animal defender usa, winter 2010

Anim lDEFENDERWinter 2010

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� On tour with Ringlings! � Animal rescue news� Help save Krissy and Boo � Elephant abuse exposed

� NASA’s Monkey tests � Research without animals

The Animal Defender � Winter 20102

EEddiittoorriiaallANIMAL DEFENDERISSN: 2041-3653published by Animal Defenders International, Inc.

US: 953 Mission Street, Suite 200San Francisco, CA 94103, U.S.A.Phone: (415) 543 - 2344Toll-free: 1-800-978-ADII(2344)Fax: (415) 543 - 2343e-mail: [email protected]: www.ad-international.org

UK: Millbank Tower,Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP, U.K.Tel: +44 20 7630 3340Fax: +44 20 7828 2179e-mail: [email protected]: www.ad-international.org

South America: Apartado Postal 359888 BOGOTÁ, Colombia.e-mail: [email protected]: www.ad-international.org

Editors: Creamer/PhillipsDesign: Creamer/Phillips/ElsonCartoons: Paul TaylorContributors: Jan Creamer; Tim Phillips; HelderConstantino; Alexandra Cardenas; Christina Dodkin;Jessamy Korotoga; Lisa Mitchinson; Juan Pablos Olmos;Corey Evans.

©2009 ADI. All rights reserved. No part of this publicationmay be reproduced for commercial purposes by any meanswhatsoever without the written permission of ADI.

ANIMAL DEFENDERS INTERNATIONAL: MISSIONFounded 1990. To educate, create awareness, and promotethe interest of humanity in the cause of justice, and the suppression of all forms of cruelty to animals;wherever possible, to alleviate suffering, and to conserve andprotect animals and their environment.

ADI

Welcome to ADI’s Winter 2010magazine!

See the latest on the Davenport andSwain circus elephants Boo/Queenieand Krissy/Chris (p13). We’ve laid new evidence on the USDA – help us putpressure on the USDA to take action.

We’ve launched a legal action in Mexico to rescue Benny, another elephantpreviously owned by Bill Swain and Hermanos Vasquez Circus. Benny was seizedby the Mexican government over improper documentation and remains in agovernment zoo for seized animals. Help us save Benny – see p9.

Check out the latest news on the rescue of the Bolivian circus lions and baboon.After our investigation of animal circuses in Bolivia exposed the suffering, wefollowed up with a huge lobbying campaign and the Bolivian government bannedall animals from travelling circuses. Now we are looking forward to bringing thefirst animals to a safe haven in the USA – see p6.

Please check out how you can take action to help animals with ADI – order ourleaflets, posters, action packs to spread the word, and send a donation to help ourinvestigations, campaigns and rescues. Now is the time to take action. Today isthe day.

Wishing you and yours a peaceful, happy Christmas and New Year holidayseason and most of all, let’s use the break to gather our strength to protectall animals in 2010, wherever they are. We are the defenders and we canmake a difference.

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TThhee ppeerrffeect stormHow the Bolivian ban on all animal circuses was won

22000055 && 22000066ADI field officers active in Bolivia investigatinganimal circuses, capturing footage and images ofanimal abuse including that of a trainer at theAbuhabda Circus, scolding a muzzled bear as itcowers at the entrance of its cage (right).

KKeeyy eevveennttss oonn tthhee wwaayy ttoo tthhee bbaann

© Animal Defenders International

IIff yyoouu kknneeww aanniimmaallsswweerree bbeeiinngg aabbuusseedd,,ccoouulldd yyoouu rreesstt iinn ppeeaaccee??Sadly, throughout theirlives, the last thing manyanimals experience ispeace. Toto thechimpanzee, for example,was imprisoned in a circus

for 25 years and forced to perform tricksand smoke cigarettes for people’sentertainment. He was one of the luckyones because he was rescued byAnimal Defenders International andreturned home to Africa where he nowlives with his own kind.

Please help us to help other animalslike Toto to live in peace by making abequest today to Animal DefendersInternational. Thank you.

Animal Defenders International, Inc

953 Mission St., Suite 200, San Francisco,CA 94103

email us at [email protected]: 001 415 543 2344

or visit www.ad-international.org

Far left: Three ofthe five lions we areworking to save.

Left: ADI andsupporters at thePlenary of theSenate.

CCoolllleeccttiinngg tthhee eevviiddeenncceeIn 2005, ADI’s senior field officer for theregion stepped wearily off a flight in LaPaz on his arrival in Bolivia.

What was becoming a remarkableinvestigation spanning two years, hadcovered Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia(and was to be followed by Brazil). Theman hauling his video cameras down theaircraft steps had been attacked twice, buthad infiltrated deep into the heart of theSouth American circus industry where wefilmed a cruel trainer beating his dogs, andpoor Indiano the elderly lion being beatenand kicked. Some cameras were now

held together with duct tape, but,thankfully, were still working and withindays we were recording life inside Bolivia’sanimal circuses.

What made these countries important wasthe movement of animals across theirborders. When we filmed three brownbears in Circo Abuhabda we had alreadyencountered them in Peru. The wretched,disturbed bears were living in abeastwagon in metal compartments of just2.5 by 3 metres. The only exercise thesemagnificent, intelligent, inquisitive

creatures would get was the walk to andfrom the ring where they rode a bicycleand were forced to dance and play dead.

And so the evidence was gathered:Monkeys in tiny little crates and cages, alion cub that never once left his smallcage, lions living on the backs of lorries,pregnant lionesses forced to keepperforming and even jump through rings offire. These are the things that will be nomore in Bolivia.

Back in London we began processing theevidence, writing the reports, preparingleaflets and posters, and editing the video.Our South America team was meetingwith local campaigners, drawing togetherthe Stop Circus Suffering campaignpartner organizations for the launch of theinvestigation.

SSttoopp CCiirrccuuss SSuuffffeerriinngg BBoolliivviiaaBy early 2007, our undercover team werestill wrapping up loose ends in Colombia,working inside the circuses – it was herethat we filmed the shocking abuse of Karlathe chimpanzee, which horrified the wholecontinent.

In March and April we staged a series ofback to back launches in one country afteranother – Colombia, Ecuador, Peru andBolivia. We were desperately short offunds for the project and were grateful tothe Persula Foundation who enabled us toextend our reach and whose commitmentto this campaign has been vital.

VViiccttoorryy:: BBoolliivviiaa bbaannss aanniimmaall cciirrccuusseess

Left: ADI Chief Executive, JanCreamer, presents the BolivianAmbassador, Beatriz Souviron,with the first Toto Award for theBolivian circus ban.

The perfeecctt ssttoorrmmHow the Bolivian ban on all animal circuses was won


Help us save them: Find out about our mission to take theanimals to freedom as the Bolivian circuses close - p6.

22000077ADI launches Stop Circus Suffering in Boliviawith EBA and ADDA. Bans secured inCochabamba and El Alto. New “Stop CircusSuffering South America” Report published(right). Bolivian Campaigners and volunteerslobby and give media interviews (far right).



VViiccttoorryy:: BBoolliivviiaa bbaannss aanniimmaall cciirrccuusseessADI planned and staged pressconferences with our campaign partners,including Educación y Bienestar Animal(EBA); our Stop Circus Suffering DVD wasscreened in the Department ofEnvironment in the Bolivian cities ofCochabamba and in Santa Cruz.

ADI’s shocking footage was screened onmost major television channels and shownin bars and restaurants, as well asnewspapers and radio.

Campaigners, individuals and campaigngroups all over Bolivia joined in andeveryone played a part in lobbying for thepassage of the ban as leaflets andinformation poured out. Information wasdistributed to the relevant authorities andprominent figures in various cities. InCochabamba, ADI turned up the heat,lobbying and staging demonstrationsoutside the Mayor’s office.

The circus industry fought back, lobbyingintensely in the media. Circo Abuhabdaattempted to collect signatures supportingthe circus. They failed.

The Bolivian public were horrified by theconditions the animals were forced toendure, as bans were

secured in Santa Cruz and La Paz. Ayear after our launch, bans weresecured in El Alto, and Cochabamba.

In May 2008, these bans faced amajor test when a Las Vegas basedmagic show featuring big cats, TheFercos Brothers, were booked toappear in the main cities in Bolivia –all of which now had animal circusbans. ADI and local animal protectiongroups worked together to uphold thebans with a blizzard of letters anddistribution of information to the authoritiesand Bolivian entrepreneur MarcoMontenegro, one of the organizers of theshow.

The bans were upheld and no animalsfeatured in the shows.

PPuusshh ffoorr nnaattiioonnaall lleeggiissllaattiioonnSoon after the local bans were enacted,ADI saw an opportunity and drafted aproposal to ban wild animals under aPresidential Decree on biodiversity.Despite almost a year of negotiations theproposal failed to materialize. We pickedourselves up and started again.

In August 2008, ADI started working withCongresswoman Ximena Flores,representative of the Department ofPotosi, to table an ambitious bill banningALL animals from circuses. BillNo.1143/2008-2009 was laid down in theBolivian Congress.

For the Bill to become a law it had to passthrough both Houses; the Chamber ofDeputies (upper house) and the Senate(lower house). Two readings were held ineach; the first in the Commission ofSustainable Development and the secondin the Plenary. Therefore, the Bill had to beread, debated and voted favorably four

times.

After several unsuccessful attempts, onJanuary 14th our team in Bolivia andCongresswoman Flores got the Bill on theagenda of the Commission of SustainableDevelopment in the Chamber of Deputies.However, the annual recess was upon us!This meant that our team hadto race against the clock toget the Bill approved inthe Commission and inthe Plenary of theChamber of Deputies onthe same day.

The Bill was approved inthe Commission withminor amendments. EvenDeputies who initiallyexpressed concerns, votedfavorably.

However, the real challengewould be in the Plenary; the mission wasto ensure that the Bill was included on theagenda by getting at least seven Deputiesto support it and ensure the attendance ofthe minimum 124 Deputies. Wesucceeded. The Bill was approvedunanimously.

Getting legislation is a marathon, not asprint, and it was now onto the Senate.

After the Chamber of Deputies, ADI led anintense lobby and publicity campaign witha new range of campaigns materials – anew brochure summarizing the key

22000088Bolivian government discusses aPresidential decree on biodiversityand ADI lobbies to get a ban on wildanimals in circuses in the text.ADI Releases “La Ciencia delSufrimiento” in Spanish (right).

Attempt by Fercos Brothersfrom Las Vegas to performwith big cats (right) in Boliviais blockedCongresswoman XimenaFlores tables legislation toban all animal circuses.


