SUMMER 2020 / VOLUME 69 / NUMBER 2 Institute Jill Carey, CPA has reached you. Nevertheless, for now, itmaybemore version ofthe For those ofyou whohave beenreceiving theprint risk while also treating animalsbetter. the riskofpandemics, andwhatwe candoto lessen this handling ofwildlife andfarm animalshasgreatly increased adopting shelter animals. We examine how global society’s this difficulttimeandhow people canhelp by fostering or We discuss thechallenges faced by animalshelters during devoted to animalwelfare asitrelates to thepandemic. educational nature series, andmore. Muchofthisissueis fascinating bookongrizzly bears andacouple ofabsorbing to end -killing contests inColorado, reviews ofa with you, where you willfindnews ofoursuccessful effort I’m pleased to share thesummerissueofourmagazine of AWI:Friends Dear Members andOther A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF AWI Alan E.Kessock, CPA, Alan E.Kessock, CPA Samuel Peacock, MD William S. Stokes, DVM Roger Payne, PhD Roger Fouts, PhD Mary Lee Jensvold,Mary PhD Christine Stevens Gerard Bertrand, 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 AWI Quarterly Treasurer Secretary at work, we atwork, are gladthatit John Walsh, MD Senior Policy Advisor Senior Angela King, Ambassador Tabarak Husain, Aline S. deAluja,DVM, Alexandra Alberg Agnes Van Volkenburgh, DVM, Bangladesh Public Relations Manager Director, Terrestrial Wildlife Program Director, Government Affairs Executive Director/General Counsel Marine AnimalConsultant Sue Fisher Viktor Reinhardt, DVM, PhD Kate Dylewsky Bethany Cotton, Esq. Nancy Blaney Nadia Adawi, Esq. Robert Schmidt,PhD Marjorie Fishman STAFF AND CONSULTANTS INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE

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Mexico Poland Joanna Makowska, PhD Johanna Hamburger, Esq. Joanna Grossman, PhD that are coming infrom those whoare stillable to doso, and contributions atthistime. We appreciate thekindcontributions related to thepandemic, we opted to forgo arequest for each year). However, because oftheeconomic disruption conduct amajorfundraising appeal (oneofonly two we do Lastly, Iwant to mentionthat atthistimeofyear we typically change thatwon’t back, beaproblem. would behappy to make thechange. Ifandwhenyou elect to us at than (orinadditionto) theprintedition.Ifso, please email also wishto receive adigital editionofthe convenient to have itsent to your homeinstead. You may Thank you for your continued concern for animals. we are grateful for allourmembersandfriendsregardless. Senior Advisor, AnimalCruelty Allison Ludtke Allie Granger Program Director, MarineAnimalProgram Laboratory AnimalAdvisor Policy Advisor Researcher Director, Farm AnimalProgram Digital Advocacy Manager Equine Program Manager Farm AnimalPolicy Associate Marine MammalScientist Marine AnimalConsultant Membership Coordinator Susan Millward Sydney Hearst Wildlife Attorney Naomi Rose, PhD Kate O’Connell Eric Kleiman Dena Jones Mary Lou Randour,Mary PhD Carly O’Beirne [email protected]

orcallusat202-337-2332,andwe With best wishes for you andyours, CFC# 10474 Tax ID#13-5655952 ISSN 1930-5109 (online) ISSN 1071-1384 (print) www.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 Executive Assistant Program Writer/Editor Wildlife Biologist Dave Tilford Regina Terlau-Benford Erin Sutherland,Esq. D.J. Schubert

Quarterly

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10 GIORGIO TROVATO GIORGIO

AWI QUARTERLY SUMMER 2020

ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES WILDLIFE 6 Handling and Training of Mice and 12 Colorado Bans Wildlife-Killing Contests Rats Results in Calmer Animals During 13 Humboldt County Adds Animal Experimental Procedures Protections to Wildlife 9 Science Shines Harsh Light on Management Contract Research Chinchilla Suppliers 13 An Ill Wind Manages to Blow 9 Newly Revamped: AWI’s Some Good Refi nement Database 14 Human Culpability in COVID-19 and Other Zoonotic Diseases COMPANION ANIMALS 18 : Series Shocks but Skates 10 Coronavirus and Pets: Saving Our Past Animal Suff ering Companion Animals 28 Horse Rescues Hard Pressed GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ABOUT THE COVER by Pandemic 4 Horse Transportation Safety Act A ground pangolin (Smutsia Poised to Move Forward temminckii). Pangolins are the world’s 4 Bans Horse-Drawn Carriages FARM ANIMALS most traff icked mammal, hunted for 22 AWI Releases Latest Update on 4 Legislators Push for Animal their meat and scales, which—though Humane Slaughter Enforcement Welfare Measures made of simple keratin—are coveted 24 Research Foundation Aims to 5 USDA Steps Up—and Steps Back— for inclusion in traditional medicines. Improve the Lives of Farm Animals with New License Renewal Rules Wildlife trade, both legal and illegal, 24 Kentucky to Allow Vets to Report is not just harmful to animals. It’s Animal Abuse REVIEWS harmful to us. This year, we are fi nding 25 Pandemic Presents Extra Challenges 26 One of Us for Farm Animal Welfare out just how dangerous it can be, as 27 Night on Earth the COVID-19 virus—which jumped 27 Seven Worlds, One Planet to us from captured wildlife—spreads MARINE LIFE around the globe and wreaks havoc 19 Captive Animals at Shuttered Marine on human society. For more on how Attractions Left in Limbo wildlife trade and deadly pandemics 20 Study Shows Human Impacts on Disease Transmission in the Ocean are intertwined, turn to page 14. 20 Okhotsk Orcas Gain Protections Photograph by Jeff rey Van Daele. 21 Sea Turtles Thriving on Unoccupied Beaches 21 As Sea Traff ic Stalls, Oceans Grow Quieter www.facebook.com/animalwelfareinstitute

@AWIonline @AWIonline government affairs urban environments. Conditions are often end carriage rides in the billthissession, thehighest level There are 132lawmakers cosponsoring (D-NV), andBrianFitzpatrick (R-PA). (D-TN), Peter King(R-NY), DinaTitus led by Representatives Steve Cohen Congress, theHTSA (HR1400) isbeing on top ofoneanother. Inthecurrent containing two ormore levels stacked across state lines inamotor vehicle prohibit thetransportation ofhorses Safety Act (HTSA)—a billthatwould passage oftheHorse Transportation To remedy this, AWI haslong called for single-deck trailers. injured indouble-deck trailers thanin that horses are far more likely to be adequate headroom for equines” and that these vehicles “do notprovide of Agriculture itself hasconcluded hogs, nothorses. TheUSDepartment and stouter animalssuchascattle and trailers are designed to haulshorter their low ceiling clearance, these can lead to debilitating injuries. With transport horses isinhumaneand The use ofdouble-deck trailers to MOVE FORWARD SAFETY ACT POISED TO HORSE TRANSPORTATION pulling carriages in overwhelmingly to The Chicago City the WindyCity. hard for horses Council voted

THOMAS HAWK Spooked horses canlead to carriages air pollution,andtraffic congestion. exposed to temperature extremes, carriages oncity streets while being endure long hourspulling1,000-pound Horses conscripted into thisbusiness the city. Thelawtakes effect next year. the use ofhorse-drawn carriages in Chicago CityCouncil voted 46–4 to ban was gained whenthe a majorvictory In othernews related to horse welfare, the HTSA reaches thefinishline. spearheading theeffort to ensure that programs. AWI willcontinue to reauthorize federal transportation advance ofaSeptember 30deadline the full House later thissummerin The billisexpected to bevoted onby the HTSA isincludedinthispackage. its surface transportation bill,and and Infrastructure Committee unveiled went to press, theHouse Transportation delighted to report that,asthis issue since itwas firstintroduced. We are of cosponsorship thebillhasgarnered DRAWN CARRIAGES CHICAGO BANS HORSE- AWI QUARTERLY GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS 4 SUMMER 2020 bipartisan groupbipartisan of78representatives welfare positions onrecord. A with legislators to get strong animal this spring, AWI nonetheless worked kept Congress more orless shuttered Although thecoronavirus pandemic not humanetreatment ofanimals.” comingling withcement mixers. That’s fumes from theback ofCTA buses and horses “weren’t bred to besuckinggas summed uptheissuewell, notingthat horses alike. Alderman Brendan Reilly tipping over, endangering people and options have beenexhausted.” should “only beused whenallother drowns andsuffocates birds)(which circumstances, andwater-based foam should notbeused underany letter stated thatventilation shutdown during thepandemic. Thecongressional methods for depopulation ofanimals to ensure farmers use only humane ofAgricultureDepartment urging it of Congress sent aletter to theUS onpagearticle 25.) Twenty members large numbers offarm animals. (See to consider killingand disposing of is causingsome agricultural operations Meanwhile, alackofslaughter capacity violence incidents. have led to anincrease indomestic isolation neededto break thepandemic the stay-at-home orders andsocial pets. Thisisespecially criticalnow, as domestic violence andtheir survivors and transitional housingassistance for provide grants for emergency shelter the PAWS program, created in2018 to letters requested additionalfunding for companion animals. Thecongressional domestic violence with survivors relief for legislation includesupport leadership thatanycoronavirus- and 32senators asked theirrespective MEASURES FOR ANIMAL WELFARE LEGISLATORS PUSH GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

New USDA licensing rules mandate better care of dogs held by dealers, researchers, and exhibitors. Unfortunately, the rules are silent on the welfare of other animals.

