PERFORMING ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY

Rescue. Advocacy. Sanctuary. For Life.

Since 1984

May 2018 | Newsletter

Camba napping on a log in her habitat at ARK 2000.

Although her exact age is not known, Camba is estimated to be around 13 years old. She is active and spry, and enjoys playing with logs and a large ball. Always observant and inquisitive, from her new habitat she can keep an eye on the wild turkeys as they walk past, as well as the animal care staff as they go about their daily activities.

 

PAWS is honored to provide a permanent, loving home for this deserving lion who has suffered so much hardship in the past, and we are grateful to you, our supporters, for making our work possible.

 

Click here to donate to PAWS in honor of Camba.

Bear acts can be seen in fairs and circuses. In the video above, a distressed bear urinates on herself while walking in a “handstand” across a plank (video courtesy of PETA). 

Exotic and Wild Animal Attractions: Are They Coming to Your Local Fair?

 

It's that time of year again, the start of the fair season, when throngs of fairgoers will be eating fried just-about-anything, riding roller coasters and enjoying loud music at local, state and county events across the country. Amid all this, you might find another kind of “attraction”, one that includes exotic animals. Although county and state fairs traditionally have a basis in local agriculture, many offer wild animal attractions ranging from elephant rides to photos with tiger cubs.

Traveling animal shows present serious animal welfare problems, including intensive confinement during both traveling and exhibition, cruel training methods, constant transport from site to site, and exposure to excessive heat and loud noises. They also present serious concerns in terms of public safety, as potentially dangerous wild animals are often confined in unsafe temporary enclosures.

 

Elephant rides and shows

Elephant rides and shows can be found at many fairs, including Renaissance faires. This inhumane amusement is only possible because the elephants have been broken down, both physically and mentally, through the use of circus-style training. Handlers use a bullhook – a weapon resembling a fireplace poker with a sharpened steel tip and hook at the end – to control the elephants through fear and painful punishment. The limited movement elephants are allowed while giving rides does not come close to meeting the needs of these naturally active and far ranging animals.

 

Safety is always a serious concern when you have a wild animal as intelligent and powerful as an elephant in direct contact with the public. Elephants used for rides have been involved in incidents that have resulted in injuries and deaths – yet these attractions still exist. (PAWS was instrumental in ending elephant rides in California, including through a state-wide ban on the use of bullhooks enacted in January 2018.)

 

Bear and big cat shows

Though presented as “educational”, wild animal shows do not promote conservation or educate the public. Instead, they distort our perception of wildlife and teach children that is it acceptable to exploit animals for profit. In these shows bears are made to ride tricycles, walk on narrow planks, and perform ridiculous and unnatural behaviors. Big cats are dominated by their “tamers” who force them to perform tricks on cue. In both cases, handlers use painful training methods to instill fear and helplessness in the animals. Bears and big cats will spend their time in small holding and transport cages, sometimes during extremely hot weather.

Cub petting

Some fairs may offer the opportunity to play with or have a photo taken with a baby wild animal for a fee. Travel and constant handling is stressful for these young animals, who come from facilities that are constantly breeding big cats and bears with no concern for the fate of these animals. Cubs can only be handled for a short period of time. Once they are older, larger and more dangerous they may be sold to roadside zoos, private owners, or possibly killed and sold on the black market for their parts. Cubs are separated from their mothers at a young age, so they can be bottle fed and made more docile. Because their immune systems are still developing, they are prone to getting sick, including with diseases that are transmissible to humans.

 

Other wild animal attractions

Some fairs host sea lion shows that are sold to the public as educational, even though it is difficult to fathom how anyone can learn anything about sea lions when they are confined in a tiny tank and made to perform tricks. Many fairs, including Renaissance faires, offer camel rides. These exotic animals are subject to extensive travel and intense confinement, as well as abusive treatment. Other traveling exhibitors simply put a variety of wild animals on display, usually in small, barren cages. They may offer photo or play sessions with cubs as a way to make more money. The animals used for these exhibitions are transported from fair to fair in different states, constantly confined to small cages that inhibit natural behaviors.

