Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy
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Crow Whisperer
No full textA recent story of a “crow whisperer” in Oakland, California, resolving a seemingly intractable situation for a local family and its dog highlights crows’ recognition of specific human individuals
Kairavi - The Comeback Calf
No full textRead about the elephant calf Kairavi’s battle with a deadly herpes virus and the special care she received at the Oklahoma City Zoo
Urban Wildlife in New York City
No full textNew Yorkers celebrate and enjoy a “surprising” renaissance of wildlife. Coyotes have been observed in Central Park, and beavers, salamanders, and leopard frogs have been seen in Staten Island, bobcat, mink, and fox have appeared in the Bronx (including a new species of leopard frog), and sea turtles and a baby seal have turned up in Queens. Wild creatures that have not been recorded in the Big Apple for “decades” are returning and making it home.
These returns are not just good news; it is excellent news. Any time a major metropolitan area can celebrate the return of an extirpated wild species, it demonstrates that the quality of its environment is improving and moving in a positive direction. As a growing body of scientific literature now indicates beyond refute, nature in the city is good for the health and well-being of its people, making every incremental advance toward greener relevant and significant
Review of the Evidence of Sentience in Cephalopod Molluscs and Decapod Crustaceans
No full textBirch and colleagues have developed an important and useful framework for evaluating the evidence for sentience – namely, the capacity to experience pain, distress and suffering, in cephalopod molluscs (cuttlefish, octopods and squid) and decapod crustaceans (including crabs, crayfish, lobsters, prawns, shrimps). Birch and colleagues develop eight criteria in their evaluation framework which are used to weigh the evidence from over 300 scientific publications. The report also investigates the potential welfare implications of current commercial practices on these species. The report concludes that cephalopods and decapod crustaceans are probably sentient
We Know Animals Have Personalities. Does That Make Them Persons?
No full textIn 1990, there were no studies on animal personalities. In 2020, there were over 900 published studies on animal personality. It has been found that some species (e.g., dogs, chimpanzees and orcas) can also be distinguished on the basis of the Big Five personality characteristics reported in humans. The paper concludes that there are excellent arguments for granting some basic rights to some animal species but having a personality is not one of them
Animal Relinquishment and Pet-owner Resilience
No full textIn 2021, it is hoped that the world will slowly return to normal as an increasing proportion of national populations are vaccinated. Such a return will likely mean fewer people working from home and more pets spending their days with less human companionship. Animal groups are concerned that people who have obtained new pets may surrender them to shelters when social distancing measures are relaxed and, perhaps, when moratoriums on foreclosures due to arrears in rent and mortgage are lifted. However, a recent study of pet ownership in a low-income community and an examination of pet surrender in previous financial turndowns indicate that the human-animal bond may be more resilient than animal advocates fear
Why Do Children Prefer to Save Dogs Over People?
No full textA new study looked at the attitudes of children and adults in a shipwreck situation where one has to decide who to save - a certain number of humans versus a certain number of dogs. Adults typically choose to save the humans but children are much more likely to save the dogs
Companion Animal Demographics: When Are They Good Enough?
No full textThe best current estimate of the USA dog and cat population is 135 million from a survey conducted every five years. Another survey produces a very different result (180 million) but there is minimal discussion as to why different surveys produce different results. The media and stake-holders simply report whatever number is most convenient. Key stakeholders should pay more attention to the available data and address gaps and variances to determine actual trends
The Dasgupta Review and the Economics of Biodiversity
No full textSir Partha Dasgupta, an economist at Cambridge University, was commissioned by the UK Department of the Treasurer to produce a report on environmental economics and global sustainability. Sir Partha, assisted by an advisory group of international experts, produced a 600-page volume and a shorter (103-page) summary of the full report. The report emphasizes the distinction between Gross Domestic Production (GDP) measures (which tracks the annual flow of resources) and national Wealth (which values the total asset base) and argues that the world should be paying far more attention to wealth, including the wealth provided by “natural capital assets.” Natural assets are still mostly being ignored even as the world has begun to include other intangible assets (e.g. human capital) in national wealth measures. Sir Partha notes that GDP can be increases over the short term by spending assets but that such a strategy is unsustainable. He also notes that the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals do not track national wealth and therefore do not include a measure of sustainability
Cosmetic Testing on Animals: EU Takes a Step Back
No full textThere has been a tension between the European Union\u27s ban on the marketing of cosmetics that have been tested on animals (passed in 2013) and the directive mandating the development of safety data for industrial chemicals (passed in 2007). This tension has now come out into the open as the European Chemicals Agency has requested a company to perform animal tests on two chemicals that are used only in cosmetics