IDA e-news: 6/07/06

IDA ALERTS
1. Stop Export of Elephants to Foreign Zoos
2. IDA Joins Manatee Coalition
3. Man Who Beheaded Cat May Escape Punishment
CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. IDA's June Guardian of the Month: Siglinda Scarpa
2. Join IDA's Elephant Task Force
3. International Day of action for Korean Dogs and Cats


IDA ALERTS
1. Stop Export of Elephants to Foreign Zoos
Urge Thai Officials Not to Send Young Elephants to Australia

In an effort to help stop the export of elephants from Thailand to zoos in Australia, IDA's colleagues Friends of the Asian Elephant and other animal rights activists in Thailand are physically blocking the transfer with a sit-in at the gate of the center where the elephants have been quarantined.

The elephants are being sent to Taronga Zoo, in Sydney, Australia and Melbourne Zoo in the southern state of Victoria, as part of a captive breeding program. Soraida Salwala, founder of Friends of the Asian Elephant, said the protesters were concerned that the animals will suffer in the Australian zoos. It is well documented that elephants kept in captivity have problems reproducing, and Australia has a particularly unsuccessful history of breeding elephants.

Faced with early deaths, unsuccessful captive breeding programs and the prospect that their elephant "collections" will die out over the next 50 years, zoos around the world have launched a major effort to restock by importing young elephants from Africa and Asia. While zoos say they are helping to save endangered species, exporting wildlife from their native habitats is not "conservation." Zoos condemn these elephants to a life of captivity under conditions that are a far cry from life in the wild for these complex and intelligent animals. As a result, they develop serious and life-threatening psychological and physical health problems.

What You Can Do:

Please http://ga0.org/campaign/StopElephantExport to urge Thai officials stop the export of elephants from Thailand to Australia. Please also share this message with a friend and consider donating to IDA to help us continue our important work for animals.


2. IDA Joins Manatee Coalition
Groups Form Alliance to Save Endangered Marine Mammals

To help prevent the decline of endangered marine mammals, IDA has officially joined the Manatee Coalition, an alliance of national animal protection organizations led by the Save the Manatee Club.

Manatees are aquatic mammals, gray or brown in color. Closely related to elephants, they grow to an average size of 9 to 10 feet in length and weigh between 800 and 1,200 pounds in adulthood. Even though they are protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, the manatee faces grave danger right now from human activity.

These animals spend the winter in the waters off the coast of Florida, where recreational boating is a popular activity. The shallow waters they favor are often filled with speeding boats, which are a serious threat to these animals because their large size often prevents them from moving out of the way fast enough to avoid collision. The boat's sharp propellers may slice through their bodies or they may be knocked unconscious by the hull, after which they sink and drown because they cannot reach the water's surface to breathe.

There are only about 3,000 manatees left in the U.S., and nearly 1,700 have died from all causes in the last five years alone. In March 2006, IDA's Valerie Sicignano toured Apollo Beach, Florida where wild manatees have gathered for decades to spend the winter in the warm water behind the local power plant. "I observed dozens of manatees but did not see a single one whose back was not covered with multiple propeller scars. Time is running out for these gentle giants, so we must do all we can now to save them before it is too late," said Sicignano.

Yet even as the manatee population declines, boaters' lobbies are pressuring state officials to relax speed limits in sensitive manatee habitats, while developers continue to petition for fewer environmental regulations. Bowing to their demands, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) has adopted a new imperiled species classification system that is used to determine a species' status. Under this weakened classification system, the manatees' status would be downgraded from its current listing of "endangered" to merely "threatened," allowing developers and recreational boaters to further encroach on the manatees' habitat and endanger the species' survival.

By re-categorizing the manatee, the FWCC is playing a cynical "name game" based not on science and conservation but on politics and money. Downlisting the manatee is an attempt to convince the public that the species has recovered when in fact they need greater protection to ensure their survival. Under their new status, manatees would have to undergo or be at risk of undergoing an 80% decline in population before having their endangered status restored in Florida. Manatees mature and reproduce slowly, giving birth only once every two to five years, so replenishing their numbers could take decades once the population has been reduced.

