Author: Erica Heffner

Time is running out to save thousands of horses from inhumane transport, injury, and death

Humane Society International / Canada

Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Media

OTTAWA, Ontario—Liona Boyd, Five-time Juno Award-winning classical guitarist, composer, and member of the Order of Canada, is teaming up with Humane Society International/Canada, along with other Canadian celebrities and advocacy groups, to urge the government to pass Bill C-355,  crucial legislation that would ban the inhumane air shipment of live horses to Japan for slaughter. Although the prorogation of Parliament puts the bill at risk of dying on the order paper, lawmakers still have the power to act swiftly and spare the lives of countless horses.

Liona Boyd, who will be inducted as a member of Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2025, said: “Just this week, yet another shipment of horses doomed to slaughter was sent to Japan. As a proud Canadian who loves horses and strongly opposes animal abuse, I cannot stand by while this bill stalls. I am urging the Canadian government to put aside party politics and take immediate action to pass this bill to ensure the kind of suffering documented in this cruel and senseless transport is ended for good. Canadians deserve a government that respects public will, and we want this cruelty stopped now.”

In 2021, the government committed to banning the live export of horses for slaughter as part of the Prime Minister’s mandate letter. Private Member’s Bill C-355, introduced by MP Tim Louis in September 2023, received overwhelming public support. Although it passed the House of Commons in May 2024, it was stalled at Second Reading in the Senate by a small group of Senators.

“For years, this bill has been before government, and yet the suffering of horses continues,” said Ewa Demianowicz, senior campaign manager for Humane Society International/Canada. “The Senate has an opportunity to prioritize animal welfare and act decisively to spare horses from needless pain and misery. It could take less than a day to pass this bill and end the suffering of horses once and for all. Canadians are watching, and they expect action. The wellbeing of animals must take precedence over pointless delays.”

Loaded into cramped wooden crates, horses are being shipped from Canada to Japan on long-haul flights to be fattened, slaughtered, and served as raw delicacies. Recent investigations revealed that between June 2023 and May 2024, 21 horses shipped from Canada to Japan for slaughter died during or directly following transport. Japanese government records detail horrendous animal suffering related to these shipments, including horses dying of severe dehydration and pneumonia, miscarriages, and physical compression after collapsing in their crates.

Liona Boyd and Humane Society International/Canada urge the government to act immediately to put an end to the needless suffering of horses.

Download photos and videos of horses destined for the slaughter industry. For access, please contact the media contact below.

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Facts:

  • Liona Boyd is a Canadian classical guitarist known as “The First Lady of the Guitar”, she has enthralled millions with her romantic and unique brand of classical, folk and world music having sold over 2 million albums. Liona has been given five Honorary Doctorates, was awarded The Order of Ontario and made an Officer of The Order of Canada. In 2025 she will be inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame.
  • Since 2013, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reported that over 40,000 horses destined for slaughter and human consumption were exported by air for slaughter in Japan.
  • Despite claims of safety, data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reveal numerous deaths and injuries among horses during transport to Japan.
  • The journey from remote feedlots in western Canada to feedlots in Japan typically lasts more than 24 hours, during which time the animals are denied food, water, and rest. The best available scientific evidence shows that animals should not be transported for more than eight hours without a break, as is the case in the European Union for many species, including horses.

Media contact: Dominique Davidson: 438-951-0350; ddavidson@hsi.org

Cross-party politicians raise the alarm over the fur trade being a “very serious risk to public health” as a bill to ban fur imports and sales awaits debate in the House of Commons

Humane Society International / United Kingdom

Kristo Muurimaa/Oikeutta eläimille

LONDON—A cross-party group of 43 MPs and Peers has written to Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, highlighting new evidence that underscores the significant public health risk posed by fur farms, and stating their support for Ruth Jones MP’s bill to ban fur imports and sales. The letter endorses the Fur Free Britain campaign for a ban, led by Humane Society International/UK in partnership with animal protection organisations including FOUR PAWS UK and the RSPCA, which has gathered more than 1.2 million petition signatures to date.

The letter, led by Adam Jogee MP, states that “A UK ban on fur imports and sales would send an extremely important global message to those nations still engaged in cruel and dangerous fur farming that protecting public health and animal welfare are more important than fur fashion.”

