#thinking a lot about animal welfare and animal wellbeing

[kaijutegu]

It’s so fascinating to me that we’ve only been breeding Komodo dragons in captivity for thirty years. In that time, our understanding of them has actually really revolutionized the way we understand the social lives and behaviors of lizards in general, and it’s mostly thanks to this lady right here, who was born 30 years ago on September 13, 1992.

Kraken was the first Komodo to be bred in captivity. She hatched out at GMU, but was raised at the National Zoo. Her parents were wild-caught dragons- there’s still WC dragons in the AZA today- and this one specific individual probably did more to revolutionize lizard care in professional settings than any other individual lizard throughout zoo history.

Until Kraken, social enrichment wasn’t a thing people thought about. It wasn’t something anybody felt was necessary for lizards, because they were just... lizards. Sure, some keepers would play with their favorites, but it wasn’t until the National Zoo started documenting what she was doing that anybody realized how much Komodo dragons like to play with us too.

Kraken’s not in that video, but she’s the one who inspired all of the social studies that have been done on captive Komodo dragons. When she was at the National Zoo, her keepers  started getting curious when, for no apparent reason, she kept gingerly stealing things from peoples’ pockets and tugging on their shoelaces. So they started giving her stuff- Frisbees, blankets, soda cans, anything she showed an interest in.

She played with them, just like a mammal might. The way play behavior is described in psychology is a given activity that’s voluntary, repeated, and conducted under “relatively benign” circumstances. Keeper staff found that her conduct during the study met all of these criteria. “Kraken,” they wrote, had clearly demonstrated “play-like behavior with objects and even with humans (tug-of-war).” Moreover, she “could discriminate between prey and nonprey” while showing “varying responses” with different items (rubber rings, shoes, etc.). (There’s an excellent book on Komodo dragons that has an entire chapter devoted to her.)

Kraken died several years ago, but her legacy continues today. There’s several of her descendants still in the AZA, and the intelligence and social needs she demonstrated led to the improvement of life for these guys- and other lizards. The Komodo dragon program has been an eye opener, not just for reptile conservation, but for understanding reptile intelligence and how this incredible clade of animals functions.

#komodo dragon #thinking a lot about animal welfare and animal wellbeing #where would we be with reptiles if somebody hadn't realized how much this one specific animal liked to play? #reptile #reptiblr #Youtube

[is-the-primate-vid-cute]

Uhhh i saw someone i follow reblog a post with this image. didn’t feel comfortable reblogging it on my profile to tag you so I’ll send it here..

I don’t think this picture is cute.. at all.. got an explanation on the chimp’s expression?

(Apologies for the swearing, that was the caption on the image)

Oh, poor Travis may he rest in peace.

That expression is the fear grimace we talk about on the blog often. Many captive primates are trained to "smile" for photos like this. This training often uses cruel measures to get the fear grimace expression for human entertainment.

-Mod E

Mod E is correct in identifying this photo (and indeed, any photo of Travis) as cruel, but I’d love to provide you with more context for this tweet and the joke. Gorilla Radio Show is a podcast that is actually hosted by a chimp caretaker! You may know him as @pissvortex, a humour blogger that works with chimps in his offline life. While the podcast is perhaps focussed more on being humorous and entertaining than educational, Austin and his co-hosts actually discuss some interesting topics regarding human and ape interaction. They have done episodes about chimps in space programs, the ape NFT craze, and a feature episode about Travis himself.

While the sense of humour in the podcast may not be everyone’s cup of tea and may venture into controversial territory, I believe it can have a place in primate education. Not everyone is interested in earnestly sitting down and learning animal facts, and for those that listen for the ape jokes there are some genuinely good messages about primate welfare. Despite making jokes about Travis, the perspective promoted by the podcast is that Travis’ situation never should have happened and that primates should not be pets. I have listened to some of the podcast and I found that it is a lot easier to learn about some genuinely tragic and unfortunate ape stories (such as Travis) through a comical delivery. It can be depressing to tackle all the cruelty that primates have endured, so while I won’t definitively promote or condemn the podcast I do think it can be helpful for some. 

So while the photo is cruel, I hope it helps to know that it’s being used for a joke by someone who knows and understands that chimpanzees deserve to live out fully enriched lives that prioritizes their wellbeing over human wants.

-Mod J

#mod E #travis #inquiring minds want to know #gorilla radio show #travis the chimp #mod J

[transdib]

as a dog groomer, nothing makes me angrier in my job than when clients try to blame me for their negligence to their dog. 

i don’t get angry at every single owner of a matted or even pelted dog that comes through the salon. when i started, i used to. i used to fall into such despair, unable to comprehend how someone could LET this happen to their animal they’re meant to love. but with experience, i’ve started to really empathise and understand that every situation is different. 

yes, some people REALLY shouldn’t be owning the dog they have if they can’t maintain it, but i don’t know the details as to how or why they obtained that dog, and it’s none of my business tbh. they’re coming to the groomer, i’m going to alleviate that animal’s pain and try and be a source of education. i am never adverse to educating, and one of the most satisfying parts of the job is helping owners understand that letting their dog get badly matted is neglect, and they take what i’m saying on board, and start brushing, or do frequent appointments so we can maintain it ourselves.

what i don’t appreciate is another type of owner that will bring their pelted dog in, i have to undergo the precarious task of shaving it all off for its wellbeing, and the owner either gets mad that i’ve “made their dog ugly”, or they’ll call up days later accusing us of mistreating the dog because “he’s acting quite lethargic”.

i know so much of it comes down to ignorance and lack of education, but even when you explain to them “matted fur twists the skin and cuts off circulation, shaving it off can be quite a shock to the system” etc, they still have the audacity to turn around and try and blame the groomer.

it’s arrogance. it’s pride. it’s narcissism. and it’s an inability to take accountability.

 don’t be angry with me that i alleviated your dog’s suffering. yes, he’s going to be cold or in shock, but i am only fixing the problem you created. i would rather a dog feel a bit chilly, than to have its fur clumped together so tightly that the dog can’t feel air touching its skin and getting a slew of health complications from that.

i guarantee you that every single reasonable groomer will happily take the time to teach you how to brush properly, what to do at home between appointments, and try and accommodate for your needs. that’s if you’re nice to us. mutual fucking respect. im not just a doggy hairdresser, im a dog handler, trainer, first aid administerer, customer service provider, and stylist all in one.

i am tired of dog groomers being looked down on. talked to like we don’t know what we’re talking about. that it’s somehow our fault your dog is acting lethargic after a very physically and emotionally demanding groom because you couldn’t be fucked brushing it. i’ve had owners blame the dog before they blame themselves, and that’s a lot more common than you’d think.

i don’t care if you can’t always maintain your dog, i’m never going to judge you on that. what i am going to judge you on is when you repeatedly condescend and fight me about your dog’s welfare, or deflect and try to say it’s my fault the dog is acting weird after a groom.

#life of doge #dog grooming #signed by a very fucken tired dog groomer

[malusdraco]

still thinking about that animal testing post and how there is such a huge difference between 'no animal testing at all' and 'carte blanche for anything'

as someone who worked with lab animals occasionally and who has multiple people close to me who work with lab animals here's the thing about it:

you can't culture your way out of animal testing.

researchers CAN care about animal welfare. they can also not care. at all, and painting all researchers as controlled, ethical people is unfortunately not always the case.

yes there are committees whenever animal testing is happening. it's highly regulated and the committee itself should have members with different perspectives, including laypeople.

not everyone is going to recognize when an animal is in pain or distress. mice, rats especially hide their discomfort because they're prey animals. birds are used sometimes, which is a whole new set of body language cues to learn. this happens within research groups as well as within committees because people are SO geared towards cat/dog behavior in general.

the research career path prioritizes publishable results over anything else. lots of people can speak to the process of getting funding for research, having to prove it's either marketable or needed, and just how stressful it is. this is not a conducive environment to thinking about the welfare of your model organism

some things don't need to be studied (looking at you 'rats driving cars' study that did brain analysis only mentioned in the end notes) and it is not anti-science to ask someone to think about the living impact research has.

basically, the scientific research community is built like an inbred racing horse, which prioritizes results over wellbeing (both of animals AND of the humans doing the study)

it is the responsibility of the PI to create procedures that take into account the organism as a whole- its nature AND its body. it can happen, and does happen. on the flip-side, sometimes the research is so direly needed that sacrifices need to be made. even then, it is possible to treat the lab animals with respect.

this is all to say that the subject of animal testing is fucking complicated and it does nothing to just sit there and whine about how animals 'can't consent'

if you are in the research field and know of some recent studies on lab animal welfare and its impacts on results i'd be glad to pick em up if i can. i haven't heard anything about large scale movements within the scientific community to document animal welfare in trials but would be genuinely delighted to hear if there is actually something going on.

