ECOLOKIND Volume 04, Number 03

Transcription

1 The Hmane Society Institte for Science and Policy Animal Stdies Repository EOLOKIND Volme 4, Nmber 3 Follow this and additional works at: Recommended itation "EOLOKIND Volme 4, Nmber 3" (1975). ΘcoloKIND / Ecolokind This Periodical is broght to yo for free and open access by the Hmane Society Institte for Science and Policy. It has been accepted for inclsion by an athorized administrator of the Animal Stdies Repository. For more information, please contact eyahner@hmanesociety.org.

2 EOLOKIND KINDNESS IN NATURE'S DEFENSE VOLUME 4 NUMBER 3 MARH 1975 Threatened Animals Given Special Stats The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, (USDI), has placed three species of kangaroos on their new list of "threatened" animals. The "threatened" category is the second and most recent category of animals listed nder the Endangered Species Act of It is a method of warning the pblic that, nless certain conditions affecting these animals are corrected, they cold become extinct. The sitations that case certain animals to become endangered may involve hnting, habitat destrction, and loss of a food sorce. Man is freqently the case for these changes in the environment of the endangered animals. The threatened list promises to serve as a warning flag that may enable s to prevent ftre sitations that case animals to become endangered. The three species of kangaroos now listed as "threatened" animals are the red, eastern gray, and western gray..'!! a; i= a; _J {'! :J 'l o > E E w > :J USDl's decision to place the kangaroos on the threatened list, instead of listing them as endangered, came as a reslt of detailed investigations of their stats in their native contry. The Astralian Government has also contined a total ban on exports of kangaroos and kangaroo prodcts. And Astralia will add these kangaroos to an appendix of the onvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fana and Flora. This will atomatically reqire strict export controls and special permits for any ftre commerce. Permits are only issed when it is determined that sch commerce will not be detrimental to the endangered species. Astralia does permit some hnting of kangaroos. Bt some people have taken advantage of this fact becase of Astralia's vast amonts of ninhabited land. Enforcement of hnting reglations is difficlt in the extensive 'otback' areas. Some preserves have been established for kangaroos, and it is expected that pblic pressre will persade the government to MORE

