Bite Back, an animal rights magazine that provides information about the criminal activity of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and other radical animal liberation groups, has issued a report detailing these groups’ activities in 2004.

The “Direct Action Report” compiles lists of incidents from around the world, highlighting dozens of criminal actions in the name of animal rights.  According to the report, 17,262 animals were “liberated” and 554 acts of sabotage, vandalism and arson were carried out in 2004. 

Formed in 2002 and based in West Palm Beach, Florida, Bite Back Magazine describes itself as “dedicated to the advocacy of those caught or currently in the underground for animal liberation.”  It is available on the Internet and in print.

2004 “saw actions in more countries than ever before,” according to the report. The “Best U.S. Liberation” award went to an ALF cell that vandalized a University of Iowa animal research lab.

The report also includes a diary of actions in the U.S. ranging from simple vandalism to arson; 43 such actions are listed.  California led with 12, followed by New York with 7, according to the report. 

Among countries, the U.K. led with more than 100 such actions, followed by Sweden, Italy and Holland, the report said.