Release Winter 2023

Release

Winter 2023

A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF FREEDOM FOR ANIMALS

CONTENTS

BECAUSE OF YOU! Animal-Free Festive Events campaign continues Page 2 Even more demonstrations outside UK zoos Page 3 Tether and Torment campaign to get a revamp Page 5 Investigation carried out at London Zoo Page 6 Animal-Free Circus appeal is a huge success Page 7

hosting monthly reptile handling events, so we wrote to the trust to raise our own concerns.

And they listened!

We received a response that all future North West Reptile Club events were now cancelled, and a committee was to be formed to consider the future of any mobile zoo events on Wildlife Trust land.

This is a huge victory for animals and in the fight against mobile zoos.

These monthly events would have seen animals transported in tiny boxes and manhandled by the public, causing serious stress, fear and ill health to those individuals.

Thanks to you we have been able to stop a monthly reptile handling event at a Wildlife Trust site in the UK!

Victory! Wildlife Trust drops mobile zoo Freedom for Animals welcomes the news that Lancashire Wildlife Trust will no longer be hosting the North West Reptile Club at their site near Preston.

In July we received a tip off from a concerned supporter that Lancashire Wildlife Trust were

Release | Winter 2023 | www.freedomforanimals.org.uk

The reptile trade, that is so very heavily linked to the mobile zoo industry, is extremely damaging to natural ecosystems worldwide, with many animals stolen from the wild and used for breeding across the UK and beyond.

We hope to see Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and other similar organisations, commit to animalfree events in the future.

We have now contacted the central Wildlife Trust CEO to ask that they consider a policy for all sites, and we are awaiting a response.

It is all thanks to you that we are able to carry out these actions and fight for animals that are far too often overlooked and forgotten.

Reindeer being used to entertain the crowds during a parade in a busy town centre.

Animal-Free Festive Events campaign returns, thanks to you!

This year we will be partnering once again with our colleagues at OneKind, Animal Aid, and Born Free to contact event organisers and public and private bodies to raise awareness about these events and ask that they host compassionate animal-free celebrations that do not exploit live animals.

2023’s Festive Events campaign will take a particularly keen focus on reindeer in the light of new research published by OneKind that strongly demonstrates that reindeer are not suited to captivity and that the nature of festive events is extremely likely to harm their health and wellbeing.

As part of our joint initiative with other charities, we have already contacted hundreds of organisations to draw their attention to this research and we expect another successful campaign evidenced by a further decrease in the number of events using live animals.

We are committed to seeing an end to animals such as reindeer, donkeys and penguins being used as props at parades, Santa’s grottoes, and Christmas lights switch-ons, and we could not make this a success without you!

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Once again, our festive events campaign at the end of last year was a huge triumph.

What was most remarkable about last year’s campaign was the number of you who joined our online actions with a massive 3,142 supporters sending emails to event organisers!

Thank you to each and every one of you. Now we can enter this year’s campaign knowing that you are with us every step of the way!

TAKE ACTION! If you see an event using live animals in your area, you can report it to us via our website at: www.freedomforanimals.org.uk/reporta-festive-event Or you can call us on 0845 330 3911 Or email festiveevents@ freedomforanimals.org.uk

Your donations make these actions possible and provide vital funding for our investigations, social media campaigns and the production of campaign materials for protests. Thank you!

Taking to the streets!

This year has seen an amazing number of our wonderful supporters and dedicated grassroots activists taking to the streets across the UK. Since Zoo Awareness Weekend at Easter, we have seen a huge increase in the number of people that have been out raising awareness on zoos and aquariums and the suffering animals held captive in them endure every single day.

This includes demos outside: • • • • • •

London Zoo Sealife London Sealife Brighton South Lakes Zoo Knowsley Safari Park Hastings Aquarium

Order Campaigns Materials With your support we are able to give out free campaign materials to grassroots groups and individuals who are out, in person, carrying out vital public outreach and helping to spread awareness, whilst getting people talking about the exploitation of animals for human entertainment.

If you live near a zoo or aquarium, or have a mobile zoo, or circus that uses animals, visiting your area, and want to protest or give out leaflets, you can get in touch, and we will do all we can to assist you.

TAKE ACTION! You can order leaflets and posters free from our shop: As well as a number of zoo-focussed events in Newcastle City Centre - held by North East Animal Rights (NEAR) - to shine a light on the animal entertainment industry and how exploitative it truly is.

www.freedomforanimals.org. uk/shop

Actions like these not only help to spread awareness of the issues animals face from a lifetime in captivity, but they also help to turn away the paying public from these establishments.

