Past News

It's World Numbat Day!

This day was created to celebrate the unique mammal of Western Australia and to encourage action to conserve this species.

The numbat is a small marsupial that was once found across most of southern Australia but now is restricted to a few isolated pockets in southwest Western Australia and two small re-introduced populations in New South Wales and South Australia.

There are approximately less than 1000 species left in the wild due to the species facing the threat of extinction. Numbats are mainly threatened by habitat loss and introduced predators, such as foxes and feral cats.

An intensive research and conservation program since 1980 faced success in increasing the numbat population significantly, and reintroductions to fox-free areas have begun. Despite the efforts, the numbats remain at risk of extinction and are classified as Endangered under the IUCN Red List.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the numbats and the threats they face;

• Raise awareness about climate change and its effect on the animals;

• Go vegan for the animals and the planet;

• Consider volunteering with the conservation groups that work on the restoration of the numbat's population;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldNumbatDay.

In our October Newsletter, you will find 6 research articles, two volumes of our news digest Asia Animal Law Bulletin, 4 species of animals in Animal Calendar, and international and national animal holidays. We also welcomed a new member in the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia. 

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Join the 2nd Annual Aquatic Life Conference to be held virtually on November 15-18!

This Conference is organized by Aquatic Life Institute, one of the members of the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia. The Conference includes exciting panels and speakers, including a keynote speech by legendary oceanographer, Dr. Sylvia Earle!

The major themes covered this year will be:

• Fish welfare pillars;

• Campaign & policy;

• Neglected research areas and species; and

• Sustainability, conservation, and food systems intersectionality. 

The Conference is free and open to the public.

REGISTER

It's Pit Bull Awareness Day in the U.S.!

This day was created in 2007 to raise awareness about the truth about pit bulls and promote legal protection for them.

Pit bulls are commonly known to be used in dogfighting, a cruel practice involving dogs in the blood sport by pitting them against one another in a ring. After the fight, dogs usually have serious injuries, broken bones, bleedings, etc. Upon the end of the match, dogs are not euthanized with humane methods, rather they are tortured or beaten.

There have been lots of myths about pit bulls over the decades, as being ferocious, malicious, and dangerous dogs. An image far from the truth and based on the actions of maligned humans, not the animals themselves. All animals are individuals with unique personalities, being capable of feeling joy and pain. There are no "bad" dogs - there are only dogs who have been abused or neglected upon which they become aggressive and fearful.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more facts about the pit bulls, not myths;

• Raise awareness about the abusive practices of dogfighting;

• Consider volunteering with and donating to the shelters;

• Adopt a pit bull instead of buying them from pet stores and breeders;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #PitBullAwarenessDayUS.

It's Reptile Awareness Day in the U.S.!

This day was created to promote education, conservation, and appreciation for reptiles. This day is also another opportunity to learn about the reptiles' natural habitats and the ecological threats that they are facing.

Currently, there are over 10 000 species and an additional 2700 subspecies of reptiles in the world. Habitat loss and degradation is one of the greatest threats to the reptile populations and occurs from a variety of sources, including urban/suburban development, aquatic habitat alteration from water withdrawals and stream diversions, water pollution, and off-road vehicle use in terrestrial habitats. Other threats include introduced invasive species, environmental pollution, disease, and unsustainable use.

Reptiles play a fundamental role in the entire ecosystem. As one part of the greater food chain, they prevent overpopulation and provide food for hungry predators, especially when they are young. Some of the most venomous snakes in the world such as the Indian cobra prevent the spread of disease-carrying rodents, even in urban centers, so their usefulness often outweighs their danger. Crocodiles and alligators prevent the overpopulation of fish species in coastal regions and wetlands, which is pivotal in keeping these aquatic ecosystems healthy and balanced.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the reptiles and threats that they face;

• Learn more about how we can reduce our impact on the environment and the animals' habitat;

• Go vegan for the animals and the planet;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #ReptileAwarenessDayUS.

Read our next series of news articles on the following topics:

• Global warming killing 14% of corals in a decade;

• Dying beached whale shark eaten by locals in West Java;

• Illegal pet trade in gibbons in Bali;

• Chinese pledge of USD 233 million to the Global Biodiversity Fund;

• Seizures of poached giant clams in the Philippines; and

• The continuance of demand for endangered slow lorises.

See Our Full Articles Here

It's World Animal Day!

This day was created to raise the status of animals in the legal system and raising awareness about the need to protect them. This day unites the animal protection movement, mobilizing it into a global force to make the world a better place for all animals.

Trillions of animals are suffering every hour from human practices and climate crisis consequences caused by human activities. In many countries around the world, even though the Animal Welfare Act is enacted, it is not enforced, while in other parts of the Earth, animal law does not exist. The animal protection movement is gradually expanding, however, there is an urgent need to educate as many individuals as possible about the harm we inflict on animals, the consequences of not stopping to exploit animals, and the necessity to recognize them as legal persons. Through increased awareness and education we can create a world where animals are always recognized as sentient beings.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the pain and suffering of animals across the globe and ways how we can protect them;

• Urge the government to enact effective legislation to protect animals and enforce the laws;

• Educate the public about the urgent need to protect animals;

• Go vegan for the animals and the planet;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldAnimalDay.

