International Wildlife Journal Features Two Articles Authored by AWI Experts

Washington, DC—Two journal articles authored by experts from the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) were recently featured in the newly released issue of the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy (Volume 20, Issue 1, 2017).

Dr. Naomi A. Rose, AWI marine mammal scientist, and Georgia Hancock Snusz, of counsel at AWI, co-authored—along with Danielle M. Brown and E. C. M. Parsons—“Improving Captive Marine Mammal Welfare in the United States: Science-Based Recommendations for Improved Regulatory Requirements for Captive Marine Mammal Care.” The article argues that the proposed amendments to the Animal Welfare Act regulatory standards for captive marine mammals, issued by the US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in February 2016, are not sufficient to maintain their welfare. Within the review, the authors suggest several recommendations for improvements to the proposed rule.

“The proposed standards currently being considered in the United States—and even the strictest existing standards globally—are not based on the best available science,” said Dr. Rose. “While we maintain that no tank will ever be sufficient to allow marine mammals to thrive, within the article, we aimed to propose standards that would provide the absolute minimum needed to safeguard marine mammal welfare in captivity, while still being reasonable from an engineering perspective.”

Tara Zuardo, AWI wildlife attorney, authored “How the United States was Able to Dodge International Reforms Designed to Make Wildlife Trapping Less Cruel.” The article explores how the United States continues to lag far behind the rest of the world in regard to trapping reforms. Zuardo advocates that efforts need to be made at every level—local, state, national, and global—to seek a prohibition on the use of steel-jaw leghold traps.

“Even though the United States is among the world’s leaders in the number of wild animals trapped for their fur, trapping continues to be hidden from the public eye,” said Zuardo. “The article seeks to shed light on this subject and suggests efforts to overcome our country’s resistance to further trapping reforms.”

To access the Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy and both articles, visit http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/uwlp20/current.