Animal Defenders International

Happy #WorldVeganDay! Whether you’re a decades-long vegan or a newly veg-curious omnivore, every plant-based food choice makes a difference. Check out these perks of following a vegan lifestyle and let us know if you’ve already made or want to make the switch! 1) DISEASE PREVENTION: Studies have shown that filling your diet with nutritious plant foods lowers your risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Plant-based diets also reduce the demand for mea...t, which lessens the risk of diseases spreading to humans due to factory farming. 2) SPECIES PROTECTION: Livestock production takes up a staggering one-third of arable land on Earth, including large areas of once-biodiverse rainforest cleared to farm cattle. This affects our planet's climate systems, threatening all earthlings. 3) FARM ANIMALS: The majority of animals reared for their meat, milk, eggs, or skin/fur are intensively farmed in cramped conditions, selectively bred to maximize production, and subjected to routine mutilation and long-distance transport. They endure a lifetime of suffering, all to be brutally killed. 4) LAB ANIMALS: Vegans eschew all animal products to the extent possible, including cosmetic and household products tested on animals. In recent years, the push for cruelty-free cosmetics has helped encourage brands and countriesmost recently, Colombiato ban cosmetic testing on animals. 5) PREVENT CLIMATE CHANGE: Animal agriculture is responsible for 35-40% of methane emissions and 18% of all human-induced greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change. Our planet cannot sustain this level of damage, we are killing our seas and our earth and the future is bleak for humans unless we change it. Going vegan is the single biggest way to help the environment and other animals. Not sure where to start? Get cooking with these compassionate recipes from ADI: https://bit.ly/compassionate-recipes What is your favorite vegan recipe? Let us know in the comments below! See more

SIT BACK & ENJOY as lions and tigers at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary GO WILD for their Halloween treats! The 455-acre sanctuary in South Africa is home to 42 lions and tigers, all bar one rescued from abuse in circuses in Peru, Colombia and Guatemala. New toys and things to do are essential for the sanctuary residents to keep physically and mentally engaged, active and healthy. Despite all they have endured, you can see their spirits and sense of fun soar. The 2-year-old sanctuary relies entirely on donations. HAVE A HAPPY HALLOWEEN. #Halloween #pumpkins #Lions #Tigers

ZEUS IS HOME FOR HALLOWEEN! After a ten-day stay in hospital and treatment for inflammation of his spine, our dear Zeus is feeling better and is back at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary with Bumba (they were rescued from the same circus in Colombia). Bumba was clearly excited to see his friend and welcome him home to their Sam&Eric habitat. Zeus will need long-term vitamin A treatment and a special supplement to manage his degenerative spine condition and help him stay active. This condition is the result of lifelong poor nutrition and care in the circus. Zeus will need long-term vitamin A treatment and a special supplement to manage his condition and help him stay active. PLEASE WELCOME ZEUS HOME!

Sasha Tiger, rescued from a circus in Guatemala, enjoys Halloween at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary, South Africa. All of these lions and tigers were rescued by ADI from circuses in Peru, Guatemala and Colombia. There’s no more scary Halloweens for them, now they’re having the time of their lives! Thanks to all the ADI supporters who donated for the pumpkins for our 42 lions and tigers. Watch out for a video of all the fun in the coming days.

FRANKENSCIENCE. Researchers at the University of Leuven and Cambridge University UK, sewed together mice when looking at the role of white blood cells in the brain. Pairs of genetically modified mice with different immune systems were sewn together to fuse their circulatory systems, to see the effect of each mouse’s brain on the while blood cells from the other mouse. The experiment also involved social isolation of mice, and housing germ-free laboratory mice with mice from... pet shops in dirty housing. Other mice underwent behaviour tests, including the controversial ‘forced swim test’ (until close to drowning) in which the animals demonstrated depression-like behavior. All of the animal research was conducted alongside studies of human brain cells. Yet it is well known that, due to species differences, animal research results are not a reliable predictor of results in humans. Such research is unreliable, unethical and unnecessary and can be replaced with advanced scientific techniques, relevant to people. In the UK, urge your MPs to call on the government to progress the adoption of advanced non-animal research methods and phase out animal tests through a system of thematic review: https://www.theyworkforyou.com Wherever you live, please urge your legislators to support measures for advanced non-animal research methods. #animalexperiments #endsuffering #UnreliableUnethicalUnnecessary