It's World Farm Animal Day!

This day was created in 1983 by the international campaign of the Farm Animal Rights Movement to raise awareness about the cruel practices done to farmed animals in factory farms, local farms, and generally for consumption purposes.

In every country across the globe, billions of farmed animals are being killed for meat, eggs, and dairy in factory farms and slaughterhouses every day. Even animals raised on small family farms are enduring many of these abuses. Irrespective of the place they were raised, every farm animal raised for food is facing a gruesome slaughter.

Agricultural activity involving animals is also the main driver of climate change that affects other animals and, generally, the planet entirely. Human activities increase the concentrations of some of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, in particular, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases, etc. Agriculture is directly responsible for 14% of total greenhouse gas emissions. There is an urgent need to put this business to an end.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the pain and suffering of farmed animals for satisfying human needs;

• Urge the public to enact effective legislation to protect farmed animals and not exclude them from legal protection;

• Educate the public about the detrimental effects of factory farms;

• Go vegan not to contribute to this brutal practice;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldFarmAnimalDay.

It's World Rabies Day!

This day was created to raise awareness about the issue of rabies around the world and the necessity to vaccinate animals. The pandemic has raised many doubts and misconceptions about diseases, their spread, and about vaccination, in general. As for rabies, the theme of this year is focused on sharing facts about rabies and not spreading fear about the disease by relying on misinformation and myths.

In the United States, for instance, more than 90% of reported cases of rabies in animals occur in wildlife. The wild animals that most commonly carry rabies in the United States are raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. Cats and dogs, cattle, and horses)can also get rabies. Nearly all the pets and livestock that get rabies had not received a vaccination or were not up to date on rabies vaccination.

While rabies is a 100% preventable disease, more than 59 000 people die from the disease around the world each year. This day is another opportunity to reflect on our efforts to control this deadly disease and remind ourselves that the fight is not yet over.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about rabies and the need to vaccinate animals;

• Urge the public to educate themselves about this issue;

• Vaccinate your companion animals;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldRabiesDay.

It's Fish Amnesty Day in the U.S.!

This day was created by PETA in 1997 to recognize fish as living animals with rights and the necessity to protect them as other vertebrates.

Fish also have advanced nervous systems that process and respond to pain. With no laws protecting them from cruelty, they can be impaled on hooks, yanked out of the water, and suffocated. Their mouths are ripped open as hooks are pried out, they’re hit in the head with blunt objects, and they’re sliced open and disemboweled while still alive. Moreover, fish have been proven by science to feel fear, pain, and suffering. However, fish, among other aquatic animals, receive less consideration than marine mammals, for instance.

Fish are important for the entire ecosystem as being part of the food chain, they help maintain healthy oceans at the same level as other species of aquatic animals. Instead, billions of them are killed every year for food consumption and caught for the development of aquaculture. Not only fish suffer from fishing activities but other animals too who become victims of the nets, hooks, etc. Because of overfishing, we could have fishless oceans by 2050.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the fish, threats that they face, and means through which we can protect them;

• Urge the public to educate themselves about the importance of fish in our waters;

• Urge the government to enact effective legislation on fish protection;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #FishAmnestyDayUS.

On September 8, 2021, the Institute of Animal Law of Asia (IALA) has turned 1 year from the day of its foundation!

IALA is an educational research center, dedicated to offering news, articles, and comprehensive and up-to-date information on the issues of animal law and policy all over Asia and the world. Our mission is to show the importance of protecting animals by raising awareness through legal sources, articles, news, and cases.

For the past year, our team has worked on providing as many as possible educational materials, articles, and events on animal protection issues in the countries of Asia and the world. We would like to say big thanks to everybody who has been following and supporting our work, sponsoring our activities, and volunteering at our organization! We are determined to develop the animal law field in more countries and hoping to see the animal protection community grow!

We invite you to join us in commemorating and celebrating this important date with us by watching the YouTube video prepared by the IALA team!

WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

It's Puppy Mill Awareness Day in the U.S.!

This day was created to spread the word about the barbaric practice of puppy mills and to improve the lives of all dogs across the globe.

The term “puppy mill” refers to a large-scale commercial dog-breeding facility, where the major goal set is receiving profits over the welfare of the dogs. The aim of puppy mills is to produce the largest number of puppies as quickly as possible, without consideration of genetic quality or the care of the animals. A puppy mill is a cruel practice where dogs are kept in outdoor kennels or caged in darkness, without adequate food, water, or veterinary care, in crowded and unsanitary conditions.

Many dogs that are victims of puppy mills oftentimes suffer from genetic/hereditary conditions and deadly diseases. Also, many puppy mill dogs experience behavioral and psychological problems. There is a need to raise public awareness about the detrimental effect of puppy mills and encourage everybody to adopt instead of buying a companion animal from breeders. By adopting, one could give the entire life to an animal, help the shelter, and help thousands of homeless, abused, and abandoned animals get a chance to be adopted.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the puppy mills practice and why you should adopt, not shop;

• Educate your surroundings about this abusive practice;

• Consider volunteering with and donating to shelters that save a lot of homeless, abandoned, and abused animals;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #PuppyMillAwarenessDayUS.