Thank you to everyone who has been carrying out vital public outreach.

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Note from our director We have had a very busy year here at Freedom for Animals, campaigning to end the captivity of animals. Using animals for human entertainment is abhorrent and I know you feel as I do, that all animals should live free from harm, suffering and exploitation.

So far this year we have been working to oppose plans for a new zoo in Nottinghamshire, and calling for an end to the many ways in which animals are kept captive in zoos and aquariums. We have also conducted undercover investigations at a number of zoos around the country.

We have seen so many of our supporters and local groups demonstrate outside zoos, aquariums and other businesses that exploit animals for profit, and the team here have been out meeting supporters, old and new, and carrying out campaign actions too.

I am very pleased to be able to say that as we near the end of 2023 and enter a new year, we will have new and refreshed campaigns to share with you.

That includes work on our mobile zoo campaign, our animal-free circus campaign and others.

It is thanks to your continued support and commitment to our mission, and vision, to see a world where all animals are free, that we are able to be here, fighting for all animals in captivity! We may be a small team here at Freedom for Animals, but your support not only makes us stronger, it also inspires us to keep going.

So to each and every one of you, thank you!

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Photograph taken this year by our investigator during a ‘show’ at Peter Jolly’s circus.

Circus appeal update With our last edition of Release, we ran an appeal to further our campaign against the use of animals in circuses. We are pleased to say that this appeal was a huge success. Thank you!

Now, thanks to you, we have been able to visit every circus in the UK that still tours with animals. We found some awful instances of ignorance, cruelty and neglect and have reported this to the local authorities that are responsible for licensing these businesses. But you know as we do, that little will be done to help these animals officially, and it is up to us to fight for them.

We can’t say too much at this stage as this work is ongoing, but we will be releasing more on this soon, so please watch out for this early next year.

For now, we just wanted to keep you updated with this campaign and let you know where your donations are going.

We won’t give up on the animals that have been left behind after the wild animal circuses ban of 2020 and we know you won’t either.

Tether and Torment - UK bird of prey zoos In 2019 Freedom for Animals launched the Tether and Torment campaign. This was after our investigation which exposed birds such as owls, eagles and even vultures suffering in UK zoos.

We gained national press coverage with the investigation and ran a huge social media campaign, and as a result thousands of people have: • • • • • •

Watched our shocking investigation video.

Read our investigation report.

Signed our action demanding an end to the tethering of birds.

Pledged not to visit a bird of prey zoo.

Received our Tether and Torment action pack.

Joined many demonstrations held outside UK bird of prey zoos.

None of this could have been possible without the kind support of people like you!

We now have the government discussing a ban on the tethering of birds in zoos. This would be a huge step forward for birds, but it is just the beginning.

“

Reigniting this campaign and exposing the cruelty that is hidden behind tradition and secrecy, will help create lasting change for birds. With your help I know we can do this!

”

- Laura Walton - Campaigns Manager

Will you help progress this campaign for birds?

Between 20 - 27th November we are running a week of action for birds of prey, so please look out for this and get involved.

Then during the last week of November, we will be taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, which aims to raise vital funds to advance this campaign and raise awareness of the suffering these birds endure every day.

Save the date for The Big Give Christmas Challenge It has been a couple of years since we last ran this challenge, so this year we are hoping it will be bigger and better than ever, but we can’t do it without you!

Between 28th November and 5th December all donations we receive via The Big Give could be matched.

That means if you donate during this week your donation could be doubled!

£5 = £10 | £10 = £20 | £50 = £100 Thanks to a group of very kind supporters, we are able to offer this matched appeal and have the opportunity to raise money for this vital project.

So please, save the date today and be ready to donate on the 28th November.

Thank you! www.freedomforanimals.org.uk/ thebiggive-2023 → to make your donations on those dates!

Birds are tied down, manipulated and starved, all in the name of entertainment.

*(Note: Donations will NOT be matched if they are made before or after those dates).

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Photograph taken by our investigator during one of London Zoo’s ‘Late Zoo Nights’ events in August.

Zoo nights investigation Freedom for Animals recently carried out an investigation into London Zoo’s ‘Late Zoo Nights’, which sees huge crowds descend on the zoo after hours.

This weekly event is held during June and July - with drinks and food vans, karaoke and live music present across the site.

Our investigator reported that:

“

It was clear how stressed many of the animals were. To be surrounded by so many rowdy visitors only added to the stress that they already experience. It felt like I was at a festival rather than a zoo.

