IDA e-news: 11/23/05

1. Fur Free Friday Taking Place This Week
2. Bush Administration Endangers Yellowstone Grizzly Bears
3. Thousands of Elephants Face Slaughter in Nature Preserve
4. IDA Animal Relief Team Helps Needy Cats and Dogs in Post-Hurricane South
5. Extermination for the Exotic Deer of Point Reyes National Seashore?
6. Sowing Seeds Humane Education Workshop in California
- IDA's Holiday Wish list: A Laptop with DVD Player
- IDA's Celebrity Auction Extended through November 29th
- FARM's Meatout Mondays Newsletter


1. Fur Free Friday Taking Place This Week
Join IDA in Speaking Out for Animals on November 25th

With 32 activities planned in 20 states across the U.S., IDA has the most comprehensive list of Fur Free Friday events in the country. IDA would like to remind everyone how important it is to use your voice to help animals this holiday season, and that it's not too late to plan an event if nothing is scheduled for your area.

If you've never participated in a Fur Free Friday activity before, now's your chance! Speaking up on behalf of animals is not as hard as it seems. If you're nervous or hesitant, just remember that over 40 million animals a year are counting on your help. These victims of the fur trade are raised in cages or trapped in the wild merely to be turned into coats, jacket trim, toys and fashion accessories. Each individual person who raises their voice in the animals' defense influences others and makes a better future possible!

What You Can Do:

- If you haven't already made your plans to take part in this important annual day of action, visit http://www.furkills.org/events.shtml to find out what's going on in your vicinity. If no events are scheduled for your area, make plans now to host your own activity and submit details to http://www.furkills.org/events.shtml so we can add it to our website.

- Send photos of your event to antifur [at] idausa.org so we can share them with others on our website following Fur Free Friday.

- Visit IDA's website http://www.furkills.org to learn more about Fur Free Friday and ways that you can take action.


2. Bush Administration Endangers Yellowstone Grizzly Bears
Oil Drilling, Logging and Development Could Invade Protected Habitat as Soon as 2006

Without over three decades of protection afforded by the Endangered Species Act (ESA), it is unlikely that a single wild grizzly bear would be living in the continental United States today. Back in 1973 when the species was first listed, only about 200 grizzlies survived in the area around Yellowstone National Park, where Wyoming, Idaho and Montana meet. With their habitat protected under federal law, the bear population in the area has risen to over 600, representing one of the ESA's great success stories.

Now, without citing any long-term conservation research, the Bush administration claims that the grizzly bear has "recovered," and no longer needs protection under the ESA. As a matter of policy, their motivation seems more political than environmental. De-listing the grizzly would open up a vast area rich in natural resources to exploitation by the oil, logging and housing development industries, and perhaps even allow hunters to shoot the animals when they wander outside of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. With less protected habitat in which to live, the bear population is certain to diminish. Ultimately, it may also spell the end of this majestic species in the lower 48 states.

The current population of grizzly bears is less than 1% of what it was in pre-colonial times, when they numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Over the course of centuries, their numbers dwindled because of human settlement and hunting. Today, the U.S. government is getting set to repeat the mistakes of the past now that there are only 600 bears left in the wild. If they think this represents a "recovered" population, then they need to reconsider their definition of species "recovery." Given that the Bush administration's Interior Department has not willingly re-listed a species under the ESA since Bush took power in 2000, it seems unlikely they will reinstate the grizzly bear if their numbers drop. Their proposal also follows close on the heels of Congress' passage of the Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act (TESRA) of 2005, which would expire the ESA in 2015.

What You Can Do:

Americans have a duty to preserve this great nation's natural heritage for our children and all future generations to enjoy. The government has recently opened up a 90-day public comment period, so please make your voice heard today. Click http://ga0.org/campaign/YellowstoneBears to tell Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton that you strongly oppose the government's plan to take the grizzly bear off of the endangered species list.