We are happy to share another pre-recorded animal law webinar with Dr. Maria Baideldinova, the Assistant Professor of KIMEP University! The event was organized under the Project “Enhancing Legal Regulations for Aquatic Animals in Kazakhstan.”

In this presentation, Dr. Maria Baideldinova described the currently existing legal provisions, which regulate the creation and functioning of dolphinariums in Kazakhstan, identified the gaps, and discussed the perspectives of legislative developments in this sphere.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

In our August Newsletter, you will find 6 research articles, two volumes of our news digest Asia Animal Law Bulletin, 2 species of animals, international animal holidays, and two animal law webinars. Last month, we also conducted an interview with Animal Law Reform South Africa, one of the members of the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia, to learn more about the organization's mission, goals, and work.

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Read our next series of news articles on the following topics:

• Biologists and divers working on the conservation of turtles in Sri Lanka;

• The arrest of a student for killing snails in Hong Kong;

• South Korea granting legal status to animals;

• Taking the stranded dugong in Indonesia for traditional medicine;

• Sri Lanka enacting the ban of 'drunk driving' of elephants; and

• Revealing extreme animal cruelty with millions of views on social media platforms.

See Our Full Articles Here

We are happy to share another pre-recorded animal law webinar with Cat Besch, the founder and director of Vietnam Animal Aid & Rescue - U.S! The event was organized under the Project “Enhancing Legal Regulations for Aquatic Animals in Kazakhstan.”

Protecting animals of all species requires understanding the unique political, economic, and cultural context of the target community which varies from country to country, and conservation of marine ecosystems is no different. While speciesism is the dominant worldview and prevalent even in most animal protection movements, the success of sea life protections requires a shift in that paradigm. Cat Besch discussed how we can redirect the discourse to animal rights solutions that are better tailored to regional needs that also work for all species, including humans.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

It's International Homeless Animals Day!

This day was created to recognize and remember all the animals that are wandering on the streets looking for any home and human companion. This day is also another reminder to raise awareness about the overpopulation of animals. The theme for this year is “Become part of the solution.” 

Companion-animal overpopulation is a major issue in almost every country of the world, and there are numerous ways humans can help reduce the companion-animal overpopulation crisis. The first and major way to reduce overpopulation is to spay/neuter your animal and adopt them from the shelter rather than buying them from breeders or pet stores. Fostering dogs or cats is another way to help shelters that could continue saving other homeless animals from the streets.

There is a necessity to raise awareness in your community about the problem of companion-animal overpopulation and to educate the public about how we can eliminate the problem. The international community needs to take an interest in animal homelessness, and we all should help these communities and companion animals who cannot help themselves.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the homeless animals and how we can protect them;

• Spay/neuter your companion animal;

• Consider fostering animals from the shelter, so they could have more space to save other homeless animals;

• Adopt - don't shop;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #InternationalHomelessAnimalsDay.

Members of the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia are spread across the globe, and we are now happy to share our interview with Amy P. Wilson, the Co-founder and Director of Animal Law Reform South Africa, the first organization from the African continent that joined our Alliance! 

Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA) is the first dedicated animal law non-profit organization in South Africa, made up of a team of legal professionals, dedicated to the protection of animals, humans, and the environment. ALRSA’s three main pillars are Animal Well-being, Law, and Social Justice.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

Read our next series of news articles on the following topics:

• The police investigation in Southern India after 300 stray dogs have been found dead;

• Russian amendments on legalizing trophy hunting of endangered species;

• Asian elephant herd's comeback after a 17-month journey;

• A short film "Moon Bear Homecoming" after the rescue of 101 bears from bile farm;

• The born of Singapore’s first giant panda cub; and

• An Emirati farmer catching the honey badger after his livestock being killed.

See Our Full Articles Here

It's World Elephant Day!

This day was created to celebrate the protection of all elephants and to raise awareness about the importance to effectively protect them through law and policy.

Elephants face a lot of threats because of the high demand for the ivory trade. Illegal hunting is common among African and Asian elephants. Elephants are also poached for meat, leather, and body parts, with the illegal wildlife trade putting elephants increasingly in danger because it is perceived to be a low-risk and high-profit endeavor.

Elephants also suffer from habitat loss due to deforestation, mining, and agricultural activities, in particular, the species of Asian elephants. Asian elephants have lost approximately 30-40% of their habitat, making it incredibly difficult to maintain their offspring and themselves.

Unfortunately, elephants are kept in captivity, such as zoos, and exploited in entertainment, such as circuses and shows. Oftentimes, circuses that use animals in their performances, do not treat animals well and abuse them most of the time. Captivity can be a serious threat to elephants, and Asian elephants are often illegally captured in the wild and trafficked into the lucrative tourism industry.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the elephants and the major threats they face;

• Raise awareness in your community about how we can protect these magnificent animals;

• Consider volunteering with conservation groups and wildlife protection organizations;

• Urge the government to create effective laws and enforce them to protect the elephants, ban ivory trade, and illegal hunting;

• Refrain from visiting zoos, circuses, and shows with animals;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldElephantDay.

