Ep 18: Zoos with Freedom For Animals

03/25/18 • 80 min

This week Tylor, Evy and Robbie take on the heavily debated subject of whether or not zoos are vegan-friendly. As animal-lovers, many vegans crave the opportunity to meet animals in person and zoos might seem like the obvious option, however there is no denying that wild animals in captivity are caged against their will. We talk about our experiences with zoos and the role zoos play in education and conservationism. Later on, we interview Maddie Taylor, the Campaigns Officer for the animal rights organisation, Freedom For Animal (previously known as the Captive Animals Protection Society). Also on this episode...

Are not-for-profit zoos more ethical?
Tylor: “We don’t want bigger cages; we want empty cages.”
Listener question: What about zoos that help conserve certain species?
Is Newt Scamander’s suitcase a zoo or a sanctuary?
Breaking news from the vegan wizarding world brought to you by The ChickPeeps’ most persistent tweeter.
What is life like for animals in zoos?
Maddy: “I think part of the problem is that a zoo is very much about creating a great day out for the visitor... giving you the perception that those animals are free.”
What is Stereotypic behaviour and what are some examples of it?
Marius the giraffe and “Surplus” animals - how was Copenhagen Zoo allowed to kill a perfectly healthy animal and is this a common practice?
Where do zoos get their animals?
What about zoos’ role in conservation projects?
Alternative ways to learn about animals
Do certain zoos improve the lives of animals in captivity?
What we can do to help animals in captivity now?
Robbie takes issue with Evy’s vegan highlight of the week

Links:

Freedom For Animals' Website

Take part in Freedom For Animals' Zoo Awareness Weekend

Follow Freedom for Animals on Facebook and Twitter.

Article by YourDailyVegan on Zoos (List of alternative ways to learn about animals at bottom of page)

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Are not-for-profit zoos more ethical?
Tylor: “We don’t want bigger cages; we want empty cages.”
Listener question: What about zoos that help conserve certain species?
Is Newt Scamander’s suitcase a zoo or a sanctuary?
Breaking news from the vegan wizarding world brought to you by The ChickPeeps’ most persistent tweeter.
What is life like for animals in zoos?
Maddy: “I think part of the problem is that a zoo is very much about creating a great day out for the visitor... giving you the perception that those animals are free.”
What is Stereotypic behaviour and what are some examples of it?
Marius the giraffe and “Surplus” animals - how was Copenhagen Zoo allowed to kill a perfectly healthy animal and is this a common practice?
Where do zoos get their animals?
What about zoos’ role in conservation projects?
Alternative ways to learn about animals
Do certain zoos improve the lives of animals in captivity?
What we can do to help animals in captivity now?
Robbie takes issue with Evy’s vegan highlight of the week

Links:

Freedom For Animals' Website

Take part in Freedom For Animals' Zoo Awareness Weekend

Follow Freedom for Animals on Facebook and Twitter.

Article by YourDailyVegan on Zoos (List of alternative ways to learn about animals at bottom of page)

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Previous Episode

Ep 17: Fighting Animal Testing with Hilary Jones

This week Momo and Evy delve into the complicated world of vegan beauty products and how to make sure your vanity table is 100% vegan. We discuss the apparent oxymoron of cruelty free products that are not vegan, and why we demand more stringent measures from beauty brands than from food manufacturers. Later on (18.30) we interview Hilary Jones, the ethics director of Lush cosmetics, a 32 year vegan and a fierce and knowledgable advocate for ending animal testing. Also on this episode...

What is the difference between cruelty-free and vegan?
Crushed beetles, sheep’s wool and pig fat: Momo and Evy discuss the hidden non vegan ingredients often found in cosmetics.
Our favourite beauty bloggers.
The China thing: the legislation that blocks the world’s biggest beauty companies from being cruelty free.
Are our expectations too high? How can we expect makeup brands to be totally Cruelty-Free as we vegan food at non vegan restaurants?
How to veganise your cosmetics closet.
Why is fighting animal testing part of Lush’s mission?
“Companies create paranoia and sell products off the back of that... We don’t want to test on animals, we don’t want to make people feel bad about themselves.”
"That’s not science, that’s just brutality” -Hilary explains how animal testing is not necessary or effective way of verifying the safety of our products.
How do Lush test their products if not on animals?
What happens to animals during testing.
The LD50 test: Hilary explains the standard test that kills 50% of its subjects.
What is The Cosmetics Drive and the Lush Prize.
Will Lush ever go vegan? Hilary shares her feelings on being a vegan at a vegetarian company and her hopes for the future.
What can individuals do to achieve a world free from animal testing?
“Think about the animals in all that you do.”

Links:

Lush's website

Follow Lush on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

The Tasty Vegan non-vegan ingredients list

Our favourite CF/Vegan beauty bloggers: Logical Harmony and Cruelty-Free Kitty

Logical Harmony's list of Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands

Article on Animal Testing in China and hope for ending it

Lush's Live Demonstration on Regent's Street (warning: this video is graphic)

Social Media

Twitter: @ChickPeepsPod

Instagram: @ChickPeepsPod

Facebook: @ChickPeepsPodcast

Momoko Hill: @oh_momoko

Robbie Jarvis: @robbjarvis

Tylor Starr: @tylorstarr

Evanna Lynch: @msevylynch

Next Episode

Ep 19: Wicked Healthy with Derek Sarno

You may be thinking that for a vegan podcast we really don't spend much time discussing how to make delicious, simple, healthy vegan food. We thought that too, so this week we are joined by talented chef, co-founder of Wicked Healthy, Director of Plant-Based Innovation at Tesco, and all-around wonderful person, Derek Sarno. Evy and the newest ChickPeeps recruit, MJ, talk to Derek about Buddhism, why he prefers the term 'free from animals' over veganism, and the future of plant-based food. Also on this episode...

Meet MJ, friend to The ChickPeeps and our very first guest-host!
What is Varganism? MJ explains the latest craze in the plant-based world.
Derek explains why he went vegan or ‘free from animals’.
How losing the love of his life led Derek to Buddhism and a deeper empathy with animals.
‘It hurt so bad that I didn’t want anyone else to feel that pain.’
Derek explains the parallels between going vegan and the five steps of grief.
Vegan food for meat eaters: Derek shares the inspiration behind the Wicked Healthy range.
When you’re not a foodie: Some basic recipes and tips for beginner vegan cooks.
How to train yourself to like gross vegetables: Evy shares a dark vegan secret.
'You can find an excuse not to do anything...whatever it is, cleaning your room, veganism... it’s the reasons to do it that really matter.'
‘Plant-pushers not meat-shamers’: Derek tells us about the versatility of mushrooms as a non-processed plant-protein and how he hopes the farming industry will embrace them.
“I don’t need anything to die for me to live a very happy and successful life.”
We discuss snobbery towards vegans in the restaurant business and how to earn respect from non vegan chefs.
'There’s no way that the way we eat now can sustain itself, there’s some immediate actions that need to be happen and it’s not eating animals.'
Uh-oh, we screwed up! The ChickPeeps receive an update on the fennec fox story from a listener and we are sorry.