Latest news with #JohnDiLeonardo
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rare orange lobsters rescued from supermarket tanks in New York, Connecticut
NEW YORK - Three rare orange lobsters were rescued from seafood tanks in New York and Connecticut during the past month and returned to the ocean, according to the animal advocacy group Humane Long Island. The organization said the unusual shellfish arrived in shipments of the traditional brown lobsters around the Fourth of July and was alerted to their presence by social media users. "The genetic anomaly that results in a striking orange complexion is extremely rare, only 1-in-30-million, but it is hereditary, so when one is spotted in a local store, other members of their family often appear at other locations," John Di Leonardo, an anthrozoologist and executive director of Humane Long Island, said in a statement. The lobsters were nicknamed "Peaches," "Sebastian" and "Clawdia" before being released back into the Long Island Sound around mid-month. Nearly 300 Queen Conchs Found After Illegal Harvest In Florida Keys "While the chance of finding an orange lobster is 1 in 30 million, rarer still is for one of them to be returned to the sea. Over 300 million lobsters are trapped and killed annually," Leonardo stated. "Like all aquatic animals, lobsters want to live free rather than be confined to a cramped aquarium or a boiling pot, and Humane Long Island reminds the public that they can save two hundred animals like Sebastian, Clawdia, and Peaches annually by simply leaving animals off their plate." The group says anytime a person sees an unusually colored lobster that has been captured or transported to a store, they should immediately reach out to their local animal advocacy group. According to NOAA Fisheries, about 121 million pounds of American lobsters were captured and sold back on shore in 2023. Maine and Massachusetts are annually the leading producers, accounting for 93% of the shellfish harvest. Typically, lobsters weigh only a few pounds, with the record being around 45 pounds, caught off Canada's Nova Scotia province in 1977. Biologists Rescue Endangered Sawfish In Florida Keys As Race To Save Species Underway Orange-colored lobsters are not the only type of rarities - blue lobsters, yellow lobsters and even white lobsters have been found, with odds ranging from 1-in-2-million to 1-in-100-million. The mutations are not harmful and are the result of pigment and protein interactions, marine specialists say. It is also not illegal to catch or sell one of the brightly colored lobsters, but most fishing boats tend to throw the catch back into the water due to their rarity. As for Peaches, Sebastian and Clawdia, they were last observed foraging in their new environment off the coast of New article source: Rare orange lobsters rescued from supermarket tanks in New York, Connecticut Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
13-07-2025
- General
- New York Post
No bull! These are the wildest recent exotic-animal rescues in NYC, LI
John Di Leonardo got a shocking call when a Long Island bull that famously escaped slaughter in 2023 was finally found after two months on the lam in Suffolk County. 'We were on the phone with the police. They said, 'We're gonna shoot him,' ' Di Leonardo, Humane Long Island's executive director and anthrozoologist, recently recalled to The Post. 'I yelled, 'No, don't do that! I'll get a sanctuary on the way! I'll be right there!' So thankfully, they listened and just corralled him and did not take that shot they had planned,' he said. 7 John Di Leonardo has dedicated his life to rescuing animals in need. Dennis A. Clark The frantic intervention landed the iconically brash bovine, aptly renamed 'Bully Joel' after another famous Long Islander, a peaceful life in New Jersey. It also was just is one of many wild encounters Di Leonardo has had on the job, where he strives to protect all creatures great and small from Manhattan to Montauk. 'We save about 1,200 animals a year,' Di Leonardo said on the grounds of Humane Long Island's Baiting Hollow facility, where he and his wife, Juliana, care for animals before their new, safe forever home gets finalized. 7 Di Leonardo has helped rescue several bulls and cows on Long Island. Courtesy of John Di Leonardo 'We get animals in every single week. It could be a handful — or it could be 200,' said Di Leonardo, who has safely wrangled many other bulls in his job as well. Di Leonardo's role is treating critters that are either abandoned or rescued from harrowing circumstances across Long Island and parts of New York City, such as a small kangaroo — also called a wallaby — named 'Jackie Legs' who was recovered from the Coney Island boardwalk in 2023. 'We actually got a call about him being exploited in Madison Square Park. There was a guy charging money for pictures,' he said, recalling that a concerned citizen had no luck with police, as they were unfamiliar with legal technicalities. 7 He helped save 'Jackie Legs' the wallaby, too. Courtesy of John Di Leonardo Eventually, Di Leonardo teamed up with the NYPD's animal cruelty unit to create an undercover operation, using the volunteer caller as a spy to tail the marsupial's handler, then 22-year-old Michael Gibbons, who had bought his pet for nearly $4,000. 'She sat on him for a couple of hours while the authorities got themselves together, got down there and confiscated that wallaby,' Di Leonardo said. 