It's World Lion Day!

This day was created by the Big Cat Rescue to raise awareness about these majestic animals and to find all possible ways on how to protect these cats and their habitat.

Lions are apex predators and one of the largest land animals in the world. Lions are mostly threatened by trophy hunting, reduction in food, and human incursion. Lions' population has dramatically decreased and is still declining to the point where the species are categorized as endangered.

Approximately 3 million years ago, lions freely roamed all over Africa and Eurasia, but currently, their number decreased due to various factors, including ice ages, climate change, poaching. The IUCN Red List lists lions under the "Vulnerable" category. Now, there are approximately 30 000 - 100 000 lions left.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the lions and the major threats they face;

• Raise awareness in your community about how we can protect these animals;

• Consider volunteering with conservation groups, wildlife protection organizations;

• Urge the government to create effective laws and enforce them to protect the lions;

• Consider writing a blog post or an article on the importance to protect lions;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldLionDay.

It's International Cat Day!

This day is celebrated annually on August 8 and was created by the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002 to raise awareness about cats and learn how to protect them.

Despite all stereotypes, cats are very caring and loving domestic animals. The first records about cats were found in Ancient Egyptian Civilization’s culture. Mafdet was the first known cat deity and was regarded as the protector against snakes, scorpions, and evil during the First Dynasty.

Many cats are kept as pets but even more of them are wandering on the streets and living in shelters looking for their forever home. Stray cats are subjected to cruelty and injuries due to car accidents and other harmful situations, including cruel treatment from humans.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the cats and their general characteristics;

• Raise awareness in your community about how we can protect these animals;

• Consider volunteering with shelters, foster, and/or adopt a cat;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #InternationalCatDay.

It's International Clouded Leopard Day!

This day was created to raise global awareness about these animals and to increase the profile of Clouded leopards.

Clouded leopards are wildcats inhabiting dense forests from the foothills of the Himalayas through mainland Southeast Asia into South China. These animals are mostly threatened by habitat loss following large–scale deforestation and commercial poaching for the wildlife trade. They are also popular in the wildlife trade for their skins, claws, and teeth for the purposes of decoration and clothing.

The clouded leopard is listed in CITES Appendix I and protected in the range-countries. For instance, hunting is banned in Bangladesh, China, India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, and Vietnam. In the United States, the clouded leopard is classified as Endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which makes it illegal to trade in the animal or their body parts.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the clouded leopards, threats they face, and conservation efforts;

• Raise awareness in your community about how we can protect this species;

• Consider volunteering with organizations that work on the conservation of clouded leopards;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #InternationalCloudedLeopardDay.

It's International Assistance Dog Week!

This day was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations, raise awareness and educate the public about assistance dogs, and recognize heroic deeds performed by assistance dogs in our communities. International Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, a resource book that captures personal stories, checklists, and practical tips to provide the reader with an A-Z guide about service dogs.

Assistance dogs, otherwise known as service dogs, are trained to aid or assist people with disabilities. Assistance dogs transform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their companion, helper, aide, best friend, and close member of their family.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the service dogs, selection, and their training features;

• Raise awareness in your community about why assistance or service dogs are important;

• Consider volunteering with organizations that train service dogs;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #InternationalAssistanceDogWeek.

LEARN MORE

We are delighted to share another successfully held webinar organized by the Institute of Animal Law of Asia with Jamie Woodhouse, the Founder of sentientism.info and the Host of the Sentientist Podcast Conversations series! The event was organized under the Project “Enhancing Legal Regulations for Aquatic Animals in Kazakhstan.”

In this presentation, Jamie explained what Sentientism is, where it came from, why everyone should agree with it, and how it can help us fix all of the world’s problems – for non-human and human sentients alike.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

Read our nineteenth series of news articles on the following topics:

• The comeback of critically endangered saiga antelope;

• Threats to tiger's habitat due to Malaysia's mining plans;

• China's announcement of giant pandas no longer being endangered in the wild;

• Flourishing of green peafowls in Thailand;

• Sumatran elephant found beheaded in Indonesia; and

• Fishermen's effort to save endangered Pakistan dolphins.

See Our Full Articles Here

It’s Shark Awareness Day!

This day was created to highlight the importance of sharks in our lives and the entire ecosystem.

Sharks are one of the oldest species in the marine environment, they arouse approximately 400 million years ago. They are the apex predators in the marine environment, maintain and keep our oceans healthy.

Approximately 100 million sharks are killed annually, tens of millions of them are killed for food consumption. The major threat for the sharks' population is fishing, which also includes bycatch. Sharks are caught for the shark finning process, after which fins are put on the market for decoration or shark fin soup. Catching the aquatic species of animals causes extreme stress, but shark finning is an extremely cruel practice.