3 2 restrict the amont of permitted hnting. The actions taken by the Astralian Government to protect their marspials, niqe to that continent, and fond nowhere else in the world, are significant. Similar action was taken by the Astralian Government over fifty years ago when hnting pressres threatened the srvival of the appealing Koala Bear. Given official protection, the koala bear srvives to thri 11 visitors to the continent 'down nder'. Virtally everyone who sees a koala bear is attracted to it becase it looks like a "teddy bear". Back in the United States, other significant action for the protection of native American animals has been taken by USDI. They have proposed that or own native grizzly bears be added to the threatened list. This applies only to the lower 48 states, in which grizzlies are fond in only three locations. rrently the only federal protection afforded them is on federal lands. When this does not apply grizzlies are nder the jrisdiction of the states where they still srvive. The primary factor in the precarios stats of the grizzlies is their need for vast tracts of ndistrbed wilderness areas. As these areas shrink in size from development pressres, the threat to the grizzlies increases. The farsighted approach of USDI to protect grizzlies now, before they actally become in danger of extinction is commendable. The pblic has been invited to express its views on this proposal. Since the deadline for pblic comment will be past by the time yor newsletter reaches yo, we can only hope enogh people cared enogh abot saving or grizzlies that they spported the USDI proposal. There's enogh land to spport the few grizzlies that now live in these park areas. It wold be a tragic loss for the grizzly to experience the same fate as the plains wolf, the badlands bighorn, and other of or native animals, for lack of pblic concern or official protection. Unless there is sbstantial opposition to the USDI proposal, however, grizzlies will probably be added to the threatened list, and this procedre may be the means of preventing their becoming extinct. Back to the Land: Part 8 The cabin had been designed for the minimm space for comfort. Bt the tiny kitchen was jst too small at canning time. A basement alongside the cabin was the answer. Someday I wold bild above the basement kitchen and span across to attach that floor to the cabin, for needed bedrooms. Bt I wold have to compromise my standards to permit a blldozer to scar p the land. There was no way I cold dig throgh shale and solid rock by hand. The hillside was steep. The blldozer had to begin phill and scoop the dirt downhill. It pshed a big rock into the valley below and it hit a beehive. The bees swarmed ot and stng the blldozer operator so badly he had to go to the hospital for a shot. The last for days they blasted throgh solid rock. What a scar on the landscape it was! Bt the scooped ot earth created a hge level area that wold be a delightfl patio. The day the blldozer finished, I stood in the dining room, looking throgh the glass patio doors at the horrible scar on the Earth. At the far edge of that terrible hole stood a yong deer, looking down, too, at the scarred Earth. There seemed to me to be sadness in her eyes as she looked at the torn p Earth. In a way, I regretted what I had done, jst to enhance the vale of my home. Bt in time those wonds will heal. As soon as the dirt can be filled in against the new basement walls, I'll do what I can to help Mother Natre heal the Earth's wonds made by the blldozer. r,::., -t n7: Tl..- LI "--=-.L.. _,,1,1,,.... I -="-... ',1....,,... nn I ",L II.I \Al \Al"!leo-hi""n+l"\n n,-.. 'lnn,:a.7 Th.o. f""f""ii f""ill'ui.1 n n.o.,eo,l.o.++.o.,- il'! l"'\11hli 1'! horl mn.nthl \, Q) <n Q) '<- co l Q) :::, <n co.se ITTJ@ it Hmane Society News Briefs A Temporary Reprieve Ft. ampbell, Ky.-Millions of starlings roost in this vicinity. Their noise and the odor from their dropping are a nisance. The U.S. Army claims it is also a health hazard. They planned to spray the birds with detergents. That wold remove their natral oil that inslates them from the cold, and they wold freeze to death. Bt The Hmane Society threatened to take them to cort. The Army has agreed to file an environmental impact statement first, as the law reqires. Starlings were imported into this contry and they have few natral predators. This is the reason they are overpoplating. Becase of this, their nmbers may need to be redced. Bt we won the first rond, in insisting the U.S. Army obey the law jst like anyone else. Exotic Birds Released The Schweitzer entennial Year 3 -. The Hmane Society threatened to have USDA qarantine officials arrested on a charge of crelty to animals after 59 exotic birds died in a Florida qarantine station. They had been detained there when two birds died and officials cold not determine the case of their death. Among the birds that died were 17 rare Hmboldt pengins. USDA agreed to release the birds to specific zoos with provisions for contined veterinary observation. HSUS ondemns alf Killing A Resoltion Whereas, certain ranchers and dairymen have threatened to condct mass exections of healthy calves to pblicize the high price of feed (which they claim makes it nprofitable to contine to raise the animals), and the lack of response in Washington to their economic plight: therefore be it RESOLVED that The Hmane Society of the United States does condemn, and stands nalterably opposed to, the needless killing of any living creatre when done solely for pblicity prposes, or for economic or political recognition; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED that HSUS also deplores and condemns the annonced proposal to bry the ; carcasses and thereby waste this protein so des-. perately needed in today's starving world. In 1975 people throghot the world are honoring Dr. Albert Schweitzer, who was born 1 years ago this year. Dr. Schweitzer is remembered becase he. dedicated his life to promoting brotherly love and kin'dness. The kindness concept is at the heart of Dr.. Schweitzer's philosophy of 'Reverence for Life'. He: cold have had a career that wold have made him very' wealthy. He was a noted msical critic, a composer,! msician, and a medical doctor. Instead of prsing a: private life in comfort he bilt a hospital to treat the sick in Africa. Read all yo can abot him, and what he wrote. Then see how yo can celebrate the 1975 Schweitzer entennial Year in helping other people learn the importance of kindness and brotherly love , Perm iss!on to reprint art and text is hereby granted to teachers for non-commercial edcational prposes. redit line shold read "Reprinted by _...,,..,..,,.,....,,...f. Vitro.In II n r a. i :....a :.a.l......a.... -=--=-- _,.a.&