USDA Steps Up— and Steps Back— with New License Renewal Rules

he US Department of Agriculture

T is making significant changes ANIMALS WE / MCARTHUR JO-ANNE to the licensing requirements under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), and is increasing requirements for dogs at the the inspector arrives. Inspectors dogs and preventive health care will premises of dealers, research facilities, will be busy conducting pre-license be required. Research facilities will and exhibitors. The final regulations, inspections, so it is unknown how have to maintain records for three published in the Federal Register on many unannounced compliance years after the death of the dog, but May 13, will go into effect in November. inspections will be possible during the dealers and exhibitors will only be three-year period between pre-license required to maintain them for one year. Year after year, licensees with histories inspections. Particularly disturbing is Finally, dogs must have continuous of subjecting their animals to appalling that it appears that any citations the access to potable water, while cats and mistreatment have had their annual licensee receives during unannounced monkeys may still have their access to license renewals rubber-stamped by compliance inspections—regardless water limited to twice a day, and other the USDA, resulting in the continued of how egregious or numerous they species may receive water only once suffering of untold numbers of animals. may be—will not be considered by the a day. Continuous access to water so However, under the new regulations, USDA in determining if a new license that animals do not suffer from thirst the USDA will be ending its practice of will be issued. Instead, the department is essential to animal health and well- automatically renewing the licenses will only consider the results of its being. It is incomprehensible that the of dealers and exhibitors regardless announced pre-license inspections. USDA has again failed to implement of whether they are in compliance basic animal welfare and veterinary with the AWA. In the fall, the USDA The other change mandates new, more care standards for all covered species. will begin requiring all new or existing extensive requirements—but just for licensees to apply for new licenses the care of dogs, not for all species. The USDA must seek to ensure that all every three years, and each will have These additional requirements are of its inspections, whether pre-license to demonstrate compliance with the welcome, but it is incongruous that or routine compliance, are conducted minimum standards under the law dogs are the only beneficiaries. Under in a thorough, well-documented through pre-license inspections. the new rules, “Facilities with dogs manner. It must also continue to will be required to have an expanded use unannounced inspections Unfortunately, each applicant for a Program of Veterinary Care (PVC) that and, if warranted, take appropriate license will have up to three chances includes annual, hands-on veterinary enforcement actions. And it is essential to pass its pre-license inspection. exams for adult dogs by the attending that the department further revise its Further, each of these inspections will veterinarian and addresses husbandry regulations to expand its most basic be scheduled in advance, providing issues for hair coat, toenails, teeth, requirements for veterinary care and an opportunity for the facility to hide skin, eyes, and ears.” Medical records continuous access to water to all the or gloss over any deficiencies before regarding treatment of ill and injured animals it regulates.

AWI QUARTERLY 5 SUMMER 2020 Curious rats peer out from an observation box. Gentle handling and early training of rats in research reduces their stress. CAMILLA BENGTSSON CAMILLA Handling AND Training OF Mice AND Rats RESULTS IN Calmer Animals DURING EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES

by Camilla Bengtsson and Marie Eriksson, Researchers/ actively worked to improve the welfare of mice and rats in Project Leaders, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden toxicology studies in order to reduce stress, anxiety, and fear. By handling and training the animals gently, with or most people with pets, handling and training their respect for individual differences, we have reduced stressful animals is important. Living with an “undomesticated” behaviors and shown that collaboration and social contact F pet can be trying, especially when the day comes for are possible between laboratory animals and handlers in a visit to the veterinarian. The same should be true for our experimental procedures. laboratory rodents. If we handle and train them well, our work with the animals becomes easier and safer, and we help the We handle and train all our rodents from the very first animals feel safe in the procedures to which they are exposed. day they arrive at our facility, usually at 4–7 weeks old. All animals are individuals. This becomes very clear when We take this very seriously within the in-vivo department unpacking the animals, who will engage in differing of RISE Research Institutes of Sweden. Since 2015, we have defensive behaviors—in rodents, most commonly flight,

AWI QUARTERLY 6 SUMMER 2020 freeze, or fight. The unpacking procedure itself, therefore, Our rats live in groups of 2–10 in modified rabbit cages, is very important for our understanding of and continued but upon arrival they are first placed in traditional cages in collaboration with the animals. smaller groups. They stay in the smaller cages during the first two handling sessions. The reason for this is to avoid How we handle and train the animals from arrival until the having to chase rats in the big cages before they have become study begins will be the foundation for how well the animals used to us and the environment. We want to avoid inducing cope with the various procedures they will encounter in the defensive behaviors and keep them as calm as possible. study. Trust is the most important aspect of animal handling and training. We avoid forced restraint and sedation if possible. When the animals are ready to move to their big cages, they go out in our observation boxes. In these boxes, we can We should also think about how the animals perceive their observe them easily and evaluate the progress resulting from environment. What do they see, hear, smell, and feel? How our previous contact. We always want the animals to feel safe can we help them get a positive picture of their new situation approaching us. and of us, and how can we help them have as good a life as possible as a laboratory animal? The cage—their new home— We handle and train all our animals approximately five times must be designed carefully in order to best meet the animals’ before the study begins during the acclimatization period, primary needs. regardless of the length of the planned study. Our goal is to build trust and create recognition in the procedure(s) the Most rodents are housed in groups, so we need to ask: animals will be exposed to in the study. We want them to Do they have the ability to eat, drink, and rest without trust us, our hands, and a Vetbed (a plush mat designed for competition from other individuals? Are there enough animals to rest on) that we always use during handling and activities to keep them occupied during their waking periods? training and in the study. The training is documented, and the Rodents need bedding material, chew sticks, multiple levels, observations we record mainly relate to the animals’ defense and room to stand up straight and climb. and stress behaviors.

The environment outside the cage is also important. Light, During the first training session, the most common behaviors temperature, and humidity need to be optimal. Rodents are we see are freeze and flight (seldom fight), vocalization, very sensitive to noise, so it is important to consider how they defecation, urination, back flipped ears, eyes half shut or perceive potentially disturbing noises such as ventilation and shut, stiff body and tail, and agitated tails. We can also see the noise we make when we work in the room. if there are any outliers in stress reactivity. Some animals

Mice explore an activity box. In laboratories, mice deserve sufficient space in enriched environments and—with proper treatment and training—can form a trusting, cooperative relationship with people.

SUSANNA NEVALA SUSANNA AWI QUARTERLY 7 SUMMER 2020 Rat resting on a Vetbed while a technician gently habituates the rat to tail touching.

Handling and training rodents before a study begins can seem time-consuming, but the truth is that it saves time. When we start our studies, we never have problems with dosing and sampling procedures due to stressed and struggling animals, and we minimize stress-related mistakes. Most important of all is that we have calm animals who collaborate with us in all situations even though it is not all pleasant, and we can do our work with great comfort knowing we have done everything possible to create a good welfare situation for our

CAMILLA BENGTSSON CAMILLA animals during their stay here with us.

It also allows us to get to know our animals and their are simply more scared than others, and this can be good to behavior well before the study, which results in us making know before the study begins, especially when it comes to much more accurate observations of them in the actual study. making relevant observations concerning what can occur It is easier for us to see if a behavior is due to the compound in the study. Although the training may be conducted every or stress. Stress affects the whole-body system, so we also day, we prefer handling mice—who, in our experience, are believe that the test results are more reliable if the animals more easily stressed than rats—every second or third day. are calm and happy. We see so many advantages of handling Early on, we focus on calm handling and cuddles, just to let and training the animals that it has become a standard the animals realize that we are friendly, our hands are safe, procedure, documented in all our study files. and that the Vetbed is nice to sit on. One session takes 1–2 minutes and can be done individually or with cage mates on Looking back at our careers working with laboratory rodents, a table or in the lap. we regret that for so many years we didn’t consider these factors. Cognitive ethology wasn’t so accepted years ago, During session 2 through 5, we focus more on the training for but today most people have a different view of animals in upcoming procedures. If the animals are to be dosed orally, general, and more and more people in a variety of fields see we train the dose grip. At session 5, we give them a little bit the advantage of working with unstressed and cooperative of water through a soft tube. We also train different sampling animals. It’s timesaving, educational and, most importantly, procedures. If the sampling is to be done by the tail, we handle better welfare for the animals and the personnel (no animal the tail more, and pick at it gently with our nails. If we are to lover wants to distress animals in their daily work). It’s also sample via saphenous vein, we train to familiarize them with better for scientific outcomes, since calmer animals are more the grip and with the noise of the shaving machine. If the “normal” physiologically and behaviorally, and therefore more animals must be put in restrainers, e.g., for inhalation studies, representative of the humans for whom they serve as models. we train the animals to freely enter the restrainer by putting a treat in the front of the restrainer. We have produced two short videos showing our work, available for viewing at https://bit.ly/3e5M1DW. We also All training is reward based, and the reward can be hope to get funding to produce a one-hour educational something good to eat, gentle touch, an activity (e.g., film, explaining in detail how and why we train and work climbing), or voice reward. We aim to always end a training with our animals, for those who want to apply this process session with something positive; the same applies after to improve welfare for their laboratory animals in their own procedures in a study. All our animals seem to enjoy going circumstances and environment. out in the observation boxes (see photo, page 6), so this can also be used as a positive reinforcer. Small changes often lead to bigger ones, and when a high culture of care has been accepted, there is no turning back. The training and handling protocols are general and flexible All animals, regardless of their situation in life, always and could easily be transferred to other research areas, should be treated with love and handled with respect for the facilities, or even breeders. Our documentation, photos, and individual. Our laboratory animals should be looked upon as films help us to learn more about “best practices” for different our companions and heroes. Without them, we would not individuals and strains, and we can use them to create be where we are today. If we really need to use them in our educational materials for others. science, we should do this with great care!