The Animal Defender � Winter 2010 ADI4

Right: The Plenaryof the Senatedebates.

Animal Defenders International

Circo Bochincheros, Bolivia.© Animal Defenders International


VViiccttoorryy:: BBoolliivviiaa bbaannss aanniimmaall cciirrccuusseess

ADI5

arguments and text of the Bill, postcards,key rings and door hangers. A newScience on Suffering (La Cienca delSufrimiento) South America report washand delivered to Senators at face to facemeetings; campaigners wrote letters totheir Senators.

The Bill was approved unanimously incommittee – the Senate’s Commission ofSustainable Development. Now we had tosee it through the Plenary; this was tough,with the Bill deferred for four consecutiveweeks.

However, this was no time for campaignfatigue, but to dig deep and step up thepressure. A team of twenty volunteerlobbyists headed to Congress andpersonally invited Senators to vote.

On May 14th, theSenate’s public gallerywas full of supporterswearing ADI T-shirtsand holding bannersas the Bill wasdebated andapproved, with

some minor amendments,including allowing one year forimplementation (by comparison with othernew laws, a very rapid phase out).

On May 20th the amendments made bythe Senate were approved unanimously inthe Chamber of Deputies. The new lawwas then sent to President Morales for the

presidential assent and Law 4040 wassigned on June 17th.

This is a strong and courageous piece oflegislation and it was important tocommend the Bolivian Government. ADIChief Executive, Jan Creamer, presentedthe Bolivian Ambassador in the UK,Beatriz Souviron, with the first Toto Awardfor services to animal protection, whichacknowledges President Morales and theBolivian Government’s progressive stand.

ADI’s Juan Pablo Olmos also gave an ADIAward to Congresswoman Ximena Florescommending her initiative and hard workto secure the new Law.

ADI Ambassador, CSI actress Jorja Fox,wrote a letter to congratulate PresidentEvo Morales for the new legislation,saying, “The fact that Bolivia will be thefirst South American country with anational ban on animal circuses, includingboth wild and domesticated species, is atremendous credit to the compassion andprogressive thinking of yourself and yournation.”

During the following weeks the ban wasreported extensively in South America andworldwide.

ADI continues working withCongresswoman Flores; now draftingregulations to implement the law and withthe national environment authority on acensus of circus animals and relocationstrategies.

Already, five lions and a baboon havebeen handed over to ADI for rehoming –see p 6.

The ADI field officers who began thisremarkable campaign must remainanonymous, but our grateful thanks go tothose who campaigned at our side:Focomade, Vida Silvestre, Biosfera,Codac, Zooprama,

Animanaturalis-Bolivia, Gaia Pacha, Eba-Bolivia, Animales SOS (La Paz and SantaCruz) amongst others.

And above all else, thanks to our individualsupporters who enabled us toput field officers into thecircuses in Bolivia, to makeDVDs, to publish thereports, produce campaignmaterials and send peopleto lobby politicians. You make us strong,thank you. Yourdonations mean thatthere will be no morebears living in cageson the backs of lorriesin Bolivia.

This remarkable achievement now seesnew legislation under consideration inBrazil, Colombia, and Peru. This couldherald a seismic change for animals.

Come on U.S.A., let’s see some action!

22000099January: Commission ofSustainable Developmentapproves with minor amendments.Plenary of the Chamber ofDeputies approves unanimously.April: Commission of SustainableDevelopment of the Senateapproves unanimously.

May: Plenary of Senateapproves by majority with minoramendments. Plenary of theChamber of Deputies approvesthe amendments unanimously.Bolivian campaigners andvolunteers lobby and attendPlenary sessions (right).June 17: President Evo Moralessigns & publishes the new law.



Left: ADI’s JuanPablo Olmospresents the ADIAward toCongresswomanXimena Flores.

Animal Defenders International

Abuhabda Circus, Bolivia.



WWee’’vvee sseeccuurreedd aa bbaann oonn AALLLL aanniimmaallcciirrccuusseess iinn BBoolliivviiaa,, nnooww hheellpp uuss ssaavveetthhee aanniimmaallss aass tthhee cciirrccuusseess ggoo aanniimmaall--ffrreeee.. Following the ban, the first Bolivian circushas gone animal free and the animalshave been handed to ADI. Five lions,three males and two females and aHamadryas baboon from Circo Abuhadbaare on their way to freedom.

President Morales gave the circuses oneyear to go animal free in order to adjust tothe new legislation, and in doing so ADIhave risen to the challenge of rescuingand relocating those in need.

Some of these animals were filmed duringour undercover investigation of circuses inBolivia five years ago, which led to thisban. We also believe we filmed tragicTilin the baboon two years before that,during an investigation of circuses in Chile.

After lengthy negotiations the circusagreed to hand the animals to ADI.

We have now moved the animals to asecure location and are building a holdingunit where they will be cared for whilst wearrange to move them to a permanenthome. In November, the ADI teamincluding vet, Dr. Mel Richardson gave theanimals a thorough health exam and gavethem the vaccinations required for the

journey that will change their lives forever.Although their ages vary, the lions andbaboon are in relatively good health. Theanimals will go to the wonderfulPerforming Animal Welfare Society(PAWS) Sanctuary in California (see p15),where we are funding construction of anew enclosure and will support theanimals for the rest of their lives.

These animals have led a terrible life –now let’s give them the future theydeserve.

It is also important to show Bolivia andother governments that when wecampaign for a ban, ADI will follow throughand help with any animals that needrehoming.

We currently have legislation or measuresto ban animal circuses underconsideration in Brazil, Colombia, Peru,

the UK, Portugal and Greece – it’s vital weshow our commitment to help ensure suchmeasures are effectively implemented.

A rescue like this is extremely complexand costly. It could be months before all ofthe permits are in place to move theanimals although we are working to do thisas quickly as possible. Are team in Boliviaare feeding and caring for the animals, butwe need to ensure veterinary visits and weare having to construct a temporary pen.

Please help us save these wonderfulanimals and bring them to a new life inCalifornia. We urgently need funds: Tofeed and care for the animals, forveterinary care, for the new holdingfacility in Bolivia, and for the journey tothe US and the permanent enclosurewhere they will run free in California forthe remainder of their lives. PLEASESEND A DONATION TODAY.

HHeellpp AADDII ssaavveeHHeellpp AADDII ssaavveetthhee BBoolliivviiaanntthhee BBoolliivviiaannCCiirrccuuss AAnniimmaallssCCiirrccuuss AAnniimmaallss

ADI vet MelRichardson givesSimba, the largest ofthe lions, avaccination ready forthe trip to freedom inCalifornia.

Inset pics: Tilin thehuge Hamadrayasbaboon and Maizeone of the lionesses.




Monkeys are to be irradiated in a study paid for by NASA. The ScientificAmerican website reports that 18 to 28 squirrel monkeys will be used in theresearch1. NASA announced on their website that “NASA’s Space RadiationProgram has selected individual investigator awards for Ground-Based Studies inSpace Radiobiology”. The recipient of the grant, Jack Bergman of the McLeanHospital in Boston, heads the project entitled “Long term effects of spaceradiation in nonhuman primates” 2. NASA states that “The research to be supported by these grants will seek to reduce theuncertainties in risk predictions for cancer radiation risks, to provide the necessary dataand knowledge to develop risk projection models for central nervous system (CNS) andother degenerative tissue risks, and significantly advance the understanding of themechanisms of biological damage that underlies radiation health risks” 2.

According to Discovery News, “The radiation exposures will take place at NASA’sSpace Radiation Laboratory at the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven NationalLaboratory in New York”. The article also states that the animals will not be killed at theend of the study, in order that researchers may assess the animals “at different timepoints after exposure” 3. According to NASA the Brookhaven lab conducts researchwherein “radiobiologists and medical scientists irradiate a variety of biologicalspecimens, tissues and cells, as well as DNA. Specifically, they are investigatingradiation-induced damage to chromosomes, as well as to organs such as the skin, eyeand brain” 4.

Jack Bergman is the director of “The Behavioral Pharmacology Program” at the McLeanHospital. On their website they state that they use “operant behavioral procedures toanalyze the abuse-related effects of a wide range of commonly abused drugs andprescription medications” 5.

A NASA spokeswoman said that she understood opposition to the research but thatNASA follows “rigorous standards and procedures before we do any kind of researchon primates.” She then went on to explain how the animals, all males, would besubjected to radiation, via a particle beam which would “give them the same amountthat an astronaut would get over a three-year Mars mission.” She added that “It isgoing to cause some cellular damage...it’s not enough to kill these monkeys. They aregoing to live out their natural life” 6.

The Animal Defender � Winter 2010 7

CCaammppaaiiggnn NNeewwssNASA irradiatessquirrel monkeysNASA irradiatessquirrel monkeys

AAccttiioonn ccaallll:: Please write a polite letter for the attention of the NASAAdministrator Charles F. Bolden Jr. Please request that he reconsider financingsuch horrific experiments. Public Communications Office, NASA Headquarters,Suite 5K39, Washington, DC 20546-0001 E-mail ; [email protected]: 1. http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=nasa-funded-monkey-radiation-experi-2009-11-06. 2. http://spaceradiation.usra.edu/newsletter/archive/2009/fall/index.shtml 3. http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/10/29/space-radiation-monkeys.html4. http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/support/researching/radiation/brochure2/ 5. http://www.mclean.harvard.edu/research/adarc/bsl.php6. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091106/NEWS02/911060332/Critics+call+NASA+tests+on+monkeys++nonsense+

Kick animaltesting out ofthe houseInformation regarding the number ofanimals used for testing householdproducts in the USA is scarce. Statisticalreporting, by the USDA, is provided in ageneral yearly report regarding the AnimalWelfare Act. The latest report reveals that1,027,450 animals were used, but thisomits the use of “birds and laboratory ratsand mice, as well as farm animals usedexclusively in agricultural research” forwhich authorization is not required1. Thetotal of animals used is therefore about 20times this. The FDA states, in reference tocosmetics, that “Animal testing bymanufacturers seeking to marketnew products may be used toestablish product safety” 2 butdoesn not publish the data. A2001 report merely noted: “In theUSA the use of animals inbiomedical research, testing ofhousehold products andcosmetics contributes to anannual total of between 17 and22 million animals” 3.

However, progress in Europeshows that we can win;testing finished cosmeticsproducts on animals has been prohibitedin the EU since 2004 and testingingredients is now banned. It is imperativethat the USA now ends these tests. Our‘Kick Animal Testing Out of the House’campaign is calling for action.1. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_welfare/content/printable_version/2007_AC_Report.pdf

2. http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductTesting/ucm072268.htm

3. Moore, A (2001) Of mice and Mendle, European Molecular Biology Organisation,Vol. 2, No. 7, pp: 554 – 558., showing a lack of precision.

