There is a lot going on with our legislative campaigns around the world and at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa! I am pleased to bring you the latest, which is only possible with your support.

After some optimism in the past two weeks that some cargo flights would resume out of Israel we seem to be back to the same waiting game of the past 100+ days. Each week the cargo companies we are in discussion with undertake security assessments and unfortunately each week the situation remains unstable. We are ready and waiting to receive the lions at ADIWS and will update you when we have some news on flights. Please support this rescue (Donate US $, CA $ | Donate £, Euros, Rand), as previously reported costs have escalated dramatically.

Colombia’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection has issued a resolution to compel the government to implement the ban on the manufacture, import, and sale of cosmetics and ingredients tested on animals. Representative Juan Carlos Losada had drafted the resolution, with ADI support, following a successful lawsuit before the Council of State. The product ban had been included in the law banning cosmetics testing on animals passed by Congress six years ago but had not been implemented.  ADI is also pressing for sections of the law to be enforced that demand the use of non-animal methods and calling for incentives and facilities for the development and implementation of advanced, non-animal methods.

Paige, an elephant owned by Trunks and Humps who have been repeatedly exposed by ADI, was used in a stunt at the Convention for the Republican Party of Texas in Houston. Videos of Paige at the convention went viral when she urinated as she walked through the loud crowds, her handler pulling her along and jabbing her with his bullhook. ADI undercover footage has previously shown Trunks and Humps’ presenter Mike Swain (pictured) electric shocking, hooking, and beating his elephants. ADI contacted D’rinda Randall, Chair of the Republican Party of Texas asking that the party commit to ensuring wild animals are not used for entertainment at their events in future – we await a response.

Contact the Republican Party of Texas and ask that they never use performing wild animals at such events.  Email: info@texasgop.org / Call: 512-477-9821

Earlier this month, Deniz, a 16-year-old carriage horse, collapsed and died in New York City, laying on the street among a crowd of horrified onlookers. A week later 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan was thrown from a runaway carriage after the horse was spooked. Romanch suffered a traumatic head injury and died in the hospital later that day. The incidents have reignited support for Ryder’s Law, the ordinance to ban horse carriages in the city. Councilman Chris Marte has reintroduced it to the council – renamed Romanch’s Law, in honor of the young boy who lost his life.

If you live in New York City, please reach out to the Committee on Health to urge them to support its passage.

Roadmaps to eliminate animal experiments have been issued in the UK, US and EU and may offer the best opportunity for decades to actually end certain tests. The US FDA roadmap has language highly critical of animal testing but is limited in terms of targets. The EU Commission roadmap is the most ambitious in terms of targets. The UK roadmap falls between the two, setting some important targets but is seriously undermined by unnecessarily propagandizing about the assumed value of animal research – referring to animal tests as “fundamental to life sciences research”. This undermines the proposals from the outset, leaving a sense of déjà vu, that the UK Home Office isn’t really committed to the change to advanced science. This is underscored by the failure to confirm whether the 2025 target date to end the Rabbit Pyrogen Test has been met.

Nevertheless, simultaneous proposals to end certain experiments in the USA, UK  and across the EU, with some of the mechanics for change, is significant and ADI is intensifying efforts worldwide.

In the UK, contact your MP and demand proof that commitments are being met.

Milan Fashion Week announced it will no longer promote fur and has urged fashion brands to go fur-free. Organizers Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiania say it “is committed to not promoting fur”, adding that participating brands should not “present garments, accessories or anything else with fur”.  As more fashion houses, retailers, and fashion weeks move away from fur, the industry is proving that style and compassion can go hand in hand.

