3 Oct 2016
Chinese consumers support better welfare for pigs
Our new survey reveals Chinese people are willing to pay more for higher welfare pork
The treatment of farm animals is the world’s biggest __animal welfare issue – and it’s getting bigger. More than 70 billion animals are farmed for food each year, two-thirds of them in conditions that mean they can’t move freely or live naturally.
China is home to over half of the world’s pig population, and demand for pork has meant many food suppliers are overlooking __animal welfare in favour of low cost meat – resulting in the suffering of millions of pigs every single day, with sows confined in crates or cages for most of their lives.
A new survey carried out by World animal Protection*, reveals an appetite for change in China. Almost 90% of Chinese consumers surveyed said they would be willing to change their purchasing habits, to move to pork products from pigs that have lived better lives.
The survey, 'Chinese Consumers Ready for High-Welfare Pork', also reveals:
- Almost 72% of respondents consider the welfare of farm animals important
- Over 83% want to see production systems that give pigs the freedom to move, not confining pigs to stalls (pictured)
- Over 75% would be willing to pay more for higher welfare pork
- Almost 77% of consumers would choose retailers who provide higher welfare pork.
Chu Xueqin, Campaign Manager, World Animal Protection China, said: “There is a growing awareness among Chinese people about the importance of animal welfare, and a growing demand for the food we eat to come from farm animals with a better quality of life.
“In industrial farming pigs are being kept in cruel, cramped and barren conditions, for the majority of their lives. These highly intelligent and social animals will resort to biting each other, and crowded conditions can lead to the spread of infection, increasing the need for antibiotics.”
Chang Zhigang, Director of China Veterinary Medicine Association’s Animal Health and Welfare Branch, added: "High animal welfare is the best immunity for farm animals. Therefore, high welfare farming systems help to reduce animal disease and improve pork safety. We are drafting a national standard for farm animal welfare, which will help to improve farm animal welfare and produce safer and healthier meat products. "
World Animal Protection is working to to create better lives for pigs – because all animals deserve a life worth living. We are moving the pig industry, farmers, retailers and the government to adopt higher welfare alternatives to intensive pig farming; encouraging farmers to adopt better welfare standards for pigs, and supermarkets to listen to consumers and offer better welfare pork products.
“The message is loud and clear for farmers, food suppliers, and supermarkets: consumers want to see higher welfare pork on the shelves,” Chu Xueqin added.
“Good animal welfare is good for pigs, good for people, good for business and good for China's sustainable development.”
The full report is available here (Chinese). World Animal Protection China, has produced an educational video with English subtitles, inviting more consumers to make their demand for higher-welfare pork heard by the industry. Watch the video here.
*World Animal Protection commissioned independent market survey company TOP Think Tank on the survey and interviewed 2,070 consumers of different ages and income levels from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen.
IUCN votes to halt Japan’s 'scientific' whaling
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) made the decision at last week's World Conservation Congress, Hawaii. It voted by a large majority to halt Japan’s 'scientific' whaling in the Antarctic and the North Pacific.
The IUCN's motion against Japan’s research whaling program was formally adopted, with 89 member countries firmly calling on the Japanese government to stop issuing the ‘Special Permits’ for supposed scientific purposes, enabling it to bypass the global ban on commercial whaling. The IUCN is a global union of governments and conservation organisations.
So far in 2016, the Japanese whaling fleet has used Special Permits to hunt more than 300 Minke whales, including 200 pregnant females, 25 Bryde’s whales and 90 Sei whales.
Ingrid Giskes, Global Head of Sea Change for World __animal Protection said:
“In a win for whales, the IUCN has sent a clear message to Japan that whaling is unacceptable. Japan is using bogus science as a cover up to hunt and kill hundreds of whales needlessly and inhumanely.
“Any scientific research needed to manage and conserve whales, can be done without bloodshed. It is time for Japan to abandon its whaling.”
In March 2014, the International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s whale hunts in Antarctica were unlawful, following a court case brought by Australia. In addition, the Scientific Committee of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and independent experts reporting to the IWC have shown that Japan’s rationale is questionable.