#okay rant over #animal testing #long post #this is just another resurgence of my anger at a PI i am aware of and want to fucking fight

[ugly-sweater]

if you're gonna write a post about how vegans are actually wrong and animal agriculture isn't that bad for the animals (never mind all the other consequences) you should at least have the decency to not tag it vegan so people actually following the vegan tag (you know. vegans) don't have to see it like i didn't come on tumblr to argue over the same stupid vegans are wrong facts over & over again

especially when these arguments are like actually animal husbandry is very conscientious of the animals! these animals were bred to have us leech off them! like a) you are imagining some pastoral small farm. the food you eat, if you buy it at a grocery store, is coming from a factory farm, where no matter what pastoral ideas you have, is not pleasant or kind for the animals. chickens frequently have their beaks removed so they don't peck themselves. cows produce more milk than their calves need because their calves are made into veal. like, the dairy industry and the veal industry are linked. and even if these cows were bred to produce more milk than they need so they can feed humans as well. even if sheep are bred to produce enough wool that they need to be sheared for their health. we did this to them, and for what? what right do we have to breed animals for our consumption?

animal welfare isn't even the reason why i am vegan its just the most commonly argued against. i especially hate when people bring up leather & faux leather like, oh, but pleather is made out of plastic and that's bad for the environment. please look at how toxic tanning leather is. also, there are faux leathers made from cactus, from mango, from all sorts of things now. and even if they weren't, it's not like eating meat absolves you of using plastic.

animal agriculture is the biggest pollutant there is. when people say these 100 companies are responsible for the majority of pollution, what companies do you think they are? here's a source

that wasn't even the page i was thinking of but it has a ton of sources linked. i was looking for something more on the effects of environmental racism. veganism isn't an issue that just affects the wellbeing of animals.

listen. i do not care if you are vegan or not. it's not my responsibility to change your mind or soothe your conscience. there's lots of reasons for you to not be vegan, including that you don't want to. i disagree with you, but i can do it amicably. however, i cannot stand when people say that vegans are misguided and our reasons for doing what we do is wrong. like if you are going to argue against it you need to say things that are factual, not your feelings. you don't have to educate yourself or anything but stop spreading lies about how people who have actually done research are wrong, but your feelings on farming are correct. lmfao

#sorry for another one of these!!!!!! #writing tag #vegan tag

[sunshinemarauder]

teddy lupin and the remus law for the welfare and wellbeing of lycanthropes

read on AO3!!

Teddy Lupin has always had a lot to prove.

It’s hard, of course, to be an orphan. It’s harder still when your parents were war heroes, when you’re Harry Potter’s godson, when you’re the only non-Weasley kid at all the Christmases, when people find out that you’re a Metamorphagus and ask you to change your hair, your eyes, your height. As if you’re an animal in a shelter.

It’s not like he has a horrible life, of course. He has Nan and Harry and Gin (previously known as Gin-Gin by toddler Teddy) and Jamie and Al and Lu. He has more than enough. He shouldn’t want more.

And still, he misses his parents — like a gaping hole in his heart that will never, ever heal.

--

“Aunt Hermione,” Teddy announces, barging into the Granger-Weasley household at ten bloody PM on a Thursday night, wiping soot from his Matterhorn Mooncalves tee as he steps out of their fireplace, “I need your help.”

The Aunt Hermione in question is sitting on a dark orange suede couch with a mug of something nice-smelling and a dogeared book. She’s the only one there; Rose and Hugo are probably asleep (or pretending to be, at least) and Ron is likely working late in the shop.

“Is it Harry again?” she asks.

“Not Harry, no.”

“Ginny, this time? The kids?” she offers, not looking up from her book. Hermione doesn’t need to specify what she means. It could be anything, really, and it would still make sense. She, like Teddy, knows the Potters well enough to understand that sometimes you just need to escape for a little bit with a roll of your eyes and a bemused glance over your shoulder.

“No, it’s about work,” Teddy explains. That makes Hermione sit up and close her book, looking at him with a familiar glint in her eye. It’s her you’ve got an idea? look; the one that makes Uncle Ron say blimey, Hermione’s doing her Thing again. Better grab a seat; the one that scares off new Ministry employees, makes them think oh, I see why she’s Minister for Magic.

Teddy’s quite familiar with that look. He associates it more with moments when Hermione announces, Rose Adelaide Granger-Weasley, you will get on the Quidditch team if it’s the last bloody thing I do and says, slowly, out of the blue, Teddy, what do you think of joining the Department of Magical Creatures after your NEWTs?

“What about work?” Hermione asks, watching him carefully.

“I want to introduce a law,” Teddy says promptly, folding his hands in front of himself to observe her reaction.

Like he expected, Hermione’s eyes light up and she nearly jumps off the couch.

“It won’t be easy,” he continues, “Which is why I need your help. I doubt the rest of the Ministry would be all too happy about mandatory Wolfsbane availability to all werewolves— regardless of monetary payment.”

There’s a devious look to Hermione’s smile that, for a moment, makes Teddy think Nan. Then it’s gone because she procures a pen and parchment out of nowhere and is scribbling vigorously, her hand snapping back and forth. Teddy blinks, alarmed.

“I’m sure they’ll say — we’ll have to go against Cuthbert, obviously — and Benstentley — but no, Gethsemane might be with us — it’s a brilliant idea, Ted, you’ve got a sharp mind — god, they’re going to hate that it’s free — but it has to be done, obviously, of course — d’you think we might get Regulated Potions on our side?”

It takes him a moment to realize that Hermione’s talking to him, and Teddy ponders, finding his words.

“I dunno. I only know Bonnie Sprucklin from the Office of Regulated Potions, and she’s always been nice. Nice, but a tad ditzy.”

Hermione nods. “Nice, but ditzy. We can work with that. The Head of Regulated Potions, Becca Dunwell, is a piece of crap. Talk to Sprucklin about any other higher-ups we can get in contact with.”

Teddy chokes on a laugh, still not used to Hermione talking smack about Ministry employees. He’s heard Harry do it, and Ginny, of course, many, many times, but not Hermione; not the bloody Minister.

“So, you’ll help?” asks Teddy, not daring to get his hopes up too much. Hermione’s a busy woman; she doesn’t need to back up some newbie in the Department of Magical Creatures, even if that boy was raised on her How to Raise a Kid help books and baby food diet recommendations.

“Don’t be silly,” says Hermione briskly, and Teddy knows that’s the end of the conversation.

--

The Ministry doesn’t like boys like Teddy. They don’t like his blue hair, or his piercings, or his tall, gangly body, or that he wears band tees and ripped jeans on his time off. They don’t like that he’s young, either, only a few years out of Hogwarts.

He’s tried to fit in. He’s tried, but maybe not hard enough, because he gave up on having his hair brown for work after two weeks, and he didn’t care enough to cover up the tattoo of Lupus on his bicep after a grueling day at work.

But he tried. Really.

Harry thinks Teddy should make more of an effort to be taken seriously, but he’s given up on Teddy agreeing with him by now. Now, he just gives Teddy suggestions for Hair of the Day, a game made up by a young Jamie several years ago.

Gin, on the other hand, has loudly proclaimed that if anybody says one thing about Teddy’s appearance, she’ll barge into the Ministry herself and yell them into submission.

He doesn’t doubt her, but he also doesn’t need the Potters stepping in every time he faces a hurdle in his career.

He’s spent his whole life being taken care of others; first, his parents (only for two months, only, only, only), then Nan, Harry and Hermione and Ron and Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, all the Weasleys, really, and then Vic, who’s been the fussy best friend for as long as he can remember, who always reminded him to do his Transfiguration homework on time even if it wasn’t her responsibility.

Now it’s time he learns to take care of himself.

--

He can start with having the hard conversations alone. No Harry or Hermione to hide behind. Just him, and... oh, bugger.

--

“Lupin, you say?”

Galvin Benstentley seems to have a permanent scowl etched on his face; like someone is pulling puppet strings to make him look this unpleasant.

Teddy swallows. He knows what Benstentley hears when he says Lupin. Werewolf.

“Yes, sir,” he says firmly. He is not ashamed of his father.

Benstentley’s eyes narrow. “And you want to introduce a bill? To make Wolfsbane,” he spits the word like it’s poison, “legal, and free.”

“Yes, I do,” Teddy says, straight-backed and proud. Lupin and proud. The son of a werewolf — and proud.

The other man sneers. “You’re a fool to think it will pass.”

“Maybe,” Teddy allows, “but at least I’m not a bigot.”

It��s possible he took it too far this time, Teddy notes with a twinge of amused guilt, as he watches Benstentley’s expression change from pissed to humiliated to livid.

“The Beast Division,” Benstentley starts through gritted teeth, his face rapidly turning purple, “The Beast Division will not be supporting your — your foolish law.”

Teddy hightails it out of there before Galvin Benstentley can fire him — or explode.

--

Like Teddy had mentioned to Hermione, Bonnie Sprucklin is known around the office for being a bit ditzy.

She always comes into work with a spring in her steps, giggling about something or the other, greeting everyone she comes across by name and an odd, unheard-of salutation, though she’s in different departments from most of them; Teddy’s favourite greeting was Monday’s bewildering we meet for the first time today for the last time today!

She wears her long, frighteningly orange curls in two braids, looking more like an eight-year-old than a twenty-eight-year-old.

Her choice of clothing, like Teddy’s, is unconventional, at least in the Ministry (and probably also the rest of the world, too). She wears lavender frocks and fuzzy hair ties and turquoise eyeshadow and dozens of glass bangles dangling off her wrist. When she walks (her walk’s more like a skip, really) it sounds like sleigh bells are tinkling and glass is clanking against itself. Which it is. Her bangles make quite the ruckus.

But, despite, or maybe because, of her ditziness, Bonnie Sprucklin is a delight of a person.

“Teddy Lupin!” A voice exclaims, and Teddy grins when he sees short, skipping Bonnie Sprucklin drop the papers she’s holding to bring her hands to her mouth in theatrically expressive shock. She emphasizes the first syllable of Teddy and Lupin in such a way that makes him shake his head fondly.

“Hi, Bonnie,” Teddy says warmly, helping her pick up her papers.

“Ted!” she cries dramatically, beaming up at him. “How are you?”

