Animal rights group calls to cancel Sark sheep race
An animal rights group has called for an end to Sark's annual sheep races, which have been running for almost 30 years.In a letter to the Sark Carnival Committee, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals group (Peta) wrote "using animals as exhibits has no place in modern entertainment".It urged members to "hold a carnival involving only willing human participants" instead of animals at the Sark Sheep Racing Festival.The organising committee and the tourism committee have met to discuss the matter and have been approached for comment.
The race takes place annually in July and sees sheep race with teddy jockeys tied to their backs.It often sees almost 2,000 people travel to the island to spectate.All proceeds from the event go to the Professor Charles Saint Sark Medical Trust, which helped subsidise medical care in the island.In the past upwards of £30,000 has been raised.
'Willing human participants'
Jennifer White, associate director of media and communications at Peta UK, said "just because something is called a 'tradition' certainly does not make it right" and that visitors could still enjoy the other aspects of the festival."We know that sheep are incredibly sensitive, often timid animals and being forced to race in front of noisy crowds would likely be very stressful for them," she added.Ms White said: "It's 2025, we do not need to be treating animals like wind-up toys."The best things is for the event to be cancelled, for the sheep to be taken out and for it to be replaced with willing human participants instead."Paul Armorgie, former owner of Stocks Hotel, has attended the races over the years and said it would be a "tragedy" if the event was ever to stop.He added that as an animal lover, if he thought there was risk, he would be the "first to shout about it".
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Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE I cheated death when I fell into a gorilla enclosure aged five. It shaped my life forever... and what happened next was heartbreaking
It was a moment of heart-stopping drama - a five-year-old boy falls into a gorilla enclosure at a zoo and lies unconscious on the ground as a huge silverback approaches. With his horrified parents watching on helplessly and onlookers shouting for assistance, the silverback stretches out his gigantic arm and everyone holds their breath. And then to the astonishment of everyone, Jambo the 18 stone gorilla, gently strokes the back of the motionless child then sits to act as a protective guard against the other gorillas. It is almost four decades since that moment was captured on a tourist video camera and went round the world, gripping viewers across the globe. It is a moment which changed our understanding of the huge primates and how they interact with humans. It is also an incident that will forever colour the life of Levan Merritt, now 44. He is hoping to return to Jersey Zoo next year to mark the 40th anniversary. 'It will be with me forever,' said Levan. 'Although I could remember nothing of the actual incident I can remember the aftermath and everything that followed in the months and years afterwards. In heart-stopping footage, as Levan lay sprawled out on the ground, Jambo the gorilla and other gorillas in the pit were filmed coming to inspect the little boy as he lay on the ground 'People are always fascinated to hear about the story and to watch the video clip. It has always given me a bit of celebrity. Often my friends tell people and they are stunned.' Now a father-of-three, Levan, who works in garden maintenance, says that although the momentous event happened when he was just five years old, it has defined his life in many ways. 'I loved animals back then, especially wild animals, and I still do. I'm a big animal lover and so are my kids. 'We have visited London Zoo and gone to Longleat Safari Park a number of times as well as local zoos around here. It's something I am still interested in but I think they are as well.' He said his three children, Leo, 12, Riley, 11 and Hope, nine loved visiting zoos and seeing animals though they were a little bored by his dramatic story, which they have heard many times. 'It gets a bit boring for them now. Some people can still remember the clip but I don't tell people about it so much anymore. Some neighbours and friends know but some don't.' The terrifying incident unfolded in the summer of 1986, when the Merritt family, from Horsham, West Sussex had taken a trip to Jersey for a summer holiday. Along with his older brother Clint, 8, sister Stephanie, 10, and parents Stephen, 34, and Pauline, 28, Levan had visited the zoo to celebrate the birthday of his youngest sibling, Lloyd, who was turning 4. Little did he know his trip to the zoo, on the first day of their holiday, would be broadcast around the world and catapult Jambo to international stardom overnight. Initially the children had been interested in the spider monkeys and Levan remembered 'finding it funny as one of them peed on my Dad.' But as they continued around the zoo the three boys became fascinated by the gorilla enclosure which was dominated by a 18 stone 7ft silverback called Jambo. Pestering his dad for a better view Levan clambered on his father's shoulders and leant over the wall. 