Success for animals: Sentience, primates as pets, trophy hunting and more
News
The Government announced in the Queen’s Speech new laws recognising animal sentience – the fact that animals can feel pain and emotion. Here's how you've helped.
100,000 of you signed our petition calling on the Government to recognise animal sentience which will help legally protect animals when new laws, policies or trade deals take place.
Animal sentience to be recognised
Vanessa Amoroso, World Animal Protection’s external affairs advisor, “Thanks to everyone that has signed the petition and lobbied their MP’s - animal sentience has finally been recognised by the Government. We are now urging that the new Animal Welfare Committee must be independently chaired, made up of the leading and diverse animal welfare experts in the country and be able to meaningfully hold Ministers to account.”
Other new laws protecting animals include a ban on keeping primates as pets and importing hunting trophies.
Ban on keeping primates as pets
Peter Kemple Hardy, World Animal Protection Wildlife Campaign Manager, “We are delighted that the keeping of primates as pets will no longer be permitted in the UK, but the Government must ensure this applies to all privately-kept primates. These highly intelligent, wild animals need to be in their natural environment to thrive.
“This long-awaited ban will be a huge step forward, ending the immense suffering of thousands of animals. Our Government must now go further to address the harmful exploitation of other species too. As our research has shown, huge numbers of live wild animals are being legally imported into the UK from all over the world to fuel the commercial exotic pet trade and it’s time for this to end. Wild animals belong in the wild.”
Farm animal protection
Lindsay Duncan, World Animal Protection farming campaigns manager, “To achieve its ambitions the Government must consider animal welfare in trade deals and continue to raise standards including ending the use of cages and removing loopholes from their proposed live export ban so animals are truly protected.
“This is needed not just for the millions of animals farmed and imported into the UK but also to ensure we reduce the risk of future pandemics and antimicrobial resistance.”
Animals Abroad Bill
Katheryn Wise, World Animal Protection wildlife campaigns manager, “We’re excited about the Animals Abroad Bill announced today. It is great news that the Government is considering regulations for advertising cruel animal entertainment activities overseas, such as elephant riding. It presents a bold step in the right direction towards regulating advertising of other cruel animal activities such as captive dolphin entertainment.
85% of Brits want a trophy hunting import ban so it is good news that the Government is addressing this issue. We need to ensure that there are no exemptions here and are calling for a total ban on trophy imports with no exemptions for certain species or under the pretext of conservation.”
Act Now For Animals
We have joined a coalition of 50 charities calling on Government not to waste a ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’ to redefine our relationship with animals through a new animal health and welfare strategy.
The group has today released a report - “Act Now For Animals” - setting out the sector’s priorities for creating a society which rebalances the way we rear, live and work with animals.
We will continue to work with government to ensure new laws are effective.
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Vanessa Amoroso, World Animal Protection’s external affairs advisor, “Thanks to everyone that has signed the petition and lobbied their MP’s - animal sentience has finally been recognised by the government.