Co-operation on alternativesAn agreement has been signed byICCVAM (the Interagency CoordinatingCommittee on the Validation of AlternativeMethods) and its equivalent bodies inEurope, Japan, and Canada to enhanceinternational co-operation and co-ordination for the scientific validation andevaluation of in-vitro toxicity testingmethods. http://ecvam.jrc.it/

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The Animal Defender � Winter 2010ADI 9

CCaammppaaiiggnn NNeewwss

ADI was alerted to the case of Benny, anelephant previously with Circus Vasquez,by the office of renowned TV presenterBob Barker, a great friend of ADI. Bennyhas been languishing in a Mexicangovernment facility, Zacango Zoo inToluca, near Mexico City, after beingseized when Vasquez crossed the borderfrom the US into Mexico without validpaperwork. Zacango is part of Mexico’sprotected area for captive wildlife.

ADI immediately contacted the Mexicanauthorities and employed a Mexicanlawyer to establish Benny’s legal status,and start applying pressure and opennegotiations. We arranged for ADI localrepresentatives and Ed Stewart of PAWS(Performing Animal Welfare Sanctuary),California, to visit Benny and make anassessment of his position. Theyreported that Benny is currently inreasonably good physical shape, but he isin a temporary facility and needs properspace. ADI and PAWS have committed todoing everything possible to bring Bennyto the PAWS sanctuary in the US.

Benny is in the middle of a legal andadministrative tangle, so in order toprevent the circus from trying to take himback, ADI has launched a legal action tofreeze any moves by the Mexicanauthorities to hand him back to the circus.

Poor Benny is another example of thelarge numbers of almost invisible animalslost in the US circus and entertainment

industries, being shunted from place toplace with nobody to protect them.

Benny is also an example of the USDA’sinability to monitor and enforce theregulations that fall under its jurisdiction.Benny’s seizure by the Mexicangovernment was based on CircusVasquez’s failure to have the properCITES permit. ADI has recently sent anumber of FOIA (Freedom of InformationAct) requests to the USDA, but so far theUSDA has indicated that they have norecords regarding Benny’s seizure inMexico, or Circus Vasquez’s failure to havea CITES permit.

Benny’s family is spread all over the circusindustry. His father, Vance, sired thecircus elephants Mickey, Benny, Bo andLuke. Mickey is with Carson & BarnesCircus, Luke is with circus trainer PattiZerbini, Bo is with the George CardenCircus, Ned is now dead (having beenseized by the USDA last year but was toosick to survive) and Benny is in Mexico.All of these bulls were born at BuschGardens in Florida and owned by circustrainer Roman Schmidt.

Benny was separated from his motherwhen he was a few months old and trainedto perform when he was still a baby. Hewas sold to Trunks & Humps, of Texas,who then sold him to a Vasquez circus,apparently illegally. He was transported toMexico to perform, and then seized by theMexican government. The only reason

that Benny is not in the circus now, is thatthe Mexican government were diligentabout their duties – unlike the US Fish &Wildlife and USDA, who allowed this illegalexport to take place.

ADI and PAWS are determined to helpBenny. Please help us.

DO SOMETHING FORBENNY TODAY 1. Write letters to yourfederal legislators andask that Congressconduct hearings onthe lack of enforcementby federal agencieswhich allows circusesto play the shell gamewith endangeredanimals.

2. Write, call, or email the Minister ofTourism in Mexico and ask that Benny bereturned to the United States, but notreturned to the circus industry. He shouldnot be living in a tiny space as anattraction for tourists.

Rodolfo Elizondo TorresMinister of TourismAv. Presidente Masaryk #172Chapultepec Morales 11587Mexico City, MexicoTel. +52(55)30.02.63.00Email: [email protected] Mexico tourism offices in theUnited States:Mexico Tourism Board21 East 63rd Street, 2nd FloorNew York, NY 10021Telephone: 1-800-44MEXICOEmail: [email protected]

Mexico Government Tourist Office4507 San Jacinto, Suite 308Houston, TX 77004Telephone: 1-713-772-2581 Email: [email protected]. If you plan travel to Mexico, voice yourdisapproval of Benny's situation. Try to getsupport from Mexican citizens and animalwelfare organizations.

4. Make a donation to ADI to help thecampaign and help cover the legal movesto stop him from going back to the circus.

CCiirrccuusseelleepphhaanntt

BBeennnnyyssttuucckk iinnMMeexxiiccoo

© Performing Animal Welfare Society

© Performing Animal Welfare Society


CCaammppaaiiggnn NNeewwss

Princess Elizabeth de CroyWe were saddened by the death of agreat friend of ADI, Princess Elizabethde Croy, in May. Princess Elizabeth lefta life of wealth and privilege to dedicateherself to animals, and in particular hersanctuary – the Refuge de Thiernay inNevers, France. She was alongstanding supporter of our work,even assisting with undercoverinvestigations in France. Together, wefamously took a French circus to courtto rescue a hippo; we won the case butsadly the circus was given an amnesty.

Shortly before her death, she said to afriend “such a nuisance to die whenthere is so much to do for animals.” ADICampaign Director Tim Phillips recentlywrote a section for her forthcomingautobiography, and he spoke at amemorial service at PeterboroughCathedral as part of a celebration ofElizabeth’s long and active life.

© Refuge de Thiernay

Award forLeadershipThe Performing Animal WelfareSociety (PAWS), has presented ADIChief Executive, Jan Creamer, andCampaigns Director, Tim Phillips,with The Rebecca Award “For theircourage, commitment, andinternational leadership inexposing cruel training and travelpractices of circuses through theirdocumentation of the science ofanimal suffering.”The special award is named afterRebecca, a 48 year old Asianelephant who toured with CircusWorld and the Blue Unit of RinglingBros throughout the USA. InSeptember 2001, Rebecca wasbrought to PAWS where she joinedthe Asian elephants Tammy andAnnie at the wonderful facility inCalifornia.

Jan said: “We especially appreciatereceiving such a prestigious award from PAWS for whom we have so much respect andadmiration. The award acknowledges the huge impact that the team we have led at ADIfor 20 years, has had on this cruel industry.”

Monkeys saved fromIsraeli horror testsIn our last magazine, we reported howwe have been assisting with evidence forthe legal action which followed anundercover investigation that exposedmacaque monkey experiments at theWiezmann Institute, Israel. The monkeyssuffered having holes cut in their skullsand plastic placed over their brains inorder to monitor their brain activity.These appalling experiments involved theprimates being restrained for up to 9hours a day and deprived of water as anincentive to complete the tasks required.

We are thrilled to report that fourmonkeys have now been released andwill live out the rest of their lives freefrom suffering. It is hoped that thefreedom of three more will be secured.Critically, in order to stop other animalssuffering such a fate, the legal challengeregarding the experiments is still beforeIsraeli lawyers.

Far left: TimPhillips and JanCreamer with theRebecca Award.

© Let Animals LiveLeft: Monkey

undergoing aprocedure in anhorrific experimentfilmed at theWeizmann Institute.


Lionesses escapeIn April, two lionessesescaped from a circus in Colombiaduring the night. Theykilled a dog, destroyed amotorcycle, and then climbed onto a roof that collapsed with a lionessfalling into an occupied house. It tookthe police over three hours to capturethe animals. The circus had no CITESdocumentation, nor any paperwork withthem. ADI offered the ColombianMinister of Environment to relocate thelionesses.

Monkey farm in Puerto Rico The construction of a lab monkey supplyfacility is underway in Puerto Rico. Theproposed breeding centre in GuayamaCity will initially be stocked withmacaques from Mauritius. http://www.puertoriconetnews.com/local.php?news_id=488&start=0&category_id=1

© ADI

ADI

Experiments fakedTwo researchers at the

University of Alabama, Birmingham,USA, falsified data in 15 publications andtwo grant progress reports. The researchconcerned experiments to test immunesuppressing drugs. The researchersreported that they had performed doublekidney removal in rhesus macaques. Infact one kidney was left intact in at least32 animals1. This overstated theeffectiveness of the drug, which couldhave led to further wasted research byothers. Both researchers resigned2. 1. http://ori.dhhs.gov/misconduct/cases/Contreras_Juan_Luis.shtml2. http://www.the-scientist.com/blog/display/55823/

Vote for sealsIn April, the EuropeanParliament votedoverwhelmingly to banthe trade in seal productsin the EU, endingEurope’s support for the

Canadian slaughter of around 300,000seals a year. Canada is threatening totake the EU to the WTO. References: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/05/eu-bans-seal-products

Wildlife farms cause harmAn investigation by the WildlifeConservation Society of wildlife farms inVietnam has revealed that 42% takebreeding stock from the wild. Farms canalso be used to launder body parts usedin traditional medicine. Animals includesnakes, turtles, crocodiles and monkeys. New Scientist, Issue 2710, 30th May 2009

Mongol RallyThe sixth Festival ofSlow, Mongolia Rallytook place in 2009 with400 teams launchingsimultaneously fromEngland, Spain and Italy

for the finish line in Mongolian capitalUlaan Baatar. English participantsSteven Manship and Daniel Nielsennominated ADI as a chosen charity.Their remarkable 10,000 mile journeytook them through Europe, Ukraine,Kazakhstan and Russia to Mongolia andraised funds for our campaigns. Welldone Steven and Daniel.


© Free Clip Art Now

HHooww AADDIIggrreeeetteedd tthheeRRiinngglliinnggss’’EEuurrooppeeaann ttoouurrWhen Ringling Brothers, Barnum andBailey Circus announced that they wouldbe doing their first European tour it was nosurprise that ADI would be there to meetthem. However, we didn’t want to justsend a heap of posters and leaflets toItaly, Spain and Germany (not leastbecause they speak different languages!)we want to do something a little moresophisticated.

We used the tour as a platform for a newcircus whistleblower campaign packageand stormed a high profile media trailacross Europe. With videos, leaflets andposters in Italian, Spanish and English andevents as Ringlings arrived in town.

Initially, our field officers went to New Yorkto check out the Ringlings’ “Boom a Ring”Show just before it headed to Italy. Wethen confirmed that animals would berented from Italian circuses instead –which rather undermines the Ringlings’claim that there is something special abouttheir animal acts.

Next Tom Rider, an ex circus employeewho had witnessed abuse andconfinement during his time working at

Ringlings was called in to make aspecial appeal for circus workersto report cruelty.