'We were just boys being boys, I suppose,' he said. 'I just wanted to get a better view of them so I was leaning over a bit and then suddenly I went.' He lost his balance, toppled from his father's shoulders and fell 20ft into the enclosure. Landing on a cement floor he was lucky to be alive, but he had knocked himself out, fractured his skull and snapped his arm. As he lay motionless on the ground, the 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male slowly approached him. After stroking his back the gorilla stood guard over Levan, placing himself between the boy and the other gorillas in a protective gesture. A nerve-jangling minute or two later Levan began to regain consciousness and began to cry. As his family screamed at him to remain still, his sobs caused the gorillas to retreat in panic and Jambo led them into the enclosure house in the pen. But when the gate was closing, a younger gorilla called Hobbit rushed out of a second pen and charged towards the group. A brave keeper grabbed a stick and stood between the gorilla and Levan even when the ape rushed at him aggressively. At was at this point that an ambulanceman and another zoo keeper stepped in and rescued Levan in a dramatic escape. Rescuers hauled Levan up on a stretcher and he was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital. While a dramatic event such as this today would be uploaded to social media within minutes, in 1986 it was filmed on a £1,300 Sony CCD-V8 by Brian Le Lion - in what was a relatively rare phenomenon at the time. It was only the next day, when Levan was lying on his hospital bed, the family watched back the incredible footage. Levan's mother, Pauline told MailOnline of her memories of that day, recalling: 'When Levan slipped into the pen, I started shouting and screaming and I was led away to the zoo cafe, while Stephen stayed put. Luckily they managed to get him out. 'It was only the next day we saw what had happened. One of the nurses had seen it on breakfast TV and asked us 'have you seen this?' knowing that we were the family who had been involved. 'That was the first time I saw it and to be honest I couldn't actually believe what I was seeing.' Suffering from a badly fractured skull and a broken forearm, Levan spent the next six weeks in hospital. He had a metal plate inserted into his skull and also had to wait for his arm to properly heal. When he did finally return to normal life and go back to school he faced another challenge. The video clip had been beamed to news channels across the world and brought a certain celebrity to Levan and some schoolchildren were jealous of the attention he received. He was mercilessly bullied at Tanbridge House in East Sussex with children calling him 'gorilla boy' and 'monkey man' and 'metal brain.' 'I wasn't allowed to do any physical sports like rugby or football and that singled me out as well.' 'It was horrendous,' said Levan. 'They didn't like that I'd had all this attention so they took it out on me. It was unpleasant but the school took it seriously and sorted it out.' 'My family were quite shocked by it all. But the worst affected was Stephanie. She was 10 at the time and the oldest and felt responsible in some way. She still can't watch the video even after all these years. I think she feels guilty in some way. I suppose it is upsetting to watch.' The events that could have left such traumatic scars have done nothing to diminish his love of animals - including gorillas. Following his recovery, his family was invited back to the zoo and he has maintained links with them ever since. He has returned on more than 10 occasions. In 1992, he cut the ribbon to celebrate the unveiling of a bronze statue of Jambo following the death of the gorilla at the age of 31. He said: 'It was really nice to go back when the statue was unveiled. It was me saying thank you for what he had done.' Levan also returned to the zoo on the 20th anniversary of the event where he was reunited with former ambulanceman Brian Fox, who helped lift him to safety. He said he was 'proud' to have helped change public perceptions of gorillas from dangerous King Kong beasts to gentle giants. Levan, who split from his wife Amanda, several years ago said he has tried to instil respect and interest in the animal kingdom in his own children. 'I'd really like to take my children to the zoo next year to mark the 40th anniversary. That would be brilliant.' JAMBO THE GORILLA Jambo (pronounced 'Yambo') was born on April 17, 1961 at the Basle Zoologischer Garteen in Switzerland. He weighed only about 4 pounds. Jambo is Swahili for 'Hello' or 'How are you?' Jambo was unique as he was the first male gorilla to be born in captivity and was also the first captive-born gorilla to be reared by his mother (Achilla). This famous gorilla sired a total of up to 17 baby gorillas from five different mates. Jambo died on September 16, 1992, from a rupture of the major artery, resulting in a chest haemorrhage. A life-size bronze sculpture of Jambo was erected after his death and he was commemorated on a special Jersey £1 stamp in 2012.