Outbreaks of both COVID-19 and highly pathogenic avian influenza on more than 500 fur farms in Europe and North America have alarmed scientists and public health officials. In a July 2023 article, Imperial College London virologists strongly urged governments to consider the mounting evidence suggesting that “fur farming, particularly mink, be eliminated in the interest of pandemic preparedness”, while a September 2024 study published in Nature, investigating viruses found on Chinese fur farms, found 39 viruses identified as ‘high-risk’ for potential to spread to humans.

Lead signatory Adam Jogee, MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, said: “So many people I speak to are shocked that we still allow fur to be imported and sold in the UK, it’s an extremely cruel and unnecessary trade that should have ended decades ago. The suffering of animals on fur farms is as unacceptable as the appalling disease risk in these places. I’m grateful to so many cross-party Parliamentary colleagues for joining me in raising the strong animal welfare and public health reasons for Government to stop permitting this trade in suffering.”

Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwyn, whose fur import and sales ban Bill will be debated in Parliament later this year, said: “Fur belongs on animals, not bobble hats. A Labour Government made the UK the first country in the world to ban fur farming, now Labour has the opportunity to finish the job and stop importing fur cruelty. Public sentiment against the awful fur trade is so strong, I hope the Government are listening to that, and to the virologists warning us to stop fur farms before they incubate the next pandemic.”

The letter also notes that publication of the findings from DEFRA’s Call for Evidence on the Fur Market in Great Britain would “greatly assist in taking forwards Ruth Jones’ bill”. The Call for Evidence was launched in May 2021 to inform possible future action on the UK fur trade, yet almost four years on the results have not been made publicly available despite repeated calls from animal protection organisations and dozens of Parliamentary questions from MPs and Peers.

Claire Bass, senior director of campaigns and public affairs for Humane Society International/UK, said: “The ever-growing list of retailers and designers shunning fur shows that the fur trade is on a one-way trip into the dustbin of fashion history. But for the tens of millions of animals still suffering on fur farms today, and for the sake of protecting public health, we are pleased to see dozens of MPs joining calls for the UK Government to back Ruth Jones’ Bill for a Fur Free Britain.”

Download photos and video footage from HSI/UK’s 2024 investigation on fox fur farms in Finland. For access, please contact the media contact below.

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Fur Facts:

  • Tens of millions of animals suffer and die each year in the global fur trade. The majority of animals killed for fur are reared in barren battery cages on fur farms.
  • HMRC records show that almost £40million of fur (£39,703,694) was imported to the UK in 2023 from countries including China, Finland, Spain, Greece and Poland.
  • Since April 2020, mink on 488 fur farms across North America and Europe have been reported as having tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The virus has been shown to pass from mammal to mammal on intensive mink fur farms and reports of farmed mink to human transfer has been reported in at least six countries. The most recently recorded outbreak was in Bulgaria in October 2023.
  • Animals on more than 70 fur farms have been infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) in Europe—in Spain in 2022 and Finland in 2023—resulting in more than 500,000 mink, raccoon dogs, foxes and sable ordered to be killed by the authorities on public health grounds.
  • At a Westminster Hall debate in June 2023, Labour’s then shadow Defra minister, Alex Sobel MP, stated: “a Labour Government would take the necessary action on the importation of fur into Britain. We are committed to this. … A Labour Britain will be a compassionate, fur-free Britain.”
  • In October 2024, Labour MP Ruth Jones introduced a Private Member’s Bill to prohibit the import and sale of fur. The bill proposes to extend existing bans on trade in fur from cats, dogs and seals to include foxes, raccoon dogs, mink, chinchilla, coyotes and other animals killed for fur fashion, and prevent the import and sale of new animal fur from all species. If passed into law, the ban would end the UK’s complicity in the cruelty and public health risk of the global fur trade. The bill’s Second Reading in the House of Commons is scheduled for 13th June 2025.

Media contact: Sally Ivens, Humane Society International/UK: 07590 559299; sivens@hsi.org

Humane Society International/UK highlights an increase in hunting trophy imports and calls for urgent Government action

Humane Society International / United Kingdom

Lion rug
coldsnowstorm/istock

LONDON—The latest wildlife trade data from CITES shows that the number of hunting trophies from endangered animals imported to the UK increased significantly in 2023, leading animal protection organisation Humane Society International/UK to call for urgent Government action to ban the senseless, cruel trade. Trophies, such as skins and stuffed body parts like animal heads, from 39 animals—including lions, elephants, a brown bear, a leopard, a hippo and a cheetah—were shipped to the UK in 2023, recently released records reveal. This is over four times more than were imported in 2022. 