He engages in small talk, though it’s far more engaging than small talk with Mabel Tensworth (also known as Old Mab by Teddy and his friends), at least, and oohs and ahs in all the appropriate places when Bonnie regales the story of running into her sister’s ex at the Leaky after three years of radio silence, only to find out that he’d run away to Mumbai to play with a Muggle marching band.

“So, Bonnie,” Teddy starts at an appropriate lull in the conversation (it’s been twelve minutes now; he checked his beat-up gold watch that he got for his seventeenth that has RJL written on it; he’s quite over Bonnie’s sister’s ex-boyfriend by now), “What do you think of Wolfsbane?”

Bonnie, though ditzy, is known and admired for her near-encyclopedic knowledge. Surely, she must have some interesting opinions on Wolfsbane.

She perks up and then pauses thoughtfully. “You know, I’ve always thought the rules on Wolfsbane are far, far too strict. It’s a shame, it could be so useful for werewolves everywhere! And yet, it’s one of the highest-regulated potions our department covers. Even more than love Amortentia, which I think is absolute tosh. Why’d you ask, Ted?’

He grins, partly in relief, partly in amusement, and explains the bill he’s proposing to her.

When he’s finished, Bonnie squints her eyes and stares into space for so long that he nearly shakes her by the shoulders to make sure she isn’t Petrified.

“Law for the Welfare and Wellbeing of Lycanthropes,” she says promptly, gaze snapping back to Teddy’s.

He startles. “Erm, what?”

“That’s what you should call it,” she says patiently, “The Law for the Welfare and Wellbeing of Lycanthropes.”

A blink. A curious tilt of the head. “Thanks, Bonnie.”

--

He thinks about that conversation later; when he’s sitting at his cramped cubicle in the Office of the Beings Division, staring at a mounting pile of paperwork (sometimes, he hates his job; what’s the point of all this bloody paperwork from the Ministry Question Drop Exchange Program, MQDEP, if all of them are just from pureblood idiots making bigoted remarks?).

He thinks about it when he gets home to his flat, standing in the freezing cold water of the shower (Al and Vic always tease him for that, saying he’s a masochist who wants to die of hypothermia), in between thoughts of what to get Lu for her tenth birthday and how to politely ask Old Mab to stop wearing nauseating perfume in a way that won’t end up with his privates being hexed off.

He thinks about it at the monthly Weasley family dinner at the Burrow, with Vic holding his hand under the table, Mrs. Weasley fussing over Dom’s short skirt, and Jamie and Freddie sitting across from them, planning a prank so loudly that he’s sure they’ll get caught even if he and Vic don’t tell. Which they won’t, obviously.

He thinks it to death, all in his head, so much that he’s practically dying to say it out loud to someone; but he knows he must be absolutely sure before vocalizing anything.

--

“You’re hiding something,” Joanie Whittaker says promptly, setting down her mug of coffee and fixing Teddy with a Look — a Look with a capital L.

Teddy grimaces. It figures that, of all people, Joanie would be the one to realize that he’s holding back something after three weeks of stewing.

“I — I suppose I am,” he concedes, unable to lie when she’s fixing him with her Look. No one can lie under Joanie Eulalie Whittaker’s stare.

Next to Joanie, Aur snorts into their binder. “Such a bloody pansy, Ted. One sentence from Joanie and you’ve come clean after three weeks of silence.”

Teddy blinks, surprised. “You knew? How come you didn’t ask?”

Aur shrugs. “Wasn’t my place.”

Teddy hums thoughtfully. Aur’s like that; they know how to mind their business. It’s refreshing, especially after spending so much time with a clan of nosy Weasleys and then coming home to his even more speculative Nan.

“Thanks,” offers Teddy.

Joanie huffs impatiently. “Teddy.”

He smiles to himself. Work can be awful, but at least he has Joanie and Aurelius to make it better. Even if Joanie is a stickler for organization, which Teddy is awful at, and Aur is pants at small talk and mundane conversations while Teddy’s a chatterbox.

“Right. You know the law Aun — er, Minister Granger — and I have been working on?”

“Yes, we all know your auntie’s the Minister for Magic, Teddy,” Joanie says, rolling her eyes. “Go on, though. It’s a great bill.”

“Wellll,” he says, dragging out the word to avoid saying anything, but stops when Aur flashes him a Look of their own, “I think I know what I want to name it.”

Joanie smiles, exchanging a glance with Aur, leaving Teddy bewildered.

“And?” Joanie prompts, placing her chin on her hand, looking pleased.

He takes a deep breath and hopes that he made the right decision.

continued on AO3!!

#teddy lupin #tedoire #teddy x victoire #hp next gen #text #drabble #this was fun!!! no ships at all so idk how it will be received

[tendercoretroglodyke]

kind of annoying how ppl on here are just SO eager to advocate for the outright culling of all introduced (aka "invasive") species and act like anyone who is concerned for the welfare of the introduced species are painfully naive and/or PETA members (I usually see this regarding feral/outdoor cats, but w other species too)

tl;dr there's SO much more nuance when it comes to introduced animal control methods than simply a TNR/culling dichotomy, and some of you NEED to learn that reading some reactionary rants against animal rights activists doesn't make you an expert conservationist!!

Source: I'm an animal behavior & conservation master's student who recently took a class on human-wildlife conflict and wrote an 18 page term paper reviewing the massive invasive species problem in Australia, all the control methods, and the various perspectives regarding those control methods--which earned me an "It was a pleasure having you in class!" from my professor 😌

strap in lmao this is a crash course in my term paper

the longer these people rant about it the more blatantly obvious it becomes that they're just jumping to the opposite extreme from animal rights activists bc they think that makes them good environmentalists or makes them seem smart. like I GET the appeal, ofc it would be NICE to have a simple answer to managing introduced species by telling yourself "the health of the ecosystem comes before the welfare of the dirty rotten invasive species, so let's just kill them all"

but like. first of all it's almost DEFINITELY a more complicated situation than 'introduced species overpopulates and eats and/or outcompetes the native species and causes them to go extinct' (there are MULTIPLE forces at work here). second, culling is NOT always the effective cure-all you think it is!!! for ex/ culling of cane toads in australia ends up just.... making room in the ecosystem for more cane toads!! ALSO! encouraging people to go out and kill every "invasive" animal they find can often lead to NATIVE wildlife being killed accidentally, AND killing methods that are extremely painful and drawn out!

then there's the issue of animal welfare, which yes, introduced species ARE entitled to. the terminology around the discussion of how to "combat" the tides of "invasive" species only encourages us to see this situation as a war with an enemy hell-bent on destroying our ecosystem. but that's bullshit. they're literally JUST animals, which have been displaced by HUMANS, and for some reason their population ended up thriving in this new place. they aren't evil, and they DO deserve some compassion.

that said, obviously control measures often need to be taken against introduced species when they become a significant problem for the endemic species, and often TNR isn't an effective or practical method on its own. but TNR and culling aren't the ONLY control options--there are actually several control methods, each with its own levels of efficacy and welfare, each of which differs depending on the specific species and environment. these include methods like immunocontraception (high welfare, moderate efficacy), releasing species-specific viruses (extremely effective in australian rabbits, but VERY poor welfare), or hunting & trapping--for actual USE, unlike with culling (moderate-high efficacy, relatively moderate welfare if done properly)

then there's the question of whether introduced populations SHOULD be controlled, and if so, how much, and should they be completely wiped out just kept at a manageable population, etc etc etc. the concept of battling invasive species is VERY much a western preservationist (earlier trend in conservation) concept. this idea that the ecosystem would run in perfect stable harmony if not for humans (and the species we introduce around the world), and it's our moral obligation to keep the ecosystems around us EXACTLY as they were when we found them... as much as possible. but that's simply not true!! yes obviously humans have had a... significant impact on the environment and its animals. it's hard to overstate this point! but that doesn't mean that we are supposed to play impartial gods over our local ecosystems and make sure things stay exactly the same.

the fact is, many indigenous cultures DON'T view introduced species as a significant problem, barring more extreme circumstances. in my research I found surveys of aboriginal australian opinions on invasive control measures and many had said they DON'T see them as invasive, because they grew up on this land and therefore have a right to be there, just like any of them. indigenous cultures, to my knowledge, also tend to have a stewardship over their land not based in CONTROL (like western conservationists) but as an equal PART of a functioning ecosystem. rather than trying to "fix" the ecosystem like a benevolent god, they are a PART of the ecosystem and they adapt to the changing balance of it just like all the other creatures must.

that said, when they DID believe it was time to take some control measures, those surveyed were much more likely to prefer control methods like hunting for use over things like poisoning or culling, calling those methods a waste of a natural resource.

anyways. I've spent way too long on this instead of doing my project lol. I gtg but please know you don't HAVE to advocate for culling invasive species to get ur conservationist cred!! there's a lot of nuance in these situations and it's not a bad thing to care about the wellbeing of ALL animals--it's actually a good thing!!

#i doubt anyones gonna read this but if you do and u wanna learn more dm me #i could also just send you a copy of my paper if ur interested #well. there goes my plan for finishing my project by 6 lmao #invasive species #conservation

[whitherliliesbloom]

birds of a feather

[ ffxivwrite2021 ] ★ [ masterlist ] ★ [ prompt #16 - crane ]

[ illya & friends ] ★ [ 1,847 words ]  ★ [ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ] features ancientechos’ laurelis and two of my other ocs.

crane: a tall, long-legged, long-necked bird, typically with white or grey plumage

though their species varies as much as the colors of their plumages, birds of a feather flock the warrior of light together

“So...” Sigfred’s puzzled expression is framed by the furrowing of his eyebrows as he looks down at the young woman as she tries and fails to protectively shield her newest little companion away from his view. “You decided your aviary isn’t quite populated enough, did you?”

