We say goodbye — Manuela Hoelterhoff

This month, we say goodbye to the founder and driving force behind The Interspecies Cafe, Manuela Hoelterhoff. For a fine overview of Manuela’s illustrious life, see the New York Times obit here or the Wall Street Journal obituary here.

This blog, among Manuela's many brainchildren, is and was an expression of what was perhaps her greatest enthusiasm: animals. Fascinated by all kinds of animals, she had a particular interest in the relationships between humans and our fellow creatures. “Humans have a special responsibility to safeguard wildlife, even when it inconveniences us,” we wrote after Norwegian authorities euthanized Freya, a mischievous walrus who frequented Oslo marinas.

Manuela loved to track zoo news, especially birth announcements. We covered the arrival of rhinos, aardvarks, meerkats, tapirs, pigmy hippos, and of course pandas, among many others.

Manuela’s interests went well beyond the cute and cuddly. She encouraged coverage of scientific enquiry: of spiders, ants, snailfish, deep-sea squid, and “superworms” that eat plastic. We also kept an eye out for discoveries of long-extinct species, as they too were part of the family of living creatures on this planet.

Along the way, we developed relationships with our favorite animal-welfare organizations. Manuela had a special fondness for stories about humans who went the distance for the sake of animals in need, including pilots who fly into disaster zones to rescue pets, the brave operators of animal shelters in Kabul or Gaza, and the people who rush in after a flood or hurricane to save pets and other animals. Here’s a roundup of some of our favored groups.

Of course, Manuela adopted many animals in her own life. She lived with and among them: cats and beagles in the city, and goats and pigs in the country, as well as the birds flocking to her many feeders, and a friendly squirrel she called Einstein who made himself at home on her shaded deck. It is hard to picture Manuela without an animal of some sort by her side. Those companions, along with animals of all kinds around the world, have lost a powerful friend and advocate.

Manuela’s appreciation and fondness for all creatures great and small is convincing evidence for Schopenhauer’s observation that “compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character.”

Manuela is survived by Atwood, Savannah, Kishi ... and a grateful chorus of chirping, meowing, bellowing, roaring, spitting, and whispering admirers.