Imports in 2023 include trophies from five African elephants, a species which is the focus of a documentary released this week by HSI highlighting the cruelty and damage resulting from the killing of these magnificent and highly social animals.  

The number of lions imported to the UK as trophies leapt from two in 2022 to a shocking 28 in 2023, making lions the most targeted choice for UK hunters who crave a gruesome souvenir and bragging rights. 

Nicola White, Humane Society International/UK’s senior wildlife campaigns manager, said: “The longer the UK Government takes to deliver its manifesto commitment to ban imports of hunting trophies, the more animals will continue to suffer and die to be turned into ornaments, rugs and coffee tables by selfish British trophy hunters. Over 80 percent of the British public support a ban and the Government must deliver on its election promise to finally put an end to the UK’s part in this cruel, outdated and damaging industry.” 

Last week the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill, sponsored by David Reed MP, was due for its second reading in the House of Commons; however, it was postponed to 13th June 2025 due to lack of time. Two previous trophy hunting Bills failed to pass into law due to lack of Parliamentary time, one having been derailed by a handful of pro-hunting peers in the House of Lords.  

Hunted animals can experience severe pain, fear and suffering before they die. Many animals hunted for trophies are shot by inexperienced hunters and the industry runs competitions that encourage use of weapons such as crossbows and spears.  

This year marks ten years since Cecil the lion suffered for over 10 hours following his wounding by crossbow in 2015, before finally being put out of his misery. Yet this diabolical practice continues, and trips to kill endangered animals are sold by hunting tour companies here in the UK, such as at the upcoming Stalking Show taking place in Staffordshire in April.

Hunting trophies can come in many forms, not only as full-body taxidermy or wall-mounted heads, but also with tiger skins as rugs, elephant feet as footstools, hippo skulls as coffee tables and teeth or tails as trinkets. Hunters target vulnerable and endangered species which are already under increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change, poaching and illegal wildlife trade. 

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Media contact: Sally Ivens, HSI/UK: sivens@hsi.org

Notes:

  • Trophies can refer to entire animals or body parts; the numbers in this press release refer to individual animals traded as trophies, rather than body parts. 
  • HSI analyses CITES data using select body parts that represent a single animal, to estimate the most accurate number of animals who are killed and traded as trophies. 
  • CITES, the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is an international agreement between governments which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. 
  • CITES data on the number of hunting trophies imported into the UK in previous years is as follows: nine in 2022, 10 in 2021 and 25 in 2020. 
  • Earlier this week, HSI released a documentary directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Nick Chevallier, which investigates the tragic plight of super tuskers and their critical importance to the survival of the larger elephant population. It raises awareness of not only the cruelty of trophy hunting, but also the industry’s exploitation of local custodians and natural heritage. Through interviews with influential Kenyan and Tanzanian community members, pastoralists, scientists and global conservationists, including Dr. Audrey Delsink and Claire Bass from Humane Society International, the documentary highlights the biological, ecological, economic and cultural significance of these imperilled animals. 

Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023 makes the use of Chinese manja a punishable offense with a fine of INR 5,000 or imprisonment up to one year

Humane Society International / India

Street dog puppies
Ioana Cristiana

Mum/Del/Hyd/Guj—As Makar Sankranti approaches, animal protection organization, Humane Society International/India (HSI/India) is urging citizens across India to celebrate a cruelty-free Makar Sankranti by refraining from the use of synthetic or “Chinese manja” used for kite flying. “Chinese manja” is the term used for strings coated with crushed glass and are dangerously sharp and have been known to cut through the skin of birds, animals, and humans – causing fatal injuries. 

Every year, thousands of birds suffer from injuries, some fatal, due to entanglement in these hazardous strings. As per data shared by Jivdaya Charitable Trust, an Ahmedabad NGO, approximately 4,000 birds were injured in Ahmedabad in 2024 alone. In Mumbai, more than 1,000 birds were reported injured, with the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) receiving over 100 reported bird injury cases in just two days. The dangers of synthetic manja extend to humans as well, causing injuries to motorcyclists and children. In 2024, there were multiple cases of serious injuries and death, including the tragic death of a 7-year-old boy in Madhya Pradesh. 

Despite the National Green Tribunal’s ban on the use of Chinese manja in 2017, the sale and use of this hazardous material persists across various parts of India. Alokparna Sengupta, managing director, HSI/India said: “This disregard for the law is troubling as it turns a joyous occasion into a death trap for birds, animals and humans. Not only does this jeopardize public safety and animal welfare, but it highlights the urgent need for authorities to enforce stricter measures. At the same time, we urge the citizens to celebrate a compassionate Makar Sankranti. When you are out shopping for this sankranti, please buy cotton threads to fly your kite. Do not pay for something which is not only illegal but also cruel and can injure and kill those around you.”      