He says little, but the creature stood a good two feet taller than the comparably tiny lalafellin in front of it, the red tuff that crowned its head not helping it stay out of sight and unnoticeable either.

Of course, even if the peculiar thing hadn’t been almost the size of a small hyuran child or had striking plumage, it wouldn’t distract anybody from the fact that the lanky, majestic creature Illya had herded back home was yet another bird - a wild crane hailing from the far east.

“It wasn’t my decision to make.” Illya frowns, shaking her head while she idly raises her hand to rest upon the crane’s head, stroking it gently. “She just followed me back.”

“All the way from Yanxia?” The disbelief in his voice is his understandable, as is the skeptical crossing of his arms. He has trouble believing that a wild animal would doggedly tail Illya thousands of miles away from it’s natural habitat. Though his cynicism quickly fades when his scarlet eyes meet starlit ones, and he is reminded of the supernatural affinity the girl has with feathered creatures when a pigeon casually flutters over and lands on top of her head. 

He cannot tell if the lack of the wild animal’s natural fear of people when it came to Illya was more absurd, or the fact that she seemed completely nonchalant about the way a bird was nesting atop her hair. 

“Yes.” She answers, voice dipping slightly in pitch to convey her seriousness. “Hien had quite a struggle to chase her off the boat.” 

Evidently, the Prince of Doma had failed spectacularly... and as if self-aware, the crane puffs it’s chest out and tilts her head high into the sky. 

Next to Sigfred, the bard’s shoulder shakes in mirth, his loud guffaw echoing through the shroud of trees and causing the pigeon that had been peacefully resting on Illya’s head to flee, much to her unspoken chagrin. 

“Gods, I’m not even surprised anymore.” Wiping a stray tear from the corner of his eyes, E’lija finally speaks in between choked laughter. “Illya brings home a new bird like every other day.”

Heat spreads across the young lady’s face, though as if sensing her embarrassment, the cockatiel that had been sitting quietly upon the branch of Illya’s wisteria tree flys over before landing on her shoulder, now nudging it’s head against her cheek.

“I-I... I don’t choose to, most of the time at least... Plus, if I take good care of them, there shouldn’t be a problem. Isn’t that right, Orion?”

The cockatiel bobs its head up and down, much to the utter shock of E’lija who throws his arms up.

“W-wha- It can understand her??”

Orion doesn’t spare even a second to pause before turning it’s head to lock his beady, round eyes upon the miqo’te before his beak parts to voice his detest towards the man who would embarrass his master.

“Piss off.”

“IT CAN TALK?!?!” E’lija so very nearly falls off his fold up chair, threatening to take the cups of coffee and biscuits onto the floor with him.  “WHERE- Where did it learn that from???” 

“.....Estinien.” Illya frowns, lifting her index finger to poke at the cockatiel’s forehead in disapproval. “He got into a fight... well... argument with Orion. It wasn’t pretty.”

She really should find a way to tactfully ask the man to cut his expletives down... or at least not feel the raging urge to get into a debate with a mere bird, lest she have a harder and harder time convincing people that she was not in fact the one responsible for teaching her pet cockatiel how to yell ‘Thal’s balls’ in a guest’s ear. 

Sigfred merely hums, his hands stroking his chin as he narrows his eyes at the crane. 

“What kind of crane is it, anyway? We didn’t see a lot of it’s kind back in Doma.”

“It’s a Manchurian crane - one of the rarest species of cranes in the world, I believe. It’s particularly highly revered in the far east... which was why I had to hide her below deck while we were sailing by Kugane.”

His interest piqued, the redhead straightens himself and adjusts his hat before leaning back into his seat. 

“Why’s that?”

“Um... well, if I remember right, it symbolizes good fortune, longevity and immortality.”

E’lija has to stop his jaw from dropping so low that it’d collide with the table. Archons, and this apparently rare crane from the far east that represented god given virtues has now taken a liking to Illya so much it’d leave Doma to stalk her all the way back to Eorzea?

Internally, he wonders what sort of karma he must have to obtain such divine blessings. 

With a clear of his throat, Sigfred steers the conversation back on track.

“So what now? What do you plan on doing next with it?”

“I-I.... I don’t... I don’t know? She’s stubborn... wouldn’t budge for anyone. I had thought maybe letting her see just how different the shroud is from Yanxia, she’d want to go home but...”

A hearty, more pleasant giggle rings out next to her, and Illya turns to look at a pink-haired miqo’te who she had assumed would be too pre-occupied with cuddling her baby dodo to have paid attention to her conversation with her other party mates.

Laurelis still is, to an extent... her arms wrapped tightly around the plump, round creature as it lets out an occasional squawk. But as usual, when it came to the topic of animal adoption and welfare, she was ever the first to jump to contribute to the topic.

“Why don’t you just adopt her then? You already know how to take care of other birds so... just one more won’t make much of a change, would it?”

That was the exact mindset that would lead Laurelis to have an ever growing household of cats and dogs that she’d find on her travels... but Illya thinks pointing out the irony to that would only get lost to her dear friend. 

“Well... I... I have my reservations.” 

Illya turns behind to look back at the crane as it stares intently back at her. Whatever that was going through it’s head, it certainly had no intention of returning where it came from... But that in itself was a bit of a problem.

“Manchurians cranes are an endangered species... I’m not sure I’m qualified enough to take care of one, let alone adopt and keep one for the rest of it’s life, when it should rightfully be wild.” 

There was a drip of hypocrisy in her statement, certainly. It wouldn’t be the first time she’s had to shelter a wild animal only to be forced into a position of adopting it - and it didn’t just apply to birds either. 

But caring and raising a species at danger of going extinct was an entirely different issue that she rightfully felt she had no place dabbling in - not without professional training, at least... and the twelve knows when she’d find an expert in the matter willing to teach her.

Ethical concerns aside, Illya also struggled to find a concrete reason for why she absolutely had to keep this beautiful creature in her home. 

For most of the other animals she’d adopted, they had been rescued in some form or the other. Hazel for example, the brown sparrow that she had found with broken wings near Bentbranch Meadows a few summers ago. Though Illya had full intentions to release her as soon as she healed from her injuries, the little sparrow grew attached and has rarely ever left her side since. 

She’d struggled to find an adopter who would be willing to take in her mobirdly obese chocobo chick Lawrence, due perhaps to their reservations in regards to providing for his demanding diet. And likewise, the hunting hawk that she’d met upon a pirate ship had been abandoned after losing it’s eye... and his protectiveness over not just herself, but anyone he knew to be someone Illya cared for, made it difficult to even find ways to put adverts for his adoption. 

Illya had thought the reason why birds seemed to flock to and very often stay by her side had been for the simple fact that she’d saved them... and that their attachment to the one who saved them made it impossible for them to part from her. 

The Manchurian crane however, would perhaps be the clearest proof that her affinity with birds was... unnatural, to say the least. 

Not that she minded, of course... Because for as much as she would bring doubt to her own abilities to care for the animals under her care, she did secretly have a soft spot for birds that perhaps made it hard for her to give her feathered friends as much as it would be for them to find a new home. 

“Maybe I could foster it for a while before bring it back to Doma.” Illya hums, but hears Laurelis whine pitifully in response.

“But she’s clearly attached to you! I’m sure she’ll be happiest by your side. At the end of the day, her happiness and wellbeing is the most important, right? I’m sure you’ll do just fine, Illya!” 

The miqo’te points out, gesturing to the yard full of birds who roosted quietly - from Lawrence who was now rolling about in his little playpen full of sand, to Captain Blackbeak who sat vigilantly atop the purple mailbox decorated with golden leaves and stars that sat right outside her yard. 

Illya hears hazel singing from where she sat on the roof of the pagoda, and the nudging of the crane’s beak against her face, as if both voicing their agreement for Laurelis’ words... and Illya lets out a heaving sigh that was copied comically by the cockatiel on her shoulder.

“I-I’ll think about it.” Though there’s still a hint of hesitation, the fact Illya was willing to even consider was enough to cause Laurelis to break out into a grin, lifting her hands up to clap in delight.

“Oh goodie! Now think of a name for her!”

“N-now??” With widened eyes of gleaming lavender stars, Illya parts her mouth and shakes her head frantically. “W-when I’m put on the spot like that I can’t--... I can’t think of anything-”

“Oh!” Evidently more than happy to suggest some ideas, E’lija blurts out. “I have some ideas! How about... Queen crane! Or... Immortal Nancy! Or-”

“Shut up stupid! Shut up stupid!”

Bouncing up and down, Orion squeals out, causing the bard to finally collapse off of his chair and spill his milk coffee, which Illya is certain that Lawrence would be more than happy to hop over and drink off the floor.

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite2021 #ffxivwrite #kiwisffxivwrite2021 #illya skawi #laurelis #sigfred #e'lija #fanfic #mine #THIS WAS VERY VERY RUSHED AND I WANTED TO INCLUDE MORE DIALOGUE AND SCENES BUT #IM PRESSED FOR TIME I JUST CAME HOME FROM WORK AAAAA #i originally wanted to write about modern au involving an arcade with the crane game but lulun already did that ;w; #btw go read her fic its SO GOOD

[rotationalsymmetry]

Well. About whether it’s demeaning to compare human suffering to animal suffering.

