Inside This Issue:
- Anti-Trafficking Operation Seizes 20,000 Live Animals and Arrests 365 Suspects
- Texas Couple Turned in for Animal Hoarding by their Teenage Children
- USFWS Has Three Years to Decide If Hippos Are Endangered
- Student Creates a Scale for Rating Dangerous Animals
- News Bites: Praise to the Shelter Volunteers, More About Petting Strays, Pet Death and the Virtual Town Square
Anti-Trafficking Operation Seizes 20,000 Live Animals and Arrests 365 Suspects
Pangolin scales are made out of keratin and provide great protection from predators... but not poachers.
Operation Thunder 2024 just delivered its biggest blow yet to wildlife trafficking networks. The INTERPOL and World Customs Organization operation, spanning 138 countries, recovered nearly 20,000 endangered animals and arrested 365 suspects between November and December.
This marks significant growth from last year's Operation Thunder, which recorded 2,114 seizures and about 500 arrests. This year saw 2,213 seizures and, crucially, exposed six international trafficking rings. The operation has also expanded its reach, with more countries participating than ever before. Beyond the rescued animals – which included big cats, pangolins, and rare birds – authorities intercepted massive quantities of timber and animal parts, primarily through sea cargo. They also identified over 100 companies involved in illegal wildlife trade and uncovered trafficking networks operating across social media platforms. The operation's enhanced success stems from improved international cooperation, with law enforcement agencies sharing real-time intelligence and DNA evidence to strengthen prosecutions.
Texas Couple Turned in for Animal Hoarding by their Teenage Children
As is common in hoarding cases, numerous respiratory and eye issues were reported among the rescued cats.
Another week, yet another animal hoarding situation. This week, a Texas couple whose 88 animals were seized from their home by The Colony Animal Services had their day in court, where a municipal judge determined that their animals were, indeed, treated cruelly. Their animals, which included 45 cats and 24 dogs, are now in the custody of the city’s shelter.
The deplorable conditions, respiratory illnesses, eye infections, and dead animals that were discovered in the couple’s home won’t come as a surprise to anybody who is familiar with hoarding cases. Sadly, these symptoms are recognizable and all too common. One thing, however, sets this apart from typical hoarding cases: during the couple's hearing, it was revealed that Animal Services was tipped off by their own teenage children. That couldn't have been an easy call. Not only does this cut against the stereotype of animal hoarders as women over the age of 60 who live alone, it shows that hoarding can harm entire families – not just animals and the individual hoarder.
Source: Animal rescuers describe disturbing conditions of The Colony home: 'Dead cats in the freezer'
USFWS Has Three Years to Decide If Hippos Are Endangered
Images you can hear.
A federal judge has extended the deadline by three years for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether the common hippopotamus should be protected under the Endangered Species Act. This comes as hippo populations face challenges and concerns over international trade in hippo parts, including teeth, ivory, and skin.
The Humane Society of the United States and the Center for Biological Diversity, both animal rights groups known for their lobbying, have pushed for this protection through legal channels. In 2022, they petitioned for this change, and when faced with delays from the Wildlife Service, responded with litigation rather than funding actual conservation efforts. The recent court ruling now requires a decision by July 27, 2028. While these animal rights groups spend considerable resources on lawsuits and lobbying, they are notably absent from funding crucial in-situ conservation work that could directly benefit hippo populations in range countries. This disconnect between legal advocacy and practical conservation support highlights a common criticism of such organizations. Not to mention, the demand for the common hippo to be listed completely ignores the imperiled status of the pygmy hippopotamus, which is actually the species of greatest concern.
The ruling and the push for listing protection may not be the most critical step forward in safeguarding these animals' well-being, especially since adding animals to the Endangered Species Act can impact keeping and breeding them here in the United States. Hippos are vital to their ecosystems, though their numbers are difficult to track accurately. Recent studies indicate a decline of 6% to 8% annually across Africa, with population estimates ranging from 115,000 to 192,000. The U.S. market continues to drive significant demand for hippo products. The situation calls for practical conservation measures and direct support for African wildlife management, rather than merely pursuing regulatory changes through expensive litigation.
Source: Are hippos in trouble? Feds have three years to decide if 'river horses' are endangered
Student Creates a Scale for Rating Dangerous Animals
You probably already knew you shouldn't pet the one on the left. The new Crespo scale says you shouldn't pet the one on the right, either.
