I really like this. I can definitely see the shift in your pieces from whimsy to a more overt kind of conservation. I think you strike the balance well between entertainment and environmental advocacy, but it's absolutely true that it matters when animals are becoming endangered through human behavior.
When it comes to orangutans, though, I always think of Clyde from the Clint Eastwood movie Every Which Way but Loose. We don't want there to be fewer Clydes in the world.
Thank you, Jason. I always appreciate your thoughtful comments and light mentions. I did think of Clyde—so funny! As it turns out, I wanted there to be more comedy here, and the research emerged as the real dean. I hope the satire proves effective. Take care, my friend!
I'm with Jason. There's definitely an increasing passion and love of nature moving through your writing - and amplified by the powerful photos you now use to accompany them. Scientific curiosity and wonder seems to be moving to a much deeper attachment and activism for your subjects. And it's an honour to be on this journey with you Your writing is increasingly letting the power of the animals speak for themselves. I sense a reframing - less Clyde the orangutan, the side kick, the comedy character and time for a shift to a more centre stage role for that wonderful creature in your photo. It actually hurts to look into that creature's so human-like face and think of how we're treating them. thank you John. xxx
Thank you for all your support, Mary. Believe it or not, I intentionally picked axolotls and orangutans to get back to entertainment writing. I don't look for bad news, but I do let research lead the way. Humor sometimes yields quite a bit to humility. And I agree with you about a comedy to conservation shift in my work. It just happened. I didn't plan it. But now I hope to get more involved in ways that can really help. There are so many charities and organizations out there. Cheers for them! To continue with inspiration, I can recall being in the operating room when a family member underwent major surgery and the focused doctors joked with each other. Humor can help when serious work is being done. I think maybe we can all be like those doctors. 😊
John, thank you for highlighting this. Orangutans in Indonesia are quite literally bleeding out. Their forests aren’t just being logged, they’re being set ablaze for palm oil, pulp, coal, and mining. While there are ongoing conservation efforts, the lack of strong environmental legislation and the weak enforcement of existing laws remain the key drivers of their continued decline. It’s heartbreaking 💔
Thank you for your thoughtful sharing, Genechelle. It is certainly as you say—heartbreaking. While I’m hopeful that conservation organizations can help to significantly influence life-saving change, the current situation is in fact dire for orangutans and other wildlife. I think Quokkas are similarly vulnerable, and people right now are making an impact in the survival of that species. I hope increasing awareness and support prove helpful for the endangered. Thank you again for caring enough to take notice and add to the discussion.
I really like this. I can definitely see the shift in your pieces from whimsy to a more overt kind of conservation. I think you strike the balance well between entertainment and environmental advocacy, but it's absolutely true that it matters when animals are becoming endangered through human behavior.
When it comes to orangutans, though, I always think of Clyde from the Clint Eastwood movie Every Which Way but Loose. We don't want there to be fewer Clydes in the world.
Thank you, Jason. I always appreciate your thoughtful comments and light mentions. I did think of Clyde—so funny! As it turns out, I wanted there to be more comedy here, and the research emerged as the real dean. I hope the satire proves effective. Take care, my friend!
And you're absolutely right: "We don't want there to be fewer Clydes in the world."
I'm with Jason. There's definitely an increasing passion and love of nature moving through your writing - and amplified by the powerful photos you now use to accompany them. Scientific curiosity and wonder seems to be moving to a much deeper attachment and activism for your subjects. And it's an honour to be on this journey with you Your writing is increasingly letting the power of the animals speak for themselves. I sense a reframing - less Clyde the orangutan, the side kick, the comedy character and time for a shift to a more centre stage role for that wonderful creature in your photo. It actually hurts to look into that creature's so human-like face and think of how we're treating them. thank you John. xxx
Thank you for all your support, Mary. Believe it or not, I intentionally picked axolotls and orangutans to get back to entertainment writing. I don't look for bad news, but I do let research lead the way. Humor sometimes yields quite a bit to humility. And I agree with you about a comedy to conservation shift in my work. It just happened. I didn't plan it. But now I hope to get more involved in ways that can really help. There are so many charities and organizations out there. Cheers for them! To continue with inspiration, I can recall being in the operating room when a family member underwent major surgery and the focused doctors joked with each other. Humor can help when serious work is being done. I think maybe we can all be like those doctors. 😊
John, thank you for highlighting this. Orangutans in Indonesia are quite literally bleeding out. Their forests aren’t just being logged, they’re being set ablaze for palm oil, pulp, coal, and mining. While there are ongoing conservation efforts, the lack of strong environmental legislation and the weak enforcement of existing laws remain the key drivers of their continued decline. It’s heartbreaking 💔
Thank you for your thoughtful sharing, Genechelle. It is certainly as you say—heartbreaking. While I’m hopeful that conservation organizations can help to significantly influence life-saving change, the current situation is in fact dire for orangutans and other wildlife. I think Quokkas are similarly vulnerable, and people right now are making an impact in the survival of that species. I hope increasing awareness and support prove helpful for the endangered. Thank you again for caring enough to take notice and add to the discussion.
Here's a sad but very sweet article from the Denver Zoo. Orangutans can be so caring:
https://denverzoo.org/zootales/an-announcement-about-sumatran-orangutan-berani/