'Now he lives in a sanctuary where he's living a much more natural life.' Another time last year, the animal rescuer had the task of handling a South African ostrich, also known as a lesser rhea, found inside a Bellmore, LI, basement with several other exotic animals. 7 Di Leonardo said this South African ostrich found in a Long Island basement. Courtesy of John Di Leonardo 'It was huge at 5 months old — almost as tall as me,' he said. 'She was surrounded by venomous reptiles, and I'm sure she was terrified.' Other cases involve animal abandonment, such as a recent baker's dozen of ducks rescued from a Brookhaven, LI, park. He said Suffolk County has become an unfortunate recent hotspot for abandoned animals, particularly since the Double D Bar Ranch in Manorville was slammed with 112 animal-neglect counts last winter. 'We had over 160 birds from them,' said Di Leonardo, who's been swung at and gotten death threats while doing his job at times. 7 Humane Long Island is currently taking care of a flock of ducks abandoned in Suffolk County. Dennis A. Clark In other instances, he's negotiated the release of animals from slaughterhouses by trading vegan food with the businesses. Di Leonardo also released an extremely rare orange lobster into North Fork waters after it was spotted inside the tank of a ShopRite in Bay Shore on Friday. The grocery chain was happy to oblige. 7 Di Leonardo (left) recently released a rare orange lobster found at a ShopRite into local waters. Courtesy of John Di Leonardo 7 The do-gooder and his wife, Juliana, make strong efforts to have their animal denizens feel relaxed and at ease around people. Dennis A. Clark Di Leonardo, who used to work with people with special needs, said, 'I always wanted to help the group that needed the most in the world. 'Right now, there's no other group on the planet that is being exploited and harmed on such a large scale as animals.' He said one of his favorite aspects of the job, where many rescues will be viewable at Humane Long Island's Aug. 6 gala in Riverhead, is witnessing how animals adapt after just a few days out of harm's way. 'They've never known a human touch to be a good thing. So when they come, they're often terrified,' he said. 'After a couple of days or maybe a couple of weeks, they realize that we're here to love them and care for them. Many of them become very social and will follow us around and crave our attention.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
New York Post
27-05-2025
- New York Post
Dead chickens placed in odd position on ritzy NYC block — sparking ‘animal sacrifice' claims
The chickens didn't cross the road — but still made it to the other side. Two slaughtered chickens were found on an Upper West Side median in an odd position that has activists worried they were killed in an animal sacrifice ritual. The birds were found Saturday lined up with their feet facing at West 89th Street and Broadway less than a year after similar fowl play three blocks away on Broadway and West 92nd Street, local publication West Side Rag reported. Advertisement '[It] appears to be animal sacrifice to me,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island, told The Post. 'It's illegal for live slaughter markets to sell live birds to the public but we know they do it often,' he said. 'From Buddhists releasing live animals in Central Park who die if not recovered to birds tied to trees for Santeria in public parks to Shaktis killing pigs near Gateway National Park – to whatever this is.' Advertisement Edita Birnkrant, of animal advocacy group NYCLASS, said 'it clearly was done purposely and placed in a visible spot. 'They look healthier than the birds usually look at live markets,' she added. 'The nearest live poultry market is in Harlem so I don't know [if] that's the culprit.' A pair of dead chickens were bizarrely found on an Upper West Side curb median on Broadway over the weekend. J.C. Rice Advertisement By Tuesday, the birds had been removed but not everyone was uneasy about the birds. 'I'm almost kind of glad,' said Harold Steinblatt, a self-described 'frequent bench-sitter' and longtime Upper West Side resident who said the incident sounded 'cultish.' 'That means it's not just all rich hedge fund managers here,' he said. 'Or maybe it was a disgruntled hedge fund manager who was the culprit.' Advertisement The dead chickens (not pictured) being found occurred less than a year after another pair were discovered three blocks away, as animal activists believe these are sacrificial killings. Hanoi Photography – Chickens are the most common sacrifice in the Santeria Afro-Caribbean religion, according to the BBC. The Supreme Court upheld the right to animal sacrifice on religious grounds in 1993 — but according to New York laws, aggravated cruelty to animals is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison. Evidence of sacrificial killings have been reported across the five boroughs, with chickens, pigs and even rats killed in 'twisted' religious rituals in parkland surrounding Jamaica Bay in Queens. In Upper Manhattan, whole dead chickens and cows, as well as fish and eggs, have been found as offerings on crypts at Old Trinity Cemetery, according to Scouting NY. Thousands of chickens are also killed each year in the Big Apple ahead of Yom Kippur during the ultra-orthodox Jewish ritual of Kaporos, which involves slitting a chicken's throat, per ABC New York.
