SUMMER 2021 / VOLUME 70 / NUMBER 2 Animal Welfare Institute Jill Carey animals atslaughter operations. thereby identifyinginstances ofinhumanetreatment of thousands ofUSDA records readily available to thepublic, off the coast ofIsrael, andoursuccessful effort tomake assistance we provided inresponse to themassive oilspill senseless wildlife killingcontests intheUnited States, the including theprogress we are makingto endbrutal and In thisissueofourmagazine you’ll read aboutourwork, protection andconservation. the nationandaround theglobe remain incriticalneedof AWI’s advocacy hascontinued inearnest asanimalsacross changed inso manyways by thepandemic. Nonetheless, It hasbeennearly ayear andahalfsince ourlives were of AWI:Friends Dear Members andOther A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Alan E.Kessock, CPA, Alan E.Kessock, CPA William S. Stokes, DVM , PhD Frank Cipriano, PhD ,Mary PhD Christine Stevens Cristina Eisenberg, PhD Caroline A. Griffin,Esq., Cynthia Wilson, Cathy Liss, Chris Miller, DVM Cathy Liss Caroline A.Griffin,Esq. Cynthia Wilson, Chair SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE OFFICERS DIRECTORS FOUNDER President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Juan Carlos Cardenas, DVM, Senior Policy Advisor Senior Aline S. deAluja,DVM, Alexandra Alberg Agnes Van Volkenburgh, DVM, Angela King, Ambassador Tabarak Husain, Bangladesh Public Relations Manager Director, Government Affairs Executive Director/General Counsel Marine AnimalConsultant Sue Fisher Viktor Reinhardt, DVM, PhD Kate Dylewsky Nancy Blaney Nadia Adawi, Esq. Robert Schmidt,PhD Rich Reading, PhD David Fraser, PhD Marjorie Fishman STAFF AND CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

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Mexico Chile Poland Terrestrial Wildlife Program Joanna Makowska, PhD Johanna Hamburger, Esq. Joanna Grossman, PhD advocates; onpage 16, we offer some actions you can take. succeed by working withyou, inpartnership ourgrassroots making progress to stop wildlife killing contests, we canonly USDA’s organic standards (see page 10). Andwhile we are a rule thatwillmandate animalwelfare requirements within contact Agriculture Secretary Vilsackandurge himto finalize these measures. Inaddition,farm animalscanbenefitif you to your membersofCongress to request for theirsupport other species, andyou canmake adifference by reaching out to help primates, sharks, companion animals, andahost of and 5describe much-neededlegislation pendinginCongress will assistusby responding to ourrequests for action.Pages 4 you maybeablesupport to provide. However, Ialso hopeyou for your past donations, andwe are grateful for anycontinued But we can’t helpanimalswithoutyou! Thankyou so much With warm regards andheartfelt gratitude, continue to helpthemviawhatever means you can. We appreciate your concern for animalsandhopeyou will Senior Advisor, AnimalCruelty Senior Advisor Allison Ludtke Allie Granger Program Director, MarineAnimalProgram Laboratory AnimalAdvisor Policy Advisor Researcher Director, Farm AnimalProgram Digital Advocacy Manager Director andSeniorStaff Attorney, Equine Program Manager and Farm AnimalPolicy Associate Marine AnimalConsultant Membership Coordinator Susan Millward Sydney Hearst Kate O’Connell Eric Kleiman Dena Jones Mary Lou Randour,Mary PhD Carly O’Beirne

Terrestrial Wildlife Zack Strong CFC# 10474 Tax ID#13-5655952 ISSN 1930-5109 (online) ISSN 1071-1384 (print) awionline.org [email protected] (202) 337-2332 Washington, DC20003 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE Animal Welfare Institute information, contact: For subscription inquiries orother Staff Attorney, Farm Animal Senior Staff Attorney, Executive Assistant Program Marine MammalScientist Writer/Editor Wildlife Biologist Dave Tilford Regina Terlau-Benford Erin Sutherland,Esq. D.J. Schubert Naomi Rose, PhD — CathyLiss

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AWI QUARTERLY SUMMER 

AWI NEWS WILDLIFE 2 A Message from the President 12 BLM Drops Surgical Sterilization Plan for Utah Wild Horses 6 AWI Welcomes New Scientifi c Committee Members 12 Wildlife Services Kills Less (but a Lot) in 2020 12 Traps and Poisons Prohibited on New Mexico Public Lands ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES 13 USFWS Recommends Continued 11 Playpen Time Benefi cial to Mice Protections for Grizzly Bears in Laboratories 13 Red Wolves Released into Wild in North Carolina FARM ANIMALS 13 IUCN O ers Grim Assessment of 8 Court Pulls Break on USDA’s Speedup African Elephants of Pig Slaughter Lines 14 Aiming to End Wildlife Killing Contests ABOUT THE COVER 8 Egg Association Promotes 17 “Dog-Proof” Traps Don’t Shield Animals A pair of Atlantic spotted dolphins Emergency Planning from Su ering hone their synchronized swimming 8 Feds Urged Not to Upend FDA Oversight 18 An Island of Misfi t Tortoises: Providing of GE Farm Animals skills in the Bahamas. AWI actively Sanctuary for Waif Gopher Tortoises While participates in the workings of the 9 Suez Canal Blockage Highlights Recovering Wild Populations Plight of Farm Animals at Sea SPAW Protocol—a UN agreement to 10 New Push to Include Animal Welfare protect wildlife and habitat in the GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Standards to Organic Program Caribbean. This spring, AWI sta 4 Ringing Up No Sale on Shark Fins 24 USDA to Make Slaughter Records members attended the ninth meeting Available to Public 4 Improving Animal Welfare Enforcement of the SPAW Protocol Scientifi c 4 Ending Abuse of Show Horses and Technical Advisory Committee. MARINE LIFE 5 Prohibiting Primates as Pets Unfortunately, the meeting—held 19 AWI Provides Support for Israel Tar Cleanup 5 Protecting Pets from Shady Dealers virtually and hampered by technical 19 Ship Strike Fells Mother and Calf Fin Whales 5 Get Active for Animals! di iculties that severely delayed 20 “Virtual” Standstill at Caribbean progress on key initiatives—produced Conservation Meeting REVIEWS underwhelming results. Nonetheless, 21 Dubious Ocean Noise Study Seeks to 22 Saving America’s Amazon a few positive outcomes emerged. To Corral Wild Whales 23 Animals’ Best Friends learn more, see page 20. Photograph by 23 A Shape in the Dark Chase Dekker/Minden Pictures.

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FINS REMOVED FROM SHARKS, ANTONI HALIM at-risk sharkspecies. weakened thebillby exempting several Scott (R-FL) thatwould have severely amendments offered by Senator Rick margin, committee membersdefeated and CompetitionAct). Bythesame Act (now known asthe USInnovation HI) andCapito, to theEndless Frontier offered by Senators BrianSchatz(D- to includethatbillasanamendment, Transportation Committee voted 22–6 May 12,theCommerce, Science, and and Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV). On is led Booker by Senators Cory (D-NJ) The Senate version ofthebill(S1106) was nottaken upby theSenate. TX), passed theHouse lastCongress but Sablan (I-MP)andMichaelMcCaul(R- Representatives Gregorio KililiCamacho legislation,This bipartisan led by (twice thenumberfrom lastCongress). signing onasoriginalcosponsors Daywith104past Earth members in theHouse ofRepresentatives this the sale ofsharkfins, was reintroduced (HR 2811), abillthatwould prohibit The SharkFinSales EliminationAct ON SHARK FINS RINGING UP NO SALE

