Wild Horse Coalition Files New Lawsuit to Stop BLM’s Unlawful Eradication of Iconic Wyoming Herds aalberg Wed, 09/10/2025 - 17:13 photo by Elizabeth Boehm/Danita Delimont September 10, 2025 Cheyenne, Wyo.—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC), along with renowned photographers and conservation advocates, today filed another lawsuit in federal court to stop the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from carrying out its plan to permanently remove three historic wild horse herds in Wyoming's Checkerboard region: the Salt Wells Creek herd, the Great Divide Basin herd, and the Rock Springs portion of the Adobe Town herd. Ultimately, AWI and AWHC seek to prevent the permanent eradication of more than 3,000 federally protected wild horses from Wyoming’s public lands.The lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the District of Wyoming, is necessitated by the BLM’s announcement that it will begin roundups to eliminate these herds on October 13, in defiance of a federal appellate court ruling that found the land use plan amendments authorizing the BLM’s eradication plan to be unlawful and arbitrary.In planning documents, the BLM repeatedly acknowledged that areas under consideration for its eradication plan contained adequate forage, water, space, and other resources to sustain wild horse herds and maintain a thriving natural ecological balance—a central mandate of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. In July 2025, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of AWI, AWHC, and other plaintiffs, holding that the BLM ignored its statutory duty to base decisions on whether these lands could sustain a thriving natural ecological balance. The court characterized the agency’s actions as “arbitrary and capricious.”“The Tenth Circuit made very clear that the Bureau of Land Management cannot use its land management planning process to skirt its obligations under the law—namely to protect wild horses on public lands designated as their habitat,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program director for AWI. “For the agency to now try to move forward with a roundup plan to permanently remove thousands of these federally protected animals—even when the underlying management decision was found to be unlawful—is neither legal nor rational.”“These wild horses are living symbols of our Western heritage, protected by Congress in 1971,” said Suzanne Roy, executive director of AWHC. “The BLM’s attempt to wipe them from the wild isn’t just illegal, it’s a direct insult to the rule of law and the American people who cherish these animals.”This marks the eighth legal action AWHC has taken over the last 14 years challenging the BLM’s unlawful actions in Wyoming. Since 2019, AWI has joined AWHC in advocating protection of Wyoming’s wild horses. In 2021, both groups jointly delivered over 70,000 signatures to the Department of the Interior, urging the department to stop the BLM’s plans to remove thousands of wild horses from the Checkerboard.A history of litigation for the Checkerboard horses can be found here. AWI, AWHC, and their co-litigants are represented by the public interest law firm Eubanks & Associates, PLLC. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128Amelia Perrin, American Wild Horse Conservationamelia@americanwildhorse.org, (919) 619-4913 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit wild horse conservation organization, with more than 700,000 supporters and followers nationwide. AWHC is dedicated to preserving the American wild horse and burros in viable, free-roaming herds for generations to come, as part of our national heritage. In addition to advocating for the protection and preservation of America’s wild herds, AWHC implements the largest wild horse fertility control program in the world through a partnership with the State of Nevada for wild horses that live in the Virginia Range near Reno.