3. Thousands of Elephants Face Slaughter in Nature Preserve
South Africa National Parks Plan to Cull Elephant Population Based on Speculation, Not Science

Kruger National Park in South Africa is home to thousands of elephants who have become the target of an officially-sanctioned cull that threatens to take many of their lives and tear apart the social fabric of their intricate social structure. Even though South Africa banned culling of herds in 1994 in response to public protest, South Africa National Parks (SANParks) claims their population must be reduced and controlled to preserve Kruger's flora and fauna. Their proposed plan is to drive elephants together with helicopters and take them down with tranquilizer darts, then blast the felled animals' brains out with bullets.

As opponents of the cull point out, credible scientific evidence that elephants are destroying the park's balance of biodiversity is currently lacking, and claims in favor of the cull are based on the observations of non-scientists. Even if a need to manage the elephant population is clearly identified, there are more humane ways to do it. By connecting Kruger National Park to other protected areas through a network of corridors and implementing a targeted wildlife contraception program, elephant advocates say the elephant population could be maintained at current levels over a wider area.

What You Can Do:

The South African Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, is due to make a final decision whether to cull the elephant population in Kruger National Park by the end of the year. Please click http://ga0.org/campaign/KrugerElephants to urge him to reject the cull and implement a non-lethal plan for managing the elephants.


4. IDA Animal Relief Team Helps Needy Cats and Dogs in Post-Hurricane South
IDA's Project Hope Animal Relief Team Coordinates with Other Groups to Save the Lives of Animals in Abandoned Towns

Last Wednesday, IDA contractor Eric Phelps and volunteer Val Mizuhara spent the day trapping cats at an abandoned trailer park that was scheduled to be bulldozed. Working with Alley Cat Allies and other groups, they helped to trap more than 100 homeless felines in the area. Many of these cats were friendly and approached the rescuers with cries of relief, but others were somewhat more anxious about the arrival of humans after many weeks of isolation and reticent to interact. Eric had to squeeze inside the wall of one trailer in pursuit of a frightened cat who disappeared into the insulation, but finally got hold of the emaciated creature. The cats were relocated to a rescue facility in Bogalusa, La. where they were given food, shelter and veterinary care.

On their way out of town, they visited the shelter in Waveland, Miss. and picked up some more animals to make room for new arrivals. One of their charges was a dog with an extremely bloated stomach. There was speculation that perhaps she was getting ready to give birth, but she showed no other signs of pregnancy. Wanting to solve the mystery of her condition and relieve her suffering, Eric and Val asked the shelter director if the dog had been checked out by a vet. The director said veterinary care was still not available, so they took her back to Virginia with three cats and six other dogs. A veterinarian there was able to solve the mystery for them: the poor creature's stomach had expanded because she was suffering from the advanced stages of severe heartworm infestation. Everyone was sad that this dog had to be euthanized, but also glad that at least she had a warm, comfortable place to sleep and loving companionship during her final hours. Many thanks are due to Doctors Hawley and Gross of Vet Centers of America for providing exceptional veterinary care to five animals and not charging a single cent. It is people like them and our generous members who have enabled IDA to continue our important rescue and relief work in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Fortunately, other endings were much happier. Hugo was a 100-pound Great Pyrenees who had lost one-fifth of his body weight since the hurricanes had struck. His home was destroyed in the disaster, and Hugo's guardian surrendered him because he no longer had the ability or the resources to care for his canine companion. Val and Eric dropped Hugo off at a Great Pyrenees rescue group in Richmond, Va. where he will have a chance to be adopted into a loving home. Blossom, a Catahoula, was flown to a new family in the San Francisco Bay Area. Two of the cats who accompanied Eric and Val from Mississippi were placed directly in homes - one with an IDA member - and others were taken to shelters and rescue groups where they will meet new families and start new lives.

Upon returning to Virginia, Eric and Val, joined by IDA's Kristie Phelps, gave a talk and screened a video about their experiences at a Norfolk movie theatre. They met their objective of sending a clear message to the crowd that the crisis for animals in the post-hurricane South is far from over, and help in the form of volunteers and donations are still very much needed.

