The world has continued to be gripped by Ruben lion’s daily activities since his arrival at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in late August – more about him later!
 
Important campaign news includes the launch of our campaign in Colombia to end horrific malaria experiments on owl monkeys, the fight to end trophy hunting, and the Stop Circus Suffering campaign.
 
First up, though, is the dramatic and terrifying events at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary last weekend:

Last weekend, high winds drove high-speed wildfires across Free State, South Africa. We received an alert about a fast-moving fire 25 miles away; the team geared up, firefighters were loaded, and the lions and tigers were brought into their safe zones. In the next hours, despite all efforts to stop it, the huge fire raced along the road towards us. Briefly, it looked like it would pass us by, but the wind turned it and at 3:40pm our north field (outside the security fence) was on fire and the fire was also approaching our west border. The team split to fight the fire on both sides, pushing it back while soaking our interior border. It was extinguished at 6pm without entering the sanctuary. All animals were safe, and three tortoises found in danger outside, have started new lives at ADIWS. We are appealing for funds to install a perimeter sprinkler system here. 

Good News: Colombia’s Senate Plenary approved the bill to ban bullfighting during its second debate, despite a huge push from the bullfighting industry. Bullfighting supporters staged a walkout in an attempt to make the meeting inquorate to stop the vote. But with just eight minutes to go, the quorum was reached, and the bill passed with 50 votes in favor, 4 against. The bill must now pass two more Senate debates before it returns to the House of Representatives, where we are campaigning for support.

VICTORY: After years of campaigning, the UK Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act is now law, prohibiting travel companies and others from selling and advertising activities abroad with low standards of animal welfare, such as elephant rides, harmful wildlife interactions, and cruelty like bullfights. ADI will be following up with travel and entertainment companies to report back on how they plan to implement the law – and hopefully promote more positive activities to support nature, wildlife, and conservation.

GOOD NEWS: One of the first circuses ADI investigated for our Stop Circus Suffering USA campaign, UniverSoul Circus, is finally going animal-free! Thank you to everyone who responded to our action alerts when they came to town and helped make this victory happen. ADI will continue to press for federal legislation to eliminate this misery in the US once and for all. Please urge your Congress members to support the reintroduction of the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA). 

ADI Colombia has introduced a giant owl monkey to draw attention to the suffering of owl monkeys ripped from their forest homes for unscientific and unethical malaria experiments. The owl monkey has been appearing with an ADI information stand at public events, festivals, and schools. This week the monkey – we are still inviting submissions for a name – spent the day outside the Colombian Congress for World Animal Day. Pictured is Yani Mateus, ADI Colombia, being interviewed outside Congress in Bogota this week.

Since the passing of our dear Bumba due to cancer, at around 18 years old, several supporters have asked about canvas images to remember him. We have added several images to our store, including the beautiful picture above, showing him in his African homeland after being rescued from a circus in Colombia. View and order here.

The UK Online Safety Act is now law and should restrict the depiction of animal abuse online, forcing social media companies to block the promotion of animal cruelty, specifically targeting activities enabling users to pay for, or instruct, animal torture regardless of where they take place.

Congressman Don Beyer has reintroduced the bill aiming to end animal testing for cosmetics in the US and ban the sale or transport of any cosmetic products tested on animals. Eleven US states and 44 countries worldwide have rejected these horrific and unnecessary tests. It’s time for a federal ban. ADI has emailed all Congress members, in support of the bill. Please contact your representatives and urge them to support HR5399 today. 

Last week ADI and 30 conservation and animal protection groups joined with TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham outside the UK’s Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) HQ, calling for action to protect nature. The protest coincided with publication of the ‘State of Nature’ report which revealed one in six UK species face extinction and pollinator populations are collapsing.