There is an urgent need to elevate the status of sharks in the legal system and there is a necessity to stop fishing and overfishing activities that greatly impact the population of these aquatic animals, as well as other aquatic animals that are dependent on each other in the marine environment.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the sharks and rays, their general characteristics, and the threats they face;

• Raise awareness about the necessity to stop fishing activities that harm sharks species and the marine environment;

• Consider donations to the organizations that work on the conservation and management of sharks;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #SharkAwarenessDay.

READ MORE

We are happy to share our next animal law webinar with Jamie Woodhouse, the Founder of sentientism.info, on July 20th, 2021!

In this presentation, Jamie will explain what Sentientism is, where it came from, why everyone should agree with it, and how it can help us to fix all of the world’s problems – for non-human and human sentients alike.

Jamie is an animal advocate, consultant, coach, and volunteer. He works primarily on the Sentientism worldview by refining the philosophy, raising awareness of the idea, and building communities and movements around it. He is also the host of the Sentientist Podcast Conversations series where he and his guests discuss the two main questions "what's real?" and "what matters?"

Open and Free to the public. Registration is required, find the link here.

Find more information on our Facebook event page.

We are happy to share another successfully held webinar organized by the Institute of Animal Law of Asia with Jennifer Kirsch, the Research and Project Strategist of Fish Welfare Initiative! The event was organized under the Project “Enhancing Legal Regulations for Aquatic Animals in Kazakhstan.”

Common practices in aquaculture and fisheries infringe on fish welfare and cause prolonged suffering. This presentation covered the status of aquaculture and fisheries, how these industries handle fish, and what can be done to improve fishes’ welfare in these systems.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

We are happy to share our next interview within the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia with Ms. Sirjana Nijjar, the Senior Manager of the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO). 

Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO) is India's apex animal rights organization. As the collective voice of the animal rights movement in India, FIAPO is the catalyst that protects the rights and interests of animals at local and national levels. FIAPO was the first animal organization from Asia that joined the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia. We are delighted to be able to share the organization's perspective, approach, and vision of animal law in India and globally.

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

Read our seventeenth series of news articles on the following topics:

• Wildlife trafficking going online during the pandemic;

• The Animals Asia's rescue of 101 bears from bear bile farms in China;

• Magawa the Rat retiring from job detecting landmines;

• The first Asiatic lioness dying from COVID-19 in India;

• NGOs are back to saving Indian Ocean yellowfin tuna; and

• Israel becoming the first country to ban the sale of most fur clothing.

See Our Full Articles Here

We are happy to announce our next animal law webinar with Jennifer Kirsch, the Research and Project Strategist of Fish Welfare Initiative, on June 28th, 2021!

Common practices in aquaculture and fisheries infringe on fish welfare and cause prolonged suffering. This presentation will cover the status of aquaculture and fisheries, how these industries handle fish, and what can be done to improve fishes’ welfare in these systems.

Jennifer's work focuses on alleviating the suffering of fish in aquaculture systems and fisheries. To achieve this goal, Jennifer works with stakeholders from industry, government, and nonprofit organizations around the world.

Open and Free to the public. Registration is required, find the link here.

Find more information on our Facebook event page.

It's National Black Bear Day in the U.S.!

This day was created to raise awareness about the black bears, threats that they face, and strengthen national efforts to conserve these animals.

Black bears are found in 40 states and every Canadian province, the black bear’s enormous range is only beaten by one other four-legged mammal, the whitetail deer.

According to North Carolina Black Bear Biologist, Colleen Olfenbuttel, coastal North Carolina has the largest black bears on the planet. The current world record and the previous world record came from North Carolina. In North Carolina black bears have access to high protein crops and enjoy mild winters – which is why they are so many bears and grow to be so enormous there.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the black bears and their general characteristics;

• Visit a national park/natural reserve to observe black bears in their natural habitat;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media and using the hashtag #NationalBlackBearDay.

Read our sixteenth series of news articles on the following topics:

• Burying saiga antelopes alive in Kazakhstan;

• The arrest of the Delhi Youtuber for animal cruelty;

• The Vietnamese hotel group's commitment to shift to cage-free eggs;

• A 400-km march of Asian elephants in China;

• Returning of the world's tiniest pig to the wild; and

• A plastic pellet problem in Sri Lanka.

See Our Full Articles Here

Institute of Animal Law of Asia is happy to announce its next animal law webinar, featuring Maddy Dawe, the Campaigns Coordinator of the Humane League UK, on June 11th, 2021!

In this presentation, Maddy will discuss how aquatic animals have the capacity to suffer much like our companion animals, and the welfare issues associated with our consumption of fish and other aquatic species. She will also talk about the importance of urgently protecting aquatic animals in the legal system, the current situation for aquatic animals in UK law, and how The Humane League UK is working to change the lives of fish for the better.

Maddy Dawe is a campaigner for The Humane League UK, an organization working to end the abuse of animals raised for food which has been named Top Charity by Animal Charity Evaluators for every rating period. Since joining THL UK, Maddy has coordinated hard-hitting corporate and legislative campaigns. In 2020, she started campaigning for better legal protections for farmed fish in the UK and working to raise awareness of aquatic animal welfare.

Open and Free to the public. Registration is required, find the link here.

Find more information on our Facebook event page.

