LETTERS

Animals, Nov, 1998

Orangutan Crisis

I commend Animals and writer Smita Madan Paul ("After the Blaze," September/October 1998) for a touching portrayal of the tragedy unfolding for orangutans and other wildlife following a series of wildfires in Indonesia. The crisis for orangutans has indeed reached catastrophic proportions as this endangered species continues to lose habitat to an unchecked timber industry and plantation owners who deliberately set forest fires to expand their crops.

Amid the political and economic turmoil that ties the arms of local forestry agents and law enforcement officials, one group of men and women works round the clock to secure the survival of orangutans fallen victim to the fires. The World Society for the Protection of Animals and Indonesia's Wanariset Forestry Station Orangutan Rehabilitation Project have rescued more than 150 orphaned babies and adult orangutans in recent months and are ready for the release of 30 who have made a full recovery. These animal-protection partners continue to provide sanctuary for orangutans who otherwise might die, and they continue to find innovative ways to keep the fires from their prime habitat.

To learn more or to help, write to WSPA Orangutan Rescue Fund, P.O. Box 190, Boston, MA 02130, or phone (617) 522-7000.

Laura Salter

Communications Director

WSPA

Boston, MA

Take the Blinders Off

It took me two weeks to read the article "Return to the Wild" (July/August 1998) about wolves. I could not face what I knew would be in the article somewhere--humans killing wolves without cause and torturing them in the process.

I get so angry when I read about people who are so blind and selfish when it comes to the land and its animals. Who are we anyway? We took all the land we occupy. We deprived plants and animals of their habitats. We always take more than we need, and then we take it upon ourselves to decide whether there is value in a particular species, in this case wolves.

The people who oppose the restoration of wolves need to read the meaning of the word "restore." The wolves were here before we were.

Wolves are our gift. We are but guests on this planet, and we are not showing this planet any respect. We are going to pay dearly if we don't take our blinders off, look at the whole picture, and take action to end our destructive behavior.

Jennifer Mellen

Uxbridge, MA

Vegan Voice

Mary Marino's response (Letters, July/August 1998) to the sidebar titled "What Animals Endure" (Animals 2000, May/June 1998) left me bewildered. She states that "cows and pigs are being killed for obvious reasons." What are these? I am vegan so their precious lives can be spared from the brutality of factory farming and the horrors of the slaughterhouse. Marino thinks there is a "more humane way" to kill them. This is an oxymoron. There is no such thing as a humane slaughter. The only humane alternative is not to eat (or wear) them, and then the need to slaughter animals so cruelly will come to an end. Farm animals deserve our respect and love.

Ana Garcia

Astoria, NY