West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton was recently named a finalist for the Defender Service Awards, a national competition that recognizes nonprofits that make a positive impact in their communities. It’s the state’s oldest and largest sanctuary for farm animals rescued from abuse, neglect, and cruelty. The group’s founder and executive director Wendy Taylor spoke […]
animal welfare
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These monkeys were ‘notoriously competitive’ until Hurricane Maria wrecked their home
Rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago are known for being intolerant, hierarchical and aggressive. After 2017’s Hurricane Maria destroyed their home, the monkeys’ society underwent surprising changes.
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Military horses ran loose through the streets of London once again
A trio of rider-less horses charged through central London, causing panic but no injuries before being returned to their barracks. A similar ordeal happened in April, though involved different horses.
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Rhode Island achieves ‘no-kill’ status: All savable cats and dogs were left alive in 2023
TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: 2023 was a landmark year for animal welfare in Rhode Island. Of the more than 7,000 dogs and cats that entered state shelters in 2023, all savable pets were left alive. It’s a first for the state, which is now the fourth in […]
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Wild elephants may have names that other elephants use to call them
Forget names like “Dumbo”—wild elephants appear to have their own unique names that other elephants use while talking to them in low rumbles.
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Box turtles. Coral. These illegally trafficked animals still need a good home
When authorities find wildlife that are being illegally trafficked, at ports or airports, the animals are often in terrible shape. Sick, starved, distressed. A pilot project in Southern California aims to get seized wildlife immediate care.
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‘Chimney caps, vent pipes, gutters’: Why some woodpeckers are major metal heads
When an NPR reporter heard a startling loud metallic noise in her house, she was about to get an interesting lesson in animal behavior.
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When sea otters lose their favorite foods, they can use tools to go after new ones
Some otters rely on tools to bust open hard-shelled prey items like snails, and a new study suggests this tool use is helping them to survive as their favorite, easier-to-eat foods disappear.
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Terrance the octopus came to live with a family. Then she laid dozens of eggs
The Clifford family was as prepared as possible to welcome Terrance the octopus. But there was one thing they missed: she was pregnant. And then she laid a whole lot of eggs.
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Once lost to science, these “uncharismatic” animals are having their moment
Historic numbers of animals across the globe have become endangered or pushed to extinction. But some of these species sit in limbo — not definitively extinct yet missing from the scientific record. Rediscovering a “lost” species is not easy. It can require trips to remote areas and canvassing a large area in search of only a handful of animals. But new technology and stronger partnerships with local communities have helped these hidden, “uncharismatic” creatures come to light.
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