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September 06

Palin's policies are radically anti-environment

Polls out today show that most Republicans are infatuated with the idea of a "hockey mom" as vice president. Unfortunately, the scripted convention -- and the total inaccessability of Governor Sarah Palin -- presented a false picture of her policies in Alaska. Why does that matter? Assuming that she believes deeply in her policies (and there's no reason to assume otherwise about "Sarah Barracuda"), then we could expect her to apply those policies to a Palin Administration if, heaven forbid, anything ever happened to John McCain.

Leonard Doyle, a reporter from the UK's Independent, took a thorough look at Palin's environmental policies and positions. See his comprehensive article here:

"Palin: the real scandal

"Seen from the air, Sarah Palin's state is an environmental wonderland. From Anchorage to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, there is a vast landscape of snow-capped peaks, fjords, crystal glaciers, coastal lagoons, wide river deltas and tundra.

The guardian of this wilderness – and Governor of Alaska – has, this week, become one of the most recognisable faces in the world. But behind her beaming smile and wholesome family values is a woman aligned with the big oil and coal firms that are racing to exploit Alaska's vast energy reserves. In the short term, that has bought her popularity at home."

This photo of Palin in her office isn't from Doyle but, as they say, a picture says a thousand words.

Frankly, I could give a s**t about her daughter's pregnancy. Hey, we all did stupid things when we were kids (although a lot of us were smart enough to protect ourselves from out-of-wedlock pregnancies). But Governor Palin's record on the environment affects more than her family, more than the GOP, and even more than America. It has the potential to affect the earth, and all creatures (including humans) who call this planet home.

11:08 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | News and politics

August 30

Palin as "conservationist"

One of the more amazing things I heard from TV commentators yesterday was the claim that Gov. Palin, the person who wants to be a heartbeat from the presidency, was a "conservationist." Aerial murder of Alaskan wolves, shown here, contradicts that claim.

11:32 AM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | Wildlife protection and conservation

July 24

Stop using non-human primates for invasive research

Biomedical research company Bioqual has won a $24 million contract from the National Institutes of Health to house and maintain non-human primates for medical research, according to a recent news report. Continuing this barbaric practice is a stain on an otherwise reputable institution.

HR 5852, introduced in Congress last April, would prohibit invasive research on great apes. Unfortunately, it wouldn't stop NIH from conducting research on monkeys (they aren't great apes, which include gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees , bonobos and gibbons) or beagles or any other animal of their choosing. But the bill is a necessary step toward ending crude, cruel, and unnecessary animal testing and research.

All Democrats should support this bill. Please write or call your Representative, and ask him/her to join the current sponsors: Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Thomas Allen (D-ME), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD), Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), Bruce Braley (D-IA), John Campbell (R-CA), James Langevin (D-RI), and David Reichett (R-WA).

And while you're at it, ask your legislator to tell NIH, FDA and EPA to stop supporting/requiring the use of animals in medical research and product testing.

Current animal testing protocols are 50 and 60 years old. It's time for the U.S. to move out of the dark ages.

According to a new report from the National Research Council, "recent advances in systems biology, testing in cells and tissues, and related scientific fields offer the potential to fundamentally change the way chemicals are tested for risks they may pose to humans."

See the NRC report in brief here.

10:31 PM | Add a comment | Permalink | Blog it | News and politics

Helping us understand wildlife...


	Thinkers of the Jungle: The Orangutan Report by Gerd Schuster If you get one book, get this. It is an absolutely essential portrait of orangutans that goes beyond zoology. Based on the experience of Dr. Willie Smits, it tells the real story of their plight and explains what we can/should/must do.

	Orangutans: Wizards of the Rain Forest by Anne E. Russon If you want to learn about orangutans as a species, but are afraid of getting close to individual animals who show personalities, likes and dislikes, moods, and -- yes -- cultural adaptations, then stay away from this marvelous book. Otherwise, read it!

	Primates in Question (Smithsonian Answer Book) by Robert Shumaker A series of nearly 100 questions and answers presents a comprehensive overview of many aspects of primate evolution, biology and social behavior. If you ever wondered whether chimps, gorillas and orangutans are our close relatives, you need to read this.

	Nim Chimpsky: The Chimp Who Would Be Human by Elizabeth Hess In describing the history of "Project Nim" -- teaching chimps American Sign Language -- Hess also illustrates the egocentricity of humans when it comes to respect for our closest relatives.

	Silent Thunder: In the Presence of Elephants by Katy Payne Payne discovered infrasonic communication among elephants. Her wonderful book is a passionate story as well as an excellent natural history.

	Savages and Beasts: The Birth of the Modern Zoo (Animals, History, Culture) by Nigel Rothfels Rothfels presents a somewhat disturbing history of animal collection and exhibition. While there are still unsavory aspects of our relations with animals in captivity, we've got to remember how far we've (thankfully) come, especially in accredited zoos.

