Stop Killing Animals "In the Name of Science"

While on an expedition in the Solomon Islands,  Dr. Chris Filardi, the Director of Pacific Programs at the American Museum of Natural History, was amazed to find the rare and elusive Guadalcanal Moustached Kingfisher. He and his team took the first-ever pictures of it so that others could enjoy this magnificent bird. And then they promptly killed it.

Dr. Filardi has been talking about his finding to anyone who will listen, but he conveniently he tends to leave out the part about how he killed the poor bird. Paul Sweet, Collection Manager for the Department of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History and one of the researchers on the team, has confirmed that the bird was killed "in the name of science."

The killing of this rare and beautiful animal has caused much controversy in the scientific community. University of Colorado ecology professor Marc Bekoff was so angered by Dr. Filardi's actions that he wrote in an op-ed for the Huffington Post: “Killing ‘in the name of conservation’ or ‘in the name of education’ or ‘in the name of whatever’ simply needs to stop. It is wrong and sets a horrific precedent for future research and for children.”

Please add your voice to those who are speaking out about how killing any living creature "in the name of science" is unacceptable. Sign this petition to demand that the American Museum of Natural History stop supporting or funding the killing of any animals for "scientific" purposes, and that Dr. Filardi be dismissed immediately.