Authorities expect to have to clear 25 to 30 tons of crane carcasses after H5N1 virus spread from northern moshav, where farmers failed to report poultry deaths on time

By SUE SURKES23 December 2021, 8:29 pm  

https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-fifth-of-wild-cranes-in-israel-thought-to-be-infected-with-fatal-bird-flu/

• The carcass of a crane, infected by avian flu, at the Hula Valley Nature Reserve in northern Israel, on December 23, 2021. (Shlomit Shavit, Israel Nature and Parks Authority)

One in five of the wild cranes living in or migrating through Israel have been infected with the fatal H5N1 bird flu virus, with authorities expecting to have to remove 25 to 30 tons of carcasses, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) said Thursday.

The virus is believed to have spread from Moshav Margaliot on the Lebanese border, where 244,000 laying hens were housed in 60 coops, supplying six million eggs monthly, out of the 200 million eggs Israelis consume each month.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, the farmers there failed to report in real-time the rising numbers of poultry deaths, leading to the virus spreading rapidly.

Many of the chickens were dead by the time ministry inspectors arrived, and the rest were culled. In one coop, only 70 chickens were found alive out of 2,000.

The farm has been sealed off, as well as facilities receiving eggs from it.Get The Times of Israel’s Daily Editionby email and never miss our top storiesNewsletter email addressGET ITBy signing up, you agree to the terms

But on Thursday, the ministry reported that it was investigating someone from the moshav suspected of having tried to smuggle eggs out to sell them privately.

‏כשמדברים איתכם על שפעת העופות והמילה “השמדה” של מיליוני עופות עוברת לכם מעל הראש, כך זה במציאות, חנק בקצף שנמשך 9 דק’,…

Posted by Tal Gilboa on Wednesday, December 22, 2021

by Humane Society InternationalDecember 21, 2021Printhttps://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7448874730032070&output=html&h=280&adk=2448640569&adf=4164852396&pi=t.aa~a.1760316485~rp.4&w=1010&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1640287486&rafmt=1&to=qs&pwprc=5618672489&psa=1&format=1010×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fyubanet.com%2Fworld%2Fin-an-historic-vote-italy-to-ban-all-fur-farming-and-shut-down-all-mink-farms-within-six-months%2F&flash=0&host=ca-host-pub-2644536267352236&fwr=0&pra=3&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=40&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTYuMC40NjY0LjExMCIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLCI2NCJd&dt=1640287495369&bpp=17&bdt=5941&idt=-M&shv=r20211207&mjsv=m202112060101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C657x280&nras=3&correlator=3574869663255&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1318458269.1640287493&ga_sid=1640287493&ga_hid=1093172337&ga_fc=0&u_tz=-480&u_his=1&u_h=640&u_w=1139&u_ah=607&u_aw=1139&u_cd=24&u_sd=1.2&dmc=4&adx=56&ady=717&biw=1123&bih=504&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31063752%2C44750773%2C44753741%2C31060049%2C31060032&oid=2&pvsid=3996851457635642&pem=367&tmod=911&eae=0&fc=1920&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1139%2C0%2C1139%2C607%2C1139%2C504&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=VEKOfzYRSL&p=https%3A//yubanet.com&dtd=271

ROME, December 21, 2021—The Budget Committee of the Italian Senate today voted to approve a modified version of an amendment to the budget law which will see the country’s 10 remaining mink fur farms closed within six months and a permanent ban on fur farming throughout Italy.  

The vote follows discussions with animal protection organisation Humane Society International/Europe which presented practical, strategic solutions to close and convert fur farms into alternative, humane and sustainable businesses in its recent report “Mink breeding in Italy: Mapping and future perspectives.“ Although the decision requires final approval by the Parliament, this is expected to go through, making Italy the 16th country in Europe to ban fur farming. Many Italian designers have already gone fur-free including Valentino, Armani, GUCCI, Prada and Versace. https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-7448874730032070&output=html&h=280&adk=3816752260&adf=816315896&pi=t.aa~a.1381849204~i.3~rp.4&w=657&fwrn=4&fwrnh=100&lmt=1640287486&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=5618672489&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=657×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fyubanet.com%2Fworld%2Fin-an-historic-vote-italy-to-ban-all-fur-farming-and-shut-down-all-mink-farms-within-six-months%2F&flash=0&host=ca-host-pub-2644536267352236&fwr=0&pra=3&rh=164&rw=656&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&wgl=1&fa=27&uach=WyJXaW5kb3dzIiwiMTAuMC4wIiwieDg2IiwiIiwiOTYuMC40NjY0LjExMCIsW10sbnVsbCxudWxsLCI2NCJd&dt=1640287495369&bpp=16&bdt=5941&idt=-M&shv=r20211207&mjsv=m202112060101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=3574869663255&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1318458269.1640287493&ga_sid=1640287493&ga_hid=1093172337&ga_fc=0&u_tz=-480&u_his=1&u_h=640&u_w=1139&u_ah=607&u_aw=1139&u_cd=24&u_sd=1.2&dmc=4&adx=56&ady=1551&biw=1123&bih=504&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31063752%2C44750773%2C44753741%2C31060049%2C31060032&oid=2&pvsid=3996851457635642&pem=367&tmod=911&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C1139%2C0%2C1139%2C607%2C1139%2C504&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=30ipYkI1kb&p=https%3A//yubanet.com&dtd=219

HSI/Europe’s fur farm conversion proposal, which sought an end to fur farming due to animal cruelty and public health risks from zoonotic diseases, was endorsed by Italian Member of Parliament the Hon. Michela Vittoria Brambilla, who launched the political action to implement the conversion strategy with existing public funds, and Sen. Loredana De Petris who formally submitted the amendment. 