AWI QUARTERLY 8 SUMMER 2020 ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES

recent papers in journals including Cell “most authors of chinchilla papers and SCIENCE SHINES HARSH and Science Translational Medicine.” their institutions did not respond to LIGHT ON RESEARCH Science’s queries about their suppliers.” CHINCHILLA SUPPLIERS A hearing before an administrative law Their silence suggests they’d prefer such I would not allow animals from this judge of the charges against MCR—an questions were not raised. facility into my program. So stated operation with a “9-year record of Tracy Parker, president of the American violations”—was scheduled for April 6 Association for Laboratory Animal but has been postponed indefinitely. Science (AALAS), in a hard-hitting Against RCR, the USDA has taken no NEWLY REVAMPED: AWI’S article by Meredith Wadman in late action, despite a 2017 citation “for REFINEMENT DATABASE May in the prestigious journal Science. failing to disclose the existence of 1000 AWI is pleased to announce the Parker was referring to Moulton chinchillas and for using an unspecified addition of new features to our online Chinchilla Ranch (MCR) in Chatfield, ‘painful’ and ‘unacceptable’ method of Refinement Database. These features Minnesota, a supplier that was the euthanasia.” Both suppliers have been make the database more searchable subject of an article in the spring 2020 cited repeatedly by the USDA for failure and improve its usability, making it AWI Quarterly. She indicated that MCR to provide appropriate veterinary care. easier to find current information on is included in the AALAS Buyers Guide ways to improve conditions for specific simply because it is licensed by the US A University of Rochester geneticist who animals and specific topics. Department of Agriculture. It is up to used MCR chinchillas in a study several researchers and institutions, Parker years ago called the USDA complaint The Refinement Database curates says, to check for compliance with the against MCR and photos from two 2017 scientific articles, books, and other Animal Welfare Act (AWA). inspections (obtained by the nonprofit publications, and is intended Animal Folks) “‘disturbing.’” She added, to provide the most up-to-date USDA inspection reports, according “‘There is no excuse for such preventable information on appropriate housing, to Science, indicate MCR and another injuries as sores under tight-fitting husbandry, and care of research chinchilla supplier—Ryerson Chinchilla collars. … I hope an alternative vendor animals to improve or safeguard Ranch (RCR) in Plymouth, Ohio— with higher standards would be their welfare. Created in 2000, the “failed to identify and treat sick and available for the research community.’” database now contains more than injured animals, kept them in filthy 7,000 citations (with abstracts) and is barns and excrement-laden enclosures, AWI, which provided information to updated every three months. and failed to clear dead animals.” USDA Science for the article, believes this inspectors documented numerous exposé illustrates a callous disregard for The new features allow users to filter AWA violations by MCR and RCR, the animal welfare—extending to many in their search by “animal type” and “topic,” two suppliers “most often cited in research. In fact, according to Science, in addition to using a keyword to search. The database covers a wide range of species—including common ones (e.g., animals in laboratories animals in macaques, mice, rats, zebrafish) and less common ones (e.g., cephalopod, salamander, trout, zebra finch)—that are housed in various contexts, such as laboratories, farms, and . Topics covered include abnormal behaviors, analgesia, animal training, biological sampling, environmental enrichment, social housing, welfare assessment, and many more. The database also includes publications on the refinement of methods used in wildlife research.

The database is available at www.awionline.org/refinement. USDA

AWI QUARTERLY 9 SUMMER 2020 CORONAVIRUS & PETS: Saving Our Companion Animals

by Caroline A. Griff in, Esq., AWI Board of Directors communities. While abused animals will continue to be protected, many other services have been suspended. e have borne witness to the devastating eff ects of WCOVID-19, which is wreaking havoc throughout the The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) and across the globe. While our attention has issued a series of statements providing guidance during has been focused on protecting human health, companion these unprecedented times, clarifying which services are animals have also fallen victim to the pandemic, as shelter “essential” and should be continued during the pandemic. and animal control services have been slashed. Moreover, These include responding to calls for injured or sick stray shelters potentially face a catastrophic number of animal animals, cruelty and neglect complaints, and dangerous surrenders in the coming months, given the economic and aggressive dog complaints. hardship on millions of people. Fortunately, we can take steps now to avert the euthanasia of healthy dogs and cats In an eff ort to contain the virus, NACA has recommended, due to lack of space. however, that animal control off icers suspend all non- emergency services, such as leash law and licensing Municipal and other open admission shelters are bearing complaints and barking and nuisance complaints. the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike private Moreover, because many shelters are operating as disaster/ shelters that pick and choose the animals in their care—and emergency response centers, NACA has also recommended can even close their doors during the pandemic—open that animal control off icers discontinue non-emergency admission shelters cannot turn animals away. In addition intake and even return pets to the fi eld instead of to accepting animals from the public, these shelters work impounding them. These cutbacks will impose signifi cantly with local animal control agencies to care for the many lost, greater responsibility on members of the public to care for stray, abandoned, neglected, and abused animals in our the stray and homeless animals in their communities.

AWI QUARTERLY 10 SUMMER 2020 MROCZEK MICHAEL Compounding the problem further, most animal shelters have shut down their spay/neuter clinics in response to a request from the surgeon general that all non-essential surgeries for humans and animals be suspended to contain the virus and preserve personal protective equipment. NACA and prominent veterinary shelter medicine programs across the country have endorsed this recommendation. As Dr. Julie Levy of Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program has noted, treatment should be limited to those conditions that are “life-threatening, rapidly deteriorating, may cause permanent dysfunction, or relieve suffering.” Tragically, spay and neuter services for pets, shelter animals, or TNR (trap-neuter-return) are not considered essential services.

Many private veterinary clinics have similarly suspended routine spay/neuter surgeries in response to statewide executive orders, leaving community cat caretakers without any resources to spay and neuter free-roaming cats during the height of “kitten season,” when shelters face their highest intake.

Though the situation is dire, there are many ways we can Finally, we can help stem the tide of future animal surrenders help. While shelters are in urgent need of financial support, by donating food and supplies to those on the brink of losing nonmonetary assistance is equally important. Many people their animals due to economic hardship. Many shelters have fostered—and even adopted—animals while working maintain food pantries for the public and accept unopened at home, thereby alleviating the workload of shelters while food, cat litter, and supplies that are distributed to those in they operate on skeletal staffs. Fostering also creates need (some shelters publish “wish lists” of items on their a critical cushion for shelters when intake spikes and website). AWI is doing what we can to help (see below). provides physical and emotional benefits to foster families, particularly during a time of great uncertainty and isolation. People who work and volunteer for animal organizations see Shelters have implemented creative social distancing the worst and best of humanity. The current crisis reminds us protocols, utilizing technology such as Facetime, to introduce that we are not only connected to each other, but to every living shelter animals to potential fosters. Individuals interested being. Most of us feel overwhelmed and powerless by this in fostering should contact their local shelter directly or visit pandemic, but we can each take steps to preserve the human- www.stayhomeandfoster.org, a national initiative sponsored animal bond at a time when we need it most. It is within our by GreaterGood, which pairs people with shelters and power to save the lives of countless animals and we must act rescues in their area. now before it is too late.

