Video!

So Facebook removed my movie I made. So here it is. I hope you all enjoy :)

Music Video - Nahko Bear (Medicine for the People), Aloha Ke Akua

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsgP8LkEopM&sns=fb

I wanted to share this video because I think it expresses human interaction with the world. It definitely has a spiritualness about it, but that aside, I think there is something that anyone could take from this song/video. I do feel though that some of the animals in this video must be trained, if they really are next to these women. I can't tell for sure. I just think that it may be a little contradictory of the message, but it may coincide with how zoos can also give a great message with the animals they hold in captivity? It's lengthy but I think it's worth watching! Share any opinions/comments if you do!

Animal Care Center video

This is a quick, and vaguely graphic, video of an otter undergoing surgery in the all windows Busch Gardens animal care center. I think it's an interesting video because it's professionally done, with interviews with the vet and everything.

I vaguely spoke in class about how the viewing area was a way of proving to guests that Busch can be trusted, but this procedure was not only watched through glass windows, it was also recorded for all to see again and again. I think it will be interesting to see if this total access style of viewing works out for them or not. I think it could add a lot of pressure for vets and if something does go wrong in a procedure they are running the risk of allowing a group of guests watch an animal die at Busch's hands. It's very interesting! Here's the video!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z-fjEqHKbM

Also be sure to check out that they show the surgery from behind the guests, so you can see how close they are/ what they can see as well.

-Cassi

The definition of cute.

San Diego Zoo info!!

Hey guys!

Just thought I'd post some info here on some of the events/goings-on at San Diego Zoo for tomorrow.

There is a Discovery tour for $45. I believe Lauren said we could get some tour prices reimbursed for up to $30? So you might be able to put it towards that. The tour covers 70% of the zoo and I think its 60 minutes long.

Then there is an alternative which I believe is free. it called the Guided Bus tour. You might need your entrance tickets to get on it though. It also covers 70% of the zoo but it is only 35 minutes.

There are some keeper talks as well.
- Maned wolves @ 1:00pm
- Pangolin @ 1:30
- Lion OR Jaguar @ 2:30


And finally there is a Sea Lion show at 1:00pm.

These are just a few things I found. I'm sure my fellow SD Zoo researchers found things as well, and I'm also sure the park map has all this info when we get there. But no you can think ahead!

Lauren and Sloths

Does this remind anyone of Lauren? Maybe not as manic but still. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jw3T3Jy70

Safari Park Research!

Hi all!

Here is the information my group found on the Safari park! There is a 10:30 AM bird show that we weren't particularly interested in, but could be fun for bird lovers. We would have to head right towards the show after we got to the park though, so it could be a fun day- opener.

There is an are called the "Lemur walk" that is included in our park ticket and is something we definitely wanted to do and thought would be fun for the whole group.

There are many extra safari options http://sdzsafaripark.org/safaritickets/view_all_safaris.html

you can check them out at that link. The cheapest ones are $45, the $45 one we thought was the best was the cheetah safari, it's sort of like the cheetah run at busch gardens, but you get to be on the lawn for the run and get very close to the cheetahs and talk to trainers (it looks like).

Everyone can check out the link though and see if any of the other safaris seem worth the money to them before we get to the park!

- Cassi

"America's Love Affair with Beef" - Nat Geo Instagram Post

I saw this earlier on Instagram and had to "re-gram" it to our blog. I wasn't aware that there were really livestock shows and/or that they still existed. It makes me wonder what kind of relationship these two have. I've known people who have had cows as pets, but I've never known someone who has entered livestock into a show.  Does it make it somewhat better that at least animals are being shown in pride? Just some food for thought... (No pun originally intended)

Busch Gardens Camp!

Cheesy Inconsistencies

     We have so many inconsistencies when it comes to animals it isn’t even funny. In the last chapter, Herzog identifies two distinct people named Michael Mountain and Judy Muzzis. Both of them are very passionate people, but both are also very different in their moral views. Although I felt conflicted for about 95% of the book, I totally loved it and learned a lot of new ways to think about human-animal relationships. The biggest thing I took from this book was where I stand on specific issues. “Thinking” I had a solid stance before, I learned quickly within the first chapter that I had no idea. The book did a pretty fantastic job at pointing out all my inconsistencies, making me critically think about current issues and influenced me to get educated. Did anyone else find themselves kicking yourself in face for being so inconsistent when you thought you were consistent all along?

     Digging deeper I decided to look into more inconsistencies. With looking at these inconsistencies I also found an interesting relationship with education. Although some of these inconsistencies are inherent, just as Herzog points outs, many come from us not knowing 100% of the information. We are so quick to pick a side that we often forget to critically think about the issue at hand. What do you guys think? Are there any situations where you or your friends made a stance but latter found out that it was inconsistent?

     For example, many people give up meat because of moral views or health concerns. Having a vegetarian friend, I asked her why she did so. “I just feel bad for the animals and think it’s terrible they get lined up and killed” was her response. I then asked her what she ate. She explained that she wasn’t a strict vegan and that she ate animal products like cheese and eggs (these are called lacto-ovo-vegetarians). I love my friend deeply, however she has this tendency to take on this “I’m a vegetarian because I don’t support killing defenseless animals” persona. What my friend doesn’t know is that she is an unknowingly being inconsistent. Although I didn’t, I wanted to tell her the reality behind her stance. I wanted to tell her that large portions of cheeses are actually made from rennet, an enzyme taken from the inner stomach of calves. These calves are the same calves they slaughter for veal. Although my friend loved to guilt trip me when I use to eat beef, I always wanted to tell her that she was also eating a part of a cow that was slaughtered to make cheeses (sorry If I ruined cheese for those who are vegetarian in class. I’ll leave a link at the bottom to a website that gives totally animal-free cheeses. Don’t hate me!). 

     Overall, I loved this book. I felt it was a positive slap in the face. Waking me up to critically thinking about such issues, I’m glad we got to read it and educate ourselves on the complex world of human-animal relationships. What did you guys think about the book in general? Did it make you think differently about any of your stances whether zoo related, meat related, lab-animal related etc? 

Here is the vegetarian cheeses website. Don’t hate me!

https://www.vegsoc.org/cheese

-Nic Swaner (First Reader)