The above playlist consists of 5 videos: (1) Tub of snapping turtles, (2) Snapping turtle weighed and introduced, (3) Head grabbing contest demonstration, (4) Female competitors with soft-shell turtle, and (5) Male 7 competes. You may view more videos through the WA2S YouTube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/cavestudioandmsmp
SNAPPERFEST Update: JANUARY 2012
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS) are petitioning the Indiana government to clarify the exception and promulgate the rules regarding post-capture treatment of animals. The World Animal Awareness Society - WA2S.org has provided visual data from the WA2S.org archives to the ALDF / BFAS partnership for submission with their petition. Learn more about the ALDF / BFAS petition here: www.aldf.org/snapperfest
The following playlist of videos are a small selection representative of the visual evidence submitted by WA2S as an independent media provider to the ALDF/BFA for use to show the typical occurrences and/or behaviors witnessed through video at SnapperFest 2011.
The following playlist of videos are a small selection representative of the visual evidence submitted by WA2S as an independent media provider to the ALDF/BFA for use to show the typical occurrences and/or behaviors witnessed through video at SnapperFest 2011.
The World Animal Awareness Society is again going to Snapperfest in 2012 and needs your help! Please consider making a donation to the Expedition Fund and give the Society the tools it needs to document this event in its entirety, the better the documentation the greater our success. We need a couple more undercover camera people as well as a Helicopter!
Image Above: Rules For Head grabbing Contest. Snapper Fest -- Camp Shore Camp Ground 2011.
|
What is Snapperfest?
SNAPPERFEST is an event that has been held at the Campshore Campground off of State Route 56 in Dearborn, Indiana for years. Every year at the Campshore Campground, wild-caught snapping turtles endure terrible violence at the hands of participants. According to some accounts this event features a competition that involves contestants “grabbing a snapping turtle out of a large crate, slamming it to the ground and yanking on its neck until it comes out of the shell. Participants then celebrate by swinging the animal around by the neck in front of a cheering crowd.
The video above: "Turtle Torment Is No Contest" was created by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) using footage from the WA2S in support of the ALDF / BFAS petition for rule-making to the Indiana Natural Resources Commission, arguing that the Department of Natural Resources' misinterpretation of state law has allowed for illegal cruelty at Ohio County's annual "Snapperfest." http://www.aldf.org/snapperfest
Aug 20, 2011 - WA2S.org Executive Director Tom McPhee talks to local media as they leave SnapperFest 2011.
|
WA2S.org In Indiana For Snapper Fest August 20, 2011: Preliminary Findings
On Wednesday, August 17th a video & petition began to circulate regarding an event in Indiana called Snapperfest that was generating a viral concern for the welfare of the turtles manipulated at this event. After a brief discussion, WA2S.org Directors determined a need to move towards learning more about this human-animal intersection.
By Friday afternoon plans were underway for a team to travel to & witness this event through the lens of our cameras. Mid-Morning on August 20, 2011 WA2S Executive Director Tom McPhee met with the owner of the campground to negotiate documentation of the 2011 Snapperfest events. WA2S was not given permission to film the snapping turtle competition, but received a tour of a portion of the campground, gained the owners word that we may be able to return to film in the future, and established a variety of contacts to facilitate continued investigation.
What Have We Learned?
Moving Forward
Some of the visual data we have recorded in Aurora Indiana on August 20, 2011 will be archived until we can gain a clearer understanding of this human-animal intersection. WA2S believes that there is a need for documentation at this intersection in a broader scope. Further documentation we would like to obtain over the next 6 months should include interviews with local participants & attendees, campground staff, local authorities, and legislature, as well as experts in animal welfare issues & those knowledgeable about the wildlife manipulated at this event.
To properly document this human-animal intersection our team has begun to create relationships with the organizers of the event, as well as the animal welfare experts and other key people in the region. Our relationship with the Campground Owners and the organizers of this event will permit our team unique access to film meetings prior to this event and this event if it occurs next year.
Our Directors are currently researching possible funding solutions to continue documentation in Indiana. But, we NEED financial support to obtain the proper tools & to cover the travel expenses necessary to continue this investigation. If you are able to support this mission please click donate today. We would like to lead a coalition of organizations interested in supporting our efforts and participating in developing solutions that benefit the entire community, contact info@WA2S.org to discuss in more detail. Thank You.
By Friday afternoon plans were underway for a team to travel to & witness this event through the lens of our cameras. Mid-Morning on August 20, 2011 WA2S Executive Director Tom McPhee met with the owner of the campground to negotiate documentation of the 2011 Snapperfest events. WA2S was not given permission to film the snapping turtle competition, but received a tour of a portion of the campground, gained the owners word that we may be able to return to film in the future, and established a variety of contacts to facilitate continued investigation.
What Have We Learned?
- Further investigation of this Human-Animal intersection is needed to paint a clearer picture of this event & to learn what actions will serve a positive result for the entire community (human & animal).
- The pressure applied by activists through online networking, phone calls & emails not only assisted in widespread knowledge of this event & our presence, but also caused the campground to tighten it's security by not allowing outsiders to document on the advice of the local authorities.
- We need greater financial support so that we may obtain tools at a moments notice while on-site.
Moving Forward
Some of the visual data we have recorded in Aurora Indiana on August 20, 2011 will be archived until we can gain a clearer understanding of this human-animal intersection. WA2S believes that there is a need for documentation at this intersection in a broader scope. Further documentation we would like to obtain over the next 6 months should include interviews with local participants & attendees, campground staff, local authorities, and legislature, as well as experts in animal welfare issues & those knowledgeable about the wildlife manipulated at this event.
To properly document this human-animal intersection our team has begun to create relationships with the organizers of the event, as well as the animal welfare experts and other key people in the region. Our relationship with the Campground Owners and the organizers of this event will permit our team unique access to film meetings prior to this event and this event if it occurs next year.
Our Directors are currently researching possible funding solutions to continue documentation in Indiana. But, we NEED financial support to obtain the proper tools & to cover the travel expenses necessary to continue this investigation. If you are able to support this mission please click donate today. We would like to lead a coalition of organizations interested in supporting our efforts and participating in developing solutions that benefit the entire community, contact info@WA2S.org to discuss in more detail. Thank You.
|
|
SOURCES
|
