A total of 378 adult and juvenile rhesus macaques of both sexes were transferred from single- to isosexual pair-housing arrangements. The incidence of serious injury resulting from partner incompatibility was 0.8% during the first year after pair formation. It was concluded that pair-housing offers a safe option to address the animals' social needs in compliance with federal rules and professional standards.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” must have been the mantra for legislators in two states that recently made gains for animal and human victims of abuse. South Dakota finally shed its identity as the only state without felony cruelty provisions when Governor Dennis Daugaard signed SB 46.
During a special September meeting on biodiversity convened by the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the presidents of Palau and Honduras called on other nations to join them in saving the world’s shark populations by establishing shark sanctuaries in their waters.
The industrial demand for inexpensive, versatile palm oil has significantly increased within the past five years. The oil - which originates from the fruit of the tropical oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) - is used mainly in food items: as a cooking oil or in processed foods such as cookies, crackers, candy, and pet food.
The industrial demand for palm oil has significantly increased within the past five years due to its versatile product function and cost efficiency. Not only is palm oil used as a cooking oil, but it is also one of the key unlikely ingredients to many of consumers’ every day products.
The Society for Marine Mammalogy’s 20th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals—the world’s largest gathering of marine mammal scientists—was held in Dunedin, New Zealand, the week of December 9, 2013.
In October, Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) Parliament published a blistering report entitled Health and wellbeing of kangaroos and other macropods in New South Wales, taking to task the NSW government for serious issues regarding its m
Lolita, now almost 50 years old, was a member of the Southern Resident distinct population segment (SR DPS) of orcas when she was captured in 1970 off Whidbey Island, Washington. She has been held and displayed at the Miami Seaquarium ever since, in an enclosure long believed by AWI and others to be non-compliant with Animal Welfare Act (AWA) space standards.
An agreement has been reached among all parties involved in federal litigation under the Endangered Species Act concerning the Beech Ridge wind project in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, that will provide for additional protection of the endangered Indiana bat and other wildlife while allowing some elements of the project to move forward and to begin producing renewable power in 2010.
The goal of all enrichment devices is to provide occupation and to increase or promote natural behavior. This particular device has the goal of increasing foraging and manipulatory behavior and adds variety to our existing enrichment program.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service released a final rule that provides important additional Endangered Species Act protections for imperiled African elephants.
At long last, legislation to end equine abuse at horse shows received a vote in Congress. The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act (HR 693) passed the House of Representatives by an overwhelming vote of 333 to 96.
The Wider Caribbean Region has lost a wonderful conservation champion. Paul Hoetjes of Bonaire, Caribbean Netherlands, died in November after a short illness.
On September 18, AWI joined other animal protection organizations in co-hosting a briefing by the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus for staff of members of the US House of Representatives on the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act (HR 1258/S 1559).
New legislation has been introduced to reverse recent rule changes that limit the protections afforded to imperiled species under the Endangered Species Act. On November 19, AWI, in conjunction with other groups, hosted a briefing on Capitol Hill to highlight the urgency of passing the PAW and FIN Conservation Act (HR 4348/S 2491).
In August 2019, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service finalized three regulatory changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that drastically undermine this crucial conservation law.
Environmental enrichment for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) should be designed to promote species-typical behaviors, mental stimulation, and occupation periodically throughout the day (Fritz & Howell1993). This is a challenging task because the dexterous ability , intelligence, and great strength of the chimpanzees enables them to rapidly destroy items or figure things out quickly so that devices may last seconds rather than the envisioned days...or at least hours.
Pennsylvania, long notorious for its weak repercussions for even the worst cases of abuse, took a giant leap forward when Governor Tom Wolf signed Libre’s Law.
In most cases, companion animals are cherished members of the family. However, there are situations in which pets are mistreated—in the home and in the community. Surveys of domestic violence survivors reveal that up to 89% report that their pets were threatened, harmed, or killed by their abuser. Research also indicates that animal abuse and other forms of family violence, such as child abuse, elder abuse, and sibling violence, frequently occur in the same household.
Perdue Farms engages thousands of “contract farmers” each year to raise company-owned birds. Contract farmers are obligated to abide by Perdue’s animal-raising standards and any other specifications established by the company. The standards and specifications are notoriously neither bird- nor farmer-friendly.