Long tailed macaques are being pushed to the brink of extinction by the animal research industry with suppliers continuing to restock their factory farms from the wild. The latest UK statistics reveal a third of lab monkeys came from wild caught parents, despite promises to eliminate this destructive trade. Mauritius and Vietnam are two of the main exporting countries, where ADI investigators exposed the dealers. We’re calling on the EU Scientific Research Group on Wildlife Trade to review whether imports of macaques from these countries as well as from Indonesia, Cambodia, and the Philippines fulfill EU trade regulations – and urging it to reconsider its decision to lift the trade suspension for imports from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. ADI secured a promise to phase out the use of F1 monkeys (born of wild caught parents) in the last EU Directive on animal experiments, but this undertaking has not been delivered.

GOOD NEWS: In the US, it is now illegal to take horseshoe crabs from Connecticut’s beaches, with safeguards extended to other shores including New York State. This ancient species faces many threats including capture to take blood for use in product safety testing (alternative methods are available).

In a blatant attempt to force the UK Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill out of time, a small group of pro-hunting peers tabled a raft of amendments during the Committee Stage in the House of Lords. They refused to have these grouped for discussion, stalling for time by giving extended speeches supporting trophy hunting. The end of this parliamentary session is just weeks away, and the bill is now unlikely to pass. The day after the bill’s fated hearing, ADI and members of the Coalition Against Trophy Hunting stood outside Parliament with supportive Peers and MPs to urge the Government to fulfil its promise of a ban four years ago.

“Fabulous” was Dr Peter Caldwell’s reaction when he recently checked on Ruben. Ruben’s determination to walk and play with his toys at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary has been an inspiration. Dr Caldwell noted how our habitat design and enrichment were all helping Ruben’s progress, and although there are still issues with his walking, he is steadier, his balance is better, and his spine has improved. In about three months’ time, Ruben will be sedated for a full assessment and probably dental work with Prof. Gerhard Steenkamp. In the meantime, his physiotherapy continues.

See how much Ruben has improved and make sure to subscribe to our YouTube page for more updates. 

ADI is changing the world for animals by publicizing what happens to animals, educating the public about the intelligence, emotions, and rights of the other species sharing our planet, rescues, and securing lasting animal protection through legislation. Please help us. 

August was the month everything changed for lonely lion Ruben when he made his journey from Armenia home to Africa and a new life at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary. We have all marveled at the bravery of this battered old warrior, driving himself forward on his wobbly legs and playing with his toys.

Ruben’s chance of a new life had looked in jeopardy, until Qatar Airways’ Cargo WeQare charity scheme stepped in, donating space on two flights to bring him home. After his long journey, we finally saw him step from his travel crate onto African soil, play enthusiastically with a giant catnip toy, and heard his roar grow a little louder with each day.

Due to a lifetime of poor nutrition, he has spondylitis, an inflammatory disease which can cause bones to fuse, exacerbated by confinement and lack of exercise, leaving his legs weak. This causes him difficulty walking and his spine is arched. Dr Caldwell has examined and prescribed vitamins, minerals, and supplements to support his body and, with more space than he has ever known, his mobility is already improving.

His face and demeanor have transformed as he has relaxed.

Watch: Ruben’s arrival at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

Watch: Ruben’s first roar
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To support Ruben’s care, please donate here.

But August wasn’t just the month for Ruben, ADI’s vital work continued around the world as we battle for those like Ruben. Here’s just a few examples…

Heartbreak as chimpanzees Pancho and Chita were shot dead after escaping from a zoo in Colombia. Pancho and another chimpanzee Karla had been surrendered to the zoo after ADI investigators filmed their abuse in a circus – we tried to get them to a sanctuary, but our efforts were blocked. The horrific footage of Karla being beaten with a chain and punched led to Colombia’s ban on wild animals in circuses. After the deaths of Panco and Chita, ADI demonstrated at the Ministry of the Environment and met with the Director of Forests.

Please join our call for the surviving chimp at the zoo, Yoko. To be relocated to a sanctuary. Email servicioalcliente@ukumari.co. Sadly, we have learned that Karla passed away last year.

ADI has called for three wild lions to be spared after an employee of Dinokeng Game Reserve in South Africa was killed by lions after defying regulations and walking in the reserve at night. A tragedy, but another may now be added after an application to euthanize the lions. Please sign and share the petition to save the Dinokeng lions.

