Great achievements in 2020 for Animal Rights
For many of us, 2020 was a year of uncertainty and unprecedented times. Lockdowns, remote-working and social distancing was a lot to adjust to, but thankfully, 2020 wasn’t all bad!
At Animal Courses Direct, we’ve rounded up our favourite stories of the huge achievements in 2020 for animal welfare and rights. Here's to some of the great achievements for Animal Rights and Welfare in 2020.
Multiple countries and businesses take action on Fur Farms.
The outdated and cruel practice of shearing fur from fearful animals is becoming less and less popular, as more consumers are speaking out against this method of fur-production. Countries have been listening to their citizens, and so nations including the Netherlands and Poland took steps to shut down fur farms in 2020.
Additionally, large British clothing brands including Marks & Spencer and Ted Baker and Italian fashion house Valentino vowed to stop using alpaca fleece, which is violently shorn from animals.
Iceland’s opens its first residents to its first pair of Beluga Whales to its wildlife sanctuary
Two whales, named Little White and Little Grey, travelled 6,000 miles from their previous home in a Shanghai aquarium via air, land, and sea to a wildlife sanctuary in Iceland. The sanctuary is located in a large, natural bay in the Westman Islands, just off the south coast of the country.
Rescuing these two whales not only improves their well-being and safety, but it awareness of Beluga whales and therefore assists this species as a whole. This change could potentially transform the lives over 3,000 other whales and dolphins currently housed in traditional captive facilities or performing in shows around the world, if the sanctuary is able to continue taking in whales.
A record number of humans sign up to Veganism in 2020
According to the ‘Vegan Society’, veganism is: a way of living which seeks to exclude as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
In the US, the number of vegans went up 0.4 per cent to almost 3.5 per cent in the last two years or so. This number continues to grow year on year, growing a huge amount in 2020.
Additionally, right now in the UK, there are around 720,000 vegans. They count as almost 1.2 per cent of the country’s total population. As of September 2020, the total number of vegans in the world is approx. 78 million. This growing number of vegans not only demonstrates an increased proportion of society who care about animal welfare, but it will also contribute to reducing greenhouse emissions and helping to save the planet.
A new law was introduced banning animals in circuses in UK
From January 2020 in England, the use of wild animals in circuses was banned under the Wild Animals in Circuses Act 2019.
Wild circus animals are usually captive bred; however, this does not mean that they are tame. It can take thousands of years for animals to become domesticated and the wild animals used to perform in circuses have the same needs as wild animals. These needs simply cannot be met in a travelling circus environment, and so, this new act is a landmark achievement for wild animal welfare!
Vietnam has banned all imports of wild animals in an effort to crack down on the illegal wildlife market
The global wildlife trade has come under greater scrutiny following the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has been linked to a market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where animals including snakes, beavers and badgers were sold.
A directive from the Vietnam Government in 2020, halted the trading of wild species, as well as animal products such as eggs, organs or body parts. It also called for tougher action against people involved in illegal hunting, killing or advertising of wild animals. This achievement is great news, not just for animal welfare, but for the future ensured safety of all humankind.
The ban has been welcomed by many conservation and animal rights groups, as it aims to stop the flourishing trade in endangered species.
Born Free saves more threatened species across the globe
"Born Free is committed to the conservation and welfare of wildlife across the globe."
Despite everything that COVID-19 threw at the world, thanks to the help of sponsors, Born Free have been able to continue to support and lead the conservation of 14 highly threatened species across 3 continents.
In 2020, they helped protect an estimated 200-300 lions, 500 Ethiopian wolves, 2,000 elephants, 600-700 tigers, 660 giraffe, 320 chimpanzees, 160 gorillas and 100 rhinos.
So, despite it being a strange year, 2020 definitely gave us some achievements to celebrate!
Our fingers are crossed that 2021 will be even better, and continue to bring safety, security and better welfare to animals around the globe.
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