AWI As detailed in the article above, can continue to provide food, banks for companion animals SUPPORTERS animal shelters are facing medicine, and other essential in areas particularly hard hit STEP UP extra hardships in their efforts supplies for the animals in their by the virus and its economic FOR ANIMAL to provide services during communities. We also called impacts. People responded in a SHELTERS the COVID-19 pandemic. on our supporters for help. big way. Many thanks to these AWI is doing what we can to This year, on “Giving Tuesday compassionate individuals, help in these unprecedented Now”—a worldwide day of whose generous contributions circumstances. We are providing charity modeled after Giving are helping to feed companion emergency financial assistance Tuesday in November—AWI animals in need. to shelters and services across committed to donating 100 the country to ensure that they percent of funds raised to food

AWI QUARTERLY 11 SUMMER 2020 wildlife MATT DIRKSEN to theColorado Parks andWildlife organizations thatsubmitted apetition of animalwelfare andconservation Last November, AWI led acoalition each participant. targeted inacontest to bekilled by up to five animalsof each species regulation adopted in1997 thatallowed Gunnison’s prairie dogs. Itnullifies a and white-tailed, black-tailed, and as well asWyoming ground squirrel, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, andswift fox, that target furbearers suchascoyote, country, prohibits killingcontests The ban, oneofthestrongest inthe held inColorado inthepast five years. Eighteen killingcontests have been smallest, orlargest animalskilled. animals killed andfor theheaviest, awards given for themost numberof prizes, andentertainment, often with participants killanimalsfor cash, contests are cruelevents inwhich banned wildlife-killing contests. Such In asignificantvictory, Colorado has CONTESTS WILDLIFE-KILLING COLORADO BANS depleted by unnatural means shown thatmanywildlife populations or . Scientific studies have prevent conflicts withpeople, pets, populations ofgame animals, or predator populations, increase supporters frequently claim—reduce carnivores does not—as contest Indiscriminate masskillingof science-based . they also underminemodern, These contests are notonly inhumane, by 16groups ofaban. insupport also submitted acoalition letter signed and therationale for those laws. AWI states’ laws banning killingcontests, killing contests inColorado, other meeting, andsubmittingmemos about giving apresentation attheApril commissionat theJanuary meeting, AWI supported thiseffort by testifying meeting andapproved inan8–3vote. presented attheAprilcommission ban killingcontests. Thisproposal was asked to draft aregulation thatwould which Colorado Parks andWildlife was commissionat theJanuary meeting, at game species. Theissuewas addressed contests for allfurbearers andsmall Commission requesting aban onkilling AWI QUARTERLY WILDLIFE 12 SUMMER 2020 animals killed are usually wasted. these events, andthecarcasses ofthe chase isfrequently disregarded in in general because theconcept offair forundermine publicsupport also fear thatkillingcontests could enhance game populations. Some numbers inthismannerdoes not recognized thatreducing predator Many state wildlife agencies have depredation. that increase thelikelihood oflivestock structure andforaging behaviorinways killing carnivores disruptstheirsocial exacerbates risks to livestock because indiscriminate killingofpredators likely to social structure. Furthermore, the competition for resources andchanges reproduce more quickly dueto less are now athingofthepast. coyotes andotheranimals inthestate savage killingcontests targeting Parks andWildlife Commission, Thanks to avote by theColorado ban killingcontests. more states to jointhemovement to York. AWI willcontinue to encourage Massachusetts, New Jersey, andNew worked ofbans inArizona, insupport to ourefforts inColorado, we have Wildlife KillingContests. Inaddition of theNationalCoalition to End member ofthesteering committee contests across thecountry andisa AWI iscommitted to endingthese Jersey, New York, andOregon). Newstates Hampshire, (Maryland, New wildlife-killing contests infive other legislation hasbeenproposed to ban into banning killingcontests, and recently voted to conduct aninquiry Fish andWildlife Commissionalso Mexico, andVermont. TheWashington California, Massachusetts, New killing contests, joiningArizona, Colorado isthesixthstate to outlaw MENNO SCHAEFER ecologically harmful killingmethods, requirements and restricts cruelor new contract also imposes reporting and given adequate timeto The work. measures have beenimplemented areas untilallfeasible nonlethal with humansinurban orsuburban kill animalsinvolved inconflicts and death. Theagency cannolonger reforms to reduce wildlife suffering Services to implement numerous The new contract requires Wildlife impacts ontheenvironment. methods withoutconsidering their Act by allowing theuse oflethal the California Environmental Quality letter thatitsexisting contract violated the coalition notifiedthe county ina result ofnegotiations thatbegan after native species. Thenew contract isthe adds vital protections for thecounty’s killing program, Wildlife Services, that contract withthefederal wildlife- County, California, approved anew groups, includingAWI, Humboldt of animalprotection andconservation Responding to advocacy by acoalition CONTRACT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT PROTECTIONS TO ADDS ANIMAL HUMBOLDT COUNTY wondrous things are happening inthe cannot beglossed over. Even so, some caused andwillcontinue to cause the heartbreak anddisruptionithas the pandemic isextremely dire, and Most ofthenews we receive during threatened legal action. after thecoalition andotherstook or either voluntarily orby court order— their contracts withWildlife Services— considered theenvironmental effects of have allterminated, suspended,or Sonoma, andMendocino counties program. Shasta, Siskiyou, Monterey, to reform itswildlife management county thecoalition called upon Humboldt isthemost recent California skunks, and112 opossums. 23 mountain lions, 483 raccoons, 880 coyotes, 54blackbears, 43gray foxes, native animals, including atleast 178 nearly 2,000 ecologically important employed Wildlife Services to kill From 2008 to 2017, Humboldt County and body-gripping traps. such aspesticides, lead ammunition, TO BLOW SOME GOOD AN ILL WIND MANAGES AWI QUARTERLY WILDLIFE 13 SUMMER 2020 In majorcities, airpollutionhasdropped taken to thedeserted streets. populated Santiago, Chile, cougars have Kruger NationalPark. Even inheavily elusive lionsare nappingontheroad in freely inYosemite NationalPark. Usually other animalsare roaming muchmore Bears,bouncing back. coyotes, and wildlife ismoving inandhabitats are stream (and,insome cases, sidewalk), temporarily abandon field, forest, some measure ofcheer. Ashumans natural world thatperhaps canprovide landscapes are rebounding. out intheopen,andnatural wild animalsare venturing pandemic, black bearsandother activity onhold duringthe and With humanindustry normal to includeonce thathappens. strongly consider just whatwe want our should give uspause—and make us will return. Butallthese observations Eventually, some version of“normal” yard, alocal orpubliclands. park, can findinnature—whether their own for thefirsttimehow much solace they people are remembering ordiscovering advocates for animalsasaresult. And of thenatural world andbecome people willbeexposed to thewonders Attenborough. Hopefully, more young famed conservationist SirDavid with atleast onelesson featuring on wildlife andhabitats free ofcharge, up to offer onlinecurriculum focused teachers andorganizations are stepping imposed onoureducationsystems, Even amidthesevere hardships and reducing theirexposure to toxins. them more food sources asthey migrate pollinators andsongbirds by giving to bloom—presumably benefiting areas, allowing ariotofwildflowers roadways hasnotoccurred inmany and spraying ofherbicides along smog for decades. Theusualmowing more easily andsee views masked by sharply, allowing citizens to breathe Human Culpability in COVID-19 and Other Zoonotic Diseases

AWI QUARTERLY 14 SUMMER 2020 A number of deadly pandemics, including COVID-19, have been triggered by trade in wild animals. Pictured clockwise from top left: rhesus macaque, Asian palm civets, grey parrot, fruit bats. Photos by Antonio_CSI, kapulya, We Animals, loeskieboom.

Being responsible and sheltering at home is one way to limit WILDLIFE TRADE the spread of COVID-19. Changing our relationship with The ever-growing global wildlife trade is bringing people wildlife and farm animals, however, would help keep deadly and animals into close and prolonged contact in ways that zoonotic diseases out of the human population to begin with. enable diseases for which we have no immunity to spill over to humans. Live wild animals are traded domestically and While much speculation exists about the origin of COVID-19, internationally as pets, food, and for use in laboratories and the near-total consensus among epidemiology experts is that zoos, while dead wild animals and their parts are traded as it originated in a wild animal and infected humans at a , traditional medicine ingredients, trinkets, trophies, animal market in Wuhan, China. At such open-air markets, and clothing. A sobering 18 percent of the planet’s known domestic and wild animals—live and dead—are sold for terrestrial vertebrate wildlife—over 5,500 species—are already human consumption. part of the wildlife trade, with several thousand additional species predicted to enter the trade in the years to come. COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease, one that “jumps” or “spills As more and more species become part of this trade, the over” from animals to humans. The original source was likely likelihood of pathogen transmission will continue to rise. a bat—like other coronaviruses, COVID-19 exists naturally in bat populations, where it does not necessarily harm The United States is one of the top importers of such wildlife, the host animal. However, before it jumped to humans, having grown into the second largest market for wildlife trade an intermediate host may have been involved —perhaps a in the world. A significant proportion of this multibillion- pangolin, since they, as well as bats, were sold at the market dollar industry is legal and largely unregulated. For example, and are known to play host to similar viruses. (The sale of tens of thousands of monkeys are imported for use in medical bats at the market was legal, while the sale of pangolins was research and tens of thousands of birds and small animals, not. Widespread, illegal trade in pangolin meat and scales— including African grey parrots, sugar gliders, and slow lorises, used in traditional medicine—is rampant and is devastating are imported for the pet trade. Permits may be required, but pangolin populations.) they are cheap and rarely denied. The regulations that do exist are often limited in scope and inadequately enforced. COVID-19 is but the latest in a long and accelerating history Animals in trade—even legal trade—are often transported of such diseases. The Centers for Disease Control and under abysmal conditions. It is also very difficult to ensure Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 70 percent of new that animals allowed in under the assertion that they were and emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. With our bred in captivity were not in fact caught in the wild. interconnected world, these zoonotic disease outbreaks spread rapidly and, with relative ease, become global The societal ramifications of wildlife trafficking are severe. pandemics. While COVID-19 almost certainly emerged from According to the United Nations, “Wildlife trade is a big direct contact with wildlife, other zoonotic diseases are business, run by international criminal networks, trafficking transferred to humans via domestic animals. wildlife and animal parts much like illegal drugs and arms.” The Al-Shabab terrorist group, to cite just one example, In just the past 40 years, the worst pandemics and is partially funded by ivory poaching. UN Environment epidemics—including SARS, Ebola, HIV/AIDS, the H5N1 Programme Executive Director Achim Steiner warns, “The avian flu, the H1N1 swine flu, and COVID-19—have all victims of wildlife crime are not only the animals and happened against a backdrop of increasing trade and ecosystems that are devastated by poaching and trafficking, consumption of wildlife and destruction of wild habitat they are people as well. The human cost of poaching and and an increasing number of farm animals warehoused in illegal trade in wildlife is measured in lives lost to the criminal concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). So, while networks involved and livelihoods destroyed by the erosion of the origins are sometimes shrouded in mystery and subject a natural economic foundation.” to scientific sleuthing, the answer as to which species is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic—as well as other Moreover, legal and illegal wildlife trade are often inextricably disease outbreaks—is clear: It’s us. linked, with legal trade used as a cover for trafficked animals

