International Wildlife Trade Conference Secures Essential Protections for Imperiled Species aalberg Wed, 12/17/2025 - 13:33 December 17, 2025 Samarkand, Uzbekistan—The international wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry that impacts hundreds of millions of plants and animals. It is often fueled by unsustainable demand for imperiled species and their body parts for the luxury food market, hunting trophies, souvenirs, and décor, as well as live animals for the exotic pet trade. To help protect wild species threatened by trade, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) attended the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from November 24 to December 5. CITES is an agreement between nations designed to regulate international trade in wild animals and plants to prevent international commerce from threatening species’ survival. It celebrated its 50th anniversary at the conference, which marked impressive gains for imperiled wildlife. More than 150 governments from around the world largely voted to implement, defend, and strengthen international trade protections for millions of animals. The following species—including several AWI campaigned for directly—are among those receiving new or increased protections at CITES CoP20:Chilean Rose TarantulaEach year, millions of arachnids are purchased as pets, two-thirds of which are taken from the wild. The Chilean rose tarantula is one of the most commonly sold tarantula species, particularly in the United States. AWI strongly supported a proposal to list the Chilean rose tarantula and 14 similar-looking species on Appendix II, which restricts commercial trade. We also hosted a well-attended side event with the proponent governments of Bolivia, Argentina, and Panama, which discussed the nature of the tarantula trade, its impacts on wild populations, and the need for greater CITES regulation.While the original tarantula listing proposal was not adopted in committee, the proponents revised it for consideration in the plenary session, with the “lookalike” species removed. With this change, the proposal was adopted by consensus, affording the Chilean rose tarantula increased protection from the pet trade. AWI will continue to work with tarantula experts and range states (those whose territory is within the natural range of distribution of a species) to support more proposals for tarantula protection at future CITES meetings.Dorcas GazelleDorcas gazelles were once the most widely distributed African gazelle. Today, fewer than 10,000 remain, due to overhunting for their horns and skin, habitat loss, and live collection for the pet trade. At CoP20, parties supported a request to help the species, submitted by range states, agreeing by consensus to add the species to Appendix II. Dorcas gazelles will now be protected by international trade regulations governing their use as pets and as trophies.Galapagos Marine and Land IguanasThese marine and land iguanas are found only on the Galapagos Islands. They have received international trade protections under a CITES Appendix II listing since 1975. However, increased concerns about the trafficking of illegally caught wild iguanas, in addition to the impacts of habitat degradation, climate change, pollution, and predation by feral dogs and cats, led CITES member states to adopt, by consensus, a proposal by Ecuador to upgrade the iguanas to Appendix I. This affords them the strongest protection possible under CITES—a ban on international commercial trade.Ethiopian Mountain Adder and Bale Mountains AdderTwo viper species threatened by the pet trade are the Ethiopian mountain adder and the Bale Mountains adder, both found only in Ethiopia. They were proposed for uplisting from Appendix II to Appendix I due to ongoing population declines resulting from deforestation, poaching, and smuggling—primarily driven by demand for them as exotic pets in Europe and the United States. Both vipers were successfully uplisted to Appendix I by consensus.Ruppell’s Vulture and White-Backed VultureSimilarly, two species of African vultures—the Ruppell’s vulture and the white-backed vulture—were uplisted from Appendix II to Appendix I to prohibit international commercial trade in their parts and products. Populations of these vultures have declined dramatically, due to reduced food abundance, deliberate poisoning by poachers (because vulture presence often reveals the site of an illegally hunted animal), and international trade—including use of their body parts in traditional medicines, for spiritual use, and as wild meat. Parties agreed by consensus that the vultures’ declining status warranted full protection from commercial trade.Sharks and RaysIn a significant win for aquatic animals, several species of sharks and rays—some of the world’s most widely trafficked animals—were accorded new protections during the meeting. These animals are targeted for their fins and meat. AWI has worked for years to raise awareness of the brutal shark fin trade. The oceanic whitetip shark, whale shark, and all species of manta ray were uplisted to Appendix I, providing them increased protection, while the school shark and entire genera of both smooth-hound and gulper sharks were added to Appendix II, establishing restrictions on their trade.Palearctic Water Frogs and Anguillid EelsCITES is increasingly addressing the growing demand for wildlife for human