Animal welfare is a growing global concern, with countries around the world taking action to improve the treatment and protection of animals. Read below for stories highlighting different efforts and challenges at home and around the world.
Switzerland: Transparency on the hidden pain behind animal food
Starting from the 1st of July, food packaging in Switzerland must declare any painful practices used on animals during production. This includes, for example, the castration of cattle and pigs without anesthesia or the stunning of animals. Restaurants, small shops and any establishments offering these food products must also comply with the new regulations.
This regulation applies to imported food as well. Although the force-feeding of ducks and geese for foie-gras has been banned for over 40 years in Switzerland, these new labelling regulations will apply to any foie-gras imported, a practice which is still allowed in other country.
To learn more, you can read the article here.
Flanders: Changing breeding rules for healthier, happier pets
Flanders is changing their current pedigree system in order to help breed out genetic defects in Flemish purebred dogs and cats. Years of breeding have led to cats and dogs developing painful hereditary conditions. For example, border collies often suffer from eye diseases.
Starting from the 1st of July, Flemish pedigree associations will only be permitted to grant pedigrees to dogs and cats that come from approved breeding programs.
Flemish Minister for Animal Welfare Ben Weyts aims to aims to put an end to the suffering of cats and dogs with painful genetic abnormalities with these measures.
Thailand: Tourists feeding wildlife despite warnings
During a visit to Monkey Bay in Krabi, Thailand, on May 4, a tourist was caught on camera giving chips to wild monkeys, despite clear signs prohibiting this behavior. The footage also showed the individual ignoring a local guide’s advice not to feed the animals. An official inquiry has now been initiated by the authorities. Actions like these can harm local wildlife, and it is important to always consider the impact our actions have on local wildlife.
Silent victims: Whales hurt by high-speed sailing races
During offshore sailing competitions such as the Route du Rhum, whales are increasingly at risk of injury or death due to collisions with the underwater blades attached to high-speed yachts. These sharp appendages, designed to lift the boats and increase their speed, can cause serious harm to marine mammals.
Although the main threats to whales remain issues like overfishing, pollution, climate change, and loud underwater noise, the risk posed by racing vessels should not be underestimated. Other large ships—including cargo vessels and ferries—also often collide with whales, contributing to their decline. Marine experts highlight the urgency of protecting every remaining individual as ocean populations dwindle.
With some whale species facing critically low numbers, it is vital that people who engage in ocean activities acknowledge their responsibility to minimize harm. The burden should not fall on the whales to avoid humans, but rather on people to adjust their behavior.
The hidden emotion of fish: Advocating for their welfare
Contrary to long-held beliefs that fish are simple, unfeeling creatures, recent scientific research reveals that they possess remarkable cognitive and emotional capacities. Studies show that fish have good memory, can learn complex tasks, recognize human faces, and form social bonds. For instance, gobies have demonstrated impressive spatial memory by building mental maps of their environment and remembering locations even after being removed for forty days and relocated thirty meters away.
Experts argue that fish share many physiological traits with mammals, including pain receptors and similar nervous system functions, meaning they experience pain and distress deeply. Yet, this knowledge is frequently ignored, perpetuating widespread mistreatment. Changing how we view fish—as sensitive and intelligent beings—is essential to fostering empathy and improving their treatment in fishing, farming, and conservation.
Bird-Watching walks in Mons: Protecting swallows and swifts
The City of Mons, alongside nature conservations associations Natagora and Cercle des Naturalistes, have come up with a new initiative to protect two birds whose species is in decline: swallows and swifts. Bird-spotting walks were organized to track these swallows and swifts, inviting residents to join in.
Raising public awareness for these birds is crucial, as sometimes people are tempted to destroy nests due to droppings around them.
These beautiful initiative not only protects swallows and swifts, but allows the community to rediscover their environment. If you want to know more about the project, you can click here.
Sea turtle populations are increasing again
Sea turtles, which are threatened with extinction in many parts of the world, are showing signs of recovery.
A global study published on April 17 measured the impact of hunting, pollution, and climate change on sea turtles, and according to their research, extinction threats are decreasing in more than half of the studied areas.
Efforts to protect the beaches where turtles come to lay their eggs as well as effort to reduce their accidental capture by fisherman are some of the measures that contributed to this conservation success.