Tom hit the headlines in the USAas a lead witness in the recentcase against Ringlings under theUS Endangered Species Act in2009. However, ADI and Tom goway back; when in 2000, Tombecame so sickened with what he hadseen in the circus, it was ADI heturned to.

The new video is a plea from the heartto people who witness cruelty “Don’tlook the other way, speak out againstcircus suffering.”

In the accompanying leaflets andposters we also show how ADI fieldofficers working inside animal circusesaround the world have caught horrificscenes of violence on film. It’s time for thesilent witnesses to come forward.

Tom’s story is particularly relevant. Heworked with more than one circus,Ringling Brothers Barnum and BaileyCircus, Carson and Barnes, and CircusBarelli. In 2000 he travelled by boat fromthe US with a Chipperfield Enterpriseselephant act from Ringlings on its way toSpain, then went on the road to Holland,Germany and France.

We were able to use ADIfootage from all of thesecircuses and suppliers andwere also grateful to HumanityThrough Education whosupplied additional footage ofthe abuse of animals atRinglings.


Tom Rider andAlexandra Cardenasof ADI meet theSpanish press.

Above: Our Spanishcampaign leaflet.

Below: The Italiancampaign poster.

Bottom of page:Protesting outsidethe the Ringlings’performance inSeville.

© AnimaNaturalis

All the new materials were translated intoSpanish and Italian, and the newcompleted video was dubbed into bothlanguages. We were ready to go.

ItalyIn October, as Ringlings swept into town,the campaign was unveiled inMilan, at a special pressconference organized by ADIcampaign partners AgireOra.The conference wasaddressed by Marina Berati ofAgire Ora, ADI Head ofParliamentary Affairs HelderConstantino, and Tom. Withsimultaneous translation, Tomgave shocking eye witness testimony ofhis time working in animal circuses withparticular reference to his time withRinglings.

Tom explained how he had seen elephantsbeing beaten, horses being punched, andtigers being whipped and jabbed withsticks. He recalled that the elephants werekept in chains for nearly the entire day,around 22 hours, and tigers were confinedto small metal cages with little room tomove.

There was a huge turnout for the pressconference which secured national TV andprint coverage. Then in the evening ourleaflets were pouring out to circus visitorsand our posters were highly visible at ademonstration outside the circus.

Since the launch, ADI and AgireOra havecommitted to taking the campaignthroughout Italy focussing on all circuses.

SpainBy the time Ringlings reached Spain theyhad cancelled the German leg of their

tour. We greeted them on the firstdate in Seville with a pressconference hosted by the SevilleGreen Party and addressed byADI Animals in EntertainmentCampaigner AlexandraCardenas (a Spanishspeaker), Jonathan Torralbafrom Spanish campaigngroup AnimaNaturalis,

Maria Rojo,from the

Seville Green Party, local group ColectivoAndaluz contra el Maltrato animal(CACMA), and, of course, Tom.

With each of the European media eventswe needed a translator with Tom, but thatextra commitment paid off, and again theevent was packed with journalists and thenational news broadcast footage of theconference throughout the day.

In the evening, ADI and AnimaNaturalisorganized a successful demonstration infront of Ringlings circus, with localcampaigners holding posters and handingout hundreds of leaflets to passers-by.

From then, our Spanish PR team ensuredTom and the campaign were in front of themedia whenever the circus moved to anew location and with the tour clearlystarting to crumble, Ringlings cancelledthe shows in Valencia – Spain’s secondbiggest city.

In Spain’s capital, they were greeted by amedia event in the Madrid City Councilpress room hosted by Councillor RaquelLopez from the United Left Party. Theprestigious location was selected as partof a drive to secure a Madrid city-wide banon animal circuses.

We achieved huge coverage– once again the event wasscreened all day on nationaltelevision – and followed thiswith an ADI/AnimaNaturalisdemonstration outsideRinglings.

USA next!In December, as the tour concluded wewere still securing television coverage,with Tom appearing on various talk shows.This is a huge achievement in a countrywhere animal welfare is renowned forbeing rather low on the agenda. Thesuccess was down to a successfulcampaign package and execution – goingthat extra yard when we needed to.

Our special thanks Aida Gascón, RaquelLópez, Adrian Elliot, Eduardo Fuentes,María Teresa Rojo, Carlos Sosa, IsabelBermejo and our colleagues at AgireOra,AnimaNaturalis, and Humanity ThroughEducation for their help on this importantcampaign.

We are bringing the whistleblowercampaign to the USA in 2010. If youwould like to be involved or would liketo help sponsor the campaign thenplease get in touch.

Photos (from top leftclockwise): MarinaBerati of AgireOra,Massimo Tettamanti(scientist whoopposes circuses)and Tom Rider andHelder Constantinoof ADI at the Milanpress conference;

ADI’s Tom Rider andAlexandra Cardenassurrounded by pressin Seville.

The Seville pressconfernece with TomRider and AlexandraCardenas of ADI,Jonathan Torralba ofAnimaNaturalis, andMaria Rojo of theGreen Party.

Councillor RaquelLopez at the Madridpress conference.

Three elephants withthe Ringling’s “Booma ring” show in NewYork earlier this year.

HELP SAVE KRISSY AND BOO





© AnimaNaturalis



BBeeaatteenn,, cchhaaiinneedd,,ppaasssseedd ffrroomm oonneeoowwnneerr ttoo tthhee nneexxtt........TThhee ssaadd lliivveess ooff BBooooaanndd KKrriissssyy –– tthheeeelleepphhaannttss tthhee UUSSDDAAlleefftt bbeehhiinndd........On August 22, 2009 we were delighted ascircus elephants Tina and Jewel wereconfiscated by the US Department ofAgriculture (USDA) in Leggett, Texas. Theywere taken to San Diego Zoo. Theelephants were owned by the notorious Wil(Wilbur) Davenport.

March 2008 and August 2009, includingfailures to provide appropriate tests,vaccinations and to keep records of life-threatening weight loss that wasdocumented, chronic and visible.

• Failing to handle elephants safely andhumanely: Four counts, including anincident in Indianapolis when all threeelephants were used to give rides and oneelephant (Boo) and 13 people, many ofthem children, were injured.

• Failing to abide by welfare standards:Five counts of violating the minimumstandards of the AWA including failure toprotect the elephants from extremetemperatures and failure to provide food ofsufficient quantity and nutritive value.

Under the AWA penalties of up to $2500 foreach day of each violation can be assessedagainst Davenport, and consideration is tobe given to the gravity of these violationsand to his failure to show compliance –good faith. Interfering with the duties of

federal officials, as Davenport is alleged tohave done, can result in up to three yearsof imprisonment.

TThhee BBaacckkggrroouunnddAn ADI field officer first met Asian elephantBoo (who has also been known as BabyRuth and Queenie) and African elephantKrissy/Chris (both names are used) in2004; Boo was then 35 years old andKrissy about 20 years old.

At that time, Mike Swain (who doesbusiness as Progressive Pachyderms)claimed that he owned Boo. He told ourfield officer that Krissy was owned by hisfather, Bill Swain, who does business asTrunks and Humps.

Mike Swain was touring that year withBailey Brothers Circus, and our field officerworked alongside him for two monthsfilming and recording how the elephantslived. During the day, the elephants lived ina small electric fenced enclosure and atnight (from about 9.30pm) were chained

Tragically the elephant Boo (also known asQueenie) who ADI met during ourinvestigation of US circuses was left behind– chained to a tree. Davenport surrenderedhis USDA exhibitor’s license. And just a fewmiles away Boo’s one time companion,Krissy, remained with the Swain family.On October 26, 2009, The USDA filedformal charges against Wilbur Davenport formultiple violations of the federal AnimalWelfare Act (AWA). The charges state that"the gravity of the violations alleged...isgreat" and that Davenport has "not showngood faith" in his repeated unwillingness tocomply with AWA regulations. The chargesinclude:• Defying federal officials. Three counts ofabusing and harassing USDA/APHISofficials, including refusal to give federalofficers access to animals and facilities.

• Seven counts of failure to provide minimalveterinary care to the elephants between

HELP SAVE KRISSY AND BOO

Top: Krissystill chained in2009, waitingto giveelephant rides.Below (L to R):Krissy and Bootogether atBaileyBrothersCircus. Mike Swainbeats anddrags Krissyto her kneesthen kicks herin the face.Swain hitsKrissy in theleg.





SSttoopp CCiirrccuuss SSuuffffeerriinngginside the trailer. Typically, theywere unshackled and let out

of their semi/trailerabout mid-morning,after spending thenight for about 13hours chained with nowater. Mid-afternoonthey would beprepared forelephant rides andthen the show. The

elephantswere

chained at least 54% of the time.Whenever Mike Swain left the site or wasinside his trailer (usually every day for twoto four hours), Krissy would be chained tothe semi by a leg due to her repeatedattempts to escape. This chain was only 2½ feet long, severely restricting hermovements.

When the circus moved on, the elephantsspent excessive periods of time stuck in thetrailer. They would be moved out at about6am (still in the semi from the previousnight); they remained chained in the trailerfor the duration of the journey; then onarrival they waited in the trailer a further 2-3hours while the site was set up.

On one occasion, they spent the whole dayinside the trailer traveling to a Hindufestival to give rides. A couple of dayslater, they traveled from Austin toKansas and did not leave the trailerfor the entire day. They had been outof the trailer for only six of theprevious 72 hours, and that had beento give rides at the festival. The nextday, the elephants were driven toButler, Missouri and were not let outof their trailer until noon. Krissy wasimmediately chained up outside andwas unchained only for the afternoonshow.

When the trailer door was not securedproperly duringthe day shewould bangon it with hertrunk. Krissyoften threwobjects (hay,

stones, feces, dirt, rubber dishes) at people,both circus workers and members of thepublic. She would often eat rubbish foundin her enclosure, such as plastic and paperbags. When fed by the public she wouldsnatch the plastic/paper bag containing thefood and eat everything. Krissy frequentlytried to escape, even dismantling theelectric fence on several occasions (Swainthought she was becoming accustomed tothe electric shock). She threw hay, grassand stones at people and had a reputationfor aggression, cornering and pushingcircus workers.

Elephants are designed to travel longdistances each day, browse a variety ofplants, and have a highly developed socialstructure. Keeping such large, powerfulanimals in temporary accommodations hasa severe impact on their welfare, becausethey are constantly chained. In suchconfined and deprived conditions theyliterally go out of their minds. We call itcircus madness.

