Toronto Elephants Are on the Move!

Thika, Toka and Iringa, the three elephants from the Toronto Zoo are now on the road, heading for a new chapter in their life at an elephant sanctuary in California. Yesterday, after a long day of waiting for the journey to begin, the elephants were finally loaded onto two trucks, and left the zoo around 10:30. The elephants are doing well on their journey so far. To follow their trip, check out the CBC coverage. And stay tuned to the fifth estate on Friday October 25th to see the full documentary of the elephant trek. 

Gorilla Trackers

Our newest workshop is up and running, available for bookings for the 2013-2014 school year. The workshop is designed to enrich and enhance the grade 3 curriculum on Plants. Gorillas are herbivores and eat over 50 different species of plants. Some of their favourites are wild celery, thistles, and bamboo shoots. But their plant-based diet isn't the only thing students will get to discover. Students will find out what to pack for a trip to the jungle, and whether any of the items are made from plants. And they'll get a chance to find out what gorilla researchers study in the forest - dung! Students will measure, weigh, and dissect gorilla dung, and learn about the crucial role of the gorilla in seed dispersal. 

They'll also get a chance to discover how gorillas use plants not just for food, but for shelter, tools, and more. And of course they'll learn some of the threats that gorillas face, and some great tips about how to take action to help gorillas! 

Keep It Wild is back in the classroom!

Our animal-themed workshops are back in the classroom for the 2013-2014 school year, and our blog is back too, after a bit of a hiatus! Today the first workshop of the new school year was delivered, our Awesome Orcas workshop for grade 4's.

During one of our discussions about how orcas live and communicate within their family pods, several students referred to individual whales as people.  When India put a ban on the import and capture of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) for entertainment this past summer, they released a statement noting that dolphins [and whales] are highly intelligent and should be considered 'non-human persons'. The idea of a non-human person seems like a concept that scientists, lawyers and ethicists might be discussing, but it seems that nine-year-olds are also more than capable of considering the idea of a person who is of a different species.

The grade 4's also learned about orcas in captivity, including Kiska, an orca who has been living without the companionship of another whale since 2011 at Marineland in Niagra Falls.  Learn more about Kiska and Marineland through this series of  Toronto Star articles. 

Photograph of Kiska by JoAnne McArthur We Animals

 

Primates on Planes

Monkeys being shipped by Air France (www.buav.org)

Air Canada has joined other airlines in refusing to transport primates that are being used for research. Their decision was prompted by almost 50,000 letters from people who voiced their concerns. A recent tribunal upheld Air Canada's decision. Learn more about this issue at CBC news 

Every year, thousands of macaques and other monkeys are flown into Europe and North America to supply university and industry research labs. These monkeys are transported as cargo in crates. Many other airlines, such as British Airways, already refuse to transport primates. If you want to write a letter of thanks to Air Canada, here's their contact info: 

Air Canada - Customer Relations
PO Box 64239,
RPO Thorncliffe
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2K 6J7
Fax: 1-866-584-0380
       1-403-569-5333

Remember, letter-writing campaigns work! If there is an animal issue that concerns you, make sure to write a letter, and have your friends write a letter too!

Paws & Claws Film Festival

The Paws and Claws Film Festival is presented by the BC SPCA, and features wildlife-inspired films from Canada and the United States. The mission of the Film Festival is to promote awareness, knowledge and understanding of wildlife, habitat, people and nature. 

The films range from 3 minutes in length to 45 minutes, and feature bears, badgers, skinks, swallows and more. You can find the link to the films here.

Kids and Teachers - Learn more about Animals

Are you a kid, or do you know a kid, who wants to learn more about animals? There are lots of great resources out there, just for kids. Check out the BC SPCA Kids Club News, a free monthly email newsletter all about animals. It's packed with facts on companion animal care, wildlife welfare and farm animal issues. There are crafts and activities, photos and stories, and advocacy tips for youth. Learn more here. Teachers, the BC SPCA also has great resources just for you, including curriculum units, recommended resources, information about classroom pets and more. Check out their website section for teachers here