Press Releases

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has awarded journalist Tom Knudson of the Sacramento Bee with the Schweitzer Medal for his outstanding investigative journalism and commitment to both thorough research and candor in writing and publishing a series of articles examining the United States Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services program.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) today announced a proposed rule to classify both wild and captive chimpanzees as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Currently, only wild chimpanzees are listed as endangered, while captive chimpanzees are listed as threatened. This allows for chimps to be commercially exploited, used in laboratories, sold and traded as pets, and used in entertainment.

Washington, DC—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has submitted a petition to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) requesting that the agency write regulations designed to decrease the needless suffering of animals during slaughter.

Portland, Maine—Members of the public and representatives of animal protection and conservation organizations are rallying Friday in Harbor View Memorial Park in Portland, Maine to protest Iceland’s expanding commercial whaling program, and its links to fish and other Icelandic products imported into the U.S. through Portland, Maine.

Today the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), and the Iruka & Kujira [Dolphin & Whale] Action Network (IKAN), expressed dismay at the sale of Icelandic fin whale meat dog treats in Japan.