The re-classification system negatively impacts many other species throughout the state as well, including our national emblem, the Bald Eagle, whose status went from "special concern" to being bumped off the list completely. In an effort to help manatees and all of Florida's endangered animals, IDA has also joined the Florida Endangered Species Network and signed onto a letter to Florida Governor Jeb Bush urging him to challenge the watered-down classification system.

What You Can Do:

- Please click http://ga0.org/campaign/manatees_ESA to urge Florida Governor Jeb Bush to oppose the downlisting of manatees. You can also contact the Governor's office by phone, fax, postal mail or e-mail.

Governor Jeb Bush
Executive Office of the Governor
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Tel: (850) 488-4441
Fax: (850) 487-0801
E-mail: jeb.bush [at] myflorida.com

- Adopt a manatee through the Save the Manatee Club, IDA's partner the endeavor to help save Florida's wildlife. For a $25 donation, you get a photo and biography of your manatee, an adoption certificate, membership handbook and quarterly newsletter with updated reports on your adoptee. It's a great way to ensure the welfare of individual manatees who return to the same spot in Florida each winter. Visit http://www.savethemanatee.org/adoptpag.htm for more details.

- If you are a Florida resident, you can buy a "Save the Manatee" license plate for an additional $20 per year from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Proceeds go to manatee and environmental research, protection and education programs. It's also a great way to let others know that the manatees are in trouble and need our help. Click http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/specialtytags/slpfaq.html#1 for more information.

- To learn more, click http://www.idausa.org/news/currentnews/nr_060531b.html to read the news release "Groups Petition Florida On Behalf Of Imperiled Wildlife"


3. Man Who Beheaded Cat May Escape Punishment
Politically-Motivated Probation Report Paints Rosy Portrait of Killer

In January, Robert See of Dutchess County in upstate New York shot his cat with a high-powered rifle after the animal urinated on his carpet. See then cut the cat's head off with an axe and put it in a bag which he hung on a neighbor's property. While he was arrested and charged with animal cruelty after the cat's decapitated head was discovered, it seems now that this cat killer may not have to pay for his murderous crime.

The District Attorney's office had originally planned to charge See with only a misdemeanor, but now they are leaning towards not prosecuting him at all. The reason is that See wants to be a prison guard, and having any criminal record at all would legally prevent him from being hired for the job. The Dutchess County Department of Probation seems more than happy to help him out by issuing a report characterizing See as "well-grounded and responsible" and his actions as "a reflection of the values in a rural area."

Such a statement by an official agency is an offense to the majority of people in rural areas who care about animals and would be horrified by the thought of someone killing and beheading their cat for urinating on a rug. Such a violent act against an innocent animal is completely inappropriate for anyone, and should certainly not be tolerated in someone whose ambition is to guard prisoners. Considering what See did to his defenseless cat, it is frightening to think of how he would treat incarcerated human beings.

What You Can Do:

Contact Dutchess County District Attorney William V. Grady and politely urge him to prosecute Robert See to the fullest extent of the law. Remind him that studies by the F.B.I. and U.S. Department of Justice have proven the connection between animal abuse and violence against humans, and that See's act of animal cruelty should automatically disqualify him from serving as a prison guard.

District Attorney William V. Grady
236 Main Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
Tel: (845) 486-2300
Fax: (845) 486-2324


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. IDA's June Guardian of the Month: Siglinda Scarpa
Famed Potter, Sculptor and Gourmet Cook Loves Rescuing Animals

Entering Siglinda Scarpa's kitchen is like walking into a cottage in Tuscany. You are greeted first by amazing aromas emanating from the cast-iron stove, which occupies a central place in the house. Siglinda's gorgeous terra cotta pots -- made by Siglinda using ancient Italian firing methods -- adorn the stove. Her ethereal porcelain sculptures and paintings add to the comforting earthy atmosphere.

And everywhere you look are cats -- napping in the traditional stone bread baking racks, curled up in baskets scattered throughout the house -- each with an Italian name. They fit naturally with the décor of the cottage, works of art unto themselves. At the center of it all is Siglinda, famed potter and sculptor, gourmet Tuscan cook, animal rescuer extraordinaire, and now IDA's Guardian of the Month for June.

