Jenna Deedy
Bio
Zoo and Aquarium Professional, Educator, Cosplayer, Writer and B.A. in Psychology whose got a lot to share when it comes to animals, zoos, aquariums, conservation, and more.
Instagram: @jennacostadeedy
Stories (132/0)
Ingrid Visser: Wait, There’s More and A Letter to Ingrid’s Fans
On October 3, 2019, I posted an article that criticized the ethical practices of Dr. Ingrid Visser, a New Zealand-born whale researcher who is known for her work on wild orca populations in the Southern Hemisphere. The article primarily focused on certain PR moves, and ethical practices that have raised eyebrows within the marine mammal community, and why she at least, needed to be held accountable. Once it got published online, I received a lot of feedback on it, which most of it was pretty good. However, some people, many of whom, were all supporters of Visser and her work, were not so happy about the article’s criticism of Visser, and decided to go onto my Instagram to defend her. So, in response to remarks like “she’s talented,” “at least she works with wild orcas,” along with some brand new information I have since uncovered about her questionable ethics, I took it upon myself to write this follow up along with a little letter to Visser’s supporters.
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
The Questionable Ethics of Ingrid Visser
Ingrid Visser is a New Zealand born whale researcher who is known for her work on wild killer whale populations, in both her native New Zealand, and in other parts of the southern hemisphere. She has an anti-zoo agenda as well—It is of one that involves her traveling to zoological facilities that house orcas, by taking photos of them in order to pass them off as “evidence” of “abuse.”
By Jenna Deedy4 years ago in Petlife
Animal Behaviorist Slams Paid “Celebrity” PETA Spokesperson For False Anti-Zoo Claims
When it comes to how celebrities influence how the general public thinks, feels, and live out their lives, there is no arguing that they do manage to show it all off through social media platforms that focus on anything that has nothing to do with the glitz and glamor like it once was in the 50s and 60s. No, instead, it is a lot more focus on political, social, and even environmental-related causes or whatever may make them look more like international humanitarian workers and less like glamorous stars of film and television.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Sorry Activists, but Seaworld’s Killer Whale Habitats Are Not as “Small” as They Look
They say that the internet is full of crazy conspiracies that are just beyond indescribable, and sometimes, full of whimsical nonsense that does nothing more than to draw the emotional side of its audience that would be enough to be passed as “fact” without doing any research to validate the “claim”. Well, it does appear that animal rights extremists who target zoos and aquariums are now attempting to do the same thing on social media.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
- Top Story - August 2019
The Amazon Is on Fire but There Is HopeTop Story - August 2019
2019 has not been kind to the Amazon Rainforest with more than 40,000 fires across the region this year alone. Scientists from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research have determined that this year alone has seen the fastest rate of burning since the organization began a record-keeping survey on the health of the rainforest in 2013. In fact, the toxic smoke from the fires is so intense that many parts of Brazil now lay under darkness, and in some places, hours before the sun could even start setting.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Futurism
Toddler Company Targets Parents with Anti-Zoo Propaganda
Munchkin is a company that is known for making products made for everyday use for toddlers that was first established in 1991 after it’s founder Steven B. Dunn was surprised by the lack of “creative” designs in products that were made for infants and toddlers. While the company started out with making eco-friendly sippy cups, the company has since gone on to make organic snacks and formulas along with travel accessories. However, in recent years, as of 2015, the company has been under fire by both zoo and aquarium professionals alike over its ties with a radical anti-zoo group.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
New Female Calf in J-Pod Brings Hope to the Southern Resident Orca Population
In May, researchers based at the Center for Whale Research sighted a newborn calf off the coast of Tofino, Washington. At the time, the calf, who was later determined to be a healthy female, was seen swimming with two females. One was named Tsuchi, who is also known as “J31”, and another was named Eclipse, who was also known as “J41”. At first, the researchers were not really sure which of these two female whales was the calf’s mother, but after a second sighting of the calf that occurred two months later, the researchers were able to determine that the calf was in fact, the daughter of Tsuchi. In fact, her May 24th birth helped bring the population’s numbers up to around 76 orcas.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Of Whales and Man: A Reflection
It was just another hot, humid, and sunny day at SeaWorld San Antonio in August of 2010 when my counselor led our camp group to Shamu Stadium to watch an afternoon presentation of the show, Believe. Although the trainers were no longer doing any water works with the orcas at that point, they were still interacting with them during the show, and doing the regular behaviors they would often do during the show, regardless if there were waterworks, or not. After the show ended, and everyone left to see the other animals at the park, our group stayed behind at the stadium to watch baby orca Sakari interact with her mother Takara, and paternal half-sister, and “foster” aunt Unna, and talk to the trainers about their experience working with the orcas. This is where John Hargrove arrived on the scene.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Belgian Political Party Targets Zoos and Aquariums
From the outside, DierAnimal may look like any environmental-based political party that works to find methods that are aimed at improving the environment and help troubled animals. After all, any cause that is aimed at helping animals, and the planet are noble causes that we can all agree to on so many levels, However, what some supporters and zoo and aquarium professionals may now know is that DierAnimal has its very own hidden agenda that they should all need to look out for. What is that agenda you may ask? They target zoos and aquariums with the aim at “phasing” them out.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Orcas Galore: An Interview with Hazel McBride, Author of 'I Still Believe'
As a child growing up in a Scottish village, Hazel McBride dreamed of one day being able to work with killer whales. During her journey, Hazel studied psychology at Glasgow University, took part in two internships in Florida, and in the Bahamas, did some volunteering at a Scottish Zoo’s sea lion facility, and for a marine wildlife conservation survey group, and worked in both the Dominican Republic, and at Loro Parque in Spain. Anyway, against all odds, Hazel managed to fulfill her childhood dream of being able to work with killer whales as a trainer at Marineland France. However, the maelstrom of controversy that surrounds the marine zoological community has nearly drowned to a point where she decided to write about her experiences of working with marine mammals for the truth is not as black and white as the world tried to make it appear.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife
Fredi: A Tribute to a Rescued Pilot Whale
On Saturday, April 6th, 2019, Fredi, a short-finned pilot whale who has lived at SeaWorld Orlando since she was first rescued as a calf, died after she living under the facility’s care for eight years with a pod of pilot whales, who were also rescued as calves. In addition, she also spent those years receiving a combination of world-class care, and a second chance that she would have never received, if it had not been for the knowledge and dedication of SeaWorld’s very own rescue team, and their understanding of how to better respond to, and care for, sick, injured, and orphaned animals.
By Jenna Deedy5 years ago in Petlife