Kenya begins first national census of wildlife.
Kenya is embarking on its first national census of wildlife covering 58 national parks and reserves, private and community conservancies, and aims to be completed by the end of July.
The conservation data will include a count of terrestrial and marine mammals, key birds and endangered primates. The total cost of the census is estimated to be approximately 250m Kenyan shillings (approximately HK$17 million).
The purpose of the count is to provide an update on wildlife status and distribution. This will enable policy makers to be informed on how to implement more effective wildlife conservation and management.
Courtesy of Arial Ng.
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Turkey Will No Longer Classify Animals As Commodities.
New animal welfare legislation in Turkey will reclassify strays and pets as living beings rather than commodities, bringing with it harsher penalties for animal cruelty.
While current legislation punishes animal cruelty with a relatively small fine for damage to a “commodity” (comparable to destruction of property), the update will redefine these crimes to place them on a par with violence towards humans.
Courtesy of HKALPO
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First and Second Reading of the Organised and Serious Crimes Bill in HK.
On 7 July 2021, the first and second reading of the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance Bill, a private Bill introduced by Legislative Councillor Elizabeth Quat Pui Fan, was heard by the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
The Bill seeks to amend the Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance, Cap 455 (“OSCO”), to include wildlife crimes as defined in the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, Cap. 586 so as to arm investigative authorities with increased investigative powers, as well as the power to both confiscate and issue charging orders over property representing the benefits of wildlife crimes.
Courtesy of Felix Tsang
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Survey shows a considerable decrease in HK shark fin consumption.
JULY 14 IS SHARK AWARENESS DAY!
A 10-year survey monitoring the long-term changes in the consumption of shark fin soup revealed a noticeable drop in shark fin consumption in Hong Kong and stronger support for government initiatives for wildlife conservation.
The survey results showed in significant change in the city’s attitudes towards shark fin consumption. In 2009/10, 58.1% of respondents said that their consumption of shark fin remained the same over the past five years; whereas in 2019/2020, the percentage dropped to 19.1%, and 53.9% respondents reported a decrease in consumption. A further 15.2% of respondents in 2019/20 said that they have stopped consuming shark fin products.
In the 2019/20 survey, more than 90.4% of respondents strongly agreed or agreed that the Hong Kong Government should do more to regulate shark fin trade in Hong Kong.
Please lend your support to the Hong Kong Shark Foundation 香港護鯊會 for all that they do for sharks in Hong Kong.
Courtesy of Nicole Liang
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UK Considers Plans to Strengthen Welfare Rights of Crustaceans and Molluscs.
The Animal Sentience Bill was introduced by the UK government on May 11 as part of a raft of animal welfare reforms. It replaces EU legislation which legally recognised that animals can feel pain and experience emotions.
Currently the Bill currently only applies to “vertebrate” animals. However, scientific evidence has shown that decapod crustaceans, a group which includes crabs and lobsters, can feel pain and suffer and should be included in animal welfare legislation.
Whilst other countries such as Switzerland, Norway and New Zealand include decapod crustaceans in their animal welfare laws, decapods are not currently included in the definition of ‘animal’ in most of the UK’s animal welfare legislation.
Courtesy of Kat Mak
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Landmark High Court challenge to Australia’s Ag-Gag Laws.
Animal rights activists have launched a landmark case in the High Court of Australia in a bid to overturn laws restraining secretly recorded footage of cruelty and abuse in slaughterhouses, arguing such ban had breached Australia’s implied right to freedom of political communication.
The Ag-Gag laws under the New South Wales Surveillance Devices Act 2007, have been described as not being "compatible with the system of representative and responsible government established by the constitution”.
Courtesy of Kelly Ma.
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Pet Owner Arrested After Dog Falls To Death.
On 5 July 2021, Hong Kong Police arrested a man on suspicion of animal cruelty after his pet dog fell to its death from his 19th storey flat. A police source said a preliminary investigation indicated the dog probably passed through a space in the railings on the flat’s balcony before falling off the building.
Despite many apartment buildings promoting themselves as dog friendly, there are still an unfortunate number of incidents involving unprovoked abuse towards dog owners and their dogs. Even more concerning are the instances where dogs have been seen left to fend for themselves outside in extreme weather conditions, with no signs of shelter.
There needs to be a greater sense of responsibility and a legal duty on pet owners in Hong Kong to ensure that the welfare needs of their animals are being met.
We would love to hear your thoughts on these mattes. If you have been the victim of directed abuse as a dog (or animal) owner, please feel free to share your stories with us in the comment section below.
Courtesy of HKALPO
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French court outlaws glue-trap hunting of songbirds.
The top administrative court in France, the State Council formally banned the use of glue traps to hunt birds, revoking exceptions that were granted for what was considered a "traditional” practice.
In a statement, the French court said the practice "cannot be authorized" as it violates following a March decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union that banned it.
Courtesy of HKALPO
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Newsletter | JUNE 2021 Review
Our monthly round up of news and articles on animal rights issues from around the world. Read the April round up now. To support HKALPO and receive monthly updates, straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here.
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Tell Me More: Under The Ocean
World Ocean Day is an annual event that aims to promote conservation of our oceans, including its diverse marine life. World Ocean Day was on Tuesday 8 June this year. Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans and seas. It is one of the most important foundations to our planet: affecting and regulating the climate, containing diverse marine ecosystems with significant impacts on the environment, being a significant resource for trade and finances (e.g. fishing, shipping), and more. The ocean is facing significant threat as a result of human activity.