BBC News
10 hours ago
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French film festival invites Channel Islanders to submit shorts
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Daily Mail
14 hours ago
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Harrowing plight of world's loneliest killer whales and dolphins: Tragic stories behind majestic sea creatures neglected and abused in marine parks
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Experts had long protested against the mammal's poor living conditions at Miami Seaquarium, including the size of her cramped 80-foot long and 35-foot wide pool. Lolita's body was roughly the same length as the tank itself, making it impossible for her to fully submerge. Heartbreaking video footage showed the creature floating aimlessly under the scorching sun. Plans to return Lolita to the wild had been in place shortly before her death, but tragically, she passed away before she could be set free. Lolita started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort days before she died. She received treatment but could not be saved. Just 10 years after Lolita arrived at the aquarium, her companion Hugo died of an aneurysm that was caused by repeated head trauma, earning her the title of the world's loneliest whale. Washington's Lummi Nation, a Native American tribe, traveled to Miami in 2018 to leave a nearly 4,000lb totem pole behind as part of an effort to bring the orca back to Washington. It was part of an $8.5million effort to bring Lolita home, according to CBC. Jewell James, a member of the tribe, accused the Seaquarium of abandoning the animal's needs for money by forcing her to perform for audiences a couple of times a day and said keeping her in the 20-foot tank was like keeping her in a prison cell. 'She's our relative and we want her back,' he said. Lolita was the oldest whale in captivity and performed until 2022 when she was finally retired after falling ill. In a statement made following Lolita's death Miami Seaquarium described her as 'an inspiration to all who had the fortune to hear her story'. 'At her advanced age, her passing is not a complete surprise,' the facility added. 'Yet it is a tremendous and overwhelming loss, one felt particularly by those who have loved and cared for her on a daily basis, as well as those around the world that care so much for her.' Dolphin smashes into concrete during display The horrifying moment a dolphin died after leaping out of a pool at a Mexican resort and smashing down into the concrete floor was caught on camera in January. Footage filmed by a tourist shows a group of dolphins jumping out of the water in sync during a show at the Barcelo Riviera Maya hotel in Mexico. But one of them can be seen missing the mark and hitting a narrow sliver of concrete separating the big pool from a smaller one as the crowd gasped in shock. The dolphin appeared lifeless as it lied by the side of the pool, with a trainer rushing over to check on the marine mammal. Some of the other dolphins then emerged from the water, appearing to check on their pod mate. The dolphin's horrifying death has caused outrage, with animal rights organisations including Animal Heroes, Dolphin Freedom, Marea and Oceanos De Vida Libre announcing its death in a joint statement. 'For a year now, the organisations Animal Heroes, Dolphin Freedom, Marea, and Oceanos De Vida Libre have maintained a permanent campaign demanding the closure of this dolphinarium, which is one of the smallest in Mexico,' they said. Hotel Barceló closed earlier this month after a series of videos exposed the appalling treatment of dolphins there. Phil Demers, director of UrgentSeas, said the mammals were being imprisoned in small, dirty pools. Footage captured by the non-profit organisation, which works to expose cruel captive dolphin and whale facilities, shows two dolphins swimming aimlessly round the subpar facilities. The concrete pool where the animals live is located mere feet from the Caribbean Sea and is just over six feet deep, leaving the dolphins exposed to constant sunlight — which experts say can burn their skin. UrgentSeas say they were first contacted about the horrific conditions at Dolphinaris Barcelo, in Quintana Roo, months ago, but that authorities failed to take action. The park was only shut down after the organisation's videos of the dolphins sparked public outrage, according to Demers. 'We were first alerted about the conditions months ago as we learned that authorities were allowing for repeated violations to continue at the park,' the 47-year-old said. 'Once we saw the conditions for ourselves, we knew we had to make some noise to expose the issues. 'The conditions were unacceptable - so much so that we felt compelled to act. 'We started publishing videos, which went immediately viral, causing a major public outrage. The reaction was powerful. 'Their social media accounts were inundated with negative reviews and comments, and authorities were called to take actual action. 'Authorities were finally forced to shut down the awful tank, which had been our long goal. 