A weekly round-up of the most important animal stories happening around the world.
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After decades of being kept in a city zoo, Argentina’s Pupy the elephant is finally being sent to a sanctuary
The 34-year-old female, who is the last captive elephant in all of Buenos Aires, will now experience a more natural habitat where she can roam freely, forage, and meet other elephant companions.
Dunkin’ eliminates surcharge for plant-based milks in hot drinks, marking “major milestone” for plant-based accessibility
As the second-largest coffee chain in the US, Dunkin’s 9,500-plus locations across the country will now offer plant milks at no additional cost.
Wild fish can recognise different humans, study finds
Scientists discovered that fish were able to remember and follow specific divers based on which ones had previously offered food.
Baby monkey abuse uncovered on Thai island where new season of The White Lotus is set
The show’s creator is calling on Thailand’s prime minister to end the use of forced monkey labor.
Conserving wolves: there are now more satellite-collared wolves in California than ever before, wildlife department says
The milestone means officials can more easily monitor and understand wolf packs in the state so that their populations can thrive.
Wildlife charity WWF “helping facilitate” trade in polar bear fur, reveals investigation
The NGO’s controversial stance on backing some forms of trophy hunting including the continued trade of polar bear fur has sparked surprise and outrage from supporters who say donations shouldn’t be used to fund animal exploitation.
Prawns have their eye stalks cut off while still alive to speed up the breeding process, animal welfare groups warn, as leading retailers reevaluate common seafood industry practices
Despite around 440 billion shrimps being farmed each year, the species has typically faced little-to-no animal welfare protection.
France will no longer ban “meaty” labels on plant-based foods
The country’s top court has ruled against government attempts to outlaw food companies from using terms like “steak” and “burger” on plant-based meat.
Paying extra for plant milks could be a thing of the past as Tim Hortons, Dutch Bros Coffee and Scooter's Coffee end surcharge following Starbucks' lead
As the popularity of oat, almond, and soy milk continues to soar, coffee chains across the US are making it free for customers to swap cow’s milk for plant milks.
President Trump is “declaring war” on wolves, grizzlies, and other imperiled wildlife with his nominee for Fish and Wildlife Service, warns leading conservation group
The nominee Brian Nesvik is described as having an “extreme record” on wildlife issues with a history of “anti-conservation” decisions.
The number of US dairy farms infected with bird flu has been underestimated, suggests new study from the CDC
Government testing reveals that livestock veterinarians have tested positive for the H5N1 virus despite working on farms that had no reported cases in cattle.
Why feeding seaweed to cows is not a solution, but a distraction
Seaweed is being hailed as a breakthrough solution to reduce methane emissions from cattle - but it doesn’t fix the environmental crisis caused by animal agriculture. Here’s why.
The future of food is now: world’s first cultivated pet food goes on sale
The UK’s largest retailer of pet supplies is now selling Meatly’s new ‘Chick Bites’, which have been cultivated from cells taken from a single chicken egg.
Vegan restaurant becomes first in UK to receive prestigious Michelin star
The award shows how plant-based food is continuing to become increasingly popular in the fine dining industry.
Victory: Wyoming bill that would allow ‘unlimited’ hunting of mountain lions is defeated
The controversial legislation aimed to replace the current science-based management of the species with unrestricted hunting including trapping.
Gorilla’s “untimely” death reignites animal welfare concerns at the San Francisco Zoo
The city’s own Animal Commission has already labeled the facility as “unsafe for visitors and animals” in a recent report.
Saved: foxes, raccoons and wolf-dogs among the hundreds of animals rescued from Ohio fur farm
The animals were kept in “filthy” wire cages with little-to-no protection from the cold weather, and many were emaciated and severely dehydrated.
India’s wild tiger population doubles within a decade as conservation efforts continue to offer hope for the species
The country now has the largest global population of tigers, with a new study confirming that areas of protected habitat have helped to successfully boost numbers.
Zoo elephants in US have no right to freedom as they are not “human,” says landmark legal ruling
The Colorado Supreme Court made the legal judgement during a case this week that called for five elephants held captive at a Colorado zoo to be retired to a sanctuary.
US man sentenced to 475 years for dog fighting
Authorities discovered over 100 dogs on the defendant’s property, along with numerous items associated with dog fighting including a treadmill designed for dogs and a breeding stand.