Melissa Maura - a life long fight for animals

Melissa Maura grew up in a unique environment that few people get the privilege of experiencing. She grew up in the Bahamas, in the days before it was swamped by tourists. Growing up on a small 20-mile island that is now one of the most desirable holiday destinations in the world is indescribable. However, Melissa describes it with one word: "free." "We as kids literally had the freedom to do anything." The beautiful nature and famous beaches were her childhood playground. She describes it as a "very free and happy upbringing." Now, still living in Nassau, that same 20-mile island is overdeveloped, overpopulated, and unrecognizable. "Wildlife is being squeezed out, you know, we are all kind of being squeezed out," she says.

Throughout her life in the Bahamas, she has had one great love and passion: animals. It started out with an innate love for animals that she grew up with, and even when she was as young as 10, she would go to the local humane society to take home birds that no one knew how to take care of. She started learning and reading about animal rehabilitation and was so hands-on that she continued being that way throughout her entire adult life. She even did an ornithology course at Cornell University in a very unique way: she did it remotely when there was no such thing as "online." How did that work? "I ordered a massive, huge amount of data on paper and had to study. I didn’t bother with the exams because it was just too ridiculous sending things back and forth."

Her innate love for animals was accompanied by a lot of inspiration, one of which was a man named John Wolf, who would travel around the world helping animals in need. "Jaden Goodol, even Mother Teresa, even people like that really inspired me to do what I do." However, most notably, Paul Watson, who created Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd, has been a significant influence. "His heroism cannot be denied."

Melissa has collaborated with many local Bahamian societies, including Bark. Her biggest association, however, was with Sea Shepherd, where she has done things like go to London to speak at the World Society for the Protection of Animals and lead a discussion about Surrey horses, which were in bad condition. "I would really have to rack my brain to count how many organizations I’ve been on the fringe of," which, I think, speaks to the immensity of work she has done.

Her work with Sea Shepherd began because she was absolutely "disgusted" when she found out about a government institution called the International Whaling Commission. The slaughter of whales and dolphins in countries such as Norway and Japan was just something she couldn’t get her head around. "I was just horrified by the destruction," especially since she had experienced how amazingly intelligent whales and dolphins are. "How can we be so fricking stupid?" Her horror and complete exasperation at the mentality and logic behind the hunting of animals just for body parts to be exploited rang out profoundly. "To be as unthinkable, shortsighted, selfish." She describes humanity as being in a "self-imploding mode" when it comes to environmental issues.

When asked if Sea Shepherd's radicality and hands-on approach were what appealed to her, she answered defiantly, "Most definitely, darling." They were willing to put themselves out there and take risks when diplomacy didn’t work. In contrast, she herself describes herself as being more diplomatic. "I don’t want everything in life to drag me down and not be a happy person, because I’m basically a very happy person." She says she balances her work and doesn’t immerse herself in anger and controversy all the time because it would simply take the joy out of her own life.

With Sea Shepherd, she was a 4-year veteran and was sent on 4 campaigns. "I was sent to Japan to protest the whaling twice with a bunch of much younger people who I found incredibly radical and passionate." While they were in Japan, they would wake up at an ungodly hour and go stand at the docks, watching around 15 whaling boats leave the harbor in a gentle protest. The boats would surround a pod, bang the sides of the boats, herd them into a cove, and slaughter them. "It is geared to kill as many as they possibly can." What Melissa noted as particularly odd is when you first drive into the whaling town of Taiji, where she was, you see all these monuments portraying dolphins and whales, even though they later kill them with no remorse. She would walk through warehouses and see shark fins, dolphins, and huge tuna. "Literal raping of the sea." Not only in Japan, but people also use things like shark fins or rhino horns as supposed fertilizer, which for Melissa is just unfathomable. "My God, we humans, we have fallen a long way."

On a more positive note, she went twice to a little island called Utila in the Bay Islands to guard sea shepherds that come there to nest. "It was magical." Every hour at night, two from the group would walk the beach, listening for the sound of turtles digging. "Whilst they do that, they go into a certain trance." They would tag them, measure them, and count the eggs. During these missions, she had to finance her flights and accommodation. Although some of these missions might seem depressing, Melissa made sure to look at the good side of things. "Otherwise, you’d just want to flush yourself down the toilet."

She is no longer directly involved with Sea Shepherd, but she would be in a heartbeat if they asked her to "watch over the sea turtles in Honduras; I’d be delighted." At home in the Bahamas, she has done mostly wildlife rehab and spaying and neutering local dogs and raccoons. "I don’t go there to be miserable, I make a party out of it, but some of it does bring you down, I’m not gonna lie," she reflects.

But how does an environmental activist earn a living? "I am first and foremost an artist," with her paintings being her primary source of income. "The truth is I’d rather be poorer and live my life than be locked up."

Has she put herself in a dangerous situation for her cause? "Sure!" Even in Japan, they were being followed around by the police all the time. Or if she knows there is a dog on a small chain, she will trespass into a stranger's yard with her chain cutters. Luckily, in general, she has seen some progress in animal and nature conservation in the Bahamas; however, it’s not enough. "Our islands are still being exploited." Local animal conservation groups are really in need of money to keep expanding their work.

What qualities does a person need to be involved in animal welfare? "You have to be compassionate, diplomatic, and you have to prepare for your heart to be broken over and over again."

Out of all her work, she is most proud of her rehab and all she has taught herself and every single rescue she has accomplished over the years. She has, without a doubt, dedicated her life to animals and is their guardian angel on the beautiful 20-mile island, the Bahamas.