Great news: Governor Kotek signed Oregon’s bill to ban the sale of new cosmetics tested on animals, making it the eleventh US state to embrace cruelty-free legislation. The ban will take effect on January 1, 2024. If you live in the US, please urge your Congress members to reintroduce the Humane Cosmetics Act to ban cosmetic tests on animals nationwide.

Lolita, also known as Tokitae and Toki, never got her happy ending. In March, after her deteriorating health meant she was unable to perform, Miami Seaquarium finally announced plans to move her to an ocean pen within two years. She never made it, dying after five decades in a tiny tank following her violent capture in 1970 at just four years old. In the wild, orcas swim up to 140 miles a day and live with their birth families their entire lives, living up to 90 years old. A victim of cruelty in the name of entertainment. Never visit these attractions and ask friends to do the same.

ADI joined forces with other animal groups to urge the International Finance Corporation to stop financing factory farming. In a letter to its Governor, we raised concerns about the Corporation’s recent funding of multi-story pig farms in China, industrial pig production in Vietnam, industrial broiler chicken production in Uganda, and industrial pig and chicken production in Ecuador. The Corporation has paid little regard to the World Organisation for Animal Health’s international guidelines on animal welfare and its own good practice guidelines.

Since 2000, capuchin monkey Katie – who appeared in the TV show Friends nearly 30 years ago – has been used to pump up fans at Los Angeles Angels’ home games. In clips screened at baseball games, she is made to dance and hold signs while wearing the team’s strip. The stadium also uses live monkeys for photo ops. ADI has written to Los Angeles Angels, urging them to stop exploiting wild animals. Join us by contacting LA Angels’ owner Arte Moreno (arte@angels.com) and chairperson Dennis Kuhl (dennis.kuhl@angels.com) today.

The Banana Derby, a cruel race which sees capuchin monkeys strapped onto dogs to emulate jockeys, is currently on tour. This shameful act was at the Lawrence County Fair in New Castle, Pennsylvania last month, and is currently at the Upper South Carolina State Fair in Easley, South Carolina until September 10. Please call or email a polite request to both fairs to cancel the Banana Derby and adopt an animal-free entertainment policy:
Lawrence County Fair: 724-654-7745 / lawcofair@gmail.com
Upper South Carolina State Fair: 864-269-0852 / upperscstatefair@gmail.com
Contact ADI if you see Banana Derby or similar acts coming to your hometown.

We also said farewell to a giant for the animals, US gameshow host Bob Barker. You will be missed, Mr B. Read our tribute to Bob Barker.

ADI one of the winners of a 2023 Top-Rated Award from GreatNonprofits! We are overwhelmed by the wonderful comments and stories that our supporters posted to secure this prestigious award for the third year running. Read inspiring stories about our work or add your own review here.

That was August, what will September bring? We expect many exciting developments for Ruben as his strength grows and he explores more at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, and there will be challenges ahead in our campaigns to end animal suffering around the world.

Please keep ADI fighting for the animals.

It’s the news that we have all been waiting for – lonely lion Ruben flies from Armenia to Africa on Tuesday, August 22!

It’s been a big challenge securing a flight from Armenia, as we needed an aircraft with large enough cargo doors for Ruben’s travel crate, and none were available. Thankfully, Qatar Airways’ WeQare charity scheme stepped in, scheduling a wide-bodied aircraft on one of their passenger routes, and have donated space on board for Ruben!

Once he is loaded, Tim and I will be traveling in the passenger section, with Ruben in the pressurized, temperature-controlled hold below. Although we prefer being with the animals, we have traveled in this way before, moving monkeys from Sweden, lions and a tiger from Portugal, and Toto the chimpanzee from Chile to Zambia.

Supporters will recall that we used Qatar Airways Cargo on the 34-hour, multi-stop journey from Guatemala to South Africa, so we are confident they will take good care of Ruben.

