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Online Seminar: Sanctuary for Elephants

By Mickey Suzuki

We thank you for all the ways you’ve supported our fight for elephant rights—from signing petitions and action alerts, to spreading our message on social media, to donating what you can and offering your valuable time and feedback.

Released to a sanctuary, with their right to liberty recognized, both Happy and Minnie would be able to live in an environment similar to their natural habitat with hundreds of acres to roam and with the freedom to choose how to spend their time and with whom.

Please join NhRP Director of Government Relations and Campaigns Courtney Fern and PAWS Director of Science, Research and Advocacy Catherine Doyle on Wednesday, August 5th at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET in an online seminar where they’ll discuss what life is like for elephants at PAWS sanctuary and what it takes to free these self-aware, autonomous beings from traveling circuses and zoos.

Catherine Doyle is the Director of Science, Research and Advocacy for the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). PAWS operates three sanctuaries in California, including ARK 2000, a 2,300-acre natural habitat refuge for elephants, bears, and big cats rescued or retired from zoos, circuses, and private owners. Catherine has nearly 20 years of experience working on behalf of captive elephants, with extensive knowledge of their health, welfare, and management, and expertise in captive conditions. She leads research efforts at PAWS, including a long-term study of the sanctuary’s African elephants. She also works on public policy to protect elephants and other captive wildlife. Catherine played an integral role in passing statewide bans on the use of elephant bullhooks in California and Rhode Island, and citywide bans across the U.S. Catherine has a Master of Science degree in Anthrozoology (Canisius College). She writes about elephants and the ethics of captivity (chapters in The Ethics of Captivity, Oxford University Press, 2014, and The Handbook of Practical Animal Ethics, Palgrave- Macmillan, 2018) and captive wildlife sanctuaries (Animal Studies Journal, 2017). Catherine serves on the Steering Committee for the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance and advisory board for The Whale Sanctuary Project. She organizes PAWS’ biennial International Captive Wildlife Conference.

Join online:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84415960249

Meeting ID: 844 1596 0249

or join by phone:
+1 669 900 6833 US (Dialing from the US)

Meeting ID: 844 1596 0249 Find your local number here.

We’ll post the recording on our YouTube channel afterwards for you to rewatch and share. Here is the link to last week’s seminar, “The Legal Fight to Free Happy,” with NhRP President Steven M. Wise and NhRP Communications Director Lauren Choplin.

If you have any questions you’d like answered by Catherine in this online seminar, please feel free to email us ahead of time at info@nonhumanrights.org. You can also ask them live via the Zoom chat window.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

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