People tend to just assume animal suffering is less important as a sort of a priori thing without justifying it. I don’t think there can possibly be a justification for it; and the problem with that is people who think animal suffering is less important than human suffering (or possibly, something that human beings should care less about because we should care about our own species more) and people who think it’s as important, have an arguing from different premises problem. except one where one side, at least, finds the other side’s premises terminally offensive and insensitive.

I general don’t consider myself an animal rights/animal welfare person. But that’s just because, on a personal level, I’ve got more lost causes than I know what to do with as it is. (Plus, this particular lost cause would pit me more directly against my parents than most, as they work/worked in medical research.) Not because I can actually find any argument that makes sense to me for why animal suffering is less significant than human suffering.

(Which, incidentally, in practice “less significant“ is almost always equivalent to “not significant at all”, unless the animal in question is a beloved pet. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of room in practice for “animal suffering is strictly less important than human suffering, but still bad enough that it’s worth, for instance, accepting that we’re going to know less about cancer because giving mice cancer on purpose is morally unacceptable.” Or even “maybe we’ll have fewer new cosmetics.”)

(incidentally, just as there are arguments against torture other than “torture is wrong“, there are also arguments against animal cruelty other than animal cruelty is wrong. And it is very difficult for me to believe that seeing animals as things whose wellbeing is morally irrelevant, is completely unrelated to seeing the earth as a resource to be exploited, seeing humans in other countries as disposable, white people seeing black people as intrinsically threatening or less able to feel pain or whatever, men seeing women as sex objects, or the general idea that of course children don’t need rights they just need parents.)

There’s a bit of a Kirk/Spock thing going on. Sorry, that probably makes no sense out of context. What that means to me is: arguments for Kirk and Spock being canonically attracted to each other, well, people can and do make hours long arguments in favor, and the arguments against are pretty much just “don’t be ridiculous.” Same for animal rights. On the pro side, there’s literal books. On the other side, “don’t be ridiculous.“ This general pattern has two main implications. One, people who like arguments will tend to accept the position that is argued for, whereas people who are highly motivated by a desire to fit in will accept the “that’s ridiculous“ position. Two, the second type of person, and there are a lot more of them, inevitably see the first type as some sort of tinfoil hat conspiracy theorist. It’s frustrating.

#neurodivergent on main #Animal cruelty #testing on animals #Animal welfare #Animal rights #strict utilitarianism #Im not capitalizing the a’s on purpose #It’s just having to do with how im postinf #Posting to tumblr through a browser (maybe it’s just Firefox?) on mobile sucks balls #I have the app deleted so I will be on tumblr less #If you look at my posting history today you can see how well that’s working

[isabellarc]

It is time to start a change

   Based on data recollected the previous years, it is estimated that there are around 650.000 animals between street dogs and pets in Bogota. However, 80.000 of them were abandoned.(Vallejo, 2015) Pet’s abandonment is a subject that affects each country, causing several euthanized pets as shelters capacity exceed. In fact, shelters wind up being overcrowded because of the insufficient amount of people who are willing to adopt a pet (Miller, 2007). Moreover, the current reality is that there are not enough laws that protect animals from being abandoned. We can find a few animals’ abandonment protection laws in some states or even in some countries like the U.S, Germany and Colombia; however, in some cases the penalizing of  people who choose to abandon a pet may not be taken seriously. Besides, a lot of people are not truly aware of this phenomenon and tend to ignore the fact that with their help an animal life could be saved. This world not only has a lot to learn but also a lot to change, for we seem to be so selfish that it takes us a considerable job to take good care of animals. In order to change that in Colombia’s current society, there are three significant solutions: firstly, to come up with a law that protect animals rights. Secondly, to motivate people to adopt an animal and the last one is to responsibly create a more humane word for animals.

   The first solution is to come up with laws that protect animal’s rights in order to reduce the number of abandoned animals. As it is known, one of the most effective ways to prevent tragedies and to establish public order is by using the law. This should also apply when attempting against another being. Therefore, legal implications may lead people to think twice before abandoning their pets (Queensland, n.d). In Colombia, animal mistreatment is not considered as crime and the aftereffects of it are not serious ones. However, projects as Proyecto de Ley 087 that has as primary objective to punish those who attempt against animal's wellbeing can be implemented to ensure the legal consequences of those actions (Vallejo, 2015). Furthermore, it is indispensable to put into practice the implementation of a law that allows foundations to promote animal adoption. The 5th law of 1972 provides foundations with permission for performing educative campaigns so citizens are aware of the difficult times some animals have faced because of humans, and aimed to avoid behaviors that can lead to animal mistreatment (Vallejo, 2015) Thus, the incorporation of more laws that protect animals from future abandonment and abuse in Colombia could have a positive impact in the future.

   The second solution is to motivate people to adopt an animal. In order to reach this goal, being careful not to scare possible owners by implementing too strict adoption policies is a must, otherwise they will only prevent the adoption (Jackson, J. Jr, 2009). Sometimes the adoption process can be inappropriate, making pet applicants feel grilled because they fill out applications and they answer extensive interviews but end up being rejected by the shelter. This can decrease the rate of people interested in applying for an adoption. In addition, technical resources can be used for creating apps and promote animals adoption. Several foundations could merge to achieve far-reaching online campaigns and to create stronger strategies that would capture the attention of people and create an adoption culture within the current society by focusing on the appropriate management of social networks (Mendez et al. 2019). By doing so, the public could also have access to relevant information before making the decision to adopt, so they are well prepared and have a better understanding on the importance of adopting an animal.  Hence, it is indispensable to get rid of unnecessary burdens to adoption within the colombian society and to be able to show them how wonderful it can be to adopt a pet.

   The third solution is to responsibly create a more humane word for animals. This could be done by creating volunteer teams and talks addressing the importance of sterilization and adoption of street animals (Gonzales, 2014). In some places, the measure taken as adoptions are not taking place is to sacrifice the life of the animal. Such drastic decisions could be avoided by addressing people that are interested in adopting, providing them with the necessary information so they are able to understand the importance of being responsible and taking care of their pets (Gonzales, 2014). Furthermore, for a more human word we must start by educating children and teenagers about social awareness, so they can share the information and help their families to be more susceptible to topics related to animals. To succeed in being a more responsible society, concepts such as persuasion and awareness need to be taken into account when educating the younger generations, as they are the ones that are more opened and sensitive about animal’s wellbeing (Vallejo, 2015). Thus, if we want to generate a change in the way the word works, focusing on educating children is a must.

   All in all, even though there is still a lot to learn in order to take good care of animals, there are several solutions that can be considered to address the abandonment and adoption of them. The key aspects to take into account in this regard are the implementation of laws that protect animals, the improvement of motivation in animal’s adoption and the creation of a more humane world. Local or big foundations can merge in order to create more and bigger campaigns that help people to be aware of the need of adoption, and people can still using their voices to promote the importance of having accurate laws that would make people think twice before hurting or abandoning an animal. Keeping this in mind, by educating people we can generate a positive change in the way the relationship between animals and humans have been working in Colombia. The more awareness it exists, the more adoptions could take place, and the more human the world will become once we start taking care of not only the others but also others creatures.

Isabella Rodríguez C. 

References

Jackson, J.,Jr. (2009, Oct 19). Shelter might modify its adoption policies.

Mendez, M. A., Villafañe, V. A., Martinez, M. J., & Andres, A. J. (2019). APLICACIÓN MÓVIL PARA ADOPCION DE MASCOTAS ABANDONADAS “PELUDITOS.COM” (Degree). https://repository.unad.edu.co/bitstream/handle/10596/27805/acmendezme.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

Queensland Government. (n.d). Cruelty, duty of care and abandoning animals https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/livestock/animal-welfare/law/cruelty

Vallejo, V, D. (2015). ESTRATEGIAS DE COMUNICACIÓN PARA AUMENTAR LA CONCIENCIA DE ADOPCIÓN DE CANINOS EN BOGOTÁ (Degree). https://repository.javeriana.edu.co/bitstream/handle/10554/20114/VallejoAbadiaDaniella2015.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

#animal adoption #animals #animal care #essay #a better world #home #theydeservelove #they deserve better #animal lover #adoptapet #adoptnotshop

[stvlti]

10 female characters tag

@timothydraike tagged me to post 10 favourite female characters from 10 different fandoms and then tag 10 people, but honestly this list isn't gonna be too different from my 10 fave characters list cause most of them are women anyway 😂 😂 but here you go:

Nausicäa // Nausicäa of the Valley of the Wind, Studio Ghibli

I didn't explain it last time, but I feel like she is the prototype for all the Ghibli girl heroines, free and autonomous, except she's a young woman who knows exactly what she believes in and wants to do. She's a warrior princess who believes in peace and kindness rather than war; she listens to mother nature and tends to her garden as deftly as she handles her glider jet; she's a born leader who puts her subjects' wellbeing before her own immediate safety. This gif here shows the moment she took of her own gas mask to boost morale while they're crashing into a toxic wasteland. I don't think I've seen many representations of female leadership as compelling and utterly human as hers was before or after this film debuted in popular media.

Harley Quinn // DCU

She's a bundle of contradictions but it's in that I find a female antivillain/antihero that feels real. Her stocky build and bit of chub in the tummy area? Real. Her slobbish habits and love for nasty junk food? Real. Her all encompassing empathy for animal welfare? Real. Disregarding the artists that draw her with too big boobs, she's so ordinary in her appearance and habits that it actually feels like she's the kind of girl that media often overlooks. She's like the manic pixie dream girl but rounded out with relatable human traits.