Ruben’s flight to freedom will take 14 hours, including a change of aircraft in Doha.

The story so far

Lonely Ruben was left behind when a private zoo closed in Armenia and the other animals were relocated. Ruben’s world fell silent, and his plaintive roars have gone unanswered for the past six years. In just 12 days, when he arrives at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa, his silent world will end, and other lions will roar back.

Since ADI funded his removal from the zoo, Ruben has been cared for in a bear sanctuary run by Armenia’s Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife & Cultural Assets (FPWC).

When I visited him in January, he was given a health assessment by veterinarians Dr Harut Hovhannisyan in liaison with ADI’s Dr Peter Caldwell. Ruben has some significant health issues with potential neurological and spinal damage – he will need a CT scan in South Africa. He is unsteady on his feet, and we have adapted a habitat at ADIWS for his special needs, with ramps and lower platforms.

Nevertheless, he was declared fit to fly and we hoped to move him in March, but it took months for the import and export permits to be issued.

Our gratitude to everyone who was touched by Ruben’s plight and has stuck with us during this rescue. Delays, outside our control, inevitably increased the costs and this was coupled with a big increase in care costs for Ruben in Armenia. We had raised a target of $20,000 for phase one of the mission in Armenia, but by the time he leaves, this will have cost us over $51,000. However, thanks to our generous supporters, there has never been a point at which we have been under pressure to drop the pursuit of our shared dream for Ruben’s future. We all stood by him. Thank you.

Everything we raise now will go towards Ruben’s lifetime care, which we hope will be many years at ADIWS, but which will certainly involve significant veterinary costs while Dr Caldwell identifies his problems and looks for treatment. Anything extra will go towards the sanctuary’s daily operational costs, such as security, fences, and habitat maintenance.

If you would like to help, please give here.

Just twelve days to go and Ruben will be stepping out into Africa.

Ruben cannot thank you, but I can – so heartfelt thanks.

The months seem to fly by as we continue to work for animals across the world. Here are some of the highlights and progress, thanks to the work made possible by our supporters.

Smith is steadily returning to his old self after a hospital stay for a gastric problem. On his return to the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, lions Rey and Smith were delighted to see each other. Unfortunately, realizing something was wrong with his friend, protective Rey showed anxiety and tried to block the team giving Smith his meds.  It was moving to see Rey trying to protect his friend, but Smith needed his medication, so the boys had to be temporarily separated so that Smith could get better.  A new feeding camp was completed in record time – and fast enough to be used for Rey’s recovery after his three root canals on Friday. So, the boys are temporarily in their separate areas. Rey is already recovered, and Smith is getting better every day and it won’t be long before they are roaming Stephanides Habitat together again.

Other good news:  After nearly 13 years, Movistar will stop showing bullfights on its ‘Canal Toros’ channel. ADI and over 800 groups urged the company to halt the shows. Movistar say it was a business decision. Support for bullfighting continues to wane in Spain – a 2020 poll indicated less than 20% support this bloody spectacle. In Colombia, ADI’s team is campaigning for the House of Representatives to support a bill already approved by the Senate, which would phase out bullfights over three years.

Comedy series ‘Animal Control’ is being promoted with images of Joel McHale carrying a cougar cub, described as a “guest star”. Performing big cats are routinely separated from their mothers as babies to force them to be dependent on their trainer. Most live in isolation and ADI has repeatedly exposed violent training in suppliers of performing animals. The series, produced by Fox Entertainment Studios, has been made in Canada.  Contact Fox, Joel McHale, and the show’s producers, and urge them to NOT use wild animals in their show: @FoxTV on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; Joel McHale @joelmchale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter; Dan Sterling @dansterl on Twitter.

The use of animal tests for the development of cosmetics, perfumes, etc., which use ingredients where effects are already known, has been banned in Brazil. Alternative non-animal methods must be used where efficacy or safety is proven to be unknown. A national bill approved by the Senate in December, will strengthen these restrictions by banning import and sale of tested products and awaits approval in Brazil’s House of Representatives.

