Podcasts about born free usa

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Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 45:38

Devan Schowe, a campaign's associate for Born Free USA delves into the "Oceans Away from Home" report, which highlights the suffering of fish in captivity. Fish often face challenges that parallel those of larger, more commonly studied captive animals.This report emphasizes the challenges these aquatic creatures encounter, including compromised welfare and limited opportunities for species-specific behaviors. A research bias further sidelines fish, underscoring the need to value all animals, irrespective of their similarities or differences from humans.Additionally, the rising surge of octopus farming in Spain, raises ethical concerns due to the remarkable intelligence of these creatures. Octopus farming subjects highly intelligent and solitary beings to stressful and unnatural conditions, posing ethical and ecological dilemmas. This industry's potential consequences for octopus populations, marine ecosystems, and animal welfare are of great concern, especially given the absence of protective regulations within the European Union.Furthermore, our discussion uncovers "The Lies Zoos Tell," highlighting the lack of care for animals in some of these facilities. Even accredited zoos, striving to replicate natural habitats, often fall short in providing essential elements for animal well-being. This prompts a critical question: Is keeping animals captive in zoos justifiable? The resounding answer is "NO."Join us in this conversation, challenging our perspectives on animal treatment and advocating for a more compassionate approach to their well-being.

Death sentence handed to wild monkeys of Sint Maarten, can we still save them?

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Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 53:58

Reality Checks with Staci-lee The Government of Sint Maarten has decided to kill ALL their wild monkeys as a form of population control. Horrified by this policy a letter was sent to the government in March 2023 from the world's leading primate and animal welfare organizations. The letter had 75 signatories offering their support in an effort to halt the death sentence. Born Free USA is leading the effort to save the monkeys. The alternative proposed would be to sterilize the monkeys, at no cost to taxpayers and let the monkeys live out their lives while going extinction naturally as breeding would cease. As of today these groups are still awaiting a response and the fate of the monkeys hangs in the balance though the government seems to have started the killing already. Have a listen as Dr Missy Williams, who runs the Dania Beach Vervet Project in Florida, talks about the monkeys, false claims and how people can help. Please take a moment to contact the Nature Foundation on the island who has refused to give out information about the monkeys https://naturefoundationsxm.org/ Also contact the government and ask they stop the killing and choose the humane alternative Egbert J. Doran Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure . You can send him a message via his Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MinisterDoran/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ More at: https://allaboutanimalsradio.com/ Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllAboutAnimalsRadio Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnimalsRadio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalsradio/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/86912031/ Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-about-animals/id1619050390 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/c195ef1d-f2e1-42f1-9d27-e61506bea92d/all-about-animals Tunein: https://tunein.com/podcasts/p1667224/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2tJDqEaBOJxygQpNytuCwW Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9tZWRpYS5yc3MuY29tL2FsbGFib3V0YW5pbWFscy9mZWVkLnhtbA==

Born Free USA on Recreational Animal Slaughter in the U.S.

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 40:55

In this episode, Devan Schowe, Campaigns Associate for Born Free USA, sheds light on their startling and disturbing NEW report, Thrill Kill: Recreational Animal Slaughter in the U.S., released on 5/23/23. Born Free USA's investigative research explores the dark world of animal slaughter in the name of entertainment, where across the U.S., animals are slaughtered for fun in killing contests, canned hunts, fringe youth group activities and other events. To learn more listen in to our show and read the full report here: https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/coexisting/thrillkill/ Devan Schowe, Campaigns Associate for Born Free USA speaks with The Rising Lioness Podcast about their recent legislative successes and introduction of the Mink Virus Act, which will phase out mink farms amid rising public health concerns. Devan shares her important first work with Born Free USA, and her deep connection with primates which led her to co-create, Finding Sanctuary: Life After the Primate Pet Trade, a short documentary Finding Sanctuary: Life after the Primate Pet Trade. https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/monkeydoc/ Born Free USA's progress on the Captive Primate Safety Act strengthens protection for primates from the cruelty and dangers inherent in the exotic pet trade. Erica and Devan also contemplate the exponential reduction of human empathy in recent years and its parallels to increased and widespread animal cruelty and slaughter of wildlife on the planet at this time. They discuss tough questions like, is animal cruelty becoming acceptable social behavior due to human desensitization and lacking empathy? Tune in to hear Devan share ways in which we can all make positive change in the lives of animals and wildlife every day. Born Free USA's research, reports and activist's toolkit https://www.bornfreeusa.org/action-center/toolkit/ bring awareness, education and empowerment to the public to help us further defend and protect animals and wildlife.A special thanks to our AAA Radio volunteer video producer, Alex Sanfiz: Alex Sanfiz https://linktr.ee/alexsanfiz Thanks Alex!A special thanks to Chris Corley, for donating Zero Gravity for The Rising Lioness theme. Chris is an accomplished musician, composer and instructor whose talents have been spotlighted in publications like Guitar World Magazine. He has performed hundreds of shows of original music in prestigious venues like The Cutting Room in NYC. To learn more about Chris Corley or to schedule Professional remote guitar lessons visit: @ChrisCorleyMusic Thanks Chris!

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59. How to Spot Abusive Animal Situations on Social Media & Live Interactions with Devon Schowe

Forces for Nature

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2023 28:07

Have you had wild animal photo opportunities while on vacation? Have you "liked" cute exotic animal videos on social? Are you dying for an opportunity to hold a baby monkey? If so, you may unintentionally be fueling a dark industry and promoting animal abuse.Devan Schowe is the campaigns director for Born Free USA, an organization that works to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Devon works to increase public awareness of pertinent wildlife conservation issues and works to change legislation regarding practices that harm wild animals kept in captivity for exploitative purposes. If you want to know how to avoid supporting these dangerous practices unknowingly, this episode is for you!HighlightsHow can "liking" a video on social media endanger wildlife?Why are seemingly innocent animal photo ops, not so innocent?The Big Cat Public Safety Act has passed! What does this mean?What YOU Can DoDo not visit or in any way support places that exploit wild animals in the ways talked about.Report any abusive online content you see on the website or platform.Petition social media outlets to modify their definition of harmful animal content, um, to reflect a definition that is more in line with wild animal welfare.Don't view like, comment, save, post or share the content. Even dislikes or quoting angry reactions or comments will add to the overall popularity. So restraining from doing that even if you want to.Respectfully educate others.ResourcesBorn Free USA websiteAdopt a Monkey programTheir Lives for Your Likes ReportInstagram Tik Tok Facebook Twitter YouTubeLinkedIn Want a free guide to help you become a force for nature? Get it HERE!If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, rate, and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook and let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting just one habit can be a game-changer because imagine if a billion people also adopted that! What difference for the world are you going to make today?

Born Free and Beyond: Will Travers OBE on Animals and the Future of our Planet

The Ecoflix Podcasts

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 67:55

Will Travers OBE - an English director, writer, broadcaster and animal rights activist shares an intimate conversation with Ecoflix founder David Casselman. The son of English actors and wildlife campaigners Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, he is president of the Born Free Foundation, Born Free USA and Species Survival Network.

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Effective Animal Advocacy: Born Free USA with Devan Schowe

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Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2023 36:49

Billie Groom, chats with Devan Schowe of Born Free USA, a long-time influential and impactful organization whose members and affiliates campaign to keep wild animals in the wild.“Born Free” – the words instantly conjure up a nostalgic image of creatures great and small living symbiotically in their natural environment. Although not always easy or without fear, it is the way nature intended them to live.Take a journey into the workings of Born Free USA, a long-standing and influential organization protecting the rights of wild animals for generations. Host, and animal rights advocate, Billie Groom chats with Born Free USA's Campaign Associate, Devan Schowe, who shares with us the inner-workings, successes, challenges, and on-going campaigns. They discuss the roots of the organization, as well as ways the organization stays current and impactful in this challenging world.“Keep WildLife in the Wild” This is not only their slogan, but their mission. Find out how you can be part of the solution (spoiler: donating is not the only way). Make an impact locally and abroad.Please feel free to SHARE to CARE – education is key to saving animals and helping the people who help animals.Comments and questions welcome.

Ep. 50: Born Free USA

The Animal Rescue Podcast: what you always wanted to know but didnâ€™t know who to ask

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 26:08

My guest this week is Devan Schowe from Born Free USA. We discuss primate welfare and conservation, why we should care, and so much more! You can learn more about the organization and their work online at www.bornfreeusa.org or on social media @bornfreeusaorg. Thanks for listening! If you liked what you heard, please rate, review, and subscribe. If you have ideas for future guests please email me at theanimalrescuepodcast@gmail.com or follow me @theanimalrescuepod on Instagram. ASL only: https://youtube.com/channel/UCptgszJ03WBmP_RJZOx6o6w Voice only: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-animal-rescue-podcast-what-you-always-wanted-to/id1548213393 https://open.spotify.com/show/04F2HQcGPGdXWxktsEDI90?si=42NLPNR6RLqcLf208Fi3hw&dl_branch=1

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Devan Schowe: Captivity Sucks

Species Unite

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 36:07

“The pets tend to be the most behaviorally disturbed, I would say. They have the hardest transition most of the time into kind of sanctuary life, because with the pet trade, infants are usually taken from their mothers within a few days or a few weeks after they're born. And most primate species in the wild will stay with their mothers for at least a couple of years, if not for most of their life. So that's incredibly damaging right off the bat, because that separation is very traumatizing.” – Devan Schowe Devan Schowe is the Campaigns Associate for Born Free USA, a nonprofit wildlife organization with the largest primate sanctuary in the country. Born Free recently release and report on the extensive suffering of giraffe in zoos. I read the report and wanted to talk to Devan about giraffes but also to get her expert perspective on captivity and why it's so harmful to all animals, particularly in zoos. It completely baffles me that in 2022, most people have no issue with zoos. Maybe they don't know that no matter how “nice” the zoo is, it's still a prison for animals. Born Free USA https://www.bornfreeusa.org/

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Primate Welfare with Devan Schowe

On Wildlife

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2022 22:04

We're switching things up a little in this week's episode. We're talking about the well-being of all primates and how keeping them in captivity can impact their behaviors and diminish their quality of life. To learn more about this critical topic, we have invited Devan Schowe, Campaigns Associate at Born Free USA, to talk about it. So join us as we take a closer look at primate welfare. For sources and more information, please visit our website.Support the show

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2017-04-23 Carole Baskin's Diary

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 5:44

Alternet Reports: Thousands of Big Cats Are Suffering in Inhumane Roadside Zoos Across the U.S. Congress can put an end to this cruelty by passing the newly reintroduced Big Cat Public Safety Act. Thousands of lions, tigers, leopards and other big cat species are kept in grossly inhumane conditions by private individuals and unqualified exhibitors in the United States. A man in a suburban Chicago neighborhood kept a tiger in a 5x5-foot cage in his garage. New York authorities confiscated a 500-pound pet tiger from a Harlem apartment. People in California, Texas and North Carolina have encountered confused and abandoned tiger cubs wandering the streets. In two separate incidents in Kansas, county sheriffs seized tigers and other big cats who were found neglected and living in filth in flimsy cages. There's no question these animals endanger communities. Since 1990, there have been hundreds of dangerous incidents involving captive big cats in nearly every state. Four children have been killed and dozens of others lost limbs or suffered other traumatic injuries. Nineteen adults have been killed and scores have been mauled. To remedy this problem, an alliance of leading animal welfare organizations—Big Cat Rescue, Born Free USA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, The Humane Society Legislative Fund, and the Humane Society of the United States—support the recently reintroduced Big Cat Public Safety Act. The legislation prohibits the ownership of tigers, lions, leopards and other big cat species by unqualified individuals and poorly run animal exhibitions. The problematic ownership of these animals is intertwined with an exploitative industry that breeds big cats for cub-petting opportunities. The use of infant big cats for public handling, such as photo ops and play sessions, is based on heartbreaking abuse. Breeders churn out babies who are pulled from their mothers shortly after birth. Removing newborns from their mothers is traumatic for the mother, who mourns the loss of her young cubs, as well as for the babies, who are deprived of proper nutrition and care. These vulnerable baby animals with weak immune systems are forced to endure rough and excessive public handling during which they are deprived of much-needed sleep, physical abuse from handlers attempting to keep them under control, and stressful conditions associated with transport. When the animals grow too large for public handling, they are typically discarded. It is impossible to know where all of these big cats end up, but many go to pseudo-sanctuaries—facilities run by operators who want the public to think that they run legitimate havens for animals in need, but who are really providing sub-standard animal care that also endangers caretakers and the public. Other big cats are warehoused at roadside zoos or sold into the pet trade. It is not uncommon for these unhealthy animals to suffer from malnutrition, parasitic infestations and other ailments. Some die prematurely as a result of inadequate care. Like the owner of this emaciated pet lion, private owners often fail to provide a proper diet. (image: Humane Society of the United States) Careless handling practices and unsafe big cat cages are a disaster waiting to happen, and when it does, first responders and the community are put in danger. This was underscored a few years ago in Zanesville, Ohio, when a deranged man released 18 tigers, 17 African lions, three cougars and numerous other animals before committing suicide. Forty-eight animals were subsequently shot and killed by sheriff's deputies in a terrifying ordeal that lasted through the night. No one should have to risk encountering an escaped big cat in their neighborhood, and no wild animal should have to spend his life pacing in circles around a barren cage. Too many captive big cats are kept in inhumane conditions, posing a threat to the community and creating a burden for law enforcement agencies and sanctuaries. The Big Cat Public Safety Act, H.R. 1818, is a common-sense solution to this dangerous and cruel problem, and it is time for Congress to act. This article was written with the assistance of Born Free USA, Big Cat Rescue, Humane Society Legislative Fund, Humane Society of the United States and International Fund for Animal Welfare. Kate Dylewsky is a Program Associate at Born Free USA, a national animal welfare and wildlife conservation organization based in Washington D.C. Hi, I'm Carole Baskin and I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion. Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk

2017-03-30 Carole Baskin's Diary

Passion Struck with John R. Miles

Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2022 6:07

Wyeth Bobcat Goes Free and Big Cat Public Safety Act Re Introduced! Animal welfare coalition applauds reintroduction of “Big Cat Public Safety Act” to prohibit private ownership of dangerous big cats. Thousands of big cats are kept as pets or maintained in ill-equipped roadside zoos in the U.S. Big Cat Rescue, Born Free USA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund applaud U.S. Representatives Jeff Denham (R-CA), Walter Jones (R-NC), and Niki Tsongas (D-MA) for introducing the Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1818). The bill would advance animal welfare and protect public safety by prohibiting possession and breeding of tigers, lions, leopards and other big cat species by private individuals and unqualified exhibitors. This bill would strengthen the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, the existing federal law passed unanimously in 2003, by closing the loopholes that allow private possession of big cats by unqualified individuals. Existing owners that do not qualify for an exemption may keep the big cats they currently possess so long as they notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill provides for reasonable exemptions for wildlife sanctuaries and exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture that meet basic standards intended to protect the public and the animals. According to Kate Dylewsky, program associate at Born Free USA, “This common sense and narrowly-crafted bill is an urgently-needed solution to the problem of big cats kept in unsafe and abusive situations around the country. Thousands of big cats are currently owned as pets or maintained in ill-equipped roadside zoos. These poorly regulated facilities — with animals kept in basements, cement pits, or in backyards — pose a severe risk to the safety of people in surrounding communities, as well as the welfare of the cats themselves.” Nicole Paquette, vice president of wildlife for The Humane Society of the United States, said, “Tigers, lions, and other big cats should not be kept in peoples' homes or backyards. In order to protect the public, there needs to be strong oversight of these private owners who, in most cases, do not have the expertise needed to properly care for these animals in captivity. Some states have little to no laws regarding the keeping of big cats and it's time for a uniform federal law that ends this dangerous industry once and for all.” Carson Barylak, campaigns officer at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, noted that “there are now more tigers in private hands in the U.S. than remain in the wild, and nearly all of them are denied proper veterinary care, nutrition and enrichment.” Moreover, “law enforcement officers and other first responders — including those who have encountered these deadly animals in the course of their work — have joined animal rescue and conservation advocates in supporting the Big Cat Public Safety Act. Emergency officials and the communities that they protect, much like the big cats themselves, should not be placed in harm's way by a private owner's irresponsible decision to keep big cats.” "Relying on accredited sanctuaries to take in unwanted and usually neglected big cats is not a viable solution," said Carole Baskin, founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue. "When individuals foolishly acquire big cats as pets or exploit them in entertainment businesses, the cats often suffer in deplorable conditions with inadequate nutrition and veterinary care for many years. Then when owners realize they are not equipped to take care of a big cat or no longer want them, the burden to house and care for these big cats falls upon sanctuaries. This is not the solution; it does not address the inhumane treatment of the cats nor the public safety issues." Facts: There have been more than 700 dangerous incidents in the U.S. involving tigers, lions, and cougars, including hundreds of human injuries, maulings and deaths. In many cases, the animals were shot and killed, often by first responders who are not trained to deal with these situations. The most dramatic example was an October 2011 incident in Zanesville, Ohio, in which a private exotic animal owner released 38 big cats near a populated area, requiring law enforcement to kill the cats — and risk their own lives — for the sake of public safety. Big cats are wild animals and suffer when kept as pets. They are often purchased as babies, and private owners typically are not able to manage them once they're fully grown. Consequently, the animals are frequently left to languish in grossly substandard conditions and often deprived of sufficient space, adequate veterinary care, a nutritious diet and enrichment. It is standard procedure for some roadside zoos to separate babies from their mothers so they can charge the public to pet and play with the cubs. This is an inhumane and unhealthy practice that can cause lifelong physical and psychological problems — or even death — for the cubs. Young cats, who very quickly outgrow their usefulness in the cub handling industry, end up warehoused at substandard “zoos,” sold into the exotic pet trade or possibly even killed and sold for parts — all while a vicious cycle of constant breeding churns out more babies to be exploited. Hi, I'm Carole Baskin and I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion. Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk

Kate Gilman Williams on Why Advocacy has No Age Limits and Anyone Can Make a Difference EP 126

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 33:50 Transcription Available

Kate Gilman Williams — How kids can save animals, why advocacy has no age limit and anyone can make a difference. | Brought to you by Trade Coffee (https://drinktrade.com/passionstruck). Kate is the Founder of Kids Can Save Animals, Founder of Club 15 – an extension of Project 15 from Microsoft, and Author! She launched Kids Can Save Animals to connect her generation with world-renowned conservation organizations, technologists, policymakers, and global leaders who work to save wildlife and wild spaces. Her goal is to save endangered animals. Born Free USA Kate was recently named the first Youth Ambassador for Born Free USA. In her role, Kate will speak to her generation about the exploitation and suffering of animals living in captivity, educate kids and teens that animals being used for any kind of human entertainment is wrong, what the illegal pet trade is, and how we all can help end the wildlife trade and trophy hunting. Let's Go On Safari At age 8, Kate authored the book Let's Go On Safari! which takes readers on a safari adventure and encourages children to speak up for animals who don't have a voice. All sales from the book support the Jane Goodall Institute, The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, and Re:Wild. So far, her book has raised over $15,000 for her conservation partners. When Penguin Random House in South Africa picked up Let's Go On Safari! Kate became the youngest author in history to sign two publishing contracts resulting in a global title release. In the Summer of 2021, Kate partnered with Jenn Hartmann Luck, Austin-based singer, and songwriter, to produce a song “Kids Can Save Animals.” With each download, 15% supports Re:Wild where Leonardo DiCaprio is the founding board member. Enjoy Thank you to our sponsor Trade Coffee Company Elevate your coffee ritual w/ sustainably sourced coffee delivered fresh from 50+ roasters. We'll help you brew a better cup of coffee at home. 5 Million+ Bags Shipped. Get a total of $30 off your first order plus free shipping when you go to https://drinktrade.com/passionstruck. I hope you keep up with the weekly videos I post on the YouTube channel, subscribe to, and share your learnings with those who need to hear them. Your comments are my oxygen, so please take a second and say 'Hey' ;). ► Subscribe to My YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JohnRMiles Our Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/passionstruck. Time Stamps 0:00 Announcements and Guest Introduction 3:56 How Kate Gilman Williams became an advocate for animals 5:31 The youngest published author in history 6:25 Why the cheetah is an endangered species 7:51 Why an elephant is killed every 15 minutes 9:23 Favorite Club 15 podcast interview guests 10:01 How technology is saving animals 11:47 Kate discusses her new song "Kids Can Save Animals" 13:15 Why Microsoft is supporting animal advocacy 15:09 Kate's interest in saving ocean life 16:32 Lessons learned from podcasting 17:00 Why anyone can make a difference in the world 18:01 Why finding a mentor is important 18:45 Advocacy has no age limit 19:02 How kids can become leaders in their community 20:33 In 10 years we can lose all elephants on the planet 21:29 The northern white rhino preservation 22:18 Born Free USA and quarters for Koalas 23:42 If something is important you will pursue it 25:46 The future of Club 15 26:17 Greta Thunberg 29:18 Wrap up Follow Kate Gilman Williams * Website: https://kidscansaveanimals.com/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidscansaveanimals/ * Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidssaveanimals * Born Free USA: https://www.bornfreeusa.org Follow John on the Socials: * Twitter: https://twitter.com/Milesjohnr * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnrmiles.c0m * Medium: https://medium.com/@JohnRMiles * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john_r_miles * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milesjohn/ * Blog: https://passionstruck.com/blog/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passion_struck_podcast/ * Gear: https://www.zazzle.com/store/passion_struck/ -- John R Miles is a serial entrepreneur and the CEO and founder of Passion Struck. This full-service media company helps people live intentionally by creating best-in-class educational and entertainment content. John is also a prolific public speaker, venture capitalist, and author named to the ComputerWorld Top 100 IT Leaders. John is the host of the Passion Struck Podcast; a show focused on exploring the mindset and philosophy world's most insightful people to learn their lessons to living intentionally and becoming the masters of their own life and destiny. Passion Struck aspires to speak to the humanity of people in a way that makes them want to live better, be better and impact. Stay tuned to John's latest project, his upcoming book, which will be published in summer 2022. Learn more about me: https://johnrmiles.com. New to this channel and the passion-struck podcast? Check out our starter packs which are our favorite episodes grouped by topic, to allow you to get a sense of all the podcast has to offer. Go to Spotify or https://passionstruck.com/starter-packs/. Like this? Please join me on my new platform for peak performance, life coaching, self-improvement, intentional living, and personal growth: https://passionstruck.com/ and sign up for our email list.

Exposed: The brutal reality of animal trapping in the U.S.

Humane Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 24:25

Even today, animals are killed for their fur in the United States. Working in collaboration with Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States, animal welfare and conservation nonprofit Born Free USA went undercover to expose the brutal reality of animal trapping. We talk with experts Dr Liz Tyson from Born Free USA and Jill Fritz from the Humane Society of the United States about the investigation. Learn more at bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/trapping/trappingexposed.Love and compassion for animals can bring everyone together. ‘Humane Voices' is the official podcast of the Humane Society of the United States. We'll explore the issues facing animals, interview worldwide animal experts, and discuss what you can do to get involved and help. If you care about the welfare of animals, or have a special pet or two in your life, this is the podcast for you.Contact us at podcast@humanesociety.org to offer feedback and suggest future episode topics.

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Wild Animal Trapping Investigation by Born Free USA: Dr. Liz Tyson Exposes Cruel Reality and Calls for a Ban

Club 15 - Advocacy Has No Age Limits

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 23:13

We discuss an undercover investigation (in Iowa) of the wild animal trapping industry in the U.S., conducted by Born Free USA and the Humane Society of the U.S., where the investigator witnessed how animals are beaten to death, if not dead already, when found suffering in leghold traps or snares (with callous disregard and even joking), along with the role that government agencies like the DNR play in protecting (poorly regulating) this cruel and unnecessary practice (much of which is to steal and sell their fur). In Tune to Nature host Carrie Freeman interviews Dr. Liz Tyson, Program Director of Born Free USA, about the investigation report and video, the legal issues, and how and why we can work to ban trapping, such as banning it in on public lands or in federal wildlife refuges (yes, despite being called a "refuge," animals are often hunted or trapped in these refuges). (23 minute podcast, free of adverts) See the trapping report and video at https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/trapping/trappingexposed/ Action: Support the "Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act" https://www.bornfreeusa.org/action-center/rfcta2021/ https://www.bornfreeusa.org/trapfreetrails/ (wildlife refuge page). Action: Tell the Dept of Interior to ban trapping on public lands https://bornfree.salsalabs.org/notrapping/index.html This Born Free page on trapping has resources like the 2017 report that grades each state on their trapping policies, so you can work locally to protect animals. https://www.bornfreeusa.org/campaigns/trapping/resources/ The photo is a still shot from the Born Free investigation of a trapper about to club to death a raccoon who got stuck in his leg hold trap. There is no humane or quick death for anyone crushed in these traps and snares. In Tune to Nature is a radio show on WRFG (Radio Free Georgia), an indie station in Atlanta for progressive issues, hosted by Carrie Freeman, Sonia Swartz, and Melody Paris, airing Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on wrfg.org and 89.3FM-Atlanta. Please support independent, noncommercial radio like Radio Free Georgia at https://wrfg.org/ Take care of yourself and others, including other species.