'We are ecstatic that authorities have taken this action.' Distressed whale bashes head against wall A 'distressed' killer whale caged at a water park in Canada was filmed smashing her head against the side of her tank in after spending a decade in isolation in 2021. Kiska was seen violently headbutting the glass at MarineLand, Niagara Falls, in the heartbreaking 30-second clip. Activists were outraged by the footage and campaigned to release Kiska - but their efforts were unsuccessful and she died in 2023 aged 47. According to iNews, Rob Lott, end captivity campaigner at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, said Kiska's behaviour in the video 'is a direct, stress-related result of wild-caught Icelandic orca, Kiska being raised in an artificial, concrete environment for the last four decades'. 'Sadly, this isn't unique and the repetitive, self-inflicted behaviour shown by Kiska has been seen in other captive orcas where years of boredom in barren, featureless tanks with little or no stimulation manifests itself this way,' he said. The cause of death for the whale was not released, but MarineLand said in a statement that her health had been declining for weeks. The theme park said: 'MarineLand's marine mammal care team and experts did everything possible to support Kiska's comfort and will mourn her loss.' At three years of age, Kiska was taken from her family near Iceland, along with an orca named Keiko, who later starred in the 1993 film Free Willy. She was taken to an aquarium in Iceland, where she stayed with four other young orcas, including Keiko. Shortly afterwards, Kiska was sold, along with Keiko, to MarineLand, according to animal activist Phil Demers, who previously worked at the park. Keiko was then sold on to an entertainment park in Mexico but would later be rescued, rehabilitated and returned to the sea near Iceland. Keiko died of pneumonia in 2003 in a bay in Norway at the age of 27. At MarineLand Kiska gave birth to five calves - Athena, Hudson, Nova, Kanuck, and one who did not live long enough to be named. All of the calves died at a young age. Kiska was the last captive orca in Canada and the focus of several animal activist protests at MarineLand. Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) described Kiska as the 'world's loneliest orca' whose life was affected by 'tragedy after tragedy' after the death of her calves. The Whale Sanctuary Project said: 'Studies suggest that orcas' capacity to feel deep, complex emotions rivals or even exceeds the emotional capacity possessed by humans. 'The bond between mother and calf is so deep that it is hard to imagine the grief and trauma of each of Kiska's losses over the years.' Cruel trainer caught straddling dolphin A trainer at Dubai Dolphinarium was investigated for alleged animal abuse after video emerged of her sitting on the back of one of the animals. The footage, captured at the UAE tourist attraction in 2019, shows the female trainer sitting on a dolphin's back for around six seconds before it dives into a pool. Experts said the stunt could easily have damaged the dolphin's organs because the mammals cannot support their own body weight outside of water, so adding the weight of a human on top of that risks causing serious harm. Campaigners identified two trainers who they said were responsible for the video, both of whom deleted their accounts after the incident. A spokesman for the Dolphinarium, which opened in 2008, confirmed at the time that an investigation was underway but refused to discuss it further. Dr Elsayed Mohammad, Regional Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare, told Gulf News: 'It is well known that the body of dolphins is very sensitive. 'The dolphin's body is not adaptable to any pressure outside water. Pressing the abdomen of the dolphin to the floor can easily harm its internal organs. 'If you punch the abdomen of a person, you can imagine how painful it is. 'Regardless of whether it's a few seconds or not, it's wrong. It is animal cruelty.' The Dubai Dolphinarium is a popular tourist attraction which offers people the chance to watch dolphins and seals perform circus-style tricks in daily shows. The 45-minute performances include the animals dancing, singing, juggling, playing ball, and jumping through hoops. Guests can also pay extra for a 'swim with dolphins' experience, which involves being hauled along while clinging to the animal's belly fins or dorsal fin. World's saddest orca Heartbreaking footage taken in 2024 showed a captive killer whale laying almost motionless whilst staring at the gate to his enclosure for 24 hours straight. Kshamenk, a 35-year-old Orca, is being held in a tiny pool at Mundo Marino, Argentina's largest aquarium. Shocked visitors have accused the park of holding the killer whale in cramped conditions with restricted movement and in total isolation from its own species. A 24-hour timelapse filmed by campaign group UrgentSeas shows Kshamenk languishing motionless with his face pointed directly towards the enclosure's gate as if asking to be let out. Kshamenk - previously described as 'the world's loneliest Orca' - was first brought to Mundo Marino in 1992 after being captured off the Samborombón Bay on the coast of Buenos Aires. According to the aquarium, the then three-year-old orca was found beached on the bay by three fishermen along with three other killer whales. Kshamenk was then taken to his concrete tank at the aquarium, where he has spent the last 32 years. His tankmate Belen died in 2000, at the age of 13, meaning that he has reportedly spent the last 24 years in total isolation from his own species. UrgentSeas, a non-profit organisation advocating to end marine captivity, is campaigning to free Kshamenk and bring him to an open sanctuary with other orcas to socialise with. He is now the last remaining captive killer whale in Argentina. A spokesperson from the organisation said: 'We continue to work with Argentinian activists and members of Congress to try to highlight and address his cruel world. 'He needs to be removed from his tiny concrete tank and to join other members of his species before it's too late.' Petitions calling for Kshamenk to be released to the wild have garnered tens of thousands of signatures. But, in a statement sent to ABC News, Mundo Marino said this is 'impossible'. The statement read: 'We are aware of what some activist groups believe about a hypothetical reintroduction; we respect their position, but the reality is that this is a proposal without a consistent scientific basis. 'It is impossible for Kshamenk to return to the sea without putting his life at serious risk.' Manatee kept in solitary confinement Drone footage exposed how a 69-year-old manatee named Romeo had been left to live out his twilight years alone in tiny 30ft concrete pool. The heartbreaking video, taken in 2023, shows the gentle creature using one flipper to swim in dizzying circles in his isolated, murky cage at Miami Seaquarium. Manatees are semi-social animals and 'suffer psychologically when not living in pairs or groups' - but Romeo had been alone for years after being separated from his partner, and the mother of his offspring, Juliet. But, although it's rare for stories of animals kept in captivity to have positive outcomes, Romeo was one of the lucky ones. The clip went viral and led to more than 20,000 people signing a petition putting pressure on the Florida aquarium to release him. And, in December 2023, their wishes were granted and the gentle giant was finally freed from his miserable prison. The Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP) successfully transported three manatees – Romeo, Juliet and Clarity – from Miami Seaquarium (MSQ) to SeaWorld Orlando and ZooTampa. The transportation was a tremendous struggle due to the animals' size, weight and health condition. But accompanied by specialized vehicles and an experienced team of vets and animal care specialists, all three made the trip safely. In a report released earlier that month the USDA cited the Miami Seaquarium for alleged insufficient animal care and staffing problems - and lambasted them for their treatment of Romeo. The report said that Romeo had been housed alone in his enclosure because the three other manatees he was living with were released back into the wild in the spring. And despite numerous attempts to acquire another manatee the Seaquarium did not meet the requirements to do so. The report noted: 'Although numerous attempts have been made to acquire another manatee it was determined the facility did not yet meet the requirements to receive another animal. 'Manatees are semi-social animals and do better medically and psychologically when they are housed in pairs or groups.' Miami Seaquarium also housed the 'loneliest whale in the world', Lolita before she died. The facility was ordered to close and vacate its premises on April 21, 2024. Killer whales left to die France's last two captive killer whales are stranded in an abandoned algae-infested Marine park, neglected with the exception of a skeleton staff that comes in intermittently to feed them. In a nearby smaller tank, 12 bottlenose dolphins are the only other occupants of the facility, who have been stuck in bleak living conditions since January. The majestic creatures remain confined in Marineland Antibes, a French marine park near Cannes that shut its doors four months ago. Disturbing drone footage released by animal activist group TideBreakers shows the orcas Wikie, 23, and her 11-year-old son Keijo wandering aimlessly around the abandoned park. The video also shows the algae-infested pool where the remaining dolphins are kept. But despite their despairing condition, French authorities have yet to identify a suitable site in Europe for the orcas and have rejected a proposed move to a marine zoo in Japan. Marketa Schusterova, co-founder of TideBreakers, said: 'The situation in Marineland Antibes is an emergency and needs worldwide attention. 'These are the last two remaining orcas in captivity in France and they should be moved quickly. 