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Calls for global action to end tiger farming
tiger farm
Tiger farms can be a ready source for a number of tiger products, such as tiger skins and tiger bone wine.

Born Free release shocking new report which shines the spotlight on tiger farming

The Born Free Foundation have released a damning report which brings attention to the little known industry of tiger farming, as the species heads towards extinction in the wild.

The report, entitled Caged Assets: Tiger Farming and Trade, urges all countries with tiger breeding facilities to phase out tiger farms, destroy stockpiled tiger parts and put in place measures to address the use of captive-bred tigers in trade.

Tigers in these farms can be kept in cramped and unnatural conditions, with rows of cages filled with pacing, malnourished tigers. Born Free say these establishments are often open to the public, with the animals used for in entertainment shows.  

Between 40 and 50 tigers remain in the wild in China, but there are more than 5,000 in captive breeding facilities. The facilities can act as a source for numerous tiger products, such as tiger skins - which are used for luxury home decor - and tiger bone wine, made by suspending tiger carcasses in vats of wine. The latter is
a prestigious item that is used to show wealth and status.

Will Travers OBE, president of Born Free Foundation, said: "The tiger farming industry has absolutely no value for conservation - these tigers are often in a pitiful state, both in terms of their genetics and their welfare. So the question begs to be asked: why are these tigers being bred, if not for trade - trade now and trade for an anticipated future when wild tigers are even rarer and the monetary value of tiger products even greater. Clearly, these tiger farms are commercial concerns and their owners are banking on extinction."

W
ild tiger populations have dropped to as few as 3,000 individuals, due to poaching, human-tiger conflict and the illegal trade in tiger parts and products.

Mr Travers concluded: “The many threats faced by tigers today cannot be underestimated and how we respond to them now is critical to the tiger’s future. Our children’s children will judge us on what we do now and we must ensure that tiger farming becomes almost a figment of their imagination, an aberration that was firmly consigned to history and will never again be repeated.”

To read the full report click here

Photo credit: Xiongsen Bear and Tiger Mountain Village 2009 (c) Animals Asia Foundation.2

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.