Hollywood Chimps, Marineland deaths, firework deaths, Puppy Mills + more 11/19/24

I have had an eye out for a wonderful New York Times story, which ran online last week, to appear in print, which happened today, Tuesday November 19, on the cover of the Science section, titled, “A Place Among The Apes.” Today’s New York Times also includes a heartbreaking story about a baby panda who appears to have died from stress caused by firework noise. And the Toronto Star and numerous other Canadian papers have run, “What more will it take to shut down Marineland?”

Good question!

And the New York Post has run a super strong expose on puppy mills!

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The thoughtful New York Times article, by Emily Anthes, covers residents of the chimp exhibit at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago who had worked in Hollywood. It discusses the danger and sorrow behind private ownership of chimpanzees:

“Captive chimpanzees were not protected by the Endangered Species Act until 2015, and even now, there is no blanket federal prohibition on private citizens owning chimps or raising them as pets and performers. The practice can end in tragedy, as the recent HBO docuseries ‘Chimp Crazy’ makes clear: The series depicts full-grown chimpanzees, which are highly intelligent and social creatures, living in small basement cages and acting like the wild animals they are, sometimes gravely injuring people.”

It gives the impression that the Project ChimpCARE, which is associated with the zoo, and the employees there, are dedicated to making sure those who go to live there live happy lives – as chimps. It is well worth reading, and DawnWatch can offer you this gift link.

Some of you may wish to respond in order to give animals a voice in mainstream media.

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Some of you may wish to respond to today’s New York Times article “Fright From Fireworks Caused Death of Baby Red Panda, Scotland Zoo Says,” which appears on page A4. Here’s a gift link from DawnWatch to that one.

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The Toronto Star piece, “What more will it take to shut down Marineland?” is by Jessica Scott-Reid. It was printed in Monday’s Toronto Star on page A11, and in numerous other Canadian papers including the abusement park’s home paper, the Niagara Falls Review.

It opens:

“How long do we have to keep talking about Marineland? How many more animals have to die at the Niagara Falls marine park before something is done to protect those still languishing there?

“It’s hard to imagine now what would have to happen to finally force Marineland to shut down for good as yet another beluga whale has died at the park. This is the fifth beluga to die there this year, the 17th since 2019.

“Dolphins, seals, penguins and Canada’s last remaining captive orca, Kiska, have also all perished under Marineland’s care in recent years. In March, the park was also found guilty of mistreating three black bears.

“But for officials, this is seemingly not yet bad enough.”

Animal Justice’s Camille Labchuk, is quoted noting that “we need urgent government action to protect these whales and get as many of them as possible to sanctuaries.”

I urge all Canadian animal advocates, and anybody else passionate about this issue, to please send a quick letter to the editor of the Toronto Star, supportive of the piece.

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The New York Post expose of puppy mills tells us:

“Puppies, as well as cats and rabbits for sale in US pet stores, including New York, most often start their lives in mass-breeding facilities in the Midwest and are brought up and transported in often deplorable conditions — which their owners rarely find out about.” It is full of details and photos. I urge those of you feel strongly about that issue to respond to the Post via letters@nypost.com

Always include your full name, address, and phone number for verification purposes.

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The Los Angeles Times continues to cover puppy mills, with a front page story on Tuesday, titled, “State to Save Filings on Puppy Market: California stopped throwing out records that shed light on an illicit trade after a Times investigation,” for which Angelenos got an alert asking for responses.

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On Thursday, Canadian DawnWatch subscribers received an alert about stunning story, titled, “Researchers beg Canada to stop importing monkeys for experimentation,” which took up most of the front page of the Montreal Gazette. I included a screenshot from the DawnWatch X feed and a one from the DawnWatch Facebook page in order to display the drama of the presentation.

With much gratitude to all who responded, I shared a superb letter printed in response, titled, “There are reasons vets don’t treat humans.” You should be able to view it here on X and I shared it here on Facebook.

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In other mainstream animal news coverage, shared to the DawnWatch X Feed and DawnWatch Facebook page over the last week:

— I chatted on the Mark Thompson Show about the settlement to the family of Cedar the Goat, and the Democrats having ceded ground to Republicans over the deaths of Peanut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon.

–National Public Radio’s Morning Editon ran a thoughtful segment  titled, “Why the Oakland Zoo in California recently closed its elephant exhibit.

— Bluffton Today gave nice coverage to the monkey breeding facility escape, including the following quotes:

“These young rhesus macaques may not have been intentionally infected with viruses or bacteria in experiments yet, but like all monkeys caught up in the primate experimentation industry, they can carry pathogens that can sicken humans and other animals.”

“…These 43 monkeys made a break for freedom and deserve to live out the rest of their lives safely.”

–National Public Radio also covered the issue, today, now that all but four of the monkeys have been recaptured and returned to captivity, noting calls from Congresswoman Nancy Mace for an immediate inspection of the facility, which is funded by taxpayer dollars.

— The Greenville News also covered Congresswoman Mace’s involvement, noting, “Mace alleged that in 2023 alone Alpha Genesis used 449 primates in research, including ‘painful experimentation,’ and produces 500 animals per year for government use, where they are shipped to taxpayer-funded labs.”

–The Los Angeles Times reported that a teenage girl infected with bird flu is in critical condition and followed that up with a story noting that five more humans have been infected. Letters to the editor on that issue are truly helpful, with the paper highly likely to publish some.

— We have shocking news from Local 12 in McNairy Tennessee, that a policeman killed seven dogs during an “animal welfare” call.

— AZ Family has reported on a 100 thousand dollar reward for the killer of a wolf.

— AZ Family also brought us a sweet story of firefighters rescuing a tortoise stuck in a canal.

— CBS Sunday Morning covered Eric Goode’s (Chimp Crazy director) turtle sanctuary in Ojai.

— And finally, importantly, the San Diego Union Tribune today released a story online (perhaps to be in tomorrow’s print edition) titled, “Crack down on spurs? More veterinarians? Short of banning rodeos, San Diego weighs how to keep animals safe.”

It tells us:

“San Diego city officials will discuss this week possibly banning or cracking down on rodeo events like calf roping and rodeo equipment including electric prods, sharpened spurs and bucking straps.

Those potential restrictions and several others, such as limiting how far rodeo animals can travel and requiring on-site veterinarians, will be considered Thursday by the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee.”

Why not send a letter that speaks for animals?

Yours and all animals’,
Karen Dawn of DawnWatch