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Newsom signs bill to ban octopus farming in California
https://www.aol.com/news/newsom-signs-bill-ban-octopus-140959108.html
Susanne Rust
September 29, 2024 at 7:09 AM
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan bill Friday making it a crime to farm octopuses for human consumption in California.
The new law makes it illegal to raise and breed octopuses in state waters or in aquaculture tanks based on land within the state. It also prevents business owners and operators from knowingly participating in the sale of an octopus — regardless of its provenance — that has been raised to be eaten by people.
The text of the law recognizes that octopuses are “highly intelligent, curious, problem-solving animals” that are conscious, sentient and experience “pain, stress, and fear, as well as pleasure, equanimity, and social bonds.” It goes on to note that in research studies, these eight-legged marine invertebrates have demonstrated long-term memory as well as the ability to recognize individual people.
In one experiment, eight giant Pacific octopuses were introduced to two people over a two-week period at the Seattle Aquarium. One of them always approached with food in hand, which they gave to the octopuses. The other carried a bristly stick, with which they used to scratch the cephalopods’ sensitive skin.
At the end of two weeks, the octopuses’ responses to the two people were significantly different. When the stick-carrier approached, the animals would move away and line up their water jets toward the offender so they could make a quick get-away if necessary. But when feeder came calling, they ambled up to the side of the tank and turned their jets away.
Proponents of the new law said it positions California as a leader in humane aquaculture. They point to a growing body of research that shows raising octopuses for food is cruel, inefficient and detrimental to the environment.
Read more:Farm-bred octopus: A benefit to the species or an act of cruelty?
California is now the second state — after Washington — to prohibit octopus farming. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate and in Hawaii.
“We know that what happens in California has an impact on what happens federally,” Jennifer Jacquet, a professor of environmental science and policy at the University of Miami, said when the bill cleared the legislature. “Americans want to keep octopuses wild.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Man accused of poisoning birds of prey
Female Leopard Tries to Free Captured Cub; Forest Department Warns Residents
Female Leopard Tries to Free Captured Cub; Forest Department Warns Residents
Shortly after the cub’s capture, a female leopard tried to free it by repeatedly ramming the cage, prompting Forest Department to issue safety alert.
Published on:
29 Aug 2024, 3:33 pm IST
- https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/news/female-leopard-tries-to-free-captured-cub-forest-department-warns-residents
Pune: In a rare occurrence, four leopards have been captured in a span of just 18 days in the Bighevasti-Katwanvasti area in Ambegaon taluka. The latest capture took place early on Thursday (August 29), when a one-and-a-half-year-old leopard cub was trapped in a cage set by the Forest Department.
Shortly after the cub’s capture, a female leopard tried to free it by repeatedly ramming the cage, prompting the Forest Department to issue a safety alert to residents.
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The first leopard was captured on August 12, followed by a second, a one-year-old male, on August 18, and a third on August 25. The latest capture is the fourth in this series.
The frequency of these incidents has caused alarm among local residents, who are now worried about the continuing presence of leopards in the area.
Farmers in the area, led by Maruti Karbhari Bhor, had requested the Forest Department to set additional traps due to frequent leopard sightings.
Following the recent capture, Bhor reported witnessing a female leopard growling and hitting the cage in an attempt to rescue the trapped cub. The rescue team from the Forest Department, along with local villagers and officials, managed to take the leopard cub into custody.
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The situation has heightened concerns among locals after a leopard killed two sheep belonging to a farmer, Santosh Patilbuwa Lokhande, late Sunday night. This incident further indicates that leopards remain active in the vicinity, leading to growing fears among residents.
Safety Alert for Residents
The Forest Department has advised residents of Bighevasti-Katwanvasti to exercise caution, especially after a female leopard showed aggressive behavior by ramming into the cage where the cub was trapped.
Given the possibility of further aggression, authorities are considering setting up more traps and have requested residents to remain alert.
Five Arrested for Illegal Wild Boar Hunting and Meat Transport in Talegaon
The team also seized a substantial quantity of wild boar meat along with the vehicle.
Illegal Wild Boar HuntingThe Bridge Chronicle
Published on:
30 Sep 2024, 10:47 am IST
- https://www.thebridgechronicle.com/news/five-arrested-for-illegal-wild-boar-hunting-and-meat-transport-in-talegaon
Pune: The Forest Department arrested five individuals involved in the illegal hunting and transport of wild boar meat near Talegaon Dabhade, on the old Pune-Mumbai highway.
The incident unfolded when the Vadgaon Maval Forest Department received a tip-off about a group transporting wild boar meat in a car. Acting swiftly, the department conducted a raid and apprehended the suspects.
The team also seized a substantial quantity of wild boar meat along with the vehicle, with the total value of the confiscated items amounting to approximately six lakh rupees.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Maruti Shitole and Satyawan Bhoir, both hailing from Kasarsai in Mulshi, and Datta Waghmare, Sanjay Waghmare, and Sitaram Jadhav, all residents of Kade Maval.
Female Leopard Tries to Free Captured Cub; Forest Department Warns Residents
The group was allegedly involved in hunting wild boar, which is a protected species under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972.
According to the Forest Department, the accused were caught near New English School on the old Pune-Mumbai highway, where they were attempting to transport the illegally obtained meat.
The Vadgaon Maval Forest Department quickly acted on the intelligence and set up a raid that led to the successful capture of the suspects. The operation was led by Range Forest Officer S.D. Vark, with additional support from Circle Forest Officer Mallinath Hiremth and a team of forest guards.
Pune forest department bans photography of this migratory bird in Lonavala
The raid team included Forest Guards Devle, Daya Dome, Parmeshwar Kasule, Yogesh Kokate, SK More, Krishna Dethe, and Deepak Ubale, along with Forest Attendant Jambhulkar.
Under the supervision of Chief Conservator of Forests N.R. Praveen, Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahadev Mohite, and Assistant Conservator of Forests Atul Jain, the team managed to prevent further transportation of the meat.
Exposing the Big Game 