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Did you know the largest monkey sanctuary is in Texas?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 16:01

Join Dr. Liz Tyson of Born Free USA as she takes Kate on a tour of the largest monkey sanctuary in the United States. Monkeys who spent their lives in a tiny cage or tested on in laboratories are now living happy and free.

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5 Important Lessons 12 year old Advocate Taught Us

Modern Leadership with Jake Carlson

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 27:12

Today's Guest Expert: Kate Gilman Williams Kate Gilman Williams is Born Free USA's Youth Ambassador. She is a 12-year-old author, animal advocate, and entrepreneur. With her book, Let's Go On Safari!, she became the youngest author in history to launch a global title that is 100% philanthropic. Kate then founded Kids Can Save […] The post 5 Important Lessons 12 year old Advocate Taught Us appeared first on Jake A Carlson.

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2016-07-08 Carole Baskin's Diary

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2022 3:24

Snow Leopard Letter to the Editor kvalnews, Cat In this story: bandon-animal-park-welcomes-endangered-snow-leopard-as-its-newest-addition your reporter Jessica Waite, did a fluff piece that promotes cub petting which is currently under USDA review for a rule change due to the fact that the only way these backyard breeders and roadside zoos can use cubs is to pull them from their mothers when they are only hours or days old. More about all of the abuse that entails at bigcatrescue.org/cubs But the bigger story might be how West Coast Game Park Safari got their hands on a $10,000 snow leopard cub? If you contact Oregon's Dept. of Natural Resources, or Fish and Game Dept. to ask to see the USDA import permit for such a rare and thus expensive cat, I'm pretty sure you will see the cat originated in California, Florida or Nevada as there are no known snow leopard breeders in Oregon. It's my understanding that an endangered species, like a snow leopard must have approval by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be transported across state lines. The requirement for issuance of a Captive Bred Wildlife Permit and transfer is supposed to be predicated on that activity enhancing the species in the wild. Using a cub for pay to play sessions is NOT conservation. Given the young age of the cub, it is apparent that the breeder had to have broken this new USDA mandate of leaving the cub with their mother for at least the first four weeks. Any cub left with their mother that long would not allow humans to chain them and pass them around as if they were toys. 4/3/2016 USDA cracks down on abuse of cubs under the age of four weeks. In response to a 2012 legal petition filed by The Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund, Detroit Zoological Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Born Free USA, Big Cat Rescue, Fund for Animals and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance making clear that exhibitors violate the Animal Welfare Act by allowing members of the public to handle or feed infant exotic cats like tigers, lions, cheetahs, jaguars or leopards. Read more http://bigcatrescue.org/usda-announces-partial-cub-petting-ban/ Every year they have plenty of cubs to pimp out, but then they disappear. Cubs are only valuable until they are about 12 weeks old and too old, by USDA guidelines, for public petting. Where do all of those cubs go? Legitimate sanctuaries don't take cubs off the hands of abusers, just to allow them to continue the abuse. Please follow up this fluff piece with a real story about how this sort of thing is happening, despite laws and rules to the contrary. My guess is that you will see Donation checked on the USDA form and no one gives away snow leopards. For the cats, Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue "Judge me by the enemies I have made." - Franklin D. Roosevelt Author of Big Cat Care - How to Start a Sanctuary 12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL 33625 Hi, I'm Carole Baskin and I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion. Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk

2016-06-24 Carole Baskin's Diary

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 6:17

I am grateful for my son in law, Dr. Justin Boorstein He works all day at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, where they are low cost, high volume. His pay is minimal for a vet, because if he can survive on reduced pay, for 10 years, working for a non profit then his student loans, which are in the hundreds of thousands, are reduced. He comes to the sanctuary after work and on his days off to care for our cats. Two days ago he saw The Great Pretender. The bobcat was 24 years old and had stopped eating. We figured it was just the end for him, but Justin found 9 bad teeth. It was a long shot but he had to try removing that source of bacteria and discomfort to see if there was any more life left to go. He came back out to check on him last night, as he wasn't recovering from anesthesia, and it was clear that Justin was upset; thinking that maybe he could have worked faster…There really was nothing he could have done, but it plagues him any way. This morning Gale woke, Jamie, Justin and me to let us know that Pretender had died in his sleep. Precious and The Great Pretender were the next cats to arrive, after our founder, Windsong the Bobcat. For a time they lived in a cage in our home, and Pretender would jump and spit at me every time I walked by to get to my desk. When we did the huge fur farm rescue in 1993, and had bobcats and lynx kittens running wild through the house, we had to cage my desk, so I could work without them peeing all over everything. Precious and Pretender first moved to a porch and then to a concrete slab with a 12 x 24 foot dog kennel on it and then finally to Easy Street where my Dad built them their own spacious 1200 sf enclosures. I always loved and admired The Great Pretender for never even trying to pretend that he was OK with the idea of being caged. I vow to him, and every other wild cat who was bred for life in a cage that I won't stop until that barbaric practice ends. I am grateful for Gale and the fact that she shows up, almost every morning, at 7:00 am to get ready for the onslaught of volunteers who will begin filing in at 7:30. I am grateful for “Bernadette Juarez, the Deputy Administrator, Animal Care (AC) Program at USDA/APHIS. She seeks to improve regulatory practices and develop training and educational resources. Prior to being named Deputy Administrator in February 2016, Ms. Juarez served with APHIS' Investigative and Enforcement Services (IES), first as Deputy Director for nearly 5 years and then as Director beginning in 2013. As Director, Ms. Juarez was responsible for leading investigations of alleged AWA and HPA violations, as well as all other APHIS-administered statutes and regulations, and pursuing enforcement actions where warranted. Ms. Juarez's experience enforcing the AWA and HPA began prior to her joining APHIS as a trial attorney in USDA's Office of the General Counsel from 2002 to 2009. In over 6 years, she represented APHIS in numerous AWA and HPA administrative enforcement proceedings.” This is why and what I posted yesterday on our front page: USDA Reopening Comment Period on Legal Petition Submitted by Big Cat Rescue and Coalition to Prohibit the Public Contact with Big Cats and Cubs The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is reopening the comment period on a legal petition submitted by Big Cat Rescue, the Humane Society of the United States and a coalition of organizations (HSUS, World Wildlife Fund, Detroit Zoological Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Born Free USA, Fund for Animals and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries) to completely prohibit exhibition facilities from allowing members of the public to come into direct contact with dangerous wild animals. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAAPHIS/bulletins/1512904 https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-14976.pdf Big Cat Rescue and the coalition applaud USDA for taking this action to solicit information that would support a regulation prohibiting these inhumane and unsafe interactive experiences with big cats, bears and nonhuman primates. “We are very pleased that USDA is requesting further input from the public and see it as a positive sign that USDA is considering taking the action requested in our petition”, said Carole Baskin, founder and CEO of Big Cat Rescue. The action follows a determination by USDA in April 2016 that public contact with infant exotic cats violates the Animal Welfare Act, making clear that it is illegal for cubs to be immediately pulled from their mothers after birth to be hand-reared and bottle-fed by members of the public before their immune systems have even developed. [http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2016/04/usda-tiger-cub-abuse-roadside-zoos-040416.html?credit=web_id93480558]](http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2016/04/usda-tiger-cub-abuse-roadside-zoos-040416.html?credit=web_id93480558%5D) Comprehensive action to eliminate this dangerous practice is essential – for example, Dade City's Wild Things in Dade City, Florida is currently under USDA investigation for numerous violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including stress on infant and young tiger cubs handled and forced to swim with the public. In addition, PETA yesterday filed an intent to sue Dade City's Wild Things under the Endangered Species Act. PETA contends that prematurely separating infant tigers from their mothers, forcing them to interact with members of the public, and confining them to nearly barren concrete pens all constitute unlawful “takes,” defined by the Endangered Species Act as harming, harassing, and/or wounding an animal. http://www.peta.org/blog/nightmarish-tiger-sweatshop-gets-notice-petas-intent-sue/ Hi, I'm Carole Baskin and I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion. Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk

Backyard Big Cats: Devan Schowe, Born Free USA

Cats of the Wild

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2022 20:17

On February 26, 2019 - the Big Cat Public Safety Act was introduced to the US House of Representatives - in its official summary, it's a bill that revises the restrictions on the possession and exhibition of big cats - species of lion, tiger, leopard, cheetah, jaguar, or cougar or any hybrid of such species, including to restrict direct contact between the public and big cats. The introduction of this bill was the result of years of advocacy and campaign work from animal organisations such as the International Fund for Animal Welfare, Big Cat Rescue and Born Free USA - and yet today, almost three years later - the bill still isn't law in the US. So in this episode, we're going to explore the issues with big cat ownership, how it impacts the conservation of cats in the wild and importantly what are the next steps for the Big Cat Public Safety Act. This episode features Devan Schowe from Born Free USA Links Born Free USA Documentary - The Conservation Game

2016-04-16 Carole Baskin‘s Diary

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2021 7:26

There are 2 Reasons Why Zoo Keepers Are Killed by Tigers 1 There has been a failure in the safety measures to keep tigers and zoo keepers apart, or 2 The zoo keeper doesn't understand their relationship with tigers or any other big cat. There is a lot that can go wrong, from failing latches, to not having a clear line of sight between the cat and keeper to the mishaps that are caused by a keeper purposely entering the cats' space. Even if the cats are not killed, for doing what comes naturally, they are doomed to life in prison. Night Houses seem to often be part of the human / big cat mauling or killing scenario and maybe it is because it is such a cruel practice. Cats are most active at night, but for liability reasons are shut in prison-like, windowless, cells by zoos when they are closed. The cats hate it, so they have to withhold food to force them in at night. Big Cat Rescue does not lock cats up at night and thanks to our mild climate in Florida, does not utilize any sort of indoor housing for the big cats. Because there are no solid walls or doors, the keepers at Big Cat Rescue can always see where the cat is before approaching the enclosure. Caregivers at the sanctuary do not enter the enclosures of any big cat, unless that cat is safely locked into another portion of the cage by the CEO or President and the Operations Manager. Exotic cats are spectacularly intelligent creatures and have years to plot their escape or revenge. The second reason keepers are killed by big cats is that they think they are “tiger whisperers” or they think they have some super natural bond with apex predators that makes them special. Anyone who espouses such nonsense shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a captive big cat, because they clearly do not understand exotic cats. It is just a matter of time before it ends in tragedy. Cats in cages may be solicitous of their owners or keepers, but that's because they have to beg for everything. It's sad to see it, when you think about how majestic these animals are meant to be. Humans mistake their temporary power, ensured by the strength of the cage, for having a bond or relationship with the big cat. Tigers have their own agenda and it doesn't include pleasing people. Some may not be overtly nasty about it, but given a choice will escape and never look back. At Big Cat Rescue our caregivers are trained to feed and clean small cats, like bobcats, servals, caracals and lynx for 6 months before they can graduate to cougars. We are a NO TOUCH facility; no, not even their fingertips, may touch the cats! If they prove themselves trustworthy around the smaller cats, they can graduate to cougar keeping. They are with us about two years before they are even allowed to be in the sections where lions, tigers and leopards are housed. That two year process allows us ample time to weed out the delusional people who think they could get away with touching a big cat and live to tell about it. More Resources on the Captive Big Cat Issues Just like the better zoos are accredited by AZA, the better sanctuaries are accredited by GFAS. http://SanctuaryFederation.org These are the big cat standards for GFAS: http://www.sanctuaryfederation.org/gfas/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/FelidStandardsJuly2013HA.pdf The state of Florida does not allow contact with big cats over 40 lbs., but may have some exemption for employees. http://myfwc.com/license/captive-wildlife/ Never Pay To Pet Cubs USDA has enforced actions against facilities that allowed public contact with big cat cubs over the age of 12 weeks, as they can take off a finger at that age and just recently announced they will cite facilities for pimping out cubs under the age of 4 weeks. AZA zoos don't do that, but there are plenty of backyard breeders that do. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_welfare/downloads/big_cat/big_cat_q&a.pdf April 3, 2016 USDA cracks down on abuse of cubs under the age of four weeks. In response to a 2012 legal petition filed by The Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund, Detroit Zoological Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Born Free USA, Big Cat Rescue, Fund for Animals and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, theU.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance making clear that exhibitors violate the Animal Welfare Act by allowing members of the public to handle or feed infant exotic cats like tigers, lions, cheetahs, jaguars or leopards. April 5, 2016 USFWS announced that they are rescinding the generic tiger loophole. Big Cat Rescue has been pressuring the USFWS since at least 2007 to rescind this loophole and on 8/22/11 after a meeting with the USFWS the Generic Tiger issue was published to the Federal Register for public comment and got over 15,000 comments in support of our request to ban the breeding of non purebred tigers. According to their Q&A it sounds like the USFWS may still rubber stamp activities that really don't help tiger conservation, but it's a step. USDA only banned the contact with cubs under four weeks, but that is a step too. So What Can You Do to Stop the Abuse and the Killings and Maulings? As long as big cats are privately owned and used as photo and ego props, the fantasy that they can be handled safely will prevail and accidents will continue to happen. Regulations can't work, because USDA and USFWS don't have the resources nor apparently the will to enforce the weak rules they have, so that is why we need an all out ban on the private possession of big cats. You can help get that done at http://BigCatAct.com Hi, I'm Carole Baskin and I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion. Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk

2016-04-03 Carole Baskin‘ Diary

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Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 5:50

United States Department of Agriculture Cracks Down on Abuse of Tiger Cubs by Roadside Menageries In response to a 2012 legal petition filed by The Humane Society of the United States, World Wildlife Fund, Detroit Zoological Society, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Born Free USA, Big Cat Rescue, Fund for Animals and Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidance making clear that exhibitors violate the Animal Welfare Act by allowing members of the public to handle or feed infant exotic cats like tigers, lions, cheetahs, jaguars or leopards. “We applaud USDA for taking this first step to put roadside zoos and the public on notice that federal law prohibits using infant cubs for photographic opportunities and interactive experiences,” said Anna Frostic, senior attorney for wildlife & animal research at The Humane Society of the United States, “but it is imperative that the agency take additional action to prohibit public contact with big cats, bears and nonhuman primates of any age.” As documented in the petition, dozens of facilities across the country routinely breed and acquire exotic feline species – all of which are listed under the Endangered Species Act – to produce an ample supply of cubs for profit. “Both animals and people are put in harm's way when big cats are used for public contact exhibition – young cubs are particularly susceptible to disease, especially when deprived of necessary maternal care, and cubs quickly grow into dangerous predators that can cause serious injury to adults and children,” said Jeff Flocken, North America regional director for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. In contrast to zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, “there are thousands of big cats in private menageries in the U.S., and these facilities do not have the resources or expertise to safely and responsibly care for dangerous wild animals,” said Ron Kagan, executive director and CEO of the Detroit Zoological Society. Conservation professionals agree that endangered and threatened species like tigers, lions, and apes should not be bred for commercial purposes. “The insatiable demand for cubs and baby primates used at interactive exhibits fuels a vicious cycle of breeding and exploitation. It is standard in this horrific industry to separate babies from their mothers, and then discard them when they grow too big for handling,” explained Adam Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA. The mass propagation of tigers in the U.S. has resulted in a captive population that is nearly twice the number of tigers that exist in the wild. “Cubs used for petting, if they survive, typically spend many years living in substandard facilities and the few who are lucky enough to eventually end up at good sanctuaries typically arrive with medical issues caused by deficient care,” said Carole Baskin, CEO of Big Cat Rescue. In addition to these animal welfare, public safety and conservation concerns, “the surplus of exotic animals in roadside zoos and other substandard facilities puts an enormous financial burden on the accredited sanctuaries that provide lifetime care for abandoned and seized animals,” according to Michael Markarian, president of The Fund for Animals. Investigations have revealed that using tiger cubs for photo ops and play sessions can yield over $20,000 per month for a roadside zoo, fueling demand for more and more cubs – but once the cats mature, their future is uncertain. “There is just not enough space or resources at accredited sanctuaries to support the demand created by this irresponsible breeding,” said Kellie Heckman, executive director of Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Further, “the fate of captive tigers in the U.S. has serious implications for the conservation of tigers in the wild,” said Leigh Henry, senior policy advisor for Wildlife Conservation at World Wildlife Fund, “strengthened regulation of U.S. captive tigers will help ensure that captive-bred tiger parts don't enter the black market and stimulate the demand that drives the poaching of wild tigers.” While there is still much more work to be done to fully address the coalition's petition to completely prohibit public contact with big cats, bears and nonhuman primates of any age, this is a significant step forward for the U.S. to improve its oversight of captive tigers and lead by example to encourage other countries, like China, to reduce the demand for tigers and tiger products. Hi, I'm Carole Baskin and I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion. Closing graphic with permission from https://youtu.be/F_AtgWMfwrk

Episode 249: Born Free USA Dr. Liz Tyson

All Creatures Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 33:56

Born Free USA was founded in 2002. In 1966, Virginia McKenna and Bill Travers starred in the classic wildlife film Born Free. The film told the true story of conservationists Joy and George Adamson who rescued a lioness cub named Elsa and successfully returned her to the wild. The mission of Born Free USA states that their vision is a co-existent future where humans no longer exploit wild animals. The further state they are working to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. Dr. Liza Tyson is the Program Director of Born Free USA and spent time with us discussing her and Born Free USA's work. You can learn more about Born Free USA by visiting their website HERE

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We Can Only Save Ourselves - Will Travers

WorldView

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2021 52:51

Will Travers OBE is a writer, broadcaster, and animal activist. He is President of the Born Free Foundation (and co-founded the charity in 1984), Co-founder of Born Free USA, and President of Species Survival Network. Will is the eldest son of acting couple and wildlife campaigners, Bill Travers MBE (1922–1994) and Virginia McKenna OBE. ---- Guest Links ----- https://www.bornfree.org.uk/ https://twitter.com/BornFreeFDN https://twitter.com/willtravers?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor WorldView is a media company that delivers in-depth conversations, debates, round-table discussions, and general entertainment. Most of our content will be focused on news and politics, centered on South Africa. But the rest will be chats with figures around the world and from all walks of life to create a package that will inevitably broaden your WorldView. ---- Links ----- https://twitter.com/Broadworldview https://web.facebook.com/BroadWorldView You can donate at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=46136545&fan_landing=true Music: https://www.bensound.com

Monkeys in America - the Ambiguous World of "Pet Primates" with Dr. Liz Tyson of Born Free USA

Talking Apes

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2021 59:25 Transcription Available

Every now and then, headlines pop up about a monkey on the loose, tiktok videos of pet monkeys go viral, occasionally even celebrities will get their faces in the paper for their pet monkeys (looking at you Beiber!) But these blips of fame and notoriety of pet primates barely scratches the surface of just how many monkeys, apes, and other primates are being kept in people's basements, backyards, and bedrooms throughout the USA. With ~15,000 pet primates around the country, we have to ask ourselves: "Is it legal? Is it safe? It is ethical? Who decides?" To help us unpack the ambiguous world of monkeys in America, we welcome Dr. Liz Tyson, Programs Director at Born Free USA who has an in-depth knowledge of the exotic pet trade - from both a legal and a practical standpoint. Join us for this episode of Talking Apes and find out more about how YOU can help keep primates out of pethood.Born Free USA: https://www.bornfreeusa.org/our-campaigns/Talking Apes is the podcast that gets to the very heart of what is happening with and to apes like us. We explore the world of apes and primates with experts, conservationists, and passionate primate people from around the world. Join us as we unpack their weird and wonderful lives piece by piece.Talking Apes is made possible through generous support from listeners to nonprofit GLOBIO.org.Support the show (https://globio.org/donate)

united states america monkeys justin bieber sanctuaries conservation primates ambiguous great apes programs director born free usa talking apes

2011-07-22 Carole Diary

ceo grimes born free born free usa

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 4:19

Sheba the Black Jaguar This month I would like to tell you about Sheba the black jaguar; a cat who should be here but isn't. For years people complained to us about a black jaguar who would pace constantly in a small pit at Cypress Gardens. Big Cat Rescuers, Barbara Frank and Julie Hanan went to Cypress Gardens to check it out and brought back disturbing video that showed the jaguar to pace so consistently that there was a worn, dark mark in the wall from her pushing against it. We met with Cypress Gardens staff to try and help them come up with ways to give Sheba privacy and enrichment so that she might stop pacing. They ignored us. Later, when Cypress Gardens had gone bankrupt and were looking to dispose of all of their animals, we offered to take Sheba, but instead they sent her to Dade City's Wild Things. Last year a former employee of DCWT brought me a photo of Sheba, her face swollen and blood dripping from the oozing wound. Even though she was too old to breed, the owner of DCWT, Kathy Stearns, had put her in with a male jaguar. Sheba had killed the male jaguar and suffered considerable trauma to her head and face. We, and the employee, reported this to USDA and FWS along with the photos and the employee's letter stating that Kathy never gave the jaguar medical care for the wounds. Sheba was again on our minds as we went to lobby in D.C. for laws that would prevent cats like her from ending up in private hands. Big Cat Rescuers, Jeff & Coleen Kremer and Howard & Carole Baskin just returned from Washington, D.C. in the sanctuary's 7th annual trip to meet with other animal lovers where they petition lawmakers to enact more humane legislation. One of the best takeaways from the conference each year is the Humane Scorecard which lists all of the animal legislation from the previous session and how YOUR lawmaker voted. Howard said, “It's just like homecoming every year to reunite with such great people who are working hard to end animal abuse.” The four Rescuers went up early in order to make this the most profitable conference for big cats ever. Howard and Carole met with Richard Patch and Sara Amundson of the Humane Society Legislative Fund to get their expert advice on the best ways to end the abuse of tiger and lion cubs who are bred for pay-to-play schemes. They had similar meetings with Adam Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA, Cynthia Armstrong, the State Director of HSUS in Oklahoma, and many others too numerous to recount here. The conference workshops were excellent, as usual and there was a private screening of The Elephant in the Living Room along with a Q & A with the producer, Mike Webber and the star, Tim Harrison. The DVD will be out in August and we will let you know when it is available. The conference concludes each year with Lobby Day where the hundreds of animal lovers from all over the country gather in groups by state to go see their members of Congress. See photos of Big Cat Rescuers showing Congressional Staff the horrid conditions in which big cats live in the U.S. due to the lack of governance and enforcement. I've been writing my story since I was able to write, but when the media goes to share it, they only choose the parts that fit their idea of what will generate views. If I'm going to share my story, it should be the whole story. The titles are the dates things happened. If you have any interest in who I really am please start at the beginning of this playlist: http://savethecats.org/ I know there will be people who take things out of context and try to use them to validate their own misconception, but you have access to the whole story. My hope is that others will recognize themselves in my words and have the strength to do what is right for themselves and our shared planet. You can help feed the cats at no cost to you using Amazon Smile! Visit BigCatRescue.org/Amazon-smile You can see photos, videos and more, updated daily at BigCatRescue.org Check out our main channel at YouTube.com/BigCatRescue Music (if any) from Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com) This video is for entertainment purposes only and is my opinion.

