Posted By: Larry Holmes | March 7, 2010 (4 days ago) at 12:38 pm
(NECN) – You may remember seeing video of a circus elephant named Tyke rampaging through the streets of Hawaii or reading about the day Franklin Park’s gorilla Little Joe escaped.
These incidents couldn’t have been more different and yet we in the public may lump them together and misunderstand them equally.
Joining Vicki Croke on the Secret Life of Animals is John Linehan, head of Zoo New England.
He’s a man whose work Vicki really respects and who can thoughtfully give the viewer a little perspective on why zoo animals may attack or run away
John call also talk about what it does or-just as important-doesn’t mean about them and their life in captivity.
Posted By: Larry Holmes | March 7, 2010 (4 days ago) at 12:37 pm
(NECN) – The president of SeaWorld last week defended the park’s killer whale shows following the death of a trainer.
One thing we’ve learned from all the coverage of the incident involving Tilikum the killer whale and trainer Dawn Brancheau is that there certainly are warring camps in the animal world.
Each side reads very different things into what happened.
Joining Vicki with a free-for-all analysis are two men much too civilized to fight — AJ Cady of IFAW and John Linehan of Zoo New England.
Posted By: Larry Holmes | March 7, 2010 (4 days ago) at 12:34 pm
(NECN) – So what about the push to Free Tilly the killer whale?
Many scientists say Tilly could never survive in the wild, but are now suggesting the use of a sea pen
A sea pen is an enclosure in the ocean that would give him more space, while also keeping him away from humans.
But others point to the death of a whale named Keiko, star of the movie Free Willy back in the 1990s.
Millions of dollars were spent on attempts to return Keiko to the wild, including supervised swims in the open ocean.
In the end, Keiko died emaciated and suffering from pneumonia in Norway.
But while Keiko did not survive, many still say Tilly could be released to that sea pen we mentioned.
Dr. Naomi Rose is a marine mammal scientist with the Humane Society of the United States.
Dr Rose believes Tilly would benefit from the move.
Dr. Rose joins us Vicki from Washington DC to talk more.
Posted By: Larry Holmes | March 7, 2010 (4 days ago) at 12:33 pm
(NECN) – Like many viewers, The Secret Life of Animals has been drawn to the story of Tilikum in the last week, the killer whale at SeaWorld who recently killed his trainer.
Did he mean to do harm?
Was he smart and aware enough to understand that trainer Dawn Brancheau was in distress?
Could the incident have been prevented?
Is it possible for a creature like him-or a captive elephant, or a tiger-to be returned to the wild?
Even the experts disagree, it’s hard to know.
With the help of some top specialists from the animal world, The Secret Life of Animal’s is going to analyze this incident at SeaWorld and revisit some similar stories.
On the Secret Life of Animals, Vicki Croke discusses what is known about killer whales in the wild and how much people don’t know about them.
Joining Vicki to discuss them is AJ Cady with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | March 4, 2010 (1 week ago) at 11:18 am
Dogs and cats can become friends, as the folks at the Wildlife Safari in Oregon found out — except for the cat in this odd couple scenario is a cheetah. You can see rhinos and lions at the Wildlife Safari in Winston and also an Anatolian Shepherd. Her name is Ellie and her best friend happens to be a cheetah named Sanurra.
Posted By: Larry Holmes | February 28, 2010 (2 weeks ago) at 12:36 pm
(NECN) – So you thought you knew chinchillas?
Guess again.
From their dental dynamics to their Olympic-worthy leaps in the air.
Vicki Croke has got the the full scoop on the secret life of these amazing little rodents.
Posted By: admin | February 21, 2010 (3 weeks ago) at 12:18 pm
Take a break from the gossip magazines and check out the latest offering that has tongues wagging among dog owners.
“Doggie Aficiionado” may just be the new “Vanity Fair” for the canine set – featuring dog lovers like Martha Stewart and “Twilight” star Kellan Lutz. It’s also chock full of star suggestions on travel, dog food and much more!
Posted By: admin | February 7, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Forget the chocolate and the flowers. If you’re looking for a more creative Valentine’s Day gift this year, log on to the Mystic Aquarium’s Web site, for some one-of-a-kind artwork benefiting the African penguin.
Posted By: admin | February 7, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Scratch your dog’s winter itch off the to-do list with an oatmeal bath in a bottle – and much more. Vicki checks out the latest in retail itch relief from Especially for Pets.
Looking for more information on these products?
Posted By: Allison Sonfist | February 1, 2010 at 3:47 pm
Photo by Jason Collier.
Tomorrow, Feb. 2, brings Groundhog Day, the most-watched weather forecast of the year.
When people think of SeaWorld, they immediately think of Shamu the killer whale and other marine animals. However, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens’ animal specialists care for thousands of different species each day — one of these is a one-year old groundhog named Marshall, pictured here.
