Pandas, pipelines, seals and war-torn dog rescue 10/20/24

Pandas are in the news, as the San Francisco Zoo vies for them and the New York Times releases a distressing report on the industry around them. Meanwhile the Los Angeles Times today has a front-page story on attempts to reopen an offshore oil pipeline that killed at least hundreds of marine mammals and birds, and countless fish in 2015.

Before I look at those and other stories below, let me thank all of you who responded to the San Francisco Chronicles report on zoo conditions. The interest shown by readers surely made it easier for an op-ed to get published that slams the zoos attempts to bring in pandas. The paper ran that op-ed this week, penned by Justin Barker, the founder of SF Zoo Watch.

After listing some of the sorrowful recent deaths at the zoo, Barker writes:

“The first step toward improving the zoo is to cancel the panda deal. A New York Times investigation this week revealed that there is a cruel reality to the panda program — one where zoos subject pandas to brutal, sometimes deadly breeding practices under the false guise of conservation. San Francisco can choose not to participate in this cruelty.”

It would be great to see some letters that questioned the whole idea of putting members of other species on display for our entertainment. Again, I urge folks who care about this issue to weigh in.

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The New York Times report to which Barker refers, by Mara Hvistendahl and Joy Dong, is a beauty.  It includes:

“The records… show that, from the beginning, zoos saw panda cubs as a pathway to visitors, prestige and merchandise sales…

“Today, China has removed more pandas from the wild than it has freed, The Times found. No cubs born in American or European zoos, or their offspring, have ever been released….

“Along the way, individual pandas have been hurt.

“Because pandas are notoriously fickle about mating in captivity, scientists have turned to artificial breeding. That has killed at least one panda, burned the rectum of another and caused vomiting and injuries in others, records show.”

I send thanks to Teresa D’Amico for sending this gift link for us to “enjoy.” The comments section has a note advising, “The comments section is closed. To submit a letter to the editor for publication, write to letters@nytimes.com .”

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Today’s, Sunday October 20, Los Angeles Times front page includes the headline, “Plan to restart pipeline sparks anger: Santa Barbara County residents worry about an oil spill similar to huge one near Refugio State Beach in 2015.” The article, by Tony Briscoe, opens:

“Nine years ago, when an aging oil pipeline ruptured near the coast of Santa Barbara County, an inky darkness spread over the waters. The massive slick of oil engulfed and killed hundreds of marine animals, including, seals, dolphins and pelicans….

It quotes Julie Teel Simmonds, senior counsel for the Center for Biological Diversity:

“They’re proposing not to build a new pipeline, but instead to restart this failed, corroded system… but it seems that no one has ever had even one public hearing on this restart proposal.”

Here’s an AOL link, for those who hit a paywall at the LA Times.

The article opens the door for letters to the editor regarding our treatment of the oceans and the species inhabiting them.

On that note, Friday’s Los Angeles Times included a front-page article, by Jack Flemming, titled, “Tourists adore the sea lions in La Jolla – locals, not so much” which included the line:

“Some longtime locals want the sea lions out, claiming that California’s coast belongs to its people.”

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In other major media news on concerning animals, posted to the DawnWatch Facebook Page or/and DawnWatch x/twitter feed over the last week:

The New Jersey Bergen Record made the distressing announcement that the New Jersey bear hunt resumed on Monday.

The Guardian informed us that the new NRA chief, Doug Hamline, was involved in a gruesome cat killing as college fraternity member.

The Week shared, “A new investigation has put the spotlight on roadside zoos: Over 150 allegations against these zoos have been made over the past decade.”

New York Times contributing opinion writer Margaret Renkl has been at it again, this time with a gorgeous piece about the life in her backyard, including the spiders, squirrels and owls she loves. It includes: “This is the difference between the violence our species inflicts on the world and the violence of the backyard. The owl was only hungry. The owl had no bombs or bullets or poison to deploy. The owl was only hunting, and hunting does not involve drilling or fracking or dredging or clear-cutting or any of the other assaults we inflict on our wild neighbors.” Here’s a gift link I hope you will enjoy and share.

Finally, I missed the most beautiful Associated Press article, perhaps because it came out on my birthday (almost three weeks ago), and I am surprised to note that almost all of the mainstream media missed it too! I wonder if they were hesitant to share anything on animals from a region where so many humans are dying. But to me, this article, titled, “A man in south Lebanon cares for pets left behind as residents flee Israeli strikes,” reminds us that in the midst of profound suffering we can sometimes find profound beauty and true humanity.

The article’s protagonist, Hussein Hamza, says, “As long as I can reach the dogs and leave them food and water, I will not leave. I have a responsibility. I can’t leave them.”

Enjoy!

Yours and all animals’,
Karen Dawn of DawnWatch