AW I Quarterly Fall 2011 Volume 60 Number 4 AWI ABOUT THE COVER Quarterly ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE QUARTERLY A wary deer peers out from a February forest. As deer flourish in the absence of natural FOUNDER predators, and suburbs extend tendrils into formerly wooded areas, deer-human conflicts Christine Stevens inevitably arise. In the past, these conflicts most often have been resolved through culling of deer populations. Immunocontraception drugs offer a way to keep deer populations in check DIRECTORS Cynthia Wilson, Chair through nonlethal, relatively nonintrusive means. Scientists, citizens, and many animal welfare John W. Boyd, Jr. advocates are increasingly supportive of immunocontraception as a humane method of Barbara K. Buchanan controlling wildlife populations in lieu of traditional lethal methods. On page 6, AWI examines Charles M. Jabbour the benefits of immunocontraception as well as the resistance to such methods by some. Mary Lee Jensvold, Ph.D. On page 28, we tell you about two upcoming conferences that address immunocontraception. Cathy Liss 10 Michele Walter Photo by Jon/Flickr.com OFFICERS Cathy Liss, President Cynthia Wilson, Vice President Charles M. Jabbour, CPA, Treasurer Barbara K. Buchanan, Secretary PRESIDENT OBAMA CHALLENGES SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ICELAND OVER WHALING Gerard Bertrand, Ph.D. Roger Fouts, Ph.D. In July, the Secretary of Commerce certified to President Obama that Iceland Roger Payne, Ph.D. was undermining the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and its treaty Samuel Peacock, M.D. because of its rogue whaling (AWI Quarterly, Spring 2011). The certification, made 12 14 Hope Ryden Robert Schmidt, Ph.D. under the Pelly Amendment of the Fishermen’s Protective Act (22 U.S.C. §1978, John Walsh, M.D. as amended), triggered a 60-day countdown for the president to respond—with options ranging from trade sanctions to doing nothing. Iceland has been certified INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE in the past but sanctions have never been imposed. VOLUME 60 NUMBER 4 Aline S. de Aluja, D.V.M., Mexico Fall 2011 Ambassador Tabarak Husain, Bangladesh Angela King, United Kingdom On September 15, President Obama ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES 20 Branches of the Nile: Iconic REVIEWS Agnes Van Volkenburgh, D.V.M., Poland made his report to Congress. He neither Crocodiles Actually Two Species Alexey Yablokov, Ph.D., Russia 4 Roommates Wanted: USDA Tells Labs 24 Project Nim imposed trade sanctions nor did to Take Primates Out of Solitary 21 On a Wing and a Prayer: Hope for Highlights Heartbreaks of STAFF AND CONSULTANTS Thorny Skates in US Waters Chimpanzees in Captivity nothing—opting rather for diplomatic 5 Using Chicken Eggs to Unyoke Nancy Blaney, Senior Federal Policy Advisor actions. In a strongly worded message, Rabbits in Research 22 Scientists Study Bryde’s Whales 26 The Impact of the Marketplace Michele Cunneen, Laboratory Animal Consultant in Gulf of Thailand on Farm Animal Welfare Lucy Enniss, Executive Assistant the president stated that, “Iceland's Camilla Fox, Wildlife Consultant actions threaten the conservation COMPANION ANIMALS 27 Demon Fish: Travels Through Chris Heyde, Deputy Director, Government and Legal Affairs WILDLIFE the Hidden World of Sharks status of an endangered species and 5 USDA Closes Loophole in Horse Dena Jones, Farm Animal Program Manager Transport Rules 6 Immunocontraception: Ounce of 27 The Voice of the Dolphins Andrea Lococo, Wildlife Consultant undermine multilateral efforts to Prevention Proves Better Cure 12 AWI Staff Member Gets PAWs on the Susan Millward, Executive Director Debler Karen ensure greater worldwide protection for Ground in Dominican Republic 14 Skins of Suffering: Fashion Trend Mary Lou Randour, Ph.D., Senior Advisor, Endangered fin whales are among whales. Iceland's increased commercial Falls Hard on Reptiles Animal Cruelty Programs and Training the targets of Icelandic whalers. Above Left: Sabrina at the office. Annie Reinhardt, Information Specialist whaling and recent trade in whale 28 Mark Your Calendars: FARM ANIMALS Once a homeless puppy in the Dominican Viktor Reinhardt, D.V.M., Ph.D., Laboratory Animal Advisor Two Key Conferences Address products diminish the effectiveness Republic, she lives now with AWI’s Ava Rinehart, Senior Graphic Designer 4 Downer Case Headed to the Fertility Control in Wildlife of the IWC's conservation program… .” He directed U.S. agencies to take Mary Lou Randour (Cameron Creinin). D.J. Schubert, Wildlife Biologist Supreme Court definitive steps to “ensure that this issue continues to receive the highest level Tracy Silverman, General Counsel 4 Why Were All of the Eggs Put GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS Top Right: Red fox kits. The Refuge from Rachel Mathews, Farm Animal Policy Associate of attention.” Those steps included raising the issue with Iceland at high-level in One Basket? Cruel Trapping Act would make it illegal to Rosalyn Morrison, Research Assistant 10 Animal Fighting Spectators Support trap furbearing animals in body-gripping meetings, tying U.S. cooperation