How Do You Define a Person?
While a pair of cells may be deemed to be a person, a 40-year-old elephant or orca, who carries the wisdom and culture of her community, is no more considered a person than is a computer or a pile of garbage.
NYPD ‘Officer’ Meets Occupy Wall Street ‘Civilian’
A passerby writes that “I saw this on my walk back to the office from lunch. It was a nice contrast to the perception everyone has of the NYPD in the area due to the Occupy Wall Street camp nearby.”
New Home for a Dog and Her Seeing-Eye Dog
“This is the happy ending we were all hoping for and everyone is delighted for Lily and Maddison,” said Louise Campbell, manager of the Dogs Trust shelter. “The Williams family were the perfect match, and we know they’ll give the dogs all the love and fuss they so deserve.”
McRibs Are Made of Fibs
H.S.U.S. has filed a legal complaint against Smithfield Foods, citing an undercover operation in which it uncovered gestation crates that cause mother pigs to suffer “from open pressure sores and other ulcers and wounds” and “abscesses sometimes formed from simple scratches due to ever-present bacteria.”
Living Nature’s Way
We humans are amazing in our ability to adapt, including to adapt to unnatural and bizarre environments. Today, rather than eating real food, we mostly eat food-like substances in colorful packages and boxes.
Tarra the Elephant Still Mourns Loss of Her Friend
Eight years ago, when the stray mutt was first spotted on the grounds of the sanctuary, she attached herself to Tarra, one of the elephants.
Pets Get Vets at Occupy Wall Street
Family pets were among the first to lose their homes when the housing crisis struck, so it’s good to know that four-leggeds who are hanging out with their families at the ongoing Occupy Wall Street protest are getting free health care.
Rhinos Fly to Safety
looks scary, but for the 19 endangered rhinos, it was just a snooze. The black rhinos were lifted by their ankles over the South African landscape to protect them from poachers.
Feral Kittens Reunite
Feral cat caregiver Sherman Mohler took this video of one of her charges as she returned the kitty to her colony mates after taking her to the vet to be spayed.
Whale Culture is Real
They have the biggest brains on Earth. Their clans have thousands of members, covering thousands of miles. And a new study shows that, yes, they have cultures that are passed down from generation to generation, just like humans.
Startling Starling Murmuration
Toward the end of fall, typically at sunset, huge flocks of starlings take to the skies to check out who’s who, what’s what, and where the best food is likely to be tomorrow.
The One-Step Key to Good Health
Dr. Michael Klaper says that while medicine is a complex, subtle and beautiful art, primary care medicine today needs to be, more than anything, about diet and lifestyle.
Circuses Take a Hit in Congress
Watch out, Ringling Brothers and others. Congressman Jim Moran is nipping at your heels. And veteran animal protector Bob Barker was by his side on Tuesday, along with Jorja Fox, to introduce a bill that would stop the use of exotic animals in traveling circuses.
The Glow Effect
The young beagle mix had been left in a drop box at the Florence, Alabama, pound. A few days later, along with other unwanted dogs, he’d been pushed into the gas chamber. And now, after emerging alive, he’s being hailed as a miracle.
Get Out Your Biggest Umbrella!
For anyone who still has their ostrich head buried in the snow, here’s yet another study saying that the climate is changing and even more wacky weather is on the way.
Fish with Their Own Observation Tower
German fish lover T.C.Helmut adds an observation tower to his koi pond. The fish can enter and leave the tower at will. By the looks of this, they prefer the view! (But you can see a couple of them scooting in and out at the bottom.
Why Do Chickens Like Music? Why Does Anyone?
Music is found in every human culture. But we humans are not the only animals to enjoy a melodic hook. In the spring, I wake up every morning to the songs of birds outside my bedroom window. Mammals also sing.
How Seven Billion Humans Leads to Mass Extinction
This week, the world population reached 7 billion people eking out a living. By the end of the century, it will top 10 billion. Overpopulation and overconsumption are the root causes of the environmental destruction of our planet.
The Cuckoo Thief!
This cuckoo had just stolen a reed warbler’s egg out of her nest when she came face-to-face with Czech photographer and film maker Oldrich Mikulica.
My Vacation with Elephants
Emma Barratt, 23, had just graduated with a geography degree, and she wanted a vacation. But not just any vacation. So she decided to spend two weeks caring for rescued elephants in Thailand.