
A weekly round-up of the most important animal stories happening around the world.
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‘Chimp Crazy’ figure arrested again, as second ape found in same basement cage
Tonia Haddix was taken into custody after defying court orders once again, as authorities discovered another chimpanzee hidden in the same tiny basement cage where she once kept Tonka.
Profiting from pain? American Kennel Club sued over deformed dog breed standards
PETA is taking the American Kennel Club to court, arguing that official breed standards are leading to a lifetime of pain, medical issues, and early deaths for some of the most popular dogs in America.
New York carriage driver found not guilty after collapse of horse Ryder
Ian McKeever was found not guilty of overdriving his horse, Ryder, who collapsed on August 2022 and was euthanized two months later.
Conservation groups demand the release of endangered Mexican gray wolf pack
The Mexican gray wolf and her pups were set to be released in June, but conservationists fear that political influence is behind the unexplained delay, following objections from the livestock industry.
‘Common sense’ legislation seeks to end traumatic helicopter roundups of wild horses
The roundups of wild horses and burros conducted by low-flying helicopters could be phased-out by this legislation.
New Mercedes-Benz concept uses luxury animal-free leather
Mercedes-Benz has embraced an innovative animal-free leather for the seat pads of its CONCEPT AMG GT XX.
‘They’ve known the worst of humanity’: new images show life after the lab for Liberia’s chimpanzees
Once subjected to thousands of procedures, chimpanzees rescued from research facilities now live in near-wild conditions across six islands.
After nearly four decades in a tank, this sea turtle is finally free
Jorge, taken from the wild in 1984, has travelled more than 2,700km since his release, offering hope for the future of other captive sea turtles.
‘We have to respect animals’: NIH ends funding for animal-only experiments
The agency will now require that all funded projects consider human-relevant alternatives, signalling a landmark shift toward more ethical science.
Progress! Mexico becomes latest country to ban marine mammal performances
In a step forward to animal protection, lawmakers voted unanimously to ban marine mammal breeding, performances, and concrete tanks following years of advocacy.
Is foie gras the world’s cruelest food?
The production process involves confining 12-week-old ducks and geese in small, dark pens for weeks, during which they are force-fed.
Drone footage shows rescued elephant Pupy thriving in new sanctuary home
The 35-year-old African elephant spent decades in a Buenos Aires zoo before being relocated to Latin America’s first elephant sanctuary.
Kamea, the youngest orca at SeaWorld, dies at 11
Her death brings SeaWorld’s orca death toll to 45, renewing calls to release the remaining whales into seaside sanctuaries.
Step into cruelty-free summer style with these vegan sandals
Is it even summer if you haven't ditched your boots for a carefree pair of sandals?
A third of North American bird species are rapidly declining, study warns
Researchers tracked 495 species using citizen data and found nearly 75 percent are plummeting in the regions they once thrived.
246 pilot whales slaughtered in Faroe Islands during controversial hunt
Pregnant females and newborn calves were among the pilot whales violently killed after being herded into the North Atlantic cove during this year’s Grindadráp.
Wild horse protections slashed in 2026 budget proposal, opening door to mass slaughter
The proposal cuts Bureau of Land Management funding by 25% and removes bans on killing federally protected animals, putting 64,000 wild horses and burros at risk.
The bird flu vaccine just lost US funding, do we still need it?
We have not yet experienced a bird flu pandemic, and there is little understanding of how dangerous this disease is.
Why our oceans matter and how you can help
The ocean is the heartbeat of our planet. It covers over 70% of Earth’s surface, generates more than half of the oxygen we breathe, regulates climate, and provides a home for nearly a million species.
Swapping animal products for plant-based foods helps people with type 1 diabetes lose weight, study finds
Researchers found that replacing animal products with plant-based foods, rather than focusing on calorie restriction, had the most significant effect on weight loss and overall metabolic health in people with type 1 diabetes.