The First 50 Years: An Informal History of the Detroit Zoological Park and the Detroit Zoological Society by William A. Austin My dad was a chimp trainer at the Detroit Zoo in the 1940s and 50s, so this book -- covering the zoo from 1924 to 1974 -- brought back many memories. It is amazing to realize how much zoos have improved in their approach to conservation and education.

News clips


No way to treat an orangutan "Orangutans have to be the ambassadors for the wake-up call to the world. Consumption patterns in the West help fuel the orangutans’ extinction in the East. More than 10 percent of the products in Western supermarkets contain palm oil, from cookies to..."

Bush administration sneak attack on Endangered Species Act “With a quiet pen stroke, the administration is attempting to erase protection for the nation’s endangered species,” says the Center for Biological Diversity.

Protection sought for monkey habitat In Cambodia Unchecked development could threaten two rare monkey species that were recently discovered in Cambodia's remote northeast.

LA Times on ape abuse in movies From reporter Rachel Abramowitz: "I was horrified when I saw the latest documentary from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, about great apes in film and TV... Entertainment seems a paltry excuse for mistreating animals."

Mourning gorilla This is so sad... And no wonder. She should still have the other baby with her - it's only a year or so old!!!

When human rights extend to non-humans A thoughtful piece from the NY Times, on the Spanish legislative consideration of the rights of primates.

Editorial -- Moral obligation to save these sentient, intelligent cousins of ours This is a response to an article: "Govt urged to enforce Bali plan to protect orangutan" (The Jakarta Post, July 7)... Orangutans do not exist for our benefit. They themselves have a right to life, regardless of whether we get the added benefit of...

Great Ape Trust provides home for orangutans from entertainment industry A group of orangutans who appeared in Hollywood films and commercials is relocating to Great Ape Trust of Iowa – a move that begins to close the curtain in the United States on the decades-long use of orangutans in entertainment.

At 76, Tarzan's Cheeta still a swinger Cheeta is believed to be 76 years old, the world's oldest living non-human primate. Chimps in captivity can live up to 60 years; in the wild, up to 40. Today Cheeta is semiretired and living in a Palm Springs sanctuary.

Who murdered the Virunga gorillas? National Geographic Explorer investigates the execution-style murder of six mountain gorillas in Virunga National Park. Their search reveals corruption and how Virunga has become one of the most dangerous places on earth.

Orangutans declining more sharply in Sumatra and Borneo than thought Conservation action essential to survival of orangutans, found only on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, must be region-specific.

Winning over a gorilla's heart Vets at the National Zoo are leading the efforts at early detection of heart disease in gorillas.

Animal conservation and protection websites


Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Dr. Willie Smits is the founder of BOS. In 1982 he rescued one baby orangutan from a trash heap... and now he is restoring rainforests to help rescue all orangutans in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

C.H.E.E.T.A. Primate Sanctuary C.H.E.E.T.A. stands for Creative Habitats and Enrichment for Endangered and Threatened Apes. This sanctuary provides ex-show business primates with a nurturing environment and with enriching activities. Tarzan's Cheeta, now 76 years old, lives there.

Friends of the National Zoo If you live in the DC area, this is your gateway to wildlife education.

Great Ape Trust The scientific home to Dr. Robert Shumaker, this is North America's largest research center dedicated to studying the cognitive and communication abilities of bonobos and orangutans.

International Fund for Animal Welfare IFAW is one of the world's most respectable animal advocacy organziations. It works to achieve lasting solutions to pressing animal welfare and conservation challenges -- solutions that benefit both animals and people.

World Society for the Protection of Animals This global animal welfare charity is noted for its free veterinary clinics, support for local humane societies, and establishment of wildlife sanctuaries.

Why are the great apes facing extinction?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through its Species Survival Commission, assesses the conservation status of animals. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides vital information about animals facing the highest risk of global extinction. The great apes are on that list.


Bornean orangutan The situation is dire. The biggest threats are oil palm plantations, illegal logging, hunting for bushmeat, and the pet trade.

Sumatran orangutan There are less than 6,500 Sumatran orangutans left in the island's fragmented rain forests.

Western lowland gorilla There are two primary drivers of rapid western lowland gorilla decline: commercial hunting for bushmeat and the Ebola virus. Some protected areas are not protected: corruption is rampant. Logging is causing a rapid crash in numbers.

Chimpanzee Chimps are poached for bushmeat, pet trade, or medical research. They face habitat destruction, and disease from contact with humans (including tourists in Africa).

Bonobo The threats impacting the wild bonobo population today include: commercial poaching (for bushmeat, pets or medicinal purpose); military sanctioned hunting; and habitat loss.

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	Virginia Hwrote: Such a wonderful, touching site you have here for Animals. I cried through most of it, especially the video of Ace & (Jon? sorry) reuniting with CHRISTIAN!!! I've seen it about 100 times and it always gets me here ~ I, too, do what I can to prevent animal abuse of any kind. Animals are the BEST!!! Please come visit me. Dancing Light Nov. 21
	Wendywrote: Very cool, Dawn. You look great! June 27