Latest news with #WaynePacelle
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Outrage over koala 'massacre': Helicopter marksmen sniper hundreds dead after devastating bushfires
Hundreds of endangered koalas are being shot dead by helicopters flying over parts of Australia in what welfare groups have called a 'massacre'. The marsupials are being gunned down as part of a welfare programme but campaigners have hit out at the government and called the actions cruel. Roughly 750 koalas, some of which are protected, have been killed by aerial snipers from Australia's Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) as part of a euthanasia programme after bush fires left many injured and starving in Budj Bim National Park. While the government has claimed it is looking out for the koalas best interests, animal welfare groups have reported joeys (baby koalas) plunging from trees still clinging to their dead mothers according to the Sunday Mirror. Wayne Pacelle, President, Center for a Humane Economy told the paper: 'This isn't mercy. It's a massacre.' The number of koalas in Australia has declined in recent years due to disease, bush fires and drought with the population in New South Wales down 60 per cent since 2001. Koalas are listed as endangered in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory, but they are not in south-west Victoria and South Australia where there are not enough trees to sustain populations. Following the 2019-20 bush fires, scientists warned that koalas were on borrowed time and could even become extinct by 2050 without urgent action. Animal rights groups are now calling on the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese to act to prevent the cruel mistreatment of one of Australia's most famous animals. Some critics have suggested that the cull is to keep away koalas from commercial eucalyptus plants but Mr Pacelle has said that those in Victoria have simply overlooked the value of the animals. In a statement from Koala Alliance, the protection group said it was dangerous for people to accept the killing of koalas as necessary and allowing the Australian government to continue would set a 'dangerous precedent'. Speaking to The Independent, Jess Robertson, president of the Koala Alliance, said that local communities were disgusted with the methods used and added that it wasn't efficient and did not have the welfare of the koalas at heart. She said: 'There is no way they can tell if a koala is in poor condition from a helicopter.' But Victoria State Government said 48 per cent of 2,219 koalas had been suffering from injuries and burns from bush fires in a sample collected in March. Experts have also said that it is important to consider the habitat of koalas and better manage the landscape. Rolf Schlagloth, from CQUniversity Australia, told Vox: 'We can't eliminate bushfires altogether but more continuous, healthy forests can assist in reducing the risk and severity of fires. Koala habitat needs to be extensive and connected and the management of blue gum plantations needs to consider the koala as these trees are very attractive to them.' Euthanasia should be used as a last resort when animals are severely injured, he added. But an aerial cull 'appears to be a very indiscriminate method,' Dr Schlagloth said.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Hundreds of koalas shot in aerial cull after wildfires 'is massacre not mercy'
The killing of one of Australia's most endangered species has sparked outrage, but the government says a 'compassionate' response was needed after bushfires to prevent further suffering Hundreds of Australia's iconic and beloved koalas are being massacred in a brutal act that campaigners have called 'state-sanctioned cruelty.' They told of joeys falling from trees and left clinging to their dead or dying mothers after around 750 are believed to have been shot from helicopters. The species is officially endangered in parts of the country after falling victim to disease, drought and fires. But despite such a stark message about their future, hundreds in Budj Bim National Park in the state of Victoria have been killed. Officials said that the operation was conducted out of concern for koalas whose food sources may have been destroyed by the fires, potentially leaving animals injured, starving, or suffering. But welfare groups condemned the killing, calling it reckless, inhumane, and morally indefensible, and said they could have been moved to existing koala hospitals and rehabilitation centres. They have also written to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging him to take action. 'This isn't mercy - it's a massacre,' said Wayne Pacelle, president of The Centre for a Humane Economy. The state and national governments promote koalas as wildlife icons in their marketing campaigns to draw tourists, but they treat the lives of these animals as expendable and as unworthy of the most basic methods of humane care and management. 'The decision-makers in Victoria simply do not understand the value of animal welfare, and their aerial gunning assault against the arboreal and slow-moving koalas is a disgrace.' He also tied the atrocity to the mass slaying of kangaroos, killed mainly for their skins for export for athletic shoes and some other products. He added: 'Whether they shoot from trucks or from aircraft, it's ruthless treatment. If I'm a koala or a kangaroo, let me take my chances even in the wake of fires or drought rather than deal with the henchmen sent out to slaughter the adults and orphan the young. These animals evolved in the presence of major perturbations in their environment.' The number of koalas found in New South Wales has fallen by as much as 61% since 2001 and the koala population has halved in Queensland. The catastrophic 2019-20 bushfires were the final straw, hitting at the heart of struggling populations with scientists warning they could become extinct by 2050 without urgent action to save them. 'This tragedy didn't happen in isolation. It's the result of decades of mismanagement by DEECA,' said a statement by the Koala Alliance. 'Accepting these killings as 'necessary' sets a dangerous precedent — one that normalises cruelty under the guise of welfare, carried out by a government with a long history of secrecy around koala management.' Some critics argue the killings may be linked to efforts to keep koalas away from nearby commercial eucalyptus plantations, where they risk being labelled as pests by private landowners. 'The Budj Bim koala massacre is the latest disgrace from a government that simply does not value wildlife,' said Alyssa Wormald, president of the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance. 'They are already overseeing the systematic slaughter of kangaroos — this is part of a broader ecocidal agenda.' Jennifer Skiff, director of international programs for the Centre for a Humane Economy, told of joeys fallen from trees and left clinging to their dead or dying mothers. She said: 'After the fires of 2019-20, wildlife hospitals were built, and emergency response protocols were put in place. And yet here we are — not failing due to lack of resources or knowledge, but due to a lack of moral compass by those charged with managing wildlife. This is bureaucratic apathy and a betrayal of the global goodwill that helped Australia build the systems meant to protect wildlife after fires.' Victoria State Government said in early March that 2,219 koalas have been assessed by both ground and aerial teams, with 48 per cent identified as suffering severe injuries from the bushfire and requiring humane euthanasia to relieve unnecessarily suffering. Chief Biodiversity Officer James Todd said: 'This has been a long, emotional and difficult animal welfare response, teams have been working hard since early March to respond to and provide welfare for fire impacted wildlife across Budj Bim National Park. 'It was clear from early on that most fire-impacted koalas were in areas simply un-safe and virtually impossible for ground crews to access in a timely manner, which is why we took the decision to conduct aerial assessments and shooting where deemed necessary to remove koala pain and suffering. 'This isn't a decision we took lightly and was undertaken after we had confirmation of the effectiveness and humaneness of an aerial assessment and euthanasia program as well as advice from animal welfare experts and experienced wildlife vets. With the only viable options being to either just leave the koalas to deteriorate and die slowly and painfully or take proactive steps to end their suffering by using aerial assessments and euthanasia.'