At long last, all you folks who have been clamoring for the “world’s most dangerous” animals to get their own version of the Schmidt sting pain index are getting your wish: the Crespo scale!
The Crespo scale, created by college student David Duarte Crespo, determines how likely a given animal is to cause your death. And unlike the beloved Schmidt index, the new scale doesn’t rely on one person’s subjective experiences, it is built from two quantifiable factors: how likely you – a random human – are to encounter a specific species of animal, and then, how likely that animal is to kill you. Simple!
Part of Crespo’s inspiration for this project came from clickbait articles and videos that listed various animals as the “most dangerous” in the world. He was bothered by the fact that many of these animals really weren’t all that dangerous at all. In fact, one of the commonly listed animals, the inland taipan, is quite placid and in all of recorded history, has never killed a human being! True, this snake sports venom strong enough to kill an elephant – but the important fact that it has no interest in biting you is often omitted. In other words, literally the only way you’re going to be harmed by some of these supposedly terrifying animals is if you 1) seek them out and 2) deliberately annoy them.
This is a neat bit of myth busting, and it may also serve as a useful tool for preventing deadly human-animal interaction. For example, no matter how cute and friendly a feral dog appears, it has a small chance of carrying rabies or behaving in a way that leads to your demise (it may also be carrying other non-fatal zoonotic illnesses, as well). Despite this, it is not uncommon for unqualified people to interact with, feed, or even try to adopt feral dogs. The Crespo scale displays the danger level of feral dogs quite clearly, however. Admittedly, this kind of information grabs hold of your attention less than images of deadly, venomous snakes, but it is infinitely more pertinent for most people’s daily lives.
Source: Student Creates First Scientific Scale for “Dangerous” Animals
News Bites: Praise to the Shelter Volunteers, More About Petting Strays, Pet Death and the Virtual Town Square
Senior pets may be gone but they are never forgotten.
When Kathline Forrester and Robert York lost their oldest dog to cancer, this retired 25-year couple turned their grief into joy by volunteering at their county shelter. To many folks, the idea of scrubbing down dog kennels and covering vet bills may sound counterintuitive to the concept of “joy.” But helping out each week has really given Kathleen and Robert an opportunity to stay engaged in their community and share their love of animals – they’re definitely all in! Big shoutout to these two – and to all the volunteers in animal rescue!
Strays: to pet or not to pet? Wait a second, didn’t we just talk about this?! A series of TikTok video where a woman pets stray dogs (one with a serious skin condition) has stirred an online debate. The woman in the video says you just have to wash your hands afterward, while the people commenting on her videos are split between wholeheartedly embracing the act of petting strays and a more cautious “I love dogs, but I love not getting nipped even more” approach. A health expert and veterinarian stepped in to resolve this. Both acknowledged that petting strays comes from a place of love and compassion, and seemed resigned to the fact that no matter how many warnings are given, some people are just gonna pet stray dogs. So, the experts essentially asked people to please appreciate strays from a distance in areas where rabies is endemic, then provided a fairly rigorous set of steps one can follow to minimize contracting or spreading the illnesses carried by stray dogs.
Cornell University’s Hospital for Animals has launched a monthly Zoom support group for clients who have recently lost a pet. These groups offer pet owners a chance to share their experiences and coping strategies with others and provides them with a sense of community. These groups may also help veterinarians provide better support to grieving pet owners. This is a thoughtful idea, and we are very interested in hearing a retrospective assessment from pet owners who have taken advantage of this program.
Also in the News...
★ Kansas City-area animal shelter announces closure plans amid funding struggles (Rescue & Shelter News; Funding Issues)
★ New, possibly deadly virus found in Alabama animals. Here's what we know so far (Henipavirus; Possible Shrew-to-Human Transmission)
★ (Audio) Bird flu is taking a massive toll on wild animals, researchers find (Die Offs; Birds, Mammals, and More)
★ Illegal ‘sophisticated scheme’ to hunt exotic Texas animals snares 3 suspects (State Investigations; Illegal Hunting & Theft)
★ Biophysics research illuminates the beginnings of animal development (Early Development; Internal Asymmetry)
★ Empowering People to Save Animals From Extinction (Zoos & Conservation; The SAFE Program)
★ 5 of the Strangest Animals That Live in New York (Fun & Goofy: Lists in the City )
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