Recognizing animal sentience is part of an “Action Plan for Animal Welfare” yet to be written into draft bills, let alone passed by Parliament LONDON, U.K.––A week-plus after the Conservative government of the United Kingdom introduced an “Action Plan for Animal Welfare,” much of the animal welfare sector worldwide has already declared “victory,” with the […]
In Defense of Animals founder Elliot Katz dies at 86
Animal rights movement pioneer SAN RAFAEL, California–– In Defense of Animals founder Elliot Katz, DVM, “died peacefully on March 24th at the age of 86,” the organization announced via Facebook on April 9, 2021, after word of Katz’s death had percolated through the animal advocacy community for several days. “Dr. Katz was a trailblazer […]
Ape learning experiments? When will humans ever learn?
Whether chimps can talk is much less perplexing than whether humans can care for them adequately after research use BLUE RIDGE, Georgia––Few people visit Blue Ridge, Georgia, population fewer than 1,500 humans, plus 78 chimpanzees retired from biomedical research use to the Project Chimps sanctuary. Quality of care issues have in 2020 emerged as a […]
Do fish feel pain? Victoria Braithwaite proved it to science
Led recognition of “metric tons” of fish as millions of sentient lives UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania––The biggest news in the watery world of fisheries in early October 2019 was the appearance of the 447-foot Margiris, reputedly the world’s second-largest trawler, through the mists of the English Channel just 14 miles off Brighton, East Sussex. “For […]
Dog brain study refutes every major claim of pit bull advocacy
Looking at normal dogs’ brains shows how “fighting breed” brains differ BOSTON, POMONA––There may already be weeping and gnashing of teeth among pit bull advocates, and perhaps significant fundraising underway to trump up rebuttals, too, following the September 2, 2019 Journal of Neuroscience publication of “Significant neuroanatomical variation among domestic dog breeds,” by Harvard […]
“Send Ndume back to Cinci!” says gorilla case Solomon
“Enough poop––move him or lose him,” judge tells Gorilla Foundation SAN FRANCISCO––The Gorilla Foundation, of Woodside, California, ain’t said @#$%, either to mass media or through social media, since Judge Richard Seeborg of the U.S. District Court of Northern California, who was asked to play Solomon between claimants to Ndume the feces-flinging silverback gorilla, […]
Four people who changed how humans see animals
Charlie Russell, Mary T. Hoffman, Aubrey Manning, & Dorothy Cheney Russell made “Spirit Bears” famous Canadian bear researcher and author Charlie Russell, 76, died on May 7, 2018 in Calgary, Alberta, from complications after surgery. Born in Pincher Creek, Alberta, where his parents Andy and Kay Russell were hunting outfitters and guides, Charlie Russell […]
“Meat-eating is never neutral”: Mary Midgely, 99
Author of Animals & Why They Matter NEWCASTLE ON TYNE, United Kingdom––“The symbolism of meat-eating is never neutral,” wrote Mary Midgely on page 27 of her 1983 opus Animals & Why They Matter. “To himself,” Midgely observed, “the meat-eater seems to be eating life. To the vegetarian, he seems to be eating death. There […]
The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life
by David Quammen Simon & Schuster 461 pages, $30.00 hardcover. Reviewed by Merritt Clifton At a glance, The Tangled Tree: A Radical New History of Life, by veteran science writer and historian David Quammen, might seem to most ANIMALS 24-7 readers far removed from our usual topics of animal use, abuse, and consumption; dog attacks; […]
Death of Koko, 46, raises question what will become of her rejected mate Ndume?
Koko was among the last great apes used in still controversial 1970s language research WOODSIDE, California––With Koko deceased, what now will become of Ndume, 37, the last and least famous of the three gorillas who once shared the Gorilla Foundation sanctuary and primate language research laboratory in the Santa Cruz Mountains, south of San […]