Institute of Animal Law of Asia works on supporting animal advocacy and animal law movement in Asian countries where animal law is weak or non-existent. We are working on changing the public's minds among the diverse communities of Asia and raising awareness and educating individuals on the emerging field of law by providing news, research articles, and educational materials.

We have launched our own shop where you can support our work by sponsoring one of our research projects, including but not limited to projects on companion animals, wild animals, aquatic animals, and farmed animals.

You can also support one of our webinars/online events. We are committed to organize these and invite speakers from across the globe, including animal law experts, where they will share their knowledge and discuss various animal law topics, as well as the most pressing animal law issues within their jurisdiction. These events help us raise awareness about the important animal protection topics and enhance education among any interested individuals.

Moreover, you can donate to fund our translation services as we are covering a wide range of countries with diverse communities, thus different languages.

TAKE ACTION

It's International Day for Biological Diversity!

This day is a United Nations–sanctioned international day for the promotion of biodiversity issues, held annually on May 22. This day also falls within the scope of the UN Post-2015 Development Agenda's Sustainable Development Goals.

Biodiversity Day 2021 is being celebrated under the slogan: "We're part of the solution #ForNature". The slogan was chosen to be a continuation of the momentum generated last year under the over-arching theme, “Our solutions are in nature,” which served as a reminder that biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the endangered species in your area and threats they face;

• Refrain from buying the products made out of endangered flora and fauna;

• Consider donations to a recognized wildlife organization;

• Spread the word by sharing on social media using the hashtag #ForNature and #InternationalDayforBiologicalDiversity.

It’s World Bee Day!

This day was created by the United Nations to raise awareness of the importance of bees, the threats that they face, and their contribution to sustainable development.

Most of the 25 000 to 30 000 species of bees, the ambassadors of pollinators, help a lot of food crops and plants reproduce. Apart from ensuring the abundance of fruits, nuts, seeds, bees also help improve the quality and increase the variety of foods we consume. There are other pollinators among animals, such as bats, non-flying mammals (rodents, lemurs, tree squirrels), and some birds (hummingbirds, sunbirds, honeycreepers).

Bees are currently threatened with an extinction rate of 100 to 1000 times higher than normal due to anthropogenic activities, namely intensive farming practices, land-use change, mono-cropping, climate change, etc. There is a need to take action because the nutritious crop can result in a decrease and lead to an imbalanced diet.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the bees and why they are important in our lives;

• Avoid using pesticides that can harm bees and use them in windless weather early in the morning or late at night when bees withdraw from blossoms;

• Plant nectar-bearing flowers;

• Spread the word sharing on social media using the hashtag #WorldBeeDay and #SaveTheBees.

Institute of Animal Law of Asia is delighted to announce the animal law webinar featuring Gary L. Francione, the Board of Governors Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law, on May 29th, 2021!

In his presentation, Professor Francione will discuss the six principles of the Abolitionist theory he has pioneered.

Gary L. Francione is Board of Governors Professor of Law at Rutgers University School of Law, Visiting Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lincoln, U.K., and Honorary Professor of Philosophy at the University of East Anglia, U.K. Professor Francione is the author of numerous books and articles on animal rights theory. He has developed the Abolitionist theory of animal rights and maintains that veganism is a moral imperative.

Open and Free to the public. Registration is required, find the link here.

Find more information on our Facebook event page.

Institute of Animal Law of Asia successfully held the webinar with the guest speaker, Kevin Schneider, the Executive Director of the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP)! The event is organized under the Project “Enhancing Legal Regulations for Aquatic Animals in Kazakhstan.”

In his presentation, Kevin talked about the NhRP's work, discussed what it means to be a legal "thing" with no rights instead of a legal "person" with fundamental rights, the historic progress the NhRP has made since it filed its first nonhuman rights lawsuits in 2013, as well as the past and ongoing cases.

WATCH ON-DEMAND

Read our fourteenth series of news articles on the following topics:

• South Korean animal rescue organizations saving dogs at former slaughterhouses;

• Reasons for pilot whale mass stranding in Indonesia;

• First virtual AfA Conference 2021;

• GPS collars for tigers in Nepal;

• Turning the spotlight on Asia’s smallest feline; and

• The surge in elephant electrocutions in Sri Lanka.

See Our Full Articles Here

It's Wild Koala Day!

This day was created to highlight the importance of wild koalas in the ecosystem. Due to the recent wildfires, koalas have experienced huge habitat loss. Koalas are also threatened by increased disturbance by humans. One of the major reasons for the extreme weather conditions is climate change that is caused by anthropogenic activities.

Humans are the biggest problem for wild koalas, yet we can help save these animals and prevent the decrease of their population. It is important to start taking into consideration our treatment of the environment and our planet in general.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about these animals and the threats they are facing;

• Learn more about climate change and its effect on our animals, the environment, and the planet;

• Volunteer with your local organizations/conservation groups to help and contribute to the protection of koalas;

• Consider donations to the organizations that work on protecting and saving koalas.

It's Save the Rhino Day!

This day is celebrated annually on May 1 all over the world to raise awareness about the plight of the rhinoceros in the wild.

