Kategorie: Animals

Yesterday, a California court of appeal ruled in PETA’s favor that Monterey Zoo had failed to establish that its use of canes as stand-ins for bullhooks (weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end) to poke, prod, and control elephants somehow arises from activity protected by the First Amendment. The ruling means that PETA can now move forward with its lawsuit alleging that the zoo has engaged in unlawful business practices by using the canes as weapons in violation of California’s ban on bullhooks and other devices “designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant.”

PETA’s suit also alleges that Monterey Zoo has violated California’s worker protection laws by controlling elephants via old, circus-style “free contact,” in which handlers share the same unrestricted space with elephants and use domination, force, and punishment to make them obey. This victory also means that the zoo is no longer entitled to collect its attorneys’ fees and costs from PETA—instead, it now has to pay our costs on appeal.

“For years, workers at Monterey Zoo have physically and mentally tormented elephants by using weapons on them in apparent defiance of state law. No other zoo in California still resorts to dangerous direct contact with elephants, and PETA can now proceed in its lawsuit to compel the facility to end its use of these cruel practices.”

—PETA Foundation General Counsel Caitlin Hawks

Elephants held at Monterey Zoo have died under questionable circumstances, including one who was euthanized after being unable to stand due to a painful joint condition and another whose death was hidden from the public but whose necropsy revealed that she had ingested a large amount of sand that blocked and ruptured her large intestine, eventually causing blood poisoning. The facility has temporarily transferred Butch, the sole remaining elephant it used for pricy public encounters and photo ops, to another facility but intends to bring him back—along with additional elephants.

Urge Monterey Zoo to Close Its Elephant Exhibit

Elephants in their natural homes roam immense habitats, cool off in mud wallows, and knock down trees and strip their bark. They live in close-knit families and have vast, complex social networks. They nurture their young and mourn their dead.

Just like humans, elephants deserve to live free from exploitation, and we must reject the cruel, speciesist idea that we’re entitled to use them for entertainment. Monterey Zoo should never gamble with another elephant’s life or hold elephants captive.

Please find a statement from PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman in response to breakthrough news that The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios is now offering vegan Butterbeer following a campaign by The Protego Foundation and a plea from PETA:

There’s magic in the air at Universal, now that vegan visitors and everyone else can enjoy frothy, nondairy mugs of iconic Butterbeer. PETA is hopping to it to send Universal Studios a box of vegan chocolate frogs in thanks, and we encourage all Harry Potter fans to give the cruel dairy industry a dark mark by saying, ‘Accio Vegan Butterbeer!’ every time they head to the park.

Non-Dairy Butterbeer is the latest addition to the park’s scrumptious vegan menu options—which include vegan Irish Stew, Shepherd’s Pie, and Mushroom Pie—and will delight everyone who avoids dairy out of respect for animals and the environment, for health or religious reasons, or because of an allergy or lactose intolerance.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Yesterday, a California Court of Appeal ruled in PETA’s favor that the Monterey Zoo had failed to establish that its use of canes to poke, prod, and control elephants as a stand-in for bullhooks (weapons that resemble a fireplace poker with a sharp hook on one end) somehow arises from First Amendment–protected activity. The ruling means that PETA can move forward with its lawsuit alleging that the zoo has engaged in unlawful business practices by using the canes as weapons in violation of California’s ban on bullhooks and other devices “designed to inflict pain for the purpose of training or controlling the behavior of an elephant.”

The group’s suit also alleges that the Monterey Zoo has violated California’s worker protection laws by controlling elephants via old, circus-style “free contact,” in which handlers share the same unrestricted space with elephants and use domination, force, and punishment to make them obey.

“For years, workers at this facility have physically and mentally tormented elephants by using weapons on them in apparent defiance of state law,” says PETA Foundation General Counsel Caitlin Hawks. “No other zoo in California still resorts to dangerous direct contact with elephants, and PETA can now proceed in its lawsuit to compel the Monterey Zoo to end it use of these cruel practices.”

Elephants held at the Monterey Zoo have died under questionable circumstances, including one who was euthanized after being unable to stand due to a painful joint condition and another whose death was hidden from the public but whose necropsy revealed that she had ingested a large amount of sand that blocked and ruptured her large intestine, eventually causing blood poisoning. The facility has temporarily transferred the sole remaining elephant it used for pricy public encounters and photo ops, Butch, to another facility but intends to bring him back—along with additional elephants.

This victory also means that the Monterey Zoo is no longer entitled to collect its attorneys’ fees and costs from PETA and instead now has to pay PETA’s costs on appeal.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment or abuse in any other way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information on PETA’s investigative newsgathering and reporting, please visit PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

On Tuesday, PETA “models” will unfurl a carpeted “runway” outside the Urban Outfitters store on Walnut Street and create their own cowwalk to showcase designs made of hyperrealistic “human leather” from Urban Outraged, a guerrilla marketing campaign resembling a real online store that sells jackets, boots, skirts, and bags made from what looks like humans’ skin. PETA hopes the gruesome fashion show will make people question the acceptability of using any living, feeling being’s skin for fashion—something Urban Outfitters brands, including Anthropologie and Free People, do by selling wool, cashmere, mohair, leather, down, silk, and alpaca wool, all of which represent violence, cruelty, and fear.

When:    Tuesday, March 7, 12 noon

Where:    1627 Walnut St., at the intersection of S. 17^th Street, Philadelphia

“A cow’s skin belongs to her, and she feels fear and pain in a slaughterhouse every bit as much as you or I would,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is challenging shoppers to see the individual behind every bit of animal skin on store racks and shelves and opt for cruelty-free clothing instead.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to wear”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview.

For more information, please visit PETA.org, listen to The PETA Podcast, or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.