What You Can Do:

- Click http://ga0.org/campaign/Blanco/wwb53bi4v5iwjek to urge Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and other state officials to allow out-of-state veterinarians to provide much-needed services for the animals who have survived the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

- Volunteers are still needed to transport rescued animals. Please contact hurricanekatrinainquiries [at] idausa.org or (757) 553-8623 for more information on volunteering with IDA's Project Hope team.

- Foster homes for rescued pets are needed, as are adoptive homes for animals already at risk in overcrowded shelters across the country. Project Hope needs more shelters outside of the disaster zone to take homeless animals rescued from New Orleans. Please contact hurricanekatrinainquiries [at] idausa.org if you can provide space for needy animals.

- Give to IDA's Hurricane Katrina Animal Relief Fund. Money is still desperately needed for food, medical supplies and transportation costs. To donate, send checks made payable to IDA with a note reading "for hurricane relief" to In Defense of Animals, 131 Camino Alto, Mill Valley, CA 94941. Click https://secure.ga0.org/02/varescue and scroll down to donate online using your credit card.


5. Extermination for the Exotic Deer of Point Reyes National Seashore?
Urge National Park Service to Use Non-Lethal Wildlife Management Methods

The National Park Service (NPS) is planning to exterminate the beautiful White Fallow and Spotted Axis deer from the Point Reyes National Seashore. These deer are creatures of rare beauty and have resided in Point Reyes since 1948, brought in for hunting before the area became a national park. Many visitors to the Point Reyes National Seashore just north of San Francisco have been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these exquisite deer, which have become an important part of the park visitor experience after more than half a century.

Now the NPS wants to eradicate all 1,150 of these special animals using a combination of sharp shooting and contraception simply because they are non-native. Yet the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) prepared by the NPS lacks scientific evidence that the fallow and axis deer are negatively impacting the environment or other species in the park. Their plan also does not include a non-lethal alternative such as reducing the number of deer using contraception alone. Humane methods have proven successful for controlling the growth of non-native species populations in other reserves. The NPS needs to undertake a feasibility study conducted by wildlife conservation experts to determine whether contraception would effectively control non-native deer population growth at Point Reyes.

A deadly hunt that will needlessly kill these unique animals must not be allowed to take place in a wildlife refuge like Point Reyes. The exotic deer are in the park because of human intervention, so the NPS has an ethical obligation to exhaust all non-lethal methods before resorting to violence. Shooting the exotic deer will disrupt the lives of all species at the Seashore, native and non-native alike, and irrevocably destroy a singular wildlife viewing experience.

What You Can Do:

Using the information above, write or call the NPS to urge the use of humane, non-lethal methods of controlling the exotic deer population at Point Reyes. Let them know that you will withhold donations from the National Park Foundation until the NPS agrees to use only non-lethal methods to manage the deer. For additional talking points, click http://www.idausa.org/wildlife_campaign3.html .

Jon Jarvis
Pacific West Regional Director
National Park Service
jon_jarvis [at] nps.gov
(510) 817 1304

Please also send a copy of your letter to your member of Congress. You can get contact information for your elected officials by clicking http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/home.html and entering your zip code. You can also get contact information for elected officials by calling the Government Information Hotline at (916) 322-9900 and giving the operator your address.

California residents only: also contact U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer:
1700 Montgomery Street, Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
Tel: (415) 403-0100
Fax: (415) 956-6701

For further information on what you can do please visit http://www.saveptreyesdeer.org or contact Karen Steele at IDA on (415) 388 9641, ext. 217 or at karen [at] idausa.org .


6. Sowing Seeds Humane Education Workshop in California
Attend Seminar on December 3rd and 4th at the University of California, Berkeley

Next month the International Institute for Humane Education (IIHE) ( http://www.iihed.org ) will offer a workshop in the San Francisco Bay Area for those who are interested in becoming humane educators or just learning how to be more effective animal advocates. The key to humane education is helping people explore how they can more deeply appreciate the lives of everyone, human and non-human, and live harmoniously with our environment. Experienced Coordinator/Trainer Kathy Kandziolka willfacilitate the seminar, which will include activities that are both fun and instructional. Please join IIHE for this unique educational event.

