Humane Society accuses top turkey hatchery of abuse Undercover video shot at one of the nation's largest turkey producers shows what an animal rights group calls cruel and inhumane treatment of birds. The Humane Society of the United States released its findings this week from an 11-day undercover operation in October at the Willmar Poultry Company in Willmar, Minnesota. The hatchery, described on the company's website as the nation's largest, produces more than 30 million poults, or young turkeys, each year and delivers more than 600,000 a week to customers nationwide. Lions await trip to US refuges The last of Bolivia's rescued circus lions – 12 females and five males – are now in the hands of animal rights activists, who say the big cats will be sent to wildlife refuges in the United States. An Associated Press photographer visited the lions on Wednesday. The felines, though still caged, were under the care of Animal Defenders International. ADI obtained them from circuses that gave them up in compliance with a pioneering Bolivian law that took effect in July prohibiting the use of all animals, domestic and wild, in circuses. New Jersey to Hunt Bears Starting December 6 State Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin rejected a plea by animal rights organizations to call off the six-day black bear hunt, stating that the bear population of New Jersey is out of control. Starting December 6, New Jersey residents will be given permission to shoot and kill bears in the state, despite calls from animal rights organization to end the slaughter. 120-plus dogs rescued from Pope County property The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that, at the request of the Pope County sheriff's office, more than 120 dogs have been rescued from extremely overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at a volunteer-run animal shelter in eastern Pope County. The animal-rights group said in a news release Tuesday that the rescue was carried out on a 40-acre property about 4 miles south of Hector, in conjunction with the Best Friends Animal Society and sheriff's deputies executing a search warrant. Nepal campaigners call for end to animal sacrifices A year after Nepal shocked animal lovers worldwide by the slaughter of thousands of birds and animals at a Hindu temple close to the Indian border, animal rights campaigners today began a somber purification ceremony to commemorate the pain of the victims and renew their appeal for an end to animal sacrifice. The cleansing march and candle-light vigil were led by Pramada Shah, niece-in-law of deposed king Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah, who, however, refused to lend his voice to the campaign, saying he was a “Hindu first”. BM
