Serendipity tells the story of ecologist James A. Estes’ work researching the unexpected collapse of sea otter populations in the Aleutians—specifically, how these declines played into a larger collapse of other coastal-living marine mammals in the same region.
For the time being, big trucks will not barrel through Serengeti National Park, a World Heritage Site and location of one of the world’s most important animal migration routes.
Possible social distress was evaluated in 20 adult rhesus macaques housed in compatible isosexual pairs (5 female pairs, 5 male pairs) for the purpose of social environmental enrichment. Serum cortisol concentrations of paired animals were compared with serum cortisol concentrations of individually housed adult rhesus macaques of both sexes (5 females, 5 males). In both sexes, cortisol concentrations of paired animals (mean of 10 females = 19.5 ± 2.9 µg/dl; mean of 10 males = 17.5 ± 4.6 µg/dl) showed no significant difference (p always > 0. 1) with those of single animals (mean of 5 females = 20.5 ± 2.1 µg/dl; mean of 5 males = 15.9 ± 2.6 µg/dl).
As the USDA considers a Petition for Rulemaking to establish criteria to promote the psychological well-being of primates, a discussion concerning regulations based on “performance standards” as opposed to “engineering standards” is timely.
In the summer of 2014, AWI and allies won an injunction banning all coyote hunting in the federally established recovery area for red wolves in eastern North Carolina. The injunction stems from a lawsuit against the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), alleging that the NCWRC—in permitting the coyote hunting—was causing red wolves to be harmed and killed, in violation of the Endangered Species Act.
The US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina approved a settlement agreement today between the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Defenders of Wildlife (Defenders), the Red Wolf Coalition (RWC) and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) concerning litigation over coyote hunting in the five-county area of eastern North Carolina inhabited by the world’s only wild population of endangered red wolves. This agreement settles a lawsuit brought by AWI, Defenders, and RWC, which alleged that, by authorizing coyote hunting in the five-county recovery area during the day and night, NCWRC caused red wolves to be killed or otherwise harmed in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Today, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and numerous other parties reached a settlement with Feld Entertainment, Inc. (Feld) ending over a decade of litigation. The settlement resolves a request by Feld for attorneys’ fees and costs stemming from an action brought by AWI and others over the alleged abuse of Asian elephants in Feld’s circus and resolves a related action brought by Feld.
Seven Worlds, One Planet is a BBC docu-series that wonderfully brings the natural world of seven continents to viewers with beautiful cinematography and narration by the incomparable Sir David Attenborough. Each episode is devoted to one continent, and the series starts by explaining how the massive land mass of Pangea was ripped apart millions of years ago by incredible forces to eventually create the diverse continents we have today.
For over 70 years, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has been advocating better care, handling and housing for animals in research. AWI furthers this mission by providing those in research laboratories with a variety of complimentary reference books; a subscription to the AWI Quarterly; membership in the Laboratory Animal Refinement and Enrichment Forum (an online discussion group for laboratory personnel); and the opportunity to apply for grants to study and develop ways to improve the housing and handling of animals in research or to implement better practices.
Through engagement with key policymakers at the state, federal, and international levels, AWI seeks an end to cruel methods of housing, handling, transporting, and slaughtering farmed animals. We regularly provide public comments, testimony, petitions for rulemaking, and similar input in furtherance of this mission. Examples of our work in this area can be found below.
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) works to secure protections for marine animals by engaging with key policymakers at the state, federal and international levels. AWI regularly provides public comments, testimony and similar input to such bodies in furtherance of our mission to reduce animal suffering.
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) works to secure protections for wildlife by engaging with key policymakers at the state, federal and international levels. AWI regularly provides public comments, testimony and similar input to such bodies in furtherance of our mission to reduce animal suffering.
Two bills recently signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott mean good news for animals. HB 1579 prohibits buying and selling shark fins in the state, and makes Texas the 10th state to institute such a ban, following California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, and Washington.
The Shark Conservation Act (P.L. 111-348) was introduced in January 2009 by Representative Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU) in the House of Representatives and Senator John Kerry (D-MA) in the Senate in April 2009. The long-awaited bill was approved by both chambers by unanimous consent on the last days of the 111th Congress in December 2010. President Obama signed the bill into law on January 5, 2011.
Following the swift and unanimous passage by the House of Representatives in March of this year, the Senate’s companion bill, S. 850, the Shark Conservation Act of 2009, moved out of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee today by voice vote. The bill now heads to the floor where it awaits consideration by the full Senate.
Despite overwhelming support in the U.S. Senate for a bill to close loopholes in a law banning the finning of sharks, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) took it upon himself to block this and several other responsible animal protection bills at the last minute in an effort to make a point about government spending.
Humans are killing sharks at a much faster rate than sharks can repopulate. Sharks mature slowly, have slow reproductive rates, and produce few offspring, which makes them extremely vulnerable to extinction. Over one quarter of all known shark species are considered threatened or endangered. As apex predators in many ecosystems, the disappearance of sharks is causing dangerous imbalances in marine communities worldwide. Without sharks, the health and productivity of our oceans—and dependent livelihoods and economies—are at risk.
As Shark Week kicks off July 28, restaurants across the nation are contributing to the rapid decline in shark species by serving up soup made from shark fins, despite bans in 12 states and counting.
Hawaii has become the first U.S. state to officially prohibit the possession, sale or distribution of shark fins. On May 28, Governor Linda Lingle signed the shark-finning ban into law after the bill passed the state House and Senate with broad support.
Three recent studies highlight the enormous impact that shark fishing and the demand for fins continue to have on global shark populations, as well as the difficulties inherent in efforts to stem illegal trade in fins and protect vulnerable specie