In addition to animal suffering, synthetic manja poses a significant environmental threat. Since it is non-biodegradable, it can stay in the environment for years, causing lasting pollution. Often discarded in public spaces and water bodies, it endangers wildlife and marine life, as animals may become entangled in it or mistake it for food, leading to severe injuries or death. 

HSI/India calls on citizens, communities and local authorities to make the festival safer and more compassionate for all. The organization urges people to: 

  • Use eco-friendly manja: Traditional cotton threads, once commonly used for kite flying, are safe for both humans and animals and do not contribute to environmental damage. 
  • Report the illegal sale of Chinese manja: If you come across any vendors selling it, inform the local police authorities immediately. 
  • Keep a list of bird helplines handy: If you come across an injured bird, immediately contact the nearest helpline in your area.  
  • Be mindful of waste: Dispose of kite strings and materials responsibly, avoiding littering in public spaces, roads and water bodies. 

  Facts:   

  • Makar Sankranti is a widely celebrated festival across India and kite flying is considered an integral part of the festival. Traditionally, cotton threads were used to fly kites. However, with time, synthetic, glass-coated manjas have taken over.   
  • It is common to spot cut pieces of manjas hanging in the air, caught on pillars, trees and other surfaces.  
  • The glass and metal coating on manja makes it a conductor of electricity. It often winds up on electrical poles, becoming a tangible source of electrocution causing fatalities to birds and humans.  
  • As per Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, the use of Chinese manja is considered a punishable offense with a fine of INR 5,000 or imprisonment up to one year.  

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Media Contact: Shaili Shah: 9930591005; sshah@hsi.org

HSI and local partner ARCAS help officials learn to safely and humanely care for confiscated wild animals

Humane Society International / Latin America

HSI

PETEN, Guatemala—Responsive to the threat that illegal trafficking poses to wildlife in Guatemala, Humane Society International and its local partner Asociacion Rescate y Conservacion de Vida Silvestre recently provided training on proper handling of confiscated animals to wildlife technicians from the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), and delivered specialized equipment to support their work.

The equipment includes kennels of different sizes, humane cages for birds, mammals, and snakes, herpetological bags, gloves and digital scales, among other resources, to help authorities to safely and properly manage wild animals.

During the workshop, held at the ARCAS Rescue Center in Peten, participants received training on the current regulations in Guatemala regarding wild animals; human-wildlife interactions and coexistence; and the biology and management of reptiles, primates and Psittacidae (birds such as parrots and macaws).

Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, said: “Wildlife trafficking represents a serious threat to animals who are removed from their habitat and illegally sold. That is why HSI supports the work carried out by CONAP in Guatemala, providing equipment and training to its officials so that they can safely and humanely care for confiscated wild animals.”

Fernando Martinez, director ARCAS Peten Rescue Center, said: “It is very important to strengthen biodiversity management in Guatemala, so we work with CONAP’s technical staff to train them on the proper handling and care that trafficked and confiscated wild animals should receive, as well as the equipment to do so. The result will be providing wildlife with the well-being they deserve outside their natural habitat.”

Miriam Quinonez, wildlife and hydrobiological resources manager of CONAP in Peten, said: “Wildlife is key to human survival and the care of wild species must be a priority; all species fulfill particular roles that help maintain the natural balance that gives us life. Wild animals were born to be free, every day we must learn to live and respect our wild urban and rural neighbors.”

According to CONAP, illegal wildlife trafficking in Guatemala ranks third among environmental crimes for the period 2014-2019, with the most cases taken up in the nation’s judiciary branch, only behind crimes committed against forest resources and attacks on natural and cultural heritage. The animals most affected by illegal trafficking are birds, spider monkeys, white-tailed deer, as well as the green iguana and the Jicotea turtle.

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Media contact: Alejandra Zuniga, CommsLatAm@hsi.org

First-ever round table event at the Parliament Palace on humane stray dog population management

Humane Society International / Europe

Street dog puppies
Ioana Cristiana

BUCHAREST, Romania—Humane Society International/Europe and the Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department hosted a groundbreaking debate titled “Efficiently and Humanely: How to Properly Manage Animal-Human Issues” at the Palace of Parliament. This first-of-its-kind event in Romania brought together over 80 participants, including mayors, county council presidents from 24 municipalities and 10 counties, as well as parliamentarians committed to finding humane, sustainable animal welfare solutions.

