NIH Announces Plan of Retirement for Research Chimps
What began as a step toward freedom for research chimpanzees, is now a solid plan to realize that goal. This is the way out, and there’s light at the end of the tunnel we can finally see. Animal research has always lived at the crossroads between considering what is good for humankind, and what is […]
My Special Memories of Elephants
There were some individuals who were special. I am thinking of Rafiki (meaning ‘friend’ in Kiswahili) with her twin calves. I first saw them when they were only a couple of weeks old. It was when Derek Bryceson, my former husband, was Director of Tanzania National Parks. I had suggested that we might train park […]
Mapping Action: Youth Take on the World
Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA got the chance to learn more about Esri, the storymap makers, during a training in Redlands, CA. As technology advances more and more each day, it becomes even more vital that we use that power to create change in the world. Roots & Shoots U.S. Roots & Shoots Youth […]
The Puerto Rican Parrot: Rescued from Extinction
The Puerto Rican Parrot Amazona vittata: Rescued from Extinction It was during a visit to Puerto Rico with Roots & Shoots champions, Dr. Rick and Nelly Asselta, that I heard about a perfect Good News story for this blog – the rescue of the endemic Puerto Rican Parrot from the very brink of extinction. I […]
Jane’s Traffic Stop: The Fight to End Illegal Wildlife Trafficking
Something is not right. She flares out her ears and her tail begins to stand up. She begins to rumble from the part of her that knows what is about to happen, and still fears it and runs. There is a sound like the sound when light flashes in the sky and hits the ground, […]
Jane’s Message for World Elephant Day
Today is World Elephant Day and I am thinking of the magical times when I have been privileged to watch wild elephants in different places in Africa. How wonderful it was to see them feeding, using their trunks like hands to pick leaves overhead, or tear up lush green grass in great bunches, then push […]
The First Time I Saw A Lion
I will never forget my first sighting of a wild lion. Today lions are listed as threatened, but this was far from the case when I arrived in Africa in 1957. Louis and Mary Leakey invited me to take part in a three month ‘dig’ at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. The Leakey’s were sure that the […]
Q&A with Hilda Tresz: A Guardian Angel for Captive Chimps
Hilda Tresz is a true chimp champion. As the Behavioral Enrichment and International Welfare Coordinator at the Phoenix Zoo, she has been responsible for transforming the lives of over 85 captive chimpanzees. Hilda is responsible for overseeing the Zoo’s behavioral management programs and has served as a mentor and researcher. She has dedicated her career […]
Roots & Shoots RSYC Visits California!
Year-round, the Roots & Shoots U.S. Roots & Shoots Youth Council USA members live by Dr. Jane’s inspirational quote, “What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” This past week, from August 1-5, twenty-two youth leaders gathered with Roots & Shoots staff in southern California […]
Power to the Rangers : World Ranger Day!
The world needs two kinds of people – tree huggers AND tree defenders. Well, perhaps the world needs many more sorts of people than just those two: but most critically for conservation work are those who love, research and share information about natural environments, as well as the brave individuals who protect those areas from […]