scheduled inspectionsreveal violations. inspections inbetween these remain licensed—even ifunannounced to pass thescheduled inspectionand licensees to clean upjustlong enough allows habitually out-of-compliance to three chances to pass. Thissystem inspection, andthey willbegiven up after passing apre-announced USDA new license only three every years facilities—are required to obtain a animal rides, andmarinemammal zoos, pettingfarms/zoos, animalacts, mills, traveling circuses, roadside and exhibitors—including puppy last year, animaldealers, breeders, new regulatory scheme instituted stamped license renewals. Undera In thepast, theUSDA routinely rubber- escape accountability. of theAnimalWelfare Act (AWA) to practices thatallow chronic violators ofAgricultureUS Department licensing (D-IL),Raja Krishnamoorthi would end introduced May17by Representative Improvement Act (AWEIA; HR3277), The AnimalWelfare Enforcement WELFARE ENFORCEMENT IMPROVING ANIMAL AWI QUARTERLY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 4 SUMMER 2021 improve care theirveterinary standards animal dealers andexhibitors to violations. Thebillwould also require has committed multiple animalwelfare whenadealer orexhibitor a hearing) permanently revoke alicense (following licenses. Further, theUSDA could related to animals, would bedenied or local, state, orotherfederal laws have repeatedly violated theAWA minimum care standards orones that that are noncompliant withtheAWA’s unannounced licenses exhibitors would have to renew their Under theAWEIA, dealers and renewal determinations. inspections willbeignored inlicense Results from suchunannounced long-overdue rule to protect horses. with USDA staff to urge adoptionofthis by theSenate. AWI continues to meet the lastCongress butwas nottaken up the House ofRepresentatives during Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, which passed many ofthegoals ofthePrevent All Trump administration. Itwould mirror was subsequently withdrawn by the Vilsack’s priortenure attheUSDA, but nearly finalized in2017 during Secretary certain competitions. Therule was exaggerated high-stepping gait for horse’s hooves andlegs to create an a the deliberate inflictionof pain on practice of“soring,” whichinvolves would significantly curbthepernicious Horse Protection Act (HPA) rule that Secretary Tom Vilsackto finalizea 48 senators recently urged Agriculture A coalition of114representatives and environmental laws. what isprovided for undersome federal lawsuits to enforce theAWA, similarto and would empower citizens to file SHOW HORSES ENDING ABUSE OF annually inspection.Businesses after passing an

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

PROHIBITING PROTECTING PETS FROM GET ACTIVE FOR PRIMATES AS PETS SHADY DEALERS ANIMALS! The cruel and dangerous trade in The Pet Safety and Protection Act A big thank you to all our members primates as pets brings misery to (HR 3187), introduced May 13 by and constituents who have been thousands of animals in the United Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) sending messages to Congress, the States. To combat this problem, and Chris Smith (R-NJ), would prevent administration, and state officials Representatives Earl Blumenauer companion dogs and cats from being throughout the pandemic! As difficult (D-OR), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), acquired from random sources and as the last year has been, you have and Senator Richard Blumenthal sold for laboratory experiments by taken time to speak up for animals— (D-CT) have introduced the Captive unscrupulous dealers. Historically, and you have been heard! From a new Primate Safety Act (CPSA; HR 3135/S such “random source” dealers were law in Ohio requiring cross reporting 1588). Nonhuman primates are highly notorious for obtaining dogs and cats by social service professionals, intelligent wild animals with complex through fraud, deception, and outright veterinarians, and animal control, to social structures whose basic needs theft and for keeping animals in the large number of wins for animals cannot be met when kept as pets. They horrendous conditions. included in the current federal can also injure or spread disease to the spending law (see AWI Quarterly, people around them. Thanks to the persistence of spring 2021), you have made the Representatives Doyle and Smith—as difference in the success of our efforts This legislation would ban private well as that of Representative Lucille on behalf of animals. This year we held possession of nonhuman primates. It is Roybal-Allard (D-CA), who has our first virtual meeting of dedicated narrowly focused on primates kept as requested that language be added to activists to bring everyone up to date pets and exempts zoos, research labs, spending bills each year to prevent the on the outlook for the new Congress and sanctuaries. Current owners would licensing of random source dealers— and administration. be grandfathered in and would need they have effectively been shut down. to register their animals to ensure that Nonetheless, the Pet Safety and Not part of this dynamic group yet? first responders and animal control Protection Act is very much needed to It’s easy! You can sign up for our action officers are aware of the presence of make this ban permanent and ensure alerts at awionline.org/compassion- wild animals in their communities. The that this abuse-ridden pipeline is index. Through these alerts you will bill also restricts direct contact between closed for good. learn when help is needed on federal the public and primates. or state legislation or administrative actions.

You can also contact your legislators and urge them to cosponsor the animal welfare bills mentioned in these pages by calling the Capitol Switchboard (202-225-3121) and asking to be connected to your legislator, or by writing letters to them at the following addresses: The Honorable [full name] / US House of Representatives / Washington, DC 20515; The Honorable [full name] / US Senate / Washington, DC 20510

Nonhuman primates naturally fascinate us, but they fare poorly in private homes. The Captive Primate Safety Act would outlaw the keeping of primates as pets. HOLLENDERX2

AWI QUARTERLY 5 SUMMER 2021 AWI Welcomes New SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE MEMBERS

This year, AWI welcomes four esteemed individuals to its Scientific Committee: Drs. Frank Cipriano, Cristina Eisenberg, David Fraser, and Richard Reading. They will join three long-standing members on the committee: Drs. Roger Fouts, Viktor Reinhardt, and Robert Schmidt. The deep knowledge, experience, perspective, ethics, and commitment of these scientists help AWI work toward our objectives on behalf of animals. We are grateful for their support.

FRANK CIPRIANO, PhD DAVID FRASER, PhD An evolutionary biologist and ecologist, Frank has served David is a professor in the University of British Columbia’s on the International Whaling Commission’s Scientific Animal Welfare Program. Over the course of a distinguished Committee since 1997. In the 1990s, he developed a portable career spanning five decades, he has studied the welfare of DNA testing method that he has used to identify commercial farm, wild, and companion animals and worked with many products containing endangered and threatened whale and organizations and international committees to find practical dolphin species. Frank has been a field and laboratory course ways to improve the lives of animals. He was one of the instructor, Earthwatch project leader, National Science original members of the Animal Welfare Working Group Foundation marine biotechnology post-doc at the University of the World Organisation for Animal Health and chaired of Hawaii, and conservation genetics post-doc at Harvard the expert consultation on animal welfare of the Food and University. For 18 years, he was director of the Genomics/ Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. David was Transcriptomics Analysis Core and a molecular techniques one of the original members of Canada’s National Farmed instructor at San Francisco State University. He currently Animal Health and Welfare Council and led the development serves on the River Otter Ecology Project’s Scientific Advisory of the council’s national strategy for farm animal welfare. In Board, is a research associate and academy fellow at the 2005, he was appointed Member of the Order of Canada for California Academy of Sciences, a research associate with his work as “a pioneer in the field of animal welfare science.” Fundación Cethus in Argentina, and a member of the IUCN’s Cetacean Specialist Group. RICHARD READING, PhD Richard is director for research and conservation at the CRISTINA EISENBERG, PhD Butterfly Pavilion and serves as the executive director of the Cristina is a Native American community ecologist who, Coalition for International Conservation. He has conducted over the past two decades, has studied the effects of fire, or overseen projects in dozens of countries in six continents, large herbivore grazing, and predator-prey relationships working primarily on grassland and arid ecosystems—in within forest and grassland ecosystems. Cristina works to particular the Great Plains of North America, the steppes integrate the Traditional Ecological Knowledge of Indigenous and deserts of Mongolia, the savannahs and deserts of communities into ecological restoration projects and is the Botswana, and the Altiplano of Peru. His work focuses principal investigator on major restoration projects within on developing pragmatic, effective, and interdisciplinary Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park and Montana’s Fort approaches to the conservation of wildlife and protected Belknap Reservation. She is a Smithsonian Research Associate areas through research, capacity development, and and the former chief scientist at Earthwatch Institute, where working with local people and governments. Richard she oversaw a global research program focusing on ecological serves as an associate editor for five scientific journals and restoration, wildlife conservation, social justice for Indigenous holds affiliations with the University of Denver, Colorado peoples, and sustainable natural resources production. She is State University, and the University of Nebraska. a member of the graduate faculty at Oregon State University in the College of Forestry and serves on several boards.

AWI QUARTERLY 6 SUMMER 2021 ROGER FOUTS, PhD Roger, along with his wife and collaborator, Deborah Fouts, may be most well-known for his communication research conducted with the famed and other chimpanzees using . Roger secured an enriched environment for the chimpanzees while ensuring that they would never be used in biomedical research. His book, Next of Kin, chronicles his lifelong relationship with Washoe and tells the story of Frank Cipriano how the chimpanzees signed to humans and each other. He was the co-founder and co-director of the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute and co-founder of Friends of Washoe. Roger has been among the strongest and most vocal of advocates for chimpanzees used in experiments, but his compassion extends broadly to all animals. Roger served on AWI’s board of directors from fall 2000 until spring 2007, when he transitioned onto the scientifi c committee.

