As an animal advocate for the better part of a quarter century, and as a father for just over a decade, I find that the way we communicate with the world about animals is hugely important. There are times to show the graphic reality of what humans do to our nonhuman counterparts; there are times to use no pictures at all; and then, there are times when just the right image, presented just the right way, tells the story as fully as it needs to be told.[teaserbreak]
Talking to kids about some of the gruesome realities of what people do to animals can be challenging, and if we are to be successful in changing—and developing—the hearts and minds of young people so that they grow up to be compassionate conservationists and compassionate consumers, we have to be awfully innovative.
This week, Born Free USA has launched our new website, www.whatelephantslike.org, in an effort to provide a colorful, digital, interactive platform for showing kids the reality of life as an elephant. Our free digital book, What Elephants Like, which is available to download for coloring, shows children the natural interactions of wild, free-roaming elephants with each other and their natural surroundings.
But, children also need to understand that humans take elephants out of those natural places and confine them in cruel conditions, like zoos and circuses. The shocking way that humans have treated wild animals—elephants, specifically—needs to be revealed to everyone. And, www.whatelephantslike.com is sure to make a difference.
While I am incredibly proud of this long-awaited project’s release, I also know how proud people all over the world are of their companion animals: the species-appropriate animals who are kept in our homes, such as dogs and cats. Yes, I am the proud parent of an astute 11-year-old vegan animal campaigner—but I’m also the proud (although sometimes begrudging) parent of two dogs and five cats. For me, as much as they drive me crazy, they also bring incredible joy.
Like so many people, I find myself constantly snapping photos of my cats lying about the house, front legs dangling over the furniture, or my dogs curled up under a blanket on the bed. I share these photos with friends and family because it brings us all joy to do so. And, Born Free USA’s new “Pets Go Wild for Wildlife” photo contest gives all of you a chance to share your photos, as well.
Enter photos of your dog or cat by September 25! You not only have the chance to win prizes, but you’ll make an online celebrity out of your pet. Since I work for Born Free USA, I can’t enter the contest… so do me the honor of letting me see your dog or cat, and I will take my enjoyment out of the photos you share.
They say a photo is worth a thousand words. And, whether it’s a computer-generated image of an elephant performing in a circus, your dog swimming in a lake, or your cat scratching up the counter, these images all tell a story worth sharing. I look forward to seeing yours!
Keep Wildlife the in Wild,
Adam