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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN//2.0"> <html> <head> <title>AR-NEWS Digest</title> </head> <BODY bgcolor=fbfaea text=#211818 link="#190748" alink="#FFFFEF" vlink="#401C92"> <center> <IMG SRC="IMAGES/HEAD.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/head.gif" USEMAP="#toplinks" BORDER="0"><BR> <img src="IMAGES/YCBAR.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/ycbar.gif"><a href="../INDEX~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/index.html"><img src="IMAGES/HOMEBAR.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/homebar.gif" border=0></a><br></center> <map name="toplinks"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="345,27,393,54" href="../../../tppmsgs/msgs0.htm#14" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/envirohome.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="458,7,512,27" href="../SUPPOR~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Support.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="401,7,446,26" href="../SEARCH~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/search.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="352,7,386,26" href="../ORGS~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Orgs.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="298,7,337,25" href="../NEWSPA~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/newspage.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="211,7,286,27" href="../SUB~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/sub.html"> </map> <center><TABLE cellspacing=15 border=0> <TR> <TD width=50 align=center> </TD> <TD width=400 align=left> <!-- PAGE CONTENT GOES BELOW --> <hr> <pre> AR-NEWS Digest 361 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) (AU) Australia Calls Beef Ban Hasty by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 2) (MY) Study: Angling a popular sport in Malaysia by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 3) (MY) Curb illegal fishing, depts told by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 4) (MY) An act of cruelty to keep exotic animals as pets by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 5) (TH) Four get anthrax from buffalo meat by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 6) (HK) Homing instinct of turtles threatens survival by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 7) PROTEST FOR HUNGER STRIKING TEEN WIDENS by nnetwork@cwnet.com 8) (US) Vegetarian SummerFest 97 by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 9) (US-TW) Taiwan Reports Outbreak in Pork by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 10) (AU) Aussie Beef Ban To Be Lifted by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 11) (AU) Once Australia's 'babes', now a menace by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 12) Re: (CA) Tiger Escapes in Ontario, Canada by BKMACKAY@aol.com 13) POSTING by Me1ani@aol.com 14) Re: (TW) emergent appeal by Ming-Lee Yeh <myeh@osf1.gmu.edu> 15) notice for posting by 0 <74754.654@CompuServe.COM> 16) Lynn Rogers/Jeffrey M. Masson/Jane Goodall lectures by "Zoocheck Canada Inc." <zoocheck@idirect.com> 17) (US) L.A. Zoo Has Geriatric Animals by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 18) Woman Gets Jail for Cat Killings by Nichen@aol.com 19) Leaving SdeCAP/Changing addresses by SdeCAP@arc.unm.edu (Lawrence Carter-Long) 20) (US) Groups Want Salmon Habitat Saved by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 21) Saving the Rare Houbara Bustard by Nichen@aol.com 22) Your tax dollars at work by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 23) Falcons return to Seattle skyscraper by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 24) FWD: Forest Focus by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 25) The newest drug racket by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 00:05:21 -0500 >From: allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (AU) Australia Calls Beef Ban Hasty Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970401000519.006a191c@clark.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" from NY Times web page: -------------------------------------- March 30, 1997 Australia Calls Beef Ban Hasty Filed at 8:30 p.m. EST By The Associated Press SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Indonesia was too hasty in banning beef and cattle imports from Australia because of anthrax as any outbreaks were under control, New South Wales' state Agriculture Department said Monday. Indonesia halted imports from New South Wales and Victoria on March 10, citing anthrax disease in cattle in both states. Asian food buyers are particularly sensitive since Britain has been rocked by the ``mad cow disease'' scare. But the head of the New South Wales Agriculture Department's animal industries division, Helen Scott-Orr, said New South Wales should not be included in the ban as reports of anthrax were normal and decreasing. ``In fact, our incidence this year has been on the lower side of what our normal incidence has been,'' she told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio. ``So