in Arctic projects to changes in Iceland’s whaling 5 Farm Animal Regulations Mariko Terasaki, Wildlife Research Assistant the Savagery devices within National Wildlife Refuges policy, and working with other international bodies to end Icelandic commercial Established in Ohio Regina Terlau, Office Coordinator 10 Getting Trapped in the System (Dominik Hofer ). Dave Tilford, Writer/Editor whaling. The full response by the president is available at http://m.whitehouse.gov/ Bottom Right: A reticulated python. MARINE LIFE 10 NIH “Anticipates” End to Bad Danielle Williams, Website and the-press-office/2011/09/15/message-president-congress. The distinctive scale patterns of this Communications Coordinator Relationship 2 President Obama Challenges animal help them hide in the wild Tara Zuardo, Wildlife Research Associate 11 Bill Would Give Class B Dealers Iceland over Whaling but make them targets of the skin trade While trade measures would have more directly hurt Iceland’s whaling interests, the Boot (Pascal Walschots). For subscription inquiries or other information, 18 IWC63: The Good, the Bad, AWI believes that if properly carried out, the President’s directives can be 11 Equine Equity: Horse Slaughter contact AWI at 900 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, the Even Worse impactful. AWI is pressing the relevant federal agencies to act decisively, and we Prevention Saves Money Washington, DC 20003 20 Alaskan Officials in Hot Water Phone: (202) 337-2332 Facsimile: (202) 446-2131 are actively working to identify products from companies associated with Iceland’s 11 One Step Forward and Two Back 20 American Eel May (Someday) Email: [email protected] Website: www.awionline.org for Endangered Species whaling industry, to enable retailers and consumers to avoid trade in them. Get Federal Protection Animal Welfare follow us on twitter: @AWIonline become a fan on facebook at Institute www.facebook.com/animalwelfareinstitute www.awionline.org news · briefly Using Chicken Eggs Farm Animal Regulations DOWNER CASE HEADED to Unyoke Rabbits Established in Ohio TO THE SUPREME COURT in Research OHIO’S NEW FARM ANIMAL CARE REGULATIONS went into The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case brought effect in September. Ohio follows New Jersey as only the IN A PRESENTATION at the AALAS meeting, J. Hau from the by the meat industry challenging California’s downed second state to establish legal standards for the treatment University of Copenhagen described an interesting work in animal law (California Penal Code § 599f). The law was of animals on the farm. The regulations resulted from progress, the replacement of the rabbit with a free-range, enacted in the aftermath of documented egregious cruelty passage of State Issue 2 in November 2009 that created the free-will chicken as the traditional polyclonal antibody to non-ambulatory dairy cows at the Westland Hallmark Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. While addressing animal model. (Polyclonal antibodies are antibodies from slaughterhouse in Chino that triggered the largest beef some of the most inhumane factory farming practices, the multiple B cells, which are fundamental components of the recall in U.S. history. Slaughterhouses are prohibited regulations fall woefully short of providing an adequate level body’s immune system. The antibodies are obtained from from slaughtering non-ambulatory animals for human of welfare for farm animals. For example: 1) use of crates the serum of an immunized animal and used extensively in consumption and required to immediately euthanize to confine calves and breeding sows is prohibited, but not medical research.) bigdutchman.de downed animals under the law. After passage, the National until 2018 and 2026, respectively; 2) new egg operations are In current experiments, the chickens are immunized Meat Association (NMA) went to court and gained an prohibited from confining egg-laying hens in conventional via injection or gavage and the antibody is made in the yet- injunction against enforcement, but last year a federal battery cages but are allowed to confine hens in so-called to-be-laid egg. Once the egg is laid, the antibody is collected appeals court vacated the injunction, prompting NMA to “colony” cages, and all existing egg operations are allowed from the yolk. Ten times more antibody can be obtained A far cry from free range: The United Egg Producers has seek a hearing before the Supreme Court. The issue at to continue using the battery cage indefinitely; and agreed to phase in “enriched” battery cages for egg-laying from the yolk than from traditional rabbit serum. If the hand is whether the Federal Meat Inspection Act expressly 3) tail docking of dairy cattle is banned as of 2018, and pain hens. As shown here, such cages still don’t leave the birds antigen can be administered orally (it is under development much room to maneuver. prohibits California's downed animal law—specifically management is required for dehorning, but tail docking of as a spaghetti-like food to mimic worms, which the in reference to pigs, as the slaughter of non-ambulatory pigs and sheep is allowed, as is debeaking of chickens.