Evolution of Environmental Conscience
Costa Rica Closes Zoos
Costa Rica is internationally recognized for its efforts on behalf of conservation and animal protection. Over 10 years ago, circuses with animal acts were banned and the country has also outlawed sport hunting. Other countries have also banned circuses that use wild animals, including Austria, Hungary, Finland, India, Israel, Singapore and China. Environment Minister, Rene Castro, said th
e move was a response to “a change of environmental conscience among Costa Ricans.” In May 2014, Costa Rica will begin rehabilitating and releasing approximately 400 animals to rescue centers or to the wild. The government hopes to return as many of the animals to the wild as possible. “We are getting rid of the cages and reinforcing the idea of interacting with biodiversity in botanical parks in a natural way,” said Environment Minister René Castro. “We don’t want animals in captivity or enclosed in any way unless it is to rescue or save them.” Dolphins Recognized as Nonhuman Persons
India has officially recognized dolphins as non-human persons, whose rights to life and liberty must be respected!
Scientists studying dolphins believe that they could be the most intelligent creatures on Earth after humans, with a larger brain to body size ratio than our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. Studies have shown that dolphins have distinct personalities, self-awareness and highly complex social structures- even utilizing teamwork to solve difficult problems. Dolphin’s playfulness, intelligence and ability to learn “tricks” have made them extremely popular for entertainment. Sadly, this amusement comes at a cruel price, with cetaceans suffering greatly in the process. Most dolphins and whales in captivity come from violent capture, in which groups are driven into shallow areas, and the majority are slaughtered while young, females are taken to be sold into the entertainment market.
India's Ministry of Environment and Forests has advised state governments to ban dolphinariums and other commercial entertainment that involves the capture and confinement of cetacean species such as orcas and bottlenose dolphins. In a statement, the government said research had clearly established that cetaceans are highly intelligent and sensitive, and that dolphins "should be seen as 'non-human persons' and as such should have their own specific rights." India is the fourth country in the world to ban the capture and import of cetaeans for the purpose of commercial entertainment. Costa Rica, Hungary and Chile have also done so.With this ruling, India has taken an important first step in establishing a universal code of animal ethics and rights.
This paradigm shift brings with it the hope that positive changes will continue to occur with greater scope and frequency. Perhaps human understanding will finally reach a critical mass, in which this new consciousness will begin to grow exponentially. Slowly and together individuals begin to speak. It rises up to the surface, at first, one voice, then two, and four and hundreds so we can hear ourselves, at last, and find the words to say what we feel. Soon we realize that together we can act in good conscience, in wisdom to heal the world. (Read the article on Speciesism, by Lucy Wormser, on our website: http://pacificprimate.org/deep.htm).
One day we may look back and wonder how it was ever considered acceptable to abuse and exploit animals and the environment, just as we look back now, with incredulity and disgust, at the practice of slavery. Until all beings are free, we are not free.
At Pacific Primate Sanctuary we are healing the injuries inflicted by humans upon non-human primates, our relatives. PPS volunteers care for the monkeys with profound love and deep awareness, with honor and respect, a response to the cruel abuse, denigration and exploitation they have suffered. We have become a community, serving threatened, endangered and distressed primates, many from laboratories, ex-pets, some confiscated from smugglers, members of species on the edge of extinction. The monkeys are safe here. THEIR individual lives are valued. This is a new idea, serving members of other species, as opposed to using them for biomedical research, for amusement, for personal gain. (from Speciesism, by Lucy Wormser)
Sources:
http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/smartnews/2013/08/costa-rica-is-going-to-close-its-zoos-and-release-the-animals-into-the-wild/#ixzz2bVgKWnyM
http://news.yahoo.com/costa-rica-shut-down-zoos-not-going-easy-235237445.html
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/07/world/americas/costa-rica-zoo-cages/index.html
http://www.ibtimes.com/costa-rica-close-zoos-citing-change-environmental-conscience-1371161
http://www.realfarmacy.com/india-declares-dolphins-non-human-persons/#G4XQ6f7xyJyBWMQT.99
http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/savvy-scientist/the-rights-of-dolphins-chimps-and-other-nonhuman-persons/393
http://phys.org/news181981904.html#jCp
http://www.dw.de/dolphins-gain-unprecedented-protection-in-india/a-16834519
http://english.pravda.ru/science/earth/05-08-2013/125310-dolphins_india-0/
THANK YOU to PPS SUPPORTERSWe are so grateful to our friends at SmartHome, who donated 20 Insteon control modules. These modules allow us to remotely control the monkeys' heat lamps, to keep them warm. A big THANK YOU to Dan and April who sent the units, and spent time on their vacation to install them!