In May, we enjoyed one of our favorite Facebook lives as the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary began its day, featuring many of our rescued residents who are not seen as often as others. We began with the ducks and guinea fowl in pursuit of Jonas for their breakfast, we met up with Matilda’s family of cows, sheep, goats, Harold the goose, springboks Percy and Daisy, horses Apollo, Amani and Crockett, we watched the tortoises being fed and, of course, some lions and tigers. Enjoy the highlights here

Over two years ago, Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to instruct the City Attorney to draft an amended ordinance banning rodeos. Since then, this has sat in committee. Last week, ADI attended a press conference with Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and our humane coalition (pictured) to persuade the Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee to put the ordinance on the agenda for a vote, but it was again omitted – the battle continues.

A bill in Illinois to outlaw steer tailing, known as “coleadero”, where a rider on horseback pulls and twists a bull’s tail, causing fear, pain, and injuries, has also stalled.

Don’t let these bills die!

• In LA: Submit written comments TODAY on Council File 20-1575 – urge the City Council to bring a vote on the rodeo ban
• In Illinois, urge the Assignments Committee to process the bill and support SB0045

Lobsters endure a horrific, agonizing death when boiled alive. UK law recognizes crustaceans as sentient, but this cruel practice continues in Wales. ADI and other animal protection groups have sent a letter to the Cabinet Minister for Rural Resilience & Sustainability for Wales, urging the Welsh Government to end this inhumane and unnecessary practice. Please TAKE ACTION here.

Preparations for the arrival of BenTzur and Ori from Israel have seen a lot of construction at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, so we can move several residents to new habitats.

Smith has moved to the 5+ acre Antonia Habitat next door to his brother, Rey Cusco.

Aziza, Dhubiya and Saif have moved to the 5+ acre Sam&Eric Habitat, where we have built a new 3-room house; hopefully, this will help them to fully integrate as a pride.

We didn’t want Muheeb to lose contact with his Kuwait friends, so he has moved into the new 2.5-acre Keith’s Happiness Habitat next door, also with a new house. 

This has been a major new construction project at the ADIWS, which, including redeveloping the Kuwait lions’ old habitats and a new 2-room house for BenTzur and Ori, is costing $93,000. Can you help with this investment in facilities for these lions (Donate US $, CA $ | Donate £, Euros, Rand), which we hope they will enjoy for many years to come?     

Watch our Moving Day video of Muheeb and friends, Aziza, Dhubiya, and Saif.

VICTORY: The U.S. City of Portland banned the sale of foie gras by 7 votes to 5, as ADI and other campaigners united against the cruel product.

Banning foie gras is gaining traction across the country; we must maintain the momentum. Review the status of foie gras laws in the U.S. here.

After a week in Old Chapel Vet Clinic under observation with Dr Caldwell, Sasha returned to ADIWS in a lively mood. Her blood tests were good, no problems, and she’s been eagerly eating her food. Clearly, she enjoyed her hospital hotel stay!

The Department of Defense (DOD) has labs in Thailand, Peru, and the US, which conduct horrific fire trauma training experiments on live animals. Bill H.R. 6514 Protecting Animals in Military Training Act, would require the DOD to replace, when viable, the use of “live animals, including dogs, cats, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals…in any live fire trauma training conducted by the Department of Defense…with advanced simulators, mannequins, cadavers, or actors”.

Urge your legislators to support Bill H.R. 6514.

Hunting with dogs remains legal in Northern Ireland despite bans in England, Scotland and Wales. The good news is that the ‘Hunting with Dogs Bill’ passed its Second Stage by 60 votes to 15 in the Northern Ireland Assembly. If approved, the bill will not only ban hunting wild mammals with dogs but also trail hunting.

Trail hunting involves a scent trail laid for hunters to follow without chasing a live animal, but this cover has been repeatedly used to evade bans, and foxes are regularly hunted and killed. Our thanks to everyone who joined ADI and participated in the UK government’s recent public consultation on hunting laws, which included proposals to ban trail hunting. We await their response.

Take action here

The Coosa Valley Spring Fair took place at the end of May in Rome, Georgia and hosted the Banana Derby. This horrific spectacle has two frightened capuchin monkeys strapped onto dogs “like jockeys” as the dogs race around makeshift tracks.

