A weekly round-up of the most important animal stories happening around the world.
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Arizona urged to ban the use of dog packs to hunt wildlife like mountain lions, bears, and foxes
The state currently allows trophy hunters to use packs of dogs on public lands to kill wildlife, which campaign groups say is needlessly cruel and also endangers non-target wildlife and hikers.
South Africa's big cat industry ‘out-of-control’, campaigners warn
South Africa, with its weak regulations on the breeding, trade, and movement of non-native species, has become the world's largest exporter of big cats and their parts to Asian countries.
London Fashion Week bans wild animal skins
The skins of wild animals, such as crocodiles, alligators, and snakes, will be banned on the runway from 2025.
Is the US military testing weapons on animals?
Militaries around the world conduct a variety of tests on animals, including shooting, bombs, biological and chemical weapons, and even nuclear agents.
Progress: Belgium announces historic ban on dolphinariums
The county’s last remaining dolphinarium will be ordered to close and no dolphins will be allowed to be imported.
“Blood on its hands again”: US research facility where 43 monkeys escaped earlier this month is now accused of killing 18 other monkeys after a heater malfunctioned
The case has renewed anger over public money being used to fund monkey experiments, with the accused US facility receiving $19 million this year alone from National Institutes of Health contracts.
US man jailed for “ringleader” role in monkey torture network
Known as the ‘The Torture King’, he plead guilty to creating and distributing sadistic videos of monkeys being tortured, which were posted on private social media channels.
Giraffes could move to the Endangered Species List for the first time
Poaching, habitat loss, climate change, human population growth, and urbanization are pushing giraffes closer to extinction.
Three million dogs could be slaughtered for Morocco FIFA World Cup bid
Thousands of dogs have already been rounded up and killed as Morocco prepares for its World Cup bid next month, with campaigners warning that the situation could worsen.
The first child to contract bird flu has been reported in California
The CDC has confirmed that a child has tested positive for bird flu, marking the 55th human case in the U.S.
“I don’t want to kill these animals anymore”: owner of dog meat restaurant in Vietnam closes his business after 20 years in food industry
The restaurant slaughtered thousands of dogs and chickens, but now its owner has joined a campaign to end the dog meat trade.
Denmark to launch world’s first carbon tax on agriculture
Under the plans, which were announced earlier this year but confirmed this week, livestock farms will be charged per tonne of methane emitted.
More than $100K reward offered after protected Mexican gray wolf found dead in Arizona
Hope was last seen traveling with another critically endangered Mexican gray wolf, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Here’s why animals lost in the 2024 US election
The 2024 election cycle will continue to be discussed and debated by pundits and social scientists for years to come, but the majority will overlook one group that lost big in this election: animals.
Controversial plans for a huge monkey farm in a small Georgia city will now be taken to the Georgia Supreme Court as concerned residents up the ante
The planned facility will house up to 30,000 monkeys, who will be bred for use in painful and often fatal animal tests.
“Left to die one by one”: Canada’s controversial Marineland zoo announces five beluga whales have died this year
The zoo and aquarium has faced years of animal abuse allegations, and now welfare groups are calling on the government to step in to prevent further deaths.
US dietary guidelines set to prioritize plant protein over meat protein
The proposed guidelines, used by federal nutrition programs and health professionals, will emphasize that protein can come from different sources, and recommend plant-based proteins over animal-based proteins.
Final 23 surviving Alamogordo chimpanzees to be moved to sanctuary
The retired research chimpanzees at the Alamogordo Primate Facility, where they were once used as test subjects, will soon be relocated to Chimp Haven sanctuary.
US university blasted for parading a live tiger during football game
The stadium’s decision to use a live tiger has been widely criticized as cruel and outdated.
Veterans call on US Army to end weapon-wounding experiments on animals
Over 250 U.S. veterans are urging the Army to stop testing weapons on live animals, a practice involving shootings, mutilations, and lethal trauma experiments.