Another Marine-Based Attraction to Close for Good — and More Animal News

Police Officer Hits and Kills Mountain Lion with Car, Poses for Picture with Corpse Afterward

A police officer is being heavily criticized after posing for a photo with a mountain lion that he struck and killed with his patrol car. In the early morning of Tuesday, December 10, the officer hit the mountain lion close to a local middle school in Longview, Texas. The cat suffered such severe injuries that it had to be put down at the site of the collision.

The Longview Police Department posted the photo on Facebook, but the image received backlash and severely angered the public. Many Facebook users labeled the post as offensive. While mountain lions are not classified as an endangered species, people remain committed to protecting the animal, claiming that taking photos next to dead animals is disrespectful. What do you think? Let us know by contacting us here.

Pennsylvania Wildlife Center Warns Hunters to Use Non-Lead-Based Ammunition After Bald Eagle Death

The Raven Ridge Wildlife Center in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, responded to a call about an injured eagle in nearby Stewartstown. Responders found the bald eagle near a recently harvested deer carcass, possibly containing lead bullets. The bird struggled to move due to a broken leg, and the wildlife center worried that it contracted lead poisoning from the deer carcass.

After testing, Raven Ridge Wildlife Center discovered highly elevated levels of lead in the eagle’s system. While veterinarians at Companion Animal Hospital did their best to save the bald eagle, the bird couldn’t withstand surgery due to its lead levels. Therefore, it was euthanized. Experts believe that the eagle had been eating the deer carcass, resulting in lead poisoning. The wildlife center recommends that hunters use copper-based ammunition or bury the carcasses containing lead bullets to prevent lead poisoning in other species. Find out more about lead bullet risks on the National Park Service website.

Marineland France Facility to Shut Down in January 2025

Animal rights organizations, such as PETA, are celebrating this week after Marineland d’Antibes committed to closing for good in January 2025. Marineland d’Antibes is located in Antibes, France, with many marine animals in captivity, including orcas. PETA has requested that the aquatic animals be transported to animal sanctuaries, which offer improved living conditions and solitude.

Orcas have been the center of campaigns to shut down marine-based animal attractions. Many parks have closed after a slew of scandalous orca and trainer deaths. At Marineland d’Antibes, two orcas died within a six-month period last year. Captivity can have devastating effects on marine life, including decreased immunity, disease susceptibility, and contracting mental illnesses, such as depression. Find out more about orca conditions in captivity here.