses involved often pull heavy loads whilst trying to navigate traffic. Walking and standing on concrete and asphalt can also lead to debilitating leg problems, whilst breathing in exhaust fumes can cause respiratory disorders.[1] Over the years, […]
The late Dame Daphne Sheldrick stated: “No animal triggers more heated debate within conservation circles than the elephant, for no animal has greater impact on the environment or is more “human” emotionally”.[1] One of the greatest debates surrounding the conservation of elephants is whether the most appropriate method of conserving them is through mass culling. Culture of Culling Despite being ravaged by poaching in the 1950s, pockets of elephant populations grew in national parks, such as Hwange in Zimbabwe, Tsavo […]
Iceland’s Christmas advert has reminded the public of the deadly struggle between the palm oil industry and the very survival of the Bornean and Sumatran Orangutans. Both the Bornean and Sumatran Orangutans are critically endangered species listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Mammals and Appendix I CITES; this is despite continued efforts to brand palm oil as sustainable and capable of co-existing with the Orangutans. The questions we have to ask ourselves are, how […]
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always held a special place in my heart for donkeys. This summer I visited El Refugio Del Burrito, and, as always, was humbled by the warmth and affection of the donkeys I saw, especially considering the abject suffering they have been through to find a home with the charity. El Refugio Del Burrito, alongside its UK counter-part, The Donkey Sanctuary, works tirelessly to try to end the cruelty inflicted on donkeys […]
This is the first in a series of posts focusing on the history and philosophy of UK animal law, containing a brief overview and looking at some of the people whose ideas have shaped the view of animals that informs our laws today. Throughout history humanity has drawn some fairly arbitrary lines between different animal species when choosing friends, foes, and food. Cats were worshipped in ancient Egypt, dogs have been our companions for thousands of years, yet other species […]
When we think of elephants we conjure the image of a gentle giant wandering free. For the Asian elephant that would be in its jungle habitat found in India, Thailand and the Malay Peninsula. As a species, many of us share a love, or at least fascination, for elephants. However, our desire to get up close and personal has fuelled a cruel and dark tourism industry, built on our interest and their suffering. The behaviour of Asian elephants Asian elephants […]
Nzioki Wa Makau sits as a judge at the Industrial Court of Kenya and is Chairman of the Tsavo Trust. He has enjoyed a distinguished career in the Kenyan anti-corruption movement, having previously held positions at the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. It is at the crack of dawn. I woke up about 25 minutes ago, took a very brief shower and dressed in a light t-shirt and some jungle trousers and walked to the sitting […]
Image above: CounterCanter, Flickr Performance equine shows are a regular occurrence in many communities throughout the United States and demonstrate the incredible bond between horse and rider. However, the motivation to achieve the ‘perfect show horse’ can lead to extreme suffering. This blog discusses Tennessee Walking Horses, a breed which has been subjected to severe cruelty in the name of aesthetics. The Tennessee Walking Horse natural gait is a smooth 4 beat gait known as the running walk, with the […]