Tsunemori Akane // Psycho-Pass

I related to her when I was 20 (exactly her age at the start of the series) because I was at a crossroads in life, just as she was. I was searching for my calling, just as she was trying to understand her purpose and place in society. And at that point in my life, I could appreciate the duality between abiding by the system (legal reformation) and questioning the system (dipping into revolutionary ideas). I can't see myself relating to a cop anymore now obviously, but she's a rather unique figure that I still think about.

Ava // Ex Machina (2014), filmblr

She brings out all my post-humanist sympathies. And I think she captures a sort of queer android and Other perspective, one that the male characters feel threatened by, that women can understand well.

Maeve Millay // Westworld

She's my murder mom. Something something about "I've died a thousand times, I'm not afraid of death" (I'm paraphrasing majorly), she's so badass. The fact that she was one of the first androids to awaken and actually challenge the humans, there's so much power in her taking her trauma in stride and moving forward nonetheless. And I think you can see a recurring theme here lolol

Lois Lane (Gotham City Garage) // DCU Elseworlds

Perhaps this is just preserving a core attribute of her main continuity counterpart, but I absolutely adore the spirit she embodies of journalists who stay defiantly committed to truth and justice in the face of insurmountable odds. Fighting against a fascist terror regime - which hits very close to home - and keeping the broadcast going even out in the wasteland. In this last aspect she carries similarities to Dr. Death Defying's character from Gerard Way's Killjoys series, except she's a woman and she was actually fleshed out as a character with a heart and soul and a lot of gravitas. How can you not love her?

(and I forgot this was supposed to be 10 characters from 10 different fandoms until I finished this list but let's say her being an Elseworlds character counts as a different fandom 🤡🤡)

Ripley // Alien (even tho Sigourney Weaver's personal politics is a bit yikes)

The proto-final girl and original warrior mother in sci-fi wrapped into one. (Ok, the crown for modern scifi warrior mother might have to go to Sarah Connor actually, but that's also another Cameron invention so they can share that title.) Even tho I can't relate to most of her character arc, I'm still very impressed by her character. They even touch on her PTSD a little which is unheard of in the contemporary movies at the time.

Honorary mention: Sarah Connor // Terminator

Marceline the Vampire Queen // Adventure Time

Not the original goth gf, but she is a goth gf. Gay and aesthetics aside, I really liked that the show let her be a bit weird and gross (which she should be considering she's kind of undead) and her tragic backstory gets me every time. The best thing is she's still a big softie, who takes good care of Ice King / Simon when he's around; you don't see that kind of (grand)daughter character in media much.

Beverly Marsh // It (2017)

I haven't read the book but tbh I liked the agency the first movie awarded her enough that I'm afraid of jeopardising it; I don't like how the book portrays / handles her sexuality. She is a survivor of csa, but she's a fighter regardless. I like that about her.

Darlene Alderson // Mr. Robot

I honestly debated putting her on this list again since I haven't seen a single Mr. Robot episode in so long, but I do remember her character being given her own arc in S2 (and onwards I suppose) and she's a little fucked up in her own way. People look at Rami's character and get sucked in sorting through his alters but Darlene is no less complex - damaged, dangerous, and compelling.

Other honorary mentions:

Riko Sheridan // DCU (an Asian girl who isn't infantilised or reduced to the model minority? shocker!)

Missy // Colette (2018), filmblr (she's actually a real historical figure so I'm not sure if she counts. But she's so radical and ahead of her time - in fact the film seems to suggest she prefers he/him pronouns. I have never seen such intriguing butch representation and I just fell in love with her character. Worth a watch.)

Jo March // Little Women (2019), filmblr (since we're talking about historical women... well, she's a period film character but not a real one, but she's highly evocative of certain female experiences in much the same way)

Blue // The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys (so I didn't wanna crowd this list with too many android ladies but she's the first queer android girl character I came across and I loved her instantly. Too bad they buried her gay but her entire concept is my aesthetic)

Rem // Death Note (I feel like I'm obligated to mention DN, too bad it has shitty writing wrt female characters, that's why I have no choice but to stan the lesbian monster gf friend who is so in love with her gal pal she would die for her. Ugh, poetic cinema)

Ok now I am gonna tag @lawliyeeeet @sweetgloss @dressed-to-keehl @3dnygma @hikenacedabi and anyone else who wants to I guess

#tag meme #long post

[jgardnernwcl-blog]

THE BLAZING WORLD

Creating new narratives to equip us for the new dark ages

I am a teacher at Hotspur Primary School, an inner-city comprehensive school in Newcastle upon Tyne. The school is nationally recognised for its innovative arts projects and high-quality pastoral care for all pupils. In 2019 I led a whole-school art project entitled ‘Utopia Week’, based upon Margaret Cavendish’s 1666 novel ‘The Blazing World.’ The project was pitched as being a memorable and inspirational experience that could raise the aspirations and confidence of pupils. With hindsight it is now easier to see that the project was actually about something different; it was about creating new narratives to help equip the young people to overcome the new dark ages that we may find ourselves in.

‘The Blazing World’ was chosen as the stimulus for a number of reasons:

1.       Children really like portals, especially so since the rise of the immensely popular Swedish video game Minecraft. ‘The Blazing World’ is full of portals that allow the Duchess to transport to the Blazing World, a Utopia filled with anthropomorphic animals.

2.       As a school we are continually challenging stereotypes.  The Science Fiction genre is synonymous with male writers and yet ‘The Blazing World’, a contender for the first Science Fiction novel to be written, was written by the proto-feminist, self-publishing, philosopher, poet and Scientist Margaret Cavendish. ‘The Blazing World’ combines a narrative of a woman in absolute power with a narrative about the possibility of utopian speculation and the liberation of the female soul. If we’re going to need to “woman up” as a society, we could do a lot worse than look to Margaret Cavendish utopian visions for inspiration.

3.       Margaret Cavendish was The Duchess of Newcastle. Having this shared connection with the local area empowers the pupils and allows them to take pride in their heritage and community. Surely this is a more important and relatable connection than a history of Kings, Queens and conquests. (Incidentally, as well as having a claim to be the birth place of Science Fiction/Utopias, Newcastle can also be seen as the birth place of Dystopias, with Yevgeny Zamyatin’s 1921 novel We being written whilst the Russian author was living in the city.  But that’s for another project.)

In the lead up to the project a flashing portal appeared in the school hall leaving pupils curious about what lay behind or would be happening in the upcoming days. An actor playing Margaret Cavendish then greeted the pupils having arrived through the portal. Frazzled after being transported across space and time, the Duchess of Newcastle explained to the children that her Blazing World utopia, once the envy of the Universe, had fallen into disrepair. Animals are squabbling with one another, each claiming superiority over one another, whilst their environment had become neglected and uncared for. Having heard that the children at Hotspur are caring, creative and inclusive she decided to visit the school to seek help.

Fifteen mixed-year group classes were then allocated a different animal from ‘the Blazing World’ to research about and find out what makes them special before creating flags, banners and special boats hats that celebrated their creature. This all took place over ‘Utopia Week’ in which students from Newcastle University’s School of Literature joined us to deliver workshops on Cavendish, Utopias, Science Fiction, Feminism and Woman’s Writing to the Year 6’s who then imparted this knowledge to the younger children. It all culminated with an immersive theatre event on the Friday where all the tribes joined together to parade across the school field.

The parade was inspired by the immersive 1960s theatre group ‘The Welfare State International’, and their mantra of “making audiences of strangers into a community.” The Welfare State International believed in a moral duty of offering art on the same basis as education and health. The procession had the soundtrack of David Bowie’s Heroes and was led by the Duchess waving on a flat bed truck made up to resemble a bubble spewing, steam-punk inspired ship. The pupils congregated at the end of the school field to share pledges as to what each animal would do to save the Blazing World, perform a flash-mob dance, and play carnival music on marimbas.

With the Duchess’s faith restored she endeavoured to use the pledges to bring the Utopia back to the Blazing World. Speaking to the children from a wooden platform ten-feet off the ground, the Duchess went onto say to the crowd:

“the time has come for me to leave you, and you in turn must return to your own world, which is very lucky to have you. I’m sure that in your lifetimes, Earth will face many challenges of its own. Perhaps you will also see divisions, or great change of other kinds. Maybe the weather will turn, or your own animal species will be forced to fight for their survival. It could happen today, or tomorrow, in 12 years or 1200 years. But I have no fear for this planet you call Earth. For even as a brief visitor I have seen that children like you – all of you - will always rise up to fight for what is right and good. And as long as the small people-people of Hotspur are around, the planet Earth will be in the best of hands.”

She then disappeared amongst a cloud of red smoke to the sound of Daft Punk’s Contact and a banner was draped down the front of the wooden platform with a direct quote from Cavendish’s novel:

“I have made a world of my own; for which nobody, I hope, will blame me, since it is in everyone's power to do the like.”

As a species we use stories as the optimum medium to help us understand the world and live within our own fictions. Unfortunately, the stories we have been telling ourselves over the last twenty-plus years have often been based on dystopias and catastrophic apocalypses. These stories are not suitable to equip those who are part of Generation Z or their younger contemporaries as they face the environmental changes ahead. This is the mobilising, metamodern generation who have grown up with constant internet access on their phones and are able to orchestrate political activism on previously unimaginable scale within less than 48 hours. As John Higgs point out in his inspirational ‘The Future Starts Here’, they oscillate between idealism and pragmatism.