However, Japan has ignored international law and global opposition by resumed its illegal killing of whales in the Southern Ocean.
Representatives from World Animal Protection will be attending the 66th Meeting of the IWC in October this year, where Japan’s whaling programme will come up for discussion again.
Find out about our Sea Change campaign and the work we do to protect sea life.
Rio 2016: Rescuing over 100 cats from Maracanã Stadium
Over 100 stray cats have been living at Maracanã Stadium, where the Olympic Games opening ceremony was held on Friday. We’re helping to rescue the cats and keep them safe during, and after, the Games.
All the cats, along with other animals, are being taken to vet clinics to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and dewormed. They’re then taken to a shelter built specially for Rio 2016 by the Olympic Games Organising Committee, and with World __animal Protection’s support.
So far, over 40 cats have been rescued.
Natalia Kingsbury, an __animal protector who has dedicated 20 years of her life to helping these cats, was relieved to see some of the weakest and most hurt animals finally rescued: “I am so happy, I thank the NGO [World Animal Protection] for taking care of the Maracanã’s cats. They were the first ones that ever helped us,” said Kingsbury.
Natalia Kingsbury cuddles one of the stray cats fromt Maracanã
“We are working restlessly to keep the animals safe during the Games, but our main hope is that they can each find a caring and responsible family,” said Rosangela Ribeiro, Veterinary Programmes Manager at World Animal Protection.
We are organising a series of adoption campaigns for cats and dogs rescued near the Olympic sites, in partnership with Special Secretariat for the Defense of Animals (SEPDA).
A tough but worthwhile rescue
One of the most emotional moments of the operation was the rescue of a ginger male cat (still unnamed) with a severe injury on one of his front paws.
Last Thursday, Kingsbury accompanied one of the rescue teams to Maracanã and helped to rescue the ginger cat.
Injured and scared, the cat would repeatedly come closer and then hesitate. Kingsbury intervened and had to ask all volunteers to step back. A humane trap was set with cat food in it. “He came walking from far, far back, with some difficulty. But he was very hungry. And eventually entered the trap,” remembered Kingsbury.
The cat was then taken to a vet clinic to have his wound treated. “We believe that we won’t need to amputate his leg and that he will be able to walk again”, said Rosangela Ribeiro.
Mãezinha and Tiópia
Another special rescue was of a female cat known as Mãezinha, ‘little mum’ in Portuguese.
According to Kingsbury, Mãezinha had at least four pregnancies while living in Maracanã. “Each one of those resulted in four to five kittens,” she recalls. The uncontrolled reproduction threatens the health and welfare of female cats and newborns, but also adds to the ever-increasing number of animals living on the streets.
Female cats, such as Mãezinha, were prioritised on the rescue operations. This week Mãezinha was rescued and is now waiting to be neutered so she can be ready for adoption.
Some of the cats at Maracanã have already been neutered or spayed, and one of those is next in line for rescue. Named after the country Ethiopia, the fragile female is a true survivor. “Tiópia” has lived in Maracanã for at least 6 years. During that time, both of her sisters were brutally killed by animal abusers.
“It was pure cruelty,” laments Kingsbury, “they died by being punched in the head.”
Tiópia survived. Though undernourished, like many cats at Maracanã, this small female is still wandering around the colossal Stadium and is very dear to Kingsbury.
“There are still many cats to rescue,” she said, “but Rosangela and World Animal Protection, along with the Committee, are doing a wonderful job. My hope is the animals of Maracanã will now have a better future.”
A long-term solution
“People should never abandon an animal. Especially at Maracanã, where big events are held and there is a high concentration of people. The animals end up getting hurt. They are completely vulnerable and depend on the help of humans. Abandoning them is cruel and make them subject to starvation, diseases, abuse and being run over by cars,” Rosangela explains.
To ensure longer-term needs of stray animals of Rio, we are raising awareness about responsible pet ownership with the Rio 2016 Organising Committee. A campaign was developed specifically for people living around the Maracanã Stadium and in other communities of Rio de Janeiro.
Find out more about our work at Rio 2016.