Disturbing questions regarding USDA

Animals should be at least treated humanely for the amount of information they provide from exprementing upon them for all kinds of reasons. USDA should be the role model for any research carried out on animals.

But a recent article I read  seems to treat not so humanely.

In fact,

"Researchers at the Agriculture Department have euthanized healthy kittens, ignored injured pigs and killed dozens of birds through neglect and starvation, government documents show."

“There are still very horrendous animal deaths and incidents taking place at USDA,” said Mimi Brody, the director of federal affairs at the Humane Society of the United States. “ ... Even if these are extreme cases, why are they happening?”

How can you say we are civilized if we cannot provide a minimum amount of comfort to the animals we slaughter in the name of science.

This chick dared the storm....

Darby, the first storm to hit the Hawaiian Islands last week did bring a huge down pour in Oahu although it affected Hawaii lot more. My son spoted this White Tern chick near his office at Honolulu Hale and took these pictures. The chick looks quite defiant the next morning after the storm.

White Tern also called by other names (check this please!) Angel Tern or Fairy Tern or White Fairy Tern (Gygis Alba) is common to the Hawaiin Islands and feeds on the fish at its shores. It is said, it lays a single egg on the fork in the branches without building a nest. No wonder the chicks can weather a storm! White Tern became the official bird of Honolulu in 2007.

Here is the adult bird in flight. This beautiful picture is from this source.