What: Sowing Seeds Humane Education Workshop
When: Saturday, December 3rd from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 4th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Where: 213 Wheeler Hall, University of California, Berkeley (click http://www.berkeley.edu/visitors/traveling.html for directions or http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/CD45.html for a campus map; visit
http://calparents.berkeley.edu/guide/visiting/stay.html for accommodations information)

The cost of the two-day workshop is $50 for students (with valid ID) and $55 - $155 for non-students (based on a sliding scale to accommodate those with limited resources). Refunds for cancellations cannot be offered at this time. Registered participants will receive a copy of The Power and Promise of Humane Education, the new book by IIHE president and co-founder Zoe Weil. To register online, please visit http://www.IIHEd.org/events/bayarea05.html . For more information, contact Kathy at (207) 785-2224 or sowingseeds [at] IIHEd.org .

Kathy Kandziolka is one of the first graduates of IIHE's Masters in Education program. Visit http://www.iihed.org/events/workshop_facilitators.html to learn more about Kathy's background and experience in humane education.


IDA's Holiday Wish list: A Laptop with DVD Player

IDA has been good all year, working hard to help animals and trying to make the world a better place. With the generosity of our supporters, we were able to pursue our mission to protect the rights, welfare and habitats of animals throughout 2005. Now, we hope that Santa will give us something that will help us advocate for animals even more effectively: a working laptop with a good battery that will enable us to show videos at tabling events in the San Francisco Bay Area.

If you've got an old laptop that's gathering dust, IDA could put it to good use educating people through the power of video. Your donation would be tax deductible and greatly appreciated. Please contact Jill Cooney at (415) 388-9641, ext. 211 or jill [at] idausa.org if you can make IDA's holiday wish come true!


IDA's Celebrity Auction Extended through November 29th

We know everyone is busy during Thanksgiving, so IDA has extended our auction to help animals through November 29th to give people a chance to bid on the exciting items donated by our celebrity supporters! In addition, most new lots will be available until December 2nd. We've partnered with Charity Folks (http://www.charityfolks.com), a leading online auction venue, to offer an amazing array of TV, film and sports memorabilia and other tantalizing auction items, so act now for your chance to bid on these and other exciting items:

- Passes to see the new Fox sitcom Stacked, starring Pamela Anderson, which includes a meet-and-greet with cast members and an autographed copy of the script
- Tickets to see David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Conan O'Brien, and B.B. King
- Lunch with Kirsten Bell from TV's Veronica Mars
- Original artwork from Pierce Brosnan
- Limited lithographs of The Beatles

Please click http://tinyurl.com/bnbyb to see and bid in IDA's auction. For more information, please contact Nicole Otoupalik at (800) 338-4451 or Nicole [at] idausa.org .


FARM's Meatout Mondays Newsletter

If you know someone who says they'd like to cut meat out of their diet but thinks it's too hard, then tell them about Meatout Mondays, a free weekly e-newsletter designed to help those who don't want to quit "cold turkey" kick the meat habit one day at a time - starting with Mondays! Easy and fun to read, Meatout Mondays encourages individuals to make changes at a pace that is comfortable for them, and is an excellent tool for introducing vegetarianism to anyone.

Every week, Meatout Mondays includes tasty vegan recipes, new product and book reviews, important health information and inspirational stories of people who have changed their lives for the better by cutting animal products from their diets. You can find recipes and nutritional information about sweet potatoes for your Thanksgiving feast in this week's issue. Click http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-11-21.htm to read the latest issue.

Please visit http://www.meatoutmondays.org to review past issues and to subscribe your friends and family members. Meatout Mondays is a free e-newsletter, and individuals can easily unsubscribe at any time.