IFAW's Animal Rescue Blog

Assessing the flooding in New Brunswick

The swollen St John River caused some of the worst flooding ever seen by residents of the province of New Brunswick last week and with about 1,000 residents of the Fredericton area having fled their homes IFAW sent an assessment team to the area to determine if there were animals in need of our assistance. 

We arrived Friday morning to find schools, businesses and many roads closed. The lower lying sections of the city were underwater and a house could be seen floating down the river. There was a buzz in the air about news that Prime Minister Stephen Harper was scheduled to come and have a look at the flooding that afternoon.  As we toured the area we saw the Prime Minister’s helicopter overhead as he was en-route to the outlying rural areas of Sheffield and Maugerville.  We’d heard from officials in Fredericton that there may be some wildlife and livestock concerns in those areas so we set out to have a first hand look. 

Our frustrations began early as the first road we tried to use to access the area was blocked due to the flooding. We continued on, trying other routes and had to turn back twice more as all roads leading to these areas east of Fredericton were washed out by the massive flooding. After speaking to some helpful local residents we realized that the only way into those areas was by boat.  We were able to view the areas from across the river and did see some house to house rescue by boat taking place. We began making a series of calls to Emergency Management Officials offering our services, explaining that we had boats, animal transportation and communications trailers and a team of well trained Responders that would assist if needed but were told that things were under control and although they appreciated that we were available they did not need us at that time.

IFAW's Stranding Network Monitoring Spring Seal Pup

From our own local Cape Cod waters...this post below is taken from the International Fund for Animal Welfare press release discussing the IFAW Cape Cod Stranding Network's monitoring of a seal pup born this spring...

Brewster, MA-  Along with the beautiful spring weather this week came an early spring surprise: a young harbor seal pup resting on a bayside beach in Brewster.  Harbor seals usually give birth to their young mid-May thru June on the rocky coast of Maine.  Occasionally, newborn harbor seal pups are seen on the beaches of Cape Cod, but for the most part on the Cape, we see slightly older animals during the summer months that are weaned and independent of their mothers.  This animal, however, was only a few days old, with a freshly shed umbilical cord and a fuzzy white coat of fur called a “lanugo” coat that is usually shed before birth.

Amazing Act of Kindness by Local Law Enforcement

"Lakewood Police Officer Dustin Carrell stopped traffic Monday morning to help a mother duck and her ducklings safely cross the road", LiveLeak.com

What Have the Gorillas Been Up To?

© Limbe Wildlife Center, ER Network affiliate - Long term gorilla residents look on as the new T4 gorillas arrive outside.

NEW !!! update on the "T4" gorillas 

The Limbe Wildlife Center has been a committed advocate for the protection and constant provider in care for the rescued T4 gorillas since they arrived in Cameroon 5 months ago. IFAW has relied on the Limbe staff for updates and status reports since working closely together in the move. Both organizations have invested in the future welfare of these animals and we will continue our long term relationship.

Last Thursday the four adolescent gorillas were transfered from the quarantine area to a larger enclosure within viewing distance of other long term gorilla residents. This is the first opportunity either of the groups have had the opportunity to place eyes on each other and size up the competition. Actually, gorillas communicate through body language and not through eye contact. So you can only imagine just how much displaying has been occurring in the last couple days!

Here are some out-takes from the latest report sent:

"They are currently occupying the annex built with IFAW funds back in 2005 and are in sight, sound and smell of the resident gorillas, from which they will remain physically separated for some time. 

"Once the keeping staff are satisfied that all of the gorillas have settled down from the excitement of seeing new enclosure mates arrive we can begin the slow process of gradual introductions, whereby individuals from the T4 and the resident gorilla group are selected to meet one another in the safety of the night house.

"With time all of the resident gorillas will be given a chance to meet each of the T4 in varying combinations, until we are satisfied that the potential for aggression is low. At this point we can begin letting the T4 in to the outside enclosure.

"The introduction process will be long and complicated and ultimately will be driven by the responses of the gorillas themselves, however it is hoped that within a few months the T4 will be fully integrated with the resident group.

News Round-up: What's Out There

© Reuters

There are some interesting headlines in the news this morning.

On a side note, with all the information that the media puts out daily on animal rescue, conservation, animal abuse and cruelty, pet information, etc. it can be overwhelming, right? Sometimes I'm not sure what I need to read, what needs action or support, and what is just a fabricated story.

But one thing remains constant, it's easy to pull at my heart strings! I'm constantly forwarding critical information to the entire world, hoping that that action is actually doing some good. I'm assuming that I'm not alone, correct?

Sad news from South Africa this morning: they have lifted the no kill ban and are permitting the cull of elephants for the purpose of controlling population growth. This has been a hot conversation topic between conservationists, government officials and welfare groups for years. Most have made comment in this article, so take a look and let me know what your opinion is.

Another debatable subject: bird flu. It's out there, it's spreading, it's a concern, but what's the real truth behind the threat? This morning Reuters reports that the flu has arrived in Tripura, India. 25,000 animals have already been slaughtered. The health issue and the spread is constantly debated, but the welfare of the animals involved is a real issue, particularly in the methods used to kill these animals.

This morning in CA, a bear trainer was killed by the bear in training. In light of this tragic death authorities are now battling with whether or not euthanize the captive bear. Help IFAW lobby to end the private ownership of exotic animals!

And finally, I'm signing off with a story that is bound to make your blood boil. Salon.com released this diary written by an Olympic trainer in China who befriended a dog at the Center he was training at, who was later butchered and served on his plate for dinner. He tells the story well and expresses his real concerns for the welfare of these compassionate beings in China.

Have You Heard About The Whales?

The question of the week has been, "Have you heard about all the right whales in the Cape Cod Bay?"

Video provided by the Cape Cod Times:

At the post office last week, Friday afternoon while purchasing my soy latte and in P-town shopping for a birthday gift over the weekend, the interested public has been quick to ask why are there so many right whales swimming in the Cape Cod Bay at the moment? There are a record number of whales out there right now, nearly 100 to be exact.

Alaska Petroleum Denies Polar Bear Protection

Today, the Associated Press announced the government's ask for continued time in making their decision on whether not to list polar bears as an endangered species.

"The Department of the Interior wants 10 more weeks to decide whether polar bears should be listed as threatened or endangered, a delay conservation groups condemned as tied to the transfer of offshore petroleum leases in one of the animals two U.S. habitats." - AP

IFAW and many others have been waiting for an action to take place for many months now. This delay is really unfortunate and extremely discouraging.

Polar bears are highly imperiled and need protection from extinction.The threats they face are unprecedented and very real, as they are the first species whose population decline can be directly attributed to climate change.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released a series of reports last fall concluding that by 2050, we will have lost two-thirds of the world’s polar bears, and that many of the rest will be gone by 2100. Given this and additional known statistics about the impacts global climate change has on other Arctic species, the Dept. of the Interior is being pressured to come to a decision sooner than later.

For more information on the polar bear issue, other Arctic animals, and the changes occurring in their environment download IFAW's publication On Thin Ice. Why should you care? Why does this matter? So what if polar bears go extinct? We care because these animals are suffering slow and unnecessary deaths due to human consumption, pollution, population and exploitation. We have the opportunity today to make a difference.

Also, this is a prime opportunity as the world watches Canada's annual cruel seal hunt to provide you with a video that shows the other challenge seals face today: melting ice.