Sy is writing a new weekly column about animals for The Boston Globe. She shares the writing of Tamed/Untamed with her good friend Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, author of The Hidden Life of Dogs. They will alternate every week. On the last week of the month, they’ll try to answer your questions about animals. Contact them: syandlizletters@gmail.com Sy’s first column — Psychological effects of pets are profound – can be read here.
A highlight of our virtual visit was a letter written by one student to the French Government pleading for protection for the tarantulas, who are frequently killed to be encased in Lucite as souvenirs. Tarantulas are important because their venom can yield important drugs. But also, noted the student, if these beautiful spiders are killed, “the rain forest will feel lonely and it will not be exciting.” Here is the letter:
Dear French Government,
Please stop killing tarantulas. You need to protect them from being killed. People should not kill them for souvenirs because they are so important to us.
One reason why you should protect tarantulas is they save our lives because their venom stop us from having heart attacks. This can help lots of people.
Also they make an important part of the rainforest. If they are killed the rain forest will feel lonely and it will not be exciting.
Another reason why you should not kill tarantulas is because people like to study them. If people study them they will continue to make amazing discoveries.
After reading the Tarantula Scientist, this is why you need to make laws to protect the tarantulas from being killed.
Sincerely,
Dayabara, Class 4-314
An international honor for Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World. Temple Grandin has been selected for the IBBY Documentation Centre for Young People with Disabilities. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization based in Switzerland which represents a network of people from all over the world who are dedicated to bringing books and children together.