More good news saw the European Citizens’ Initiative to end animal testing we have been promoting, validated with over 1.2 million signatures. The European Commission must now respond to the call for:  robust implementation of the EU cosmetics testing ban, full transition to non-animal methods for chemical safety tests, and a commitment to a plan for phasing out all animal experiments.

According to Norway’s Fur Farmers Association, the last fur farms have closed ahead of the 2025 ban. ADI has exposed the country’s fur industry; filming foxes being dragged from cages by their tails. In the UK, luxury department store Harvey Nichols says it will be completely fur-free by the end of the year. They previously went fur free in 2004 but started selling fur again nearly a decade later.

Meanwhile, after going fur-free in 2018, Gucci made the baffling decision to launch an advertising campaign featuring a hat made of real rabbit fur felt as a ‘Tribute to the Year of the Rabbit’! After being called out, Gucci quietly removed the products from stores.

Scotland has passed a new law to end the hunting of wild animals with a pack of hounds and close a loophole in existing legislation. This prevents trail hunting, which is used by hunts as a cover to continue pursuing and killing animals for sport, the Hunting with Dogs Bill goes further than current law in England and Wales and where legislation needs to be tightened to stop the hunters. 

ADI joined the protest at the Professional Bull Riders’ ‘SoCal Showdown’ competition in Los Angeles. Animals are routinely prodded, whipped, and electric shocked for this cruel sport, and can suffer debilitating injuries. We have been backing an LA ban on cruel rodeo devices being considered by LA City Council. Please urge the venue Crypto Arena not to host bull riding and other events using animals. Email guestservices@cryptoarena.com. If you live in Los Angeles, please leave a comment in support of the LA City rodeo device ban.

In February, two tigers escaped from private owners in South Africa. The first, Sheba, was shot after she wandered into a residential area. The second was a young tiger who a private security company claimed had been successfully darted and taken to a ‘sanctuary’ but refuse to disclose the animal’s whereabouts. Then a lioness being driven to a new location escaped, with the owner finding her crate empty on arrival. She was found and shot. ADIWS offered homes to each of the animals, urging that they be recaptured alive. Along with lion farms the private ownership of big cats in South Africa needs urgent attention.

President Biden signed the FDA Modernization Act 2.0 into law, which means the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow alternatives to animal testing for purposes of drug and biological product applications. This is potentially very significant, because since 1962, the FDA had required animal testing before human trials.

It’s been more than a year since the Kept Animals Bill, containing several Conservative Party manifesto promises including banning primate pets, made any progress in Parliament. ADI and others are calling on the Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to bring back the Bill.

The promised Animals Abroad Bill has disappeared, too. This would ban advertising of overseas cruel attractions, imports of hunting trophies and shark fins. MPs Angela Richardson, Henry Smith, and Christina Rees are working to secure these important measures through private members bills. Although these are very difficult to pass, progress is being made and The Hunting Trophy (Import Prohibition) Bill will have its report stage and third reading in the House of Commons on Friday 17 March. If you live in the UK, please contact your MP today and urge them to attend and support the bill.

By contrast, the Government’s Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill – where ADI and others have been calling for animal protection measures to be added – is now in its final parliamentary stages and likely to pass unamended.

ADI and a coalition of other groups are opposing plans to kill all vervet monkeys on Sint Maarten over the next three years. The non-native species is thought to have been brought to the island by European settlers as pets. A humane solution is being sought to save these animals, who never chose to be torn from their homeland and dragged across the globe.

Carden Circus has added two bison to its shows, which already feature elephants and camels. In the wild bison travel 2-3 miles a day and can cover 200 miles in a year. Elephants can average 15 or more miles a day, camels 20 or more miles in a day. This need for exploration and space is cruelly curtailed in the circus, where animals spend almost their entire year confined in small temporary encampments and endure extended periods in transporters. In the US, if you hear of a circus with animals coming to your town, email usa@ad-international.org we can help you create awareness and secure a local ban.