VIKTOR REINHARDT, DVM, PhD Viktor, an ethologist and veterinarian, worked for many years at the Primate Research Center in Wisconsin, where he pioneered methods of handling, housing, and caring for primates to better meet their behavioral needs and promote the animals’ psychological well-being. In 1995, he joined the staff at AWI, continuing his groundbreaking eff orts to Cristina Eisenberg promote better conditions for animals in research. In 2002, he established the Laboratory Animal Refi nement and Enrichment Forum (LAREF), a global online discussion forum for laboratory animal care personnel seeking to improve conditions for the animals in their care. Viktor has written, co-authored, and edited numerous AWI books addressing behavior and refi nement. Viktor “retired” from AWI in 2013 and joined the Scientifi c Committee. He continues to moderate LAREF and is working on the sixth in a series of books based on LAREF discussions.

ROBERT SCHMIDT, PhD Robert’s long-standing interest is in “human dimensions” (humanity’s relationship with nature and natural resources), and the focus of much of his research is the relationships between people and wildlife, including hunting and trapping David Fraser ethics, gray wolves and humans, coyotes and livestock, and urban predators. Robert is an emeritus associate professor in the Department of Environment and Society at Utah State University, where he has taught and conducted research since 1991. He teaches a popular course, Living with Wildlife, to get students thinking about issues such as overexploitation, the impacts on biodiversity of habitat loss and fragmentation, and invasive species. Robert is past president of the Western Section of The Wildlife Society, has served on the USDA National Wildlife Services Advisory Committee, and is currently a member of the National Feline Research Council. He has served on AWI’s Scientifi c Committee since 2007.

Richard Reading FARM ANIMALS

COURT PULLS BREAK ON it to processing while still conscious. animal suffering that results from USDA’S SPEEDUP OF PIG Because of this, AWI opposes any plans such events. In response to the first SLAUGHTER LINES to increase line speeds. video released, AWI sent a letter to the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association In April, a federal court ruled against commending this effort, while also an element of a 2019 US Department requesting that the organization of Agriculture rule that removed EGG ASSOCIATION produce an additional video focused limits on line speeds at pig slaughter PROMOTES EMERGENCY primarily on barn fire causes and facilities. Judge Joan Ericksen of the PLANNING mitigation strategies, particularly with US District Court for the District of respect to commercial egg and broiler Minnesota ruled that the department Recently, the U.S. Poultry & Egg operations, in light of 2020’s tragically failed to consider the effect increased Association teamed up with the high death toll of chickens in such fires. speeds would have on worker health National Association of SARA Title III and safety. While the court vacated this Program Officials—an organization element of the rule, other aspects of the that represents emergency response and planning officials across all levels 2019 rule remain in place. It is unclear FEDS URGED NOT TO whether the USDA will continue to of government—to produce and disseminate a series of informational UPEND FDA OVERSIGHT seek this line speed increase, given OF GE FARM ANIMALS that it recently revoked a similar rule videos focused on emergency planning. allowing poultry line speeds of up to The goal of the videos is to provide For years, the animal agriculture 175 birds per minute. producers with guidance on developing industry has pressured the federal emergency action plans and encourage government to facilitate production Increased line speeds have the potential them to coordinate with local of genetically engineered (GE) farm farm animals farm to negatively affect not only worker emergency planning personnel and animals as a way to increase production safety, but also the welfare of pigs at first responders throughout the process and profits. Just prior to leaving office, slaughter, as workers have less time to to give them a better understanding of the Trump administration published perform each task, including moving live the operation and potential hazards. a proposal to transfer the oversight animals and rendering them insensible of genetic engineering from the Food to pain before slaughter. Faster line Given the rise in barn fires, adverse and Drug Administration to the US speeds can also make it difficult for weather events, and other emergency Department of Agriculture, a move that plant workers to identify animals who scenarios that livestock operations could significantly expedite the process haven’t been successfully stunned— face, developing an emergency action for gaining approval of food products meaning some animals might make plan will undoubtedly help reduce from GE animals. AWI has urged the new administration to maintain oversight of the process under the FDA, arguing that the USDA’s proposed regulatory framework does not address possible negative impacts of the GE process. Given the potential for unintended consequences of altering the genome, and the fact that not all problems will necessarily be evident within the first few generations, a deregulated approach to transgenic animals poses a risk to animal welfare, the environment, and American consumers.

A federal court struck down a USDA rule allowing unlimited line speeds at pig slaughter facilities because the department failed to consider

DEWALD KIRSTEN DEWALD the potential harm to workers.

AWI QUARTERLY 8 SUMMER 2021 FARM ANIMALS COSCA

Suez Canal Blockage Highlights Plight of Farm Animals at Sea

t least 20 ships carrying hundreds of thousands of suff ering in poor conditions after spending two months adrift A animals were stalled in and around the Suez Canal for in the Mediterranean Sea due to suspected disease. several days this March when the Ever Given (one of the world’s largest cargo ships) ran aground and wedged itself Calls for the ban of live animal transport overseas have been diagonally across the canal, blocking all traff ic. Transport made for many years, especially after major disasters like of live animals can be precarious—especially when they are these. Proponents of banning live animals on cargo ships being transported great distances on ships, which must carry argue that scientifi c advancements in artifi cial insemination, all necessary supplies and food to support them. When it refrigeration, and air transport render sending animals via sea became clear that the Ever Given would be stuck in the canal vessel an unnecessary risk. for some time, concerns quickly grew about the welfare of the animals on vessels unable to pass through. Heeding cries to end this cruel practice, New Zealand recently announced a ban—eff ective 2023—on the export of Although many countries have enacted regulations to establish live cattle by sea due to animal welfare considerations. Last minimum welfare criteria for animals on sea vessels, myriad year, the country temporarily suspended such exports after conditions remain that can negatively aff ect the animals’ a massive accident resulted in the death of 5,800 cattle and welfare. Livestock on board vessels face extreme confi nement, 40 crew members. The United Kingdom says it will soon ban heat and cold stress, lack of fresh air, and prolonged journeys, live animal exports for slaughter and fattening. In Australia all of which increase rates of disease, suff ering, and death. (the world’s largest exporter of live animals for slaughter), reforms have been instituted to improve the welfare of A reported 13 of the livestock-carrying ships—carrying animals at sea (including a ban on shipments to the Middle some 130,000 sheep—departed from Romania. While EU East during northern summer months), but no permanent regulations require carriers transporting animals to hold 25 ban has been enacted. percent more food than necessary for a voyage in case of delay, supplies can be depleted quickly. One of the Romanian It is unknown exactly how many animals suff ered and died ships, for example, reportedly departed on March 16 with due to the Suez Canal disaster, but it seems that despite a scheduled arrival in Jordan on March 23. The blockage the danger, live animal export is likely to continue at a high delayed the ship’s arrival to April 1 or later. With 25 percent volume so long as it remains profi table. In recognition of this additional supplies, the sheep would have been subject to sad reality, AWI monitors animal exports from the United food shortages on day two of this minimum nine-day delay. States and seeks reforms to improve the welfare of animals condemned to this fate—even as we continue to advocate a In another recent incident, Spanish off icials in late February total ban on the practice. ordered the euthanasia of more than 850 calves who were

AWI QUARTERLY 9 SUMMER 2021 New Push to Include Animal Welfare Standards to Organic Program

