Vegan News 4.19.13

New law to protect Puerto Rico leatherback turtles. “Puerto Rico has introduced a new law protecting a swathe of the island’s coast that has become a major nesting site for the world’s largest turtle, the leatherback. The law ends a 15-year battle which pitted developers against green activists and several celebrities. Leatherback turtles are a highly endangered species.”

What I learned from a month of eating vegan. “So my challenge to you: Be more vegan than you are. Even if you don’t want to take me up on the month-long experiment, maybe you can eat a vegan dinner three times a week. Or do like New York Times food writer Mark Bittman and be vegan until 6 p.m. every day. Or hell, keep eating meat, but make it ethical meat.”

Cuddling Up at Tokyo’s Exotic Animal Cafes. “At Cafe Little Zoo in Chiba, green curry and fried chicken are served alongside an African milky eagle owl and Yucatan spiny-tailed iguana, while the Bird Cafe in Tokyo features parakeets and parrots. Across town in Yokohama, the Brazilian rainbow boa, land turtles  and lizards are the preferred creatures. The Reptile Cafe, which also houses a collection of magazines on the exotic species, draws steady crowds, especially young women,  on weekends.  Mami Sakurai visits alone, for a cup of tea and for a chance to snap photos with geckos.”

Roxbury animal control officer saves dying bald eagle. “The bald eagle —” believed to be female due to its large size —€” underwent a long surgery two days later and is recovering at Raptor Trust. Whether it will survive is uncertain, said Lauren Butcher, education director at the Millington bird rehabilitation center. The bird broke the humerus bone in its left wing during the fight, which several residents witnessed. It hasn’t started eating on its own, but Butcher said she was optimistic.”

Photo credit: Ed Gaillard via Flickr