MORE ‘TIGER KING’ STARS BROUGHT TO JUSTICE. Bhagavan ‘Doc’ Antle and two of his daughters have been charged in Frederick County, Virginia with animal cruelty, wildlife trafficking, and violating the Endangered Species Act. The investigation found that Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina, trafficked lion cubs between Virginia and South Carolina. Keith Wilson, owner of Wilson’s Wild Animal Park in Winchester, Virginia was also indicted. Wilson was previously in...dicted on 46 counts of animal cruelty in 2019. Another #TigerKing star, Tim Stark, was recently arrested in Granville, New York. We reported in September that an arrest warrant was issued for Stark after court investigators arrived at his Wildlife in Need Zoo in Indiana to find 33 animals missing. Stark is also facing criminal charges for allegations of battery and intimidation of a public official during a zoo inspection in March. The Big Cat Public Safety Act (HR1380/S2561) could come up for a House vote in the coming weeks, please contact your legislators TODAY and urge them to support it. http://bit.ly/contactUSlegislators #BCPSA #BigCatPublicSafetyAct #StopCircusSuffering

Leo basks in the golden sun, enjoying its warmth as spring arrives at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa. Our grand old warrior is never too far from his partner Muñeca so we know she’ll be nearby. Leo was 11 or 12 years old when we rescued him from a circus in Peru. At the time, he looked broken, tired and defeated. He has since bounced back, and even though he’s now 17 or 18 years old, his inner kitten still comes out to play, especially when there is enrichment f...un to be had, like catnip-and-hay filled boxes. You can help support Leo’s care by adopting him, and help keep him sprightly, healthy and curious, even in his golden years: https://donate.adiusa.org/adoptalion/ Leo is also the worthy cover star of the ADI 2021 Animal Rescue calendar (packed with beautiful images of our rescued animals), buy one here: http://bit.ly/2021-calendar-US http://bit.ly/2021-calendar-UK #LeoADIWS #ADIWildlifeSanctuary

Happy birthday to ADI supporter Joaquin Phoenix, longtime vegan animal activist who never misses a moment to speak up for the animals. Joaquin supports #TEAPSPA and says, The way animals are treated as mere objects of entertainment, beaten and bullied into performing circus acts, is disgraceful. Join Joaquin to #StopCircusSuffering in the US by urging your legislators to support the Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (HR2863/S2121): http://bit.ly/SupportTEAPSPA

URGENT: HELP STOP HUGE MONKEY BREEDER EXPANSION! Biosphere Trading in Mauritius, who trap, breed and export monkeys for experiments, including to the US and Europe, is planning a massive increase in monkeys from 800 to 7,500. There are just days left to oppose this application which would see thousands more monkeys transported around the world to suffer and die in laboratories likely many in COVID-19 experiments. The deadline to comment on the Biosphere Trading applicatio...n is Saturday 31 October and WE NEED YOUR HELP. ADI undercover investigations of monkey breeders in Mauritius and elsewhere have exposed the suffering these animals endure. Biosphere Trading is already permitted to capture up to 1,000 monkeys from the wild every year. At Biosphere Trading, young monkeys can be confined for 40 days in tiny squeeze cages prior to export and an average of 10 animals die at the facility each month. CLICK HERE TO OPPOSE THE PLANS it takes less than 10 minutes and the monkeys are counting on you: http://bit.ly/oppose-biosphere-expansion

