ENDCAP

No more wild animal circuses in Latvia from 13th July 2017

ENDCAP — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 12:20:29 +0000

The president of Latvia, Raimonds Vējonis, announced the Law yesterday, which will come into full force on 13th July 2017.

Now the Latvian Animal Protection Law (Section 27) reads: “It is forbidden to train wild animals (both caught from the wild or bred in captivity) and use them as amusement animals. It is also forbidden to display them as entertainment animals.”

The ban was first announced this June, the same month that a ban for the use of wild animals in circuses was also announced in Romania and New York city, USA.

The post No more wild animal circuses in Latvia from 13th July 2017 appeared first on ENDCAP.

Inside The Tanks

ENDCAP — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 10:55:02 +0000

New documentary, ‘Inside The Tanks’, blasts the whale and dolphin captivity debate wide open in Europe! Watch the full film here www.insidethetanks.com

The post Inside The Tanks appeared first on ENDCAP.

Breeding ban for captive dolphins in France

ENDCAP — Wed, 10 May 2017 10:28:14 +0000

Outdated legislation, which has regulated dolphinaria in France since 1981, has finally been updated and includes a breeding ban for captive dolphins across France.
The new rules mean:
• An end to breeding, exchange and import programmes, meaning the scheduled end of dolphin captivity in France. It also means that the four killer whales held at Marineland in Antibes will be the last.
• An increase of at least 150% to the tank sizes of captive individuals
• The addition of waves and waterfalls for environmental enrichment
• No more use of chlorine in tank water
• No night-time shows and no direct contact between the public and cetaceans.

Water parks and aquariums have six months to conform to the new rules, and a three-year deadline to expand tanks.

The Dolphinaria-Free Europe coalition is delighted to hear that the current captive whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) in France will be the last, and we thank our members, One Voice in France for their continued efforts which were integral in bringing us this result.
‘’This is such a happy moment! We fought so hard against the weak measures the industry pushed for. DFE’s support has been invaluable in the long negotiation process. I would like to thank our partners, and the French people who were with us in this battle for dolphins and whales. Our hope now is that this ban will hold and set a standard for captive cetaceans in other European countries.” – Muriel Arnal, One Voice & Dolphinaria-Free Europe member
Subscribe

The post Breeding ban for captive dolphins in France appeared first on ENDCAP.

Exhibition of Danish zoo photos

ENDCAP — Thu, 27 Apr 2017 14:34:30 +0000

Two of our member organisations, Dyreværnsorganisationen OASA and The Born Free Foundation have just hosted an exhibition in Copenhagen. The exhibition took place on 22nd and 23rd April and was held to highlight the plight of wild animals in European zoos.

Results of a year study of Danish zoo status and performance were unveiled at the exhibition, confirming that Danish zoos are largely non-compliant with European and Danish zoo law. The report, The EU Zoo Inquiry:Denmark, will be published in the next few months.

The photographs used in the exhibition were taken at zoos across Europe in 2016 by the award-winning photographers, Jo-Anne McArthur and Britta Jaschinski. Two such photos are pictured.
(IMAGES) Top – Aalborg Zoo, Denmark, Bottom – Copenhagen Zoo, Denmark (c) Jo-Anne McArthur/The Born Free Foundation
Subscribe

The post Exhibition of Danish zoo photos appeared first on ENDCAP.

ENDCAP launches its postcard campaign

ENDCAP — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 13:23:52 +0000

To mark our 10th Anniversary, ENDCAP members are sending postcards to help wild animals in captivity.

Addressed to the Commissioner of Environment, responsible for the implementation of the EU zoo law, the postcard asks him to Respect Captive Wild Animals and improve the standard of welfare for captive wild animals in zoos across Europe.

Twelve different designs have been created for ENDCAP members in eleven countries, each with a different image and text in the respective language. Pictured is the design being used by our members in Latvia, Animal Friends Fund.

If you would like to know if there is an organisation involved in your country why not visit our members page and contact our members directly.

Subscribe

The post ENDCAP launches its postcard campaign appeared first on ENDCAP.

Safety of zoo animals questioned yet again

ENDCAP — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:00:44 +0000

Over the years there have been numerous reports of animals in zoos around the world being injured or killed by visitors or intruders. Shockingly, this month alone has now seen several such tragic incidents.

At Belvedere Zoo in Tunisia, a crocodile is believed to have been ‘stoned’ to death after being hit on the head by two large rocks. Last week, poachers broke into Thoiry Zoo near Paris and shot dead a white rhino, before cutting off his horn with a chain saw. This is the first time that a rhino in a European zoo has been killed for its horn. The most recent incident occurred only yesterday when a flamingo at Jihlava Zoo in Czech Republic was killed by children as young as five, who apparently stoned and kicked the animal to death.

ENDCAP has long campaigned against the keeping of wild animals in captivity. Yesterday’s incident brings into serious question, yet again, just how safe zoo animals really are.
Subscribe

The post Safety of zoo animals questioned yet again appeared first on ENDCAP.