The debate marks an important milestone in HSI/Europe’s broader initiative to support local authorities in implementing compassionate and effective dog population management strategies. While figures are rough (without any official count), across Romania, it is estimated that there are between 500,000 and 1,000,000 stray dogs on the streets. Many suffer from malnutrition, disease, while others, housed in shelters, are sadly euthanized if unclaimed.

In 2024, HSI/Europe launched a strategic partnership with the Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department, recognizing the agency’s innovative, holistic approach to animal welfare and dog management. This collaboration began in September with a comprehensive program offering free veterinary services—including spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, de-worming, and first aid—for dogs and cats in Ilfov County. These services, delivered by HSI/Europe through collaboration with veterinary teams, such as WAVE and Nomad Vet, target areas with significant animal welfare challenges, such as disadvantaged communities, industrial zones, and former military sites.

Data-Driven, Humane Approaches

During the event, HSI was represented by Dr. Amit Chaudhari, director of Monitoring, Evaluation, and Impact Analysis, Humane Society International/India; Kerry Zaleski, director of Companion Animals and Engagement, HSI; and Andreea Roseti, country director for HSI/Europe in Romania.

“There is no true animal welfare without compassion for people,” said  Roseti. “Stray animals often originate from someone’s backyard, reflecting a failure in responsibility and resources. Humane solutions require tailored interventions, informed by ongoing data and analysis. Together with the Ilfov County Council team and our colleagues from North America, we’ve been collecting data to design and implement the most effective pet management programs possible.”

Dr. Chaudhari also shared insights from a pilot census conducted in 14 localities in Ilfov County, underscoring the importance of data-driven, long-term planning to address stray dog populations effectively.

Empowering Local Authorities

The Ilfov County Council’s Animal Protection Department showcased its ongoing dog welfare projects and provided participants with practical tools for implementation. Attendees received resources, including templates and legal frameworks, enabling other municipalities to adopt similar models.

“The issue of stray animals is as much about people as it is about animals,” said Hilde Tudora, Director of Animal Protection at Ilfov County Council. “While laws allow us to fund sterilization for owned dogs, the larger issue lies with stray animals. Through partnerships with NGOs, we’ve developed solutions that go beyond what legislation permits. At the event, we distributed USB drives with detailed documentation to make it easier for other authorities to replicate our programs and adapt them to their regions.”

A Path Forward

The roundtable highlighted the critical role of collaboration and innovative thinking in improving living conditions for both people and animals. With the active engagement of local authorities and the support of organizations like HSI/Europe, Romania is taking significant steps toward a more compassionate approach to animal welfare.

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Media Contact: Raluca Simion: commsromania@hsi.org

Humane Society International/Latin America pilot project seeks to help a community become more animal-friendly

Humane Society International / Latin America

HSI

TORTUGUERO, Costa Rica—Humane Society International/Latin America recently provided free veterinary care to dozens of dogs and cats in Tortuguero, a small but much visited community in northeastern Costa Rica situated on the country’s Caribbean coast in proximity to an ecologically sensitive national park. The examinations and treatments were carried out as part of an initiative intended to strengthen Tortuguero’s status as an animal-friendly community.

Over two days, 63 pets including 44 dogs and 19 cats, received essential veterinary services including examinations, vaccinations, deworming and microchipping. This included 24 animals from the neighboring community of San Francisco, who were brought to the clinic by boat.

According to Andrea Borel, executive director of HSI/Latin America, the event marked the last activity of the year in Tortuguero under a pilot project aimed at empowering the community to become more animal-friendly. “Excellent results were achieved in both animal health campaigns, as well as in the other approaches taken throughout the year, mainly due to the high level of commitment from the community and the work of our ‘Animal Ambassadors,’ local individuals committed to leading animal welfare initiatives and helping make them sustainable over time,” Borel said.

Ahead of the event, the community’s Animal Ambassadors learned how to recognize stress in pets and take steps to create a calm, positive environment. One Ambassador, Scarleth Centeno, highlighted the impact: “Both campaigns ran smoothly and were well-organized, with minimal stress for the animals. The techniques we learned helped us identify and address any signs of discomfort, ensuring the dogs and cats felt safe and supported.”

