Animal Ethics

JUNE 7, 2016

This horrible incident has raised some tough questions indeed. The hysteria of the crowd surely played a part in escalating an already frightening situation. Further, did those who reacted so strongly to Harambe’s killing go home and serve meat to their children? In my opinion, neither Harambe nor the child should ever have been at the zoo.

Los Angeles 40

Los Angeles Gorillas Zoos Non Human 40

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2013

Raise global awareness of Peru’s potential as a top-notch birding destination whilst highlighting the need to conserve bird habitat across the country. Besides the birds, the teams were distracted by half a dozen primate species and rare Giant River Otters.

Peru 235

Peru 2012 Birds Falcons 235

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

The active colonies of wasps are efficient protection against primates and large avian predators. Each of these ‘families’ consists of a single mating pair and 1-5 ‘helpers’ who assist in raising the young. The benefit for the wasps is that they get to keep a beautiful pet.

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2021

And apart from local people, primate researchers sometimes spot it, but it is a species seen by fewer than ten living birders. I did that with Peacocks & Picathartes – Reflections on Africa’s birdlife (published by Penguin Random House South Africa ).

Congo 264

Congo Africa South Africa Madagascar 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2014

In the former, a female lays her fertilized egg in the nest of another species, in the hopes that her offspring will be raised by the unwitting hosts. In the latter, three or more adult individuals contribute to the raising of offspring. It turns out that the two strategies may be related.

Breeders 208

Breeders Breeding Birds Groups 208

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2011

Between staying warm/cool, finding food, avoiding predators, migrating thousands of miles every year, finding mates, raising chicks and doing all this at the mercy of the elements, it makes sense that they have more brainpower than just simple instinct to run on. Picture being a Blackpoll Warbler being born in the boreal forests of Alaska.

Emotional 214

Emotional Science Birds Mammals 214

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2012

Wild birds I’ve raised from tiny, featherless orphans demonstrate attachment to me, as would be expected for any young creature with a surrogate mother, even a weird, long-limbed primate mother. Needless to say, this makes them quite pleasant to raise. Did Vanna love his cage partner? He certainly seemed lost without her.

Birds 273

Birds Parrots 2003 Raised 273

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

He raised his binoculars above his head and cried out with courage and clarity, “I am Sparticus!” Kibale Forest NP–Primate Lodge. Something needed to be done. Somebody had to take one for the team. Mike fixed me with his cold, steely, gray-eyed stare. He rose slowly from his seat, bronzed torso glistening.

2019 142

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 142

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

Ghana has the dubious distinction of being the first country to have lost a major primate species since the Convention on Biological Diversity came into force: Miss Waldron’s Red Colobus was declared extinct in 2000 due to forest destruction. Between 1990 and 2010, Ghana lost 33.7%

Ghana 197

Ghana Hunters Gambia Guinea 197