Episode 579: Born Free ft. Angela Grimes

Our Hen House

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2021 58:10

Angela Grimes, the CEO of Born Free USA, joins us for this week’s episode on a very timely and crucially important subject — the highly problematic and cruel conditions within wildlife wet markets. She and Mariann discuss the connections between […]

Talking about Death, Long COVID, Protecting Animals, Normalizing Mental Health, Alex Trebek Tribute, Weekend Review

The Lisa Show

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2020 105:32

Talking to Kids about Death and Loss (0:00:00) Death is a natural part of life, but can be difficult to discuss. Even more difficult when you're trying to have that conversation with a young child. While we want to shield our children from serious grief and pain, we aren't always able to. Sometimes we have to have the hard talk with children sooner than we had hoped. We're welcoming Audrey Penn on the show. Audrey is an award-winning author of several children's books, including The Kissing Hand, her best seller that helps kids discuss death and grief. Today we'll be discussing why this concept is so important and how we can have those difficult conversations with our children. What is Long COVID? (0:19:40) If you have a cough or fever, you're probably worried you have COVID. And if you do, the good news is that with a 98%recovery rate, you'll probably feel better soon. But some that have recovered unfortunately are still experiencing symptoms, making it tough to go back to their normal life. An international group of researchers have discovered that COVID symptoms might remain prevalent for a while after you recover. Here to tell us more about it and how we can protect ourselves is the lead of the US group, Dr. Andrew Chan. How the Law Protects Wild Animals (0:37:33) Going to the zoo is one of the most magical things you can do as a kid—it's like seeing all your bedtime stories come to life before your eyes. Rudyard Kipling's Shere Khan (the tiger from The Junglebook), the bears from Goldilocks, and Curious George all in one place. However, not all zoos are created equal and as we age the glamour of zoos begins to wear thin. We start to wonder about the treatment of the animals and the conditions of their containment. We ask ourselves, how ethical are zoos really? Hereto answer these questions and to talk with us about the laws regulating zoos is Dr. Liz Tyson, Programs Director of Born Free USA and author of "Licensing Laws and Animal Welfare: The Legal Protection of Wild Animals". Normalizing Mental Health (0:52:45) The pandemic has changed a lot about what “normal” means, and on top of regular day to day stress, chances are your mental health might have taken a hit. In fact, 1 in 5 adults in the US suffer from a mental health issue, and this number looks like it might increase with the pandemic requiring us to stay inside and isolate from others. Even though it's common, it can still be difficult to have conversations surrounding mental health. How can we navigate these conversations, especially in a time like this? Joining us is mental health advocate Darrell Moon. Alex Trebek's Legacy (1:11:22) Just under 2 weeks ago, the beloved host of Jeopardy! Alex Trebek passed away at the age of 80. Doctors diagnosed Trebek with pancreatic cancer at the start of 2019, and while he underwent treatments for a brief respite, he resumed chemotherapy not long after. Trebek was the host of Jeopardy! for 37 years. Since his death, many fans and former contestants of the show have honored his life with kind words and tributes. Joining us today to discuss his legacy and the show is former contestant, Christine Hurt. Weekend Review (1:27:15) Lisa and Richie talk about what there is to do this weekend, from the new shows coming to streaming services to the New York Times bestseller list to what's going on in your community.

Born Free - How to Keep Wildlife Wild?

Move the human story forward! ™ ideaXme

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2020 52:59

Ira Pastor, ideaXme life sciences ambassador, interviews Will Travers OBE, President of the Born Free Foundation, Born Free USA and Species Survival Network. Ira Pastor Comments: The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity that campaigns to "Keep Wildlife in the Wild." Founded by English actors and wildlife campaigners Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna, its mission is to protect wild animals in their natural habitat, campaigns against the keeping of wild animals in captivity, and rescues wild animals in need. It also promotes compassionate conservation, which takes into account the welfare of individual animals in conservation initiatives. Born Free: Born Free’s head office is located in West Sussex, southeast England. It also has offices in Kenya, Ethiopia and South Africa, with representatives in Sri Lanka and Australia. Born Free manages or funds projects in more than 20 countries worldwide – across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas and focuses on ‘nine working priorities’ including: captive wild animal exploitation; trophy and canned hunting; wildlife trade; rescue, care, rehabilitation & release; human-wildlife co-existence and conservation; integrated wildlife protection; trans-boundary programs; UK wildlife protection; and education. Born Free also has its own sanctuaries – two big cat rescue centers at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, in South Africa, Ensessa Kotteh Wildlife Rescue, Conservation & Education Center, in Ethiopia, and Bannerghatta tiger sanctuary, in India. Will Travers: Will Travers OBE wis an English director, writer, broadcaster and animal rights activist, and also son of Bill Travers and Virginia McKenna. He is President of the Born Free Foundation, Born Free USA and Species Survival Network. On this episode we will hear from Mr Travers about: His background and how he got involved in the "compassionate conservation" movement. The Born Free Foundation - the genesis of the organization, its team, who sets working priorities, and its supporters. Born Free Foundation's work against the exploitation of wild animals in zoos, aquaria and other captive environments, and a discussion of the psychological condition of Zoochosis. Born Free Foundation's work against illegal wildlife trade, a US$20 billion a year global set of businesses. Their work on the educational front. BFF animal adoptions can be found at www.bornfree.org.uk/adopt BFUSA adoptions can be found www.bornfreeusa.org/adopt/ Credits: Ira Pastor interview video, text, and audio. Follow Ira Pastor on Twitter:@IraSamuelPastor If you liked this interview, be sure to check out our interview on Saving the World's Rarest Large Mammal! Follow ideaXme on Twitter:@ideaxm On Instagram:@ideaxme Visit ideaXme: www.radioideaxme.com Find ideaXme across the internet including on iTunes, SoundCloud, Amazon Podcasts, Radio Public,TuneIn Radio,I Heart Radio, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more. ideaXme is a global podcast, creator series and mentor programme. Our mission: Move the human story forward!™ ideaXme Ltd.

1087. Boston Globe TV Critic Matthew Gilbert Investigates The Dog Park Dynamics

Animal Radio®

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 78:45

The Dog Park Phenomenon Boston Globe TV Critic (a great gig if you can get it) Matthew Gilbert investigates the dynamics of dog parks. He didn't like dogs. In fact, he was afraid of them until his spouse introduced him to a dog that would forever change his view. Matt shares stories about the nutty fellow canine-lovers at his dog park. Listen Now Flea Wars Animal Radio Vets Dr. Marty Becker and Dr. Debbie are armed with flea-ridding tactics. Did you know that there are over a dozen different kind of fleas? There's a difference between "cat" fleas and "dog" fleas. Most importantly, how do we get rid of them for good? We've got answers. Listen Now Muffin's Halo Our Hero Person this week invented a bumper, or better described as a 'halo,' that protects blind dogs from bumping into furniture and other obstacles. Sylvie Bordeaux was tired of seeing her blind dog bash into stuff. With needle and thread in hand, she created a genius product that is helping vision-impaired pups from being discarded to shelters. Listen Now New Uses For Unwanted Fur Now a national organization called Born Free USA has come up with a fantastic idea. It collected unwanted furs and sent them to wildlife rehab centers in Texas. California and Missouri where they were cut into small pieces and used for orphaned babies and injured animals to snuggle in. Listen Now Declawing Is Major Surgery The American Veterinary Medical Association has amended it's policy to clarify that declawing is a major surgery that should only be performed as a last resort to prevent destructive clawing, but it stopped short of suggesting a ban on it. The new policy stresses the importance of educating cat guardians about normal feline scratching behavior, alternatives to declawing and that declawing is actually the amputation of the first digit of the cat's toes. Listen Now Read more about this week's show.

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End U.S. Trophy Hunting: Why & How. An Interview with Born Free USA's Angela Grimes

BeProvided Conservation Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2020 22:18

Angela Grimes of Born Free USA dispels the myths that American trophy hunters use to justify so much unnecessary killing of wild animals (even endangered species). She explains how trophy hunting is not only cruel but harmful to the ecosystems and the family/community of that individual animal killed. And most of the money earned does not go to local communities, who would benefit more economically from ecotourism that values the long lives (not the deaths) of these charismatic larger species like bears, lions, tigers, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, rhino, hippos, zebra, giraffes, and others who are slaughtered for sport and egotistical taxidermy displays. In this 22-minute interview with host Carrie Freeman for Radio Free Georgia's "In Tune to Nature" program in early July of 2020, Angela discusses what Born Free USA is doing (with the help of us as activists) to promote federal policies (like the CECIL Act in Congress) to remove loopholes that trophy hunters use to import body parts from endangered species into the USA. Their website with action items is here https://www.bornfreeusa.org/trophyhunting/Carrie and co-host Sonia Swartz have been hosting the In Tune to Nature program weekly for 10 years to advocate for eco and animal friendly values and practices. https://www.facebook.com/InTunetoNature/This radio show airs on July 8, 2020 on 89.3FM-Atlanta and on wrfg.org. Consider supporting this progressive, independent radio station: Radio Free Georgia. Thank you.

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Dr. Liz Tyson: Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary Director

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2020 43:29

I am honored to have Dr. Liz Tyson as our guest today. Liz is an animal advocate with over 16 years of experience working for animal protection and conservation. Since 2018 she has been with Born Free USA and is currently the Program Director; here she is responsible for running the largest primate sanctuary. She is also leading the organization's campaign program to help stop illegal pet trade and roadside zoo operations. Liz has worked as a freelance consultant for the organization’s linked charity, Born Free Foundation in her native United Kingdom for some years prior to taking up her current role. She has been all over the world — UK, Ireland, Colombia, Spain, Middle East, Bolivia, Ethiopia, and Peru —advocating for animals. Some of her work includes running sterilization programs for street dogs in the Middle East, and working with indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon to bring the end to hunting of wild primates. In this episode, Liz shares the stories of the monkeys that come into the care of the primate sanctuary team. The sanctuary gives monkeys a second life after a traumatic first life. She shares the stories of rescued animals from terrible conditions at roadside zoos and how people think a monkey makes a great pet then abandons it after they realize it IS a wild animal. As these stories are sad to hear, people need to hear them to understand that wild animals as pets and these roadside zoos should not be happening. But on the light side, we get to hear about the crotchety but lovable Mrs. Wilkin who walks with an uneven gait. We will hear about one of Liz’s favorites (even though he pays her no mind!), Gizmo, a long tailed macaque monkey with big ears and a crooked smile. Here are ways you can learn more and help! Visit their website: https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/ Sign up for their newsletter (at the bottom to their webpage) to stay up to date on current legislation and news about theillegal pet trade and roadside zoos. Adopt a monkey and learn more about them! https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/adopt-monkey/ Donate! Fund a Need! https://www.bornfreeusa.org/primate-sanctuary/fund-a-need/ Enjoy the audio below and the gallery of photos of the monkeys at the sanctuary!

Protecting Tigers & Big Cats: An interview with Born Free USA CEO Angela Grimes

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2020 23:00

The popularity of Netflix's Tiger King has created an opportunity to discuss the problems with personal ownership of big cats -- like tigers, lions, and panthers -- as 'pets' and/or objects of profit in the USA. In this 23-minute interview from May 2020, host Carrie Freeman interviews Born Free USA CEO Angela Grimes who explains what the Tiger King show doesn't show -- the suffering inherent for cats in being taken from their mothers as cubs and handled by people and tourists for entertainment and profit. And then when the cats are no longer most profitable or cute and safe to handle, they may be sold or killed (which can be for their body parts to be traded globally). They have no control over their own lives and futures. Inadequate legislation varies by state and allows these wild animals to be sold over the internet like commodities, continuing the breeding cycle. Angela explains the bipartisan support for proposed federal legislation, The Big Cat Public Safety Act -- a bill that would prohibit the private possession of big cat species and ban public contact with big cats throughout the USA. She encourages us to ask our own Congressional representatives to cosponsor and support the bill.Find out ways to help #keepwildlifeinthewild at www.bornfreeusa.org to support compassionate conservation of wild animals.Tune in to "In Tune to Nature" radio show Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia) and in Atlanta on 89.FM. www.facebook.com/intunetonature

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Ending the US Role in the Wildlife Trade and Pandemic Risks: An interview with Alice Stroud of Born Free USA

Projects for Wildlife Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2020 22:40

As the recognition increases for how trading wild animals is the cause of pandemics and many other harms, there is a political moment during this Covid-19 crisis to get legislation passed to end the USA's role in the destructive global wildlife trade. In this 23-minute podcast, "In Tune to Nature" host Carrie Freeman interviews attorney Alice Stroud, Director of Africa Policy & Capacity Building at Born Free USA, who explains what the wildlife trade looks like, who is involved (pangolins, sharks, turtles, tigers, etc), and how the United States can ban this trade and become integral to protecting wildlife and their habitats and, in turn, protecting humans from the spread of infectious diseases. Also see this presentation on what Born Free USA is doing in response to this pandemic crisis.Find out ways to help #keepwildlifeinthewild at www.bornfreeusa.org to support compassionate conservation of wild animals.Tune in to "In Tune to Nature" radio show Wednesdays from 6:30-7pm EST on wrfg.org (Radio Free Georgia) and in Atlanta on 89.FM. www.facebook.com/intunetonature

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Episode 066 - Angela Grimes shares Born Free's rescue of five monkeys from a roadside zoo