After their visit to install the units, Dan and April wrote:
Thank you Teresa for using Sanctuary bamboo to hand craft bridges for the monkeys while you were on Maui for vacation. The monkeys enjoy basking in the sun on these beautiful bridges.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP the MONKEYS at PPS
Pacific Primate Sanctuary is a small community of volunteers, doing a big job. We spend very little on fundraising and nothing on administration. Your donations go directly to caring for the animals!
The monkeys depend upon the support of compassionate people for their survival. Please help the Sanctuary protect the lives of these threatened beings and preserve their species. Below are several important ways that you can become a partner in our life-saving work.
Please support our online fundraiser- Malama Ola the Monkeys (to care for the health and lives of the monkeys). This vital funding helps provide food and medical care to the 60 monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
If all of our supporters could give at least $5, we would be able to provide food, medicine, and vet care for the animals for a year!
To make an online donation to support the health and lives of the monkeys, go to: http://www.gofundme.com/32x3zo
Every contribution, large or small, helps to feed and care for the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary! Please spread the word, and share this fundraiser with your friends and family via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter and Blogs.
GoFundMe
You can host your own online fundraiser for Pacific Primate Sanctuary using GoFundMe. Search for Pacific Primate Sanctuary at the following link, and you can set up a unique charity website to help raise money for PPS! http://www.gofundme.com/charity-donations/
Spread the Word
One great way for you to support the monkeys at Pacific Primate Sanctuary is by sharing information about our refuge with others. Pass this E-Newsletter on to your family and friends and encourage them to “Like” us on Facebook— http://www.facebook.com/PacificPrimateSanctuary
GoodSearch.com provides many different opportunities to raise money to PPS, all without any additional cost to you! Use their yahoo based search engine, and we get a penny for each search you do. Shop online at hundreds of stores through GoodShop.com, and a portion of each purchase will be donated to PPS. Sign up with GoodSwipe, and when you use your credit or debit card to shop at many different stores and restaurants a donation will be made to PPS!
Give the Gift of Your Service and Volunteer Your Time
We are currently in need of Animal Caregiver Volunteers for the AM and/or PM shifts! Activities include preparing food for the monkeys, cleaning, keeping records, and responsibly overseeing the health and well being of the animals.
PPS is seeking a volunteer Administrative Assistant with experience in office management, HR, secretarial work, fundraising, grant writing, etc.
PPS also needs a Volunteer Office Assistant to help with: correspondence, filing, computer input, and other general office duties.
We are looking for mature team players who are willing to make a long-term commitment to the Sanctuary. Retirees are most welcome. Please e-mail us at pps@aloha.net if you are interested in any of these positions and joining the PPS Team.
Gift ContributionsGift Contributions Certificates are a unique and meaningful gift for graduations, birthdays, anniversaries, or any special occasion. Gift Recipients will receive a beautiful Contribution Certificate showing you have made a donation in their name, along with information about PPS. This thoughtful and significant gift helps to feed and care for the threatened, endangered and distressed primates at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. Please see our website for details:
http://www.pacificprimate.org/help.htm
Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s Wish List
You can contribute to the monkeys by donating much needed items, including:
-commercial power washer -high quality microscope
-heavy-duty weed eater -gram staining supplies
-gardening supplies & equipment -sewing machine
-small handheld vacuum -construction tools
-pillowcases -ride-on lawn mower
-pet carriers
Please contact us at pps@aloha.net if you have an item to donate!
How to Donate Directly
We deeply appreciate your continued partnership. You, and your family and friends, can make tax-deductible donations to the Sanctuary on our Website: www.pacificprimate.org and on FaceBook, using PayPal, or by sending a check to:
Pacific Primate Sanctuary
500-A Haloa Road
Haiku, HI 96708
500-A Haloa Road
Haiku, HI 96708
With your support, you make everything we do possible!
