An 8th-Grader Witnesses the Dolphins at Taiji
Fourteen-year-old Ben Werdegar is in Taji, Japan, (scene of the Oscar-winning movie The Cove) to witness the massacre of the dolphins there.
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Westminster Porn Show
One of the world's few remaining pageants of objectification and commoditization.
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The ‘Animal Rights’ Paradox
How's the animal rights movement doing? If you rate it by the simple question "How many animals have rights?" you'd have to say "Not very well." Call it the animal rights paradox.
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At Sundance, a Triumph for "Unlocking the Cage"
Premiered at Sundance, the movie follows attorney Steven M. Wise as he argues to a high court judges that chimpanzee Tommy has the capacity for legal rights and should be set free…
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Pigs: Smart & Machiavellian
Winston Churchill famously said: “A dog looks up to you; a cat looks down on you; only a pig treats you as an equal.” But that, of course, is hardly how we treat them…
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Half the World’s Wildlife Destroyed in the Last 40 Years
In a sane world, it would be headline news. Everything else would immediately come to a screeching halt to make way for a massive, worldwide attempt to turn things around. (Of…
The Whale Who Took Down SeaWorld
Egg Industry Concession Is No ‘Victory’
For Chimps, the End of Vivisection, Almost
Cecil Is the Least of It
Young Orca Will Be Transferred to Circus
Morgan’s arrival at the amusement park follows a long court dispute between commercial interests and animal protection groups.
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.
Circus Owners Charged with Cruelty
Remember Annie the elephant, who was freed from a U.K. circus last April? The owners of the circus have now been charged with animal cruelty.
When a Humane Organization Sounds like a Tin Pot Dictator
This paranoid view of the grassroots wasn’t coming from some Middle East dictatorship in response to the Arab Spring. It was coming from the ASPCA in response to successful local no-kill programs.
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.
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.
Best Way to See Orcas
You can see them in their ocean home. And you can see them in captivity. One is a thrilling experience of real life; the other is a circus show.
Winter’s Real Tale
The idea that Winter, the dolphin in the new hit move “Dolphin Tale” has a happy new life simply doesn’t hold water. See for yourself …
Dolphin ‘Therapy’ Is a Scam
Fueled by feel-good media reports such as Prager’s, dolphin therapy is a magnet for desperate parents who will pay whatever it takes to help their kids with disorders like autism and Down syndrome.
West Hollywood Votes to Ban Fur Sales
Now West Hollywood something of a cat fight on its hands, having taken the side of animal protection groups against fashion boutiques that sell fur.
SeaWorld vs. OSHA – Day Five
We learn about the “Tilly Talk” that’s given to all new trainers at SeaWorld. The message: “If you end up in the water with Tilikum, you’re going to die.”
SeaWorld vs. OSHA – Day Four
Witnesses at the hearing that pits SeaWorld against the OSHA were once again focusing on how exactly killer whale Tilikum pulled trainer Dawn Brancheau into the water before killing her.
A Real Killer Education
SeaWorld claims that its marine circus acts are an educational experience. Well, this week, in court, we got a real education.
SeaWorld vs. OSHA – Day Three
In the third day of the hearing, OSHA showed a 2006 video of trainer, Ken Peters, being nearly drowned at SeaWorld San Diego by orca Kasatka.
SeaWorld vs. Osha – Day Two
A key witness in the dispute between OSHA and SeaWorld testified that killer whale Tilikum grabbed trainer Dawn Brancheau by the arm, not by her ponytail.