ReadingAnimals

The Month of Elephants series continues with a quick look at some of the hi-tech solutions that are being being put to the test for minimizing human-elephant conflict and improving elephant protection.

Myths about communication and framing can be a barrier to effective advocacy. What are the take home lessons? For one, resist the urge to respond with raw fact. Check the framing first. (Oh this is hard for me as a scientist!)

Lawsuit: Chronic and repeated chaining violates the Endangered Species Act. I can barely sit still in my seat during a flight. Imagine being chained for 100 hours!

Don’t Think of an Elephant is a book by George Lakoff that is seemingly not about elephants. Nevertheless, this book is an important resource for elephant advocates. Find out why.

Some of the topics covered: Taming, training, trauma / Conservation, culture, compassion

This documentary film highlights both the cultural and ethical issues raised by the practices of working and “performing” elephants in Thailand’s urban centers. The stories of individuals take the film beyond essentialist views of elephants and of human-elephant relationships - be they cruel and exploitative or supportive and kind.

Here’s an excerpt from one news story that addresses why Swarna the elephant attacked the “keeper” at the Calgary zoo:
“It’s possible Swarna considered Van Hooft a threat when it came after him, zoo staff said.
Van Hooft, meanwhile, is out of the hospital and recovering from the incident.

The zoo is looking into what led to the [...]

For the month beginning 5/19/2008 I am going to focus the majority of my posts on elephants. I begin with this image of a female elephant who I recently met named Mae Perm. Why blog about elephants? Read more to find out!

We read the story of their elephant family and the elephant lives the lead in a world that they share with other animals and the humans who come after them and sometimes murder them.