The captive lion industry is a sickening one that sees thousands of lions bred for the purpose of our entertainment. Cub petting and walking with lions hides the ugly ultimate fate of these animals which is to then be passed on to the canned lion hunting industry a disgusting exercise in human predation if ever their was one. Lions kept contained that can't fight back shot as entertainment for those rich and immoral enough. This completely abhorrent practice has no place in a so called civilised world where animals have no choices about where they go. We do and it's time we as a race decided to stop supporting accepting or allowing this horrible industry to continue. Making money from the suffering and misery of these magnificent animals is the worst kind of cruelty carried out for the entertainment of people too stupid to question what they are paying for. The idea that these animals have to pay with their lives ultimately for their existence is a miserable commentary on human attitudes to wildlife and it's right to live and be left alone to exist as they should. Now that the industry has been exposed for what it is a growing concern about it's future is being examined as it should be. I just hope it is shut down as soon as possible.

In the fight against wildlife crime sniffer dogs are making amazing headway in the confiscation of illegal ivory and rhino horn. Mombasa airport in Kenya a gateway out of Africa is the focus of the ambitious plan to help stop ruthless smugglers from transporting the fruits of their criminal activity particularly ivory from leaving the country. Dogs with their incredible sense of smell are being used more and more in various ways such as checking cars at check points as well as airports in a determined attempt to get control of the rampant poaching of elephants for their ivory and rhino horn.

Another blow to the ghastly trade in captive lion bones and body parts from Singapore Airlines. The airline has made a decision in the face of ongoing dismay and condemnation of the trade around the world to stop carrying this awful cargo. It's a hugely important step interrupting the easy flow of bones to Asia where so much of the demand for body parts of animals go. Airlines have a massive role to play and by adopting policies to distance themselves from what is an unacceptable trade in the body parts of a vulnerable species make it more difficult for those who make money from it. Three cheers to Singapore airlines for doing this and perhaps adding another nail in the coffin of this horrible crime against animals all over the world. 

Repopulating the parks in Africa that have been crippled by years of war and civil unrest has become an increasingly common practice to encourage wildlife diversity. Malawi a small country sharing it's borders with Tanzania Mozambique and Zambia recently transferred 9 lions into Liwonde National park to help bring back the populations wiped out by hunting and poaching. In a bid to boost tourism dollars by introducing animals that have long been gone the country hopes to create a wildlife haven to attract tourist all over the world wanting to experience the amazing animals of Africa. The income it generates is enormous and worth cultivating as well as creating a wonderful and balanced environment with top predators. The idea that hunting these animals attracts dollars is a short lived idea. Far better to nurture the living that go on to birth new generations of unique animals. 

Do animals feel grief at the loss of their offspring ? I think that they do and there have been many instances of what appears to be grieving when their baby dies. The story of a killer whale off the coast of Vancouver Island carrying the body of her baby for 16 days is a heart rending one that clearly is about loss. It may not be the same as our grief and mourning but still is a sense of loss that the animal is exhibiting without a doubt. Other animals such as elephants have been documented clearly in grief mourning their dead ones, hovering around body nuzzling it and touching gently obviously aware of death. To think that we are the only species capable of grief is impossible to accept.