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: 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 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: Larry Holmes | January 31, 2010 at 12:38 pm
(NECN) – It’s a powerful snake, but also a popular pet.
The Boa Constrictor can grow to almost 13 feet in length and can weigh up to 60 pounds.
Sure there are smaller variations, but most people would agree, the boa is big and so is the responsibility that comes with owning and taking care of one.
Joining Vicki Croke to share more is Bunny Watson.
Bunny is the live animal curator at the Museum of Science in Boston.
Taking care of Boa Constrictor on Secret Life of Animals
Posted By: Larry Holmes | January 24, 2010 at 1:30 pm
(NECN) -Temple Grandin’s latest book “Animals Make us Human” is now out in paperback.
Whether or not you read her best selling blockbuster “Animals in Translation,” I think you’ll want to check this one out.
Grandin is the incredibly accomplished woman with autism who designs equipment in order to make life –and death –better for farm animals.
But she’s got a lot to say about all animals and from a very unique perspective.
Vicki interviewed her a while back at the Brookline Booksmith and found her as brilliant, down-to-earth, and full of surprises as the book itself.
You can also watch a new HBO movie about her starring Clare Danes, which airs next month.
Temple Grandin Interview on NECN.com
Posted By: Larry Holmes | January 17, 2010 at 1:06 pm
(NECN) – The Burlington Public school system is Vicki Croke’s kind of school system.
Their live animal collection includes about 60 animals – hawks, owls, turtles, a huge monster of a snapping turtle, and lots of others.
Many of the animals spend much of the year stationed in classrooms where kids can really get to know them over time.
Just this week Vicki enjoyed an incredible afternoon communing with the residents.
Vicki introduces us to the gang that includes the world’s friendliest snake.
Joining the Secret Life of Animals from the Burlington Science Center is Wendy Pavlicek.
She’s brought some of the center’s gregarious chickens to the studio!
Posted By: admin | January 10, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Pages of medical bills are just a brief mention in the story of one man’s best friend.
Meet Boswell – a Toulouse goose with a big personality, his own dishy blog and an incredible bond with his owner.
Check out Boswell’s photos and much more on The Daily Honk.