Since the Biden administration took after they are weaned, among other this authority failed to acknowledge the reins in January, animal welfare noteworthy improvements. While not the connection between animal and organic farming advocates have perfect, this rule represents the fi rst health and welfare that has been well resumed their push to reinstate set of comprehensive federal standards documented in dozens of scientifi c the Organic Livestock and Poultry for the raising of farm animals in the studies, including those conducted Practices (OLPP) rule under the US United States. It would improve the by the USDA’s own research arm, the Department of Agriculture’s National lives of millions of animals and set Agricultural Research Service. This Organic Program. In April, 40 former standards for animal welfare that research tells us the health of farm members of the National Organic would better align the organic label animals cannot be fully addressed Standards Board (NOSB)—the federal with consumer expectations. without also accounting for the advisory board established to provide conditions that impact their welfare. recommendations to the USDA The OLPP rule was formally proposed regarding organic production—sent in April 2016 and fi nalized in January As the 40 former NOSB members a letter to Secretary of Agriculture of 2017, just days before the end of the state in their letter, this rule Tom Vilsack expressing concern about Obama administration. After delaying received broad support from the the integrity of the National Organic the rule’s implementation multiple vast majority of organic farmers, Standards and urging the department times, the USDA under the Trump businesses, consumers, and advocacy to move forward with a number of administration announced in March organizations—an arguably rare NOSB recommendations that have 2018 that it would scrap the OLPP rule occurrence when it comes to crafting been proposed but not implemented, altogether, despite receiving thousands regulations. With Secretary Vilsack including the OLPP rule. of public comments opposing the back at the helm of the USDA, there is withdrawal. In doing so, the USDA hope that the OLPP rule will fi nally be The OLPP rule—based on decades argued the rule would create too much implemented. of work involving a wide range of of a fi nancial burden for producers stakeholders—would set minimum and that the department does not You can help: Visit AWI’s website at welfare standards for farm animals have authority under the Organic Food awionline.org/OLPP to send a letter raised under the National Organic Productions Act to regulate animal urging Secretary Vilsack to restore the Program. Specifi cally, the OLPP rule welfare, only animal care—an argument OLPP rule. Or write to this address: would establish indoor and outdoor AWI fi nds to be groundless. The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary / space and enrichment requirements US Department of Agriculture / 1400 for birds, prohibit certain physical Beyond the fact that the USDA has Independence Ave., SW / Washington, alterations such as debeaking of already determined on more than DC 20250 birds and tail docking of cattle, and one occasion that it has the authority require group housing for pigs in most to regulate animal welfare, the circumstances and for dairy calves department’s argument disclaiming

AWI QUARTERLY 10 SUMMER 2021 SEVENKE ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES

After three months, emotional reactivity was assessed in all mice using two common tests of anxiety: an elevated plus maze (EPM), in which mice can explore a raised pathway with two open and two enclosed arms arranged in a plus (+) shape, and an open field (OF) test, where mice can explore a large, entirely open area. In such tests, bolder individuals produce fewer fecal boli (individual droppings) and venture more freely into the open arms of the EPM and the center of the OF. Following this, the playpen group was assessed in a choice test: From a starting position, mice could make their way directly to the playpen (treatment condition) or their home-cage (control condition), or stop along the way to eat food rewards, which would reduce their time in the playpen or home cage.

We found evidence that mice from the playpen treatment Playpens consisted of two Animal Care Systems Optirat Plus cages had lower anxiety compared to mice from the control connected by a tunnel. One side contained burrowing substrate and the other a running wheel, tunnels, and climbable structures. treatment: Playpen mice produced fewer fecal boli (49 Photo by Anna Ratuski percent and 40 percent fewer in the EPM and OF test, respectively) and tended to spend about twice as much time in the center of the OF. We also noted differences in anxiety responses between strains: In both tests, C57BL/6J mice Playpen Time Beneficial to produced the fewest and BALB/cJ produced the most fecal Mice in Laboratories boli; C57BL/6J mice also spent three and four times more time in the open arms of the EPM and in the center of the OF, respectively, compared to BALB/cJ and DBA/2J mice. by Lucía Améndola Saavedra Overall, in the choice test, mice spent 58 percent less time eating rewards when on their way to the playpen than when Mounting scientific evidence indicates that environmental headed to their home cage. enrichment improves the welfare of laboratory mice, but most facilities worldwide still use standard housing (i.e., Enriched housing is known to decrease anxiety responses mostly barren “shoebox” cages). The provision of regular in most of the variables measured in this study. Our results animals in laboratories animals in access to enriched environments such as playpens, even indicate that regular playpen access also decreased some when mice are otherwise housed in standard cages, could measures of anxiety in mice. Additionally, we found that provide an immediate method to improve welfare. Studies mice were more likely to forgo food rewards when this meant have shown that mice reared in enriched environments show spending less time in the playpen—thus, mice find access lower anxiety. The first aim of this study—which was funded to playpens rewarding. Consistent with previous research, by an AWI Refinement Grant—was to determine if early-life we found that the beneficial effects of environmental provision of regular playpen access would decrease anxiety. interventions on anxiety may be greatest in C57BL/6J mice. It is also important to allow mice to experience positive Providing mice with regular access to a playpen can improve emotional states, so the second study aim was to assess if their welfare, and future research should focus on the way mice perceived access to the playpen as rewarding. different strains uniquely benefit from playpen access.

Forty-two female mice of three strains (C57BL/6J, DBA/2J, Dr. Améndola Saavedra is a postdoctoral research fellow in and BALB/cJ) were housed in trios in 14 cages; each trio was the University of British Columbia’s Animal Welfare Program. randomly assigned to one of two treatments: playpen access (3 days/week for 30 minutes) or control (no playpen).

AWI QUARTERLY 11 SUMMER 2021 wildlife several years. 1 millionkilled ineach oftheprevious significantly lower thanthemore than these numbersare, thetotal isactually than 62,000 coyotes. Shockingas more than25,000 beavers, andmore mountain lions, thousandsoffoxes, hundreds ofwolves, bears, and native animalslastyear, including shot, andpoisoned more than430,000 Wildlife Services program trapped, ofAgriculture’sThe USDepartment control methods. BLM to use humaneandsafe fertility year spendingpackage directing the pushed for language inthe2021fiscal Haaland to withdraw theplan,and advocacy groups urging Secretary led acoalition effort withwild horse toDepartment abandon thisapproach, of lawmakers to urge theInterior coalition amongabipartisan support animal remains conscious. AWI rallied to sever amare’s ovaries while the through anincision inthevaginal wall ofametal rodthe blindinsertion inhumane ovariectomies thatinvolve herds by subjectinghorses to risky, for how thegovernment manages would have set adangerous precedent The Utah plan,finalized lastOctober, ( Confusion Herd Management Area. surgeries onwild horses inUtah’s a proposal to conduct sterilization recently indicated thatitwillwithdraw The Bureau ofLandManagement LESS (BUT ALOT) (BUT LESS IN 2020 WILDLIFE SERVICES KILLS UTAH WILD HORSES STERILIZATION PLAN FOR BLM DROPS SURGICAL See AWI Quarterly program resorts to lethal methodsto Hundreds ofthousands ofanimals— including 25,000 beavers—fell victim resolve human-wildlife conflicts. program last year. Too often, the to thefederal Wildlife Services , spring2021. ) as “Roxy’s Law”—which bans the and PublicSafety Act—also known enacted theWildlife Conservation In amajorvictory, New Mexico has other suchmeasures. prevent flooding by beaver dams, and to protect livestock, flow devices to had relied instead onelectric fencing could have beenavoided iftheprogram other species. Manyofthese deaths turtles, andfoxes, amongnumerous killed hundreds ofriver otters, raccoons, alone, traps andsnares unintentionally inherently indiscriminate. Lastyear neck snares are notonly cruel,butalso devices assteel-jaw leghold traps and challenges. Suchgo-to Wildlife Services nonlethal techniques to address wildlife lethal measures rather thanproven Services needlessly resorts to ineffective of rabies. Butalltoo often, Wildlife runways andreducing thetransmission as keeping birds away from airport workThis includes important such responding to human–wildlife conflicts. Wildlife Services istasked with MEXICO PUBLIC LANDS PROHIBITED ON NEW TRAPS AND POISONS AWI QUARTERLY WILDLIFE 12 SUMMER 2021 of Endangered Species Act protections in otherstates. Following theremoval sharply with trapping-related setbacks Roxy’s Law, unfortunately, contrasted Progress secured by thepassage of public lands. use ofpoisons, traps, andsnares on inform thepublicaboutbarbaric webinar ontrapping. Theevent helped organize andpresent awidely attended AWI supported Roxy’s Lawandhelped Newnorthern Mexico. family near apublicrecreation area in a trap while hikingatrail withher ofRoxy,story asenior dogkilled by legislation was prompted by thetragic on New Mexico’s publiclands. The use oftraps, snares, andpoisons and snare wolves inthose states. expanded to opportunities hunt,trap, approved multiple billsthatgreatly Montana andIdaholawmakers state’s wildlife agency. Meanwhile, exceeding thelimitestablished by the than three days inFebruary—far killed more than200wolves inless hunters andtrappers inWisconsin from gray wolves across thecountry,