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2020 46:14

Angela Grimes is the Chief Executive Officer of Born Free USA. In 2002, Born Free USA was launched in the United States to bring Born Free’s vision to the American public. The vision is for a co-existent future where humans no longer exploit wild animals. Born Free also operates the largest Primate Sanctuary in the United States. The 175-acre sanctuary, located in south Texas, provides a safe, permanent home to approximately 475 monkeys, many rescued from abuse in roadside zoos or as “pets” in private homes or retired from research. Today we talk about a recent rescue of five monkeys from a roadside zoo. Show notes for this episode: www.projectsforwildlife.com/episode066 WHERE TO FIND US: www.projectsforwildlife.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/projectsforwildlife Instagram: www.instagram.com/projectsforwildlife In The Field: www.projectsforwildlife.com/inthefield SPEAK UP FOR BLUE network: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/projects-for-wildlife-podcast/id1447156335 https://play.google.com/music/listen?u=0#/ps/Iwrwftbcic2v4xbgobilmcw2ddu https://open.spotify.com/show/6uaLm4c6KwVhT5A9fy4jng Check out the Shows on the Speak Up For Blue Network: Blue Facebook Group: http://www.speakuforblue.com/group Check out the new Speak Up For The Ocean Blue Podcast App: http://www.speakupforblue.com/app. Speak Up For Blue Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-up-for-the-ocean-blue/id1010962669 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3mE8fDuPv6OiTZ64EfIob9 Marine Conservation Happy Hour Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k4ZB3x Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2kkEElk ConCiencia Azul: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k6XPio Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k4ZMMf Dugongs & Seadragons: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lB9Blv Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lV6THt Environmental Studies & Sciences Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2lx86oh Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2lG8LUh Marine Mammal Science: Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2k5pTCI Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2k1YyRL

Devastating Changes to the Endangered Species Act (w/ Huffington Post's Chris D'Angelo and Born Free USA's Angela Grimes)

The Climate Pod

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2019 44:15

On Monday, the Trump Administration announced changes to weaken the Endangered Species Act. This decision comes just three months after the United Nation's Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a study that reported up to 1 million species are now threatened with extinction around the globe. We discuss these changes and what it means with Chris D'Angelo, environmental reporter for the Huffington Post, and Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA. Also, Chad the Bird is back to talk about feral hogs and animal migration. Read Chris' story on the changes to the ESA here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-endangered-species-rule_n_5cf7b7b4e4b01713bed4df9b You can follow Born Free USA on Twitter and Facebook @bornfreeusa and Chris D'Angelo on Twitter @c_m_dangelo. Follow Chad The Bird on Twitter @chadthebird and listen to his podcast, "Chad The Podcast." As always, follow us @climatepod on Twitter and email us at theclimatepod@gmail.com. Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher and more!

Animals Today December 1, 2018: Fur farming in Europe. Is your city friendly for pets? The book, Rescuing Ladybugs, by Jennifer Skiff. Encouraging cats to stay hydrated. Toxic mushrooms pose serious risks, especially to dogs.

Animals Today Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2018 43:18

We begin by welcoming Angela Grimes, Acting CEO of Born Free USA to tell us about their new report on fur farming in Europe. There is a very wide range of practices and laws across the continent, with Luxembourg, the UK, Austria, Slovenia Macedonia, and Croatia having total bans. Where farming is conducted, the animals […]

Animals Today June 16, 2018. The amazing Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. Remembering Leona Helmsley’s dog, Trouble and other more serious estate planning concerns. Interior department proposes a cruel rule change in Alaska – now is time to act! Our pet p

Animals Today Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2018 43:12

A recent incident where a macaque escaped his enclosure while being moved through the San Antonio International Airport caught our attention. The animal, who was tranquilized and gently recaptured, is now safely living the good life at Born Free USA Primate Sanctuary. Prashant K. Khetan, Chief Executive Officer & General Counsel at Born Free USA […]

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Big Blend Radio: Nature & Eco Festival

Big Blend Radio Shows

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2017 180:38

This special episode of Big Blend Radio's Nature Connection Show, aired live on April 19, 2017: Big Cat Public Safety Act with Kate Dylewsky, Program Associate at Born Free USA; Greening of Texas with William Bridge – Global Green USA, Ryan Brown - Earth Day Texas & Michael Cain – EarthxFilm; Brian Kateman – editor of 'The Reducetarian Solution’; What Makes a Good Volunteer with Sarah H. Elliston – author of 'Lessons from a Difficult Person.’ www.BigBlendRadio.com

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Big Blend Radio: Big Cat Public Safety Act

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2017 38:56

Thousands of big cats are kept as pets or maintained in ill-equipped roadside zoos in the U.S. Kate Dylewsky, Program Associate at Born Free USA, discusses the recently introduced Big Cat Public Safety Act (H.R. 1818), that would advance animal welfare and protect public safety by prohibiting possession and breeding of tigers, lions, leopards and other big cat species by private individuals and unqualified exhibitors. Learn more and take action at www.BornFreeUSA.org

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Big Blend Radio: Wildlife, Food Waste Recovery & Music

Big Blend Radio Shows

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2017 169:17

This episode of Big Blend Radio aired live on March, 24, 2017 featuring: Trapping in National Wildlife Refuges with Jennifer Place of Born Free USA; Food Waste Recovery with Matt de la Houssaye, Director of Global Green USA’s NYC Office & Coalition for Resource Recovery; Singer-songwriter Elli Perry talks about her new album, ‘Little Thieves.’ www.BigBlendRadio.com

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Born Free USA: Trapping in National Wildlife Refuges

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Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2017 45:10

Here about issues and legislation regarding Wildlife Trapping in National Wildlife Refuges, with Jennifer Place, Program Associate, Born Free USA animal advocacy and wildlife conservation organization. www.BornFreeUSA.org

Japanese Rabbit (Part1) - Yudai Tanabe - Rabbit Islands - Amami Rabbit - Rabbit Bird - Mochi - Rabbit on the Moon - Raspberry - Impress

Hare of the rabbit podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2017 35:55

