Campaigns
Animals in Travelling Circuses
Animal Defenders International (ADI) is seeking a ban on the use of animals in travelling circuses, based on evidence gathered over years of practical and scientific research.
In March 2010, a Government Public Consultation found that 94.5% of the UK public support a ban on the use of non-domesticated animals in circuses. The then Defra Minister Jim Fitzpatrick confirmed that he would pursue legislation to enact a ban in England. Over 200 Councils across the UK already have bans in place, but despite widespread public support the Government are yet to enact national legislation on the issue.
ADI's 'Stop Circus Suffering' campaign has brought about bans on animal circuses around the world, and in 2009 secured the world's first national ban on all animals in circuses in Bolivia. Several other South American countries have bills to enact similar legislation before congress, and there are already national bans in places as far afield as Costa Rica, Singapore and Austria.
Undercover investigations into the UK circus industry have repeatedly shown cases of cruelty and neglect towards animals. A 2009 ADI exposé uncovered the shocking abuse of three elephants imported by the Great British Circus, provoking a national outcry. Such cases, alongside detailed scientific analysis and testimony from experts, have informed ADI's reports into the issue, which conclude that even with the best will in the world, animal welfare is always compromised in the travelling circus environment. With the UK now falling behind in progressive measures to protect animals, the public are expecting legislation to be enacted.
Animals used in Laboratories
Animal Defenders International, the National Anti-Vivisection Society and the Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research have been campaigning in the EU for the last eight years to improve protection for animals used in scientific procedures, and to promote the development and introduction of non-animal methods.
The final text of the revision to EU Directive 86/609 on animals used in experiments is due to be voted on by MEPs in Plenary, and the Directive will be transposed into the laws of the 27 Member States, including the UK, in the very near future.
The long-awaited revision of Directive 86/609 includes a ban on the use of apes and wild caught monkeys in laboratories, as called for by Animal Defenders International. It was ADI that championed Written Declaration 40, signed by a record-breaking 433 MEPs, calling for the revision of the regulations to:
(a) make ending the use of apes and wild-caught monkeys in scientific experiments an urgent priority,
(b) establish a timetable for replacing the use of all primates in scientific experiments with alternatives.
Following the launch of ADI's 'Save The Primates' campaign across Europe, over 10,000 signatures from the public were received supporting ADI's key demands for revisions to be made in the “trialogue” between the Council of Ministers, the European Parliament, and the European Commission. The UK's own House of Lords has also agreed that stricter EU regulation is needed, particularly for primates, and that it is urgent to promote non-animal methods.
Despite strong backing from the public and politicians alike, there remains concern that the opportunity for greater protection of laboratory animals and increased use of non-animal methods has not been seized. ADI will be working to ensure that the shortcomings that remain in the new Directive are addressed and built upon when it is transposed into UK law.
ADI and the NAVS will also continue to push for an end to the use of animals in testing household products, work to ensure the successful phasing out of animals used in cosmetics testing, and advocate measures to promote greater transparency within the research community. The coalition Government has recently expressed its intentions to move towards a ban on using animals in the testing of household products, which the NAVS has applauded.
Primates
ADI's 2005 'My Mate's a Primate' report highlighted the human threats to the survival of mankind's closest relatives, drawing on a vast amount of observational data obtained by ADI Field Officers around the world. Since then, ADI have continued to campaign vigorously on behalf of non-human primates, addressing the main threats to their survival - the bushmeat, laboratory, pet, and entertainment trades.
Founding International Primate Day (IPD), held on September 1, ADI have worked with the Monkey Sanctuary Trust to call for the Government to end the keeping of primates as pets in the UK – which despite overwhelming numbers of cases showing the dangers to both animals and humans, has so far been unanswered. ADI have recently launched a campaign against the use of monkeys in Russian space experiments, for the 'Mars 500' project. Already, the European Space Agency, partners in the 'Mars 500' project, have voiced their opposition to the experiments. ADI is now campaigning against the use of squirrel monkeys in NASA irradiation experiments.
Animals in Advertising
One of ADI's most successful ongoing campaigns has been to protest at leading household brands' use of performing animals in their TV, cinema and print ads.
ADI's investigations have shown that it is what happens before the animal arrives on set that is important when it comes to their welfare. This is where the actual training takes place, and where welfare is often compromised. Training is often a cruel and inhumane practice, and goes on, unregulated, behind closed doors.
This campaign to persuade companies not to use performing animals in their advertisements has taken aim at some of the world's major brands such as Toyota, Diageo, D&G, Barclaycard, Sony Ericsson, Unilever, Saab, Coca-Cola as well as the UK Government's Revenue & Customs, Big Brother producer Endemol, Visa, Abbey and Uniliver. ADI investigates any adverts where performing animals are featured and writes to protest to the companies involved; public awareness drives are central to this campaign – because how an animal appears in an advertisement is often no indication of its welfare.
