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The First Laws
The first law to
prohibit animal
cruelty went in to
effect in Ireland. The
law prohibited
working horses by
their tails and pulling,
rather than sheering,
wool off live sheep.
This law was the first
step against animal
cruelty. -
Lacey Act
The Lacey Act went into effect in the U.S. to protect both plants and wildlife by creating civil and criminal penalties for a wide array of violations. Most notably, the Act prohibits trade in wildlife, fish, and plants that have been illegally taken, possessed, transported or sold. The Act underscores other federal, state, and foreign laws protecting wildlife by making it a separate offense to take, possess, transport, or sell wildlife that has been taken in violation of those laws. -
Initiation Killings
May 22, young Maasia
warriors kill lions “to
prove themselves as
men”. The killings are
a coming effect. Word
spreads and soon
young men of local
communities want
to prove theirselves as
well. The killings effect
the lion population
and can leave prides
in ruins. -
Endangered Species act
February 25, three
African nations
where the world’s
last 720 mountain
gorillas are working
together to save the
critically endangered
animal. The Dutch
gov. will dish out 6.1
million to support
the nations working
together. -
Change of Heart
Octover 11, a group
of Masai warriors in
Kenya turned from
hunting lions to
protecting them as a
part of a unique wild
life project. Amy
Howard from “Living
With Lions” says the
support from the
Masia warriors has
been invaluable. -
Saving the Rhinos
The South African
government has
announced its plan is
to send out hundreds
of extra troops along
its borders to lend a
hand against Rhino horn
smugglers. According
to justice minister
Jeff Rodebe, 4
military companies
are being deployed
the borders. -
Caught in the Act
February 1, three
Mozambicans have
been sentenced to
25 years each in a
South African court
for Rhino poaching.
They were caught
with 2 freshly
chopped Rhino
horns, an assault
rifle, a hunting rifel
and an axe. -
Poaching Massacres
March 15, half the
elephants in
Cameroon’s Bouba
N’Djida reserve were
slaughtered because
the nation had too
few security to fend
off poachers. This is
one of the worst
poaching massacres
in decades by
poachers from Sudan
and Chad. -
Initiation gone wrong
April 11, Ten warriors
struck the Oloolo
pride when all the
game drive vehicles
left the area. One
female was killed by
two spear wounds,
and a leg and tail
were cut off for their
initiation ceremony.
The lion was killed as
revenge for lost
livestock and initiation. -
Smugglers against the Elephants
April 24, helicopters
raided Kinsha
Sa/Krugar National
Park and lay waste to
22 elephants. This
was one of the worst
killings in the DRC.
After the killing, the
poachers went down
to collect and
smuggle their booty
across the border. -
Conservation Failing
May 6, Conservation
efforts to save rhinos
are coming undone.
In 2007, 13 rhinos
were poached. Last
year the number hit
448 and more than
200 this year. The S.A.
Rhino management
group worries that if
trends continue, the
number of deaths will
outstrip births.
