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A blind baby rhino rescued from the wild after being spotted bumping into trees and rocks on the African savannah has a new life. Nicky, a rare black rhino, is now getting 24-hour care at the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Kenya and has formed a close bond with staff. The wildlife reserve hit the headlines when Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton there in 2010.

Link: DailyMail.co.uk

A 100-pound mountain lion was captured and released into Los Padres National Forest on Monday afternoon (Jan. 7) after making its way into a Santa Barbara backyard. Officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to a call from a homeowner about 8:30 a.m. about a lion in a heavily wooded backyard bordering the Santa Barbara Golf Club.

Link: LATimes.com

A fish and game refuge has been one of the few places in the state where carrying a firearm remained illegal. But on Jan. 1, 2013, that changed. Legislation passed last year and signed into law by Gov. John Lynch in June legalizes the carrying of a firearm, concealed or exposed, in a fish and game refuge.

Link: NHPR.com

Today (Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013) is National Bird Day! Please join us in our annual celebration by taking a few moments to check out this year's happenings, including National Bird Day e-cards, the second annual Free Bird Photo Contest, special community events, and new tips on bird care. The best way to honor National Bird Day is to see them in action! Take a walk if it's nice outside or check out the wintry scene through a window and you'll be sure to witness birds of various sizes and colors. Perhaps you will agree with us that they are worthy of celebrating every day of the year.

A federal judge on Wednesday (Jan. 3) denied an attempt to delay implementation of California's law banning shark fin soup, dealing a blow to Chinese restaurant owners and community advocates who argue that the ban is discriminatory and harmful to cultural traditions. U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled that there is little likelihood of success for the lawsuit, and the plaintiffs had failed to raise enough "serious questions" to merit a suspension of the law, which Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2011.

Link: ContraCostaTimes.com

John Edwards was so haunted by the image of dogs chasing and killing foxes and coyotes in staged hunts that he promised to do something about it. Along with a coalition of wildlife groups, the former U.S. senator is pushing North Carolina officials to ban so-called hunt pens — fenced-in preserves where dogs track foxes or coyotes for sport.

Link: Robesonian.com

At Born Free USA, we enter the new year as determined as ever to promote and make happen our core mission: to end the suffering of wild animals in captivity, rescue individual animals in need, protect wildlife — including highly endangered species — in their natural habitats, and encourage compassionate conservation globally. Thank you for your support and for all you do to help animals. Have a happy, compassion-filled new year!

Tigers are making a comeback, thanks to strong government initiatives in India, Thailand and Russia, scientists announced this week. Joe Walston, executive director for Asia Programs at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), praised the three countries for taking action to protect their tiger populations. The animals are endangered globally.

Link: NationalGeographic.com