Contact the fair organizers at web@coosavalleyfair.com and urge them not to host the Banana Derby next year and to adopt an animal-free policy.

A petition to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission (CPW) to introduce a ban on all commercial sales of furbearing species is scheduled to be heard for initial consideration during the July 16-17 CPW meeting.

If you live in CO, please join AD in submitting comments to urge CPW to adopt the ban and protect animals from the cruel fur industry! Written comments can be submitted here before July 9 and reach out to commission members.

After a two-year hiatus commercial Icelandic whaling company Hvalur hf. announced plans to go ahead with the 2026 whaling season. This came just months after Norway announced its highest whaling quota in years, of 1,641 minke whales. These huge, sentient, intelligent animals have slow maturation and low reproductive rates meaning populations are slow to recover from any threats. Write to the Norwegian officials and Icelandic officials demanding an end to whale hunting.

VICTORY! After ADI Colombia’s two-year campaign, Bill 06/24S – 466/25C passed its final House of Representatives committee, making sex acts with animals and online distribution of videos of such abuse, a criminal offence. Importantly, amendments promoted by ADI were approved, to increase prison sentences and fines for these sickening crimes. The bill will now be reconciled in Congress, then forwarded for Presidential approval.

To help us continue with our campaigns, rescue, and sanctuary work, Please donate here.

We remain optimistic that cargo flights out of Israel to bring our rescued lions BenTzur and Ori are going to resume soon, although, another week has passed with no news. Despite all the talk in the media about the Memorandum of Understanding which everyone hopes will lead to an actual peace deal, the region remains gridlocked due to the war, and so we wait. And the boys are growing, fast!

We remain on high alert, keeping in touch with the relevant parties, and we will seize the first opportunity to bring the boys to their new life, home in Africa, at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

After they were seized, BenTzur and Ori have remained in the zoo which provided a place of safety until a home could be found, so, they have now waited for over a year. You will recall we only took over the rescue in February. The Israel wildlife officials have sent us these recent video clips.

As you will see, they are going to be very big boys, and will never have walked or rolled about in grass, run at full speed, never seen other wildlife, nor open sky. Never conversed with other lions. They will hear the morning and evening roaring songs and will learn to join in. They have good teachers at ADIWS – across the road are Rey Ayacucho, Kesari, and Chino and Coco.

We know from previous experience they will start to run, explore, express themselves, take charge of their new territory. They will build muscle chasing around, exploring their new habitat, meeting the local rabbits, mongooses, hares, ground squirrels and other inhabitants. They will fall asleep each night under the African sky in the land of their ancestors, surrounded by their own kind.

Nothing stands still at ADIWS. We have been joined by four adorable barn owl chicks this week. A farmer nearby called us after finding the four chicks had fallen down the back of a grain silo; the parents had not been seen for several days, so feared poisoned or shot and the chicks were getting into serious difficulties.

Brent, ADIWS Wildlife & Education Director, has experience rearing and returning birds to the wild and has taken in the four (as yet unnamed), chicks (suggestions for names are welcome). They are gorgeous, already eating well and we will report on their progress with regular “Owl Watch” videos.

As the line from the movie Field of Dreams goes, “If you build it, they will come” – this could have been written about our Non-Predator Reception Area which has a regular stream of new residents needing our help – calves, goats, peacocks, baby and adult tortoises, antelope (like Springbok Percy and Daisy) and more.

Events outside of our control this year have put a lot of pressure on us. We took in the two lions, Lei-ah and Elsa, covering all food, veterinary and care costs, for what is now expected to be at least a year. The ladies filled our 2.5-acre Stephi quarantine habitat, so this presented a problem for the rescue of Ben and Ori, which we took over at short notice.

