Category Archives: Animals

Amazing – Elephants and Pajamas

The baby elephant wouldn’t stop trembling.
She had lost her mother to poachers — pacing in circles beside her body, too frightened to eat, too exhausted to sleep.

Dr. Roxy Danckwerts watched helplessly that night. Blankets, lullabies, soft words — nothing eased the calf’s shaking.
Then she remembered something small, almost silly: pajamas.

Years ago, she had sewn one for another orphan, and it worked — the soft fabric mimicking a mother’s touch.
So she did it again. Under lantern light, she stitched cotton covered in tiny moons and stars, each thread a quiet promise.

When she slipped the pajamas over the calf’s trembling body, the little one froze… then sighed.
And for the first time since losing her mother, she slept.

From that night on, every rescued calf received a handmade pair — blue, pink, patterned with elephants or stars.
When dressed, they stopped trembling, leaned into their caretakers, and found the courage to rest.
“They don’t just need medicine,” Roxy said. “They need comfort.”

The sanctuary’s sewing room became a place of healing.
Each pajama held a story — of loss, survival, and love stitched by human hands.
And as the orphans grew strong enough to return to the wild, their tiny pajamas hung on the nursery wall — reminders of how gentleness can save a life.

At sunset, Roxy still listens for the faint trumpets echoing through the trees — her “kids,” wild again, free again.
Because sometimes, healing begins not with medicine,
but with a thread, a touch,
and a heart willing to care.

Jane Goodall

A great human being, scientist, and conservationist; Jane Goodall, died yesterday. She was 91 years old. She inspired millions, including me, and I will miss her greatly. She gave us all hope and made a wonderful difference in this world. Jane reminded us to take action, big or small, because in doing so it would help us feel better. As she said, we can all save water, behave respectfully with others, treat animals with kindness, help in soup kitchens or animal shelters, etc. Each one of us has an impact on this precious planet. It is up to us to decide what kind of impact we will have.

Here is a short video about her.

https://youtu.be/HdYfhPPBt0E

Good News

I don’t know if you need some good news, I certainly do. I was happy to hear that Mexico has a ban on dolphin shows and the use of marine mammals in entertainment. It also bans the breeding of dolphins in captivity. Dolphins that are currently in dolphinariums and entertainment facilities must be cared for, under strict standards, until their natural death.

We Must and Can Do Better

As I sit down to write this blog I feel moved to say something about the children and animals who are currently starving and dying. In a world with so many riches and wealth I ask myself how can we let this happen? We must and can do better. Please help them. You can donate money to food banks, animal welfare organizations, or to zoos; you can volunteer your time at an animal shelter or you can call your elected officials and voice your opinions. Now is not the time to be silent. You may think that a small act does not make a difference. It does. All acts add up. Even if we can change one life for the better, we have made a choice, and taken a positive step forward. Thank you.

Pinelands Fire

Sadly, there has been a wildfire raging in southern New Jersey, in an area that is called the Pinelands or Pine Barrens. It has burned over 15,000 acres and has been only 65% contained as I write this blog. The Pinelands is the biggest surviving forest on the eastern seaboard south of Maine’s North Woods. It has over 800,000 acres of forest, of which only about half is permanently preserved.


It is a very special place and has a unique biological diversity – a kind of Noah’s Ark for species adapted to the area.

The fire was started by a nineteen year old who decided to build a bonfire. He did not extinguish it properly and the result is devastating for the people and animals who live in the area, and for the forest itself. Adults must protect our natural habitats and teach our children to do the same! Nature is not to be taken for granted.

2025

Another year is upon us and as I get older it feels like the days go by faster and faster. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I like to smell freshly roasted chestnuts in New York City, see red ribbons tied on packages, and smell the scent of fresh pine trees. I also love to hear holiday carols and the feeling of good will among many. That said, I realize this season can be difficult at times. Family resentments, unrealistic expectations, and unfinished business between people can cause anger and sadness. I encourage you to acknowledge your feelings and remember that a walk outside, a phone call with a friend, or sitting with your favorite pet can do wonders to lighten your worries, troubles or concerns.

May you have good health and many blessings as you journey forth. And thank you for being kind to animals.

The Holidays

It is almost the end of the year — and for many it is a season of reflection, joy, sadness, cooking, making snow people, wearing sweaters, shopping and spending moments with loved ones. As we speed through the minutes and hours into tomorrow may we take a moment to be grateful for all of our blessings. May we take time to honor those animals, friends, relatives, or strangers who are no longer with us. And may we take time to enjoy the food we eat (that someone probably grew on her or his farm) and may we thank those, even strangers or pets, who show us kindness. You see, kindness does not cost anything and yet it gives us so much. A simple act of kindness has the power to bring the giver joy and good feelings, AND it brings the same to the receiver. So, at this time, I ask you to see if you can share some kindness today, no matter how big or how small. Thank you. May you have many blessings and peace in your heart.

Inspiring

Image by Freepik.com

Many of you are aware, Climate Week took place in Manhattan, NY the week of September 17th. Many people, from all walks of life, got together to talk about climate change, nature, and reducing carbon footprints. There were speeches, marches, seminars, discussions and cultural performances. I was fortunate to attend some of the events and was really touched by an organization called Junglekeepers, http://www.junglekeepers.com, founded by Paul Rosolie. He and his team are protecting 30,000 acres in Peruvian Amazon, and doing work that truly inspires me. I saw a video he shared showing a beautiful puma and jaguar. I also had a chance to speak with him. May we all remember that the Amazon is home to millions of trees, numerous Indigenous communities, and uncountable numbers of animal heartbeats. Sadly, new roads, illegal logging, poaching, and mining have begun to seriously degrade the forest.

Fortunately, Junglekeepers is doing work that makes a positive difference. I invite you to support Paul’s team and other groups working to protect forests, and the precious animals in them.

Hope

I hope you all had a nice summer and enjoyed some time with your loved ones. There is so much hard news out there and devastating forest fires in Canada, the United States, Greece, Spain, Croatia and Vietnam. People and animals have lost their homes, and many died from smoke inhalation. And yet, I remain hopeful that we can turn this situation around. There are so many people working to mitigate climate change and make sure that the Earth’s temperatures stop rising and start to decline. So, this is message which is meant to be encouraging in its nature. In the words of so many, we can do this. We each, individually, and collectively, can make a difference to help our fellow humans, and the precious animals of the world. Please reduce your carbon footprints, eat less meat, consume less, and take a walk in a forest or swim in the ocean. I have said it previously, each minute counts. Each one of us matters, and we can positively impact the future.