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.