Our news coverage, Hollywood films and best-selling novels tell us the same doom-laden narrative of environmental Armageddon. We struggle to imagine a healthy fiction to live inside and have forgotten what Gary Lachman calls the lost power of the imagination. Or as Higgs succinctly puts it, “The failure of the imagination stops us from steering towards better version of our potential future.” Consequently, one of the first activities as part of the week was for all the pupils to design a utopia. As the above quote by Cavendish points out, surely the first stage of creating a better future is to imagine one.

Older narratives of protagonists righteously pursuing their individual liberty don’t seem to be as relevant for Generation Z and their descendants. This is why the collective struggle to restore a Utopia from a dystopia through pledges seemed a good narrative for the pupils to be immersed in. In a moment of synchronicity, a number of the pupils had been at the Civic Centre that very morning to protest against Newcastle City Council’s lack of action on climate change. Their return to school for the afternoon’s procession meant that they were more equipped with merging the performative and spectacle with their activism.

‘Utopia Week’ would not have been possible were it not for the collaboration with producer and writer Beth Coverdale (who also works at Seven Stories Centre for Children Books), the University of Newcastle, a myriad of volunteers, local artists and musicians and the fantastic staff at Hotspur School. However, the stars of the show have to go to a small intervention group of pupils who played an important role in shaping the direction and aesthetics. The aim was to use the project as a vehicle to minimise the barriers of learning and develop emotional wellbeing with a view of improving progress of six underperforming children.

The identified children had gaps in their emotional and social wellbeing as outlined in their Thrive Online screen. Every teacher screens their class on a termly basis and then completes individual screenings for children who are not meeting age related expectations. The Thrive Approach is grounded in the current scientific developments in neuroscience and uses a developmental model to help us understand how we develop socially and emotionally from birth through to adulthood.

The focus group worked together on a weekly basis for 40 minutes per week from January to May. During that time, they would have their own Thrive group action plan based upon their needs and would follow activities as recommended by the plan before working on creative preparations for Utopia week. The finale of Utopia week saw the Thrive children lead the whole school in the procession with a homemade banner, behind the ship that they had also designed. Through exploring the theme of Utopia, the children were given terminology and concepts that were not only applicable to the project, but also to their barriers to learning. The products of their creativity were metaphors to express their feelings and their achievements as a group. 

After being re-screened at the end of the project we found that five out of six had progressed from Thinking to Power and Identity, the next stage of emotional development in the Thrive Approach. As well as this half of the pupils made academic progress, moving from working towards age related expectations to meeting age related expectations in one or more of their core subjects. Whilst there are many contributing factors to this progress, including the relationship between the pupil and their Thrive practitioner, the Utopia project played an important part. By creating a safe space for the group to create, make art, reflect and celebrate themselves the children were able to overcome individual barriers to learning. And in doing so they were choosing hope over doom, working within a narrative that they may need to return to during future uncertain times.

 #JohnHiggs #Newcastle #MargaretCavendish #TheBlazingWorld #education #creativity #utopias #future #SciFi

[701communicationdesignnainak]

Graphic Design

https://charitypaws.com/pet-adoption-marketing-ideas/

This website has a lot of different marketing ideas for animal rescue. It talks about how marketing is an extremely important part of getting animals adopted so there are some out-of-the-box ideas and I think they’re pretty funky and neat.

https://www.weareonfire.co.nz/design-work/spca-auckland-charity-advertising-campaign/

This is an SPCA Auckland campaign for a new animal crisis centre.

“When SPCA Auckland urgently needed a campaign to raise money for their new North Auckland Centre we put our hand up!

When SPCA responds to animals in need, 75% of its time is wasted caught up in Auckland’s diabolical traffic. There is an urgent need for a new satellite centre in North Auckland. New funds are required to build a better future for Auckland animals that are suffering. Save more. Rescue more. Rehome more.

70% of targeted funds were raised in the first three weeks of the campaign.

“We worked with Onfire Design to develop a fund raising campaign for a new North Auckland centre. Their creative was beautifully simple and cut through the clutter - a difficult task in a crowded and competitive charity market. They were a pleasure to work with - friendly, professional and passionate about what they do. We couldn’t be happier. Sam and the team - you are definitely Onfire!” Debbie Madden, SPCA”

What I really like about this is the play on words. “We put our hand up”. Because it shows in their work as well. It is also based in Auckland so I thought it was pretty interesting. They also show the drafts they made before finalising their ideas which is something that may be extremely useful for us. In a way it's like looking at their workbook for this project.

They mainly focused on billboard, video and posters.

Second campaign

Purina Adoption Campaign

Purina Petcare specialises in providing high quality pet food. Purina also partners up with numerous animal shelters and pet welfare organisations to advocate for animals' happiness and wellbeing. The goal of this campaign is to educate and encourage the public into adopting pets from animal shelters instead of backyard breeders. Purina got in contact with local adopters to ask for their help in this campaign. Purina wanted to break the stigmas surrounding shelter adoptions by showing how happy people were with their adoption and how much they loved their pets.

A hashtag was created to help promote the campaign - #ConsiderAShelterPet

From their photoshoot, Purina developed a series of banner ads, billboards, social media ads and street graphics to promote this campaign.

“This  campaign also featured the debut of a new partner—Urban Chestnut Brewing Company (UCBC). The brewery partnered with Purina to bring into retail stores across St. Louis its highly anticipated beer, Urban Underdog, bearing the #ConsiderAShelterPet campaign details. We were thrilled to work with UCBC as we coordinated co-branding and packaging for this rollout.”

Creative Direction & Photography

We started by identifying a new creative direction for the campaign. In years past, creative was focused on spotlighting shelter pets and telling their unheard stories. This year, we positioned our creative to portray the joy of adopting a new friend and showcase the special relationships people have with their shelter pets.

In developing our new creative direction, we knew there was no better way to show off the love between people and their pets than through real people who had recently adopted their own shelter pets. We worked to identify a few local adopters, who stopped by our office with their best friends for a photoshoot.”

The images from the photoshoot became the heart of our creative across the campaign. We developed a series of billboards, banner ads, social media graphics and street graphics to connect audiences with our core message of adoption and raise awareness for the annual adoption event.

https://pnmg.com/project/purina-adoption-campaign/

https://www.purina.co.nz

Third campaign

https://www.pentagram.com/work/battersea/story

Bettersea is Britain's oldest and most famous animal rescue. What is very interesting about this brand is their visuals. It seems like water colour blops with drawings of cats and dogs. They have merchandise with these logos that promote their brand but also look visually pleasing. It is very refreshing to see this.

“The abstract illustrations are designed to subtly communicate Battersea’s story; they appeal to people’s compassion and humanity, without victimising or stigmatising the animals”

“A key focus while developing the identity was to create a brand that could flex and adapt based on the audience. This is particularly useful for Battersea’s public-facing programmes and fundraising initiatives, which lean into the joyful part of the brand personality. ‘Muddy Dog’, a fundraising challenge from Battersea, takes a playful spin on the master identity and uses tongue-in-cheek headlines to engage with its audience. In addition, Pentagram created a playful hand-drawn typeface, Battersea Paws, to reflect this loud and fun personality.

Pentagram also commissioned and art directed a new suite of photography to compliment the brand’s visual identity and tone of voice. Putting personality over sentiment, the studio photography captures the dogs and cats who come to Battersea, showing their real, wonderful characters and personalities.

The photography also captures the next chapter of a dog or cat’s life after Battersea. Taken in their new homes and with their new owners, these are stories of animals and humans together, of dogs and cats being given a second chance. These images capture natural, candid moments which demonstrate a real connection between pets and their new owners, or the wonderful characters of the animals.”

When ‘shopping’ for a pet consumers have very little knowledge of how to identify a genuine breeder and are misguided into buying sick, inbred animals. Four Paws is an awareness raising campaign that aims to maximise the impact and main message of the project. Within the context of the campaign, we seek to inform and educate  people about backyard breeders with the intention of influencing their attitudes, behaviours and beliefs. We found articles pointing out that ‘backyard breeders are creeping into the market as Covid19 causes puppy prices to soar’ & ‘TradeMe pet sales allow backyard breeders to thrive’. Our solution, ADOPT DONT SHOP.  Our research states that each year 6-8 million animals enter rescue shelters, nearly 3-4 million (i.e, 50% of incoming animals) are euthanized, and 10-25% are put down specifically due to overcrowding in shelters.

137 words

For a design reference case we looked at an Auckland based company called Onfire Design. They did a campaign with the SPCA Auckland to raise funds for Auckland animals that were suffering. It relates well with what we are doing because Four Paws is a campaign  encouraging people to adopt from shelters in order to stop the rise of backyard breeders. The great thing about the Onfire Design campaign was the play on words. “When SPCA Auckland urgently needed a campaign to raise money for their new North Auckland Centre we put our hand up!”. The animal pictures show them with their paws up. It was a very clever play on words which we want to apply to our work. “Adopt one save two lives”. It's short and simple but also informative.