PPS INTERNSHIP
Welcome Intern Shanika!
Our newest Resident Intern, Shanika, has arrived after a long and difficult flight from England! Shanika spent several years working in veterinary clinics and has had experience caring for primates at Howlett’s Wild Animal Park. We have already begun her training, and are currently focusing on the first module, which includes learning how to provide daily care, enrichment, and nurturing to 60 monkeys, preparing food, cleaning enclosures, and maintaining the Sanctuary facility. Shanika is a dedicated trainee, and is eager to learn all aspects of animal care at Pacific Primate Sanctuary. Her past experience is very beneficial as she moves forward with her training.
Aloha Shanika; we are happy to have you here as a member of team PPS!
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Special Topic: Intern Edie
Vocal Communication in the Genus Ateles
Vocal communication among spider monkeys plays a key role due to their behavior and habitat. As a species that lives and forages in fission fusion societies, vocal communication (long-distance vocalization in particular) is of utmost importance. Spider monkeys are canopy dwellers and forage in an environment where resources are spatially distributed often at great distances. In a fission fusion society their long distance vocal communication is crucial to maximize the efficiency in which they coordinate their foraging, movement and safety from predators.
A systematic study of the Ateles communication system was published in 1976 by J.F. Eisenberg that distinguished 13 different types of vocalizations. The suggested functions ranged from: identification calls, position indicators, calls that promote assembly of inter (within) and intra (between) sub group members, calls that warn of predators, friendly and hostile approach calls, invitations to play, and calls that communicate the presence of food resources.
Of the Ateles vocalizations, studies have focused the most on the “whinny”. Studies have been carried out to determine the role of the “whinny” vocalization in the social systems of spider monkey sub species. The use of the “whinny” has been hypothesized by various studies to serve the purpose of recruitment of sub group members to resources, coordination of group movement and travel and communicating about the sender’s identity. The signal significance and meaning is determined by the various receivers. It has been found that individuals of the same sub group have an average distance from one another of less than 30 meters. The average distance between subgroups can be between 170 meters and 70 meters. In a field research study the observation of 2 sup groups provided information showing that spider moneys can hear and respond to “whinnies” when individuals are up to 300 meters away. This means that whinnies can be heard by the sub group members as well as by some of the other subgroup individuals in their fission fusion community.
These studies utilized spectrograms that recorded the frequencies of the “whinny” call. It was found that whinnies have a series of change in pitch and frequency that create “arches” on the spectrogram. The arches are the higher frequency points and the portions in between the arches are called “interarch elements.” The alternation between arches and interarch elements is what gives the whinnies their sound, similar to that of a horse’s whinny and gives variation in calls from individuals. Signal variability allows information about the sender’s identity to be communicated. Recorded play back studies in wild habituated spider monkeys show that group members could distinguish trills and that these “trills” or “whinnies” are labels for one another. Another study showed that the calls have a consistent variation among individual group member and that the whinnies of a mother and their offspring have a closer resemblance than any other combination of pairs of individuals.Carlos and Montana demonstrate various vocalizations to us daily. They utilize the “whinny” vocalization when we are approaching their enclosure, when we exit the yurt and they have a visual on us as well as whiny paired with trills when we feed them out. We often hear Carlos and Montana vocalizing back forth especially during feeding times. Hear Carlos and Montana whinny on ”Breakfast with the Spider Monkeys” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr6BD875Gis
-Campbell, Christina J. Spider Monkeys: Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution of the Genus Ateles (Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology). UK. Cambridge University Press. 2008.
“Each person must see himself as though the entire world were held in balance and any deed he may do could tip the scales.” —Maimonides
We hope you have enjoyed this issue of Pacific Primate Sanctuary’s E-Newsletter. Thank you for your support of our life saving work. Because of compassionate people, the Sanctuary can continue to provide a place of peace and happiness for 60 primates saved from research laboratories, animal dealers, and tourist attractions. Here they can heal, form social groups, and live free from exploitation.
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