AWI QUARTERLY 15 SUMMER 2020 and parts. And while stricter enforcement of domestic laws and international treaties could help, these laws and agreements are not focused on preventing zoonotic disease transmission and are therefore insufficient for preventing the next pandemic. Discussions are underway, therefore, on ways to revise national and international law to address zoonotic disease risks. Two areas of focus are live animal markets and the trade in wildlife itself. In April, a bipartisan group of US lawmakers called on the World Health Organization, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to achieve “a global shut down of live wildlife markets and a ban on the international trade of live wildlife that is not intended for conservation purposes.” The 1918-1919 influenza pandemic that infected one-third of the world’s population and killed at least 50 million Meanwhile, habitat destruction around the world is people was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian accelerating, resulting in staggering declines in the origin. (The “H1” and “N1” refer to particular proteins abundance and diversity of wildlife, with over 1 million that inhabit the outer shell of the virus.) In April 2009, a species facing extinction worldwide in the coming decades. novel H1N1 swine flu strain, likely emerging from pigs in When wild animals’ habitat is destroyed or degraded, the central Mexico, caused another global pandemic. Though likelihood and frequency of humans coming into contact it was less deadly than the 1918-1919 H1N1 virus, the CDC with those animals increases, as does the corresponding risk estimates that in the United States alone, 60.8 million of pathogen transmission. Incidents of emerging zoonotic individuals became infected in the year after the swine flu diseases have increased significantly since 1940, a trend that emerged, and over 12,000 of those people died. While it strongly correlates with accelerating habitat destruction. is unclear how many pigs may have been depopulated to prevent the spread of this virus, Indonesia ordered that 9 ANIMAL AGRICULTURE million pigs be inspected for the illness, and Egypt ordered We also catch zoonotic diseases from farm animals. This the slaughter of all 300,000 pigs within the state where an kind of transmission often occurs when a wildlife reservoir outbreak occurred. for a disease transmits an infective agent to a farm animal, which is then transmitted to humans. In addition to The Nipah virus, first identified in 1998 in Malaysia, can the human toll, this kind of transmission often leads to spread to humans from bats and pigs, food sources, and “depopulating” (killing, but not for consumption) of large human-to-human contact. As of May 2018, about 700 human numbers of farm animals suspected of carrying the virus, cases of Nipah virus had been reported, and 50 to 75 percent even when no diagnosis is confirmed. of these cases were fatal. A second outbreak in Kerala, India, occurred in May 2018, resulting in 17 human deaths. Millions One example, avian influenza, is a viral infection of pigs were depopulated in Malaysia in response to the first originating in aquatic birds. While such viruses are outbreak to curb the spread of the disease. particularly adapted to birds, they can be transmitted to humans who interact with infected birds. Once in humans, Current agricultural production practices greatly increase the person-to-person transmission is possible. Highly risk of zoonotic disease transmission. In today’s industrial pathogenic avian influenza strains can move through systems, the vast majority of farm animals are raised in domestic bird populations rapidly due to the close, CAFOs—factory farms where they are often confined by unhygienic conditions in which these animals are usually the thousands in crowded, unsanitary environments that raised. Such strains are typically fatal to domestic poultry, facilitate the rapid transmission of virulent pathogens and and depopulation of infected flocks is extremely common infectious diseases from host to host. Farm animals in these globally to protect uninfected flocks. From December environments may also experience high levels of stress from 2014 to June 2015, for example, nearly 50 million chickens overcrowding and the inability to perform natural behaviors, and turkeys in the United States were killed after being which can weaken their immune systems and increase exposed or potentially exposed to avian influenza. susceptibility to infection.

AWI QUARTERLY 16 SUMMER 2020 The limited genetic diversity among farm animals—a result States since 2017. However, antibiotics may still be used in the of decades of selective breeding to maximize productivity and United States for “disease prevention” in animals. (See AWI eff iciency—further contributes to the spread of disease in Quarterly, summer 2019). When provided in this manner for large-scale animal agriculture operations. A number of studies prolonged periods at low doses, such antibiotics help build suggest that lack of genetic variation allows for pathogens to bacteria’s resistance to them, and these antibiotic-resistant rapidly adapt to the host population and hinders the animals’ bacteria can be passed to humans, with devastating eff ects. ability to develop resistance to the pathogen. According to the World Health Organization, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest global threats to human And live animal markets are not only found “elsewhere.” At live health, food security, and economic development. animal markets across the United States, birds are held and slaughtered on-site, and pigs, cows, sheep, goats, domestic CONCLUSION rabbits, and various species of wildlife, are confi ned in close If we are to reduce the risk of future catastrophic zoonotic proximity, further increasing the risk of disease transmission disease outbreaks, it is imperative that we recognize how and outbreaks. To date, the United States has not taken steps our relationships with animals—particularly livestock and to close down its live animal markets. wild animals subject to trade—are exacerbating these risks and that we take immediate action to mitigate such risks. The routine administration of antimicrobials to farm This includes curtailing wildlife trade and closing live animal animals—another byproduct of industrial farming—is markets in order to reduce the risk of disease transmission also extremely troubling. In this case, though, it does not between animals and humans. While reining in wildlife trade directly increase the risk of viral disease transmission, but will signifi cantly aid in reducing the risk of future zoonotic rather hinders our ability to fi ght life-threatening bacterial disease in humans, we must also protect wildlife habitat to infections. Although some antimicrobials are used in animal reduce direct contact with wild animals not tied to trade. And agriculture to treat disease and illnesses (some of which can we must improve conditions for farm animals by transitioning be attributed to poor management practices and extreme to systems that promote human safety and the health and confi nement), the most controversial use of antibiotics in welfare of the animals, rather than prioritizing assembly line farm animals has been to promote growth and increase eff iciency and productivity. the eff iciency with which animals convert feed to fl esh. In recent years, the use of medically important antibiotics for Humanity has the capacity to prevent the next pandemic— growth promotion in animals has been outlawed in dozens of we need only to exercise the will to do so, for the benefi t of countries worldwide, and it has been prohibited in the United animals and people alike. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JO-ANNE MCARTHUR / WE ANIMALS WE / MCARTHUR JO-ANNE OF COURTESY PHOTOS

AWI QUARTERLY 17 SUMMER 2020 TIGER KING: Series Shocks but Skates Past Animal Suffering

tiger removed from a tiny public contact beginning at 4 weeks A apartment in New York City by old. At about 12 weeks, they become fi rst responders after he bit his owner. too big and dangerous for petting Lions running down the highway operations and are funneled into after 38 big cats were released in a the exotic pet trade, sold to another residential area of Zanesville, Ohio. A disreputable exhibitor, or killed— Tiger King, however, ignores all this teenager killed in as she posed some to supply the black market trade in order to train its lens on human with a tiger for senior portraits. There for wildlife parts. salaciousness and skullduggery. is no shortage of drama and tragedy The series also does a disservice to resulting from the exploitation of big The lives of some are particularly organizations working to rescue cats in the United States. miserable due to genetic and provide lifetime care to big cats, abnormalities. White tigers, for confl ating roadside zoos like those The Netfl ix docuseries Tiger King: example, are prized by exhibitors run by and with Murder, Mayhem and Madness fails for their unique appearance. Their sanctuaries that never breed, buy, or to tell any of these stories, however. It coloring, however, is the result of sell animals. True sanctuaries prioritize explores the bizarre and unscrupulous inbreeding for a recessive gene that the animals’ needs over profi tability dealings of big cat breeders and also causes severe health issues such and public entertainment. They house exhibitors in the United States, yet as cataracts, sensitivity to light, heart big cats in large, enriched enclosures devotes only a few moments to the defects, skull defects, and crippling that encourage natural behaviors. actual suff ering of the lions, tigers, hip dysplasia. In fact, the constant breeding of and other cats they cage, sell, and kill. big cats has placed an enormous Thousands of big cats are in captivity The full-grown big cats who end up burden on these sanctuaries, which in America, largely because of as pets are locked away in backyard cannot keep up with the number operations like the animal cages or basements—their presence of animals in need of rescue. park, formerly operated by Joe Exotic, (often undisclosed to neighbors) in featured in the series. These poorly residential areas a serious threat to The only solution to this problem is to regulated facilities, which profi t from public safety. Since 1990, there have prohibit private ownership of big cats tiger petting and photo ops, fuel a been nearly 380 dangerous incidents, and physical contact between cubs rampant and vicious cycle of breeding including human injuries, maulings, and the public. AWI is working to and dumping cubs. and deaths, involving captive big pass the Big Cat Public Safety Act (HR cats in 46 states and the District of 1380/S 2561), a federal bill that would Cubs at these facilities are often Columbia. In defusing such incidents, accomplish this. You can help. Please forcibly separated from mother cats fi rst responders put their own lives on visit www.awionline.org/BCPSA to immediately after birth. Federal the line. Often—as with the 38 cats in urge your members of Congress to guidance says they can be exposed to Zanesville—the animals die. cosponsor this legislation.