consumption, especially as luxury foods on the international market. Frogs’ legs and juvenile (aka “glass”) eels (often labeled “unagi,” a common ingredient in sushi) are consumed across the globe. Alongside other factors, culinary demand for these animals is so high that it threatens their survival in the wild. Unfortunately, despite strong scientific evidence demonstrating this threat, intense lobbying by Japan defeated a proposal by the European Union to list anguillid eels under CITES Appendix II. The palearctic water frogs, however, did receive a favorable vote, and were successfully added to Appendix II.HornbillsHornbills are subtropical and tropical birds easily recognizable by their distinctive bills. However, this is the very reason they are under threat: Their bills are widely traded as ornaments and trophies. Female hornbills inhabit natural tree cavities when incubating their eggs, during which time they rely entirely on the male to deliver food. Because of this, if a male hornbill is captured or killed during egg incubation, the adult female and developing chicks may also die. While many species of hornbills have had longstanding protections under CITES, African hornbills were exempt. Several African countries submitted a proposal to list these birds under Appendix II, which was approved by consensus. An important focus for AWI at CoP20 was the growing international trade in fish maw (swim bladders), which are highly sought after in Asian markets as a luxury food and traditional medicine—but also increasingly used as source of collagen in cosmetics. There were no listing proposals on the agenda to protect species affected by the maw trade at this meeting, but AWI hosted a well-attended side event to discuss the nature of the trade, its catastrophic impact on target fish species, and the devastating consequences for already endangered sharks and rays, marine mammals, and marine turtles that drown in fishing nets set for species targeted for their maw. AWI is leading a coalition of NGOs and experts to develop a global strategy to address this trade, including at future CITES meetings.AWI is excited by the outcomes of CoP20, which demonstrate that CITES remains effective even as it faces significant budget challenges and a demanding workload. The large number of species that received protections by consensus shows the deep commitment of most CITES member states to science-based conservation, and the mission of CITES to prevent overexploitation from international trade. We were also pleased by the progress on a number of technical issues we work on that will improve implementation and enforcement of the treaty, including on issues related to the humane transport of live animals.We look forward to continuing to participate in future CITES meetings and working with our international partners, including colleagues at the Species Survival Network who led advocacy efforts on some of these proposals, to secure important protections for threatened and endangered animals and ensure the effective functioning of this vital treaty. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

AWI Recognizes Eight Wildlife Defenders with Prestigious Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award aalberg Tue, 11/25/2025 - 10:04 photo by AWI December 2, 2025 Samarkand, Uzbekistan—The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), in coordination with the Species Survival Network (SSN), today recognized eight recipients across three continents with the Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award for going beyond the call of duty in their commitment and dedication to combating wildlife crime. The awards were conferred at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.  The Bavin Award is named for Mr. Clark R. Bavin, the late chief of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, who pioneered the use of complex sting operations to catch wildlife criminals. Since 1994, AWI and SSN have bestowed this award upon more than 150 individuals, organizations, and agencies that have engaged in exemplary efforts to enforce wildlife laws to combat wildlife crime.The 2025 award winners come from seven different countries, illustrating a global commitment and responsibility to protect wildlife threatened by illegal trade. Their work utilizes time-honored techniques such as seizures, raids, and large-scale investigations, as well as new approaches such as computerized tomography scanning, to protect various trafficked and poached species—from pangolins to pumas.“Wildlife criminals are continually developing more sophisticated strategies to use and abuse animals around the globe,” said DJ Schubert, senior scientist of wildlife biology for AWI. “From intercepting poachers to identifying smugglers and forged documents, the innovative tactics utilized by this year’s Bavin Award recipients demonstrate an increasingly diversified approach to combatting wildlife crime.”The winners of the 2025 Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award are:Anti-Smuggling Bureau of China Customs for continuing to strengthen its capacity to fight wildlife crime, including through implementation of advanced scanning technology at key customs checkpoints, which has contributed to a substantial reduction in wildlife trafficking in China.Director-General Athapol Charoenshunsa, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Thailand, for visionary leadership, innovative enforcement strategies, success in dismantling environmental crime networks and suppressing illegal logging, dedication to resolving human-wildlife conflicts, and trailblazing work in endangered species repatriation.Craig Fellowes, MBE, wildlife crime and training officer, Badger Trust and National Wildlife Crime Unit, United Kingdom, for a long and distinguished career that has included developing and conducting CITES enforcement training courses presented to thousands of UK and international officers and coordinating the seizure of significant quantities of trafficked wildlife products.  