MAXIMILIAN WERNER—Given that the lives of hundreds of black bears, lions and coyotes were at stake, I held out hope that the representatives would subordinate their own personal beliefs in service of the larger truth. But the longer I sat there, the more I realized that the meeting was not designed to consider the bigger picture. It was designed to remain impervious to it.
ANIMAL LIVES
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What happens when two monkeys are paid unequally?
9 minutes readFRANS DE WAAL—What happens when two monkeys are paid unequally? Fairness, reciprocity, empathy, cooperation — caring about the well-being of others seems like a very human trait. But Frans de Waal shares some surprising videos of behavioral tests, on primates and other mammals, that show how many of these moral traits all of us share.
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Breaking news: Pennsylvania charges two teens who abused a dying deer with animal cruelty under Libre’s Law
11 minutes readKITTY BLOCK—The charges filed today are an important outcome and they set a precedent for future cases of wildlife abuse. Before Libre’s Law went into effect, animal cruelty was largely a summary offense in Pennsylvania, and offenders received penalties that were the legal equivalent of a traffic violation. Even egregious acts of cruelty were not given penalties that matched the severity of the crime. Now, under Libre’s Law, aggravated cruelty is a felony. And although the law was inspired by and named after a puppy mill dog, Libre, it covers not just companion animals but all animals, including wildlife.
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It always comes down to a personal choice, but these days, with all the insults we pile on the planet, making reasonable and compassionate choices in the food we eat is one of the best ways to push back against our species- induced ecological implosion. It’s not even about animal rights or the legendary “fanatics” and crazy rich ladies. (Which exist, of course along with everything else.) It’s about being consistent in our leftist beliefs and doing what our moral duty—and our elementary self-preservation instinct—dictate.
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Unrest in Chile Endangers the Most Vulnerable Dogs
9 minutes readSolidarity among protesters and stray dogs has a long tradition in Chile. In 2011, Chile experienced a wave of student protests. One day, a stray dog joined the young protesters in a demonstration. He was friendly with the students and aggressive towards the Chilean police officers. He soon became known as “Negro Matapacos,” slang for black cop-killer.