 

The use of wild animals for entertainment in fairs is cruel and unnecessary, and it’s time to put an end to them. Where does that start? With you! Your voice is critical to bringing about change, staring with your local fair .

 

Here’s what you can do to help if your local fair features wild animal rides or shows:

 

Do your research: Find out about the acts at your local or state fair and who owns them. Investigate any history of animal welfare or public safety problems. PETA provides comprehensive lists of wild animal incidents; you can find them here .

 

Speak out: Contact the fair organizer or fair board and politely tell them that wild animal acts have no place at the fair. Some fair boards have meetings that are open to the public and provide time for public comment. Bring like-minded people with you to speak. Always be concise, informative and courteous in your spoken or written comments.

 

Fair sponsors: If the fair board or organizer is not responsive, contact sponsors of the fair and let them know they are supporting cruel and unsafe animal attractions and may want to reconsider their sponsorship.

 

Write a letter to the editor of your local paper: Do so in advance of the fair, and again during it, explaining why wild animal shows and rides are inhumane and unsafe.

Share information: Tell your family, friends and colleagues what you’ve learned, including through social media. Urge them to shun the wild animal acts and to never ride an elephant or camel.

 

Skip the fair: Let fair organizers know that you will not be attending this year and why, and that you are encouraging your friends and family to do the same.

 

Want to do more?

 

Support the Big Cat Public Safety Act . Make just one phone call to your member of Congress urging her or him to champion this important federal bill (HR1818) that would end the private possession of big cats as pets, end cub petting, and limit exhibitors to those who do not repeatedly violate the law. Make the call of the wild here !

Spotlight on PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference, November 9-11

The 2018 PAWS International Captive Wildlife Conference is a global summit that focuses on the confinement and use of captive wild animals, the scope of the problems affecting these animals, and the amazing organizations and individuals who are working for change. The three-day event is our largest conference and presented just once every four years in Burbank, California. This year's conference promises to be our best one yet, with many speakers who are new to the event and even greater international representation. To pique your interest, we will be highlighting speakers and important panel topics in each PAWS e-newsletter leading up to the conference, starting with Day 1:

PAWS President Ed Stewart will lead off the conference each day (including a special presentation on Day 2, November 10).

David Hancocks is our opening featured speaker. David is an author and former zoo director and leading exhibit architect who has turned his critical eye and keen insights toward the very concept of captivity and what it means in today’s changing world. Read David’s comments on zoos in the Time magazine article “Who Belongs in the Zoo? ”.

Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach hails from World Animal Protection , an organization that has been making huge strides for elephants and other captive wild animals used for entertainment in tourism. The group published the report, “The Show Can’t Go On” , and fights to protect and save wild animals – and to keep them in the wild, where they belong.

Our international elephant sanctuary panel features Scott Blais of Global Sanctuary for Elephants-Brazi l , Katherine Connor of Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, and Roxy Danckwerts of the Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery .

Registration is open now. You can find more information on the conference, speakers, and registration by clicking on the button below. See you in November!

Big Day of Giving a Huge Success!

 

A BIG thank you to everyone who donated so generously to PAWS during the 2018 Big Day of Giving 24-hour challenge event on May 3rd. Because of the hundreds of generous friends, from 28 states and three countries, PAWS won $1,000 in cash prizes and raised $42,597 for the feeding and care of the many rescued or retired animals living at our three sanctuaries. And. . . we exceeded our original Big Day of Giving goal by more than $12,000 ! Thank you!

 

Special recognition and thanks to Tigers in America and one anonymous PAWS friend, for making a total of $6,000 available in matching funds for this giving event!  

Sharing Information and Educating the Public: An Important Part of PAWS' Mission

In April, PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy Catherine Doyle (pictured, second from left) presented at the Free the Elephants International Conference and Film Festival in Portland, organized by FOZE (Free the Oregon Zoo Elephants). Her topic was “Bullhook Bans and Beyond: Action for Elephants in Captivity.” Catherine also participated in the panel, “On the Front Lines – Action for Change.”

