Researcher panel discussion on "Life and other problems" attended

Yesterday I took part in a researcher panel discussion after screening of the documentary «Life and other problems» at Odeon cinema, Stavanger, along with Tomas Drønen (VID), Ingunn Westvik Jolma (Rogaland Arboret) and Jørg Arne Jørgensen (chair, Kåkå). The event was organised by Kåkå Kverulantkatedralen in collaboration with Odeon cinema, and is the first in a series of documentary film screenings organised by Kåkå.

Link to Siri Martinsen´s reply to my chronicle on Tiger King

Here is Siri Martinsen´s letter to the editor in reply to my chronicle on the Netflix series Tiger King.

See also:

Chronicle on Tiger King Netflix series to appear in Vårt Land

Tiger King chrnonicle published

Two invited plenary presentations given at zoo conference

Today I have given two talks at the conference of the Swedish zoo association (Svenska Djurparksföreningen), "Fremtidens dyreparker" (The zoos of the future). My talks were titled "Dyreparker i fremtiden - Om å møte samfunnets holdninger og forventninger" (Zoos in the future - about meeting society´s attitudes and expectations) and "Gjestemøter - snakker vi samme språk?" (guest meetings - do we speak the same language?). Some 40 people attended. My first lecture lasted for 70 minutes including questions, the second one 25 minutes. The conference takes place at Bjørneparken i Flå. This were invited plenary presentations.

To give two talks at Swedish zoo association conference "The zoos of the future"

I am scheduled to speak twice at the Swedish zoo association conference "Fremtidens dyreparker" (The zoos of the future), which takes place at Bjørneparken (Flå, Norway) September 25-27th 2019. On November 26th I will give the two talks detailed below. I am presented as professor of philosophy (University of Stavanger) and member of Norway´s Council for animal ethics.

— 12.15-13.15 «Dyreparker i fremtiden – om å møte samfunnets holdninger og forventninger»  

— 13.30-13.50 «Gjestemøter»

Interview on zoos and life conditions of zoo animals

Last Saturday a brief interview with me featured in a long feature article by Thea Elnan in the weekend magazine (Magasinet) of the Norwegian daily Dagens Næringsliv. The 6 page article was titled "Hageliv" [Garden/park life], but "Fri og bevare" [literally "liberate and preserve"] in the magazine´s table of contents. The online version (login required) is titled "Vil legge ned dyreparkene" [Wants to close the zoos].

Interview with DN

Today I was interviewed by the Norwegian daily newspaper Dagens Næringsliv, on zoos.

Radio appearance discussing culling of healthy zebra in Kristiansand Zoo

Today I appeared on regional Norwegian radio, on NRK Sørlandet, discussing the ethics of culling healthy zoo animals - specifically a zebra culled by Kristiansand Zoo recently (and wolves and kangaroos the last couple of years). I did this as chair of the Kristiansand division of the Green Party of Norway. A news story entitled "- Uetisk av dyreparken å avlive friske dyr" [Unethical of the zoo to cull healthy animals] also appeared this evening, based on the radio discussion.

Visiting Lisbon zoo

Today I have visited Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa - the Lisbon zoo - with my son and wife. Most of the animals clearly have too little living space - for instance, the large mammals do not have proper space for running.

Two wolf-related articles to be co-written with Laura Kiiroja

I have agreed to co-write two academic articles with Laura Kiiroja, my colleague in the Norwegian-Estonian research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis": One on Nordic zoo wolf demographics (I've had the idea for a few years, and now want it done), and another on socialization of zoo animals including wolves. Both these articles will be written in the context of the project's case study "Agencies and Conflicts of Interest in Zoological Gardens as an Environment for Mediated Communication".

See also:

Research visit to Tangen zoo conducted; to be zoo's research contact