Presenter at Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance conference in San Diego

This week I was honored to be a speaker at the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance's conference in San Diego, CA. 

Thanks to the passage of the Big Cat Public Safety Act, the exploitation of big cats has ended in many ways, and big cat sanctuaries foresee less of a demand of their services in the future. I was there to let them know about high numbers of monkeys awaiting sanctuary retirement, and I urged them to consider expanding to welcome more monkeys in the coming years. 

I learned so much about what non-primate sanctuaries face, and even more about the similarities between our worlds. Here's to hoping we continue collaborating together, and rescue more monkeys!

 

Speaking at Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance conference in October

 I was excited to be invited to present at the upcoming Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance conference in October, taking place in San Diego. This alliance was modeled after NAPSA, though I have not yet had the chance to attend one of their events.

I will be speaking about the need to diversify species receiving care in sanctuaries, and will focus on monkeys in particular and how US sanctuaries are looking to the future to predict shifting industry needs.

Looking forward to this!

NAPSA Workshop

This week we concluded the NAPSA Workshop, a multi-day conference I plan and lead as the Program Director of the North American Primate Sanctuary Alliance. It was a busy and fascinating time in Atlanta - the first time I was able to see my coworkers together since 2019!

Before I got the photos back from our event photographer, I did have one special shot to share...

When our bus arrived for the sanctuary tour at Project Chimps, this was the first thing I saw when I disembarked! A familiar sight - my book! I was happy to sign this and begin the day on such a high note.

And now, more photos:

Project Chimps Book Club covers Monkey Business

 My first book, Monkey Business, is already close to a decade old. Much has improved regarding the legal statuses and protections available for nonhuman primates in our country since I wrote it, though there is still more work ahead.

Despite that, I was very pleased to learn that that Project Chimps (a Georgia chimpanzee sanctuary that cares for close to 100 chimpanzees who were rescued from biomedical research) selected Monkey Business for the latest meeting of their online Book Club. 

Since I live across the country, it was wonderful to be able to participate virtually, and their host asked some very probing questions. I appreciated that she gave the book so much thought and attention - and the conversation made it clear that an updated Monkey Business is sorely needed!

Watch the Book Club interview here.

Now published: Chapter in Nonhuman Primate Welfare

Over 6 years ago, I was honored when ethicist Lori Gruen asked me to co-author a chapter with her for a forthcoming book on primate welfare. We went to work quickly... but after many revisions and long waits, it took this long for the book to finally get published! I'm thrilled that it's finally out.  

Though a few facts have changed since we last revised our chapter "Animal Welfare, Animal Rights, and a Sanctuary Ethos," I'm proud to be involved in this project!

Buy the book here.