Conference Info Gives Us PAWS (Or Vice Versa)

By DUNCAN STRAUSS

In early May, we attended “The War On Wildlife,” a three-day conference presented in Sacramento by the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

Moderated by PAWS founder Pat Derby, the conference featured a number of speakers and panel discussions addressing assorted topics, from the ethical responsibility of zoos to an update on the current life and progress of Keiko--the “Free Willy” whale who is indeed now free--to an overview of “protected contact management,” a new kinder, safer, more effective elephant-training technique employed in a growing number of zoos and sanctuaries.

Among the conference’s other notable events were a special awards dinner featuring keynote speaker Cynthia Moss (the world’s foremost elephant expert and a recipient of a 2001 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship) and visits to both the PAWS sanctuary in Galt, home to a few dozen abused and abandoned wild animals--including elephants, lions, tigers, bears, and monkeys--and to Ark 2000, a not- yet-opened 2300-acre, truly singular sanctuary in San Andreas, where many of the Galt animals will move, and other animals from circuses, zoos and elsewhere can be taken in.

Derby and PAWS co-founder Ed Stewart--they formed the organization in 1985--led tours of both facilities, including the cutting-edge elephant barns at Ark 2000 that feature heated cement floors and indoor pools.

PAWS is an excellent organization that’s done fine, important work for the better part of two decades. To donate or otherwise help them continue this work, or to find out more about them or the animals they care for, please visit www.pawsweb.org.

Duncan's PAWs photo gallery