HALLOWEEN WARNING: AVOID wild and exotic animal attractions like rides, petting zoos, and photo ops. Animals may be snatched from the wild or bred for a life in captivity. Confined and abused, they face a lifetime of suffering, traveling from venue to venue in cramped trailers, then surrounded and manhandled by crowds of people. These animals do not belong in the city, yet despite a ban on wild & exotic animal acts in effect since April, ADI found 2 camels forced to give ri...des outside a pumpkin patch and petting zoo in Los Angeles. ADI alerted Councilmember David E. Ryu (sponsor of the city ban and whose district includes the neighborhood where the rides were being held through the Christmas holiday), Los Angeles Animal Services, and the neighborhood council. Exhibitor, Giddy Up Ranch’s permit was apparently issued for pony rides, not camel rides; an administrative citation is expected. Many thanks to the ADI supporter who spotted the event and to Councilmember Ryu for his quick action. ADI worked for years with Councilmember Ryu and other advocates to make change for performing animals in Los Angeles, but enforcement is crucial or laws have no meaning. If you see an event where the use of wild animals are advertised, please politely urge the organizers to adopt a ‘no wild animals’ policy and let ADI know. In the US, support #TEAPSPA, to prohibit the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling acts nationwide: bit.ly/SupportTEAPSPA See more

OUTDATED AND CRUEL - BUT ABOUT TO HIT THE ROAD AGAIN IN THE US. ‘Tradition’ is no excuse for keeping animals in circuses. Once considered to be an acceptable form of entertainment, like bear baiting and dog fighting, as a society we understand the cruelty involved, and now know better. HELP STOP CIRCUS SUFFERING and let the humans, who have the choice, do the entertaining. Watch ADI’s Reluctant Entertainers video, here: https://youtu.be/5OmWpTYTliM TAKE ACTION WHEREVER YOU LI...VE. As lockdown restrictions ease, circuses are eager to get back on the road. American Fun Circus has shows scheduled in Florida and Alabama starting on October 27. Urge US venues, including those in Florida and Alabama, to adopt a no wild/exotic animals policy (you can email or message them on social media, or call): https://bit.ly/contact-US-circus-venues Join our call for Federal action to Stop Circus Suffering campaign: bit.ly/SupportTEAPSPA #StopCircusSuffering #TEAPSPA

IT’S HALLOWEEN WEEK at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa and that means pumpkins for lions and tigers. Mahla is pretty destructive once she gets to grips with her pumpkin (first three pictures)! Shakira, now fully recovered from her hospital visit, neatly stacked hers, but don’t worry, she did then share the fun with sister Easy. David likes to run and pounce! We hope to be sharing pictures most days this week and watch out for a video once everyone has had their ...pumpkins. Thanks to everyone who has helped sponsor pumpkins and treats for the animals this week a special shout out to staff at Greggs in Bond Street, Leeds who sponsored our first 16 pumpkins and have adopted tiger Bimbi! Could your workplace do a special fundraiser for the sanctuary and perhaps adopt an animal? This enrichment, like our huge catnip toys and other toys, is vital for keeping our rescued animals healthy both physically and mentally, can you help? https://donate.ad-international.org/enrichment/ #Halloween #Llions #animalrescue

LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. Our macaque trio Baloo, Betty and Boo were destined to be killed after being used in neurology experiments. Their parents had been snatched from the wild and used as breeding machines at Mazor Farm in Israel. The notorious, and now thankfully closed, breeding facility sold Baloo, Betty and Boo on to a major European lab. After ADI negotiated their release, the trio were handed into our care at Stockholm airport on a cold December morning a day we will nev...er forget. ADI took them to a UK sanctuary where we built them a home and continue to fund their care. The 3Bs (as they are affectionately known) now spend their days enjoying their tranquil woodland habitat - a far cry from life in the lab. PLEASE DON'T FORGET: MOST PRIMATES ARE NOT SO LUCKY, with tens of thousands used in experiments each year. There has been a surge in demand for macaque monkeys by laboratories for COVID-19 experiments and vaccine tests. Will you help us fight for the monkeys that are not as lucky as Baloo, Betty or Boo? https://www.ad-international.org/donate #3Bs #labmonkeys #rescued #stopvivisection #endanimalexperiments