'The orcas need to be removed from dangerous conditions that are posing significant risks to their health and safety.' The marine park closed on January 5, citing legislation banning shows featuring cetaceans such as dolphins and whales, which the French government passed in 2021. Since then, the management for Marineland have been shuffling through various options for where to rehome the animals, especially the orcas. Though Marineland has closed as a marine zoo business, they are still legally responsible for the welfare of the animals until they are rehomed. The orcas were both born in captivity so could never survive in the wild. Animals trapped in filthy tanks Dolphins housed at Florida's Gulf World Marine Park have finally been relocated after they were reportedly left to rot and swim in their own filth. Activists demanded the animals be moved after five dolphins have died there in less than a year. It comes after the facility's company went bankrupt in March and could not afford to maintain it. Campaigners believe the conditions were so bad that dolphins had started going blind after they were filmed swimming with their eyes 'jammed shut' in murky water. Campaigners believe the conditions were so bad that dolphins had started going blind after they were filmed swimming with their eyes 'jammed shut' in murky water The rough-toothed were transported to Clearwater Marine Aquarium on June 4 and authorities have launched an investigation into their former home. Despite activists voicing concerns over the well-being of the marine life at Gulf World the park remained open until May 30. Until then dolphins were forced to perform tricks for crowds and endure human encounters with customers who pay £97 to swim in their enclosure. A scathing report released earlier this year exposed the dire living conditions of the animals housed at the park. It raised a litany of concerns such as dolphin holding tanks filled with algae, broken water filters, lack of shade, and deteriorating facilities. The filter in one of the dolphins' tanks stopped working last November, and the filter in the second tank only works at 50% capacity, meaning they have reportedly been swimming around in their own filth for six months. Meanwhile, green algae has started growing in the crumbling tanks and inspectors from the US Department of Agriculture scraped nearly six inches of the plant off the step of one of the pools. The animals had been moved to a separate pool so staff could 'shock' the water with granular chlorine to treat the algae growth. But the harsh chemical can cause blindness in dolphins after repeated exposure and and aerial footage from campaign group Tidebreakers suggested the poor water quality had started to cause health problems. Five dolphins at Gulf Word have died in mysterious circumstances within six months including one in March that landed on its head in front of children in a shallow part of the pool. Jett, who was 14 and had lived his entire life at Gulf World, dove head-first into the shallows during a show, causing a fatal brain injury. Crying park staff had to escort families out of the arena so medics could treat the dying animal. Experts later suggested Jett could have misjudged his jump due to the murkiness of the water, which has been the subject of concern for months. Three more dolphins died within a week of each other last October. Gus, 14, was euthanised for a life-threatening condition, 15-year-old Turk contracted a bacterial lung disease, and Nate, 20, died from systemic infection, according to the Marine Mammal Inventory Report. The most recent fatality came just one week ago when a dolphin called Samira died. The World's loneliest dolphin Honey, the 'world's loneliest dolphin', died in 2020 after spending two years alone in a tiny tank at a derelict aquarium. The creature - who had spent her life in captivity - was abandoned at the Inubosaki Marine Park Aquarium in Japan along with dozens of penguins in 2018. Activists campaigned to free the animals but their efforts were unsuccessful and Honey never escaped her gloomy prison. The operator of the park shut the facility following a decline in visitors after the 2011 earthquake and Fukushima nuclear crisis. But, Honey and 46 penguins, along with hundreds of fish and reptiles, were left behind, an official with the Chiba Health and Welfare department said. Photos and video taken by activists from outside the park at the time show Honey floating in a tiny pool in an eerily empty facility. In another picture, dust-covered penguins can be seen perched on a crumbling structure near a pile of debris. The female bottlenose dolphin was captured in 2005 near Taiji, a western port town that has become notorious for its annual dolphin hunt that was featured in the Oscar-winning 2009 documentary The Cove, Japanese media reports. The Dolphin Project attempted to intervene, reaching out to rescue Honey and the other abandoned animals. They even explored purchasing her from the new owners of the facility in an effort to offer Honey a peaceful retirement. However, by March 2020, it became clear that her health had deteriorated beyond recovery and she passed away.