The genus consists of 2 species: the Indian Rhinoceros and the Javan Rhinoceros. Both species are currently endangered, while there are only 60 individuals of the Javan Rhino in the world.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the rhinoceros, threats they face, and how we can help them;

• Dedicate a blog post, share it on social media using the hashtag #SavetheRhinoDay;

• Volunteer with organizations that work on the conservation of the rhinos.

It's World Penguin Day!

This day was created to raise awareness about these animals and to highlight their importance in the entire ecosystem. This day also takes place during the annual northern migration of Adélie penguins.

At present, there are approximately 17 species of penguins in the world, among them, 10 species are considered Endangered or Vulnerable and 3 are listed as Near Threatened, according to the IUCN Red List. The major threats for penguins include overfishing, pollution, plastic and oil spills, and, of course, climate change that affects their habitat. It is important for each of us to take small steps to protect these animals.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the penguins, their habitat, and general characteristics;

• Consider donations to the organizations that work on conserving these animals;

• Raise awareness among your family, friends, colleagues about the threats that penguins are facing;

• Learn more about how we can help save these animals and share on social media using the hashtag #WorldPenguinDay.

It's Earth Day 2021!

Earth Day is an annual celebration on April 22nd and was created in 1970 to highlight support for the protection of our planet, including animals, the environment, and all living beings.

For the past hundreds of years, Earth has altered in many ways. It, unfortunately, continues to change due to the climate change effect that is caused by anthropogenic activities. The latest events around the world - wildfires, ice storms - especially demonstrated that there is an urgent need to take into consideration our everyday life habits. Habitat degradation is one of the dominant causes for a lot of species of animals becoming vulnerable, endangered, or even extinct. Fishing and overfishing activities are other issues that harm animals, the environment, and our planet in general.

If measures and necessary steps from each of us are not taken now, our planet may simply disappear.

Read our thirteenth series of news articles on the following topics:

• Opening of the first Beyond Meat manufacturing facility in China;

• A 6-foot monitor lizard at the convenience store in Thailand;

• Two dead whales on Bangladesh beach;

• The Kaavan movie announcement;

• The growth of the greater one-horned rhinoceros in Nepal; and

• Japan's release of the treated Fukushima water into the sea.

See Our Full Articles Here

It's Save the Elephant Day!

This day was created to raise awareness and highlight the importance of elephants and threats that they face, which are habitat loss and poaching/ivory trade - both are due to human activities.

Elephants are extremely intelligent and highly communicative animals living in complex social structures. They have demonstrated the ability to display various emotions, such as joy, anger, grief.

Currently, there are 3 species distributed in Africa and Asia: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant.

The Asian elephant is listed in Appendix I of CITES, which does not allow trade, except for certain circumstances. The African bush elephant species is listed both in Appendix I and II depending on their habitat. Those elephants inhabiting Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe are included in Appendix II. Elephants inhabiting other African countries are listed under Appendix I.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about these animals and their general characteristics;

• Consider donations to the conservation groups that work on saving the population of elephants;

• Avoid visiting zoos, instead consider going to the sanctuary;

• Observe elephants in their natural habitat;

• Report to the authorities, if you witness any illegal activity.

We are pleased to announce that the Institute of Animal Law of Asia joined Asia for Animals Coalition (AfA) as a supporting organization!

We are delighted to be part of such a huge animal protection community.

AfA was also among the first organizations that joined the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia, an international campaign that was initiated by the Institute of Animal Law of Asia and aims to cooperate with animal organizations for establishing networks for the law and policy information, educational sources, and animal law activities.

LEARN ABOUT THE ALLIANCE

In our March Newsletter, you will find 9 research articles, two volumes of our news digest Asia Animal Law Bulletin, 5 species of animals in Animal Calendar, and a celebration of international and U.S. animal holidays. We have also welcomed the new member in the Alliance for Animal Law of Asia, an international campaign that aims to cooperate with national, regional, and global animal organizations.

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Read our twelfth series of news articles on the following topics:

• Thailand authorities seizing $11 million in wildlife trafficking;

• Helmeted hornbill receiving a protection boost in Thailand;

• A new pack with Southeastern Asia animals in the PC game "Planet Zoo";

• Hong Kong's first vegan cheese shop;

• A rare sighting of the Amur leopard in Russia; and

• Russia's first COVID-19 vaccine for animals.

See Our Full Articles Here

It's World Stray Animals Day!

Stray animals are the result of abandoned pets, which led to overpopulation. A lot of stray animals that were placed in shelters are at risk of being euthanized if not adopted. Another issue is the use of stray animals by some countries for food consumption/market.

For instance, in Asia, China has the most stray dogs (27.4 million), followed by Russia (15 million), Japan (12 million), the Philippines (11.6), and India (10.2 million).

Let us remember about these animals that suffer every day wandering on the streets and reconsider our attitude towards them.

How to stop overpopulation?

• Considering spaying/neutering your pet;

• Think carefully before getting a pet - it is a lifetime responsibility;

• If adopted, keep your pet for life;

• Work, volunteer, and fight against puppy mills; and

• Consider adopting a pet instead of buying them in the store.

