British Government criticised for ivory-trade support
The British Govenment has been criticised for its support, as one of nine EU-representing nations, of the UN-sanctioned auction of southern African ivory, which began in Namibia on Tuesday. Robbie Marsland, director of the UK branch of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said: "The government must ensure that elephants do not suffer as a result of this decision."
Numerous scientists and conservationists condemned the plan's approval last year as a "death sentence" for the world's elephants. Many say that the sale, a ban on which was, over a decade ago, announced as permanent, will open the floodgates to illegal poachers, who slaughter up to twenty thousand elephants a year. Kenyan IFAW member Michael Wamithi attacked the move as "plain irresponsible," adding that "more ivory in the marketplace means many more dead elephants." Julian Newman, of the Environmental Investigation Agency, concurred: "This could easily drag us back to the dark and bloody days of the 1980s."
The sale of any ivory encourages demand. Whether obtained "legally" (from elephants who die of natural causes, or in population-control) or by poachers, its sale for human-use is abhorred by Animals Count, as it legitimises the notion that such creatures and their bodies are commodities to be utilised as seen fit by the dominant species on the planet. The British Government is to be condemned for its acquiescence to the inevitable resultant suffering.
1 November 2008 
Licensing laws for wild Animals as 'pets' inappropriate
The Dangerous Wild Animals Act (DWAA) lists wild animals that can be kept as 'pets' but for which licenses are required. The amended 'Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) (No.2) Order 2007' came into force on 1st October and includes a long list of wild species that would never be suitable as pets. A panel of specialists made recommendations to the Act, and included some new species and excluded others. Animals Count believes that welfare of most species is likely to be seriously compromised of most of these captive wild animals.
Northern Ireland's legislation has been brought in line with the rest of the UK. In the year since Northern Ireland received its first controls on owning dangerous wild animals only 15 people now hold licences. According to the USPCA the Act 'at least guaranteed standards for those animals that had been licensed,' but they were still concerned that animals would 'end up in the hands of cowboys who don't know how to take care of them.' We wouldn't classify these owners as 'cowboys' but as people who have a fascination for wildlife, who nevertheless may lack adequate knowledge about the species-specific needs.
Animals Count would like to see a shorter list of species as we believe wild animals belong in their wild habitat where they evolved; not in people's homes. In light of the Animal Welfare Act we call on the goverment to tighten up the DWAA Order; to critically review the Zoo Licensing Act; to prohibit the use of wild animals in experimentation altogether; to ban the sale of wild animals on the Internet, in pet stores and garden centres and to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, advertisements and for other entertainment purposes.
10 November, 2007