Horsemeat Consumption in Europe
In addition to the 250,000 horses slaughtered annually for their meat in the European Union, horsemeat is imported to the region, mostly from Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Uruguay and Brazil. Smaller quantities are also imported from Australia and New Zealand. This combined trade
Horse Transport and Slaughter
The European horsemeat industry centres around Italy and Spain, where nearly half of all European horses slaughtered for meat are killed [PDF]. Each year, many tens of thousands of equines are transported to Italy from elsewhere in Europe to be butchered. Almost
Canada's Criminal Code
Canada's animal welfare laws have remained largely unchanged since 1892. Recent amendments have increased penalties, but the application and scope of the current laws remain ineffective. Consequently, under the Criminal Code it is difficult to prosecute even the worst animal abusers. Our
Fast Facts on Animal Transport in Canada
Overview Approximately 700 million animals are slaughtered for food every year in Canada. During their journey to slaughter, animals are often forced to endure long periods in extreme temperatures without access to food or water and without being afforded an opportunity to
Polar Bears Under Threat: We Must Act Now to Protect Them
by Mark Jones We all know that polar bears are under threat, that their habitat is melting, that they are suffering from the effects of climate change. But did you know that it is still legal to commercially trade these magnificent, but
Horse Slaughter and the Horsemeat Trade in Japan
Since 2009, Japan has imported almost 9,000 tons of horsemeat from North America, the majority of which originates from U.S. horses slaughtered in Canada. In addition, during the same period, nearly 15,000 live horses have been shipped to Japan from North America
For the Badgers' Sake, Let's Ensure This Stay of Execution Becomes a Permanent End to the Cull
by Mark Jones Members of Parliament debated the badger cull on Thursday 25 October and voted overwhelmingly, by 147 votes to 28, against it. The vote followed a five-hour backbench debate on a motion put to MPs by Green MP Caroline Lucas

Costs of Animal and Non-Animal Testing
Some animal tests take months or years to conduct and analyze (e.g., 4-5 years, in the case of rodent cancer studies), at a cost of hundreds of thousands—and sometimes millions—of dollars per substance examined (e.g., $2 to $4 million per two-species lifetime
The Long Road to Freedom: Wildlife Trade Victims in Nicaragua Get a Second Chance
by Karen E. Lange The man with the plastic mesh bag is looking for a sale. Hanging out in the well-worn dirt strip on the edge of one of Managua’s main intersections, he eyes each vehicle, searching for customers—or police. He’s surrounded
Working toward a Humane World
"A Humane World" is the official blog of Humane World for Animals—a first-hand account of our ongoing efforts to protect animals, as told by our president and CEO, Kitty Block. Subscribe for regular updates.
Jean Chung/HSI