Siglinda strongly supports IDA's guardian campaign, urging people to "Be kind to the animals. They are not less than we are. They have the same feelings, the same rights."
In addition to her cats, many other animals make their home at Goathouse Gallery and Gardens, Siglinda's 15-acre property in Pittsboro, North Carolina. The residents include goats, turkeys, guinea hens, chickens, geese and five dogs. Siglinda says her heart breaks at the thought of dogs and cats being euthanized in shelters. She often takes the most unadoptable dogs from local shelters, the ones whose time is up, fosters them and finds loving homes through her extensive network of artists, art patrons and friends.

Her other rescues include a one-ton bull that Siglinda rescued from a slaughterhouse when he was only a few days old (she scooped him up in her arms and drove off in her car). Named Fiordaliso -- the Italian name for the bachelor's button flower -- the bull now lives at a sanctuary for farmed animals in North Carolina. As a calf, he lived at Siglinda's, where he was best friends with one of her dogs. The two animals would play ball together. Being faster than the bull, Siglinda's dog would run off, fetch the ball and bring it back to Fiordaliso. The two whiled away the hours lying in the grass -- the dog sprawled across the bull's back, chewing on his horn. To this day, when Siglinda visits Fiordaliso, he runs to her and rubs his giant head against her.

Siglinda had animal friends as a young girl growing up in Piemonte, at the foot of the mountains in Northern Italy. Her first cat was Mucci, a sick tabby. Each day, the six-year old Siglinda would wrap Mucci in a blanket, put him in the basket of her bicycle and take him to the veterinarian. Sadly, Mucci didn't live long, but because of him Siglinda's love for animals has.

She proudly relates how cats in small Tuscan villages are taken care of by the community. They are free to visit different houses, and when one gets sick, the village gets together to decide who will take him or her to the veterinarian. Siglinda points out that in Rome, all cats are considered citizens and have as much right to live in the city as people. Siglinda financially supports a cat sanctuary that is maintained among the ruins of ancient Rome.

Siglinda is also an accomplished vegetarian cook. This month she will host "Cucinando Col Cuore," (Cooking from the Heart), a gourmet dinner to benefit local animal rescue groups at her gallery and gardens. She will host 85 people a night, serving a gourmet Tuscan dinner cooked in her famous cooking pots and served on handmade plates. The banquet has been sold out for months, but $10 raffle tickets are being sold that will give the winner a free week's stay at Siglinda's Tuscan villa. Siglinda is also selling a cooking DVD in which she prepares an amazing vegetarian feast, and is giving all proceeds to local animal rescue groups. More information about the raffle, DVD and Siglinda's acclaimed art can be found at http://www.siglindascarpa.com .


2. Join IDA's Elephant Task Force
Help Captive Elephants during National Zoo and Aquarium Month

June is National Zoo and Aquarium Month, when families are encouraged to bring their children to see wild animals trapped for life in cages, enclosures and tanks. Zoo proponents tout visits as educational experiences that give young people a greater appreciation and respect for non-human species. Unfortunately, depriving wild animals of their birthright to native habitats and forcing them to live in artificial environments sends an underlying message to impressionable kids that animals were put on Earth primarily to please humans.

Of all the animals exhibited in zoos, elephants have perhaps the worst quality of life because of their sheer size, their natural range and their special social needs. Being forced to live in small zoo enclosures causes these large mammals to suffer from extreme captivity-induced health problems that are virtually unknown in the wild. While wild elephant herds easily travel tens of miles a day on soft soil and varied terrains, elephants in zoos spend their lives standing for long periods on concrete or pacing a small area on hard compacted dirt. Because of these inadequate conditions, elephants suffer a host of physical and psychological disorders, from painful arthritic and degenerative joint disorders to neurotic behaviors like repetitive rocking and head-nodding.

These sensitive and emotional animals are often torn from their families in the wild at a young age before being captured and put on display. Many zoos are located in climates that are much colder than those in Africa or Asia where elephants have evolved over millions of years. Sometimes elephants get so frustrated with their restrictive lives that they rebel against their captors. Many zoos allow caretakers to use bullhooks to beat and control elephants. Of course, it's hard for the average zoo visitor to see all this because zoos employ public relations and media specialists who are adept at blaming the obvious problems endured by elephants in zoos on any other cause but the conditions of their confinement.

