The 1985 amendment to the Animal Welfare Act requires research facilities to promote the "psychological well-being" of nonhuman primates. After much debate, the US Department of Agriculture published its final ruling concerning this topic in 1991. The USDA' s new regulations emphasize social housing and other environmental enrichment procedures, such as perches and toys.
Date created: April 11, 2016
Last updated: November 11, 2020
Cages for laboratory macaques are usually designed by technical professions little or no knowledge of, nor experience with the animals. The products are rather sterile structures that take sanitary requirements rather than the species-typical needs of the animal occupant into consideration. The design of the cage, however, may have an impact on the individual animal's general well-being and hence on the validity of research data collected from it.
Date created: May 13, 2016
Last updated: November 11, 2020
The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is increasingly becoming a key species in behavioral and biomedical research. Because of this, research focused on improving the behavioral and physiological welfare of this species is critical to housing this species in laboratories successfully. Agonistic behaviors between groups of common marmosets are well documented in both field and laboratory conditions. Interactions between groups of wild common marmosets often result in contact aggression. Captive marmosets display increased agonistic intergroup behaviors such as anogenital displays and piloerection during periods of higher levels of vocalizations from neighboring groups.
Date created: September 4, 2024
Last updated: September 13, 2024
Public awareness has created favorable conditions for the gradual improvement of conventional housing conditions of laboratory macaques.1-3 What about the human primates who care for those animals? Animal holding facilities are usually designed by architects - with too little input by animal care professionals - to accommodate a maximum number of animals; possible health implications for those responsible for the care of the animals are often overlooked. The present paper deals with a typical example.
Date created: April 18, 2016
Last updated: November 11, 2020
In a surprise move, the US Department of Agriculture published a notice that it was considering changes to its Animal Welfare Act regulations to improve the handling of wild and exotic animals as well as the training of personnel who handle them,
Date created: June 20, 2023
Last updated: April 17, 2024
Dr. Chad Hanson’s In a Land of Awe: Finding Reverence in the Search for Wild Horses offers a sweeping vista of the wild horses that the author has come to know and cherish, particularly through his journeys observing herds near his home in Wyoming and in the Dakotas.
Date created: December 16, 2022
Last updated: April 17, 2024
Earlier this year, Perdue, the country’s third largest chicken producer, introduced a line of "USDA Process Verified" chicken products bearing the claims "humanely raised" and "raised cage free" on the label. Unfortunately, this change in the label did not herald any actual initiative to treat chickens better.
Date created: September 7, 2010
Last updated: January 9, 2020
In recognition of National Justice for Animals Week (February 16-22, 2014), the Animal Welfare Institute is pleased to share with you an interview with Katherine Darke Schmitt, policy advisor in the Office of the Assistant Attorney General , Office of Justice Programs (OJP) , U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ), and facilitator of DoJ’s Animal Cruelty Working Group.
Date created: February 18, 2014
Last updated: October 8, 2020
Although the World Heritage Committee designated Mexico’s “Islands and Protected Areas of the Gulf of California” as a World Heritage property in 2005 in recognition of the area’s outstanding biodiversity, the vaquita and totoaba now face extinction as a result of fishing activities, including poaching. The vaquita is the world’s smallest porpoise and exists only in Mexico’s Gulf of California.
Date created: May 13, 2015
Last updated: February 2, 2022
As director of AWI’s Animal Welfare Approved program, I recently had the opportunity to visit the Arapaho Ranch, in north-central Wyoming. At 580,000 acres, it is the largest USDA certified organic ranch in the U.S. - and one of the most inspiring ranches that I have ever seen.
Date created: February 7, 2011
Last updated: January 10, 2020
Six adult female stumptailed macaques (Macaca aretoides) were trained within a twoweek period to actively co-operate during in-homecage venipuncture rather than in a restraint apparatus away from the homecage. The training was based on consistent firmness, gentleness and patience. Total training time per subject ranged from 15 to 45 minutes with a mean of 33.5 minutes.
Date created: May 19, 2016
Last updated: November 11, 2020
Recent developments regarding imports of endangered long-tailed macaques for experimentation underscore the role that financial incentives play in the primate trade, and shed new light on industry efforts to keep the import pipeline open.
Date created: August 30, 2023
Last updated: September 12, 2023
The fight to extend or deny protections for animals takes place in state capitals as well as on Capitol Hill. The high-profile confrontation this year is in Missouri - again. Last year, Missouri voters approved Proposition B, the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, a ballot initiative addressing the most egregious cruelties of that state’s puppy mill industry.
Date created: May 4, 2011
Last updated: January 8, 2020
Every year, millions of farm animals die as a result of natural disasters. Floods, extreme heat or cold, wildfires, and other weather events present grave risks to animals, especially those in confinement.
Date created: December 21, 2018
Last updated: December 21, 2018
A lot of pigs live in Duplin County, North Carolina - nearly 2.3 million according to the USDA’s 2007 Census of Agriculture, more than any other county in the U.S. (and more than the entire pig population of most states).
Date created: May 4, 2011
Last updated: January 8, 2020
Along with so many in the marine animal protection community, AWI is grieving the loss late last year of three outstanding advocates. Each of these professionals played a role in helping to shape the careers of one or more members of AWI’s marine
Date created: April 4, 2023
Last updated: April 17, 2024
On June 18, our good friend and colleague, Dr. F. Barbara Orlans, passed away. Barbara was a bright, compassionate woman and a steadfast defender of animals.
Date created: September 7, 2010
Last updated: April 24, 2024
On June 28, the animal welfare community lost a stalwart friend when Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia, America’s longest serving senator, died at the age of 92.
Date created: September 7, 2010
Last updated: January 9, 2020
Date created: September 19, 2018
Last updated: June 20, 2023
Dr. François Sarano’s In the Name of Sharks uses powerful language, suspense, and tension to evoke a visceral response from readers and deepen their empathy for sharks. The author laments the media’s role in misrepresenting the animals as nothing more than killing machines, even though so much of their lives is unknown to us. Sarano isn’t just a scientist who reads about sharks from afar; he has swum alongside them. His affection for sharks is obvious in his vivid descriptions that transport the reader into the ocean’s depths.
Date created: June 24, 2024
Last updated: June 28, 2024
AWI was deeply saddened to learn that Dr. Earnest Johnson, a dedicated veterinary inspector with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), passed away earlier this year. Dr. Johnson embraced his obligation to ensure enforcement of both the Animal Welfare Act and the Horse Protection Act, and his job took him to countless horse shows of Tennessee Walkers and other gaited breeds, where he sought to prevent illegal soring of the equines.
Date created: May 21, 2013
Last updated: April 24, 2024
Only two days after finalizing a rule undermining the protection of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has published another final rule further weakening implementation of this vital conservation law.
Date created: December 17, 2020
Last updated: February 2, 2022
This guide is intended to serve as an educational tool for attorneys and advocates working with pet-owning domestic violence survivors in Tennessee.
Date created: February 8, 2023
Last updated: February 7, 2024
This guide is intended to serve as an educational tool for attorneys and advocates working with pet-owning domestic violence survivors in Oregon.
Date created: September 14, 2022
Last updated: February 7, 2024
This guide is intended to serve as an educational tool for attorneys and advocates working with pet-owning domestic violence survivors in Arkansas.
Date created: September 15, 2022
Last updated: February 7, 2024
