
A weekly round-up of the most important animal stories happening around the world.
Join over 150,000 others who start their week with the latest animal stories delivered straight to their inbox. We are currently accepting feature pitches. Learn more →
Captive lion population triples in Thailand, fueled by tourist selfies and pet trade
Researchers warn that unchecked breeding, social media hype, and a booming exotic pet trade are creating a welfare crisis in Thailand’s captive lion industry.
First large-scale donkey slaughterhouse opens in Pakistan in response to surging ejiao trade
Capable of processing 300,000 donkey skins annually, the facility could be the first of many as Pakistan expands its role in the global demand for ejiao.
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?
World’s largest meat producer JBS begins trading on the New York Stock Exchange
The Brazilian meat giant’s NYSE listing has ignited global backlash over its documented links to illegal deforestation, systemic animal suffering, and labor exploitation.
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.
Calls for criminal probe into New Jersey slaughterhouse after repeated welfare violations
Animal activists are calling on the Salem County Prosecutor to investigate a meat facility where a bull was left conscious for over six minutes during a botched slaughter.
Ivory, giraffe, and hippo parts found for sale across Pennsylvania, investigation reveals
From giraffe heads to ivory jewelry, wildlife parts linked to endangered animals found for sale in dozens of stores and auctions across the county.
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.
Fish experience excruciating pain during slaughter, a new study confirms
New research confirms fish experience prolonged and severe pain during slaughter, raising urgent questions about animal welfare in the seafood industry.
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.
Switzerland to ban fur imports from cruel farming practices
The groundbreaking new law will require fur sellers to prove their products meet Swiss animal welfare standards.
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.
Ant smuggling ring busted in Kenya, as wildlife traffickers turn to insects
Thousands of queen ants were found hidden in test tubes and syringes, part of what officials describe as a well-planned international trafficking operation.
Harvard’s infant macaque experiments defunded after years of public outrage
The NIH has terminated funding for Dr. Margaret Livingstone’s controversial primate lab, with advocates now calling for the surviving monkeys to be retired to sanctuary.
Horse carriage crash in Central Park renews push for Ryder’s Law
With both drivers hospitalized and video of runaway horses circulating online, advocates call on lawmakers to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC.
LA Zoo quietly moves elephants Billy and Tina to Tulsa, ignoring calls for sanctuary freedom
Billy and Tina, the last elephants at LA Zoo, were relocated to Tulsa Zoo under cover of night amid ongoing lawsuits seeking their transfer to a sanctuary.
Thousands of monkeys unaccounted for in Vietnam’s primate breeding trade, report finds
New analysis raises concerns of wild-caught macaques being fraudulently sold as captive-bred to supply U.S. laboratories.
Suffocation and souvenirs: what exactly is tuna tourism?
“Hauling fish like tuna from their ocean home and confining them in overcrowded pens is sickening.”