Lieutenant Colonel Dilafruz Karimova, environmental and tourism security specialist, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Tajikistan, for leading operations to thwart illegal logging and mining and poaching of endangered species and for deploying advanced intelligence gathering, trainings, task forces, and community outreach to disrupt transnational wildlife crime networks, while breaking barriers for women in her field.  Institute of Zoology Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for combating wildlife crime and addressing trade-induced threats to endangered species in Uzbekistan, including by establishing the country’s first CITES specimen collection and training center and creating a sniffer dog training program to detect trafficked wildlife products.Major General Watcharin Phoosit, commander of the Royal Thai Police's Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division, for his central role in dismantling numerous transnational wildlife trafficking networks and collaborating with national and international partners to train officers and carry out significant seizures and sustained investigations targeting major wildlife crime syndicates.Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA), Spain, for its multifaceted approach to dismantling wildlife criminal networks using rigorous law enforcement, international collaboration, trainings, and community engagement, which has led to the rescue of thousands of illegally sourced live animals and the downfall of major smuggling operations.Dr. Emiliano Villegas, operational coordinator, Environmental Control Brigade, Argentina, for exceptional efforts investigating the largest wildlife crime case in Argentina’s history, which led to multiple indictments, the seizure of thousands of hunting trophies, and the rescue of animals destined for illegal hunts on private reserves.“The individuals, organizations, and agencies recognized today are truly on the frontlines of the battle to end illegal wildlife trade,” said Susan Millward, AWI executive director and chief executive officer. “As wildlife continue to face threats from greedy criminals and syndicates, the work of these wildlife heroes—as well as those they inspire—is critical for imperiled species and for all global citizens.”More information about the Bavin awards can be found here. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

Trump Administration’s Proposed Regulations Would Gut the Endangered Species Act—Again aalberg Thu, 11/20/2025 - 16:17 photo by BlueBarronPhoto November 20, 2025 Washington, DC—Yesterday, the Trump administration unveiled proposed sweeping changes to Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations that would undermine the law’s original intent and leave threatened and endangered wildlife at a heightened risk of extinction. The language is very similar to a set of rules that were finalized during the first Trump administration—and then partially rolled back during the Biden administration.If finalized, the regulatory changes could introduce biased economic data into the process of deciding whether to list a species as threatened or endangered, eliminate key protections for threatened species, reduce vital input from federal wildlife agencies, and shrink the amount of protected habitat set aside to support species’ recovery. These destructive anti-wildlife proposals would eliminate many essential conservation tools that have long aided in the recovery of species hovering perilously close to extinction.“The Trump administration is dragging out the same tired playbook it used half a decade ago, demonstrating that it is still willing to place industry profits over the preservation and protection of our nation’s treasured wildlife, the environment, and our planet more broadly,” said Susan Millward, executive director and CEO of the Animal Welfare Institute. “We stand ready to fight back against these rules, just as we did during the first Trump term. Americans from coast to coast agree: Safeguarding threatened and endangered species and the habitats they rely on is non-negotiable.”This action follows a slew of attacks on the ESA by both the Trump administration and Congress, including a proposed rule from earlier this year that would remove habitat destruction from how “harm” to species is defined under the ESA. This change would make protecting and recovering imperiled wildlife far more difficult, furthering the administration’s apparent goal of neutralizing the world’s most effective conservation law. Since it was enacted, 99 percent of ESA-protected species have been spared from extinction. Furthermore, according to a 2025 poll, the ESA enjoys the support of more than four out of five Americans across political and geographic boundaries.Today, most imperiled species occupy small fractions of their historical range. The need for species protections has not decreased over the decades since the ESA was enacted. Rather, increased threats from development and a changing climate necessitate strong and full implementation and enforcement of the ESA—now more than ever. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

