A federal judge in California has dismissed a false advertising suit against SeaWorld, ruling that plaintiffs did not have standing and were not reliable.
SeaWorld False Advertising Suit Dismissed
Book Challenges Efficacy of Animal Use Licensing in England
A new book by Elizabeth Tyson, Licensing Laws and Animal Welfare: The Legal Protection of Wild Animals, examines the licensing regime of wild animal use in England.
Museums Apply for Endangered Species Act Breeding Permits
The Fish and Wildlife Service has announced that the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum has applied for a permit to propagate masked bobwhite quail, Mount Graham red squirrels, and Sonora tiger salamanders; and that Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium has applied for a permit to propagate masked bobwhite quail. The agency is accepting comments on the applications until November 4, 2020.
France to Ban Exhibition of Wild Animals
France’s minister of ecological transition has announced that the country will ban using captive wildlife for entertainment in circuses or marine parks, as well as, mink farming.
Permit Granted to Mystic Aquarium for Import of Beluga Whales
The National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Association has announced that a permit has been issued to Mystic Aquarium for the import of five beluga whales for the purposes of scientific research.
Friends of Animals Challenges Mystic Aquarium Permit Issuance
Friends of Animals has filed suit against Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the National Marine Fisheries Service, claiming that the agency violated the Marine Mammal Protection Act and National Environmental Policy Act when it issued a permit for Mystic Aquarium to import five beluga whales.
NMFS and NOAA Seek Nominations to Marine Mammal Scientific Review Group
The National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are soliciting nominations to fill vacancies and gaps in expertise in three new independent Scientific Review Groups to provide advice on a range of marine mammal science and management issues. The agencies are accepting nominations until October 5, 2020.
Critique of the Animal Welfare Act in Zoos
A new article published in Golden Gate University Environmental Law Journal critiques the implementation of the Animal Welfare Act in zoos and makes recommendations to improve animal welfare.
PETA Files Suit Against Roadside Zoo Over Treatment of Elephants
PETA has filed a lawsuit in California against the Monterey Zoological Society and its owner, alleging that the company engages in unlawful business practices when it uses canes to threaten and control elephants kept at the facility.
USDA Settles 2017 Blackout Lawsuits
Two cases stemming from 2017 when the United States Department of Agriculture removed Animal Welfare Act enforcement records from its website—an incident referred to as the USDA Blackout—have been settled. The settlement includes the agency’s commitment that it has restored and will continue to provide public access to the records at issue.