it's not as if there's any greater risk whatsoever to the Indonesians than there was in the past. ``Each year we would have anywhere between five and 20 outbreaks but essentially they have been diminishing each year. ``Obviously (Indonesia) feels because of the high incidence in Victoria, it has aroused their awareness and they have looked to see where anthrax occurred in Australia and they have thrown the net rather wider than we think necessary.'' From January through March some 150 cattle died on Victoria farms before anthrax was contained through quarantines and inoculation. More than 80 Victoria farms lost cattle to the disease and more than 77,300 head of cattle were vaccinated. There had been outbreaks of the disease on six isolated New South Wales farms this year, Scott-Orr said. Anthrax is a highly infectious cattle disease that leads to ulcerating nodules, lesions in the lungs and blood poisoning. It can also be transmitted to humans handling the infected products. The Sydney Morning Herald reported Monday that Australia's US $2.7 billion (3.5 billion Australian dollars) red meat and livestock export industries are worried about a possible loss of access to lucrative Asian markets after an apparent breakdown between government agencies in reporting recent anthrax infections in New South Wales. The Herald said Federal Primary Industries Minister John Anderson had spearheaded efforts to satisfy concerns on the part of Australia's major trading partners over Australia's anthrax quarantine effectiveness after the recent outbreak in Victoria. A spokesman for Anderson told the paper that Australia always notified its trading partners of any anthrax outbreak, but so far there had been no contact about New South Wales infections. Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 15:19:09 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (MY) Study: Angling a popular sport in Malaysia Message-ID: <199703310719.PAA29032@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >The Star (31-Mar-97) Study: Angling a popular sport in Malaysia JOHOR BARU: About two million Malaysians go angling at least once a year and spend an average of RM100 million annually on the sport. Malaysian Fisheries Society president Talachan Singh said a study conducted by the association found that angling had become an important sub-sector of the fishing industry in Malaysia. "In view of the positive development, there has to be a consistent effort by all quarters for sustainable growth. "There must be certain restrictions on the environment to ensure that the country's rapid economic growth will not affect the sector. "At the same time, rules and regulations must be imposed on anglers to inculcate discipline and monitor the approval of licenses," he said in an interview. Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 15:19:16 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (MY) Curb illegal fishing, depts told Message-ID: <199703310719.PAA28818@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >The Star (31-Mar-97) Curb illegal fishing, depts told By Maizatul Nazlina JOHOR BARU: The Agriculture Ministry has called on state fisheries departments to set strict rules to ensure that dams are not exposed to illegal fishing in a move to preserve the fish population. Deputy Agriculture Minister Datuk Dr Tengku Mahmud Mansor said stringent measures were needed to prevent a recurrence of an incident in Kenyir Dam in Terengganu where between 50 and 60 tonnes of fish had been indiscriminately netted. "The department should regulate fishing at these areas to preserve the fish population in an effort to boost the agro-tourism industry," he said in an interview. There were also reports that locals were allowing foreigners to use their permits to fish at several dams in the state. This was an offence as such permits were not allowed to change hands. Tengku Mahmud was commenting on several complaints from the public of such activities, especially at the Bekuk, Sembrong and Machap dams. He said evidence was needed to revoke the permits of those who had defaulted. "Since these are also catchment areas, permit holders must adhere to the state's requirements, including not being allowed to use high-powered boats but they have not done so," he said. They were also not allowed to wash their boats or engines at the dams, he added. He said under the proposed amendment to the Fisheries Act 1985, those found using fishing nets at lakes, dams and river mouths would be slapped heavier compound fines. "It will take us at least one year to make thorough studies before making the amendment to ensure its effectiveness as well as to preserve the breeding grounds," he said. He said that at present, defaulters were liable to a fine of RM2,000 or one year's jail or both upon conviction. Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 15:19:23 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (MY) An act of cruelty to keep exotic animals as pets Message-ID: <199703310719.PAA28892@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >The Star (31-Mar-97) An act of cruelty to keep exotic animals as pets Letter To The Editor An act of cruelty to keep exotic animals as pets S.M. Mohd Idris, President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, writes: SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) is deeply perturbed by recent news of the keeping of exotic pets, particularly primates, for status symbol. The keeping of exotic pets is not something new as SAM is aware of cases in Penang where supposedly bird lovers and wildlife lovers would go to great lengths to import exotic bird species, reptiles, amphibians and mammals. Gradually, with the increase in collection, these individuals would venture out into profit-making business with the establishment of aviaries and mini-zoos, all for educating the public. Apart from profit-making, SAM strongly believes that orang utans are being kept as pets by many people in Borneo because of their appealing human qualities. In fact, the people there bring up their pets like children where they are allowed to romp with the village children, eat from plates and cuddle up to their owners. Often these animals are fed foods not natural to their diet in the wild as few people know how to feed and care for baby primates. As such many may not survive the early days of captivity. When they become too large to handle, problem starts for they then become dangerous and difficult to manage. The animal may be tethered with a short rope or chain or given away to friends or to zoos. In the case of Sabah, the primates would be lucky to end up in the Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. Giving exotic pets to zoos will only create further problems for the animals as the zoos will be forced to house them with other strange animals from their existing collections. The newcomer may not eat or be prevented from getting food by the dominant member of the cage. Gradually, it may languish and die in solitary confinement. SAM views the keeping of eagles in cages as cruel, for the birds are deprived of their flight and freedom. All living things are born free and to subject them to 1ife in a cage in a condominium for one's own pleasure is just not right. In case of a fire breaking out there would be no escape for the poor birds. An incident of a fire which wiped out an exotic number of reptiles, mostly snakes, occurred once at the home of an exotic animal trader. The demand for wild animals as pets has a detrimental effect on wild life population. Many species may not be genetically viable as their habitats are destroyed and their mates are increasingly hard to locate. It is high time that legislation for the Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 be re-enacted to include the possession of exotic species of animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians as illegal. The capture and importation of such species for the pet trade must be stopped. Lastly, the public must realise that the bringing of wild animals from the forest to be confined in homes is wrong; for the final disposal of confiscated animals will always remain a problem. Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 15:19:31 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org Subject: (TH) Four get anthrax from buffalo meat Message-ID: <199703310719.PAA28622@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >Hong Kong Standard, 31 Mar 97 Four get anthrax from buffalo meat BANGKOK: At least four people in central Thailand have contracted anthrax from infected water buffalo meat. The villagers were admitted to hospital in Nong Chang district on Thursday with clear symptoms of the disease, while another four patients arriving on Saturday also showed signs of infection, Dr Kanokwan Thamthiwai said. About 50 families from several villages in the area were panic-stricken after the outbreak was traced to a butcher who had bought some water buffalo meat and sold it a discount, local media reported. The latest outbreak of the deadly disease, which normally affects livestock, took place in Uthai Thani province about 240 kilometres north of Bangkok. Last month, almost 20 people, most of them from a Muslim community in Bangkok, were infected after eating or handling beef. The disease was believed to have originated with cattle from Tak province on the border with Burma. Public health services are non-existent on the Burmese side of the border, Thai officials have said, as the military government in Rangoon is trying to wrap up a 49-year civil war with ethnic minorities. - AFP Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 15:19:36 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (HK) Homing instinct of turtles threatens survival Message-ID: <199703310719.PAA29035@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >South China Morning Post, Internet Edition, 31 Mar 97 Homing instinct of turtles threatens survival FIONA HOLLAND Green turtles return to their birthplace to breed - and it is this homing instinct that threatens the species' survival. Development of coastal areas, increasing marine traffic and pollution all work against the green turtle, but the greatest threat comes from villagers stealing eggs.