Chimp Research: The End in Sight?
The good news is that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has accepted the recommendations of an expert panel to cut way back on using chimpanzees in medical research.
‘Look Where I’m Pointing’
We humans point at things with our fingers, or by motioning with our head and eyes. Other apes do much the same thing. Now we know that raven do it, too. In their case, they point with their beaks.
Would an Alien in a Space Ship Be a ‘Person’?
Mark Peters takes up the question of what is a person. He says the word first appears in English in the 13th Century, when it was often used to describe a role – like in the theater.
Let’s Share Some Spaghetti!
“Counter-walking cats,” you write, “should be kept out of the kitchen during preparation and during dinner when the extra food is just sitting there.” A reader of your column just sent us this video of Mackinaw Queenie and Kenzie in the kitchen:
Welcome Home!
See what happened when a U.S. Air Force Captain was greeted by Molly, her 8-year-old pup, at the airport where she landed after a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
You Are Not His Family!
There’s something a bit creepy about SeaWorld spokesman David Koontz telling us that Ikaika the pre-teen, troubled orca “will become a member of our family.”
SeaWorld Back on Trial
SeaWorld is back in court today to defend itself against charges of “willful” neglect by OSHA in the death of killer whale trainer Dawn Brancheau by orca Tilikum.
Michael Vick and the Silence of the Dogs
“Announcers never mention “the dog thing” when Michael Vick is on the field, ever, even in passing, even by way of background,” Tom Junod writes in Esquire magazine.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Will PETA’s SeaWorld Suit Sink or Swim
Demanding constitutional rights won’t fly. But watch for another approach that will soon change everything.
Family Dog Saves Mom from Aneurysm
Family pet Titan wouldn’t let his Dad, John Benton, leave the house. Benton was heading out to work one day last July, but Titan, a pit bull, was blocking the doorway.
Why the Caged Bird Does Not Sing
Like POWs, concentration camp inmates, and victims of domestic violence, caged and confined birds are all candidates for Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Parrot Defeats Violent Robbers
When Charlie the macaw started squawking at 2.30 am, Jack Dukes knew something was wrong. When he looked, Dukes was hit by one of the robbers.
Crows Can Use Mirrors to Find Food
Would you be able to find something if you could only look at it through a mirror? Crows can. This puts them among a small group of species, including humans, dolphins, chimpanzees, elephants and magpies, who have been shown to be able to process mirror information.
Dolphins Teach Each Other New Trick
Scientists at Murdoch University in Western Australia began noticing dolphins carrying large conch shells in their mouths to trap small fish.
Mitt Romney Spoke the Truth
If our justice system can view a corporation a person, like Romney said, perhaps one day it will be able to see at least some of our fellow animals as persons, too.