LAYNE VR WILDLIFE

USFWS RECOMMENDS CONTINUED PROTECTIONS FOR GRIZZLY BEARS Following a recent review of the conservation status of grizzly bears in the continental United States, the US Fish and Wildlife Service recommended in March that the bears continue to be listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The USFWS evaluated current conditions in the six ecosystems designated as grizzly bear recovery zones in Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. It determined that while grizzlies are not currently in danger of extinction (which would warrant an “endangered” BLUEBARRONPHOTO designation under the ESA), there is enough uncertainty around future conservation efforts that the bears released directly into the recovery and savanna elephants and designated remain likely to become in danger of area from captive breeding facilities them as critically endangered and extinction within the foreseeable future and the first time since 2014 that red endangered, respectively. Prior to this, (and thus warrant a designation of wolf pups from the facilities have been all African elephants were classified “threatened”). fostered into the wild. This remarkable by IUCN as a single species and were news is a direct result of a federal designated as vulnerable. The recommendation applies to court ruling won by AWI and its allies the grizzly bear population of the in January that required the US Fish The status designations are the result contiguous United States as a and Wildlife Service to prepare a plan of decades of population declines whole, not to individual ecosystems. to release captive red wolves into the due to poaching for ivory and habitat Practically, this means that the agency wild to avoid irreversible harm to the loss. Forest elephant numbers have could still attempt to remove ESA highly endangered population during plummeted by more than 86 percent protections from bears in one or more of ongoing litigation. This release is over the past 31 years, and these the individual recovery areas (as it has pursuant to that plan. This infusion of elephants currently occupy only one twice tried to do with the Yellowstone wolves more than doubles the known quarter of their historic range. Savanna population), even as the rest of the wild population, and we hope it marks elephant populations declined by at population remains protected. the beginning of a recommitment least 60 percent over the past 50 years, by the USFWS (after prolonged largely due to poaching for ivory. It neglect) to recover the world’s most is currently estimated that 415,000 endangered canid. African elephants (in total) remain, RED WOLVES RELEASED compared to approximately 1.3 million INTO WILD IN NORTH in the early 1970s. CAROLINA Considering the immense ecological In late April and early May, four adult IUCN OFFERS GRIM and economic importance of elephants, captive red wolves were released into ASSESSMENT OF AFRICAN these new designations indicate that the Red Wolf Recovery Area in eastern ELEPHANTS more must be done to protect elephant North Carolina, and four red wolf pups Based on genetic research and the habitat and to end elephant poaching born in captivity were fostered to a latest status assessment of African by shutting down the ivory trade. wild female red wolf in the recovery elephants, the International Union for area. This marks the first time since Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has 1998 that adult red wolves were formally split the species into forest

AWI QUARTERLY 13 SUMMER 2021 AIMING TO END WILDLIFE KILLING CONTESTS

There are many reasons to oppose these events. First, the AS DUSK FALLS, two men, assault-style mass killing of animals during contests is cruel, barbaric, weapons in hand, crouch in an open field. One sets up a and wasteful. Principles of fair chase are frequently device that begins to play recorded sounds of a coyote pup disregarded, with participants using bait and electronic in distress, amplified through speakers. Then they settle in distress calls of wounded young to draw animals in. The and wait. Soon, a coyote appears in the distance. Similar to events themselves leave an untold number of young in humans, coyotes have a strong bond to other members of severe distress: After their parents are killed, the orphaned their species, and when they detect cries for help, they are juveniles are left to die from thirst, starvation, predation, drawn to the sound to investigate. When the coyote comes or exposure. Investigative video footage has shown contest within range, one of the men aims his gun—equipped participants joking about the methods used to lure and kill with a thermal night vision scope—and fires. The animal the animals, and laughing and posing for photos in front collapses, and the man jogs out to collect the mangled of piles of dead animals. Afterwards, away from public body. This happens again, and again, with each new body view, the carcasses of the animals are usually dumped. The swung into a growing pile of bloody carcasses. By the entire undertaking demonstrates a complete lack of respect end of the evening, the pile has grown to 10 animals. The for wildlife, promotes gratuitous violence, and sends the question, for these men, is whether it is enough—enough irresponsible and disturbing message that wanton killing for them to secure the cash and prizes that led them on is both acceptable and fun. Numerous state agencies this killing spree in the first place. For these men are one and officials have expressed concern that killing contests of many teams competing in a wildlife killing contest, and undermine the reputation of sportsmen and sportswomen they don’t want to walk away empty-handed. and damage the tradition of hunting.

Wildlife killing contests are organized events in which Second, the indiscriminate killing promoted by wildlife participants kill animals for money, prizes, entertainment, killing contests is counterproductive to effective, science- and other inducements, with “winners” recognized in based wildlife management. Studies have shown that categories such as the number, weight, and size of animals many wildlife populations depleted by unnatural means killed. The contests predominantly target native carnivores, simply reproduce more quickly due to the sudden drop in including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and even wolves and competition for resources and changes to social structure mountain lions, as well as other species such as raccoons, from the loss of individuals. This effect is well documented, squirrels, and rabbits. Each year, over a thousand of in particular, for populations of coyotes, the species most these contests are held in over 40 states, with little or no commonly targeted in contests. State wildlife management regulation. Just one contest can result in hundreds of agencies across the country recognize that killing animals being wiped off a landscape in a single weekend. contests do not effectively control coyote population size.

AWI QUARTERLY 14 SUMMER 2021 HSUS

Wildlife killing contests celebrate senseless slaughter and serve no legitimate wildlife management purpose. Clockwise from top: Foxes slain in a Maryland contest last year; bobcats

killed during the 2020 West Texas Big Bobcat DEANDRADE FILIPE Contest in San Angelo; coyotes killed during a contest last year in Sullivan County, New York. HSUS

Furthermore, removing large numbers of coyotes from the increase conflicts with humans, pets, and livestock. Effective landscape should not be a desired goal. Doing so negatively management of depredation requires targeting the offending impacts the environment because coyotes are an integral individual and intervening in a timely manner close to the part of healthy ecosystems. They consume carrion, remove site where the depredations occurred. Killing contests do not sick animals from the gene pool, disperse seeds, protect represent the kind of targeted effort required for successful ground-nesting birds from smaller carnivores, help control management of livestock depredations because they are not disease transmission by keeping rodent populations in check, effective in removing individual, problem-causing animals. and increase the biological diversity of plant and wildlife Moreover, indiscriminate killing of predators likely exacerbates communities. risks to livestock because killing social carnivores disrupts their social groups and foraging strategies in ways that increase the Third, while contest proponents claim they are necessary to number of transient individuals, who may be more likely to kill reduce human-wildlife conflicts, such contests may actually livestock. Additionally, as noted above, targeted coyote packs