IUCN Reaffirms Long-Tailed Macaques’ Endangered Status Despite Industry Pressure aalberg Fri, 10/10/2025 - 15:11 October 10, 2025 Washington, DC—The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) today released an update to its Red List of Threatened Species. The update revealed that the long-tailed macaque (LTM) remains listed as “endangered,” signifying that the species “faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.” The National Association for Biomedical Research (NABR)—an industry-funded pro-animal-research lobbying group—had petitioned IUCN to downlist the species.LTMs face unprecedented threats to their survival. As noted in the newly published species assessment, they have experienced “an inferred 50–70% decline over the past three generations (30 years) due to habitat loss and high levels of exploitation,” including accelerating demand from the biomedical and pharmaceutical research industries. IUCN anticipates that the species will continue to decline at a similar rate in the future.“We applaud IUCN for its refusal to back down to industry pressure. Science—not special interests—should guide species protection,” said Dr. Joanna Makowska, director of the Animal Welfare Institute’s Animals in Laboratories Program.IUCN originally uplisted LTMs from “vulnerable” to “endangered” in March 2022, citing trade, including for biomedical research, as a major threat to the survival of the species. More than a year later, following a series of events that negatively impacted the lucrative primate trade, NABR petitioned IUCN to reverse its 2022 designation and downlist the species. Since then, NABR and its sister organization, the Foundation for Biomedical Research, have persistently campaigned for downlisting on the grounds that LTMs “play a critical role in developing new drugs, devices and vaccines.”In June 2024, IUCN announced that the species would continue to be classified as endangered while the organization awaited a revised scientific assessment. IUCN has been reviewing the revised assessment for the past several months.More than three years after the original endangered designation, the final verdict is in: Scientific evidence supports the conclusion that the global population of LTMs is severely declining, has experienced localized extinctions, and will continue to decline at a precipitous rate unless threats to the species are mitigated. IUCN will therefore maintain its 2022 endangered designation for LTMs.“The National Association for Biomedical Research has repeatedly campaigned to downlist the species, citing the importance of long-tailed macaques for biomedical research,” Makowska continued. “But that argument is beside the point: If the global population is in freefall, the species should be provided with the appropriate protections. Full stop.”IUCN’s decision may be critical in ensuring LTMs’ long-term survival. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the world’s most comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi, and plant species. IUCN listings are grounded in science, and though they don’t carry legislative or regulatory authority on their own, they can influence the level of protections a species receives under international agreements and national laws, including the Conventional on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)—an agreement among 185 nations—and the US Endangered Species Act. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

New Analysis: Animal Welfare Act Enforcement Deteriorates Following SCOTUS Ruling aalberg Mon, 09/29/2025 - 11:52 photo by Jo-Anne McArthur/NEAVS/We Animals October 8, 2025 Washington, DC—The US Department of Agriculture, long known for its lackluster enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), appears in recent years to have drifted even further away from enforcement efforts. Since mid-2024 in particular, according to an Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) report released today, the department has largely abandoned the use of fines to address AWA violations, electing instead to issue official warnings that lack meaningful repercussions. The timing of this shift underscores the potential implications of a recent Supreme Court decision pertaining to fines levied by a federal agency.The report, titled Trends in Animal Welfare Act Enforcement, is an original analysis of actions taken by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) to encourage compliance with the AWA, based on documentation obtained from the agency’s online Animal Welfare and Horse Protection Actions database. AWI analyzed the database’s enforcement-related documents dating from January 2020 (when the database’s AWA documentation begins) to August 2025. The analysis revealed that following the Supreme Court’s June 2024 decision in Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] v. Jarkesy—in which the court held that the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial applied to assessment of fines by the SEC for securities