America's Accredited Zoos Are Phasing Out Bullhook Use on Elephants: It's a 'Barbaric Device'

Photo: Getty; Courtesy Humane Society of the United States The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a non-profit that is also an “independent accrediting organization for the best zoos and aquariums in America and the world” is phasing out the use of an old elephant handling tool in all 236 AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums. According to thePost, even with these accusations of neglect aimed at other zoos, and state and city laws that prohibited the use of bullhooks in certain accredited American zoos, the AZA has “defended bullhooks as an essential management tool.

America's Carissa Moore Wins First-Ever Olympic Gold Medal in Women's Surfing

The firsts for Team USA continued on Tuesday, with Carissa Moore snatching the Tokyo Olympics gold medal in women’s shortboard surfing. Moore, 28, finished the competition at Tsurigasaki Surfing Beach in Tokyo with a 14.93. The athlete’s score was nearly double her opponent, Bianca Buitendag of South Africa, who took silver in the event with an 8.46. Fellow American surfer Caroline Marks came in fourth after losing her bronze medal match to Japan’s Amuro Tsuzuki.

America's First Bee Conservation Dog Helps Researcher Sniff Out Bumblebee Nests In Colorado

Photo: Courtesy Darwin the Bee DogA two-year-oldGerman shorthaired pointeris helping a researcher save bees in the United States one nest at a time.Meet Darwin, the first conservation dog in the country that specializes in locating underground bumblebee nests.“Darwin is not afraid of a challenge,” his owner Jacqueline Staab, a bee researcher with Appalachian State University in North Carolina, told9News. “He’s ready to go, and we’re going to find them all.“Finding nests can be difficult for humans.

America's First-Ever Transgender Male Professional Boxer, Patricio Manuel, Wins His Debut Fight

Patricio Manuel’s storyis one of breaking boundaries and defying odds.The first-ever transgender male pro boxer in the U.S., Manuel, 33, won his premiere professional fight against Mexico’sHugo Aguilaron Saturday. After 12 minutes in the ring at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, judges unanimously decided Manuel the victor with a final score of 39-37.“I wouldn’t trade any of it. It was worth everything I went through to get to this point,” Manuel told theLos Angeles Timesafter bagging his first win.

America's Got Talent Contestant Skilyr Hicks Dead at 23

FormerAmerica’s Got Talentcontestant Skilyr Hicks has died. She was 23. Skilyr’s sister, Breelyn,confirmed the singer’s deathin a social media post on Wednesday. “My super beautiful, extremely talented, hilarious, free spirit of a sister left this world to be with Jesus. I can’t possibly put into words how broken-hearted I am,” Breelyn wrote. “I will miss her like crazy. I’ll miss her voice, her long warm hugs, her constantly making jokes using puns.