Search AWI Online

Our nation’s foundational environmental laws are a little like air—something you don’t really notice until it’s gone, or is so diluted that it’s hard to breathe.

On January 22, 2020, a federal district court in Kansas struck down a majority of the state’s ag-gag law for violating the First Amendment.

Significant progress for wildlife was achieved at the 19^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which met in Panama City, Panama

For more than a decade, AWI has been working to stop the US Navy from using harmful active sonar in areas where it can negatively impact marine animals. Over the summer of 2015, the tide finally turned. For the first time ever, the US Navy has agreed to put important habitat for numerous marine animal populations off-limits to both mid-frequency active sonar training and testing and the use of powerful explosives.

The US Navy has announced its decision to proceed with construction of a 500-square mile sonar testing range off the Jacksonville, FL coast.

Coyotes are amazing opportunists. After humans nearly wiped out one of their only predators (wolves), coyotes spread into previously unoccupied areas of the country, like the Southeast. Many states are responding to growing populations by declaring open seasons at all times of the day and even organizing hunting contests to reward those who can kill the most coyotes.

The North Carolina General Assembly gave final approval to a bill that restricts nuisance lawsuits against factory farms and other agricultural operations.

A new rule proposed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) would allow round-the-clock hunting of coyotes and feral pigs throughout North Carolina. Hunting under cover of darkness with the use of artificial lights, as well as hunting on private land using archery equipment, would be permitted under this proposal.

Move over, Charles Darwin. According to National University of Ireland pioneering biologist Kevin Kavanagh, because an insect’s immune system—specifically its haematocytes—closely resembles one part of the mammalian immune system—or its neutrophils—using moths, caterpillars or Drosophila (fruit flies) instead of mice and rats just seemed like the next step—and a more humane one—in the evolution of drug research and testing.

The fate of dogs used by the military in combat situations (e.g., bomb sniffing) has long been an intense area of concern. Last year, President Obama signed into law a military spending bill mandating that all such dogs must be brought home to the United States, and that handlers with whom the canines have formed bonds be given the opportunity to adopt them first.

In mid-July, the Trump administration finalized its overhaul of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), enacting new regulations that weaken this key environmental law.

In 2003 the nation of Nepal decided to allow captive breeding of rhesus monkeys for research and export, despite monkeys being sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.

Nestlé recently announced a commitment to farm animal welfare in an effort to “remove the worst [practices], promote the best and improve the rest.” Nestlé stated that it will “support and implement actions to promote animal health and welfare.”

A revised version of The National Research Council’s Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide) has been released as a pre-publication draft, the first revision of the Guide since 1996.