fraud—there was a precipitous drop in the issuance of fines by USDA-APHIS. In the 14 months following this decision, which could potentially be construed to apply to USDA-APHIS’s assessment of fines under the AWA, USDA-APHIS levied a meager five fines, including just one since the second Trump administration took office in January. This stands in stark contrast to the 63 fines issued in the 14 months preceding the Jarkesy decision. In fact, it is even fewer than the number of fines imposed over a similar time frame during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many facilities were temporarily closed and routine inspections were severely curtailed.Official warnings are not considered enforcement actions, and since 2021, there have been more official warnings issued for AWA violations than all enforcement actions (administrative complaints, confiscations, license suspensions, settlements, and decisions and orders) combined. Furthermore, official warnings’ proportion of total actions seems to be growing: In the year before the Jarkesy decision, official warnings constituted 66% of all actions taken by USDA-APHIS in response to what it identified as AWA violations; in the year following the decision, official warnings constituted 91% of actions taken. Official warnings have been issued even when violations are severe. For example, Alpha Genesis Incorporated (AGI)—which sells and experiments on nonhuman primates—received an official warning earlier this year for the preventable death of 22 monkeys in November 2024. This is the third official warning AGI has received since 2014 for violations that include monkey deaths and escapes.For animals in laboratories, this situation is especially concerning. The issuance of fines appears to be one of USDA-APHIS’s primary enforcement mechanisms against research facilities, as research facilities are exempt from certain AWA enforcement actions, such as license revocations and criminal penalties.If USDA-APHIS cannot or will not issue fines against violators, the AWA’s protections will be severely weakened for the approximately 775,000 warm-blooded animals used in research, testing, and teaching in the United States each year—leaving these animals nearly as vulnerable as the tens of millions of rats, mice, birds, and cold-blooded animals who are not even covered under the AWA.“The USDA’s apparent hesitancy to take meaningful enforcement actions in the wake of the Jarkesy decision is troubling,” said Dr. Joanna Makowska, director of AWI’s Animals in Laboratories Program. “Our government must have an effective mechanism for enforcing its primary federal law regulating the use of animals in research—anything less is unacceptable.”Chronic understaffing at USDA-APHIS—a problem that is only getting worse as the number of facilities the agency is charged with inspecting continues to increase while the number of inspectors decreases—further jeopardizes the welfare of all animals under the AWA’s purview. The agency has lost more than one-third of its inspectors in the last several years, including a 15% decrease in 2025 alone. Meanwhile, between 2021 and 2024, the number of licensees and registrants increased by nearly 50%. Several legislative efforts to strengthen AWA enforcement are under consideration by Congress, including the Better CARE for Animals Act and Goldie’s Act. The Animal Welfare Enforcement Improvement Act, a longstanding AWI priority bill that would close AWA loopholes that allow chronic violators to escape accountability, could be reintroduced soon as well.“Our analysis indicates that the USDA’s historically weak enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act is getting weaker. We are failing millions of animals who deserve, at minimum, robust enforcement of existing law,” said Makowska. “While the long-term repercussions of the Jarkesy decision remain to be seen, the data highlight the department’s struggle to fulfill its most basic responsibilities to these animals. This is a problem that won’t be fixed overnight—but strengthening the AWA itself is a great starting point.” Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

AWI Awards Safe Havens for Pets Grant to Support Unhoused People and Pets in DC aalberg Mon, 10/06/2025 - 11:13 photo by kerkezz October 6, 2025 Washington, DC—This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) is pleased to announce a $15,000 grant to the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) to support pet owners experiencing domestic violence and homelessness in Washington, DC.The grant, funded through AWI’s Safe Havens for Pets initiative, will support HRA’s Safe Haven Program, which assists domestic violence survivors by providing temporary placement for their pets so that they can seek safety themselves. The grant will also help the organization expand its services to assist unhoused individuals with pets, filling a critical resource gap for those experiencing homelessness with a companion animal in the nation’s capital.AWI, a DC-based national nonprofit, launched the Safe Havens for Pets initiative in 2011 as an online database to help domestic violence survivors in the United States find sheltering resources for their companion animals. Earlier this year, it expanded the database to include sheltering services for unhoused individuals with pets; the Safe Havens for Pets directory now contains more than 1,200 listings across all 50 states. AWI, however, could not identify a single resource in DC for unhoused individuals seeking shelter with their companion animals.