Vancouver Park Board votes unanimously to prohibit the importation of more cetaceans into Vancouver Aquarium

ENDCAP — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 15:11:09 +0000

The decision comes following the Aquarium’s announcement to bring in new belugas for use in research and public display, to be phased out by 2029. Following the decision, the Board has instructed staff at the Aquarium to investigate how best to implement the amendment by May 2017. The debate as to whether to keep cetaceans in captivity in Canada was reignited three months ago, after the deaths of the last two beluga whales at the Aquarium – Aurora and Qila.

A ban on keeping captive cetaceans in Canada has been supported by many, including twenty marine mammal biologists from around the world who have signed a letter in support of the introduction of Bill S-203, which has been proposed by former Senator Wilfred Moore to end the captivity of cetaceans in Canada.

In the letter, twenty biologists state that the captivity of cetaceans cannot be justified in the face of the growing body of scientific knowledge about the biological needs of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) , which shows that adaptation to captivity is extremely unlikely.

Dolphinaria-Free Europe (DFE) is very pleased to hear about the historic decision that was made last night by the Vancouver Park Board. Captivity causes grievous harm to such intelligent and socially-complex creatures like cetaceans. Essentially, it’s like living in a bathtub. This is why DFE fully supports the proposed ban in the altogether keeping of cetaceans in captivity in Canada. Here in Europe, DFE is working to phase out the keeping of cetaceans in captivity across Europe. In 2015, we created a science statement, signed by 21 marine mammal biologists, testifying that Odontocetes (toothed whales, dolphins and porpoises) in captivity simply cannot, and are not, thriving in zoos and aquariums.

Subscribe

The post Vancouver Park Board votes unanimously to prohibit the importation of more cetaceans into Vancouver Aquarium appeared first on ENDCAP.

Vancouver Aquarium will exhibit more beluga whales

ENDCAP — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 14:01:30 +0000

Three months after the deaths of the last two beluga whales at Vancouver Aquarium, the facility has announced that it will be importing more beluga whales for scientific research. This decision ignores requests from NGOs and other experts across the globe, to end the display of this particular species. Vancouver Aquarium has instead stated that they will not likely end the keeping of beluga whales until 2029.

The announcement was made yesterday by Head Veterinarian, Martin Haulena, and President, John Nightingale, who explained that the ‘beluga habitat’ will be expanded as part of the programme and captive breeding will no longer be practiced. Expected to be opened by spring 2019, the exhibit will display between three and five whales, all currently on loan to other captive facilities.

Dolphinaria-Free Europe is saddened by the news that Vancouver Aquarium has chosen to continue to keep the beluga whales; despite the recent animal deaths. We will continue to advocate an end to keeping whales and dolphins in tanks and instead, promote the use of coastal, seaside sanctuaries.

Dolphinaria-Free Europe (DFE) is associated with ENDCAP.

Subscribe

The post Vancouver Aquarium will exhibit more beluga whales appeared first on ENDCAP.

Virgin Holidays just announced their latest position on attractions featuring captive whales, dolphins and porpoises

ENDCAP — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 12:04:50 +0000

The key commitments of today’s announcement include:
•A decision to no longer sell or promote any new attractions or hotels that feature captive whales and dolphins for entertainment purposes.
•Ensuring that existing facilities displaying captive cetaceans, contracted by Virgin Holidays, meet the highest animal welfare standards.
•Encouraging existing facilities to change their current exploitative practices.
•Supporting the creation of coastal sanctuaries for whales and dolphins and promoting conservation in their natural habitats.
•Endorsing international co-operation to end the capture of wild cetaceans and discouraging the building of new attractions where cetaceans will be used for theatrical or contact purposes.

Whilst Virgin’s support of cetacean captivity may continue, by making this statement Virgin Holidays is pushing the captive cetacean industry down a path of change and are bringing their key industry partners, SeaWorld and Dolphin Discovery, with them!

Congratulations to the members of Dolphinaria-Free Europe; The Born Free Foundation, World Cetacean Alliance (WCA) and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), who have been working with Virgin Holidays to improve standards in animal welfare in the short term and phase out the exploitative use of animals in the long term.

The post Virgin Holidays just announced their latest position on attractions featuring captive whales, dolphins and porpoises appeared first on ENDCAP.

City of Madrid to ban circuses with wild animals

ENDCAP — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 17:02:32 +0000

The Municipal Plenary of the City of Madrid has today voted in favour of banning the entry of wild animal circuses into the capital of Spain. The decision comes as a result of the perseverance of the coalition InfoCircos, which was founded by Spanish NGO, ANDA and ENDCAP members, FAADA and The Born Free Foundation.

“This is a significant and an historic decision for Spain,” explains Daniel Turner, ENDCAP Coordinator. “ENDCAP is proud to support the work of InfoCircos, which continues to persuade regions across Spain, that this type of so called ‘entertainment’ must end.”

The decision by the City of Madrid will be enacted in a new Municipal Ordinance on Animal Protection, which will be ratified in the next few months.

There are 50 Municipalities in Madrid, and all of them will enact this ban. Across Spain, a total of 380 Municipalities have now denounced the use of wild animals in circuses, whilst the autonomous regions of Valencia, Catalonia, Galicia, Castilla-La-Mancha, Extremadura and Cantabria have also favoured an end to the archaic practice.
Subscribe

The post City of Madrid to ban circuses with wild animals appeared first on ENDCAP.