Quarterlyaw I Summer 2015 Volume 64 Number 3 AW I Quarterly ABOUT the COVER a Frog of the Genus Mantella (Mantella Ebenaui Or M
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QuarterlyAW I Summer 2015 Volume 64 Number 3 AW I Quarterly ABOUT THE COVER A frog of the genus Mantella (Mantella ebenaui or M. betsileo). The International Union for FOUNDER Conservation of Nature describes 16 species in this genus, all native only to Madagascar. Christine Stevens The populations of 11 of those are listed as “declining,” with seven “endangered” or “critically DIRECTORS endangered.” Habitat loss is cited as a primary factor. For some, however, another threat Cynthia Wilson, Chair John W. Boyd, Jr. looms large: collection for the pet trade. Caroline A. Griffin, Esq. Charles M. Jabbour The situation is bleak the world over for frogs and their amphibian kin. Hundreds of millions Mary Lee Jensvold, Ph.D. of amphibians are plucked from the wild each year, to be traded as pets, eaten, sent to Cathy Liss laboratories, or dissected in classrooms. See page 6 for more about the global onslaught OFFICERS on wild amphibians to feed an international trade that is cruel, wasteful, and not remotely Cathy Liss, President Cynthia Wilson, Vice President sustainable. Charles M. Jabbour, CPA, Treasurer PHOTO BY ZACH BARANOWSKI Caroline Griffin, Secretary SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Gerard Bertrand, Ph.D. Roger Fouts, Ph.D. Roger Payne, Ph.D. Samuel Peacock, M.D. World Association of Zoos and Viktor Reinhardt, D.V.M., Ph.D. Hope Ryden Aquariums Cuts Ties to Taiji Dolphin Robert Schmidt, Ph.D. John Walsh, M.D. Slaughter INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE EACH YEAR, from roughly September through April, more than a thousand Aline S. de Aluja, D.V.M., Mexico Ambassador Tabarak Husain, Bangladesh dolphins are removed from the wild during the unspeakably cruel Taiji, Angela King, United Kingdom Japan, dolphin drive hunts. Most are herded into the shallows and violently Agnes Van Volkenburgh, D.V.M., Poland slaughtered for meat and blubber, as depicted in the Oscar-winning movie, Alexey Yablokov, Ph.D., Russia The Cove. For others, the suffering lasts even longer—as they are sold into a STAFF AND CONSULTANTS Alexandra Alberg, Graphic Designer life in captivity within aquariums in Japan, China and elsewhere. Nancy Blaney, Senior Federal Policy Advisor Sue Fisher, Marine Animal Consultant AWI has long been involved in efforts to stop these brutal hunts, and this year Joanna Grossman, Ph.D., Federal Policy Advisor we are hopeful that the hunting season will be different, thanks in large part to Georgia Hancock, General Counsel Chris Heyde, Deputy Director, a handful of dedicated Japanese citizens who have been working for decades to Government and Legal Affairs effect change, and a small, new organization called Australia for Dolphins (AFD). Brittany Horton, Website and Communications Coordinator For years, AWI and other animal protection groups have been calling on Dena Jones, Director, Farm Animal Program Eric Kleiman, Research Consultant the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) to expel its Japanese Kenneth Litwak, D.V.M., Ph.D., Laboratory subsidiary (JAZA) for allowing members to source dolphins from the Taiji Animal Advisor Susan Millward, Executive Director hunts. Despite growing pressure, WAZA refused to act… until now. On April Kate O’Connell, Marine Animal Consultant 22, one month after AFD filed a lawsuit against WAZA, arguing that WAZA Amey Owen, Public Relations Coordinator must stop endorsing members involved in dolphin hunting and other animal Michelle Pawliger, Farm Animal Policy Associate Mary Lou Randour, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, cruelty, WAZA’s Council voted unanimously to suspend JAZA for violating Animal Cruelty Programs and Training WAZA’s Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare. Following the suspension, JAZA Ava Rinehart, Senior Graphic Designer polled its 152 member facilities, including zoos as well as aquariums, and the Naomi Rose, Ph.D., Marine Mammal Scientist D.J. Schubert, Wildlife Biologist majority chose to remain with WAZA—meaning, for them, no more dolphins Sierra Seevers, Membership Coordinator acquired from Taiji. Regina Terlau, Executive Assistant Dave Tilford, Writer/Editor This historic win for dolphins, however, does not spell the demise of the Tara Zuardo, Wildlife Attorney Taiji hunts just yet. The town’s mayor, Kazutaka Sangen, vowed to continue For subscription inquiries or other information, dolphin hunting, and even suggested setting up a dolphin breeding center contact AWI at 900 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20003 to produce dolphins for sale. And there is a growing market for dolphins Phone: (202) 337-2332 Facsimile: (202) 446-2131 from non-WAZA members, including in China and the Middle East. We must Email: [email protected] Website: www.awionline.org continue to expose the truth concerning how these animals suffer, and hope ISSN 1071-1384 (print) the public in those countries will join us in saying no to dolphin captivity for ISSN 1930-5109 (online) our