AWI QUARTERLY 15 SUMMER 2021 → Encourage your city or county council to pass a HELP US END WILDLIFE resolution or an ordinance against wildlife killing KILLING CONTESTS! contests. Use this guide: bit.ly/WKCResolution → Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper to raise Please take action to help end wildlife killing contests. Here awareness about killing contests and to encourage are some steps you can take: readers to express their opposition to the contests to → Call, send letters, and meet with your state legislators their lawmakers. You can write your letter directly from to encourage them to ban wildlife killing contests. Find this website: bit.ly/CIndexLtE their contact information here: bit.ly/CIDirectory (For letter-writing tips visit bit.ly/LtEtips) → Call, send letters, and meet with your state’s wildlife → Educate your family, neighbors, and friends about agency staff and wildlife commissioners to encourage wildlife killing contests and what they can do to help them to ban wildlife killing contests. Find their contact end them. Post on social media and send them this information here: bit.ly/CIStateAg informational postcard: bit.ly/WKCinfo → Advocate bans on wildlife killing contests, including → Host a virtual screening of the documentary KILLING by politely urging event hosts and sponsors to stop GAMES—Wildlife in the Crosshairs and invite supporting these events. Use this guide: bit.ly/EndWKC stakeholders to attend: bit.ly/KGWCfilm

often respond by producing more pups, and the need to feed Vermont and New Mexico outlawed coyote killing contests a large litter has been found to be a significant motivation for in 2018 and 2019, respectively; Arizona and Massachusetts coyotes to switch from killing small and medium-sized prey to prohibited killing contests that target predator and furbearer killing sheep. Killing coyotes can also create ecological voids species in late 2019; Colorado and Washington banned that may be filled by smaller predators with higher population killing contests that target certain furbearers, predators, and numbers that may prey on farm animals. small game animals in 2020; and Maryland outlawed killing contests targeting particular predators and other species Fourth, the best available science indicates that without bag limits in 2021. indiscriminately killing native carnivores is not an effective method for increasing game species abundance. In recognition AWI has been actively engaged in many of these successful of this science, many state commissions and agencies, state efforts. We led the campaign to ban killing contests in including those in New York, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Colorado by coauthoring a citizens’ petition to the Colorado North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, West Parks and Wildlife Commission proposing a ban, organizing Virginia, and Wyoming, have concluded that reducing predator a coalition of animal and environmental protection groups numbers will not enhance populations of ungulates, small in the state, testifying before and submitting memoranda game animals, and game birds. Rather, the most important to the commission, and writing a coalition letter backing a management tool to increase most game species is to decrease ban. AWI supported successful efforts in Arizona, Maryland, the harvest of females, followed by protection of habitat. Massachusetts, and Washington as well by submitting written testimony, creating educational materials, and engaging our Fortunately, these contests are in the crosshairs. AWI and members to take a stand against these contests. We continue other groups have joined forces to ban these horrific events to collaborate with other organizations on efforts currently at state and federal levels. AWI is a member of the steering underway to ban contests in Nevada, New Jersey, New York, committee of the National Coalition to End Wildlife Killing North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia. At the federal level, AWI Contests, which advocates for humane wildlife management is working with other groups to develop legislation that would while raising public awareness about how contests disrupt ban contests that fall under federal jurisdiction. ecosystems and promote animal cruelty. The coalition initiates and supports action to ban contests through It is abundantly clear that wildlife killing contests have no legislation, litigation, and regulatory reform. Our ultimate place in a civil society or in modern, science-based wildlife goal is to end all such contests across the country. management. They turn wanton slaughter into sport and serve no legitimate wildlife management purpose—indeed, they To date, eight states have enacted bans on certain types of are antithetical to the conservation ethic that is necessary to wildlife killing contests: California banned the awarding of ensure the long-term protection of wildlife populations. It is prizes for killing furbearing and nongame mammals in 2014; time for such contests to be sidelined for good.

AWI QUARTERLY 16 SUMMER 2021 “Dog-Proof” Traps Don’t Shield Animals from Suffering

ow far had the raccoon traveled H and how much suffering had the animal endured along the way? These questions were posed by those who came to the aid of a raccoon captured weight loss, and an overall decline in paw that is small enough to access in a box trap in Williamson County, physical condition. Due to the severity of the tube can fall victim to these traps. Tennessee, in March. Such an animal the injuries, the raccoon was euthanized. Indeed, images on the internet show might normally have been released raccoons, opossums, skunks, and unharmed from this trap, but for According to the Association of Fish foxes caught in these traps. Feral and another, far less benign trap firmly and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), at domestic house cats are also vulnerable. affixed to the raccoon’s right front leg. least 647,400 raccoons were killed Evidently, this “dog-proof” trap had during the 2018–19 trapping season A recently published study in the journal been pulled from the ground after it throughout the United States. (The Wildlife Monographs concluded that slammed shut on the raccoon’s leg, data do not include statistics from 12 six of nine dog-proof traps tested met and the animal had dragged it along— states, however, including Tennessee.) the criteria used to assess the traps’ potentially for days—before ending up The vast majority were likely captured humaneness. This criteria and the in the box trap. with conventional leghold traps, which underlying testing program is intended are notoriously cruel—causing severe to satisfy international “humane” A local animal advocate immediately lacerations, broken bones, tendon trapping standards, so US, Canadian, transported the raccoon to a and ligament injuries, and digit and and Russian trappers can send pelts veterinarian. An examination revealed limb amputations. Many of the others and fur products to Europe. However, that the leg had been nearly amputated were likely captured in dog-proof the testing involves questionable by the dog-proof trap (shown below). traps, intended primarily to capture methodologies and woefully inadequate There was also significant soft tissue raccoons. Trapping raccoons with such animal welfare criteria. Plus, there is no damage to the animal’s head and neck, devices is particularly cruel given their actual requirement that states mandate hypersensitive front paws. use of traps that satisfy the criteria.

Conventional leghold traps have a plate The AFWA, trappers, and state and in the middle surrounded by spring- provincial fish and wildlife agencies loaded jaws. A dog-proof trap often may rely on self-serving criteria features a metal tube. When an animal to assert that dog-proof traps are tries to retrieve bait from inside the humane. But it is clear that the raccoon tube, their paw inadvertently pulls up in Tennessee suffered immensely after on a lever, triggering a spring-loaded encountering one—suffering that bar to slam against the limb, pinning it ended only through the compassionate inside the tube. While such traps reduce actions of individuals involved in the the risk of capturing some nontarget animal’s rescue and euthanasia. species (e.g., ungulates, raptors, larger mammals), any animal with a dexterous

AWI QUARTERLY 17 SUMMER 2021 CS WILDLIFE AWARD RESEARCH

An Island of Misfi t Tortoises: Providing Sanctuary for Waif Gopher Tortoises While Recovering Wild Populations by Tracey Tuberville and Rebecca McKee, University of Georgia survival of juveniles was lower, but there are few estimates from wild populations with which to compare our data. Due to many anthropogenic threats, the gopher tortoise is declining throughout its range in the southeastern United Based on the locations where individuals were detected in States. Translocation—the of animals from one 2017 and 2018 in comparison to their original release , location to another—has become an increasingly important we were able to calculate dispersal distances as a measure tool for mitigating impacts of development and augmenting of site fi delity. We found that waif tortoises, including some depleted populations. Although there are risks associated released more than a decade prior to our monitoring eff ort, with translocation, waif tortoises (animals that have been exhibited remarkable fi delity to their release location. Most injured, collected illegally, or have unknown origins) are individuals detected across the preserve were found within generally excluded from translocations due to heightened 200–400 meters (⅛–¼ mile) of their original release location. concerns of introducing diseases into recipient populations. If risks associated with waif translocation to wild habitats In regard to disease transmission, after screening for a could be managed, translocation could provide a preferable suite of pathogens common in either captive or free- alternative to the current fate of many waif tortoises: ranging populations of turtles, we only detected two closely euthanasia or a lifetime (which can exceed 60 years) in related bacterial pathogens (Mycoplasma agassizii and M. captivity, while also helping to stabilize wild populations testudineum), which occurred in approximately 10 percent in severe decline. In collaboration with the South Carolina of tortoises. Both pathogens have been documented in wild Department of Natural Resources, and through support from populations of gopher tortoises throughout the species’ an AWI Christine Stevens Wildlife Award, we evaluated the range, with wide variation of prevalence among populations. survivorship, health, and site fi delity (the tendency to remain We did not detect any pathogens typically associated with in the same area) of released waifs to better understand their non-native tortoise species. role in tortoise conservation and the extent to which formerly captive tortoises are suitable for release into the wild. Collectively, the survivorship, site fi delity, and health data obtained from 2017–2018 monitoring data reveal that waif Over 280 gopher tortoises had been released on a South gopher tortoises fare well after release into the wild, off ering a Carolina preserve between 2006 and 2018 using soft-release humane alternative to life-long captivity or euthanasia, while (acclimation) pens to encourage site fi delity (by restricting also contributing to meaningful species conservation eff orts. their movements as they become familiar with the release site). Based on individuals documented in 2017 and 2018, However, because of the potential inherent risks for pathogen adult annual survivorship of released waif tortoises was 90–96 transfer, we recommend exercising caution by only using percent, which is within the range of values reported for wild waifs to rebuild small populations that are spatially isolated translocated tortoises and wild tortoises in natural populations. from other naturally occurring populations. As expected based on the ecology of the species, annual