ADI caught Mike Swain on video cruellybeating Krissy with a bullhook, dragging herto the ground with the hook, and thenkicking her in the face as he screamed ather. Boo cowers next to her. Swain wasalso filmed hittting the elephants with a golfclub and giving them electric shocks.

UUSSDDAA CCoommppllaaiinnttADI presented our evidence to the USDA,but we were told in April 2009 that theywould not be taking further action becauseSwain had told them that he did notcurrently own any elephants, nor was hecurrently handling any.

We therefore continued to track these twoelephants. This year Krissy was back withMike Swain’s father Bill doing elephantrides and Boo was performing for theDavenport family. And who had beenrunning Bailey Brothers Circus where wefilmed the savage abuse of the elephants?The Davenport family.

HHooww yyoouu ccaann hheellpp SSttoopp CCiirrccuuss SSuuffffeerriinngg UUSSAAHelp our campaign to end the use of animals in US circuses– �� Alert us when an animal circus is coming to your town�� Get our action pack – get involved�� Order our flyers and posters�� Write to your local representatives – ask for

an animal circus ban in your area�� Donate – for more investigations & campaignsFor copies of U.S. campaign leaflets, posters and reportscall (415)543-2344, or email [email protected].


Justice? BillSwain (with abull hook inhis hand)leads Krissy.His son wasfilmedsavagelybeating herbut it seemsto be businessas usual forthe Swainfamily.



Summit forElephants In April, the leading elephant expertsand campaigners assembled for theSummit for Elephants – with specialemphasis on circus elephants.Appropriately, the setting for the threeday conference was the Ark 2000sanctuary of the Performing AnimalWelfare Society, (PAWS). As delegatesinside one of the elephant barnsdiscussed how to set elephants free,the lucky elephants at PAWS browsedoutside in the sunshine.

The Summit opened with PAWS founders,Pat Derby and Ed Stewart, outlining why itmay be possible to fix zoos, but becauseof the temporary nature, close control, andconstant travelling you could not fixcircuses.

Eminent field biologist and elephant expertDr. Joyce Poole – who previously spoke atthe launch of our Stop Circus SufferingNorway campaign in Oslo – presentedresearch on elephant communication withexamples of acoustic, visual, chemical,tactile and seismic communication. Shepresented the voice, behavior and gesturedatabase and the Elephant Charter whichprovides guiding principles for scientificand ethical management of elephants.

PAWS Vets, Dr. Mel Richardson and Dr.Dan Famini and CAHFS Dr. FranciscoUzal provided an expert insight on captiveelephant health and diseases such as TB,pancreatitis, joint disease and foot health.USDA officer, Dr. Denise Sofranko,highlighted the problem of zoonoticdiseases such as the risk of TBtransmission to humans.

A workshop on protected contact by GaileLaule, illustrated the success of themethod with rescued elephant Nicholas.

Presentations were also given by Dr. JoelParrott and Colleen Kinzley of OaklandZoo, Nicole Pacquette of Born FreeFoundation USA and Margaret Whittakerof Active Environments.

Jan Creamer and Tim Phillips of ADI weredue to give a series of presentations but atthe last minute were unable to attend. It

Above:Outside theelephantsplayed, whilstinsidedelegatesdiscussedhow to protectall elephants.

was a shame for Jan and Tim who werepresented with an award – see p15. Theirpresentations were made by AlexandraADI’s Cardenas, Lisa Mitchinson and ADILegal & Political Advisor Corey Evans.

Our first presentation, Legislation andAdvocacy, focused on national and localmeasures to end the use of animals incircuses and the strategies to achievethese. We provided examples from allover the world where ADI had begun atground level securing evidence behind thescenes of circuses and used this to driveawareness campaigns, publicity, securelocal bans and then have nationallegislation tabled. We outlined themeasures and text that can be achieved.As we spoke, Bolivia was on the brink ofthe final vote to ban animal circuses. Weconcluded by screening of our Stop CircusSuffering USA DVD with a specialintroduction by actress Jorja Fox.

Our second presentation, Movingelephants out of circuses highlighted theimpacts of our campaigns with casestudies from the UK, Greece, Brazil, Peru,Bolivia, and Colombia and the differentapproaches each necessitated. As anexample of ensuring materials spokedirectly to the audience, we screened aDVD about the Bill made specifically forthe Peruvian Congress campaign whichfeatured text in both Spanish and in anAndean people’s language.

The Summit showed that the evidence andexpertise are here and we concluded thatthe time is right for progress in the USA.

In 2007 and 2008, Boo/Queenie appearedwith Tina and Jewel for the Davenports atCircus Vasquez (named Queenie for oneyear, Boo the next). In the 2009 season,she performed at Will Davenport’s Hamid(Midian Shrine) Circus. Will Davenportclaims that Bill Swain, who sold her toGopher (John) Davenport (aka John Lewis),previously owned Boo.

Krissy has continued to perform for theSwain family. In April, as the USDA told ushe was no longer handling elephants, MikeSwain posed for a picture with Krissy – onher knees, a front leg raised in the air, withMike Swain next to her holding a stick orbullhook and grinning at the camera.

We tracked the Swains this year and foundKrissy giving elephant rides with two otherelephants, Jean and another Africanelephant believed to be Nanda – all three ofthese poor animals were taken from thewild. When she wasn’t giving rides, shewas chained up. And guess who isreported to have previously owned Krissy?John (Gopher) Davenport.

There is also evidence that Mike Swain hasowned a 35-year old female Africanelephant called Spanky since 1996; theUSDA needs to follow this up.

ADI has submitted a new dossier to theUSDA on the Swains and the Davenportsand their elephants, and we are insistingthat a new investigation is launched.

HHooww ttoo hheellpp BBoooo//QQuueeeenniiee aanndd KKrriissssyyWrite to the USDA todayThank them for protecting Tina and Jewel:Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, U.S.Department of Agriculture, 1400 IndependenceAve. S.W., Washington, DC 20250; and APHIS Administrator Kevin Shea: Phone:202-720-3861. Email: [email protected]

Urge them to return to Leggett, Texas, andconfiscate Boo/Queenie who is now livingin isolation. Ask them to extend the USDA’sinvestigations to Bill Swain of Conroe andMike Swain of Cut and Shoot, Texas, whoregularly work with Davenport. Urge them to seize Krissy/Chris, Jean,Nanda, and Spanky. Remind them of the video of horrific abuseand deprivation Krissy and Boo/Queenieendured at the hands of Mike Swain in acircus run by the Davenports.


16

SSttoopp CCiirrccuuss SSuuffffeerriinngg


The UK Government is againconsidering banning wild animalsin circuses following an ADIundercover investigation of theGreat British Circus. A hiddencamera caught on film elephantsbeing hooked, beaten and tailtwisted. The footage revealedhow the circus, which claimed itdid not chain the elephants,actually left them chained for tenhours every day.

Three years after the UK Governmentpromised Parliament to end the useof “non-domesticated species” (wildanimals) in UK circuses, we are stillwaiting.

Despite that officials have beenpresented with a wealth ofscientific evidence of the effectsof captivity and confinement onanimals; the recent publicationof a scientific study supportingthe case that non-domesticatedspecies should not be allowedto travel with circuses andhuge amounts of evidence infilm and photographs, theseanimals are still allowed tobe hauled around the UKfor entertainment.

Yet over 200 towns andcities in the UK have seen the evidenceand have already banned either allanimals in circuses, or use of wild animals,from their area.

The delays at national government levelprompted The Great British Circus to testthe water with the import of threeelephants from Germany for its 2009 tour.It is also challenging many of the localtown and city bans, and ADI is fightingeach challenge.

DailyExpress,August19, 2009.

Suffering behind the scenes in British circus We have presented the Lord HoughtonAward for services to Animal Welfare toPat Derby and Ed Stewart for theirremarkable work to protect performinganimals and the outstanding standardof care set by their Ark 2000 sanctuary(PAWS) in California, where rescuedelephants and tigers are provided withlove and protection.Responsibility to make the Lord HoughtonAward is rotated between four of the UK’soldest animal protection groups. Eachorganization gets to nominate a recipientevery four years, making this perhaps themost prestigious UK animal protectionaward.

Pat and Ed have been pioneers in thework to end the abuse of animals incircuses, taking up this issue and raising

awareness longbefore others. Theymarry caring forrescued animals witha genuine drive forlasting change, toexpose the sufferingand to ensure thatone day, the scenes ofelephants in chainsbeing beaten withbullhooks in travellingcircuses are no more.

ADI and PAWS havebeen kindred spirits inthis campaign. Adecade ago we

staged our first joint press conference withPAWS at their sanctuary in Galt tohighlight the abuse of circus animals.Afterwards, Ed looked at the elephantenclosure and remarked something alongthe lines that “We do what we can, but it isstill an enclosure with bars.” Thesentiment was reflective of a burningdesire to do more for animals, especiallythose in their care. A decade later andone can see the fruits of that drive, in thewonderful ARK 2000 sanctuary forelephants.

Pat and Ed’s work caring for rescuedanimals and in particular elephants isinnovative, exciting and above all else putsthe animals’ welfare and happiness firstand foremost.

We believe that Pat and Ed have reachedfor the stars in their work, creating a goldstandard of care for their elephants.Whereas they might have consideredresting on their laurels, they have gone onto raise the bar even higher. They are an inspiration for those whocampaign for animals and those who carefor animals. Well done, Pat and Ed.

Main Picture: Ahuge elephantenclosure at theARK 2000Sanctuary.

Inset: Pat Derbyand Ed Stewartwith their award,with ADI SupporterRelations DirectorLisa Mitchinson andADI Legal &Political AdvisorCorey Evans.

Award foroutstandingelephantsanctuary


TThhee ttrraaggiicc SSuujjeeyy.. Sujey wasa female elephant touringColombia with Circo de Mexico.A local organization ADANnoted that Sujey was displayingstereotypic behavior and lookedill. The Environmental Policeinspected and Sujey wastemporarily seized, albeitremaining with the circus. ADImade a written submission andoffered to relocate her to thePAWS ARK 2000 sanctuary inCalifornia. Tragically, Sujey hasdied, before the inquiry couldbe completed.

Four months into the tour ADIsecured footage from acamera in the elephant tentwhich recorded horrific casualviolence and critical welfareissues. The investigationrevealed that the elephants arechained daily for up to elevenhours and spend excessivenumbers of hours in theirtransporter on even short journeys.This supports the conclusions ofprevious studies of animalhusbandry in travelling circuses.

In August the story broke with hugemedia coverage and the public wereonce again shown the reality of lifebehind the scenes for circus animals.