Titus Reintroduces Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act, Citing New AWI Report That Reveals Feeble Enforcement of Welfare Violations aalberg Wed, 09/10/2025 - 14:45 photo by We Animals September 10, 2025 Washington, DC—Today, US Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) reintroduced the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act to improve conditions for livestock transported across the United States. The bill would require federal officials to develop a process to enforce the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, which prohibits the transport of certain animals for longer than 28 hours without offloading them for food, water, and rest. Importantly, this legislation also would prohibit interstate transport of livestock considered unfit for travel.The bill’s reintroduction with bipartisan support comes on the same day that the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) released an updated report, Farmed Animals in Transport: The Twenty-Eight Hour Law, based on an analysis of 17 years of federal records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The report, which concludes that the law is rarely enforced, documents a pattern of widespread noncompliance, delayed investigations, and minimal consequences.“The worst abuses in farmed animal transport occur when animals are hauled extremely long distances or when they are ill, disabled, or otherwise in such poor condition that they can’t withstand the journey,” said Adrienne Craig, senior policy associate and staff attorney for the AWI’s Farmed Animal Program. “The millions of animals carried on our roads every year should be entitled to protection under our nation’s oldest animal welfare law—the Twenty-Eight Hour Law—but that’s not possible without a clear mechanism for enforcement and cooperation among agencies. We applaud Congresswoman Titus for introducing the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act to prohibit interstate transport of livestock considered unfit for travel (in accordance with internationally recognized fitness standards), and to develop a process for enforcement of violations.”Specifically, AWI’s report found that: From 2006 to 2023, the US Department of Agriculture made only 20 inquiries into possible violations of the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, four of which resulted in official warnings. Only one case was referred to the Department of Justice; federal records indicate no further action was taken.FOIA records suggest that the USDA has been unable to substantiate violations because livestock haulers are not required to keep detailed records of duration, mileage, or stops, and standard industry forms that producers send with the animals do not provide accurate or complete information regarding the journeys.At least three federal departments are associated with the Twenty-Eight Hour Law—the USDA, the DOJ, and the Department of Transportation—yet records indicate confusion over which of these is responsible for monitoring compliance and penalizing violators.In multiple cases involving Canadian transport companies, USDA officials concluded they lacked any authority to act, despite no exemption under the Twenty-Eight Hour Law for foreign entities operating within the United States.Millions of animals are transported interstate each year, yet virtually none of those shipments are monitored for compliance with the Twenty-Eight Hour Law. In a review of over 3,500 certificates of veterinary inspection for cattle leaving Florida in 2023, for instance, AWI identified 173 shipments involving over 30,000 total animals that likely violated the Twenty-Eight Hour Law. These results are alarming given that they represent a single year in Florida, which is not a major animal agriculture state. Transport for slaughter, breeding, and feeding is extremely stressful for livestock. In addition to the vibrations, noise, fumes, and unfamiliar environment, transported animals often experience prolonged food and water deprivation, intense crowding, exposure to extreme heat and cold, and physical strain and injuries from rough handling and having to balance in a moving truck. These stressors also lower an animal’s resistance to infection; consequently, transport stress also contributes to the spread of disease (including zoonotic diseases that can jump to humans) and to meat contamination.Under current US live animal export regulations, animals intended for export to countries other than Canada or Mexico must be evaluated to ensure they are sound, healthy, and fit to travel. These regulations were adopted in 2016, after AWI petitioned the USDA to stop allowing exports of animals who were too young, weak, or sick to travel. Unfortunately, no such requirements exist for farmed animals transported long distances across the United States.The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would amend the federal Animal Health Protection Act to mirror fitness criteria governing US live animal exports, and those of the World Organisation for Animal Health—the leading international authority on the health and welfare of animals.Inadequate enforcement of the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, coupled with the continued interstate transport of animals unfit to travel, is contributing to needless animal suffering and endangering the health and safety of millions of animals—and us. Passage of the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would help ensure that animals who are fit to travel are not deprived of basic necessities along the way and that ill or infirm animals are not subjected to grueling journeys that worsen their condition and exacerbate their risk of contracting dangerous diseases.“For far too long, federal regulations requiring humane treatment of transported farm animals have not been enforced,” Titus said. “The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would stop this lax regulation that has resulted in many animals being injured or succumbing to disease during transport.” Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