4 4 s Help Protect Easter Animals Review Samel Ogden This ontry Life Rodale Press $7.95., 'J If yo have hopes of going back to natre and living the simple life, this book is an excellent commentary, by a man who has gained the practical experience that it takes. Sbtitle of the book is 'Making the Most of the Simple Life', and that's what the book is all abot. Ogden is no reclse. He tells what to expect abot contry neighbors that's different than in the city. He laments the loss of the commnity spirit that prevailed in the frontier days, bt gives examples of how some of the neighborliness can be restored. He's also a realist. Knowing not every inexperienced person can go back to the land and earn a living as a farmer, he offers a nmber of alternative ways of making a livng. At the end he shares his personal philosophy with the reader. Another 'back to the land' book, one of the very first, and a handbook to many, is "Living the Good Life", by Helen and Scott Nearing. Pblished by Gallahad Books, it's one yo might easily find at yor pblic library. Every year at Easter thosands of infant animals are sold as toys for yong children. Sch animals are sally infant chicks, dcklings, and bnnies. Very yong children have not developed adeqate motor coordination or manal dexterity to be able to handle things gently. They are likely to sqeeze objects tightly when they pick them p. All tiny babies mst be handled with extreme care and gentleness to avoid physical damage to their body tisses. The sffering that Easter animals endre when handled by tiny children is enormos. Most animals die within a short time, either from improper handling or inadeqate diet, or both. Laws prohibiting the sale of sch infant animals as Easter toys exist in only 18 states. That leaves 32 states in which sch infant animals have no protection from sffering, physical injry, and death. Write to the Legislative Reference Brea at the state capitol to learn if yor state has sch a law. The law will probably prohibit the sale of less than six sch animals, so people can still by baby animals for legitimate farming prposes. Visit dime stores and others that might sell yong animals as toys to see if the law is being obeyed. Some stores have defied the law by selling animals in lots of six. The cstomers, wanting only one chick, or dckling, or bnny, dmp the other five in the parking lot otside the store. If yo find evidence of mistreatment, docment yor findings and report them in a letter to the editor. If there is no sch law in yor state, lanch a campaign to inform the pblic on this problem. Plan for next Easter well in advance. (Stores mst place their orders several months ahead). Visit stores now and talk to their managers. List the stores whose managers have agreed not to sell Easter animals next year, and order posters for each one. Easter posters are jst five cents each. Start yor own special project and see how mch help yo can get for infant animals by next Easter. Yearly membership des are $2. for individal memberships and $1. each for class sbscriptions of 1 or more. A monthly teacher's edition NEW FULL OLOR POSTERS -$1 each or all six for $5. Please order by nmber. 1 - "Wild And Free" -18 x "Nothing Bgs Me" -16 x "Let's Be Friends" - 18 x 24 ' \'-.,_ 4-"AFriendlsSomeoneToleanOn"-18x24 5-"ANewOily"-16x2 6-"HiddenBeaty"-18x24 ) = "'

5 6 Animals 1n '-"-' Branch lb News 7 Explorer Post No is sponsored by the Tippecanoe onty Hmane Association. There are thirty members in this yoth grop. They are one of the most active grops yet. They all take trns working at the animal shelter as volnteers after school and on Satrdays. They really get the work done, no matter how dirty the job. They have also helped set p and man pblicity booths for the society. Along with the help they offer the shelter, they have meetings twice a month to learn more abot animals and their care. They have stdied animal care, animal first aid, and diseases of animals. They've gone on field trips to the Veterinary School at Prde University several times. Once they all donned gowns and gloves and watched an actal spay operation. They have also visited the Shelter Director Kathie Flood explains the grim facts of animal ethanasia to members of Explorer Post No on their first tor of the shelter. In the bed of the pickp trck are the bodies of animals that had to be ethanized. Brookfield Zoo. Explorer Post No has five advisors - three veterinarians, and two hmane society representatives. OJ co () OJ Q. Q. i= I AROSS 1. The birds that helped save the Mormons' crops from being destroyed by locsts. 6. This mammal sed to be on or five cent piece. It was nearly wiped ot by professional hnters. 7. They plled the wagons west. 8. This marine mammal sed to live along the East and West coasts. We made coats from its skin. Today, there are very few left in the East. 11. This animal plled the barges down the Erie anal. They dragged the dirt from the Panama anal. 12. We have fed this animal or garbage for years. We've sed its skin to make a ball for a poplar sport. 13. Or nation's symbol. 15. This animal adorned one of the early alifornia flags. 16. The Indians introdced the early settlers to this shellfish. 17. Davy rockett's cap was made from the skin of this animal. DOWN 1. This animal always retrns to apistrano, alifornia. 2. The cowboys took them on long drives. 3. Many seacoast towns exist becase of these smart,, 4. ANSWERS marine mammals. The instrment that was sed to destroy nmber I 6 across. 5. These animals were broght to the new world by i Spanish explorers.! 6. The skin (pelt) of this animal became the basis of / or early nation's economy. 9. These birds were eaten at the first Thanksgiving dinner. 1. This animal said "Don't tread on me" from the field of an early American flag. 12. Martha was one of these birds. Her species was one of the first to become extinct becase of hnting. 14. Nearly every President has had one. We often call them or "best friends. " ==;;;;...,...:...;;:.::.;...;;->!,!-=...;.:. ;..:;:.:; ;. :;:.:;_..;. ;...;;_;.. ;;;...;;; ;.;._,;; _ 6op v L oa6!d z; L 'a>jes o L 'saa>jmi 5 'JaAeaq g 'sasj4 g ' n6 v 'a1e4m c 'sj46o1 sexa.1 z; 'Mo11eMs L : NMOa oo:i:iej H 'JaisAo g L 'Jeaq g L 'a16ea c L '6!d z; L 'a1nw LL '1eas s 'axo L '1eHnq g 's11 n6eas L :ssol:l:j'lf.!! The Ble Whale Editor's Note-Leslie Kimmel, 15, member of Explorer Post No. 2727, wrote this as a term paper in school and got an A+ on it. (Who said helping animals didn't pay off). The article was pblished in the Tecmseh High School newspaper. Do yo realize that the largest and most magnificent animal on Earth is qickly becoming extinct? Scientists have discovered there are approximately some three hndred Ble Whales left in the seas of the world and his nmber is dwindling rapidly. Ex-President Nixon placed an embargo on all prodcts coming into the U.S. containing whale oil. This act mainly stopped trade with Japan, since it is one of the largest whaling contries in the world. Japan also has a very advanced whaling fleet that carries modern eqipment. Personally I don't call this advanced, do yo? Once the prey is spotted, sally a Ble Whale, it has little chance of escaping since its hge mass cannot manever fast enogh to escape the helicopters and high powered whaling ships. The ship then gets into position and fires a grenade harpoon at the Ble Whale. On contact the harpoon sinks into the whale and explodes inside of him. Bt more often than not the whale is still alive with his internals blown into small pieces. After the grenade attack, the whaling ship fires another harpoon into the sffering animal's moth. This new harpoon fills the whale p with air so the helpless animal is inflated like a balloon. This prevents the whale from sinking too fast. If the whale is not dead yet, it does not matter. The writhing cargo is haled aboard the enormos whaling ship and is literally skinned alive and then ct into pieces of blbber. The blbber is sed in making oil, perfmes, etc... Japan mst enjoy killing these last few Ble Whales. For even thogh it has been proven to the Japanese that these prodcts can be made even better with synthetics, they refse to stop the wastefl killing. Japan knows what they are doing to the valable whale, bt when the U.S. explains the sitation to them, to convince them to stop, Japan laghs in or faces. Scientists now believe by the year 1977 the species Balaenoptera mscls (Ble Whale) will be totally extinct. Yo are probably thinking there is nothing yo can do to help save the Ble Whale from its plight bt yo are wrong. I, many of my friends, and people all over this contry are boycotting Japan's prodcts. This incldes Japanese made motorcycles, televisions, radios, etc... Yo can help by spreading the word and by refsing to by Japan's prodcts. Will yo help, or will yo stand by idly and see these few magnificent mammals of the sea be senselessly and crelly destroyed. Leslie Kimmel ,-=-.=,..._...-,.,{ i I I ;