What You Can Do:

- Join IDA's Elephant Task Force! IDA is looking for activists living in cities with zoos to defend elephants. Some of the ways you can help include documenting conditions with your camera, making phone calls or organizing demonstrations. If you are interested in joining the IDA Elephant Task Force or would like more information about the ways you can get involved, please send an email to melissa [at] idausa.org or call (415) 388-9641, ext. 228 today. Include your full name, city, telephone number, and the name of the zoo near you.

- Order a supply of IDA's elephant brochure ( http://helpelephants.com/brochures.html ) to leave in heavily trafficked areas or include them with your outgoing mail. Email IDA [at] IDAUSA.org to request materials.

- Write a letter to the editor of your local paper informing readers about the inability of zoos to provide for elephants' physical and psychological needs. Click http://www.helpelephants.com/letters_editor.html to see a sample or http://idausa.org/ir/activist/makenews.html#10 for tips on writing an effective letter to the editor.

- Create a display in your local public library. Most libraries will allow local citizens free space where you can display leaflets, posters and books about how elephants thrive in the wild and suffer in zoos.


3. International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats
Join IDA and Other Animal Advocates on July 20th

In an effort to shine a spotlight on the illegal trade in dog and cat meat in South Korea, IDA has again teamed up with Animal Freedom Korea (AFK) ( http://www.animalkorea.org ) to hold our 2nd annual International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats. This year's global day of action, co-sponsored by Korean animal protection groups CARE and KAAP, will be held on July 20th, 2006, to coincide with the first of Korea's "Bok days" (literally, the hot, dog days of summer). South Korean's dog meat consumption increases during this time of year because some superstitiously believe they can keep cool by eating animals who do not sweat.

Last year, IDA and AFK successfully organized activists from a dozen countries - including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Spain and Tanzania - for this international day of protest. In the U.S., demonstrators converged on Korean consulates and embassies in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; San Francisco and Los Angeles, Calif.; and Portland, Ore. to oppose the illegal eating of cats and dogs in South Korea.

The international press covered the protests favorably in several newspapers and online news websites. In Seoul, South Korea, dozens of protestors rallied the public against dog and cat consumption with colorful signs, costumes and inventive tactics like locking themselves in small cages dressed as dogs. In San Francisco, 20 people came to IDA's protest at the Korean Consulate and a good number brought their companion dogs to be ambassadors for their exploited canine cousins in Korea. In the few short weeks leading up to the demonstration, activists collected over 5,000 petition signatures, which were presented to the Korean Consulate at the protest.

IDA extends our heartfelt thanks to all of the dedicated animal advocates around the world (people and dogs) who made last year's International Day for Korea's Dogs and Cats so successful. Visit http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/int_day_7_05.html to see pictures of last year's events. Please join us again this year on July 20th as we urge the South Korean Government to enforce a ban on the consumption of dogs and cats and introduce meaningful legislation to protect the animals in Korea.

What You Can Do:

- Organize a protest at the Korean Embassy or Consulate nearest you on or around July 20th! If you don't live in a city with an Embassy or Consulate, you can still organize a demonstration in a busy location with a lot of foot traffic. Write to koreandogs [at] idausa.org and we'll add your event to our protest page and send you posters and leaflets. To learn more about this issue, please visit http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/korean.html .


IDA's Vehicle Donation Program

Did you know that your car, truck, boat, RV or motorcycle could save a life?

If you have an old vehicle that's taking up space in your driveway or garage, you could donate it to IDA through our Car Program to help us save the lives of animals!

It's simple to do. Just visit our web site at http://www.idausa.org/supportf.html and follow the link under the heading "Donate Your Used Vehicle" which will direct you to a form that you can fill out and submit to us electronically. Or give us a call at (415) 388-9641, ext. 218, and Sage, our Member Services Assistant, will help you.

Help us stop animal cruelty by donating your unwanted vehicle to IDA today, and make a difference in the lives of animals.


The Cat Therapist

Twice a month, Carole Wilbourn, the Cat Therapist, answers questions and offers advice on how guardians can enrich their relationships with their beloved feline companions. Click http://idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html to read the latest Cats on the Couch column. Also visit Carole's Cat Store ( http://www.thecattherapist.com/cat_store.htm ) to purchase a copy of her classic book, "Cat Talk: What Your Cat is Trying to Tell You."