Alligator fed up with wrestling shows

alligatorOn July 20 an alligator wrestler at the Native Village roadside zoo in Hollywood was bitten and seriously injured by an alligator. The man, Will Nace, was preparing for a common trick during wrestling shows– during which an alligator is tormented with a stick or hit on the nose until the animal opens his or her mouth (to show the alligator’s teeth to the crowd)– when the alligator bit down on his arm and pulled him into the water. Nace told WSVN Ch. 7 that he had performed the trick “three or four times a day for the past year,” but this time the alligator reacted differently. Nace’s right arm was broken in two different places and he suffered severe skin lacerations. He is recovering at a local hospital.

During wrestling shows, alligators are roughly treated and intentionally provoked in order to entertain a crowd. Native Village is one of only a handful of roadside attractions in Florida where alligator wrestling can still be witnessed. Visit ARFF’s website for more information about the cruel spectacle.

Contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and urge them to stop the harassment of all Florida wildlife, including captive alligators. By discouraging alligator wrestling shows, the FWC would not only protect alligators from abusive treatment, but would ensure human safety as well.

 

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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Florida Congressman speaks up for sharks

On June 28, U.S. Representative Vern Buchanan (representing Florida’s 16th Congressional District) introduced a resolution condemning the killing of sharks for their fins. The resolution states: “the United States should ban and prevent the import of shark fins from sharks caught through the practice of finning.” Thanks Vern!

Florida U.S. Representatives C.W. Bill Young, Frederica Wilson, Patrick Murphy, Alcee Hastings and Ander Crenshaw are among those who quickly signed on as cosponsors of the resolution.

Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year for their fins, an ingredient in shark fin soup. “Finning,” removing a shark’s fins and dumping the injured fish back into the ocean, is banned in U.S. (and Florida) waters. But fins from sharks outside U.S. territorial waters continue to be imported into the country. A federal ban on shark fin products would help to eliminate the cruel trade around the world.

Gov. Scott signs law restoring protections for animals

For Immediate Release: July 1, 2013

(Tallahassee, FL) — On Friday, June 28, Governor Rick Scott signed into law House Bill 851, reinstating a ban on the artificial coloring and sale of baby chickens, ducklings and rabbits. The new law takes effect July 1.

The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF) thanks Senator Maria Sachs, Senator Jeff Brandes and Representative Jared Evan Moskowitz for their leadership in getting these important protections for animals to the Governor’s desk.

“ARFF is very happy that Governor Scott has signed legislation to restore protections afforded animals in the 1967 law that was repealed last year,” said ARFF Communications Director Don Anthony. “Once again, bunnies, chicks and ducklings are protected from neglect or abandonment.”

In addition to reinstating the prohibition on artificial coloring and sale of animals, House Bill 851 also strengthens Florida’s animal cruelty law by specifying that a person who commits multiple acts of cruelty against one animal or acts of cruelty against more than one animal may be charged with a separate offense for each act, and by making animal fighting punishable under Florida’s anti-racketeering (RICO) law.

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