During the 2009 tour, the Great BritishCircus boasted of its high standards ofwelfare and showcased the elephants ina (relatively barren) outdoor pen.However, our footage revealed that theelephants spent most of their time in asmall pen in a tent and every night theanimals were chained by a front and aback leg – barely able to take one stepback and forward. Night vision filmingshowed the elephants barely able toshuffle a pace forwards, stand or lie down.Our film shows these chains beingremoved in the morning and taken away.

We also caught on film a staggering levelof casual violence. Elephants werebrutally hit in the face with a metalelephant hook, a broom and apitchfork; a worker cruelly twisted anelephant’s tail. The frightened animalsbacked away and cried out when theywere hit, or hooked.The scenes are on our YouTube site at:http://www.youtube.com/animaldefenders

When the story broke, the circus claimedthey had already sacked the man forabusing the animals when they discoveredwhat he was doing. Yet in our film, thetrainer is present and the tent flaps areopen with people walking past. When theelephants cried out, no one came tosee what was wrong. Even worse, wecaught the trainer himself beating theelephants – yet he continued to tour withthe animals.

We have frequently highlighted how circusanimals are kept in transporters forextended periods for even short journeys.This is because the circus loads theanimals before dismantling the site andrebuilding it at its next location.

In late July, the Great British Circus movedfrom Watford to Bushey, in Hertfordshire –just five miles. We filmed as the elephantswere loaded and trailed them to the next

site. The elephants remained in theirtransporter for seven and a half hours,for a journey of just five miles.We analysed the footage of the elephantsin the tent, revealing very high levels ofdisturbed, abnormal behaviours. Theserepetitive and pointless behaviours, called‘stereotypic’ by animal behaviourists arean indication that the animal is not copingwith its environment. They arepsycholigically damaged and thesebehaviours can stay with the animal for therest of its life.

Poor Sonja, the African elephant,exhibited repetitive, pointlessmovements for 40% of the time. Thesesad animals are being driven out oftheir minds – in the name ofentertainment.The investigation hit the headlines. UK TVand newspapers ran our video and thestory swept around the world.

The investigation put the issue back on thepolitical agenda and the UK Governmentis now conducting a public consultationwith a view to making recommendations

on a national ban in early2010.

The ADI London office will beensuring the pressure ismaintained for a ban.

17

Above: ADIundercover footageshows thesuffering. Slowmotion footage alsorevealed how aconcealed hookwas being secretyused on theelephants duringperformances.

Hitting the TV news– L to R:Campaigns DirectorTim Phillips; ChiefExecutive JanCreamer; Head ofParliamentaryAffairs HelderConstantino.



PPrriivvaattee hheellllPPrriivvaattee hheellll

Suffering behind the scenes in British circus

PPuubblliicc iimmaaggeePPuubblliicc iimmaaggee


© Animal De fende rs Inter national

18

SSttoopp CCiirrccuuss SSuuffffeerriinngg:: GGlloobbaall rroouunndd--uupp

ADIThe Animal Defender � Winter 2010

The Left Block’s proposal would ban theuse of wild animals. The PortugueseCommunist Party’s Bill bans the use ofgreat apes in circuses and has measuresto prevent circuses from adding new wildanimals to their acts. ADI will press for thestrongest legislation.

Greece In May, a circus elephantwas filmed being repeatedly

hit in the head and face and hooked with abullhook, in Circo Massimo in Florina.

ADI and our Stop Circus Suffering Greecepartner, the Greek Animal Welfare Fund(GAWF), responded with letters to theMinister of Agriculture and Foodsemphasizing that according to Greek Law(1197/1981), the Minister of Agricultureand the Police are responsible forpreventing and taking action against anykind of animal abuse. We have continuedto press for a ban on the use of animals incircuses.

Once again we supplied Big Cat Rescueand Toto Goes Home DVDs to GAWF’sannual Greek schools writing competitonwhich this year attracted over 5,500entries.

IIrreellaannddThe Department of Agriculture of Ireland invited ADI to give a presentationon animals in circuses as part of the consultation for the Animal Health

and Welfare Bill. Our team joined Ireland’s Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) for anevent outside the meeting with our inflatable elephant (pictured), then presented theMinistry with evidence of animal suffering and legislative proposals. The Bill is expectedto be introduced in spring 2010.

© Alice Tromm

© Greek Animal Welfare Fund

UK Thanks to the ADIinvestigation, an impact

assessment on the prohibition of wildanimals in circuses is being carried out inthe UK, see p 16.

Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, Newry and MourneDistrict Council filed an injunction againstAlexander Scholl’s Super Circus Sydneyshow, after a lack of compliance in thelicence application process denied aproper consultation on the event, includingaddressing public safety. This petition wasbacked by the High Court in Belfast andtemporarily stopped the circus setting upin Warrenport.

Norway ADI and NOAH, partners inStop Circus Suffering

Norway, have kept pressure on theGovernment to act on animals in circuses.

There is now a proposal to ban the use ofcertain species including zebras,kangaroos, sea lions and other exoticanimals in circuses. The use of elephantsis being discussed. As a result of thepressure, Cirkus Agoras announced thatthey were now animal free and introduceda new trapeze act from Norway. Thisleaves just two animal circuses in thecountry.

PortugalWe have called for aninquiry following the collapse

of an elephant (pictured, below) with CircoVictor Hugo in Tavira. This is the samecircus where we filmed an elephant beingjabbed in the face 20 times during aperformance by owner Victor HugoCardinalli.

Meanwhile, the Assembly of the Republicof Portugal is discussing three bills onanimal circuses. The Green/EcologicalParty’s Bill includes a ban on wild animalsin circuses and a five year phase out ofdomestic animals.


ADI

BBrraazzii llShocking new footage of

violence in Brazilian circuses was revealedto journalists and the public at the launchof the Stop Circus Suffering Brazilcampaign in Sao Paulo in October 2008.Having already uncovered abuse,confinement and deprivation behind thescenes in circuses throughout SouthAmerica, Europe and the USA, in 2008 anADI Field Officer secured footageundercover at Circo Estoril and CircoStankowich in Brazil. The exposé andcampaign has driven forward legislation toban animal circuses in Brazil.

Our latest footage includes camels beingpunched, hit with a stick and a tent pole orhaving their lips twisted to inflict pain;solitary elephants chained barely able tomove in a stadium with deafening noise; asolitary bear forced to live in a cage on theback of a truck; a llama having its eartwisted. The ADI footage was presented inassociation with Brazilian NGOs, includingAILA, GAP, ANAMI and with thesponsorship of cruelty-free cosmeticscompany Surya.

The new DVD was narrated by popularyoung actress Daniela Adler Piepszyk,who also spoke at the launch in SaoPaulo. Our footage was shown on the

most popular televisionprogramme in Brazil,“Fantastico”, and viewedby millions. Within days,a judge prohibited CircoEstoril from displaying its

animals.

The ADI team thenflew to the capitalBrasilia to lobby fora new Bill banninganimal circuses,scheduled fordiscussion by theCommission forEducation andCulture of theChamber ofDeputies of theBrazilianParliament. ADIstrongly supportsthe initiative of thesponsor of the Bill,

Congressman Antonio Carlos Biffi, anddistributed a new report – in Portuguese –detailing the abuses suffered by animals incircuses.

In Brazil, prohibitions are alreadyin place in over thirty cities in thestates of Sao Paulo, SantaCatarina, Rio Grande do Sul,Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro,amongst others – many of thesesecured using evidence from theoriginal ADI ‘Ugliest Show onEarth’ investigation andcampaign. A poll launched by TVChannel ‘O Globo’ showed thatmore than 95% of Brazilians wantto ban all animals in circuses.

We distributed our report andDVD door-to-door to all membersof the Commission for Educationto press them to do whatever ittakes to move the legislationforward. We received a lot ofhelp for our campaign in Brazilfrom local volunteers and partnergroups, especially ProAnima, whoorganized a demonstration infront of the Parliament whichreceived wide media coverage.

As the law was discussed in theCommission of Education and

Culture of the Brazilian Chamber ofDeputies, ADI Head of ParliamentaryAffairs, Helder Constantino, joined ADIBrazil representative Antoniana Ottoni tolobby. Our inflatable elephant stoodoutside the Commission meetings and wedistributed a new political briefing inPortuguese to all members of theCommission. We were delighted when BillNo. 7291, presented by CongressmanAntonio Carlos Biffi, was passed, followingintense debate.

In August the Bill entered the Commissionfor the Constitution, Justice andCitizenship of the Brazilian Chamber ofDeputies. Representative Ricardo Tripoli,who has championed the Bill argued thatcircuses are cruel to animals and that theuse of animals is contrary to theConstitution. In November the Bill wasapproved in this Commission and theBrazilian ban on animals in travelingcircuses took another step forward.

The next stage is the Plenary of theChamber of Deputies. A ban in Brazilwould have massive impact and would bethe biggest ever loss of territory to theanimal circus industry.

New ADI undercoverinvestigation launchedand legislation beforeParliament



Below: Brazilian TVChannel 'O Globo'at the launch of thecampaign film JuanPablo Olmos fromADI.

Bottom: Youngactress DanielaAdler Piepszyk,who narrated StopCircus SufferingBrazil sittingbetween HelderConstantino andJuan Pablo Olmosfrom ADI.

A circus worker brutalising acamel with a metal bar insideCirco Estoril, Brazil.

The screening of ADI'sundercover investigation in SaoPaulo with representatives ofADI, AILA and GAP.


ADI


ColombiaSenators Jairo Clopatofsky,Elsa Gladys Cifuentes and

Hector Eli Rojas have tabled a bill onanimal welfare which includes theprohibition of the use of all animals incircuses, the bill will be discussed in the5th Commission of the Senate.

In July, ADI’s South American CampaignsCoordinator, Juan Pablo Olmos, gave apresentation at the First Animal ProtectionSummit in Bogotá.

In August, to herald the tabling of the Bill,ADI and AnimaNaturalis held ademonstration in front of the ColombianCongress in the Plaza de Bolivar.Campaigners painted as animals werelocked in cages to highlight the plight ofcircus animals. The event was attended bythe authors of the Bill and keycongressmen. Stop Circus SufferingColombia leaflets, the Science onSuffering Report and DVDs weredistributed.

ADI continues to press for the release ofex-circus chimpanzees Karla andPanchito. Following a meeting with theDirector of the Department of Ecosystemsof the Ministry of Environment we havebeen requested to resubmit information,evidence and home offers on both cases.

BoliviaFollowing passage of the

animal circus ban, ADI continues workingwith Congresswoman Flores onregulations to implement the law and withthe national environment authority on therelocation of animals – see p2 & p6.