AWI QUARTERLY 18 SUMMER 2021 HENNESSY RAY ISRAEL NATURE AND HERITAGE FOUNDATION OF AMERICA established adedicated website to stepped upto provide and support Foundation ofAmerica (INHFA) The Israel Nature andHeritage other affected animals. rescuing thousandsofturtles, birds, and participating inbeach cleanups and with thousandsoflocal volunteers were undertaken to stem thedamage, and othermarinelife. Immediate efforts coating turtlesandbirds, andkillingfish the beaches androcky shoreline, the fragile marine ecosystem, covering The tar hashadadevastating impact on from Iran to Syria. an as-yet-unidentified oil ship carrying Lebanon. Theculpritisbelieved to be Israeli coastline andinto southern along approximately 118miles ofthe hundreds oftons oftar to wash ashore in theMediterranean Sea caused in Israel’s history, amassive oilspill as oneoftheworst ecological disasters In February, inwhatisbeingdescribed FOR ISRAEL TAR CLEANUP AWI PROVIDES SUPPORT catastrophe doesn’t happen again. to helpensure suchanenvironmental It ishopedthatmeasures willbetaken affected marineecosystems continue. research throughout thecoast and over time. Monitoring, evaluation, and cost oftheincident willonly beknown coastline. Theultimate environmental areas andless accessible ofthe parts tar are believed to remain inrocky and significantquantities ofoiland though residue remained inthewater, most Israeli beaches hadreopened, devastation. By theendofMarch, helped alleviate some ofthe The rapid andorganized response rescued sea turtles. supplies to aidintherehabilitation of (e.g., coveralls, rakes, andshovels) and cleaning equipmentfor volunteers was used for essentials, including and Parks Authority. Ourcontribution emergency grant to theIsrael Nature plea from INHFA, AWI provided an israels-coastline ( with thedisaster andremediation provide information andseek help inhfa.org/joining-forces-to-save- AWI QUARTERLY MARINE LIFE ). Inresponse to the 19 SUMMER 2021 whale floated to thesurface. The Diego whenthe65-foot-long larger inSan the USNavyandwas berthing had beenconducting exercises with vessel. Thedestroyer, HMAS the hullofaRoyal Australian Navy discovered after they dislodged from to bea motherandcalf, were In May, two dead finwhales, believed turtles andothermarinelife. catastrophe hadsevere impactson Israeli andLebanese coastline. The tarring ofover ahundred miles of Mediterranean resulted inthe In February, anoilspillinthe and otherentities to reduce them. International MaritimeOrganization incidents andworking withthe strike working group that isquantifying Commission, whichhasanactive ship- including theInternational Whaling of several international bodies, This global problem hastheattention scientists there to raise thealarm. andbluewhale,humpback, prompting strikes caused thedeaths ofa Brydes, investigation. AndinChile inApril,ship the remaining two deaths are under victims ofshipstrikes; the cause of area. Two were determined to be period intheSanFrancisco Bay washed ashore over aneight-day whales. InApril,four gray whales human causes ofdeath for large cargo ships—are oneofthemain Strikes by ships—particularly large Sadly, thiswas notanisolated incident. a large, fast moving ship. moving, anditishard for themto avoid a mother–calf pair—are relatively slow as ashipstrike. Finwhales—especially Service are investigating theincident and theUSNationalMarineFisheries was found shortly after. Bothnavies smaller animal,measuring 25feet, WHALES MOTHER AND CALF FIN SHIP STRIKE FELLS Sydney ,

marine life With no consensus, the committee postponed key “Virtual” Standstill agenda items—such as decisions regarding the listing of several species of shark and parrotfi sh on SPAW appendices (denoting protection status). Preparation at Caribbean for these discussions had gone on for months, so it was very disheartening when the meeting did not even get Conservation Meeting to the crux of the issues at hand. The United States, unfortunately, was instrumental in preventing consensus March and April, AWI marine animal program on whether to even discuss the species listing proposals. It In director Susan Millward and consultant Courtney argued that the correct procedures had not been followed, Vail participated in the ninth meeting of the Scientifi c and even after a UNEP lawyer was called in to help move and Technical Advisory Committee to the United Nations things along by providing legal advice, the diff erence of Environment Programme’s Protocol Concerning Specially opinion regarding treaty interpretation was not resolved. Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Wider Caribbean Eventually, the listing proposals were tabled for a later (SPAW). COVID precautions meant the normally three- meeting. In advocating the deferment, the United States day meeting was held virtually and spread out over fi ve argued that individual parties should simply implement days. The inability to meet face to face at this usually their own domestic protections for the aff ected species in harmonious meeting, along with technical diff iculties and the interim, but this stance clearly undermines the treaty, connectivity issues (including for the meeting chair during in addition to wasting a great deal of time. the March sessions), led to a series of rather disjointed and unusually contentious sessions. Despite a heavy Nevertheless, there were positive notes: A marine agenda, relatively little ended up being achieved even after protected area proposed by and located in the Dominican several preparatory meetings were held. The parties were Republic received support. And one of AWI’s main goals forced to extend the meeting into April, mainly because for the meeting—to garner support for the creation of the so much time was taken up discussing process, resolving fi rst marine mammal Regional Activity Network in the connectivity issues, and ensuring that all participants could Wider Caribbean—was also successful. Proposed by the hear the appropriate interpreters. Netherlands Antilles and supported by a technical paper co-authored by Courtney, this network would provide AWI has been to many of these meetings over the years; for better communication and collaboration among typically, they involve presentations on topics and those working on marine mammal protection across the proposals, discussions, negotiations, and ultimately Caribbean. It would also ensure proper resourcing for vital agreement, sometimes after long encounters outside research into the status of the dozens of marine mammal the scheduled proceedings—during coff ee breaks, species in the region, as well as mitigate the many threats lunch gatherings, evening events, and in the corridors they face, ranging from directed hunts to entanglement outside meeting rooms. This meeting—dysfunctional, and ocean noise. The Scientifi c and Technical Advisory argumentative, confusing, and ineff icient—clearly showed Committee meeting’s recommendations will be put forward how important those informal face-to-face encounters are at the meeting of the SPAW contracting parties, scheduled for civil and productive debate. (again, virtually) for July.

AWI QUARTERLY 20 SUMMER 2021 DAMSEA LILLIAN TVEIT LILLIAN

Dubious Ocean Noise Study Seeks to Corral Wild Whales

WI has been collaborating with will indicate if the whale’s ear has pen in Karivika, Norway. The trapped ANorway’s largest animal welfare detected the sound. The whales’ brain animal was characterized by witnesses group, NOAH, and Whale and Dolphin waves would be measured in order as “raging wild” and was eventually Conservation (WDC) to oppose a to determine how they might react shot before being removed from the dangerous experiment on wild minke to naval sonar and noise from oil and pen by crane. The methodology of whales that was to begin in late spring, gas exploration. Whales could be held the Lofoten experiments will involve last several weeks, and continue next captive for as long as four days before tagging the whales in an eff ort to year. The plan calls for researchers being released. assess, at least temporarily, the study’s from the United States and Norway to eff ect on the whales’ health. capture up to 12 whales off Vestvågøy This experiment is disturbing because in the Lofoten area of northern Norway of the stress likely to be infl icted on AWI, NOAH, and WDC have written in order to study how their brains the whales. If a minke whale, even a to Mattilsynet, the Norwegian Food respond to ocean noise. juvenile, were to respond with great Safety Authority, urging the agency to force in a panicked attempt to fl ee, it revoke its approval of this unwarranted AWI requested information from the could injure not only the whale but also experiment. The three groups have Norwegian government and learned the human researchers, particularly rallied supporters in opposition to the that the researchers planned to set those in the water. project, which has received attention nets extending almost a mile across a in Norwegian and international passageway between islands to herd The researchers have proposed using media. AWI has also written to the US migrating juvenile minke whales into sedatives to calm whales who display government, admonishing the US Navy an enclosure, trapping them inside. signs of stress and even stunning them and National Marine Fisheries Service The researchers would then attempt in an emergency. Little is known about for providing funding for this research. to move these whales into a modifi ed sedating or stunning wild cetaceans, Other branches of the US government, aquaculture cage, which would be but available data show that sedation as well as the oil and gas industry, are secured between two rafts. Once a of baleen whales could put their lives also funding the project. AWI and the whale is in the cage, the researchers at risk. (Presumably, sedation would other humane groups contend that would engage in “auditory evoked also add an unwanted variable to the existing research already tells us how potential” testing, whereby electrodes study.) There have been incidents in baleen whales are aff ected by ocean are attached to the neck of the which minke whales became trapped noise, and this body of science should whale. Sounds would be introduced in aquaculture pens and had to be be enough for humans to understand to test if the electrodes pick up the euthanized. In 2009, for example, a that we must curtail the levels of sound signals, which the researchers claim small minke whale broke through a cod we introduce into the sea.