Titus Reintroduces Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act as New AWI Report Reveals Feeble Enforcement of Welfare Violations aalberg Wed, 09/10/2025 - 14:45 photo by We Animals September 10, 2025 Washington, DC—Today, US Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) reintroduced the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act to improve conditions for livestock transported across the United States. The bill would require federal officials to develop a process to enforce the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, which prohibits the transport of certain animals for longer than 28 hours without offloading them for food, water, and rest. Importantly, this legislation also would prohibit interstate transport of livestock considered unfit for travel.The bill’s reintroduction with bipartisan support comes on the same day that the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) released an updated report, Farmed Animals in Transport: The Twenty-Eight Hour Law, based on an analysis of 17 years of federal records obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The report, which concludes that the law is rarely enforced, documents a pattern of widespread noncompliance, delayed investigations, and minimal consequences.“The worst abuses in farmed animal transport occur when animals are hauled extremely long distances or when they are ill, disabled, or otherwise in such poor condition that they can’t withstand the journey,” said Adrienne Craig, senior policy associate and staff attorney for the AWI’s Farmed Animal Program. “The millions of animals carried on our roads every year should be entitled to protection under our nation’s oldest animal welfare law—the Twenty-Eight Hour Law—but that’s not possible without a clear mechanism for enforcement and cooperation among agencies. We applaud Congresswoman Titus for introducing the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act to prohibit interstate transport of livestock considered unfit for travel (in accordance with internationally recognized fitness standards), and to develop a process for enforcement of violations.”Specifically, AWI’s report found that: From 2006 to 2023, the US Department of Agriculture made only 20 inquiries into possible violations of the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, four of which resulted in official warnings. Only one case was referred to the Department of Justice; federal records indicate no further action was taken.FOIA records suggest that the USDA has been unable to substantiate violations because livestock haulers are not required to keep detailed records of duration, mileage, or stops, and standard industry forms that producers send with the animals do not provide accurate or complete information regarding the journeys.At least three federal departments are associated with the Twenty-Eight Hour Law—the USDA, the DOJ, and the Department of Transportation—yet records indicate confusion over which of these is responsible for monitoring compliance and penalizing violators.In multiple cases involving Canadian transport companies, USDA officials concluded they lacked any authority to act, despite no exemption under the Twenty-Eight Hour Law for foreign entities operating within the United States.Millions of animals are transported interstate each year, yet virtually none of those shipments are monitored for compliance with the Twenty-Eight Hour Law. In a review of over 3,500 certificates of veterinary inspection for cattle leaving Florida in 2023, for instance, AWI identified 173 shipments involving over 30,000 total animals that likely violated the Twenty-Eight Hour Law. These results are alarming given that they represent a single year in Florida, which is not a major animal agriculture state. Transport for slaughter, breeding, and feeding is extremely stressful for livestock. In addition to the vibrations, noise, fumes, and unfamiliar environment, transported animals often experience prolonged food and water deprivation, intense crowding, exposure to extreme heat and cold, and physical strain and injuries from rough handling and having to balance in a moving truck. These stressors also lower an animal’s resistance to infection; consequently, transport stress also contributes to the spread of disease (including zoonotic diseases that can jump to humans) and to meat contamination.Under current US live animal export regulations, animals intended for export to countries other than Canada or Mexico must be evaluated to ensure they are sound, healthy, and fit to travel. These regulations were adopted in 2016, after AWI petitioned the USDA to stop allowing exports of animals who were too young, weak, or sick to travel. Unfortunately, no such requirements exist for farmed animals transported long distances across the United States.The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would amend the federal Animal Health Protection Act to mirror fitness criteria governing US live animal exports, and those of the World Organisation for Animal Health—the leading international authority on the health and welfare of animals.Inadequate enforcement of the Twenty-Eight Hour Law, coupled with the continued interstate transport of animals unfit to travel, is contributing to needless animal suffering and endangering the health and safety of millions of animals—and us. Passage of the Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would help ensure that animals who are fit to travel are not deprived of basic necessities along the way and that ill or infirm animals are not subjected to grueling journeys that worsen their condition and exacerbate their risk of contracting dangerous diseases.“For far too long, federal regulations requiring humane treatment of transported farm animals have not been enforced,” Titus said. “The Humane Transport of Farmed Animals Act would stop this lax regulation that has resulted in many animals being injured or succumbing to disease during transport.” Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

The holiday season is a time for connection, gratitude, and giving back. For employers, it’s also an ideal moment to strengthen workplace culture, deepen employee engagement, and showcase your company’s values. One of the most effective ways to do this is by providing employees with an easy, inspiring way to give back—through workplace giving. Why… The post Make the Holidays More Meaningful: Engage Your Team with Employee Giving Technology appeared first on America's Charities.

Sign up by October 3, 2025 to launch your employee donation site in time for the holidays! Give employees a simple, meaningful way to make an impact this holiday season with an America’s Charities Engage donation site — ready to go with everything you need: Contact us to get started at https://impact.charities.org/holidaygiving The post Launch a Turnkey Holiday Giving Campaign appeared first on America's Charities.