AWI QUARTERLY 18 SUMMER 2020 Captive Animals at Shuttered Marine Attractions Left in Limbo

Accredited zoos, aquariums, marine theme parks, and swim- obvious alternative, the unfortunate truth is that most with-dolphin operations—places that naturally concentrate animals in zoos or aquariums are now utterly dependent on large groups of people—were among the fi rst tourism humans feeding them, and there aren’t enough sanctuaries venues to close their doors in response to the COVID-19 to take them all. And sanctuaries are also facing economic pandemic. By May, over 90 percent of facilities belonging hardships during this time. The cold fact is that these to the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums had been animals have nowhere to go, and putting wildlife at the closed to the public. direct mercy of the dollar is a recipe for disaster whenever the economy is disrupted, for whatever reason. Does the The future of publicly traded theme parks generally is entertainment and recreational value of such facilities really uncertain; SeaWorld—the largest marine theme park in the justify this fate? United States—saw its stock tumble after the documentary Blackfi sh was released. As the company ended its orca On the other hand, free-ranging whales and dolphins may breeding program and shifted its emphasis to rides, the stock benefi t—though perhaps only temporarily—if the pandemic largely recovered. Now, however, SeaWorld stock has declined results in a severe curtailing of the live wildlife trade. Marine to its lowest level ever. On March 30, the company announced mammals are also potential sources of novel pathogens it would furlough 90 percent of its staff . This left only a small that can jump to humans, and it would be wise for society number of people across multiple parks to care for more than to protect itself—and the animals—by ending capture and 23,000 animals, from invertebrates to the famous orcas. (Two handling of belugas, bottlenose dolphins, and orcas, all of of the parks were planning to reopen mid-June; the California which are still often taken directly from the wild for display park has not yet indicated a reopen date.) in several countries. Certainly for now, the whales in Russia who were destined for oceanariums in China are safe from With countless human lives at stake, physical distancing rules the catchers’ nets. may need to be maintained, at least to a partial degree, for the foreseeable future. This is tourism’s high season in the northern International and regional associations are considering, hemisphere. Under these circumstances, the distressing reality or advising their members about, approaching governments is that some (perhaps many) facilities will cull their animals. It for pandemic relief funds. AWI urges any authorities will simply become untenable economically to continue to feed reviewing bailout proposals for facilities with marine them if the facilities are generating no or reduced revenue. Even mammal exhibits to consider putting conditions on funding, species with individual (and signifi cant) economic value, like such as public transparency on management decisions performing whales and dolphins, could face this outcome, as (including those involving ) and a ban on breeding of they are also very expensive to keep. cetaceans. Ideally such a ban would be permanent, as then public funds would not be supporting the continued captive While many might imagine that releasing captive animals holding of wide-ranging species inherently unsuited to to the wild or sending them to sanctuaries would be the confi nement in small spaces.

JO-ANNE MCARTHUR/BORN FREE MCARTHUR/BORN JO-ANNE AWI QUARTERLY 19 SUMMER 2020 marine life them were young andwere to besold Vladivostok, inRussia’s Far East.Allof Sea andheld inasea pencomplex near in asingle operation intheOkhotsk belugas and11orcas—were captured In summer2018, 101 whales—90 functioning. animals, theirhabitats, andecosystem have far-reaching consequences for all human impacts ontheenvironment The studyisfurther evidence that ecosystem function inunknown ways. of parasites could alter food webs and at firstglance seem beneficial, the loss though adecrease infishdiseases may authors caution,however, thateven transmission Thestudy opportunities. and thisinturncould limitdisease population numbersanddensities, may bebecause overfishing has reduced The decrease indisease reports for fish warming oceans dueto climate change. in corals andurchins were linked to Evidence ofincreased disease outbreaks as sharks, rays, andskates). elasmobranchs fishsuch (cartilaginous in disease reports for bonyfishand and urchins butasignificantdecrease increase indisease reports for coral They found evidence ofasignificant from sea grasses to marinemammals. within ninemarinetaxonomic groups, order to analyze disease outbreaks published between 1970 and2013 in and othersexamined relevant studies of theRoyal Society B 2019 studypublishedin occurrence inmarinespecies. Ina anthropogenic stressors to disease Recent studies have linked GAIN PROTECTIONS OKHOTSK ORCAS THE OCEAN TRANSMISSION IN IMPACTS ON DISEASE STUDY SHOWS HUMAN , Allison Tracy Proceedings

horrifically unsustainable number. period,a short the populationinavery constitutes more than16percent of released to anunknown fate—this killed duringcapture, orcaptured and sold to facilities inRussiaand China, population have beencaptured and members ofthismammal-eating orca In thepast eightyears, asmany40 area where thecaptures have occured. probably numberfewer than240 inthe this region, especially theorcas, which government to protect thewhales of AWI) continued to pressure the and theirinternational allies (including Several Russianenvironmental groups whales andordered theirrelease. prohibited thesale ofthecaptured In theend,Russiangovernment Quarterly orcas back to theirfamilies (see these captures andwork to release the urging Russianauthorities to end letters from international scientists AWI helpedorganize anddraft two ensued,and media. Aglobal outcry went viral oninternational social the whales languishingintinypens the “whale jail,” anddrone footage of Russia. Thisfacility becameknown as to marine themeparks inChinaand AWI QUARTERLY , summer2019). MARINE LIFE 20 SUMMER 2020 AWI AWI Now we mustdothesamefor fish- government listened to those voices. lovers around theworld. TheRussian calls for protection from animal been possible withoutthepassionate This achievement would nothave for commercial purposes. separated from theirfamilies andsold are now safe from beingpermanently meaning these intelligent predators includes those intheOkhotskSea, eating orcas inRussianwaters. This the Caspianseal andallmammal- Two ofthose were marinemammals— first new listings madein over 20 years. list, also known astheRed the Book, mammals onitsendangered species government announced itwould list14 In March 2020, theRussian belugas intheOkhotskSea. areas inRussianwaters) andthe eating orcas (found inmore remote species. Such alistingwillatlong last protect themfrom capture andsale to Russia’s “Red Book”ofendangered among theanimalsnewly listed in Orcas intheSeaofOkhotskare entertainment facilities.

SERGEY URYADNIKOV MARINE LIFE

Newborn leatherback turtles head for the sea. During this year’s nesting season, mother turtles have made full use of the largely empty sands.

SEA TURTLES THRIVING ON UNOCCUPIED BEACHES The nesting season of sea turtles has begun in the Northern Hemisphere. During this time, mother turtles digging nests in the sand are often disturbed by human beachgoers. Newborn hatchlings face similar disturbance when returning to the sea. However, VICBRUNO this year has seen elevated numbers of nests as COVID-19 restrictions have kept people away from beaches. light disorients baby turtles as they seismic airguns, and military active attempt to make their way to the sea. sonar, further reducing noise levels. In Florida, where the nesting season runs from March through October, This year’s early nesting numbers Ship noise can have a severe impact researchers have documented more are promising, but it is still too early on marine animals. Vocal mammals, nests at sites such as Juno Beach, to determine the true impact of the including cetaceans, call in the low- a few miles north of West Palm temporary human hiatus on sea turtles. frequency sound range, which overlaps Beach. According to the Loggerhead As more and more jurisdictions lift the with that of ship noise. This overlap Marinelife Center, as of May 8 there stay-at-home orders and beaches are can inhibit their communication, were 728 turtle nests, with 591 of them reopened, sea turtles yet to hatch may feeding, and threat avoidance. When loggerhead nests and the remaining 137 face the usual disturbances as they noise levels are reduced, researchers from the more vulnerable leatherbacks. head for the sea. expect animals to call more frequently Other southern states, such as Georgia and for their calls to be more and , have also experienced a complicated. Other marine animals, boom in sea turtle nesting this year. including fish and shrimp, can also be AS SEA TRAFFIC STALLS, impacted by anthropogenic noise, with Nesting sites in Brazil, Thailand, and OCEANS GROW QUIETER damage ranging from disturbance to India have seen similar results. In Ships carry over 90 percent of the hearing loss resulting in impacts in Brazil, around 100 hatchlings of the world’s trade. Recent research performance of their natural behaviors. critically endangered hawksbill sea conducted off the coast of British turtle were discovered in a single day in Columbia has found that reduced ship It is the first time since another human late March. Thailand has reported the traffic due to COVID-19 shutdowns tragedy—the 9-11 terrorist attacks— highest number of leatherback nests in has led to a reduction in ocean noise that worldwide movement has nearly two decades. and a resulting break for marine drastically slowed down. Researchers animals. Between January and April, a around the world are seizing this rare Human activities have long been an hydrophone station west of Vancouver opportunity to collect data and listen obstacle for sea turtles’ breeding and Island (and near a major shipping route to the oceans. Such data will help us survival. Turtles mating in shallow for container traffic) recorded a 16 better understand the usual impacts near-shore waters are killed and percent decrease in noise power—or 1.5 of anthropogenic noise on the oceans, injured by boats, while human activity decibels—compared to the same period and perhaps spur efforts to dampen on beaches makes it difficult for turtles of the year before. The pandemic has that impact in the future. to find good nesting locations. Artificial also cut down the use of explosives,

AWI QUARTERLY 21 SUMMER 2020 KRUMANOP

findings of our most recent research, which covers the period 2016–2018, include the following:

Federal humane slaughter enforcement remains relatively stable, while state enforcement continues to rise, particularly in terms of the number of plants temporarily suspended for egregious violations of the humane slaughter law. In addition, the number of citations (noncompliance records) for less serious offenses continues to increase under state enforcement.