All at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary were heartbroken to say goodbye to dear 18-year-old Iron who was suffering from aggressive stage 4 lung cancer. We rescued Iron from a circus in Colombia in 2014 with his lifelong companion OJ (Ojiclaro). Their years at ADIWS were the happiest of times, roaming their habitat, and roaring, with OJ watching over his friend. After OJ passed away two years ago, we began the process of introducing Iron to Bumba, who is from the same circus, but they did not develop a close bond – it seemed OJ was Iron’s true soulmate. While we all feel a huge sadness for the passing of this magnificent lion, it is so important to remember what a wonderful gift you gave Iron and the other animals at ADIWS. They left those tiny cages in South America to live as lions should in the African sunshine and every year of freedom was so precious.

A couple of weeks ago, Ruben had received his vaccinations, microchip and parasite treatment from Dr Harut Hovhannisyon at the bear sanctuary run by Armenia’s Foundation for the Protection of Wildlife and Cultural Assets.  He was issued with a health certificate, enabling his Armenia export permit and South Africa import permit to be progressed. As soon as we have the permits, we can book a flight to get him home to Africa where he can have a CT scan and treatment of his spinal and neurological issues can begin.  We have been working hard on a very special habitat at ADIWS designed to meet his health needs.

On a different note, AmazonSmile has sadly ended its fundraising while shopping initiative, so you can no longer raise funds for ADI shopping on Amazon. A huge “thank you” to everyone who did so.  It is a blow to lose this source of funding for our work, however there are some alternatives you can use to fundraise as you shop: in the UK, Easy Fundraising and in the US, Good Shop. Simply register, choose Animal Defenders International as your cause, and start shopping.

To contribute towards our campaigns and the type of work outlined above:
donate UK £ | donate US $

We’ve had a busy time these past 60 days, just a sample included: Organizing the Ruben rescue; through our Species Survival Network membership, we worked to strengthen CITES protections; we co-hosted the International Candlelight Vigil for Elephants; saw the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act signed into law in the US; California’s ban on the sale and manufacture of new fur products came into force and a million signed up to a Fur Free Europe (the European Commission is now obliged to respond); we testified in committee to support an ordinance restricting rodeos; and the world wept with us at the passing of Cholita.
 
Here is some of our biggest news.

Cholita’s passing saw people heartbroken across the world. We responded to requests from supporters by setting up the Cholita Bear Fund to help fight wildlife trafficking, support our rescued bears, and help rescue others. We have made our first payout, sending emergency support to Taricaya, home of Cholita and our other bears. Peru’s state of emergency has led to escalating prices and shortages of food and other vital supplies as roads and airports have been blockaded. Over 50 people have died during the protests. The funds will ensure Taricaya does not face shortages of essentials for all the animals. We think Cholita would have approved. To contribute to the Cholita Bear Fund, click here.

You can watch here a busy day at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa, during which Dr Peter Caldwell oversaw dental surgery on Rey Ayacucho and Simba, sedated Rey Cusco to review the arthritis caused by a brutal circus declawing operation; and then gave tigers Max and Stripes their annual vaccinations. Smith (pictured) was taken into the hospital for x-rays and ultrasounds, and has been treated for intestinal inflammation.

A landmark victory in December saw the Big Cat Public Safety Act passed which will end the breeding of big cats for cub petting, photo ops, backyard ‘zoos’, and the pet trade across the US. It gives hope that the US can pass ADI’s Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act, to ban traveling wild animal acts nationwide. On the local level, progress continues. Northampton became the fourteenth town in Massachusetts to prohibit the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling shows and circuses. In Missouri, Moolah Shrine Circus will be retiring their elephant acts. To help stop circus suffering in the US: https://bit.ly/SupportTEAPSPA

The Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Europe’s largest monkey lab, which was investigated by ADI (see video) says it plans to cut primate testing by 40%. The lower house of the Dutch Parliament unanimously backed a motion calling on the government to limit the number of tests using primates and for research into how these can be reduced further, specifically targeting BPRC.

