Author Archives: michaelm
PBS Asks: Should We Still Have Chimpanzees in Laboratories?
There are no other animals quite like them, except us. They share 99 percent of our DNA, and it shows. They scheme, plot and fight. They care for their babies, and they grieve their dead. And they love a good … Continue reading
Cole Circus Pays to Settle Abuse Lawsuit
Cole Brothers Circus has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Agriculture $15,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging abuse of the animals. Allegations against the circus included that elephant handlers had repeatedly struck an elephant with an ankus — a … Continue reading
Bob Barker to Chimpanzees: "Come on Down!"
Bob Barker with Chimp Haven president Linda Brent Last year, he donated $380,000 for a new habitat at Chimp Haven. And last week, the irrepressible Bob Barker flew down to the sanctuary in Louisiana to cut the ribbon — or … Continue reading
Word-Spotting Baboons Leave Scientists Spellbound
How many four-letter words do you know? Dan has figured out 308. Dan is a baboon who lives at the Cognitive Research Laboratory in France. He and five other baboons have had access to a computer that stores 500 real … Continue reading
The Moral Rights of Dolphins and Whales
At the world’s largest science conference, scientists and ethicists presented the moral and scientific case for recognizing dolphins and whales as non-human persons. While they were not speaking to the issue of legal personhood, their point of view is of … Continue reading
Chimpanzees Happy to Help, but Please Ask First
New discoveries about altruism in chimpanzees Ayumu, one of the chimpanzees taking part in this test, is also a rocket scientist when it comes to memory tests. There’s more and more evidence that chimpanzees have what scientists call a “theory … Continue reading
Chimpanzees Beat College Students at Memory Test
Ayumu (photo above), who lives at the Primate Research Institute in Inuyama, Japan, can remember the location and order of a set of numbers in less time than it take you to blink – 30 milliseconds, to be precise. Eleven … Continue reading
Whales and Dolphins Seen Playing Together
Off the coast of two different Hawaiian islands, Maui and Kauai, scientists report seeing whales and dolphins playing together. Specifically, in both places, they saw a humpback whale lifting her head out of the water with a dolphin resting on … Continue reading
Federal Judge Allows NhRP to Appear as Friend of the Court in PETA v. SeaWorld
The Nonhuman Rights Project today issued the following press release: Jan 26th, 2012: Over the objections of both PETA and SeaWorld, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey T. Miller granted a request by the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) to appear as … Continue reading
“Watch Out! There’s Something You Can’t See!”
Video shows chimpanzees warn their friends of danger up ahead of them Knowing what someone else doesn’t know enables you to take advantage of them – or, on the other hand, help them. It’s one of the hallmarks of extra … Continue reading
Nonhuman Apes Make Careful Decisions
New study shows sophisticated decision making When we humans have important decisions to make, we weigh out the options and try to calculate what approach would have the best chances of success, based on the available information. Other great apes … Continue reading
Appeals Court Sides with Ringling Circus
Plaintiffs failed for lack of “standing” By Natalie Prosin October 31st: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit against Feld Entertainment, the owners of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The suit was … Continue reading
Liz Holtz – Volunteer of the Month
Congratulations to our Volunteer of the Month for November 2011: Elizabeth Holtz.
Will PETA’s SeaWorld Suit Sink or Swim?
Regardless, another approach will soon change everything The animal rights organization PETA is accusing SeaWorld of keeping its famous “Shamu” killer whales in conditions that violate the 13th Amendment’s ban on slavery. The suit – filed on behalf of Tilikum … Continue reading