Elizabeth’s love affair with snow leopards began decades ago with a single encounter. “When I saw my first snow leopard in captivity, that was it! I fell in love,” she recalls. That moment sparked a connection that would span over 40 years of supporting Snow Leopard Trust—and ultimately led to her decision to include us in her will. A Journey Back in Time For Elizabeth, snow leopards represent more than just a magnificent species—they’re a bridge to cherished memories. “I think the fact that I had traveled to Asia with my Dad when I was young made a deep impression on me. My connection to the snow leopard brings me back to that special place and time.” That personal connection deepened when Elizabeth had the opportunity to travel to Mongolia with Snow Leopard Trust. Witnessing our work firsthand confirmed what she had long suspected: this was conservation done right. “I observed how the team works so well with the country program staff and the local community members and how respectful and humble and collaborative you all are.” Beyond Just Saving Animals Speaking about her decision to include Snow Leopard Trust in her will, Elizabeth’s reasoning is both practical and passionate. “I don’t have close family members to give my money to and I don’t think people do enough for animals,” she explains. “I don’t have a lot of money compared to many, but what I do have, I want to give to bats and snow leopards. They can’t help themselves.” But Elizabeth’s commitment goes deeper than simply wanting to help animals. “I want to do what I can for wildlife and conservation—and support an organization that is doing something beyond just protecting the animals. Snow Leopard Trust is doing work in a way I feel is important.” The Right Size for Impact What gives Elizabeth confidence in her decision is our unique position in the conservation world. “I will rest easier knowing the Trust will manage my gift well—you are small enough to be able to get everyone on the same page and big enough to make it happen. Your approach is pure with integrity and selflessness, which is critical when you are trying to save a species.” For someone who spends her professional life preserving delicate treasures from the past, Elizabeth understands the importance of ensuring that precious things survive for the future. Her legacy gift to Snow Leopard Trust represents her belief that these magnificent cats—and the communities who share their landscape—deserve that same preservation. Elizabeth’s gift will help ensure snow leopards continue to roam the mountains of Asia long after she’s gone. It’s a legacy that connects her past travels, her present passions and her hopes for the future—all centered around one of nature’s most extraordinary cats. If you’d like to learn more about leaving a conservation legacy for snow leopards, click hereOr email: jennifer@snowleopard.org. Photo credits: Sagar Gosavi The post The Heart of Conservation: Why One Woman Chose Snow Leopards as Her Legacy appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

This groundbreaking study by our Pakistan team, led by Program Director Dr. Muhammad Ali represents more than a decade of collaborative effort involving students from Quaid-i-Azam University, Snow Leopard Foundation staff, three provincial wildlife departments and the Federal Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.  Why the Numbers Matter The snow leopard is a flagship species of the greater Himalayan region and a symbol of the health of these fragile mountain ecosystems. Pakistan plays a unique role in the survival of the species as the country’s north is where four of Asia’s great mountain ranges meet: the Hindu Kush, Pamirs, Karakoram and Himalayas. These landscapes form some of the most remote and challenging habitats on Earth. Until now, the available figures for the species in Pakistan, ranging between 200 to 420, were based largely on guesswork. Their elusive nature, low density and preference for steep, high-altitude terrain made systematic monitoring extremely challenging.  A Decade-Long Effort This new study whose planning and execution required more than a decade of work, from 2010 to 2023, used two state-of-the-art methods: camera trapping and non-invasive genetic analysis. Between 2010 and 2019, 828 motion-sensitive cameras were deployed across northern Pakistan, covering about 39% of the snow leopard’s range. These cameras, placed in remote valleys and along wildlife trails, recorded over 4,700 images of snow leopards across 65 locations. In total, scientists identified 53 unique individuals, but more than half of them were seen only once. Advanced statistical modeling (spatial capture–recapture, or SCR) converted these photographs into a population estimate: 155 snow leopards, with a mean density of just 0.16 animals per 100 km². The highest densities were found near glaciers and within protected areas. A Second Independent Assessment From 2017 to 2023, the team turned to genetics. Field teams trekked along high-altitude transects, collecting over a thousand suspected snow leopard droppings. DNA testing confirmed 235 as belonging to snow leopards, and a specially developed SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) genetic panel allowed researchers to identify 56 individual animals.The genetic data suggested a population of 167 individuals, with a 95% confidence range of 128 to 220.  