Japanese Rabbits (Part 1) Interview with Yudai Tanabe Rabbit Island: When I think about Japan and rabbits the first thing that comes to mind for me is the video's of Rabbit Island. As islands that are occupied by wild animals go, Okunoshima, better known as Usaga Jima or Rabbit Island, is probably the cutest. Ōkunoshima (大久野島?) is a small island located in the Inland Sea of Japan in the city of Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture. It is accessible by ferry from Tadanoumi and Ōmishima. There are campsites, walking trails and places of historical interest on the island. It is often called Usagi Shima (うさぎ島?, "Rabbit Island") because of the numerous feral rabbits that roam the island; they are rather tame and will approach humans. Situated in the East Sea/Inland Sea of Japan, the small island is occupied by hundreds of wild rabbits that roam the forests and paths, chase tourists, appear in viral videos and just generally lounge around. They also provide a much needed counterbalance to the island's otherwise dark history – as the production site for Japan's chemical weapons during the second world war. Of course, Japan being the birthplace of kawaii – the distinct cultural appreciation of all things cute – the bounding herds of friendly rabbits are a much bigger attraction than the Poison Gas Museum. The source of the rabbits remains a mystery, it may be that the origins of the island's fluffy residents is intertwined with its history as manufacturer of chemical weapons. The ruins of the gas manufacturing plant are still standing today. The island was a cultivated area until the Russo-Japanese War when ten forts were built to protect it. Three fishing families lived on the island. In 1925, the Imperial Japanese Army Institute of Science and Technology initiated a secret program to develop chemical weapons, based on extensive research that showed that chemical weapons were being produced throughout the United States and Europe. Japan was a signatory on the 1925 Geneva Protocol which banned the use of chemical warfare. Although the development and storage of chemical weapons were not banned, Japan went to great lengths to ensure the secrecy of construction of the chemical munitions plant begun in 1929, even going so far as to remove records of the island from some maps. The plant was built over the period of 1927 to 1929, and was home to a chemical weapon facility that produced over six kilotons of mustard gas and tear gas. Between 1929-1945, the Japanese army secretly produced over 6,000 tons of poison gas on Okunoshima, which was removed from maps of the area and chosen because of its discreet location and distance from civilian populations. At the time, an unfortunate colony of rabbits was brought to the island in order to test the effects of the poison. Ōkunoshima played a key role during World War II as a poison gas factory for much of the chemical warfare that was carried out in China. The island was chosen for its isolation, conducive to security, and because it was far enough from Tokyo and other areas in case of disaster. Under the jurisdiction of the Japanese military, the local fish preservation processor was converted into a toxic gas reactor. Residents and potential employees were not told what the plant was manufacturing and everything was kept secret; working conditions were harsh and many suffered from toxic-exposure related illnesses. With the end of the war, documents concerning the plant were burned and Allied Occupation Forces disposed of the gas either by dumping, burning, or burying it, and people were told to be silent about the project. Several decades later, victims from the plant were given government aid for treatment. In 1988 the Ōkunoshima Poison Gas Museum was opened. While some claim the rabbits that live there now are relatives of the test bunnies that were freed by the workers at the end of the war, others are less convinced; it has been reported that all the rabbits were killed when the factory ceased production. The other theory is that eight rabbits were brought to the island by schoolchildren in 1971, where they bred (presumably like rabbits) until they reached their current population, which is potentially in the thousands. With the island being a predator-free zone – dogs and cats are banned – if the number of rabbits hasn't hit the thousands yet, it's inevitable it will do soon. The island now has a hotel"Kyukamura Ohkunoshima National Park Resort of Japan", a six-hole golf course and a small camping ground. Visitors are able to swim in the clean water surrounding the island, regardless of the tide, and enjoy a day trip. Visitors can eat lunch at Rabbit restaurant or cafe, take a hot spring bath and rental bicycles. According to Murakami, the former director of the poison gas museum, the current rabbits have nothing to do with those that were involved with chemical weapon tests. Hunting these creatures is forbidden, and dogs and cats may not be taken onto the island. The ruins of the old forts and the gas factory can be found all over the island; entry is prohibited as it is too dangerous. Since it is part of the Inland Sea National Park system of Japan, there is a resource center and across the way is the museum. In 2015, the BBC presented a short television series called Pets - Wild at Heart, which featured the behaviours of pets, including the rabbits on the island. The series depicted various tourists coming to feed the rabbits. Poison Gas Museum The Poison Gas Museum opened in 1988 to educate people about the island's role in World War II. Opened in 1988, the museum "was established in order to alert as many people as possible to the dreadful truths about poison gas." Only two rooms large, the small building provides a basic overview of the construction of the plant, working conditions and the effects of poison gas on humans. Families of workers who suffered the aftereffects of the harsh working conditions donated numerous artifacts to help tell the story of the workers' plight when handling the gas with poor safety equipment that often leaked. The second room shows how poison gas affects the human body through the lungs, eyes, skin, and heart. Images of victims from Iraq and Iran add to the message of the museum. As expressed by the curator Murakami Hatsuichi to The New York Times, “My hope is that people will see the museum in Hiroshima City and also this one, so they will learn that we [Japanese] were both victims and aggressors in the war. I hope people will realize both facets and recognize the importance of peace.". In the museum one can pick up a guide to the numerous remains of the forts from the Second Sino-Japanese War and the poison gas factory. Most of the buildings are run-down and condemned, but recognizable. The museum is aimed mainly at the Japanese people, but English translations are provided on the overall summary for each section. Other buildings and structures The island is connected by Chūshi Powerline Crossing, the tallest powerline in Japan. The best way of accessing the island from the mainland is to take the Sanyō Shinkansen train to Mihara Station (only the Kodama stops there); at Mihara, catch the Kure Line local train to Tadanoumi, from there walk to the terminal and catch a ferry. Now the island, a short ferry ride from the mainland, is a popular tourist resort with a small golf course, camping grounds and beautiful beaches. Tours are also given of the now derelict poison gas facilities, while ruins of military outposts are dotted around the island. In some ways the allure of the bunnies is similar to that of Japan's and, more recently, England's cat cafes. Most apartments in Japan forbid pets, so an opportunity to enjoy the company of a furry friend is a welcome one. Visitors to Okunoshima can buy food for the remarkably tame rabbits, who became an online hit when this video of a woman being chased by a "stampede" of rabbits was posted online. The videos from Japan’s Ōkunoshima Island are undeniably cute: excited tourists laughing and screaming in joy as dozens of fuzzy, semi-wild rabbits swarm over them, looking for a bite of food. But those viral videos, which have inspired thousands of people to visit the so-called Rabbit Island over the past two years, hold a dark secret. The rabbits are dying. The very thing that inspires people to come to the island—the YouTube videos that have been watched by millions—is creating an unsustainable situation that puts Ōkunoshima’s wildlife and ecosystem at risk. The rabbit population, which was apparently stable for many years, has exploded since the first YouTube video appeared in 2014. “It’s amazing how many tourists we interviewed came to the island just because of the video,” said Margo DeMello, program director for the Animals and Society Institute, an Ann Arbor, Michigan–based nonprofit. The tourists often come bearing food, and that’s creating an unsustainable population boom. “There are now about 1,000 rabbits on this two-mile island,” DeMello said. “They’ve destroyed the ecosystem.” As a result of the lack of vegetation and the inappropriate food that tourists provide for the animals, the rabbits suffer from a variety of health problems and now have a life expectancy of just two years, DeMello and her fellow researchers found. The findings were presented on Wednesday at the World Lagomorph Conference in Turlock, California. Although the resort’s website contains warnings not to pick up the rabbits or feed them snacks, DeMello said most tourists ignore the cautionary instructions. Tourists’ photos from the island posted online are proof of that. The tourists, she said, often come bearing cabbage, one of the cheapest vegetables in Japan and a big part of the Japanese diet. Cabbage is a bad food choice for rabbits, as it causes dangerous and potentially deadly bloat. It is also low in fiber, something rabbits require for what DeMello called their “very particular digestive system. The supplemental food—which the rabbits now rely on because there’s so little natural vegetation left to eat—also comes irregularly, especially when cold or rainy weather or school schedules keep tourists off the island. “Rabbits need to eat all the time and consistently,” DeMello said. “Now they get huge amounts of food on some days and no food on other days. They’re not like other animals that can adapt to that.” The situation on Rabbit Island is far from unique. Experts warn that social networking—from YouTube videos to posting selfies taken with wildlife—all too often inspires behavior that is unhealthy for animals. Adam Roberts, chief executive of Born Free USA, expressed concern that “seemingly benign social media” can lead to poor behavior by humans that is detrimental to animals. “Social media can glorify the cruel consumption of animals, which leads people to buy animals, including from irresponsible breeders, and even wild animals, which should remain in the wild,” he said. “Tourists should avoid feeding wild animals when it is not regulated,” said Laëtitia Maréchal, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom and lead author of the study. “It not only presents potential risks for animal welfare but also for the tourists themselves, as they might be injured or risk potential disease transmission.” Even official warnings don’t appear to stop the behavior, she said. “As people often believe that feeding animals is an act of kindness, they seem surprised or skeptical that this behavior can potentially harm the welfare of the animals involved.” On Rabbit Island, DeMello and her fellow researchers found that the rabbits are fighting over even the least nutritious food provided by tourists. “Of the 728 rabbits that we counted on the island, 28 percent had visible injuries or illnesses,” she reported. The percentage grew to 50 percent in the areas of the island closest to humans. “The more humans interfered, the sicker and more injured the rabbits appeared to be,” she said. Because the rabbits are officially considered wild animals, the national park and resort take no active role in their care. “We as a hotel do nothing that might impact the wild nature of these animals, such as feeding or veterinary treatment,” Christoph Huelson of the Kyukamura Hotels sales department said in an email. DeMello said she and others worry that word about the condition of the animals could lead to tourism restrictions or even to some of the rabbits being killed off. Instead, she hopes her research will inspire some change that will benefit the animals. “I would like to see a dialogue between the government, the hotel, and some of the local people who care about the rabbits,” she said. Until then, she said, talking about the issues raised by social media might create some change in time to let the rabbits recover from the effects of the wrong kind of publicity. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%8Ckunoshima https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2014/jun/02/rabbit-island-okunoshima-japan-holiday-resort-bunnies http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/07/14/viral-videos-are-destroying-japans-super-cute-rabbit-island In my research I found Another Rabbit Island!!!! AMAMI-OSHIMA https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spn/kagoshima/map_plus_info/locations.html By air from Tokyo: 2:20h; from Kagoshima: 50 min. Amami-Oshima: Mangrove Among the special natural attractions of Amami-Oshima are a species of black rabbit, dense virgin forests, and mangroves. The mangrove forest can be explored by canoe, and sea-kayaking is also popular. The beauty of the coral reef can be viewed by means of a glass-bottomed boat. The island has examples of traditional "taka-kura", which are storehouses built on stilts. While they may seem typical of a south-sea island culture, they were originally used not only in the islands but throughout Japan to store rice. The island has a centuries-old tradition of manufacturing pongee silk fabric, which is known for its fineness of pattern and pleasant feel on the skin. Agricultural products include sugarcane, sweet potatoes, pineapple, papaya, and bananas. Now I am going to cover the Amami rabbit The Amami rabbit (Pentalagus furnessi; Amami: [ʔosaɡi]), or Amamino kuro usagi (アマミノクロウサギ奄美野黒兔?, lit. "Amami wild black rabbit"), also known as the Ryukyu rabbit, is a primitive, dark-furred rabbit which is only found in Amami Ōshima and Toku-no-Shima, two small islands between southern Kyūshū and Okinawa in Kagoshima Prefecture (but actually closer to Okinawa) in Japan. Often called a living fossil, the Amami rabbit is a living remnant of ancient rabbits that once lived on the Asian mainland, where they died out, remaining only on the two small islands where they survive today. With its small ears and eyes and its dense dark fur, it looks very different from a typical rabbit or hare. It lives in or on the edge of old-growth forests, away from human activity. Although the rabbit has been declared as a Japanese National Monument, its existence is not widely known, even amongst the people of Japan. The species is protected from hunting, but populations have decreased in the last few decades due to extensive habitat loss and predation by introduced carnivores. This ancient species looks very different from a typical rabbit or hare. It has retained several primitive characteristics, such as small eyes and ears and a long snout. The rabbit’s distinctive fur is dense and woolly, and is dark-brown in colour, fading to reddish-brown on the sides and underbelly. Its body is heavily built with short limbs that end in unusually long curved claws. The Amami Rabbit has a body length between 42 and 51 cms (16.5 - 20 inches), a tail length between 1 and 3.5 cms (0.4 - 1.4 inches) and they weigh between 2 and 3 kgs (4.4 - 6.6 lbs). They are a distinctive rabbit with a bulky body and dark brown fur. They have a pointed nose, small eyes and short ears. The Amami rabbit has short hind legs and feet, a somewhat bulky body, and rather large and curved claws used for digging and sometimes climbing. Its ears are also significantly smaller than those of other rabbits or hares. The pelage (the fur, hair, or wool of a mammal) is thick, wooly and dark brown on top and becomes more reddish-brown on the sides. The eyes are also small compared to more common rabbits and hares. The average weight is 2.5–2.8 kg. The only species in its genus, the Amami rabbit is one of the most primitive lagomorphs in the world. It is so different from other rabbits and hares that it is considered to belong to an early branch of the main rabbit-hare evolutionary tree. Its ancestors are believed to have diverged from other leporids between 10 and 20 million years ago, about half as long ago as ancestral rabbits separated from pikas. Behavior Predominantly solitary and nocturnal. Individuals spend their days sleeping in a den, usually an underground tunnel or a space between rocks and trees. At night the rabbits forage for food amongst the forest undergrowth. They eat a variety of plants and fruits depending on the season, with Japanese pampas grass forming the bulk of the diet in the summer months, and acorns during the winter. The rabbit breeds twice a year, producing two or three young which are raised in a safe den. This species of forest-dweller reproduces once in late March–May and once in September–December, having one or two young each time. The mother visits the den at night to nurse her young. When she leaves she carefully seals the den with dirt and plant material to protect them against predators. They are also noted for making calling noises, which sound something like the call of a pika. Amami Rabbits communicate with each other using clicking sounds and calling noises, which is unusual among rabbit species. Distribution and habitat The ideal habitat for these rabbits is in an area between mature and young forests. They use the dense mature forests as protection and for the presence of acorns for their diets. More common in secondary forests close to mature forests than in those further from mature forests, indicating that a mosaic of mature and young forests is the most suitable habitat type for this species. Population surveys carried out between 1985 and 1990 indicate that the rabbits are most common in secondary forests, 10 to 40 years after clear-felling. The species is not found in cultivated or residential areas. They also use the high density of perennial grasses and herbaceous ground cover in the young forests for their diets during different times of the year. Therefore, the best habitat for them to live in is where they have easy access to both young and mature forests with no obstructions between the two forest types. The species is only known to occur on the islands of Amami (820 km²) and Tokuno (248 km²) in the Ryukyu Archipelago, southwest of Japan. The distribution has been estimated to be around 370 km² on Amami and 33 km² on Tokuno Island. Some populations are completely isolated and thought to be very small. The population has been estimated to be between 3,000 and 5,000, of which the majority are found on the island of Amami. There are believed to be fewer than 500 individuals remaining on the island of Tokuno. Using fecal pellet counts and resident surveys, the number of rabbits is estimated at 2000–4800 left on Amami Island and 120–300 left on Tokuno Island. Population Trend In spite of an increase in the area of young forests due to continuous cutting, surveys have indicated a significant decline in the distribution and abundance of the species over the past 20 years. In particular, populations of Amami rabbit have decreased in the central part of the island, where mongoose numbers have rapidly increased in recent years. Threats The rabbits initially became endangered as a result of hunting for meat and oriental medicine. Before 1921, hunting and trapping were another cause of decline in population numbers. In 1921, Japan declared the Amami rabbit a "natural monument" which prevented it from being hunted. Then in 1963, it was changed to a "special natural monument" which prevented it from being trapped as well. Even with Japan giving the species full legal protection, it is still under threat from predation by stray dogs, feral cats and other animals introduced by humans. In particular, Java mongooses Herpestes javanicus have killed large numbers of Amami rabbits, following their introduction in 1979 to control the population of venomous habu pit vipers Trimeresurus flavoviridis. Unfortunately, the mongooses devastated populations of the islands’ native small mammals instead. In the last few decades, habitat loss due to extensive logging operations has also been a major contributor to the rabbits’ decline. Less than 1% of the forests on Amami Island have been protected from development activities such as logging resort development and road construction. The total area of mature forest in 2000 was estimated to be about 40% of that in 1970, accounting for about 9.1% of the forest area on the island. Young secondary forests, resulting from complete clearance of mature forests, now cover much of the island. However, rabbits are less common in areas of secondary forest far from mature forest patches. Conservation Underway The species has been declared as a Japanese National Monument, and as such receives protection from hunting and capture. Some animals are further protected in national reserves such as the Amami Gunto Quasi-National Park. A number of population surveys (consisting of rabbit pellet counts and community interviews) have been carried out over the past two decades. These surveys have yielded important data on the population and conservation status of the species, and have confirmed the negative effect mongooses are having on rabbit populations. The results of these studies have led to recent culls of this alien invasive predator by the federal and local government. Conservation Proposed A combination of habitat restoration and predator control initiatives are required to mitigate the threats to the Amami rabbit. Careful habitat management is needed to maintain a mosaic of mature oak forests and young second-growth so that the rabbit can obtain food throughout the year. Such mosaics are still fairly abundant in the central and the southern parts of Amami Island. The primary conservation measure in such areas would be to limit forest road construction. This measure would restrict the logging of more mature forests, help prevent the further expansion of predators into the forest, and ensure that local rabbit populations do not become isolated. Increased habitat protection would be beneficial in the southern part of Amami Island, where the population density of rabbits is still quite high. Populations of predators (feral cats and dogs and introduced mongooses) should be controlled, particularly in areas of important habitat. Long-term research and monitoring programmes are also required to continue to assess the conservation and management needs of the species A small area of the Amami Island has the Amami Gunto Quasi-National Park that further protects the population. Some attempt at habitat restoration has been made, but the Amami rabbit needs a mosaic of mature and young forest in close proximity, and when a young forest is regrown nowhere near a mature forest, this rabbit is not likely to inhabit it. Research and population monitoring also is underway to try to keep the numbers from declining, even if they can not be increased. The Lagomorph Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources proposed a plan of conservation in 1990. The Amami Wildlife Conservation Center of the Ministry of the Environment was established in 1999. It restarted a mongoose eradication program in 2005 and designated the Amami rabbit as endangered in 2004 for Japan. Japan really loves its cats. This makes managing stray overpopulation in ecologically vulnerable areas a challenge, at least if you believe it should be done in a way that doesn’t involve cruelty to animals. Other nations, take a horrific and merciless approach with “culling” that often uses brutal tactics such as trapping and mass poisoning, even though these methods often have unintended consequences. For Japan, these options were a nonstarter when looking at how to protect the fragile Amami rabbits of Tokunoshima island, so the nation devised a better solution: a mass spay/neuter program. 2,200 cats have been altered already, with around 1,000 to go — shows that it’s possible to control a very large population of strays effectively, and to the benefit of all parties involved. There is some more good news for the Amami Rabbit. As of last month in Tokyo, on Jan. 18 (Jiji Press)—Tokyo will recommend soon that islands in the Amami-Ryūkyū region in southwestern Japan be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide said. The government will make its official decision on the matter as early as this week, Suga told a press conference. Set to be recommended as World Heritage sites are the northern part of the main island of Okinawa Prefecture and Iriomote Island, also in Okinawa, as well the islands of Amami Oshima and Tokunoshima in Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan. An urgent task in the region is the protection of endangered native species such as the Okinawa rail, known as “Yanbaru Kuina,” and the Amami rabbit, or “Amami no Kuro Usagi,” as well as the preservation of subtropical laurel forests. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amami_rabbit http://www.edgeofexistence.org/mammals/species_info.php?id=44 http://www.catster.com/lifestyle/japan-saves-native-rabbits-by-neutering-thousands-of-cats http://www.nippon.com/en/genre/politics/l10103/ http://www.theanimalfiles.com/mammals/rabbits_hares_pikas/amami_rabbit.html Why the Rabbit is a Bird: For those of you who study Japanese, you might have come across this curious feature of the language. When counting rabbit/hares the word WA ( 羽) is used ( in Japanese different counting words are used for different things). The odd thing is that this is the counting word used for counting BIRDS! ICHI WA, NI WA – one bird, two birds. Some explain this by saying that is because rabbits/hares jump ( like flying) and their ears look like feathers ( and also because their meat tasted like chicken!). The real reason, however, is more interesting. Since the adoption of Buddhism, the eating of the meat of four-legged animals has been frowned upon ( though not anymore!). In fact, during the Edo Period, the Tokugawa Family officially banned the eating of such animals. The trouble was, that the Tokugawa`s in fact loved eating RABBIT. In fact it was a regualr feature of their New Year`s Dishes ( O-Sechi). How did they get around the law that they themselves promulgated and enforced? Easy. They called hares BIRDS ! Case closed! By the way, besides eating the meat, the Japanese also used the fur, to make brushes for calligraphy. Such brushes were long considered to be The highest quality. http://blog.alientimes.org/2011/01/for-the-year-of-the-rabbit-some-musings-on-rabbits-and-hares-in-japanese-culture-and-history/ Back when nights were pitch dark, people would be very imaginative when looking at the brightly shining full moon in the night skies. People in different countries see different things when looking at moon patterns, such as a standing lion, a crab with one large claw, or the profile of a man or woman. The Japanese say that "a rabbit is pounding mochi. In Japanese folklore there are rabbits living the moon which keep busy making mochi. Mochi is a sticky rice snack. http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/indepth/cultural/kie/moon/kie_moon_06.html The venerable legend of "The White Rabbit of Inaba," and the fable of "The Tortoise and the Hare" are proof that Japanese have been interested in rabbits through the ages. The fact that these creatures are so prolific has made them an appropriate symbol of wealth. Perhaps the first linkage of hoppers and the moon came from India, where one legend tells of a rabbit that cannot bear to see people starve and jumps into the fire so they can have food. As a reward for this self-sacrifice, the god Indra is said to have taken the rabbit to the moon. The story then traveled to China. There, the rabbit has become a pharmacist, mixing medicines with mortar and pestle. The tale then passed to Japan, where the rabbit is pounding mochi rice cakes, instead of pulverizing medicinal herbs. All over the world, people have likened the shadows on the moon to all sorts of things, but the Japanese have always been infatuated with the idea of the rabbit pounding mochi. This can be seen at traditional confectionary shops throughout the nation, where people stand in line to buy cakes with a rabbit motif for the autumn moon-viewing season. He was said to descend to Earth around the time of the three-day moon, and return home when the moon was full. Some artwork includes images of a rabbit or hare stands gazing wistfully at the moon, In the midst of a field of wild autumn grasses, as if longing to return home. Now for a Japanese story: The Rabbit in the Moon (A Japanese Tale) http://www.uexpress.com/tell-me-a-story/1996/8/1/the-rabbit-in-the-moon-a Every night the Old Man in the Moon looks down on Earth to see how his animals and people are doing. He smiles to see them resting after a hard day's work. He winks at sleeping children. He hovers over rivers and lakes, lighting the waves and the shore. Then he sails on to other lands. One night long ago, the Old Man lingered in the sky over a forest in Japan. The animals below seemed to him to live in peace and harmony. Suddenly he spotted a monkey, a fox and a rabbit who were living side by side. The Old Man began to wonder about these animals that he knew only by sight. After a while he began to long to know them better. "Which of these friends is the kindest creature?" he asked himself as he watched the rabbit dash across the fields. "I wonder which is most generous?" he said softly as he watched the monkey swing from a tree. "I wonder what they are truly like," he said as he watched the fox paw at the forest floor to make his bed. "I need to know more about my creatures." The Old Man floated a while longer, but finally his curiosity got the best of him. "I must go and see for myself," he said, and because the Old Man in the Moon is a magical creature, he was able to transform himself into a poor beggar. In this disguise he floated down to Earth. He walked through the forest until he came to the clearing where the monkey, fox and rabbit lived. When the creatures saw him, they looked up at him with bright shining eyes. "Good day, sir," the rabbit said. "How do you do?" "Welcome to our forest," said the monkey, and the fox bowed low. "Oh, friends," the Old Man said, leaning heavily on his walking stick, "I am not doing well. I am old and poor, and I am very hungry. Do you think you could help me?" "Of course we'll help," the monkey chattered. "We always help our friends," the fox agreed. "We'll fetch some food for you," the rabbit added, and without a moment's hesitation, the three ran off, each one in search of food to offer the poor beggar. The Old Man sat down and leaned against a tree. Looking up into his sky, he smiled. "These are good animals," he said to himself, "and I am curious to see who is most generous." Before long the monkey returned, carrying an armload of fruit. "Here you are," the monkey said. "The bananas and berries are delicious. And take these oranges too, and these pears. I hope you will enjoy my gift," and he lay his fruit before the beggar. "Thank you, my friend. You are kind," the beggar said, and before he had finished speaking, the fox raced into the clearing. He carried a fat, fresh fish between his teeth, and this he laid before the beggar. Again he bowed. "My friend," the fox said, "I offer you a fresh fish to ease your hunger. I hope this will satisfy you." "You also are kind," said the Old Man. "I never knew how kind the forest animals were." "Of course we are kind," the monkey said proudly. "And we are skilled at finding food," the fox added. Now all three sat waiting for the rabbit to return. Meanwhile, the rabbit dashed this way and that through the forest, but no matter how he tried, he could not find food for the beggar. At long last he returned to the clearing. "Friend," the monkey cried, "you have returned!" "I have," the rabbit said sadly, "but I must ask you to do me a favor, dear friends. Please, Brother Monkey, will you gather firewood for me? And Brother Fox, with this firewood will you build a big fire?" The monkey and the fox ran off at once to do as their friend asked, and the beggar sat quietly by, watching in wonder. When the fire was blazing, the rabbit turned to the beggar. "I have nothing to offer you but myself," he said. "I am going to jump into the fire, and when I am roasted, please feast upon me. I cannot bear to see you go hungry." Rabbit bent his knees, preparing to jump into the fire. The beggar at once threw away his stick and cast off his cloak. He stood straight and tall and proud, and the animals, seeing this strange transformation, began to shake with fear. "Don’t be afraid," the Old Man said. "You see, Rabbit, I am more than a beggar, and I have seen that you are more than generous. Your kindness is beyond price, but you must understand, I wish you no harm. I do not want you to sacrifice yourself for my comfort. I will take you home with me, where I can watch over you and make sure you are never harmed." The Old Man in the Moon lifted the rabbit into his arms and carried him up to the moon. The monkey and the fox watched in amazement, but they were grateful, for they wished their friend no harm. If you look carefully at the moon when it is full and bright, you will see the rabbit living there in peace, resting in the Old Man's arms, helping him to watch over us all. Plant of the week: Raspberry Word of the week: Impress