ChileLast year, ADI and Chilean

group JUVAN, screened the DVD StopCircus Suffering South America inConcepción attended by over 150 peoplewith widespread attention in the mediaand the Congress.

Following the passage of the Bolivian law,a Bill banning the use of animals incircuses was tabled in August. Thisemphasizes the importance of the circusas a form of entertainment, recreation andculture but also addressees the issues ofconservation and animal welfare and alack of educational value for children ofusing animals. The Bill has received crossparty support and has been signed byseveral Deputies.

PeruFollowing theacceptance in the

Agrarian Commission of thePeruvian Congress, the Billbanning the animals incircuses was debated in theAndean PeoplesCommission and approved bymajority. ADI lobbied anddistributed new materialsincluding postcards, briefings,key rings and door hangers(pictured, right).

After approval, ADI met with theleaders of the different groups,requesting the Bill be debated inthe Plenary.

When Congress returned ourteam was ready to meet them,and our inflatable elephantwas on its way from Brazil toappear at another Congress!



The ADI /AnimaNaturalisdemonstrationoutside theColombianCongress.

ADI´s EduardoPeña discussingthe Science onSuffering reportwith SenatorArmandoBenedetti.

ADI’s Juan PabloOlmos addressesthe AnimalProtectionSummit inBogota.



SSaavvee tthhee PPrriimmaatteess

ADI

cages. Some are isolated, which is torturefor a monkey. We also filmed the poormonkeys being experimented on.

The IUCN has announced that 48% of allprimate species are either endangered, orcritically endangered. As governments inthe home range states of primates makedesperate efforts to prevent the poor andhungry eating some species to oblivion,the western research community demandsthe right to take them for unreliableexperiments, when alternatives areavailable.

Please back the ADI campaign to endthe capture of wild monkeys forexperiments and forlaboratory monkey factory

farms – send adonation today.

It can be a lonely and risky business forour Field Officers as they gather theevidence so vital for our campaigns.Sitting in a canoe, in pitch darkness,quietly slipping up the Amazon in the deadof night with a group of monkey trappers isprobably as isolated as it gets.

The trappers are local people. Typically,they are poor and not recruited for theirwelfare, environmental or conservationknowledge. They qualify by being able tofind and catch monkeys, cheap. The trappers go where they can getaccess to monkeys – there is no evidencethat they consider sustainability or thestability and health of the wild populationsas apologists might claim.

The trappers are in search of owl monkeyswhich are nocturnal. Our Field Officer switches on thenightvision camera. The trapper in front ofthem has a huge machette to hackthrough the undergrowth and is tappingthe trees to force the little monkeys to stir.There have been a number of reports ofconsiderable damage to the forest with

trees being chopped down to get tofamilies of owl monkeys.

Later, we filmed the monkeys beingcaptured. The trapper scaled a tree andplaced a net over the hollowed trunkwhere the owl monkeys were sleeping,leaving no escape. The monkeys are thengrasped and carried to the ground. Theterror is evident in their faces as they arepushed, screaming, into sacks. From herethey are taken to a dock, put in holdingcrates and taken up river to the ColombianImmunology Foundation laboratory (FIDIC)in Leticia run by Manual ElkinPatarroyo. Readers will befamiliar with ourcampaign inColombia to endthese cruelexperiments.

Inside thelaboratory, themonkeys’ forestis replaced bythe barrenfactory-type

OOnn tthhee ttrraaiill ooff tthhee mmoonnkkeeyy ttrraappppeerrss


To expose the capture of wildmonkeys for experiments, our FieldOfficers infiltrated a South Americangang of trappers. We filmed owlmonkeys being torn from the treesand followed them to a laboratory inColombia where they were used inmalaria experiments.

Below and inset: ADI’s South America Co-ordinator Juan Pablo Olmos presents our findings to the ColombianCongress.

Screaming owlmonkeys are torn fromthe rainforest, forcedinto sacks, and thentaken up the Amazonto laboratories forexperimentation/




The Animal Defender � Winter 2010 21


The EU represents almost 500 millioncitizens and generates an estimated 30%share (US$18.4 trillion) of the nominalgross world product. It has a hugepharmaceutical and experimental researchbase and uses about 10 million lab animalsevery year.

There are 27 different countries in the EU,speaking 23 languages. Laws are passedwhen there is agreement between threecore branches – the EuropeanCommission, the European Parliament andthe Council of Ministers. In some Europeancountries animal protection is a highpriority, in others it is almost negligible.

European Directives are the legislation thatMember States adopt, and then pass intotheir individual national laws. The law thatis being changed is EC Directive 86/609,which is over twenty years old, having beenpassed in 1986. The process started eightyears ago, when a revision was proposed.ADI began work attempting to shape theproposed new Directive.

We were not the only ones paying attention.The animal experimentation community set

their sights on stripping away all theprotection in the 1986 legislation – not justby twenty years, but back a hundred years.The vivisection industry geared itself up tothe biggest lobbying campaign it had everundertaken.

The European Commission was in chargeof drafting the new Directive. It started theprocess by consulting experts, includingADI, and we set the agenda for: strongerrestrictions on animal use; a ban on the useof primates; requirements for introduction ofadvanced non-animal methods; a moretransparent and accountable authorizationprocess and a mechanism for publicchallenges to animal use.

Our Save the Primates campaign hasensured that the use of primates inresearch is probably the defining issue ofthis recent debate on animal experiments.

In 2007, a landmark ADI campaign saw theEuropean Parliament adopt a WrittenDeclaration on primate experiments: Thisinstructed the European Commission to usethe revision of Directive 86/609 to end theuse of great apes and wild caught

monkeys, and to establish a timetable tophase out the use of all primates inresearch.

A year later the Commission presented itsdraft proposals for the new Directive andmuch of the ADI manifesto was included.While it did not meet all of our demands, itincluded some of our key issues.

On primates the Commission proposedrestrictions on the type of experiments andbans on the use of great apes and wildcaught monkeys. Significantly the proposalrequred that "...only animals of second orolder generations be used, subject totransitional periods, to avoid taking animalsfrom the wild and exhausting wildpopulations".

Almost all monkeys imported to Europe andthe USA for experimentation are known asF1 – animals born of wild caught parents.This means that dealers in Asia and SouthAmerica are continually topping up theirbreeding farms from the wild. So thiscommitment from the Commission was amajor victory for ADI.

In January 2009, the European Parliamentbegan discussing the proposals and thevivisection community unleashed a hugelobbying campaign. The pharmaceuticalindustry’s army of lobbyists descended onthe Parliament to defend animalexperiments and animal researcherspoured into the Parliament to frighten MEPswith outlandish claims of threats to humanhealth as they opposed even the mildestregulation. Our work rapidly became arearguard action to preserve what animalprotection there was in the draft Directive.

During 2009, ADI led the campaign inEurope fighting to secure the best possibledeal for lab animals; we left no stoneunturned. We launched undercoverinvestigations of the wild capture ofmonkeys; exposed use of monkeys at thenotorious Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS);of dealers supplying Europe.

We published scientific reports on the useof animals and replacement methodsavailable. We introduced MEPs to non-animal medical researchers. We stagedmeetings and held information stands andevents. We produced thousands of pages

The animal experiments battleground

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Photos (L to R):

We exposedconditions insideEurope’s largestmonkey testinglaboratory;

ADI CampaignsDirector Tim Phillips,Jens Holm MEP, ADIPresident JanCreamer, and CarlSchlyter MEPaddress a meetinginside the EuropeanPariament;

Tim Phillips speaksto the media outsidethe voting chamberas MEPs vote;

MEPs are leafletedby the ADI teaminside the EuropeanParliament as theygo to vote.

Opposite page, farside: The campaignrequired ADI to takea multi-lingualapproach at everystage whenengaging the publicand politicians.




ADI 23The Animal Defender � Winter 2010

of technical and economic briefings tosupport our case – ADI was the only animalprotection group presenting MEPs with ananalysis of every amendment as it wentbefore either Committee or full plenarysessions.

The Save the Primates video was launchedat the European Parliament in English,French, German, Italian, Spanish andPolish. Each briefing on amendments orvotes was in ten or more languages.

Throughout we also involved the public witha series of postcard campaigns and webriefed animal protection groups on how toinvolve their supporters.

The proposed law was hotly debatedthrough three key European Parliamentcommittees.

In May 2009, as the European Parliamentvoted on the proposals, a team of eight ADIpeople speaking English, French,Portuguese, Spanish, German, Greek,Finnish, and Swedish were lobbying to thelast, with just two or three other anti-vivisection lobbyists active in theParliament. At midnight before the finalvote the ADI team put a hanger on everydoor urging MEPs to vote for animals. Wewere back in the Parliament within hourswith a table near the entrance to the votingchamber providing up to the minuteinformation on amendments.

The European Parliament significantlyweakened several of the Commissionproposals but we had held the line inseveral areas and prevented a completemeltdown of laboratory animal protection inEurope. We also secured strong supportfor ADI proposals on thematic review (amechanism for a formal, public review ofanimal use and introduction ofreplacements), as well as a Europeancentre for development of replacements.

We dusted ourselves down and preparedfor the next phase: the Council ofMinisters. Over the summer we visitedevery representative on the Council ofMinisters. We met with officials in countriesall over Europe and launched Save thePrimates campaigns in the UK, Spain,Ireland, France, Belgium and Italy.

We were now restricted to what was leftafter the Parliament debates, but wecontinued to press for:

� A ban on the use of great apes and wild-caught primates;

� Limits on primate experiments;

� A phase-out of the use of monkeys bornof wild-caught parents;

� Prohibition of severe and prolongedsuffering for animals in experiments;

� Authorization of all experiments bynational governments before they take

place, using an authorisationprocess that is transparent,independent and accountable;

� A comprehensive authorizationand licensing system forsuppliers of laboratory animals,user establishments, andindividuals who use animals,together with a strict trainingregime;

� Permission to use animals onlyto be given if advancedtechniques to replace animalshave been considered first;

� Every two years, a review (thematicreview) to take place of the use ofspecific species, or types ofexperiment, and targets should be setto replace animals in particular tests(this review to include all stakeholders,such as ADI);

� Establish an EU centre for replacementof animal experiments;

� EU standards for husbandry and carethat meet the ethological needs of theanimals.

As we go to press, the EuropeanCommission, European Parliament andCouncil of Ministers are debating the finaltext of the new Directive.

There will doubtless be more compromise,but we have regained some ground onissues such as phasing out wild caughtmonkeys and restriction on primate use.