The veterinary care services were complemented by educational sessions for community members on interactions between domestic pets and local wildlife. Tortuguero is uniquely situated near a national park that is home to diverse species, including sea turtles and jaguars, making responsible pet ownership critical to protecting both pets and wildlife.

HSI/Latin America developed the initiative in close collaboration with the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC–MINAE), the Tortuguero National Park, the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), the School of Veterinary Medicine of the National University, the National Commission for Biodiversity Management (CONAGEBIO-MINAE), ASVO Costa Rica, Narime Foundation, Tortuguero Environmental Committee, and Sea Turtle Conservancy, among other parties.

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Media contact: Alejandra Zúñiga: alezuniga@outlook.com

Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of animals being killed and link to graphic visuals

Humane Society International / India

HSI

BIHAR, India—Animal charities Humane Society International/India, People for Animals, Sneha’s Care and the Federation of Animal Welfare of Nepal have condemned the mass animal sacrifice at the Gadhimai festival in Nepal as “an appalling bloodbath” and urged the Nepali government to take action to make this the last Gadhimai festival where animals are killed. HSI/India, PFA and the border police managed to confiscate and save from slaughter more than 750 animals being illegally transported across the border into Nepal from India.

Held every five years in Bariyarpur village in the Bara district of Nepal, the Gadhimai festival sees hundreds of thousands of animals killed. The killing began in the early hours of the morning on Dec. 8 when, according to entry receipts, 4,200 buffaloes were beheaded in the arena and thousands of goats, pigeons and more were killed outside. It ended today with the killing of thousands more goats, as part of an historic ritual to appease the goddess Gadhimai.

Humane Society International/India and People for Animals deployed teams to the Indo-Nepal border checkpoints more than a week prior to the sacrifice, to assist border police in intercepting and confiscating animals illegally transported for slaughter. Their combined efforts saved the lives of more than 750 animals―74 buffaloes, 347 goats, 328 pigeons and two chickens. The newborn and infant goats needing immediate or specialist treatment will receive life-long care at Happy Home Sanctuary run by HSI/India’s partners PFA Uttarakhand; permanent homes are being found for the buffaloes and chickens while the pigeons have been safely released back into the wild. Despite this, estimates from eyewitness accounts are that between 250,000 – 500,000 animals were slaughtered across the two days.

Arkaprava Bahar, Humane Society International/India’s senior manager of campaigns, who led animal rescue efforts at the border, said: “We rescued buffaloes from the back of trucks, goats smuggled in scarves on the back of motorbikes, chickens strung upside down by their feet on the side of vehicles and baskets and boxes of pigeons. The suffering these animals endure is so upsetting and so unnecessary. They have been put through exhausting journeys, many weak from lack of food, water and rest, only to be thrust into the mayhem of Gadhimai where all around them they see other animals being slaughtered. I’ve never seen anything as upsetting and disturbing as what I have witnessed at the Gadhimai sacrifice. The scale of the animal killing is unfathomable, there are animals being beheaded everywhere you look and pools of bright red blood on the ground wherever you tread. Animals such as buffaloes and goats are sensitive, sentient creatures very much aware of what’s happening around them. It must be a terrifying ordeal. This appalling bloodbath must end.

It’s some comfort to know that we and the border forces were able to save hundreds of precious animals from such cruelty. They will now live happy lives being cared for at partner shelters. Every buffalo, goat and pigeon we saved is precious, but we urge the government of Nepal to take decisive action to ensure that in future we have a bloodless Gadhimai.”

Prior to the border work, HSI/India and PFA held a press conference with spiritual teacher and author Acharya Prashant who encouraged devotees to celebrate the festival with compassion and to honour traditions without harming animals. Prashant said: “Devotion should inspire compassion, not cruelty. Slaughtering animals in the name of the divine diminishes the spirit of worship. Let us honour the Goddess by upholding the sanctity of all life during Gadhimai.”

HSI/India teams also conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns and distributed around 3,500 local language pamphlets in 12 villages near the Indo-Nepal border, urging devotees not to sacrifice their animals.

Sneha Shrestha, founder of Sneha’s Care and president of the Federation of Animal Welfare of Nepal, said: “The local government has been intimidating journalists, NGOs and anyone calling for a stop to the sacrifice, violating the rights to free communication. The local government along with the central government has also failed to support the campaign as promised. This year the festival management committee has increased the height of the wall around the compound area where the sacrifices take place and have deployed police forces around the compound. The government in Nepal has had five years to comply with the Supreme Court judgment banning sacrifice but it has failed to take any action and instead has promoted the sacrifice.”