entertainment. follow us on Twitter: @AWIonline become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/animalwelfareinstitute ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE QUARTERLY 20 14 24 Summer 2015 VOLUME 64 NUMBER 3 ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES 14 A View from Inside the IWC ’s AWI PUBLICATIONS Scientifi c Committee 18 Testing Empathy While Showing None 4 New AWI Brochure Takes Aim 16 Saving the Vaquita: Mexico Acts, 18 Refi nement Grants Available: at Pet Primate Trade but Is It Enough? Promoting Ideas to Improve 21 Farm Animal Welfare: Laboratory Animal Welfare What You Can Do 19 Animal Suffering Makes for WILDLIFE Sloppy Science 4 Utah Case Casts Cloud over ESA REVIEWS 20 Setting Standards: How Best to 4 Hunting Group Wants Rhinos in Meet the Needs of Nonhuman 26 Saving the Pryor Mountain Mustangs Texas… for “Safekeeping” Primates in Research 27 BREACH 5 Airlines Nix Hunting Trophies in Hold 27 The Trap 5 Cecil the Lion Killed by American Hunter FARM ANIMALS 5 Zimbabwe Sells (Out) Elephant 21 Closing a Loophole on Veal Calves to China Calf Slaughter 6 Perilous Times to Be an Amphibian 21 Health Hazards in Chicken 24 Federal Agencies Seek to Stifl e Citizen Above Left: A mother humpback whale Production Exposed Participation in ESA Listing Process nudges her newborn to the surface for a 25 Using Drones to Survey Raptor Nests rst breath. (Simon K Ager) MARINE LIFE 28 Obama Administration Announces Top Right: A young rhesus macaque Pollinator Protection Plan 2 World Association of Zoos and Aquariums takes full advantage of aquatic Cuts Ties to Taiji Dolphin Slaughter enrichment at a primate sanctuary. 11 US Appeals WTO Ruling in Favor of GOVERNMENT & LEGAL AFFAIRS (Polly Schultz) Dolphin-Killing Tuna Fishermen 10 North Carolina Legislature Bottom Right: Protection or politics? The 12 AWI Petitions to Have Thorny Approves Ag-Gag Law US Fish and Wildlife Service must decide Skate Listed Under ESA 10 Sharks and Barks: Texas Two-Step by September whether to list the greater 12 Beluga Newborns Die at US Aquariums for Animals sage-grouse under the Endangered 12 Souvenir Sellers in Hawaii Busted 10 Illinois Steps Up for Children and Species Act. (USFWS Mountain-Prairie) for Wildlife Traffi cking Companion Animals, Steps Back 13 Study Shows Captivity Curtails on Bobcats Orca Lifespan 22 Animal Bills on the Hill 13 Ontario Says No to More 23 Sen. Booker Introduces Bill to Ban Orcas in Captivity Body-Gripping Traps in National Wildlife Refuges wildlife · briefly UTAH CASE CASTS CLOUD OVER ESA A case currently on appeal in federal courts could have serious implications for the scope of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The case involves the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens), a species listed as threatened under the ESA. The Utah prairie dog resides only in Utah. In November 2014, Judge Dee Benson of the US District Court for the District of Utah ruled that the federal government cannot regulate threatened species on private property if that JAMES MARVIN PHELPS MARVIN JAMES species’ habitat is entirely in one state and the species has A district court ruling leaves federal protection of Utah prairie no substantial effect on interstate commerce. The ruling dogs—and many other imperiled animals—in serious jeopardy. turned control of the prairie dog’s fate on nonfederal lands over to the state of Utah. One problem: more than two-thirds of the species effect on interstate commerce. The US Department of Justice listed under the ESA are found only in one state, and many has appealed the ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. of those, presumably, could be found to have no substantial AWI has joined an amicus brief arguing against the ruling. New AWI Brochure Takes Hunting Group Wants Aim at Pet Primate Trade Rhinos in Texas… for NONHUMAN PRIMATES of all sizes “Safekeeping” and species are kept as companion THE EXOTIC WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION (EWA) and animals in the United States—tens groupelephant.com have hatched a plan to fly 1,000 of of thousands of them according to South Africa’s orphaned white rhinos—about 6 percent of most estimates. that country’s white rhino population—to private ranches But these wild animals have in South Texas. no business in human homes. EWA claims the rhinos will be safer in South Texas Unlike in the wild, where they than South Africa, which is currently under an epidemic live in large social groups, almost of poaching. The idea, though, is not to place them in a all pet monkeys and apes are sanctuary, but rather to farm them out to private ranches kept in isolation, devoid of social and to breed them. EWA Executive Director Charly Seale contact with other primates, and in claims “These animals will never be in commerce, they will conditions completely inadequate not be sold, they will not be hunted.” for their health and well-being. If the plan seems dubious, it might be because the AWI favors laws to ban motto of the EWA is “promoting conservation through ownership of primates as commerce.” Read that last word to mean “trophy hunting,” companion animals.