Results That Agree The fact that both methods — entirely independent and based on different types of data — produced similar population estimates adds confidence to the results and sets a new standard for wildlife population monitoring in Pakistan. What’s at Stake The Karakoram–Pamir region emerged as the stronghold of Pakistan’s snow leopard population, followed by the Hindu Kush and Himalayan ranges. But even in these strongholds, densities are low, and the cats face growing threats. Snow leopards are iconic apex predators. They also hold cultural significance for the mountain communities that share their range. Losing them would not only harm biodiversity but would signal deeper ecological damage in the greater Himalayan landscape. Their survival is under increasing pressure from climate change, which is altering snow and glacier patterns, habitat fragmentation and human development. As livestock herding expands and natural prey declines, snow leopards are more likely to attack domestic animals, which can lead to retaliation. A Call for Action “This is a milestone for snow leopard conservation in Pakistan,” says Dr. Nawaz. “We finally have a baseline to measure future changes, assess the success of conservation measures and take timely action.” The study underscores the need for targeted protection, including strengthening key habitats, expanding community-centric conservation and building cross-border cooperation across Asia’s high mountains. Dr. Shezra Mansab Kharal, Pakistan’s Minister of State, Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, says “ Protecting the snow leopard means protecting the mountains themselves — and the people, wildlife and water resources that depend on them.” Stay informed with the latest population estimate updates by signing up for our monthly E-News. Photo credits: Snow Leopard Foundation-Pakistan Acknowledgments: Funding came from the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative, the Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN), Snow Leopard Trust (SLT), the Research Council of Norway and Panthera. The research also benefited from the expertise of leading population ecologists through partnerships with the University of St Andrews, University of Massachusetts, Stanford University and the Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP). The post Pakistan’s First Nationwide Snow Leopard Count Reveals Eye-Opening Results appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

Qamar Gul, now the Center Coordinator for Snow Leopard Enterprises (SLE) in Kuju Valley, first approached the Snow Leopard Foundation (SLF) in 2012 with a vision: to create a platform for local women to participate in conservation through skill-based income opportunities. Inspired by the positive change she had observed since SLE began in her area in 2005, Qamar believed that empowering women would not only support households economically but also encourage environmental stewardship. Despite facing financial hardship and cultural restrictions, Qamar completed her matriculation at a boys’ school and pursued higher education as a private candidate, funding her studies by sewing clothes at home. Living in a joint family with aging parents, three brothers, their children and a dependent sister, she carried a heavy responsibility, but saw it as a challenge she was ready to lead through. Qamar’s initiative led to the formation of a group of 30 local women who signed a conservation agreement with SLF, producing handmade embroidered napkins in exchange for fair wages. This income, around Rs. 100 per napkin became a source of pride and independence for many women. The group now produces the highest number of napkins annually among SLE participants. Qamar also receives a small supervisory wage for monitoring production. With tears in her eyes, she shared, “From the income of SLE’s napkin production, I was able to support my parents and contribute to my sister’s wedding. Because of SLF, I became the right hand of my father in a time of great need.” Her journey didn’t stop there. Determined to build her skills further, Qamar enrolled in Government Technical College in Chitral to pursue advanced education in embroidery and handicrafts. She is now the master trainer for SLF, strengthening the skill center she helped build and ensuring long-term opportunities for more women in her community. “I want women in my village to have a platform where they can learn, contribute and earn. SLF gave us that chance, and I want to help expand it further.” Qamar’s story is a powerful example of how a single determined individual, when supported by the right platform, can drive social and environmental impact, one stitch at a time. When women earn through conservation, they come to see the snow leopard not as a threat, but as a vital part of the ecosystem they help protect. Snow Leopard Enterprises is an award-winning, conservation-focused handicrafts brand that helps create sustainable economic opportunities for women and families living in snow leopard habitat. This women-led initiative promotes the production and sale of handmade products to augment livelihoods. Participating communities are also actively involved in conservation actions to protect snow leopards. You can support Qamar and thousands of women across the snow leopard range with a purchase from our conservation shop.  The post Stitch by Stitch: How a Young Woman is Reshaping Conservation in Pakistan appeared first on Snow Leopard Trust.