“It is our hope that this grant will enable the Humane Rescue Alliance to further its important work protecting animals and helping local families in crisis,” said Claire Coughlin, director of AWI’s Companion Animals Program. “No one should have to make the impossible choice of leaving a pet behind when seeking shelter and safety. The Animal Welfare Institute is proud to support HRA’s efforts to fill this critical resource gap and assist people and their companion animals right here in DC.”Sadly, animal cruelty, domestic violence, and homelessness are often interconnected. In fact, domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women, and the very real threat of violence to companion animals only exacerbates the crisis. Nearly half of National Domestic Violence Hotline callers report being worried that their abuser would harm or kill their pets, while 97 percent state that keeping their pets with them is an important factor in deciding whether to seek shelter. When appropriate resources are absent, survivors with companion animals are that much more likely to end up unhoused, pets in tow.For individuals experiencing homelessness in DC with pets, help is urgently needed. A directive to “fight[...] vagrancy” and clear encampments in the city—included in an executive order issued by the White House in July—could severely impact resource availability. According to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, there are more than 5,000 individuals experiencing homelessness in DC. Among these are adults with families, nearly half of whom say they have experienced domestic or intimate partner violence at some point in their lives. More than three-quarters of this latter group, in fact, indicate that it directly led to their current episode of homelessness. Local safe haven resources are essential for supporting survivors and their family members—companion animals included.“For people in crisis, a pet is often a lifeline—a source of unconditional love, nonjudgmental support, and, most importantly, family. But there are still no pet-friendly domestic violence or homelessness shelters in DC, forcing people to choose between safety and the animals they love,” said Kelly Whittier, director of public affairs at HRA. “With AWI’s support, we can break down the practical, prohibitive, and costly barriers to both temporary and permanent shelter by covering veterinary care, vaccinations, emergency boarding, and even short-term pet-friendly hotel stays so people and pets can stay together when they need each other most. As winter approaches, this work becomes even more urgent. Until the District creates pet-friendly shelter options, this grant helps ensure that no one is left behind.”Learn more about housing insecurity with pets and AWI’s work to support people and pets in crisis. To locate a safe haven near you, visit safehavensforpets.org. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

AWI Celebrates the Life of Dr. Jane Goodall, a Revolutionary Animal Advocate aalberg Wed, 10/01/2025 - 19:01 photo by Animal Welfare Institute October 1, 2025 Washington, DC—Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned scientist and passionate advocate for animals, has died at the age of 91.“Dr. Jane Goodall was a force of nature,” said Susan Millward, executive director and chief executive officer of the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). “For decades, she tirelessly sought to improve the public’s understanding of animal behavior—work that shaped generations of animal advocates, scientists, students, policymakers, and more.”As a longtime friend of Christine Stevens, AWI’s founder, Dr. Goodall was a confidante and colleague. In 1987, AWI awarded Dr. Goodall the Schweitzer Medal for her lifetime of work as a defender of chimpanzees. When Christine died in 2002, Dr. Goodall attended her service in Washington, DC, and said, “Christine was a giant voice for animal welfare. Passionate, yet always reasoned, she took up one cause after another and she never gave up. Millions of animals are better off because of Christine’s quiet and very effective advocacy.” Most certainly, one could apply Dr. Goodall’s gracious words that day to her own indefatigable spirit and unparallel legacy.This past May, Dr. Goodall reached out to ask for AWI’s support in the launch of an International Declaration on Abolishing Trophy Hunting—for presentation at the 2025 UN General Assembly—to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Cecil the lion’s death at the hands of an American trophy hunter. AWI agreed without hesitation, joining a core group of cofounding signatories.AWI sends our condolences to Dr. Goodall’s family and friends, including the staff of the Jane Goodall Institute. We remain deeply inspired by her passion, her rigor, and her steadfast belief in the importance of ensuring animal welfare—which, together, built a legacy that will endure for many years to come. Media Contact Information Kim Meneo, Animal Welfare Institutekim@awionline.org, (202) 446-2116 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.

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.

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.

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.