Why Baby Chimp Died at L.A. Zoo
July 3, 2012 by MichaelMountain
Male chimpanzees can be violent with babies who are not their own. Yes, that’s all natural. But what’s not natural is when it’s brought into the confines of captivity at a zoo, where, in this case, Gracie had nowhere to go with her baby and her friends except to another part of their enclosure.
Do Chimpanzees Hate Us?
July 1, 2012 by MichaelMountain
By any standard, the story of a young graduate student being torn up by chimpanzees at a South Africa sanctuary that bears the name of Jane Goodall is shocking. But, like the news of a woman in Connecticut having her face torn off by a “pet” chimpanzee, we are singularly upset to hear of our own kind being treated this way by one of our closest cousins. Why does it get to us more than any other savage interactions with wildlife?
Capturing Belugas to “Save” Them
July 1, 2012 by MichaelMountain
The Georgia Aquarium is planning to capture 18 beluga whales from where they live in the Sea of Okhotsk in eastern Russia, and fly them halfway around the world to put them on display in Atlanta. Their explanation for doing this would be hilarious if it were not so sad and not such an unconscionable abuse of highly intelligent animals.
The Trial of Billy the Elephant
June 24, 2012 by Michael Mountain
It could be enormously significant for elephants in captivity in Los Angeles, in all of California, and possibly even for elephants all across the country. Whichever way the judge rules, the trial of Billy the Elephant will have set a precedent. For more than a week, Judge John Segal has been listening to testimony in [...]
Reader’s Digest: Whales Are People Too
June 20, 2012 by Michael Mountain
For the cover story of the Canadian edition of Reader’s Digest for July, Jeff Warren explores what we’re learning about one of the most intelligent and self-aware animals on our planet. His conclusion: The science proves it, but the tough question is going to be whether humans are ready to see them as equals.
What Do You Call a Veterinarian Who …?
June 18, 2012 by Michael Mountain
What do you call a veterinarian who only treats a single species? That’s a joke among many veterinarians, who understand very well that humans are animals, just like other animals, and that the wall of separation the medical profession has put up between “doctors” and “veterinarians” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
Out of Africa
June 18, 2012 by MichaelMountain
“The elephant helped us walk out of Africa perhaps 60,000 years ago. We learned from tribal elders in east Africa that elephants, because they knew where to find water, helped humanity survive.” Filmmaker photographer Cyril Christo travels to Africa and writes about what’s happening to the elephants. Over the last 20 years their numbers there [...]
Skip Tom Cruise in ‘Rock of Ages’
June 18, 2012 by MichaelMountain
Tom Cruise tells Ryan Seacrest he couldn’t do real comedy in his new movie without having a baboon brought onto the set: “I wanted to play [my scenes] real but also we needed the comedy. … So that’s when I said, ‘I need a monkey. I’m looking for what thing is going to help comedically. [...]
Seals on Trial
June 18, 2012 by MichaelMountain
Scientists plan to glue submersible cameras onto the seals’ backs, using the footage to prove to fishermen the animals are not harming their way of life. Fishermen in Hawaii are accusing seals of stealing their fish. The seals, who have been living around Hawaii for millions of years, could argue that fishermen are stealing theirfish. [...]
Bonobo Genome Shows How Close We Are
June 14, 2012 by Michael Mountain
Ulindi provided DNA for the sequencing of the bonobo genome Scientists have completed the mapping of the bonobo genome. This means that all five great ape species – chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, orangutans and humans – have now had their genomes mapped. The research team, from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, found that bonobos share [...]