united states university new year california europe english earth china interview social science technology england japan young new york times friend research nature michigan heart japanese moon ministry united kingdom bbc environment world war ii island asian iran tokyo families animals birds iraq plant hunting wa images careful individuals buddhism conservation increased visitors distribution tours old man population rabbit ky residents opened islands impress java ann arbor hare natural resources agricultural rabbits tourists okinawa tortoise populations cabbage raspberry indra white rabbit suga murakami mochi international union demello world heritage toku shima kodama tokugawa adam roberts turlock in japanese kagoshima russo japanese war tanabe inaba rabbit rabbit second sino japanese war inland sea ryukyu edo period amami unesco world heritage list rabbit island born free usa society institute takehara mihara yudai kagoshima prefecture bird for

Adam M. Roberts: Wildlife Rescue Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2017 48:47

Adam Roberts “The Compassionate Conservationist” shares Wildlife Rescue Stories, including the story of Mikey the vervet monkey who was recently relocated to Born Free USA's Primate Sanctuary in Texas. Adam is the CEO of Born Free USA, a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. www.BornFreeUSA.org

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Adam Roberts: How to Be A Wildlife Advocate in 2017

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Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2017 45:22

Adam Roberts “The Compassionate Conservationist”, CEO of Born Free USA, discusses current wildlife conservation issues and legislation, and the importance of working with non-profit organizations and your local community to protect wildlife. Born Free USA is a global leader in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Visit www.BornFreeUSA.org.

Post-Election Action for Wildlife and Environment

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2016 52:56

Special post-election Big Blend Radio panel discussion with Adam M. Roberts – CEO of Born Free USA animal advocacy and wildlife conservation organization (www.BornFreeUSA.org), Les McCabe - President & CEO of Global Green USA environmental conservation organization (www.GlobalGreen.org).

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Adam Roberts: Online Exotic Pet Trade

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2016 46:13

Adam M. Roberts ‘The Compassionate Conservationist’ – CEO of Born Free USA, talk with Big Blend Radio about the organization’s newly released report on the perils of the online exotic pet trade: "Downloading Cruelty: An Investigation into the Online Sales of Exotic Pets in the U.S." See: www.bornfreeusa.org/a3e_downloading_cruelty.php

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Born Free USA at CITES 2016 in South Africa

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2016 50:04

Adam Roberts ‘The Compassionate Conservationist’, CEO of Born Free USA, calls in to Big Blend Radio from CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) held from Sept. 24-Oct. 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa. CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. See: http://www.bornfreeusa.org/cites_issues.php

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CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2016 54:48

Adam Roberts ‘The Compassionate Conservationist’, CEO of Born Free USA and Born Free Foundation, talks about the upcoming CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) held from Sept. 24-Oct. 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa. CITES is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. See: www.bornfreeusa.org/cites_issues.php

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Taking Legislative Action to Protect Wildlife

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Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2016 49:22

Adam Roberts ‘The Compassionate Conservationist’, CEO of Born Free USA and UK-based Born Free Foundation, discusses the importance of taking legislative action to protect wildlife, as well as how the political system works when it comes to wildlife conservation, and how animal advocates can take action. See: http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4_legislation.php

Adam Roberts: Should Zoos Exist?

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Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2016 53:09

Adam Roberts discusses why Zoos do not play a significant role in wildlife conservation or education. Adam is the CEO of Born Free USA and the UK-based Born Free Foundation, both global leaders in animal welfare and wildlife conservation. Learn more at www.BornFreeUSA.org and www.bornfree.org.uk.

Adam Roberts: Do Hunters Conserve Wildlife?

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Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2016 61:37

Following his recent Intelligence Squared debate, Adam Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and The Born Free Foundation, discusses whether Hunters Conserve Wildlife or not. Keep up with Born Free at www.BornFreeUSA.org and www.Bornfree.org.uk, and watch/listen to the debate here: http://intelligencesquaredus.org/debates/past-debates/item/1496-hunters-conserve-wildlife

Wildlife Trapping in National Wildlife Refuges

america ceo united kingdom trapping adam roberts national wildlife refuge born free foundation born free usa

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2016 44:56

With 3-5 million animals trapped in the U.S. each year by commercial fur trappers, America catches more animals from the wild for the fur trade than any other country in the world. Adam Roberts, CEO of wildlife conservation organizations Born Free USA and the UK-based Born Free Foundation, discusses the cruelty of wildlife trapping in National Wildlife Refuges.

END Wildlife Trafficking