A new relationship with animals, nature and each other.

Archive for ‘December, 2011’

  • Introducing the Whale Sanctuary Project

    This blog is taking a break for the next few months so that I can devote my energies to the Whale Sanctuary Project. Here's why.

  • Is the Sloth Sanctuary a Zoo?

    The Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica was the first of its kind for these wonderfully engaging animals, and it was a model for others that followed. But questions have arisen. And…

  • Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary

    Tafi Atome looks like a typical forest in Ghana. The monkeys have been revered in this village for two centuries. But being “sacred” is no guarantee of survival.

  • The Great Irony of Animal “Rights”

    The great irony of the animal rights movement is there is still only one species that has any rights at all: humans. But the Nonhuman Rights Project is setting out to change that.

  • Why Mass Extinction Is Part of Human Nature

    Why would a supposedly “intelligent” species behave in a way that’s bringing about a mass extinction – one that will likely take us down along with so many other animals?

    The Year Ahead

    All life is inter-related, so whatever we’re doing to each other, to the other animals and to the Earth, we’re inevitably doing to ourselves.

    Our Top Ten-Plus Videos of 2011

    How can you choose just ten from all the rescues, wildlife shows, comic pieces on Youtube, and so much else? You can probably think of many more that should be on that list. Still, here are a few of our faves:

    The New Face of Pet Therapy

    Companion animals are playing a larger-than-ever role in psychotherapy, physical therapy and crisis response. And different kinds of animals have different roles.

    James Cromwell: They’re Not Pets and I Don’t Own Them

    Actor James Cromwell is about as passionate for animals as it gets. Ten years ago, he was even arrested during an animal rights protest in Fairfax, Virginia, at a Wendy’s and then ordered to stay out of all Wendy’s restaurants in Fairfax County Virginia unless he intends to eat there … which, one would imagine, he has no intention of doing.

    Rick Santorum Shoots Birds to Snare Votes

    Santorum had joined Iowa Congressman Steve King for a day of killing birds near Des Moines. King’s endorsement is considered important, and Gov. Rick Perry, who’s also struggling to get ahead in the upcoming Iowa caucuses, has already been out killing twice with King.

    Petunia’s Christmas Mystery Marvel

    Young Frankie Pruitt was sitting at home drinking hot chocolate, one morning eight years ago, when Petunia the pit bull raced out of the house and across the meadows with the family’s other dogs to visit the alpacas on the family’s Virginia farm. It was all part of the daily routine. No one took any notice.

    How to Scare Your Ancestors

    No, it’s not a statue; it’s a real bull, painted all over as part of a Chinese festival. The “tradition” arose among the Hani people as a way of protecting their homes from tigers. Today it’s an annual festival in which 48 times from China, Laos and Vietnam compete for the best painted bull.

    Prince Philip’s Holiday Gift to Wildlife

    Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth of the U.K., and president of the World Wildlife Fund (yes, really!), saved the lives of a few animals today. That’s because he’s in hospital with a heart condition and wasn’t be able to join the Royal Family’s “traditional” December 26 hunting expedition.

    Video of the Year

    Of all the great videos of the year, this one really tops the charts. The gorillas simply walk in to a tourist camp at Bwindi National Park one morning. Note that the great silverback is in charge of the proceedings, letting the kids know what’s OK, what’s not, and how long they can visit the human.

    Happy New Year, Baby Orca J-48

    Keep baby J-48 in your thoughts this Holiday weekend. She’s the third calf to be born to the extended family of orcas (killer whales) known as the J pod. The calf, the third to be born this year among the three pods, was first observed last weekend by NOAA researchers.

    When Families Fight over Pets

    People often refer to their pets as members of the family. As such, the pets are subject to many of the joys and tribulations of the household. Children and pets go through their own stages of development as do their parents and guardians. They bond and grow together, but not always harmoniously. We often hear of custody battles going on for years over who is responsible for the care of the child and under what conditions.

    Animal Law: An Introduction

    Essentially, Animal Law is any kind of legal work that involves non-human animals. Often Animal Law is thought of in terms of helping animals, but that’s not always the case.

    The Bison Mark Zuckerberg Shot

    Zuckerberg placed it there recently as a prank, to surprise his top exec with the installation of the very hairy bison when she was away from Facebook’s Silicon Valley HQ. And surprised she was when she got back and was faced with the creature, which pretty much takes up the whole room.

    Saying No to Animal Circuses in Malta

    Around 200 people staged a protest on the Mediterranean island nation of Malta asking for a ban on all circuses involving animals. The Animal Circus calls itself a Christmas tradition in Malta, but local animal protection groups have long been pushing for it to be stopped.

    Bird Flu Outbreak in Hong Kong

    Just as a team of Dutch researchers are pushing to publish the details of how they created an easily-transmitted mutation of the deadly bird flu virus, H5N1 has struck yet again in Hong Kong.

    The New Bird Flu Scare

    In the wake of a team of Dutch researchers creating a deadly new strain of H5N1 bird flu virus in their lab, the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity, overseen by the National Institutes of Health, has asked two journals, Science and Nature, not to publish “experimental details and mutation data that would enable replication of the experiments.”