Although state enforcement is up overall, the level of enforcement varies dramatically by state. For example, nearly half of the states operating meat inspection programs have issued no plant suspensions for humane slaughter violations since at least 2002, the year AWI began monitoring state enforcement. Moreover, one state—Louisiana— provided no evidence that it has even issued any citations for humane slaughter violations since at least 2002.

Inadequate stunning was the most frequently cited type of humane handling violation at both state and federal plants. Stunning is the process in which animals are rendered insensible to pain before they are shackled, hoisted on the AWI Releases slaughter line, and/or cut. The percentage of violations for ineffective stunning has increased dramatically over Latest Update the past decade, as the USDA and state departments of agriculture placed greater emphasis on monitoring the on Humane stunning phase of slaughter (see figure next page). Slaughter Repeat federal and state violators present a significant enforcement problem. However, in this review, AWI observed fewer examples of repeat violators than in past Enforcement surveys. Although the USDA has declined to pursue criminal prosecution for humane slaughter violations, it In early 2008, a investigation revealed is taking stronger administrative actions, including filing multiple incidents of egregious cruelty to cattle at the for permanent withdrawal of inspection and entering into Westland-Hallmark Meat Packing Co. in Chino, California, consent orders with some repeat violators. resulting in widespread public outrage and the largest beef recall in US history. Congress held multiple oversight Federal and state inspection personnel continue to hearings in the aftermath, and the US Department of demonstrate unfamiliarity with humane slaughter Agriculture took several actions to step up its enforcement enforcement by their failure to take appropriate of the humane slaughter law. enforcement actions. In particular, state personnel continue to be less likely than federal personnel to suspend A 2010 report by AWI found that the enforcement of a plant for egregious humane slaughter violations. the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act at both federal and state livestock slaughter establishments While humane slaughter enforcement is up at both the increased dramatically following the Westland-Hallmark federal and state levels, it remains low in comparison investigation. AWI conducts surveys of humane with other aspects of food safety enforcement. Resources slaughter enforcement every two to three years, and devoted to humane handling at the federal level continue subsequent surveys have shown that this increased level to constitute less than 3 percent of total funding for food of enforcement continued into the next decade. Major safety inspection.

AWI QUARTERLY 22 SUMMER 2020 Types of Violations Cited at Based on our review of humane slaughter enforcement records, AWI is offering the following recommendations to Federal Plants* federal and state meat inspection programs: (comparing 2007–2009 1. The allocation of federal and state resources to humane with 2016–2018) handling oversight efforts should be significantly increased. * Figure 9 on p. 8 of report. 2. The USDA should continually analyze federal and state enforcement activities to ensure more consistent application of the humane slaughter law in plants of all Ineffective stunning sizes and locations across the country. Failure to provide water and/or feed 3. To address repeat violators and discourage future Pens, grounds, or equipment in disrepair offenses, the USDA should establish escalating penalties for repeat violators, including longer suspension periods Improper handling/use of excessive force and more frequent withdrawal of inspection for repeated Conscious animal shackled, hoisted, or cut violations. Improper handling of disabled animals 4. Federal and state agencies should cooperate in the pursuit of criminal animal cruelty charges for incidents of willful animal abuse. 5. The USDA should make more enforcement records available to the public on its website to help educate the public regarding slaughter practices and encourage compliance by slaughter plants with humane slaughter requirements. 6. The USDA should revise the federal humane slaughter regulations to address the most common causes of violations.

Humane Slaughter Update: Federal and State Oversight

2007 ­ –2009 of the Welfare of Farm Animals at Slaughter is available as a free PDF download at www.awionline.org/humane- slaughter-update.

Note: AWI conducts its humane slaughter enforcement surveys by submitting public records requests to the USDA and state departments of agriculture. While states respond in a relatively expeditious manner to public records requests, we must wait months, if not years, for the USDA to respond. This delay seriously limits the usefulness of the information contained in the records and negatively affects AWI’s advocacy efforts, including the publication of this report. Consequently, in 2018, AWI and Farm Sanctuary sued the USDA 2016 ­ –2018 for its failure to comply with a provision in the Freedom of Information Act that requires proactive disclosure of records subject to repeated requests. The lawsuit is pending.

AWI QUARTERLY 23 SUMMER 2020 FARM ANIMALS

RESEARCH FOUNDATION established by Congress in the 2014 that can identify the sex of chicks AIMS TO IMPROVE THE Farm Bill. The goal of FFAR is to during the early stage of incubation. LIVES OF FARM ANIMALS support food and agriculture research This technology will help avoid the AWI is pleased to learn the US through public-private partnerships mass culling of male chicks, a practice Department of Agriculture’s and the administration of federal common in the egg industry. In 2017, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) grants that are matched with private funding opportunities were provided was recently awarded a $150,000 funding. Research projects must fall under the Accelerating Advances in grant through the Foundation for Food under one of FFAR’s six “challenge Animal Welfare program for research and Agriculture Research (FFAR) to areas,” including one that is focused on on improving the welfare of hens in study the impacts of environmental advanced animal systems. According cage-free housing and developing enrichment on pig welfare. Half of to the foundation’s website, the alternatives to castration of pigs. the grant was provided by FFAR and “Advanced Animal Systems Challenge the remaining funds were matched Area improves animal production by Nestlé and Tyson Foods. One of through innovations in animal health, the goals of this study is to determine welfare and productivity, antibiotic KENTUCKY TO ALLOW how environmental enrichment stewardship and environmentally VETS TO REPORT strategies currently required by law sound production practices.” ANIMAL ABUSE in some European countries can be In April, Kentucky Governor Andy applied to US pig operations. This In addition to the aforementioned Beshear signed into law SB 21, research is critical to efforts to improve environmental enrichment study, now allowing veterinarians to farm animals farm the welfare of pigs confined by the FFAR has created and funded other report incidents of animal abuse thousands in highly stressful, barren initiatives focused on the Advanced and mistreatment, including those environments. With no ability to Animal Systems Challenge Area. involving farm animals covered under exhibit natural behaviors, pigs often Under the SMART Broiler Research the state’s on-farm livestock and take out their frustration through Initiative, six applicants were recently poultry care standards. aggressive behaviors, such as tail awarded grants for the development of biting and ear chewing. automated technology that can assess Prior to enactment of SB 21, animal welfare indicators in broiler veterinarians were barred from This study is one of several recent chickens. The Egg-Tech Prize program reporting animal abuse and farm animal welfare research projects was launched in 2019 to encourage mistreatment under the guise funded by FFAR, which was first development of new technologies of confidentiality—even though veterinarians may be the only individuals, other than animal owners, who come in contact with the animals to assess their well-being and ensure they are receiving proper care and treatment. Additionally, a recent survey conducted by AWI revealed that in the six years since the Kentucky Board of Agriculture established farm animal care standards, the state has not investigated any reports of violations, likely because no reports were received. With the enactment of SB 21, veterinarians now have the opportunity to help ensure the care standards are enforced by reporting incidents of farm animal mistreatment. NATALIA VAN D VAN NATALIA

AWI QUARTERLY 24 SUMMER 2020 FARM ANIMALS

affecting thousands have resulted in the shuttering of a number of major slaughter establishments. Under these circumstances, animals may be held for extended periods on plant premises without proper care or subjected to additional transport—either back to the farm or to another slaughterhouse.