HSI/India and PFA have been working since 2014 to stop animal sacrifice at Gadhimai. There were an estimated more than 500,000 animals killed in 2009 and around 250,000 animals in both 2014 and 2019.

Ahead of the 2024 sacrifice, the Gadhimai Temple urged devotees to bring animal sacrifice numbers back up to 500,000.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India took a significant step to curb this practice by directing the Indian government to prevent the illegal transport of animals across the border into Nepal for sacrifice at Gadhimai. The court also called upon animal protection organizations, including HSI/India, PFA and others, to formulate an action plan to ensure its orders, which HSI/India has implemented ever since, were effectively enforced. Subsequently, in September 2019, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered an end to live animal sacrifices at Gadhimai and urged authorities to create a plan to phase out this practice nationwide, but this has been widely ignored.

Facts:

  • The Gadhimai festival involves a month-long celebration or “mela,” culminating in the ritual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals.
  • Water buffalo, goats, chickens, pigs, ducks and rats are decapitated with blunt metal swords in an alcohol-fueled killing frenzy.
  • The majority of these animals are illegally transported from India into Nepal owing to porous borders.
  • This rule is being openly flouted as the majority of animals are transported illegally across the border without an export license.
  • Mass sacrifice events pose serious public health risks, exacerbated by the unsanitary conditions at the festival site. With no toilets for millions of pilgrims, the air is filled with the stench of feces, blood and death.
  • The origins of Gadhimai date back around 265 years, when the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, Bhagwan Chowdhary, had a dream that the goddess Gadhimai wanted blood in return for freeing him from prison, protecting him from evil and promising prosperity and power. The goddess asked for a human sacrifice, but Chowdhary offered an animal instead and this has been repeated every five years since.

Visuals:

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Media contacts:

  • Wendy Higgins, director of international media: whiggins@hsi.org
  • Shaili Shah, HSI/India media relations specialist: sshah@hsi.org; 99 3059 1005

Humane Society International / Europe

Gray wolf in Yellowstone National Park
Nathan Hobbs, iStock

BRUSSELS—Today’s decision by the Standing Committee of the Bern Convention to downgrade the protection of the wolf represents a dangerous step backwards for biodiversity and sets a worrying precedent for wildlife conservation in Europe, according to several animal protection organisations.

Meeting in Strasbourg this week, the Committee agreed to reclassify the wolf from “strictly protected” to “protected” under the Bern Convention. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), Eurogroup for Animals and Humane Society International/Europe warn that this politically motivated decision undermines decades of slow but steady progress in the recovery of the species.

“This decision disregards science and opens the door to political interference in conservation efforts,” said Ilaria Di Silvestre, IFAW’s Director of Policy and Advocacy for Europe. “The wolf is still endangered in many parts of Europe, and weakening its protection will only lead to further conflict and threaten its recovery.”

Dr Joanna Swabe, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Humane Society International/Europe (HSI) added: “The EU decision-making on lowering legal protections for wolves sets a dangerous precedent for other European species, such as bears and lynx. All decision-making relating to the protected status of wildlife species must be based on robust scientific evidence. Instead, decisions on wolves have clearly been driven by political expediency and succeed only in appeasing vocal interest groups, such as hunters, who prefer to take recourse to rifles, rather than seeking coexistence with large carnivores.”

Although the wolf has recovered in parts of Europe, six out of nine European wolf populations remain in a status of near threatened or vulnerable. Conservationists emphasise that protective measures are vital to ensure that the species reaches and remains in a favourable conservation status. If transposed into EU legislation, the downgrade of the wolf’s protection status would allow for greater hunting flexibility, but experience and scientific evidence have shown that culling is an ineffective solution to reducing attacks on domestic animals, as opposed to preventive measures successfully   implemented by many farmers across the EU.

Léa Badoz, Wildlife Programme Officer at Eurogroup for Animals commented: “The wolf is unfortunately the latest political pawn, a victim of misinformation. Downgrading protection will not solve the challenges of coexistence nor help farmers. It is based on misconceptions and threatens wolves, while failing to provide real support for farmers and local communities, many of whom are in favour of coexistence with the wolf. Proven coexistence measures must be the priority, and the EU should help through financial means.”

The three NGOs are committed to promoting coexistence with wildlife and closely monitoring any subsequent changes to the EU Habitats Directive, to ensure that the protection of European species is not further compromised.