PAWS President Ed Stewart was on the road in May, spreading the word about the work we do at PAWS to help captive wildlife in need and educating people about important wildlife issues. Ed spoke to the California Federation of Women's Clubs conference in Sacramento and the Stockton and Lodi Rotary clubs. He also addressed the audience at Digital Hollywood's Influencer Awards Nominees' Dinner (left) in Los Angeles, speaking before more than 250 attendees.

 

PAWS Participates in

First Next GEM Elephant Workshop

 

PAWS was very pleased to participate in the first Next GEM (Next Generation Elephant Management) workshop, hosted by ZooTampa in Florida. PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy Catherine Doyle presented a paper titled, “Public Perception of Elephant Sanctuaries: Space, Naturalness, and Values.” The aim of the workshop was to bring together elephant care professionals to discuss the future of elephant management through topics that ranged from progressive management and training techniques to cognitive research and science.

 

One of the most important discussions at the workshop involved the need to end the use of “aversives” in elephant training, such as bullhooks, in order to provide the best care possible for elephants in captivity. Sadly, some zoos are clinging to this archaic device, using it to control elephants through fear and punishment. PAWS has long opposed training methods that rely on the bullhook, and passed important legislation prohibiting the use of this menacing weapon on elephants.

 

While PAWS is opposed to keeping elephants in captivity, we have always embraced more progressive-minded zoos. We believe in finding commonalities in order to promote improved care and welfare, and we applaud those individuals who are courageous enough to stand up for the elephants and put their best interests first.

Good News for Animals

 

Kudos to the Sharpsburg Borough Council in Pennsylvania and Mayor Matthew Rudzki for unanimously passing an ordinance that bans wild animals in traveling shows. Sharpsburg is the first place in Pennsylvania to ban traveling exotic animal performances.

Ric O’Barry’s The Dolphin Project announced that the Dominican Republic has passed a resolution that prohibits the sale of dolphins for five years. The resolution makes it virtually impossible for any new dolphinariums to open. The organization is encouraging the government to extend the legislation indefinitely and eliminate facilities such as swim-with programs that profit from dolphin captivity.

Thank You May 2018

Amazon Wish List Donors!

Laura Garner: one 24" heavy-duty Boomer Ball for the tigers. Joanne and Paul Osburn: one "Tipsy Tom" heavy-duty toy for black leopard Alexander. Glenn Hunt: one quart of Red Cell. Sharon Gardiner: one 5 lb. bag of Missing Link Ultimate Skin and Coat. Cristen Esquibel: one bottle of AminAvast, 60#; one gallon of Red Cell. Robin E. Kister: one bottle AminAvast, 60#; one bottle Azodyl, 90#; five Probiocin gels; five bottles of Renal Essentials, 60#. Cathleen deOrnelas: four bottles of Renal Essentials, 60#. Patricia L Connelly: two bottles of Renal Essentials, 60#. Beverly Archer: one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Nancy Gordon: two, 6 ft. folding tables for use at ARK 2000. Dan Brinkman: one bottle of Azodyl, 90#. Glen Hunt: two bottles of Renal Essentials, 60#. Cindy L Kossove: one, 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Jeff Libby: one, 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Sally L. Clontz: one 5 lb. tub of Psyllium. Lisa Thew and Kelley Ogden: one qt. of Red Cell. Anonymous Donors: two bottles of Renal Essentials; three probiocin gels; one set of walkie-talkie radios; four bottles of AminAvast, 60#; 10 bottles of Emcelle Tocopherol (vitamin E).

Click on PAWS' "wish list" links below to

donate specific items that are needed at our sanctuaries:

PAWS' Amazon Wish List

View "wish list" items that are needed,

but not listed on the Amazon list,  here .



There are many ways you can help PAWS animals:

PAWS provides lifetime care to the tigers, bears, elephants, and other animals that call our sanctuaries home. As animals age, their needs change and they may develop arthritis, kidney disease, and other conditions that are readily treatable with proper care. PAWS expert animal care and veterinary staff provide specialized nutritional and medical support, tailored to the individual needs of each animal.

Your generous donations make this excellent care possible.

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