Bangkok Six - 20th anniversary

Dr. Shirley McGreal, OBE, Chairwoman
International Primate Protection League
PO Box 766
Summerville, SC 29484, USA


On 20 February 1990 I received a phone-call from Leonie Vejjajiva,
then with the Wildlife Rescue Foundation of Thailand, telling me that
six baby orangutans and two siamangs had been confiscated on Bangkok
Airport and that help was needed with their care. Smugglers had
stuffed them into crates labelled "Birds" and shipped them to Bangkok
for onward transit to Belgrade in then Yugoslavia, with the final
destination being Russia. Soon IPPL member Dianne Taylor-Snow was in
the air to Bangkok to help the babies.

On this, the 20th anniversary of the confiscation of the babies,
please remember these precious babies whose mothers were shot to
bring them into trade. Remember that this evil trade has not stopped.
At least four of the six babies, three of whom had been shipped
upside-down, died.

The babies' photos were on the cover of the April 1990 issue of IPPL
News, see http://www.ippl.org/newsletter/1990s/050_v17_n1_1990-04.pdf#page=1

Their story is told on pages 4-6 and was continued in many issues of
IPPL News over the five years that IPPL was tracking the case working
to get justice for the babies.

Letters to the late Judge James Kehoe, the judge handling the case
against a US suspect, Matthew Block, appear at
http://www.ippl.org/newsletter/1990s/060_v20_n1_1993-04.pdf#page=16

More details of this historic case can be found at
http://www.ippl.org/newsletter/1990s/061_v20_n2_1993-08.pdf#page=9
and at http://www.ippl.org/newsletter/1990s/068_v22_n3_1995-11.pdf#page=23

Those involved in smuggling the orangutans included Matthew Block of
Miami (who was sentenced to 13 months in prison in connection with
the crime), Kurt Schafer of Germany (who went to prison on other
wildlife-related charges), Kenny Dekker of the Netherlands, Belgrade
Zoo director Vuk Bojovic, James Lee of Singapore, a notorious
Indonesian dealer who was never charged, and others.

Three of the babies were girls. Think of all the babies they could
have produced in these past 20 years, indeed they should have been
grandmothers by now. Multiple the six by the hundreds of babies who
have since died or been placed in sanctuaries or traded for
entertainment. Innocent victims all.

Petra's Birthday/Anniversaire de Petra

Today is Petra's 22nd Birthday; why not adopt her as a gift for someone special! or send her a special gift! Petra loves brushes, necklaces and shiny gloves and coats.

Petra is an incredibly intelligent chimpanzee. She is intuitive and does not miss much. She seems to know what you are planning before you even know -- always watching and waiting for someone to forget something like a broom or pail of water too close to the caging. Petra is extremely self-confidant. Very courageous, she takes advantage of any opportunity. She loves to explore, observe and learn something new. Petra knows what she wants and knows how to get it, using all of her social skills.

She has been spending most of her time lately with her loyal friend Yoko..grooming and enjoying the sky walk, even in the snow. Like Chance, Petra loves rushing out and picking up a handful of snow, then right back in to her warm bed to nibble on her snow ball.

Our Special Valentines

On this Day of the Heart, we think of those who will always hold a place in our heart.


To all of those we have loved and lost here at Fauna.

I Am Billy - Self and Identity Across Species and Time by Gail Bradshaw

Billy loved spaghetti. He would stick his fork right in the middle of pile of noodles, lift it dripping with tomato sauce, and slowly twirl until each noodle had wrapped around the tines. Only then would he put the forkful delicately into his mouth and chew with deep satisfaction. Billy treated all his habits and chores with the same deliberation, making up his bed with the precision of a military man and preparing his coffee with the attention of an artist.

For full article: http://www.psychologytoday.com/em/37755

Gay Bradshaw is the author of Elephants on the Edge: What Animals Teach Us About Humanity




"Good night, sweet prince, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!"

Billy Jo - 1968-2006


















Dear sweet Pablo would have been celebrating his 40th birthday today...

1970-2001

A special Tribute to Tom by Gay Bradshaw

I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am. - Sylvia Plath

The self is formative to psychology. Indeed, the concept is so fundamental to the field that its existence is almost unquestioned. Nonetheless, the self is difficult to describe. Despite diverse methods of smoke and mirrors devised to render the mysterious into material, the self remains elusive, known but unknown.

To view full tribute click below:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/bear-in-mind/200912/tribute






May Tommy's soul rest in peace...
1965 - 2009

Go Cruelty-Free!

New England Anti-Vivisection Society

Make a commitment this Valentine’s Day to help eliminate animal testing by pledging to purchase only products approved by the Leaping Bunny Program – your best assurance that no new animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories or suppliers.

The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program administers the highest cruelty-free standard and an internationally recognized Leaping Bunny Logo for companies producing cosmetic, personal care, and household products that meet its standards. NEAVS is proud to be a founding member of this important coalition.

1. Take the Pledge, http://www.leapingbunnypledge.org/pledge.aspx

then ask all your special someones to do the same! To encourage more companies to sign on to the Leaping Bunny Program, we have launched a nation-wide pledge campaign to urge consumers to take the leap to cruelty-free products. By signing, you make our collective voice strong and drive more companies to go cruelty-free, saving animals from cruel and unnecessary testing. Help us reach 25,000 signatures today!

2. Shop our partners, http://www.leapingbunny.org/partners.php get sweet savings! All of the companies certified through the Leaping Bunny Program are doing their part to help eliminate the cruel and unnecessary use of animals in product testing, with some going the extra mile and donating part of each sale to the Leaping Bunny Program. You can help just by shopping from these great cruelty-free companies!