The only way to provide homes for everyone has been to move several residents around, but we had to make modifications to their new habitats, costing tens of thousands of dollars. Watch the video of Muheeb, Saif, Dhubiya and Aziza moving into new homes here

The war in the middle east has sent fuel and transport costs rocketing, impacting everything we do, supplies, transport, fencing. Most significantly, the move of Ori and BenTzur is expected to now become our most expensive rescue, per animal.  We must raise $40,000 just to cover their relocation costs, including flights, ground transport, airport fees. Demand for space on flights is huge, so we need to be ready to act fast and seize the first opportunity.

We are still a long way short of our appeal target, so please help if you can. 

BenTzur and Ori have waited too long for their new life, please help bring them home.

Donate US $, CA $ | Donate UK £, Euros, Rand

 

The Government’s public consultation on trail hunting closes on Thursday 18 June, so we have just one week for you to have your say and help end the cruelty.

Trail hunting sounds benign, but since the Hunting Act 2004 banned the hunting of most wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, it has been used as a loophole to continue the killing.

In theory, trail hunting involves laying a scent for the hunt to follow instead of chasing a wild animal. However, multiple investigations and court cases have shown how hunts frequently fail to follow the pre-laid scents, or even lay a scent trail at all, but continue to kill animals.

Even without these abuses, trail hunting will always put wildlife at risk with hunters and packs of dogs accidentally or recklessly pursuing wildlife – the ‘trail hunting’ theory is what the hunters have hidden behind for two decades.

The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has launched a public consultation on whether to ban trail hunting in England and Wales. They need to hear from YOU.

Consultations like this shape animal welfare laws and show politicians that people care. The animals can’t take part, but you can be their voice. It’s easy for you to help them.

Please go to our webpage TODAY.  This provides a link to the consultation and we have provided suggestions for answers to questions – you can use these, or use your own answers. Click here to take part.

Thank you for speaking out for the animals.

To help ADI campaigns worldwide, donate here.

After a tough two-year campaign, this week, Bill 06/24S – 466/25C has passed its final committee stage in Colombia’s House of Representatives, making sex acts with animals and the online distribution of videos of such abuse a criminal offence. 

Importantly, amendments secured by the ADI Colombia team were approved – to increase prison sentences and fines for these sickening offences. In addition to the acts of cruelty, prison sentences will be imposed on those profiting from the abuse, recording and disseminating pornographic videos of these perverted acts online, profiting from cruelty, and repeating a cruel act with the same animal. The law supports an education and awareness campaign to prevent such behaviour, and for people to report such abuse.

The bill will now be reconciled in Congress and then go for Presidential approval, with ADI’s team in Colombia confident it will become law.

A huge thank you to Senator Esmeralda Hernández, the bill’s principal author, sponsors, Senator Germán Blanco and Iván Cepeda and Representatives Gabriel Becerra, and Juan Carlos Losada, the members of Congress who supported this initiative and, of course our ADI team in Colombia led by Yani Mateus and Eduardo Peña.

We have seen how the internet and social media has opened a door to dark human depravity, from pornographic videos of animals being sexually abused to the revolting cruelty videos where people pay to watch monkeys, kittens and other animals tortured. ADI is campaigning to pressurise social media companies to take responsibility to prevent these videos being broadcast.

We have also seen the rise of the demand for trophy pets as people parade lion and tiger cubs online, only to discard them when they become difficult to manage – and ADI then picks up the pieces, as these animals are abandoned.

The social media companies have much to answer for – allowing the growth of an industry of fake rescues, where animals are put in danger, terrified, and then ‘saved’, and now, even created using AI tools. These cruelties and depiction of cruelty encourage cruelty, while also pushing real rescues, like ADI rescues, off the tops of feeds.

We have made huge progress fighting the abuse of animals for entertainment exposing the behind-the-scenes cruelty of circuses and animal trainers for movies. We have gained bans on animal circuses all over the world, driven most live animal use out of the movie industry, and secured prohibitions of cruel bull runs and bullfighting – but social media is a whole new challenge. 

In a world where so much has moved online, we must take that on.

We celebrate a huge victory this week, but we know there is more to do. Will you help us fight back for the animals?  Please donate here UK £, Euros, Rand | US $, CA $