Fibre2Fashion
23-05-2025
- Business
- Fibre2Fashion
Germany's Adidas ends use of kangaroo leather in athletic footwear
German sportswear manufacturer Adidas has officially ended its use of kangaroo leather, following a direct appeal by Centre for a Humane Economy president Wayne Pacelle at the company's annual general meeting. CEO Bjørn Gulden has confirmed that Adidas exited the trade months ago and will not resume sourcing kangaroo skins, marking a significant win for animal welfare advocates. 'Adidas' decision marks a historic milestone in animal protection and corporate responsibility,' said Jennifer Skiff, director of international programmes at the Centre for a Humane Economy . Adidas has officially ended its use of kangaroo leather, following sustained advocacy by the Centre for a Humane Economy. CEO Bjí¸rn Gulden confirmed the decision, marking a major step for animal welfare. The move follows years of global campaigning, with kangaroo kills in Australia dropping from 2 million to 1.3 million. Advocates call it a milestone in ethical sourcing and corporate responsibility. Since the launch of the Kangaroos Are Not Shoes campaign in 2020, the Centre for a Humane Economy has led investigations, protests, litigation, and international coalition-building to expose the commercial slaughter of kangaroos in Australia. The kill has already dropped from 2 million to 1.3 million, the organisation said in a press release. "Adidas joining its competitors in ending the use of kangaroo leather is not only a win for animals—it's a win for transparency, ethics, and global consumer expectations. Australians and animal lovers worldwide owe a great deal to the relentless work of the Centre for a Humane Economy and the global coalition that made this possible," said Emma Hurst, member of parliament, Animal Justice Party, Australia . Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Adidas quietly makes a dramatic change
So you won't eat a burger or bacon, but you'll proudly rock that lambskin bag? Or you'll judge meat-eaters like it's your job and then slip on leather loafers without a second thought. Plenty of us condemn the slaughter of animals for our plates while turning a blind eye to what we stuff into our closets like Cruella de Vil. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter But turns out there is a limit. We all want to support companies that reflect our beliefs, especially when it comes to issues like sustainability, social justice, and the humane treatment of animals. The bottom line is that brand loyalty isn't just about quality or price anymore. It's also about political alignment, ethics, trust, and transparency. For many people, knowing that a brand takes a stand against animal cruelty can be the difference between clicking "buy" or bailing. That growing awareness is now pushing some of the world's biggest companies to make meaningful changes. That's certainly true of one of the most iconic names in athleticwear: Adidas. Adidas announced this week it will stop using kangaroo leather in its footwear. (And I mean, who knew?!) The decision follows pleas from an animal rights activist, Wayne Pacelle, who launched an awareness campaign called "Kangaroos are not Shoes" in 2020. Pacelle then showed up in person at the Adidas annual general meeting last week in Fürth, Germany. Related: Nordstrom makes change sure to anger customers Following the Adidas announcement, Japanese company ASICS made the same decision and will no longer use kangaroo skins for its soccer shoes. "With the rapid-fire announcements from ASICS and adidas, we're witnessing the dismantling of a supply chain built on bloodshed and the orphaning of kangaroo joeys," said Center for a Humane Economy President Wayne Pacelle in a statement. "The foreign markets for kangaroo skins are collapsing, and that can only mean good news for the iconic marsupials of Australia." Pacelle hoped to highlight the plight of one of Australia's most beloved animals and end the use of kangaroo skins in the construction of shoes such as the Adidas Copa Mudial soccer cleats. Related: As many department stores close, this chain adds new locations Adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden said the company stopped using kangaroo skins several months ago and will not resume purchasing them. Nike, Puma, New Balance, Diadora, and UK-based Sokito had already announced they would stop using kangaroo skins in their products. One of the issues that has drawn outrage is the way kangaroos have suffered due to the commercial hunting industry. Hunters slaughter an estimated 2 million kangaroos annually, including mothers and their joeys. More retail: Aldi releases viral Trader Joe's item that is always out of stock Home Depot, Lowe's rivals strategic growth planTrader Joe's making huge mistake not copying Walmart, Target The hides of adult kangaroos are used for products like soccer cleats, while orphaned joeys are bludgeoned, decapitated, or left to die, according to In Defense of Animals, an international animal protection organization. This widespread cruelty, coupled with the environmental destruction from leather production, has fueled global opposition to kangaroo leather. The practice even prompted action in the U.S., where Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill) co-sponsored the Kangaroo Protection Act of 2024. The bill would have banned the manufacturing and sale of products made from kangaroo skin in the U.S., but it died in committee last year. In March 2025, Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Kangaroo Protection Act of 2025; no further action has been taken yet. Related: Veteran fund manager unveils eye-popping S&P 500 forecast The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
