An Elephant's Life

Check out this comic for kids about elephants in the circus. It's a great way for kids to learn more about captive elephants and some of the issues that they face. It's also a great way to learn more about elephant sanctuaries. The comic is available from PETA: http://www.petacatalog.com/

Nature Detectives

 Tracking wild animals is a great way to have fun and learn more about wild animals. There are lots of great places in the city where wild animals, like raccoons, deer, coyotes, and fox, live. You might not always catch of glimpse of a wild animal, but you can often find signs that they were there. Tracks and scat are two things to look for. But you can also look for other signs, like nests or dens, feathers, fur, or shed skin, or signs of feeding, like empty acorns, stripped bark or chewed leaves.

There are lots of great books that can help you learn more. One suggestion is Tracks, Scats and Signs by Leslie Dendy, with illustrations by Linda Garrow.

If you are a teacher, check out our Keep It Wild! workshop, geared for grade 1 and 2, focussed on animal tracks and signs. It's a great way to learn more about animal characteristics and adaptations. 

Kids Speak Up for Dolphins

Check out this short video about dolphins in captivity, featuring children who are standing up to tell the world that dolphins don't belong in captivity.

The video is part of Ric O'Barry's Dolphin Project, a campaign to stop dolphin slaughter and exploitation around the world.Make sure to pass the video along and spread the word. You can also learn more about The Dolphin Project at: http://dolphinproject.org/

Stop Superbowl Chimps

CareerBuilder.com plans to air a new ad featuring real chimpanzees during the Super Bowl on February 5th. Join Jane Goodall and others in an effort to get the company to reconsider using chimps in their ads.

In her letter to the company, Jane Goodall points out several of the problems associated with the use of chimps in advertising and entertainment. For example, one issue is that these chimps are always infants, separated from their mothers. As they grow up and become strong and unmanageable, they often end up in roadside zoos, or get euthanized. Another issue is the negative impact these ads have on conservation efforts for wild chimpanzeees, which are endangered.

Read the entire letter she has written to the company, explaining all the problems inherent in the use of chimpanzees in entertainment, and then sign your name to it. http://janegoodall.ca/ask-careerbuilder-not-to-use-chimpanzees.htm

Careerbuilders.com ad featuring an "executive" chimp