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NY Petco selling live chicks for $5.99 a pop in new ‘pilot program' amid egg price crisis
Petco has hatched a plan. Budget-conscious Long Islanders are flocking to the pet supply retailer's location in Commack, New York, which has started selling egg-laying female chicks as part of a 'pilot program' for those looking to procure their own eggs amid soaring costs. 'We actually sold through the first two batches,' a worker at the store told The Post, adding that a third shipment of about 25 female chicks sold for $5.99 a pop is expected to come in on Wednesday. Advertisement 'We're down to our last few.' 4 Nationwide pet retail chain Petco has launched a 'pilot program' in five stores to sell egg-laying female chicks year-round — including at one store on Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack, New York. Google The pilot program, which started in late March in five U.S. stores, serves as the retailer's first foray into selling chicks year-round beyond select rural locations. The birds of varying breeds are sourced from an Iowa hatchery, the store rep said. Advertisement A corporate representative did not disclose where the other stores are located, but the local worker confirmed Commack is the only participating store on Long Island to do so. However, local animal activists are calling fowl play, claiming that many of the birds are abandoned after being bought and before even laying eggs. 'First with COVID, and now with avian influenza, people are getting these animals because they think it's a cheaper way of getting eggs, but it's actually exactly the opposite,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island told The Post, adding he's seen an uptick in surrendered and abandoned birds this spring due to interest in at-home egg production. 'Most people end up dumping them before they ever even lay a single egg,' he said. 'People don't really know what they're getting into.' Advertisement 4 John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island. NEW YORK STATE HUMANE ASSOCIATION Di Leonardo, who has rescued about a dozen dumped chicks and many more roosters this year, reports the vast majority of the abandoned birds can't survive the elements for more than a day – and many others are provided hospice care when they are rescued 'because they're too far gone.' Properly caring for the birds is expensive, he said. An expert bird vet could run owners up to $1,000 or more for one visit, and the installation and maintenance of a proper coop could add thousands more to a bird lover's budget. 'For one of those cheap [coops] that you get at Tractor Supply for $100, a raccoon is going to break in immediately and kill your whole flock,' Di Leonardo noted. Advertisement Also, by law, people have to buy at least six chicks at a time, increasing the burden, the store confirmed. 4 A store rep at Petco's Commack location said business is booming, and the store is already expecting a third shipment. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images But while the worker claimed the chicks are coming in 'really healthy,' Di Leonardo questioned whether the Commack store has anyone on-site with the veterinary knowledge to make that assessment. 'They pick [the chicks] up at the post office like everyone else,' the activist argued. 'They're mailed without food or water, and many arrive dead.' 4 'Every year, I get calls from postal workers talking about how horrible these animals are created,' Di Leonardo added. 'They're just treated like parcels, and they're crushed and die.' AFP via Getty Images The new 'pilot program' also contradicts a pledge the pet store made last year to PETA in regards to its rabbit sales, vowing it would be 'recommitting to an adoption-only policy,' Di Leonardo said. 'Petco has really had a dismal record for years,' Colin Henstock, PETA's Associate Director of Project Strategy, told The Post. 'Petco sells a lot of small animals … and they all come from large, deplorable breeding mills. Humane Long Island and PETA are now planning a protest outside the Commack store to draw attention to the issue. Advertisement In the meantime, Di Leonardo only expects the number of abandoned birds to increase as a result of the bird flu – and more readily-available birds at local stores. 'Petco is a multi-million dollar company – I don't see how selling some animals … is really going to boost their sales in any significant way,' he said. 'They're going to survive with or without that, so it's particularly atrocious that they're doing it now.' Petco corporate officials did not return requests for comment.