It's World Aquatic Animal Day!

April 3rd is an annual day dedicated to aquatic animals! 

Today, we wish to raise awareness for these magnificent creatures, the various threats they face, and how we, as human animals, impact them and their habitats. They are valuable to us not only as a society and to the environment but are also individuals with intrinsic value.

Aquatic animals may be covered in some animal protection acts in theory, but the legislation may not be enforced. Unfortunately, a lot of Asian countries do not protect aquatic animals by law.

We encourage you to get involved from home and participate by sharing your appreciation for aquatic animals and learning how you can protect them.

To learn more about World Aquatic Animal Day, what you can do, and how to join the events scheduled by the Center for Animal Law Studies, go to worldaquaticanimalday.org

We are happy to announce that the Institute of Animal Law of Asia organizes the World Aquatic Animal Day Webinar in Kazakhstan as a celebration of World Aquatic Animal Day.

The panelists include:

• Diego Plaza Casanova, Founder and Executive Director of CEDA Chile;

• Madison Steffey, J.D. graduate of Lewis & Clark Law School;

• Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Director of Research of OceansAsia;

• Lakshmi Venkataraman, Campaign Manager of Humane Society International India; and

• Gary Stokes, Director of Operations of OceansAsia.

The webinar will be held on Zoom, April 3rd, at 9:30 am (in Kazakhstan)*. FREE and OPEN to the public. Register here.

*The U.S. time is 8:30 pm (Pacific) and 11:30 pm (Eastern) on April 2nd.

READ ABOUT THE WEBINAR

On April 2-3, the Institute of Animal Law of Asia organizes the webinar in Kazakhstan as a celebration of World Aquatic Animal Day!

World Aquatic Animal Day was first launched in 2020 by the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative (AALI), Center for Animal Law Studies, Lewis & Clark Law School. To see AALI's event this year, go to worldaquaticanimalday.org.

The IALA webinar is an independent event and we are joining the rest of the world to raise awareness about the importance of aquatic animals in our lives. This event is part of the project "Enhancing Legal Regulations for Aquatic Animals in Kazakhstan."

Please join our webinar with speakers from across the globe, including animal law experts, where they will introduce you to the necessity to protect aquatic animals and discuss how human activities impact aquatic life. More information to follow.

The webinar will be held on Zoom, April 3rd, at 9:30 am (in Kazakhstan)*. FREE and OPEN to the public. Register here.

*The time is 8:30 pm PT and 11:30 pm ET on April 2nd.

READ ABOUT THE WEBINAR

It's International Day of the Seal!

This day is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance to protect and conserve seals from human-man threats. These marine mammals can be found throughout the world, in the Northern Pacific Ocean between Asia and North America, some species inhabit the coasts of South America, Antarctica, Africa, and Australia. Seals have been hunted for a long period of time to be used as meat, fur coats, and blubber, thus, many species have become endangered.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the seals and what threats humans can pose to them.

• Watch a documentary about seals, e.g, “The Hidden Seals of Siberia” or “Playground of Seals.”

• Consider donations to the organizations that work to conserve these mammals.

• Dedicate a blogpost about the protection and conservation of seals and share it on social media using the hashtag #InternationalDayoftheSeal.

It's World Sparrow Day!

This day was created to raise awareness about the importance of sparrows in the ecosystem. World Sparrow Day was started by the Nature Forever Society of India and the Eco-sys Action Foundation of France. The day is aimed to encourage people to take care of birds and protect them by all possible means.

How to celebrate?

• Learn more about the sparrows' general characteristics and habitat.

• Organize a virtual event in your local area.

• Share a blogpost on social media using the hashtag #WorldSparrowDay.

Read our tenth series of news articles on the following topics:

• Efforts to save fishing cats;

• Asia's largest livestock research center in India;

• Massive oil spill in Israel covered sea turtles in tar;

• 1 out of 52 pilot whales survived stranding in Indonesia;

• The first reappearance of a black-browed babbler in 172 years; and

• Dubai cat cafe hopes to find forever homes for its rescues.

See Our Full Articles Here

In our February Newsletter, you will find 7 research articles, two volumes of our newsletter Asia Animal Law Bulletin, 5 species of animals in Animal Calendar, and a celebration of international and U.S. animal holidays. We have also launched the new 2021-2022 program aimed at farm animal welfare in mainland China and aquatic animal protection in Kazakhstan.

READ THE FULL NEWSLETTER

Join the Navigating the Regulatory Waters for Aquatic Animals panel at the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference on March 6th, 2021, where speakers will talk about the present situation and issues of aquatic animal protection in certain countries and the future for aquatic animals!

The panelists are Professor Kathy Hessler, Amy P. Wilson, Diego F. Plaza, Bianka Atlas, and Lu Shegay.

The Public Interest Environmental Law Conference is the premier annual gathering for environmentalists worldwide and is distinguished as the oldest and largest of its kind. The Conference historically unites more than 3,000 activists, attorneys, students, scientists, and concerned citizens from over 50 countries around the globe to share their experience and expertise.

The event will be held on Zoom, free and open to the public.

LEARN MORE INFORMATION