”

They reported that a tiger, Asim, relentlessly paced his enclosure and was visibly disturbed. A juvenile giraffe was also seen acting abnormally for an extended period of time, and penguins were harassed for photos throughout the evening.

One of these penguins, Stella, is now part of our Shine a Light campaign and our adoption packs, to highlight how the industry regularly exploits animals for profit due to their popularity.

It is obvious that alcohol, loud music, and animals do not mix, and it is completely unacceptable to force such an experience on these imprisoned individuals.

It is thanks to you that we were able to carry out this investigation, and the evidence gained from it will be used within a wider campaign to stop these late-night events carrying on in the future.

We will share more with you soon. Watch this space!

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New faces join our adoption family Our adoption family is even bigger - now you can adopt a sloth and a penguin!

Noco and Stella are both captive in UK zoos and will help to raise awareness of their suffering, so that we can fight for the freedom of ALL animals in captivity.

While our adoption packs have a serious side to them, we hope that they also add a little sparkle to our fundraising and give something back to those who are helping us fight for a future for animals!

Our adoption packs also make great gifts, so if you are looking for something a little different to give to that someone special this Christmas please check out our adoptions page here: www.freedomforanimals.org.uk/ adopt-an-animal

Noco and Stella are just two of the adoption packs we have available.

Check out our website for more information.

local area, social media campaigns and our petition to the council.

You can still help to stop this zoo by joining our social media campaign, sharing our new video which debunks the zoos false claims, and by signing and sharing our petition that is calling on the council not to approve these awful plans.

New zoo applicant with lions he currently holds captive in Nottinghamshire (Screenshot taken from Facebook dated 22/02/22)

Still awaiting a decision!

We thought we would have news to share on the plans for the new zoo in Nottinghamshire that we wrote about in our last edition of Release by now.

However, we are still waiting for the council to decide the fate of these plans and that of the animals they propose to hold captive.

Thanks to you, we continue to fight these plans through regular leaflet drops in the

Your lasting legacy for the animals

You can also join our next demonstration.

This is likely to be the 8th November when the next council planning meeting takes place.

If you would like any more information please either call our office on 0845 330 3911 or email: office@freedomforanimals.org.uk Please see our website for more information on this campaign and how you can get involved. We must stop this zoo from becoming a reality.

No new zoos in 2023!

Thank you!

andrew@freedomforanimals.org.uk We always recommend that you also speak to a solicitor.

Legacies fuel some of our most important work for animals and can give us that special something to work on bigger campaigns that create lasting change.

By leaving a gift in your Will, however big or small, you will be making sure that we can continue to be there for vulnerable and suffering animals, for as long as they need us.

If this is something you would like to know more about, please do get in touch with Andrew on 0845 330 3911 or by email

Leave a gift of freedom to animals when you are no longer here.

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YES I want to become a Freedom Champion Become a Freedom Champion for animals, by setting up a monthly donation today.

Set up a hassle-free, monthly direct debit on our website: www.freedomforanimals.org.uk/freedomchampion Or set up a standing order using the form provided.

Our Freedom Champions are at the forefront of everything we do and help us to make plans in advance and be much more effective for animals.

By setting up a monthly gift, of any amount of your choosing, you can become a Freedom Champion. You will fuel vital work all year round to help vulnerable and suffering animals.

Will you join us as a Freedom Champion today? £5 a month could equip grassroots groups with materials to demonstrate outside of a zoo, turning customers away from cruelty £10 a month will power our work with whistleblowers, uncovering the hidden truth of animal suffering £20 a month could help fund an undercover investigation to expose the horrors of captivity and enable us to seek justice for animals Your monthly gift will drive behind-the-scenes actions to help animals.

When you join us today you will receive our new Freedom Champion sign-up pack: • • • •

A welcome letter Our new funky Freedom Champion pin badge 15% off all of our merchandise Our supporter newsletter Release, twice a year

So please, visit www.freedomforanimals.org. uk/freedomchampion and join us as a Freedom Champion, or complete the standing order form included.

For too long animals have been exploited by people and companies who have stripped them of their rights and used them for whatever purpose they wish.

Together we can fight back and use our passion and determination to make a difference.

Until all are free!

Need to get in touch about anything else? Our new address is 83 Ducie Street, Manchester, M1 2JQ. Or you can call us on 0845 330 3911, email office@freedomforanimals.org.uk You can update how you receive communications from us by visiting our website or emailing us at office@freedomforanimals.org.uk 8 | Release | Winter 2023