New York: Animal rights activists protest circus About two dozen local animal rights activists held picket signs and urged people not to support the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Circus as people entered the Blue Cross Arena on Wednesday evening. The peaceful protest was designed to raise awareness of alleged abuse of circus animal performers — a claim disputed by circus officials. Responding to the alert, members of three area organizations — Rochester Activists for Animal Rights, Animal Rights Advocates of Upstate New York, and PETA — said they hope that at the very least, their presence will make people think about the animals. Pennsylvania: Judge says Valley Forge deer shooting plan can proceed Valley Forge National Historical Park can proceed with its controversial plan to use sharpshooters to radically reduce its deer population, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. Calling the imminent plan a looming “bloodbath,” animal-rights advocates, who were awaiting the outcome of a suit filed last year, had requested an injunction late Tuesday night to stop it. But U.S. District Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg ruled against that suit Wednesday, thus making moot the injunction requested by Friends of Animals and a Chester County group, Compassion for Animals – Respect for the Environment. Ohio: OLCSB subcommittee, animal rights activists at odds over veal housing “Recommendations” will be bountiful when the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board considers its actions on veal standards Nov. 2, and debate could potentially carry into the next several meetings. On Oct. 25, members of the veal subcommittee held their eighth meeting to discuss acceptable veal raising practices, ultimately deciding on a draft of amended policies to be recommended for the board's adoption. The draft defines basic terms, including veal: “A young bovine animal sold for slaughter at or under 750 pounds, and raised for the purpose of veal meat production.” Call to stop abuse in Chinese zoos China is warning its zoos to stop abusing their animals or face being shut down. The move comes after animal welfare groups documented widespread abuse in zoos and wildlife parks, including animal neglect, beatings, and the illegal sale of wine or soup made from the bones of endangered tigers. Officials said zoos must stop serving wild animal products and holding wildlife performances. Inspections will be carried out to see if zoos are complying, said the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. UK: Welshpool council drops plan to gas rabbits on pitch A town council has voted against plans to gas thousands of rabbits being blamed for damaging sports pitches. Welshpool said it had tried to combat the problem at Maesydre playing fields, but the population was out of control. Councilors met on Wednesday evening to vote on whether to gas the animals or spread a garlic repellent on the land. Brazil: Judge to rule on whether chimpanzee should be freed from zoo Jimmy, aged 26, has spent at least nine years on his own in a 61 square metre cage at Niteroi Zoo, near Rio de Janeiro. According to his trainer, Roched Seba, he does not like to play with toys as other chimpanzees do and instead spends at least 30 minutes a day painting. A group of lawyers and animal rights groups are seeking to secure Jimmy's release using the principle of Habeas corpus and a court date has been set for November 15 in Rio. Pedro Ynterian, international president of the Great Ape Project (GAP), said: “A chimpanzee has 99.4 per cent of our DNA. It relates to people, loves some and hates others.” BM
