Earlier this week, several ships sank or ran aground during a fierce storm in the Kerch Strait, a narrow waterway linking the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The Volganeft-139, a tanker loaded with nearly 1.3 million gallons of oil, broke in half during the storm. It is estimated that half the freighter’s oil has spilled into the strait and has begun washing up on nearby shorelines. It continues to leak oil. Officials assessing damage have said that could be the worst environmental disaster in the region in years.

To date there have been reports of 3 human deaths, more than twenty thousand people trapped in their homes, and thousands more displaced as refugees. An enormous number of farm animals have died or are still trapped by the flood waters. Another concern is companion animals which were unable to evacuate with their owners.

The animal rescue groups are taking the big cats under the jurisdiction of a court order. The cats were formerly owned by Diana McCourt until the USDA revoked her license and fined her. The facility lost its license, in part, from allowing dangerous photo opportunities between big cats and the public and violating existing USDA regulations. McCourt was subsequently evicted from her property and abandoned the cats. Local authorities were forced to take possession of the animals. Now the cats will be moving to permanent sanctuaries where they will receive much better care.

In a move to show support from the highest levels of Tongan Society, the evening will be hosted by the Her Royal Highness, Princess Salote Mafile’o Pilolevu Tuita, whose father, the Late King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV courageously banned whaling in Tonga in 1978 and led the way to a thriving whale watching industry. 
 
The Jonah and the Whale campaign is in direct response to the Government of Japan’s intention to kill more than 1000 whales including 50 humpbacks as part of its so-called “scientific” whaling program in the Southern Ocean

“This pitiful response to protecting grizzly bears is yet another example of this government’s neglect when it comes to conservation,” said Barbara Cartwright, IFAW Canada Campaigns Manager.
 
“Environment Canada has formally condemned the prairie Grizzly bear population to extinction,” said Jean Langlois, National Campaigns Director for Sierra Club of Canada.