Ejiao Act Reintroduced as Consumer Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Protecting Donkeys from Dangerous Gelatin Trade aalberg Tue, 09/23/2025 - 15:02 photo by Laura Nyhuis September 23, 2025 Washington, DC—Today, US Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) reintroduced the bipartisan Ejiao Act to ban the sale and trade of donkey-hide gelatin products in the United States; a recent survey shows that 71% of Americans support the bill.The July online survey of more than 2,000 US adults was commissioned by the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and conducted by The Harris Poll. In addition to indicating strong support for the Ejiao Act, the survey found that an overwhelming majority of Americans (83%) agree that the production of ejiao raises animal welfare concerns, while 80% agree that the steep decline in global donkey populations due to increasing demand for ejiao is unacceptable.Ejiao (pronounced “eh-gee-yow”) is a gelatin made from boiling the hides of donkeys. It is used primarily in cosmetics and traditional Chinese medicines. Despite little scientific evidence of its purported health benefits, demand for ejiao is increasing dramatically in China and other countries. The United States is the third-largest importer of products containing ejiao, after Hong Kong and Japan, with approximately $12 million in annual imports each year. Nearly 6 million donkeys are slaughtered annually to produce ejiao—a rate that could halve the world’s donkey population in the next few years.This cruel global trade causes tremendous animal suffering and severely impacts communities that rely on donkeys for survival. Donkeys fetch water from miles away, take kids to school, assist in construction and farming, transport goods and produce to market, and even carry the elderly to the hospital. To meet the demand for ejiao, some donkeys are stolen from their owners and transported long distances in overcrowded trailers without food, water, or adequate rest. Infections or broken limbs are left untreated, and those who die in transport may be skinned on the spot—with their remains discarded by the side of the road. Those who survive the journey are often bludgeoned to death on arrival.“Americans increasingly recognize that the ejiao trade is senseless and poses grave risks to donkeys around the world,” said Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., equine program director and senior policy advisor for AWI’s Farmed Animal Program. “The production of donkey-hide gelatin entails immense suffering without conferring the promised health benefits. Passing the Ejiao Act would establish the United States as a global leader in shutting down ejiao sales.”Originally introduced in 2021, the Ejiao Act would prohibit the transport, sale, and purchase of ejiao products, as well as donkeys and donkey hides for the production of ejiao. Penalties under this legislation mirror those under the Lacey Act—widely regarded as one the strongest federal laws in the United States to protect a wide range of species from illegal trade and exploitation.“The trade and production of ejiao is an inhumane and dangerous business that is leading to the mass slaughter of donkeys and causing widespread harm to impoverished communities around the world,” Beyer said. “More and more people in poorer countries are seeing animals upon which they depend stolen and killed to meet demand from the ejiao trade. Our bill would ensure the United States does not engage in the ejiao trade in any capacity and instead supports safer, more cost effective, and humane alternatives.”Other key findings from The Harris Poll survey:More than 7 in 10 Americans (71%) say they support the Ejiao Act, including 41% who say they strongly support this bill.Seventy-one percent of Americans would not consider purchasing food and beauty products, or traditional health remedies made from donkey skins; only 1% have used ejiao products.Sixty-six percent believe it is not acceptable to produce gelatin using donkey skins.More than half of Americans (53%) feel concerned about the growing demand for ejiao.Eighty-two percent agree that restrictions on the ejiao trade are necessary to protect rural communities that depend on donkeys for daily life.Despite pressure from advocates, online retailers such as Amazon and Etsy continue to sell ejiao products in the United States. Consumers looking to avoid purchasing anything containing ejiao should read product information and ingredient lists carefully. Related terms include “donkey hide,” “donkey glue,” “donkey-hide gelatin,” “donkey skin plastic,” “donkey oil,” and “colla corii asini” (Latin for “donkey neck hide”), or iterations using “ass” in lieu of “donkey.”Survey Method:This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Animal Welfare Institute from July 22–24, 2025, among 2,084 adults ages 18+. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact tessa@awionline.org. Media Contact Information Marjorie Fishman, Animal Welfare Institutemargie@awionline.org, (202) 446-2128 The Animal Welfare Institute (awionline.org) is a nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1951 and dedicated to alleviating animal suffering caused by people. We seek to improve the welfare of animals everywhere: in agriculture, in commerce, in our homes and communities, in research, and in the wild. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and LinkedIn for updates and other important animal protection news.

Project Lifecycle: Satellite Monitoring to Track Threats and Sustainability