In this issue, AWI discusses the outcomes of two major international conferences affecting animal welfare, the 66th meeting of the International Whaling Commission and the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Get the story on another research lab that has been accused of major Animal Welfare Act violations. California passes a historic law to free orcas from captivity in the state, and AWI offers our take on what state and federal election results mean for animals.
In this issue, AWI examines the fate of illegally traded wildlife—how confiscated animals are handled and what should be done to ensure their well-being once they are out of the clutches of wildlife traffickers. Hundreds of cats and dogs are rescued in the nick of time from the Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma. AWI exposes an attempt to gloss over animal abuse at federal agricultural research labs. France ends the breeding of orcas and other cetaceans in captivity.
An AWI court victory induces the BLM to abandon a cruel and reckless surgical sterilization plan for wild horses in Oregon. A tip from AWI leads to prosecution over illegal shark fin sales in Texas. A first-of-its-kind report by AWI reveals the tremendous toll in animal lives each year from barn fires, and what can be done to prevent them. Dogs from shelters get a new lease on life as service dogs. Recent international meetings produce important outcomes for the world’s whales and other animals.
In this issue, we report on our investigation of enforcement of state farm animal welfare laws. We break down the NIH’s unconscionably decision to continue housing former research chimps at NIH research facilities rather than send them to a proper, federally approved sanctuary. We highlight personal steps you can take to protect birds and profile important animal welfare bills before Congress on which you can take action.
AWI is funding studies to promote peaceful coexistence between wolves and humans, while the US Fish and Wildlife Service is stripping away Endangered Species Act protections for gray wolves and abandoning its once-successful recovery program for red wolves. Meanwhile, a bit of positive news for some wolf descendants: Greyhound racing is coming to an end in Florida and other states, and a long-lost canine reunites with his family.
Two horrendous animal dealers have their licenses revoked. AWI takes a hard look, however, at the USDA’s failure to act with resolve and urgency to rescue animals at such facilities, as well as to prevent suffering of horses in the hands of unscrupulous trainers and of poultry outside slaughterhouses—where too often they are abandoned for days in transport trailers without food or water and subjected to extreme temperatures.
Congress Passes the Big Cat Public Safety Act! AWI offers on-the ground accounts of how animal protection efforts fared at two major international conferences: the International Whaling Commission meeting in Slovenia and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Panama. Even as CITES was preparing to meet, a shocking federal indictment was announced over an alleged conspiracy to smuggle endangered monkeys from the wild into the United States for research.
This edition of the Quarterly, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, features stories that explain the ESA’s inner workings and illustrate this landmark law’s continuing importance—including an account of how the ESA supported a successful legal challenge by AWI and allies to induce the USFWS to recommit to red wolf recovery. In this issue, we also address the woeful absence of protections for mice in research, highlight our campaign to promote better conditions for egg-laying hens, raise a glass to retiring staff member Dr. Mary Lou Randour, and more.
AWI reports from the 69th meeting of the International Whaling Commission. The outlook for animal welfare and the environment during a second Trump administration. Helping Mountain West communities become “Bear Smart.” USDA fails to clear confusion on animal welfare label claims. Horse advocates gather in DC and talk some horse sense into Congress.
Wolf Nation: The Life, Death, and Return of Wild American Wolves tackles the very difficult issue of human coexistence with wolves and how polarizing it has become—pitting federal against state governments, rural against urban, unfettered “use” against preservation.
Acting interior Secretary David Bernhardt, in a March 6 speech at the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Denver, stated that the US Fish and Wildlife Service plans to eliminate Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections for
The use of woodchips as bedding for 16 juvenile chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) was evaluated for the effects on behaviour, health and husbandry practices. Woodchip bedding was placed in two outdoor play areas for five consecutive days. Behavioural data were recorded in the morning and afternoon of each day, and compared to pre- and post-test data.
The effects of the presence of woodchips as a floor covering were assessed in two pens housing 28 monkeys. No negative effects were found, while aggression decreased and time foraging on the floor increased. The chips were less expensive, they reduced odour, and the animals appeared more well-adjusted than with no floor covering.
Horses are sensitive and perceptive animals who should be treated with consideration. Transporting horses on roads can be dangerous and requires safety precautions.
Whales have been getting entangled in man-made ropes and nets, probably, since the first fishermen began to use these materials to catch fish thousands of years ago. However, before the advent of synthetic materials large whales likely ripped through this gear; any that was carried away with them may have deteriorated before it could become life-threatening.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to testify before Congressional committees as they begin to determine spending levels for Fiscal Year 2013 (beginning October 2012), AWI asked for continued support for the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Animal Cruelty and Animal Fighting Initiative,
AWI and Farm Sanctuary, working with the Animal Law Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School, have petitioned the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop regulations governing the handling of chickens, turkeys and other birds at slaughter.
At our facility, we have recently started working with a new vendor who is regularly selling us pound dogs as opposed to our old vendor who sold us primarily hounds and purpose-bred dogs. It is a lot more difficult for me to work with pound dogs, such as a golden retriever or a labrador than with the hounds since I know they were indeed companion animals at some point. These animals still exhibit many signs of companion animals, such as knowing how to sit and give paw, wanting to play fetch with a toy, or just seeking human attention and affection.
Training macaques to cooperate during blood collection is a practicable and safe alternative to the traditional procedure implying forced restraint. It takes a cumulative total of about 1 hr to train an adult female or adult male rhesus macaque successfully to present a leg voluntarily and accept venipuncture in the homecage.
Since 2020, a critically endangered population of orcas living in the waters of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal) has been interacting with vessels, primarily sailboats, ramming and damaging the rudders and sometimes disabling navigation.