AWI QUARTERLY 21 SUMMER 2021 REVIEWS

SAVING AMERICA’S AMAZON other delta globally. More oak species adorn a single hillside Ben Raines / NewSouth Books / 200 pages on the banks of the Alabama River than anywhere else in the world. This diversity, however, has not prevented the basin’s Alabama is known for many things, including beautiful Gulf ongoing destruction via dams; industrial, agricultural, and Coast beaches, the US Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, residential pollution; insuff icient regulation of Alabama’s steel, peanuts, the music of Muscle Shoals, and college timber industry; and wholly inadequate environmental football. It is also home to one of the most biodiverse protection laws. As a result, more species extinctions have ecosystems in the world. In Saving America’s Amazon: The been documented in the basin than anywhere else in the Threat to Our Nation’s Most Biodiverse River System, author continental United States, and hundreds more species are Ben Raines—who has covered Alabama and the Gulf Coast threatened with extinction. region for 20 years as an environmental reporter—weaves a story about the geology, history, ecology, and destruction of Through eloquent prose and exceptional photography, Raines the Mobile River Basin, a 44,000-square-mile collection of makes the case for protection of this region “before it falls hardwood forest, cypress swamps, wetlands, and grasslands to ruin, one species, one acre, one stream at a time.” The key, that provide habitat to an abundance of birds, insects, according to Raines, is to “protect the edges”—where the amphibians, mammals, and other reptiles and invertebrates, water meets the land and where biodiversity is at its peak— including new species identifi ed every year. from the toxic runoff , trash, and mud from eroded soil that is devastating the basin and its delta. To do this, Alabama’s The ecological complexity of the region provides a foundation environmental protection laws must be strengthened and for the system’s remarkable diversity. The basin’s 450 species the agencies responsible for the enforcement of those laws of freshwater fi sh represent approximately a third of all must be given the political green light to take on the entities species found in the United States. Eighteen turtle species are responsible for killing the ecosystem through a thousand in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta—a greater number than in any cuts. America’s Amazon deserves no less.

AWI QUARTERLY 22 SUMMER 2021 REVIEWS

ANIMALS’ BEST FRIENDS some of these violent and tragic events, while weaving in the Barbara J. King / University of Chicago Press / 280 pages author’s own close encounters with, and complex feelings toward, these powerful yet vulnerable animals. Animals’ Best Friends: Putting Compassion to Work for Animals in Captivity and in the Wild, by Barbara King, uses the Dihle, a wildlife-viewing guide, grew up in Southeast Alaska, power of storytelling to allow readers to peer into the lives of hunting, fishing, and admiring the “mountain men” who countless animals humans interact with or impact in one way were some of the first Europeans to explore the West and or another. Through these stories, King challenges the reader encounter (and kill) grizzlies. “I, too,” he writes, “wanted to rethink our effect on animals in our homes, in the wild, in to match myself against bears and mountains.” Later, captivity, in agriculture, and in research labs, and presents a Dihle begins exploring remote areas of southeastern and powerful call for compassionate action in our daily lives. interior Alaska, hiking or paddling for days or weeks on end, frequently encountering brown bears. He develops a King chooses to highlight the extraordinary behaviors and fascination with the animals and describes the joy, fear, capabilities of creatures that don’t initially come to mind in awe, and wonder he experiences in bear country, while various settings. For instance, when discussing animals in the reflecting on the cruel devastation that European explorers, home, she takes us into the world of spiders. She begins her settlers, miners, ranchers, entertainers, market hunters, and chapter on “animals on our plates” with an enthralling look trappers—including the heroes of his youth—historically into the lives of European rabbits. wrought on the species.

King does an admirable job of balancing some of the Dihle’s own views toward brown bears are complicated competing arguments for or against different interactions and unclear—perhaps even to himself. He considers them with animals that society often struggles with—whether magnificent beings whose existence and habitat should be it is hunting, keeping animals in zoos, or allowing pet cats conserved; yet, he does not seem to oppose Alaska’s bear outdoors. But she isn’t afraid to draw the line when it comes hunting industry and sometimes wonders what it would be to some of the more appalling practices to which animals are like to shoot a bear himself. While exploring, he often thanks all too often subjected. bears for not attacking him and apologizes for intruding into their territory; yet, he returns again and again, and carries Notably, this book examines a reaction so many experience a handgun for defense (despite research from Alaska—not when faced with unpleasant emotions, especially in response mentioned in the book—indicating that bear spray is safer to animal suffering: We shut down and insist on not knowing, and more effective). whether it is to spare us the pain of coming to terms with how our actions and the actions of other humans inflict so A Shape in the Dark is a haunting exploration of the history much suffering, or to relieve us of the guilt we may feel from of human hostility toward brown bears, of the coexistence not being able or willing to intervene. But King’s eloquently possible when we leave bears and their habitat alone, and told stories all lead to the same conclusion: We cannot simply what can happen when we needlessly get too close. turn away. There is so much that can be done to alleviate animal suffering and it starts with taking compassionate action, whether it is supporting animal welfare organizations, demanding policy change from our elected officials, or simply skipping the breakfast bacon. Bequests If you would like to help assure AWI’s future through a provision in your will, this general form of bequest is A SHAPE IN THE DARK suggested: I give, devise and bequeath to the Animal Welfare Bjorn Dihle / Mountaineers Books / 203 pages Institute, located in Washington, DC, the sum of $ and/or (specifically described property). From Lewis and Clark shooting the first ones they encountered, to sport hunters today killing hundreds in Alaska Donations to AWI, a not-for-profit corporation exempt under each year, humans have long persecuted North America’s Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), are tax-deductible. brown (a.k.a. grizzly) bears. The bears, often acting in self- We welcome any inquiries you may have. In cases in which you defense, have also occasionally attacked humans. A Shape have specific wishes about the disposition of your bequest, we in the Dark: Living and Dying with Brown Bears recounts suggest you discuss such provisions with your attorney.

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USDA TO MAKE SLAUGHTER RECORDS AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC

Due to AWI’s eff orts, thousands of records about the routine maintenance on stunning devices). We have analyzed and treatment of animals at slaughter are now publicly available publicized the information gleaned from the records in several on the US Department of Agriculture’s website. The reports and used it to petition the USDA to update its slaughter documents include records related to enforcement of the regulations. Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act that expose inhumane treatment of animals at The records we’ve obtained have also revealed inhumane slaughter facilities across the country. handling of birds at slaughter facilities, sometimes resulting in death other than by slaughter, such as by asphyxiation, blunt In the past, AWI and others have had to request such records force trauma, or exposure to extreme heat or cold. Fatalities that from government off icials, relying on rights granted under the result from mishandling can render the carcasses “adulterated” Freedom of Information Act. But responses to requests are not and cause them to be condemned. AWI is currently suing the always timely, and the information is not disseminated to the USDA for denying our petition asking it to create regulations to broader public without further publicity by the entity making the require humane handling of birds, which would prevent such request. Now, anyone can access this information at any time. adulteration.

AWI uses these records to conduct some of our key campaign The public availability of this information is a tremendous boon work about the treatment of animals at slaughter. Through to AWI’s work to end the suff ering of farm animals at slaughter. them, we have discerned that much of the suff ering We are encouraged that the USDA has posted these records and experienced by cows and pigs at slaughter could easily be provided a clearer window into an often unseen but extremely remedied with proper training and practices (e.g., performing important aspect of food production.