There is unlikely to be the resoundingvictory on animal experiments that weachieved in Bolivia on circuses, forexample, due to the power of thevivisection industry. However, we willhave made some gains and preventedcontrols on animal experiments regulationin Europe being overturned.

It is not over yet and we will continue tobattle for every inch we can secure foranimals before the final vote.

The biggest battles for animal protectionare not necessarily in the media, but ADIpledges to be where the animals need us.This new law will affect millions of animalsall over the world.

The animal experiments battleground

AAnniimmaall EExxppeerriimmeennttss


RReesseeaarrcchh WWiitthhoouutt AAnniimmaallssFounded in 1973, the Lord Dowding Fund is our research funding wing and aims tofinance, promote and assist the development of scientific and medical researchtechniques which replace the use of animals. LDF funds research based on theprinciple that animal research is harmful or unnecessary to humanity.

The Fund awards approximately $500,000 a year to researchers working on a widerange of fields historically covering microsurgery, breast and lung cancer and braintumours, product safety testing, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, cot deaths,cataracts, kidney research, cell culture, computer-aided drug design, biotechnology,brain damage and computer teaching packages which replace the use of animals ineducation of students at school and university level.

Intra ocular lenses (IOL) are used toreplace those removed during cataractoperations. One problem which can occurpost surgery, sometimes causingsecondary blindness, is called PosteriorCapsule Opacification (PCO). IOL designsare an important line of investigation inpreventing PCO and at present are largelytested on rabbits. An LDF sponsored project at theUniversity of East Anglia is using human“eye bags”, which come from humandonors, to carry out such tests. Theresearcher recently established theoptimum levels of human serum in whichto place the lens to ensure that cell growthwas maximized. This was done bycounting cell growth in tissue culture atvarying concentrations of serum.

Once this was established, the researcherwent on to implant the first IOL into an eye

capsule, an eye bag without an IOL wasused as a control. The observations, tomonitor any sign of PCO (indicated by cellre-growth), were made using phase-microscopy. Although the IOL slowed downthe development of PCO it did not preventit; cells still grew, covering the posterior ofthe capsule. Additionally, wrinkling of theposterior of the capsule also occurred,although not as severely. In the humanpatient this would have resulted in sightimpairment.

The IOL testing described above used around edged IOL. It is known that IOLdesigns with a square edge are better atpreventing PCO. Therefore, the next lensto be tested is a square edged IOL which,if there is seen to be further retardation ofcell growth, will provide further evidencefor the use of the current model.

First lens replacement testin fully human system

Right: The fMRIfacility we fund atAston Life SciencesAcademy.

Below: A piece oflens cultured inhuman serum. Cellgrowth can be seenin purple.

© Lord Dowding Fund


One of LDF’s key grants is supporting the annual runningcosts of the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging facilityat the Aston Life Sciences Academy, Aston University, UK.This has enabled a large number of researchers toundertake groundbreaking studies on the brains of humanvolunteers. No monkeys suffer and die here.

A wide range of scientific papers continue to be publishedfocusing on a variety of aspects of human neurology,including: pain, the neurological basis of parental behaviourwhich is potentially applicable identifying those at risk frompostnatal depression, brain patterns in language tasks,which may prove vital for clinical assessment, prior to brainsurgery and vision studies.

Neuroscience: The exciting world of fMRI

The LordDowding Fundfor HumaneResearch



RReesseeaarrcchh WWiitthhoouutt AAnniimmaallss

Relying upon donor grafts to alleviateorthopaedic problems is not an idealsolution.

Natural tissues, produced artificially withthe use of a scaffold to support and guideregeneration, provide a suitablealternative.

The efficacy of this strategy forregenerating tissue can be greatlyimproved by regular treatment withtherapeutic ultrasound. This non-invasivetechnique uses high frequency soundwaves to accelerate bone repair, and m aybe of use in cartilage repair too.

Exciting progress has been madewith this in vitro model which isbeing used to investigateultrasound as a therapy forhelping to heal cartilage tissue.

The findings from the work ofresearchers at UCL EastmanDental Institute and the OpenUniversity will be presented at aninternational Biomaterialsconference later this year.

The presentation will promote the use ofHA/alginate as an animal-free scaffold foran in vitro model of cartilage. The bestscaffold composition will be used in thenext stage of the project of the ‘exposure’work.

Modifications to the ultrasound exposurerig are in progress to expand the range ofacoustic outputs available for the nextultrasound ‘exposure’ stage of the work.This will enable exposure of pulsedultrasound signals, rather than thecontinuous wave form, as used in the workto date. The exposure rig will be modifiedin order that the ultrasound signals can beamplified. This will allow varying intensitiesof ultrasound to be delivered to the hMSC-alginate constructs.

During the next phase of the work,researchers aim to complete an ‘exposure’study to investigate the biologicalresponses of hMSCs, made to change intothe relevant cell types, to both diagnosticand therapeutic ultrasound exposure. Themodel will then be used to look forultrasound-induced effects.


New tissue graft system

With 25% of cancers found in the bodyspreading to the brain and worseningpatient prognosis, it is vital to understandthe mechanisms by which cancerous cellsmetastasize (move) into the brain, therebyspreading the cancer. To reach the brain,tumour cells must pass the blood-brainbarrier (BBB), a layer which protects thebrain. Most in vitro constructions generallyuse animal tissues to model the BBB, butthese animal models do not reflect thesituation in humans.Exciting new progress has been made inthe development of the all human tissuemodel of the BBB at PortsmouthUniversity. Professor Pilkington and histeam have been testing variouspermutations of cell cultures in theTranswell® model, using astrocytes(supporting cells), from two different areasof the brain, endothelial cells, which linethe blood vessels, and pericytes. Pericytesare a less well known component of the

BBB and are thought to regulatemultiplication and differentiation ofendothelial cells.

Recent preliminary results have shownthat co-cultures of astrocytes andendothelial cells have shown betterformation of ‘tight junctions’ (TJs) thanendothelial cell mono-cultures. TJs makethe BBB a highly effective biologicalbarrier. Currently, the addition of pericytesto create a tri-culture has not furtherimproved tight junction formation. However,this is possibly to be due to the pericytesblocking the endothelial cells, preventingthem from producing a monolayer. Theteam intend to repeat the experiment, withthe pericytes at the bottom of theTranswell® so that they are not in directcontact with the endothelial cells.

It is hoped the model will identify thepathways that malignant cells take acrossthe BBB. Once fully developed the modelcould be used not only to study metastasis

but also as a tool for drug companies todiscover if and how therapeutic agents canpass through the BBB to treat the braindirectly.


Progress in brain tumor research

Left: A technicianworking on thecartilage tissueconstruct project.

Left, inset: Dr.Jamie Harle, whoworks on theproject with Dr.Vehid Salih.

Below: Equipmentused to view cellsof the BBB

News from South America is thatOrlandito, a brown capuchin monkeyrescued from the pet trade, has justbeen issued the necessary permitswhich will enable him to go back intothe Colombian forest.

Work can now finally commence on theADI funded acclimation enclosure whichwill bring Orlandito and his friends a stepcloser to freedom.

Good luck Orlandito and chums!


OOrrllaannddiittoo:: OOnnee sstteeppcclloosseerr ttoo ffrreeeeddoomm!!

© Animal Defenders InternationalOrlandito and his friends could soon be free

A member of the ADI team inspects theproposed site for Orlandito’s release


RReessccuuee NNeewwss

Caring for our big cats is afull time job and staff remainvigilant. One routine visit tothe lions revealed that Caesarhad an injury just behind his leftshoulder – most likely causedby his playful companion Sarah.Although he did not appeardistressed, it was decided totake no chances and toanaesthetize the huge lion andtreat the wound.

Caesar and Sarah were separated, andwith the first shot, the vet darted Caesar inthe thigh. As he succumbed to thetranquillizer, Sarah came to the fence tobe with him – the pair have had a specialbond since we rescued them together froma circus in Portugal.

The wound was infected, but was quicklycleaned and treated. After the anaestheticantidote, Caesar was back on his feet inno time, with the only sign that anythinghad happened being the blue anti flycream on his coat. He was soon back atplay with Sarah.




RReessccuuee NNeewwssTToottoo aanndd tthhee ggrreeaatt eessccaappee!!Toto continues to enjoy his freedom in the Zambian bushat Chimfunshi and now shares his enclosure with twelveother chimps. He’s come a long way since we saved himfrom isolation, living in a packing crate in Chile, but his14 acres may still not be quite enough, as he recently ledhis family on a breakout!Chimfunshi staff got quite a shock when they went to preparebreakfast for the chimps, and one by one the Toto family filedout of the foodstore into the courtyard, having helpedthemselves! A face-off between staff and chimps ensuedwith a flurry of excited hoots from the chimps. It was a tensemoment for the humans, because even the smaller chimpsare very powerful and Toto is a huge chimpanzee. However,gentle as ever, Toto calmed down the younger ones as thestaff attempted to lure the chimps back into their enclosure.For our gallant leader, Toto, the lure of peanuts and biscuitsproved too good to resist – he followed the bucket of foodback into the enclosure and with him went his band ofescapees.

Kodak the capuchin monkey, who ADI supporters helped save fromthe pet trade, is adapting well to his wonderful new life at the Monkey SanctuaryTrust (MST), in Cornwall. Most importantly, after years alone, he isnow enjoying the companionship of his own kind.

It was decided to introduce Kodak slowly to the other capuchins toensure that he would be accepted. His first companion has beenJoey, a gentle male with a lust for life. Joey endured a similar start inlife to Kodak; torn from the wild then kept alone in a small cage inLondon. Due to poor diet, and a lack of natural light, Joey tragicallydeveloped a number of physical ailments including a curved spine,displaced hips and problems with his mouth. Yet, despite his sufferingJoey retains a gentle and positive nature, and is an excellent firstcompanion for Kodak.

From the outset, Kodak immediately took to his new companion withgreat excitement; initially he was even a little rough with his delicatefriend. Nevertheless, the introduction was successful, and gave aglimpse of what is developing into a great friendship. At the nextmeeting, Joey quickly asserted himself and Kodak responded, withthe two little monkeys going on to enjoy a playful rough and tumble,on Joey’s terms.

Subsequent meetings have all gone well, and it is hopedthat over time Kodak and Joey will be introduced to theother capuchins. Eventually they can be integrated intoa new family group, to enjoy a full and happy life forpotentially, another 30 years or more.

It is hard to imagine just how much this means to thesesmall monkeys whose lives have now been transformed.

Kodak gets a friend


CChheecckk oouutt oouurr lliioonn

aanndd bbaabboooonn rreessccuuee -- ppaaggee 66



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