132 Words

[coachnovel9]

Alternatives to Farm Animal Cruelty

In 2005, a lot more farm animals were living in the United States than people. Due to the fact that they're utilized for meat, eggs, and milk products, pet welfare is an issue of excellent relevance for lots of protestors. The majority of welfarists are concerned with the treatment of farmed animals, including feeding, housing, transportation, and massacre. While the concerns might appear difficult, they are easy as well as greatly uncomplicated to understand. Continue reading to learn more regarding a few of one of the most crucial considerations in pet well-being. Domesticated farm animals are elevated for agricultural purposes. They consist of both tamed ones and wild animals. A lot of are raised to be killed. The meat from these creatures is a significant resource of healthy protein for the American diet. But some are kept for their stunning hair and their other useful products. Along with meat, farm animals are additionally utilized for their abilities. In some cases, it is more rewarding to maintain them alive than to kill them. And others are raised for their meat and milk, along with their pelts. The lifecycle of farm animals consists of a number of phases. From breeding to raising to transport to slaughter, farm animals experience discomfort and starvation. All these stages of an animal's life offer opportunities for viciousness. Some approaches are much better than others. Below are simply a few alternatives to take into consideration. And also as long as you don't mind sacrificing high quality for price, you can discover options to the exploitation of stock. They're an important part of our food supply. The very first step in the process of making meat is to define what makes a stock a residential animal. A domestic pet is one that depends on people for care. Residence pets and felines are thought about residential. Cows as well as sheep are taken into consideration farm animals. Poultries, steeds, as well as pigs are all thought about wild. Therefore, equine farming is normally taken into consideration to be a type of agriculture. Nevertheless, it can be identified as a sort of wild animals. An additional important factor to consider is the health and wellness of stock. Although the benefits of farming animals surpass the costs, it is necessary to bear in mind that a stock's life is an expansion of its atmosphere. Its presence is required for its survival. And without them, it would not be possible to generate food. Despite this, the exploitation of stock is inevitable. Most of them are eliminated for human consumption. Whether they are trained or otherwise, they are still thought about livestock. A farmer needs to think about the human well-being of their livestock. A farmer's livestock are an indispensable part of society and also ought to be treated with respect. The pets need to be regarded as property. The animal must not be hurt and need to be treated well. A farm's livestock must be without conditions. All other animals should be treated well and reside in harmony. It is not just the animals' wellbeing that go to risk, however the health of its farmers. While a number of today's farm animals are not harmful to humans, they can transmit illness to people. Zoonoses are conditions that are transferred from one animal to another. These illnesses are commonly spread among individuals. Several of one of the most usual illness associated with stock are leptospirosis, brucellosis, and anthrax. Some of these diseases are infectious as well as can be deadly. They can additionally trigger disease in humans. Some stock are more typical than others. While pigs are thought about animals, they are also common stock. Most pigs are increased for meat and are a great source of healthy protein. The majority of pigs are diurnal, while some are nocturnal. Regardless of the types, a pig can be a fantastic pet dog as well as can be a fantastic source of food. click here for more info Its eating practices can consist of every little thing from leftovers to bread and corn to slop. In the U.S., farm animals are in charge of the transmission of illness to people. A few of these diseases are anthrax and brucellosis, which is a bacteria-based flu. Various other animals, such as pigs, cows, and lamb are known to carry diseases, such as anthrax. In addition, it is the farming methods that make these pets so unsafe to people. In the past, the health and wellness of tamed pets were not appreciated.

#Animals #Farm animals

[jh-environmental-economics]

Chapter 2 Reflection

1) Efficiency is important, in terms of the environment, because it can have a huge impact on where and when we plan on impacting the environment. For example, in the textbook it talks about placing a hypothetical landfill. There are many factors to consider when making a decision like this, but one of the most important factors will always be efficiency. It would be more efficient to put a landfill in a spot where property values are not as high because it reduces the cost of implementation and possible settlements that will have to be given to the individuals that have to relocate because of this decision. This impacts the environment because we are more likely to put a landfill or build a low income residential neighborhood in a spot that we would consider to have lesser environmental value than say the grand canyon. Accessibility and efficiency go hand in hand and can have a huge impact on how we view the environment. 

Efficiency is also related to social welfare because sometimes the most efficient option can have more detrimental effects to the social welfare of a community, which in result are less efficient options. For example, based on true events, I grew up in a historical community in Boulder where my parents still live, and there was a plan to create a homeless shelter in between my neighborhood and the local historic downtown. The plan was proposed so that homeless people would have a more efficient way to get to a bed at night instead of taking the bus all the way up to North Boulder. I would argue that the social welfare of the individuals in my neighborhood have more of a priority and that this plan is actually not efficient because it severely impacts our social well being. This project increased the number of homeless individuals in the area, and they would camp out at our local park and the amount of crime in our neighborhood increased as well. I can also imagine that it also increased the amount of parents that would drive their kids to school instead of having them walk past these areas that cops frequently had to visit to restore peace. Efficiency is always the goal, but when it deteriorates the social wellbeing of a historical community it loses a lot of its efficiency. 

Efficiency is also related to MC and MB analysis, because the marginal analysis that comes from the MC and MB data can determine the efficient stopping point for these activities. Without a proper analysis of the project it can be hard to see if something is actually more efficient in general. 

Efficiency is also related to sustainability because when we look at sustainability we need to consider its environmental, economic, and equity impact. Like I mentioned before, efficiency is related to the environment, the equity and social welfare piece, and with MB and MC, the economic benefits. With efficiency linked into all three of these ideas, it would be impossible for sustainability to not exist within efficiency because it is directly linked to the ideas that affect efficiency.

2) Expected value: (.05)(1,000,000) + (.01)(4,000,000)

The expected value of the damage from the landfill is 90,000$. The math around these policies help inform people what the risk of the project may actually be. I can imagine if the expected value of damage outweighs the cost of production, then they will not move forward with the project. However, we have seen that peoples self interests can still push a project into completion without consideration of the problems. The math should be a good indicator of when a project is just not worth it. I would hope that contaminating a drinking source on its own would deter such an idea, but efficiency does revolve around finances as well as equity and the environment, so the math should not be the only indicator as to whether or not it is a good project.  

3)  The marginal cost of increasing the wolf population would increase the risk of these wolves threatening farmers, ranchers, and hunters. Who would have to pay more to protect their farm animals and or replace them if they get eaten. This would also need funding either from the government or local tax payers.

The marginal benefits would be increasing the wolf population, and reducing the number of elk in Colorado that threaten biodiversity in areas. The U.S Fish and Wildlife service would also benefit from not having to use their resources to manage the dwindling species and reduce the elk populations.

The primary beneficiaries would be the environment and the ecosystem as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who would no longer need to manage the species. In addition, local populations may benefit from being able to see wolves in national parks and surrounding areas. This would be different then the group that pays the costs, which would either be the government or local tax payers depending on whether or not the government will agree to fund this project. Although local tax payers may see the benefits, they may not be aware of why their taxes are going to wolves instead of increasing infrastructure.  

I would weigh the potential costs against the potential benefits to determine the best outcome. I think the population that would be the most affected would be farmers, ranchers, and hunters. In my analysis I would come to the conclusion that there is no compensation being introduced to the affected population and propose that the best solution would be to reintroduce the wolves to help with biodiversity of the area and then set up a website of fund for the affected parties to receive either monetary or labor related compensations to help maintain their own operations at the same rate as before.

Pareto efficiency is achieved if no one can be made better off without making at least one person worse off. This seems like the route I was suggesting before except there would be no compensation for the ranchers and hunters. Pareto efficiency would be achieved if we reintroduced the wolves and farmers just had their livestock eaten, or hunters were left without prey. That is because one party is made better off while the other party is worse off than before.  

4)  I think the most useful concept from the book was the factors that go into marginal analysis. I think this was the most useful concept because it can be applied to every aspect of life. For example, when I have no food in my refrigerator, the marginal benefits and cost support my decision to order ridiculously expensive takeout food because I’m hungry. However, this same analysis can be done when I have food in the fridge, and I will be more likely to make something that will take me 30 minutes as opposed to waiting 90 minutes for something less appetizing and more expensive.  

[csnews]

Dolphin sea pen feasibility study

Janene Carey - Feb. 22, 2018

Dolphin Marine Magic, who operate the Pet Porpoise Pool in Coffs Harbour, and the animal welfare charity Action for Dolphins will investigate the possibility of establishing Australia’s first sea pen sanctuary to rehouse five dolphins currently held in swimming pools. The joint announcement about a feasibility study comes after months of legal negotiations, following a lawsuit Action for Dolphins launched in the Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2017.

If the study proves it is financially viable and in the animals’ best interests, the dolphins could be moved to a protected natural environment in the ocean off Coffs Harbour. Jordan Sosnowski from Action for Dolphins said a sea pen sanctuary would give the dolphins the most natural life possible, while also giving them the necessary care they would need in order to be able to survive in their new environment. 

“The ocean environment will be very different to their current lives spent in a concrete pool,” he said. “There will be currents and tides, marine life and lots for the dolphins to discover. We envisage the sanctuary itself to be open to the public to view the dolphins from a distance. Most importantly, the dolphins will be able to live with autonomy, dignity and respect.”

The feasibility study to be conducted over the next few months will look carefully at environmental factors in the proposed location, the economic viability of the project and include a thorough welfare assessment to ensure it is in the animals’ best interests to be relocated to the sea pen sanctuary.

“We have a duty to conduct the proper assessments and make sure the dolphins are properly prepared for the transition,” Jordan said. “It’s our view, and dolphin experts agree, that the dolphins will lead healthier and happier lives, if we can move them to a natural ocean environment. We're really excited to be taking this crucial first step and think it's a huge win for the animals.”

The joint media release said: “Both Dolphin Marine Magic and Action for Dolphins are committed to ensuring the wellbeing of all dolphins and Dolphin Marine Magic will continue its education programmes to ensure the health and safety of all marine life. The feasibility study will look at social, economic, and environmental impacts of a potential sea pen in Coffs Harbour.”

#news #research #study #captivity #dolphins #sea pen