<P> The only known local breeding site is Sham Wan beach, Lamma Island, where four empty nests were found in 1995. Last September, conservationists feared a lone female had returned in vain after villagers stole her eggs. Reptile expert Michael Lau Wai-neng said collecting the eggs - a traditional delicacy - threatened the green turtle with extinction. The population would never be replenished, Mr Lau said: "In general they are threatened by development. The green turtle is a species which has been over-exploited. "With regard to this population, the major threat would be collecting of eggs by villagers." Hunting of turtles and their eggs is prohibited under the Wild Animals Protection Ordinance, designed to protect all species of turtles and terrapins. Eleven species have been recorded locally but only the green turtle breeds in Hong Kong, although since the 1970s only a handful of them have been recorded. Trade in the green turtle is also controlled under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna. Seven illegally imported stuffed green turtles have been seized this year. Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 00:47:53 -0800 (PST) >From: nnetwork@cwnet.com To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: PROTEST FOR HUNGER STRIKING TEEN WIDENS Message-ID: <199703310847.AAA00730@main.cwnet.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" (I am not sure how much of the Tony Wong story has filtered to groups and individuals. But, after 30 days a pure hunger strike gets very serious. Tony is in good shape, relatively speaking. However, we need a major presence at the jail for him. Anyone interested in attending a major rally for Tony within the next week, or otherwise helping, please contact me at the above email) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 31, 1997 African-American Groups Support Hunger Striking Teen; U.S. Flag Will be Torched in Indy Monday INDIANAPOLIS -- Several African-American organizations have announced their support for hunger striking animal rights activist Tony Wong,16, and said they will, in protest of the jailing and force-feeding of the teen activist, torch a U.S. flag Monday at 3:30 p.m. at the Pan Am Plaza (next to the RCA Dome). The public display and burning of the symbol of "freedom" by the African Collective and the Black Panther Militia is only part of the growing support for Wong, jailed Feb. 24 for at least 2 months at the Plainfield Indiana Boys' School for protesting against animal cruelty at Castleton Mall and Lazarus Dept. Store last Nov. 29. Wong "celebrates" his 36th day on a hunger strike Monday -- the longest ever hunger strike by an animal rights activist. Barry Horne, a British activist, spent 35 days on a hunger strike earlier this year before ending it. But, Wong -- who is being forcibly fed a liquid supplement through a tube up his nose and down to his stomach -- continues to refuse to eat. He weighs about 114 pounds, down from about 134 pounds when he was sent to jail. Lawyers for Wong also are expected to file even more motions Monday in an attempt to free Wong. Motions have already been filed in Marion County Superior Court, but lawyers are considering filing in the Appellate Dept. and Federal Court. They are asking for Wong's immediate release, and/or an end to the unethical and unnecessary force-feeding of the youth. Wong, and Jeff Watkins, a hunger striker in Syracuse jailed for 32 days for, like Wong, participating in peaceful protests, will not eat until the Clinton Administration agrees to support federal legislation banning the barbaric leghold trap, and end opposition to the European Union wild fur ban, which would stop the importation to EU countries of fur from nations not yet banning the trap. The U.S. has not banned the trap and is threatening to sue the EU. The third demand asks New York to kill a measure that would legalize a "snare trap" for beavers. -30- Activist Civil Liberties Committee PO Box 19515, Sacramento, CA 95819 (916) 452-7179 Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 07:34:33 -0500 >From: allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (US) Vegetarian SummerFest 97 Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970401073431.006b54f0@clark.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Information for the Vegetarian SummerFest 97, sponsored by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS), is available online now! URL: http://www.cyberveg.org/navs/fest97/index.html July 9-13, 1997 The Conference Center at Pitt-Johnstown Johnstown, PA. Registration information, speakers, prices--all this information is available on the web page. For those who haven't been to a SummerFest before, a link to the previous SummerFest (96) is available. Also, you can e-mail NAVS at: navs@telenet.net Or...snailmail at: NAVS PO Box 72-S3 Dolgeville, NY 13329 phone: (518) 568-7970 Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 08:26:23 -0500 >From: allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (US-TW) Taiwan Reports Outbreak in Pork Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970401082620.006da5d8@clark.