Martina Pluda, director of Humane Society International in Italy, states: ”This is an historic victory for animal protection in Italy, and HSI/Europe is immensely proud that our fur farm conversion strategy has played a central role in dismantling this cruel and dangerous industry in our country. There are very clear economic, environmental, public health and of course animal welfare reasons to close and ban fur farms. Today’s vote recognizes that allowing the mass breeding of wild animals for frivolous fur fashion represents a risk to both animals and people that can’t be justified by the limited economic benefits it offers to a small minority of people involved in this cruel industry. With so many designers, retailers and consumers going fur-free, conversion of fur farms offers people a sustainable future that the fur trade simply cannot provide.” 

The approved amendment includes: 

• An immediate ban on breeding of fur-bearing animals including mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and chinchillas, and the closure of all active fur farms in Italy by 30th June 2022; 
• Compensation for farmers, covered by a fund from the Ministry of Agriculture for a total of 3 million euros in 2022.

Hon. Michela Vittoria Brambilla, president of the Parliamentary Intergroup for Animal Rights and of the Italian League for the Defense of Animals and the Environment commented on the vote: ”In thirty years of animal rights battle this is the best victory. Finally, a parliamentary vote sanctions the end of unspeakable suffering inflicted on animals only in the name of profit and vanity. Italy is the twentieth European country to introduce a ban or severe restriction on fur farming: better late than never. Now we await the final approval of the budget law, but the political will has been clearly expressed. A dream comes true that animal protection associations have cultivated for decades in our country. I want to thank all the colleagues of the Intergroup, in particular Vice-President De Petris, who presented the amendment and reported it to the committee, the parliamentarians who shared this choice and the Italian office of Humane Society International which has promoted the economic study whose results formed the ‘basis’ for formulating the proposal. It is a great achievement, which finally all those who love and respect animals rejoice!” 

https://yubanet.com/world/in-an-historic-vote-italy-to-ban-all-fur-farming-and-shut-down-all-mink-farms-within-six-months/

Chimp Raised by Humans Killed by Fellow Chimps After Trying to Integrate

Robert Lea – 25m agoFollowReactComments|4

Achimpanzee who grew up in captivity and was sent to a sanctuary to learn how to act like a chimp has been beaten to death by other chimps.© Ol Pejeta ConservancyAn image of Barn a 4-year-old female chimpanzee. Baran travelled to a chimpanzee sanctuary where she was to integrate with other chimps who went on to kill her.

The 4-year-old female ape, named Baran, had been relocated from Eram Zoo in Iran to the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in central Kenya in August.

The sanctuary is in Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which covers 220 square miles in Laikipia County. According to a statement posted on Facebook by the organization, the new arrival had an unexpected encounter with some of the other chimpanzees, who reacted aggressively to her

“The caregivers quickly intervened to stop the aggression, however, within the short space of time, Baran had already suffered severe injuries and required urgent medical intervention,” the statement said. “Despite the efforts to save her life, she eventually succumbed due to the injuries.”https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?app_id=1056389514424151&channel=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticxx.facebook.com%2Fx%2Fconnect%2Fxd_arbiter%2F%3Fversion%3D46%23cb%3Df17c099dd4911d%26domain%3Dwww.msn.com%26is_canvas%3Dfalse%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.msn.com%252Ff19c93c2aa7f014%26relation%3Dparent.parent&container_width=534&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOlPejetaConservancy%2Fphotos%2Fa.238878270323%2F10165878795315324%2F&locale=en_US&sdk=joey&width=500

Baran, who was born in 2017 at Tehran’s largest wildlife center, had a troubled life. Her mother failed to bond with the infant and she was not accepted by the other chimpanzees at the zoo.Here Are 23 of the Coolest Gifts for Holiday 2021 AdBestTrendGifts

After the death of her mother, Baran—whose name means “rain” in Persian—had to be moved to a cage alone to protect her from attacks by the other apes.

The transfer to the Kenyan sanctuary was the result of months of collaboration between Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Eram Zoo, the Kenya Wildlife Service, Iranian embassy officials and other animal welfare organizations.

Following the transfer, Baran was quarantined for 90 days, as required by the Kenya Wildlife Service. During this period she will have had access to round-the-clock veterinary care, because the rescued chimps who arrive at Sweetwater generally need to be nursed back to health.

“Baran had successfully completed her quarantine period since her arrival at the sanctuary and had been moved from quarantine to the main chimpanzee house where she was in the process of being integrated with the other chimpanzees,” Ol Pejeta Conservancy wrote. “She was at the primary stage of integration in a facility where she could see the other chimpanzees from a distance, but with no physical contact.”

During this stage, which the charity says is necessary to help the chimps familiarize themselves with one another until a bond is formed to enable the next stage of integration, Baran breached security and encountered the other chimps.

The conservancy statement continued: “Whilst the chimpanzees were in a separate room from Baran, there was a small section in the wall with grilles between them. It was between these grilles that a physical encounter occurred with some of the other chimpanzees.”

Ol Pejeta Conservancy said 22 chimpanzees had been successfully integrated into the Sweetwaters sanctuary in previous years.

It added: “We take this situation very seriously and shall ensure procedures and protocols are further strengthened.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Baran as she was poised to become a youthful member of the larger family of 34 chimpanzees living within the sanctuary.”

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• https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/chimp-raised-by-humans-killed-by-fellow-chimps-after-trying-to-integrate/ar-AAS65u3?cvid=0356de8fb3f14732d07112ff58daee59&ocid=winp1taskbar