3. Carry our free pocket-size shopping guide – or get it as a free App for your iPhone or iTouch.
http://www.apple.com/itunes/affiliates/download/?itmsUrl=itms%3A%2F%2Fax.search.itunes.apple.com%2FWebObjects%2FMZContentLink.woa%2Fwa%2Flink%3Fpath%3Dapps%252fcruelty-free%26ign-mscache%3D1

The guide will help you identify companies currently with the Leaping Bunny logo and make your cruelty-free shopping fast and easy. The first 50 supporters to request 25 or more shopping guides through info@NEAVS.org will get a free sampling of Endangered Species vegan chocolates to make Valentine's Day even sweeter!

4. Become a fan of the Leaping Bunny on Facebook.http://www.facebook.com/leapingbunny

Visit the Leaping Bunny's MySpace page, too! http://www.leapingbunny.org/shopping.php

Today is Spocks Birthday!

Spock is 34 today!!

Spock is quite a handsome chimp; he has a speckled face and the cutest little lips. He has made many new friends since his arrival like Jethro and most recently our dearly departed Tom. They were so happy to be finally be together that they were almost inseparable. In the morning they would always be playing their game of chase and tickle or quietly grooming one another. It was priceless to see. They never fought and were extremely gracious to each other even when it came to food and favorite thing. Spock misses Tom deeply, but has found an amazing friend in Jethro and hopefully soon we will be able to introduce him to Binky...Now that would be something amazing. Spock especially loves to play chase with his human and chimp friends, with his little foot popping up as he takes off running!

Adopting Spock for someone special would be a great Valentines day gift!! visit our web site for more details about our adopt a chimp program.

Great gifts for the Chimps

Regis made it in Time Square for a second time!!

Amazing!!

No more tax dollars for chimpanzee research.

$$ As tax time approaches, we are reminded of how much each of us financially contributes to running our country. This tax season, help us assure that no more of our tax dollars will go to the confinement and use of chimpanzees in U.S. labs. The U.S. remains the only country to house and use chimpanzees in this way, with U.S. labs profiting plenty from our federal tax dollars and their “business” in chimpanzees.
























Take Action Today:

1. Download our ad flyer featuring Regis and distribute/post in your community today!
http://my.neavs.org/site/DocServer/RegisAd_print.pdf?docID=221

» Post to your social networking site or website.

» Click here http://www.releasechimps.org/take-action/sponsor-our-print-ads/ to find out how to place an ad in your local newspaper.

2. Call or write your representative. http://my.neavs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FindElectedOfficials Ask them to support H.R. 1326

(the Great Ape Protection Act)http://www.releasechimps.org/mission/change-laws/the-great-ape-protection-act/ by signing on as a cosponsor. Thank them if they already are (download current cosponsor list). http://my.neavs.org/site/DocServer/great_ape_current_cosponsor_1.27.pdf?docID=241

$$ Tell them that you no longer want your tax dollars wasted on scientifically unnecessary and inhumane chimpanzee research.

$$ Tell them that in 2008 alone, $27.8 million tax dollars were awarded just for the housing and maintenance of chimpanzees in U.S. labs.

$$ Tell them that on average a full 51% of those awards could be used for “indirect costs” that had nothing to do with the chimps care.

$$ Tell them that in this one year alone, $13.5 million of our tax dollars were wasted merely to fund the laboratory “business” of keeping chimpanzees.

Let your representative knowhttp://neavs.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=Petition_SupportGreatApe how important this issue is to you, and that you trust you can count on him/her to support this bill and end the waste of tax dollars and chimpanzee lives.

Coming Soon: NEAVS/Project R&R (http://www.releasechimps.org/mission/end-chimpanzee-research/economic-waste/)
has completed an economic analysis of chimpanzee confinement and use in U.S. labs, documenting the enormous waste of taxpayer dollars. Watch for the full report in Spring 2010.

The Great Ape Protection Act Starts the New Year Strong

The Great Ape Protection Act (GAPA) http://www.releasechimps.org/mission/change-laws/the-great-ape-protection-act/ has reached a total of 141 http://www.releasechimps.org/mission/change-laws/the-great-ape-protection-act/

Representatives signed on to the bill! With Congress reconvening, we could expect a hearing on the bill – currently in the House Energy and Commerce Health http://my.neavs.org/site/DocServer/2009_Energy_and_Commerce_Committee_Members.pdf?docID=203 subcommittee – at any time.

2010: What's Next
As the Fall of 2010 is an election year, it is important that we keep up the momentum. Some of us will see our Congressional seats change hands. That will mean more work to get any newly elected Representatives signed on to the bill. We will be sending out an Alert after the Fall elections to let you know if the status of your Rep has changed and what you can do to help keep GAPA’s numbers strong.


Meanwhile, there is still lots to do.

House: Please make sure your Representative http://my.neavs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FindElectedOfficials is signed on as a cosponsor, or thank them if they already are on board (click here to view a current list of cosponsors): http://my.neavs.org/site/DocServer/great_ape_cosponsors_01.13.10.pdf?docID=205
to view a current list of cosponsors). Further, reach out to family and friends, educate them, and ask them to contact their federal Representatives as well.

Senate: We are working hard to find leadership to sponsor a Senate version of the bill. Please contact your Senator http://my.neavs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FindElectedOfficials
and ask them if they will sponsor a Senate version of GAPA – which is going strong in the House. Further, reach out to family and friends, educate them, and ask them to contact their federal Senator as well.

Thank you for reaching out to your Senator and asking them to take the lead.

The Great Ape Protection Act

Prohibits:

> Invasive research on great apes
> Federal funding of such research both within
and outside of the U.S.
> Transport of great apes for such research
> Federal breeding of great apes for such research

Requires:

> Permanent retirement of all federally-owned
great apes.