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" from AP Wire page: ----------------------------- 03/30/1997 14:05 EST Taiwan Reports Outbreak in Pork By CLIFF EDWARDS AP Business Writer CHICAGO (AP) -- A severe outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease in Taiwan's pork population could boost U.S. exports and possibly lead to higher prices at the grocer. The highly contagious disease has spread quickly among Taiwan's pork population, with that country's Council of Agriculture reporting Friday that 842 pig farms were affected and about 140,000 pigs dead or destroyed. Some 740,000 pigs are on the farms. Hoof-and-mouth disease is a virus that causes fever and blisters in an animal's mouth and around its hoofs. Animals affected usually do not eat and ultimately must be destroyed. The disease does not harm humans. Taiwan has banned exports of its pork while it works to contain the disease and rebuild its herds, a process that experts say could take years. Its largest export partner, Japan, has banned all Taiwanese imports -- which could lead to substantial new U.S. export business. ``Right now, it's a wait-and-see thing about what Japan is going to do,'' said Ken Maschoff, whose family-operated business in Carlyle, Ill., produces 140,000 hogs annually. ``Everybody's guessing they're going to lower tariffs to allow more Western pork in, and that could mean consumers paying more for pork this summer,'' Maschoff said. After the outbreak two weeks ago, pork prices began to hog the limelight on U.S. futures exchanges. Live hogs futures prices rose the daily trading limit for three consecutive days last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and are poised to go higher. Taiwan accounted for 41 percent of Japanese pork imports last year, with American imports accounting for 22 percent. American imports to Japan could rise to 50 percent, economists have suggested. The possibility for increased exports comes as the government has suggested that American pork supplies could get tighter in the second half of this year because of lower production. If that forces pork prices -- which have been relatively low all winter -- to rise before the summer grilling season, fewer supermarkets may opt not to heavily advertise pork in favor of other meats because of lower profit margins, Maschoff said. ``A lot of people think this situation in Taiwan came about at the wrong time,'' Maschoff said. ``American pork producers actually could end up getting hurt if Japan doesn't lower tariffs to allow more pork in, or if Japanese consumer demand falls off and American consumer demand also falls off.'' Date: Tue, 01 Apr 1997 08:37:08 -0500 >From: allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (AU) Aussie Beef Ban To Be Lifted Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970401083705.00688fe0@clark.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" from AP Wire page: ----------------------------- 03/31/1997 07:25 EST Aussie Beef Ban To Be Lifted SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Indonesia was too hasty in banning beef and cattle imports from Australia due to anthrax because any outbreaks are already under control, a state agriculture official said today. Indonesia halted imports from New South Wales and Victoria on March 10, citing anthrax disease in cattle in both states. Asian food buyers are particularly sensitive about beef after Britain's problems with mad cow disease. But Victoria state's chief veterinary officer, Dr. Andrew Turner, said the Indonesian ban on Victorian meat and cattle will be lifted Thursday and the ban on New South Wales imports was lifted over the weekend. However, the head of the New South Wales' animal industries division, Helen Scott-Orr, said her state should not be included in the ban as reports of anthrax were normal and decreasing. ``In fact, our incidence this year has been on the lower side'' of normal, she told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio -- outbreaks on six isolated farms. She said Indonesia appeared to be reacting to the high incidence of anthrax in Victoria. More than 200 cattle died in Victoria this year before anthrax was contained through quarantines and inoculation. More than 80 Victoria farms lost cattle to the disease and more than 77,300 head of cattle were vaccinated. Anthrax is a highly infectious cattle disease that leads to ulcerating nodules, lesions in the lungs and blood poisoning. It can also be transmitted to humans handling the infected products. The Sydney Morning Herald reported today that Australia's $2.7 billion beef and livestock export industries are worried about losing access to lucrative Asian markets after an apparent breakdown between government agencies in reporting the anthrax infections in New South Wales. A government spokesman told the paper that Australia always notified its trading partners of any anthrax outbreak, but so far there had been no contact about New South Wales infections. Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 22:25:07 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (AU) Once Australia's 'babes', now a menace 