Early in the COVID-19 outbreak, some pigs never made it to market and were killed and disposed of on the farm, but the killing method used may have been less humane than at the slaughterhouse. When slaughter capacity is reduced, breeding animals at the end of their productive lives (dairy and beef cows, bulls, and sows) must

HEDGEHOG94 be held on the farm longer, putting additional stress on already depleted animal care resources and extending Pandemic Presents Consumer behavior also affects farm the suffering of these animals whose animal welfare. Concern about supply health is often compromised by Extra Challenges disruptions has led to panic buying of lameness or other disease conditions. for Farm Animal certain staples, including meat and eggs. Some consumers are attempting One US poultry company “depopulated” Welfare to start from scratch: Feed stores have 2 million healthy chickens because a reported selling out of baby chicks. shortage of slaughterhouse workers Many such purchasers will no doubt due to illness left it unable to conduct lack the knowledge or facilities to slaughter and processing operations. ajor natural disasters and public provide proper care. The killing method was not disclosed. M health emergencies, such as Delaying slaughter would have raised the COVID-19 pandemic, have the Intensively raised farm animals other issues—meat chickens grow potential to impact farm animal welfare must be provided a consistent at a very rapid rate and, at market in many ways. For example, illness supply of feed, which depends on weight, are prone to skeletal and heart among farm workers can significantly the availability of truck drivers. And problems. For this reason, the birds compromise a farm’s ability to provide even before the pandemic, the United would have experienced pain and animal care. Moreover, veterinarians States was experiencing a serious distress if they had been allowed to may be making fewer calls to diagnose, shortage of livestock haulers. Illness live longer and grow even bigger, with treat, and in some cases euthanize sick among drivers can result in delays in presumably less attention to their care. or injured animals on the farm. animals reaching their destination, or truckloads of animals being Farm animals often suffer immensely Another consequence of major abandoned during transport. during national disasters. While emergencies is less oversight of the disaster preparedness efforts would no treatment of farm animals. During the At the slaughterhouse, illness among doubt mitigate some of the negative COVID-19 shutdown, quality assurance government inspectors may reduce consequences of emergencies, as long and third-party food certification oversight of the federal humane as massive numbers of farm animals programs have postponed or cancelled slaughter regulations, potentially are raised under intensive systems many of their on-farm animal care leading to an increase in animal that rely on complex resource chains audits. It is also likely that official cruelty incidents. Meanwhile, worker that are subject to breakdowns during investigations of animal neglect and walkouts to protest lack of safety disasters, farm animal suffering is cruelty complaints have been delayed. equipment and/or disease outbreaks probably inevitable.

AWI QUARTERLY 25 SUMMER 2020 REVIEWS

ONE OF US the author argues that grizzlies “still carry the stigma of Barrie K. Gilbert / FriesenPress / 264 pages timeworn folklore: an unpredictable rogue, always ready to charge and dismember a person.” In 1983, Barrie got When I began my faculty position at Utah State University, the opportunity to study bears in Katmai National Park in one of my new colleagues was behavioral ecologist Barrie Alaska, the beginning of a multi-year project. There, the Gilbert. Because we shared an interest in how humans and densest population of bears in North America commingle wildlife interact with each other, we networked on a regular with human visitors and salmon. While a very real element basis for the next two decades. Practically everything I know of danger exists, these bears don’t seem to treat humans as a about these bears comes from Barrie and his students. threat. Too many visitors, lodges built in the wrong place, or a reduction in salmon populations, however, mean bears can’t In 1977, Barrie experienced the quintessential nightmare get to the food they need, and both individual bears and for a bear biologist. He surprised a female grizzly bear and populations suff er. was attacked while conducting some of his fi rst work with bears in Yellowstone National Park. He survived grievous And then there is the ethical issue of how bear research is injuries to his upper body, particularly the left side of his conducted. Barrie recognized that bears who had not been face. After recovery, he not only resumed his work with bears, trapped, collared, or shot at behaved diff erently from those but also became a fi erce champion of grizzlies. One of Us: A who had. Bears evolved as behaviorally complex animals, Biologist’s Walk Among Bears reviews his many experiences and their behavior derives from their experiences. Painful working with grizzly bears, and discusses the politics of experiences, remembered, aff ect how they behave around grizzly bear management. people. “Let the wild ones keep their wildness,” Barrie writes, arguing that invasive bear research needs to be replaced with While societal attitudes toward great white sharks, gray non-intrusive techniques, such as trail cameras, DNA from wolves, and killer whales have changed in recent years, hair traps, and direct observations.

AWI QUARTERLY 26 SUMMER 2020 REVIEWS

Barrie’s career revolved around a “bear first” ethos. the incomparable Sir David Attenborough. Each episode is Throughout, he remained outspoken in his concern about devoted to one continent, and the series starts by explaining the impact of hunting and invasive bear research on bear how the massive land mass of Pangea was ripped apart behavior. He clashed with politicians championing tourism millions of years ago by incredible forces to eventually create over bears, and his research funding suffered from this the diverse continents we have today. decision. Nevertheless, Barrie remained dedicated to protected landscapes with thriving grizzly bear populations. One of Us It starts with the extraordinary (and often venomous) wildlife details his unique journey. of Australia, explaining how its animals were isolated from the rest of the world after the continents broke apart, and how they —Robert Schmidt, PhD, AWI Scientific Committee now survive in the varied and often harsh landscapes, including a surprisingly snowy landscape of eastern Australia that is braved by the seemingly ill-suited but persistent wombat.

NIGHT ON EARTH In North America, the series explores how the continent 2020 / / Plimsoll Productions / Six episodes offered rich resources to its first inhabitants and opportunities later to pioneers forging a new life on an Night on Earth reveals the startling activity of the natural unfamiliar landscape. It shows how climate change and world hiding behind the dark curtain of night. From the reduced sea ice has forced one population of polar bears producer of Plant Earth II, this six-part Netflix series follows to adapt by hunting beluga whales from rocky outcrops in nocturnal animals using sophisticated, low-light camera Hudson Bay. In South America, the wonders of the Andean technology as they mate, stalk their prey, and seek refuge in cloud forests are shown, with creatures such as the Andean cities, deserts, oceans, and jungles. bear and Pinocchio lizard (named because of its very long and upturned snout), which was discovered only 50 years ago, The show’s script, delivered by Emmy–winning actress then lost, and recently rediscovered. Samira Wiley, can be distracting and melodramatic at times. Nevertheless, Night on Earth offers a rare perspective for a In Asia, animals endure within Earth’s hottest deserts and nature documentary. Scorpions engaged in foreplay glow occupy its highest mountains. European animals adjust to life eerily under ultraviolet light as if trapped in a film negative. among dense populations of people. Whales, seals, penguins, A grasshopper mouse, immune to the arachnid’s venom, and starfish thrive on and under the ice of Antarctica. In intrudes. He withstands sting after sting before chomping Africa, young chimpanzees learn to make tools, and herds of down and emitting a high-pitched territorial howl. antelopes, wildebeest, and zebras throng the Serengeti.

One episode focuses on animals who have adapted to nightlife The vast array of natural wonders on display in Seven Worlds, in the city. On Halloween, moose in Anchorage, Alaska, gorge One Planet delights, but also confronts viewers with the on jack-o’-lanterns. Elephants wait patiently until dark before challenges facing the natural world—and a sense of the quietly trudging across streets and train tracks in southern urgency required to protect it. Africa to reach vegetation on the other side of the town that has emerged in the elephants’ age-old path. A leopard pounces on a dog in a building lobby in Mumbai, India.

The conservation message in Night on Earth is less overt than Bequests in other documentaries of its kind. But the series does aim to instill a greater appreciation of the vibrant animal world that If you would like to help assure AWI’s future through rises to life when darkness falls. a provision in your will, this general form of bequest is suggested: I give, devise and bequeath to the Animal Welfare Institute, located in Washington, DC, the sum of $ and/or (specifically described property). SEVEN WORLDS, ONE PLANET 2019 / BBC Studios / Seven episodes Donations to AWI, a not-for-profit corporation exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), are tax-deductible. Seven Worlds, One Planet is a BBC docu-series that We welcome any inquiries you may have. In cases in which you wonderfully brings the natural world of seven continents have specific wishes about the disposition of your bequest, we to viewers with beautiful cinematography and narration by suggest you discuss such provisions with your attorney.

AWI QUARTERLY 27 SUMMER 2020 Non-Profi t Org. US Postage PAID Return Service Requested Washington, DC Permit No. 2300

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HORSE RESCUES HARD PRESSED BY PANDEMIC

During the COVID-19 crisis, equine rescues across the coalition, which has been providing emergency aid to rescues country are contending with dwindling supplies, support, and sanctuaries in the wake of the crisis, particularly in areas and income. These rescues often rely on fundraising events hardest hit by the pandemic and where supply chains have been such as open houses and adoption fees as revenue sources, most disrupted. Funding has focused primarily on ensuring that and require dedicated staff and volunteers to care for the rescues can cover the costs of veterinary care, hay, and feed. horses, train the horses in preparation for adoption, and (Hay and feed alone can run several thousand dollars a week for help with the overall maintenance that keeps the facilities facilities that house dozens of equines.) To date, 18 rescues in 14 running smoothly. In order to stave off the spread of the states have received grants. virus and limit public interaction, many equine rescues have closed their doors, and volunteers who would normally assist In May, the Homes for Horses Coalition was slated to host in caring for the animals, cleaning stalls, and maintaining the its annual conference—an event that brings together animal grounds are unable to visit. advocates from across the United States to learn about a wide range of issues aff ecting equine welfare. Funding for AWI has been assisting these rescues through the Homes for the cancelled conference has been reallocated in its entirety Horses Coalition, which AWI co-founded with the Humane to provide direct fi nancial assistance to equine rescues and Society of the United States in 2007 to end horse slaughter shelters in an eff ort to help them weather this storm. and other forms of equine cruelty and to provide care and homes to horses in need. Today, the network has grown to To learn more about the Homes for Horses Coalition, please visit over 500 member organizations. AWI continues to co-lead the www.homesforhorses.org. MARC C MARC