6 POSTMASTER: Address orrection Reqested, Forwarding and Retrn Postage Garanteed The Hmane Society of the United States 21 L Street, N.W. Washington, D Nonprofit Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit No Washington, D.. ff(j,jl.ne se::c OF THE "'.JI:H'l'E::) ATATES ES 7 fknetig:jt EP,.. Ar-H P".. R,:c 98 JI'AST HLODJlli. T 6L 1.?. We like to report progress. Particlarly when a government agency takes significant action to protect animals, we're glad to report it. And the actions of USDI on behalf of kangaroos, and of grizzly bears, is most meaningfl. Bt that same agency has been way behind in other matters. Under the Lacey Act, USDI is athorized to isse reglations governing the importation of exotic animals often sold as pets. USDI is flly aware of the tremendos waste of animal lives when sch species are imported and sold as pets to people who don't know how to provide proper care for them. Bt the pet indstry is big bsiness. Pet shop operators mst srely have felt threatened by the sggestion that they might not be permitted to deal in these exotic pets in the ftre. There have been a lot of protests from them abot the proposed new reglations. And time drags on, and USDI still has not annonced new reglations. All government agencies mst listen to the opinions of the people. If they are convinced that more people want animals protected than there are pet shop operators who jst want to make a bck exploiting exotic animals, the reglations they isse will be togh. Bt not nless they hear from yo. Write USDI and express yor opinions. Tell them what yo think. Ask them to isse reglations that are strict enogh to prevent the loss of animals dring shipment that,1, occrs so freqently at present. Let yor opinions be known! Write Assistant Secretary Nathaniel Reed, USDI, Washington, D Life is fll of compromises. No matter how strict the fin_al reglations are, some of s will probably feel so{ave in to the pet indstry. Bt it also woldn't be fair to pt legitimate pet shops ot of bsiness entirely. I had to compromise in order to have a basement at all. Bt I have done everything I cold to restore the damage and control erosion. No matter how simply we live, we all affect the land and its other inhabitants in some way. There may have been a compromise on the blackbird isse, too. Let's face it; blackbirds were introdced into this continent where they have no natral predators. They've mltiplied way ot of proportion. Now, like people, they are adversely affecting the land and its other inhabitants. Man is responsible for their being in North America. And man may have to become their predator control. Some may have to be killed to control their nmbers. Bt if so, it shold be done in sch a way that no birds will sffer. Some efforts take a long time to accomplish sccessflly. That's the case with laws to protect animals sold as Easter toys. This month's project is p to yo. It can snowball into an interesting experience, and gain yo many friends and allies, if yo plan it right. I hope yo'll give it a try. R. Dale Hylton Editor