New Report Details Norway's Efforts to Promote Whaling
Monday, June 13, 2016
Norway is now the world’s leading whaling nation, killing more whales in the past two years than Japan and Iceland combined. A new report released today calls on the international community to respond to Norway’s...
AWI Statement in Response to False Online Petitions
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Over the past few months, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has been the target of several online petitions, circulated on Change.org and spread through social media networks, which falsely claim AWI supports the cruel killing...
Lawsuit Challenges Monterey County's Contract with Federal Wildlife-Killing Program
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Animal protection and conservation organizations filed a lawsuit today challenging Monterey County’s contract renewal with the US Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services—a notorious federal wildlife-killing program that has killed more than 3,000 coyotes, bobcats, mountain...
Groups File Notice of Intent to Sue to Protect Ocelots from Controversial Wildlife-Killing Agency
Thursday, May 26, 2016
The Center for Biological Diversity and the Animal Welfare Institute today filed a notice of intent to sue the US Department of Agriculture to ensure that endangered ocelots aren’t inadvertently killed as part of its...
Emergency Petition Filed to Save Plummeting Red Wolf Population
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Conservation groups submitted an emergency petition today calling on the US Fish and Wildlife Service to take immediate steps to bolster flagging protections for the world’s only wild population of red wolves—which has declined by...
Santa Cruz Biotechnology Agrees to $3.5M Fine, License Revocation
Friday, May 20, 2016
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) lauds the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for reaching a settlement agreement in its multiple cases against Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Inc. (SCBT)—one of the world’s largest research antibody suppliers—resulting in...
Senate Appropriations Committee Votes to Block Horse Slaughter for Another Year
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voice voted in favor of an amendment to the FY17 Agriculture Appropriations bill to prohibit the USDA from spending any funds to inspect horse slaughter facilities. The committee has approved...
Vaquita Population Plummets to Just 60 Individuals
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Scientists have announced that fewer than 60 vaquita porpoises likely remain on Earth, down from 245 in 2008. The vaquita is the world’s smallest and most endangered porpoise, found only in Mexico’s northern Gulf of...
130,000 Call on Olive Garden to Adopt Ethical 'Good Food' Practices
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Washington, DC— Advocacy organizations and their supporters demonstrated at Olive Garden restaurants across the United States today to urge the chain and its parent company, Darden Restaurant Inc.,to improve food-sourcing and labor practices.
Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin Moves Toward Endangered Species Act Protection
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
The National Marine Fisheries Service today took a step toward protecting rare Taiwanese humpback dolphins, finding that listing the species under the Endangered Species Act may be warranted. The decision comes in response to a...
AWI Statement on Ringling Bros. Ending Elephant Acts
Friday, April 29, 2016
May 1 marks the end of elephants being hauled around the country to perform for Ringling Bros. circus. While we celebrate the termination of this cruel and archaic practice, tragically, the elephants will not be...
Mendocino County Cancels Lethal Predator Control
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
In a major victory for opponents of animal cruelty, the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has agreed to perform a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and immediately suspend...
New Hampshire Withdraws Proposal for Bobcat Hunting and Trapping Seasons
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department today withdrew a proposed administrative rule that would have allowed bobcat hunting and trapping in the state for the first time since 1989.
AWI Statement on Proposed Animal Welfare Regulations for the Certified Organic Label
Thursday, April 07, 2016
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) commends the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for proposing requirements for the welfare of animals raised under the Certified Organic label. AWI generally supports the proposed regulations, which are based...
Groups Welcome Federal Agency's Decision to Protect Russian Beluga Whales
Monday, April 04, 2016
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), Cetacean Society International (CSI), Earth Island Institute (EII), and Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) lauded the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) for its proposed designation of the Sakhalin Bay-Amur River...
Norwegian Whale Meat Linked to Country's Fur Industry
Thursday, March 31, 2016
As the Norwegian whaling industry prepares for the start of the 2016 whaling season, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today released a document that indicates Norwegian fur farms have used...
Largest US Restaurant Company Targeted over Treatment of Workers, Animals, Environment
Thursday, March 24, 2016
A coalition of environmental, social justice, and animal welfare groups announced a campaign today calling on Olive Garden and its parent company, Darden Restaurant Inc., the nation’s largest full-service restaurant employer, to do more to...
Groups Seek Endangered Species Act Protection for Florida Black Bears
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Renowned scientists and over a dozen conservation and animal-protection organizations, including the Animal Welfare Institute, submitted a scientific petition to the US Fish and Wildlife Service today to protect the Florida black bear under the...
Eight Members of Congress Honored for Defending Wildlife, Endangered Species Act
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Eight members of Congress were recognized yesterday by leading national conservation groups for their critical role in protecting the Endangered Species Act. The “Champions of the Endangered Species Act” reception featured former Secretary of the...
AWI's Statement on SeaWorld Ending Orca Breeding Program
Thursday, March 17, 2016
The Animal Welfare Institute welcomes the announcement today by SeaWorld that it will end the company-wide breeding program for its orcas, which will lead to a phase-out of the display of orcas in all of...