ENDS

Editor’s Note: Survey on attitudes towards large carnivores in rural communities.

Media contacts:

  • HSI/Europe: Yavor Gechev, EU communications director: +359 889 468098; ygechev@hsi.org
  • IFAW: Jürgen Noack, Communications Consultant: +32 470 48 49 05; jnoack.contractor@ifaw.org
  • Eurogroup for Animals: Theresa Bonnici, Press Officer: +32 456 42 11 99; t.bonnici@eurogroupforanimals.org

The teams are stationed at key checkpoints of Indo–Nepal border towns, assisting the border police

Humane Society International / India

Shaili Shah/HSI A goat rescued by HSI/India at the Indo-Nepal border checkpoint ahead of Nepal’s Gadhimai animal sacrifice festival 2024.

BIHAR, India—Ahead of the Gadhimai festival in Nepal, which is the largest mass animal sacrifice event in the world, animal protection organizations Humane Society International/India and People For Animals are urging devotees not to bring animals for sacrifice. HSI/India and PFA have deployed teams to assist the border police in their work prohibiting the illegal transport of animals across the Indo-Nepal border. HSI/India and PFA will work to ensure that confiscated animals are taken to safety in accordance with Indian law.

Held every five years in Bariyarpur village in the Bara district of Nepal, the Gadhimai festival sees hundreds of thousands of animals, including buffaloes, goats, pigeons and more, beheaded as part of an historic ritual to appease the goddess Gadhimai.

Arkaprava Bhar, HSI/India’s senior manager of campaign capacity building, who is leading on-ground efforts at the border, said: “Along with our colleagues from PFA, we are at the checkpoints around the borders and assisting law enforcement officials to ensure every animal we find brought for sacrifice is protected. Our mission is not just about stopping the illegal transport of animals but about standing up for compassion in our traditions. Under the leadership of border forces, we are conducting thorough vehicle checks to ensure that no animals are smuggled across. In the past few days, we’ve stopped trucks and vehicles carrying buffaloes and goats, all bound for the festival where they would have been beheaded had we not been there. They are the lucky ones, spared this terrifying ordeal. We will save as many lives as possible and spread the message to end blood sacrifice.”

A few days prior to the border work, the teams also conducted door-to-door awareness campaigns and distributed around 3,500 local language pamphlets in 12 villages near the Indo-Nepal border, urging devotees not to sacrifice their animals.

HSI/India and PFA have been working since 2014 to stop animal sacrifice at Gadhimai. Following persistent efforts, the gruesome animal sacrifices have declined from an estimated more than 500,000 animals killed in 2009 to around 250,000 animals in both 2014 and 2019 including an estimated 3,500 buffaloes.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India took a significant step to curb this practice by directing the Indian government to prevent the illegal transport of animals across the border into Nepal for sacrifice at Gadhimai. The court also called upon animal protection organizations, including HSI/India, PFA and others, to formulate an action plan to ensure its orders, which HSI/India has implemented ever since, were effectively enforced. Subsequently, in September 2019, the Supreme Court of Nepal ordered an end to live animal sacrifices at Gadhimai and urged authorities to create a plan to phase out this practice nationwide, but this has been widely ignored.

Facts:

  • The Gadhimai festival involves a month-long celebration or “mela,” culminating in the ritual slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals.
  • Water buffalo, goats, chickens, pigs, ducks and rats are decapitated with blunt metal swords in an alcohol-fueled killing frenzy.
  • The majority of these animals are illegally transported from India into Nepal owing to porous borders.
  • This rule is being openly flouted as the majority of animals are transported illegally across the border without an export license.
  • Mass sacrifice events pose serious public health risks, exacerbated by the unsanitary conditions at the festival site. With no toilets for millions of pilgrims, the air is filled with the stench of feces, blood and death.
  • The origins of Gadhimai date back around 265 years, when the founder of the Gadhimai Temple, Bhagwan Chowdhary, had a dream that the goddess Gadhimai wanted blood in return for freeing him from prison, protecting him from evil and promising prosperity and power. The goddess asked for a human sacrifice, but Chowdhary successfully offered an animal instead and this has been repeated every five years since.

HSI/India representatives are available for interview on request.

View photos/video of our 2024 Gadhimai border work. (To download these visuals, email whiggins@hsi.org.)

ENDS

Media contacts:

  • Wendy Higgins, director of international media: whiggins@hsi.org
  • Shaili Shah, HSI/India media relations specialist: 99 3059 1005; sshah@hsi.org

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