Cosmetics tests on animals, and manufacture or sale of cosmetics tested on animals are now banned in New York, which joins California, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, Maine, Hawaii, New Jersey, and Louisiana!

As we press ahead to secure permits to move Ruben from Armenia to South Africa, the Daily Mail covered the story, and it was picked up by numerous news outlets worldwide including The Mirror and the Daily Star.

The Hunting Trophy (Import Prohibition) Bill from Henry Smith MP passed its second reading and is now at Committee stage. Although it is notoriously difficult for a private members bill to pass, it is vital that the ban – which was promised by the UK government – is kept on the political agenda. Sadly, other government promises continue to stall including the Kept Animals Bill.

Bill 085/22S has been approved in the Senate following a debate lasting until 2am. Two debates are now required in the House of Representatives before it can become law. Unlike the previous bill, which would have immediately banned bullfighting but sadly fell in the House of Representatives, there would be a three-and-a-half-year period of regulated transition. Nevertheless, a ban on bullfighting is again a real possibility and ADI will be working with the Colombia Sin Toreo coalition to ensure it passes.

ADI’s Eduardo Peña addressed the first “Legal Protection of Animals in Colombia: Advances and challenges in criminal law” forum organized by Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office and covering a range of issues.

LION ARK FREE TO STREAM! The award-winning documentary about ADI’s rescue of every circus animal in Bolivia is now streaming on Unchained TV! Unchained TV is available online and on Apple TV, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, and Roku®. As part of the promotion, Tim and I were interviewed live from the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary by Jane Velez-Mitchell, during which we were plunged into darkness by a power cut but kept talking until the generator kicked in. Lions can be heard roaring in the background.

Watch Lion Ark and sit back, relax and watch the animals win!
 
This is a sample of our work, which is only possible thanks to our supporters. To help, donate here.

The most rewarding end to any legislative campaign to end animal suffering is when we get the opportunity to rescue some lucky survivors, and just recently, our lucky survivor was a baby female woolly monkey in Peru. 

The story is the same everywhere, gangs go into the forests and net whole families of monkeys, often, the mother is killed, and the baby taken. This is likely what happened to our baby. This wickedly damaging crime disrupts the social structure of the local populations and the whole ecosystem. 

Fate and luck played a big role in this rescue; the baby was seized by Peru’s wildlife department, SERFOR (Selva Central District), ADI and partners UPA organised transport and veterinary care. We had the perfect solution; Fausto, a woolly monkey we rescued as a baby in 2014, was now alone in his rainforest habitat after his two companions passed away.

While ADI supporters gave towards her new introduction habitat (to meet Fausto safely) and her two-day journey on foot, by road, air (grateful thanks to LATAM Airlines) and boat, along the Iquitos Amazon tributary to her new ADI-funded sanctuary home, we started building.

Meanwhile, supporters voted to find a new human name for our baby girl and settled on Chaska, a beautiful native Andean name (Quechua language) meaning ‘bright star’. The first touch through the fence between Chaska and Fausto was precious. Introductions are necessarily slow and cautious, over a period of several weeks. After all, we hope for Fausto and Chaska to be together for life (up to 30 years). 

We hold onto these moments where we can put right a terrible wrong. The long road of public awareness, education, and lobbying for legislation helps governments and legislators do the right thing and enact laws to protect the non-humans who share our planet. They all need protection from the most destructive excesses of our species. Little Chaska is our bright star, encouraging us along the way.

ADI’s exposure of illegal wildlife markets of Latin America, Asia and Africa, the bushmeat trade, monkeys for laboratories, pets and other exotics, has provided the means for governments to act, on legislation and enforcement. Crucially, once laws are passed ADI offers solutions to hard-pressed government departments which may not have the resources to remove and relocate the victims during law enforcement operations. 

Animal trafficking is a crime against us all. Stealing other inhabitants of our planet from their homes, killing and destroying families and populations, strips our forests of the biodiversity we all need to maintain our planet’s ecosystems. Extinction is not just them; it can hurt us, too. 

Have a Chaska day,