The history of Hong Kong is deeply connected to the sea, beginning as a fishing village, and “becoming Asia’s second-highest per-capita seafood consumers.” Despite the perception of Hong Kong as an urban jungle, Hong Kong ‘harbours more than 25% of all marine diversity recorded in China, even though it only accounts for about 0.03% of its marine coastline.’
In this instalment of Tell Me More, HKALPO interviews two experts to understand what actions can be, and are being taken to conserve our marine life. Our experts focus on coral and sharks respectively, and they are:
Courtesy of Audrey O’Young
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Will The Fur Trade Soon Be Finished Forever?
Each year, around one hundred million animals are bred and killed on intensive fur farms specifically to supply the fashion industry. Animals bred for their fur such as foxes, rabbits, raccoon, dogs and mink are confined in small, barren, wire cages for their entire lives.
However, many leading fashion houses are now moving away from using real fur for fears that their brands will look outdated and out of touch, paving for a sustainable move forward for fashion. Will this mean the end of fur forever?
Courtesy of Amelia Wang.
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Hero rat retires from job detecting landmines.
A giant African pouched rat who spent years detecting land mines in Cambodia's countryside has come to the end of his working days. Magawa, originally from Tanzania, has been the most successful rodent to be trained and overseen by a Belgian nonprofit, APOPO, to sniff out landmines and alert de-miners so they can safely remove explosives. Magawa was said to have helped clear mines from 225,000 square meters (2,421,879 square feet) of land.
Courtesy of Michelle Cheung.
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Photographers rewrite list of 'Big 5' animals.
The ‘Big 5’ is an old term used by trophy hunters in Africa for the five most prized and dangerous animals to shoot and kill: elephant, rhino, leopard, Cape buffalo and lion. However, a new photography project has turned the meaning of shooting on its head - creating a new list of the five most sought after creatures to capture on camera.
More than 50,000 people from around the world voted for animals they most liked seeing pictures of as part of the New Big 5 wildlife photography list. The crowning creatures are elephant, lion, polar bear, gorilla and tiger, all of which are keystone species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as either critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable.
Courtesy of Kt Dallison
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Newsletter | MAY 2021 Review
Our monthly round up of news and articles on animal rights issues from around the world. Read the April round up now. To support HKALPO and receive monthly updates, straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter here.
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Tell Me More: Why There Is No Mercy In Release.
Mercy release is a practice often associated in Hong Kong with Buddha’s Birthday and seen to be an act of compassion and believed to bring good karma and fortune. Despite routed in good intentions, there are various issues associated with the practice, including animal welfare, ecological and public health.
In the first instalment of our “Tell Me More” interview series, HKALPO spoke to: -
Dr. Caroline Dingle, Senior Lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences at HKU;
Dr. Yik Hei Sung, Assistant Professor in the Science Unit at Lingnan University; and
Mr. Paul Crow, Senior Conservation Officer in the Fauna Conservation Department at Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden.
about the various problems and challenges associated with mercy release and why the practice needs to stop.
Courtesy of Audrey O’Young.
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UK Court of Appeal upholds Government policy on electronic dog collars.
The UK Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by manufacturers of electronic dog collars in respect of the Government’s proposal to ban the use of these devices in England.
It was argued that the decision was irrational because it originated from an unreasoned change of position on the evidence in respect of the welfare implications of the devices and that there was inconsistency of treatment with other devices, and that the proposed ban was a disproportionate interference with the manufacturers’ property rights as protected under Article 1 of the First Protocol to the ECHR.
Courtesy of HKALPO
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Worrying trend of "blind box” animal couriers found in China.
Recently, 160 cats and dogs were found by animal protection activists inside a courier company’s truck in Chengdu, as part a trend that sees people ordering a box containing a live animal, sent to them via post. This is despite a ban by the Mainland authorities on the transportation of live animals.
According to social media, it has become increasingly popular for animals to be delivered by these “blind boxes”. All of the 160 animals found were extremely young, at only 1 to 3 months old.
Courtesy of Michelle Cheung
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Canadian company fined for illegally importing shark fins.
A statement from Environment and Climate Change Canada says Kiu Yick Trading Company has been ordered to pay $60,000 for importing 434 kilograms of shark fins. It says the ruling was issued in provincial court after the company pleaded guilty to unlawfully importing an at-risk or threatened species in 2018, as part of a large shipment of dried shark fins from Hong Kong.
Courtesy of HKALPO
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Animal Protection Further Enhanced In Taiwan.
On 28 April 2021, the amendment of the Animal Protection Act passed its third reading by the Taiwan Legislative Yuan, making a gigantic leap towards the target of a comprehensive protective statute for animals in Taiwan, and well ahead of any comparative animal welfare law in nearby Asian countries.
It is hoped Hong Kong will follow closely in Taiwan’s footsteps and continue working towards more protective laws for all animals.
Courtesy of Marco Poon.
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Student arrested over online threat to poison dogs.
On 23 April 2021, the Hong Kong police arrested a 25-year-old student and cat owner for allegedly making an online threat by claiming to have left poisonous substances to dogs over various parts of the city. Police suspected that the man had made the alleged threats after reading about a six-week-old kitten being bitten to death by a shiba inu at the Hong Kong Pet Show 2021.
Courtesy of Nicole Liang.
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