India’s Madras High Court rules that nature has legal status on par with humans
The highest court in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has ruled that “Mother Nature” has the same legal status as a human being.
Animal rights & well-being
This archive tracks real progress on animal rights and well-being — from landmark legislation and court rulings to shifts in farming practices and scientific recognition of animal sentience. These stories focus on what’s working and why it matters for both animals and the humans who share the planet with them.
England to ban glue traps in ‘momentous victory’ for wildlife
Protected and endangered species including hedgehogs, birds, bats, and pet cats have been known to sustain injuries in glue traps, many of which are fatal.
Nearly 200 countries pass historic resolutions linking animal welfare and the environmental crisis
The crucial resolution will help develop a better understanding of the relationship between improving animal welfare and tackling the drivers of wildlife loss, climate change, pollution and pandemic diseases.
New animal-free dairy milk set to finally hit U.S. retail shelves
A new kind of milk will soon hit US shelves, but it isn’t some plant-based product designed to resemble dairy milk. Instead, it is made from whey proteins produced by microflora engineered.
Sinaloa becomes the fifth state in Mexico to ban bullfighting
The Congress of Sinaloa has unanimously approved an initiative that bans bullfighting in the state, classifying it as animal cruelty.
Spain approves new law recognizing animals as ‘sentient beings’
Animals will no longer be able to be seized, abandoned, mistreated, or separated from one of their owners, without having their well-being and protection taken into account.
Ireland to become 15th European country to ban fur farming
Only three fur farms in Ireland have been active since 2014, however, all three farms are factory-scale operations that produce more than 110,000 pelts annually.
New facility in California to create 400,000 pounds of lab-grown meat a year
UPSIDE Foods just opened a major facility in Emeryville, California to scale production of the more environmentally-friendly and humane alternative to traditional meats.
McDonald’s to trial McPlant plant-based burger in the U.S.
McDonald’s is looking to expand its menu to include purely plant-based options, and began trialing its first such offering, the PLT, in Europe and Canada in 2019.
European Parliament passes historic resolution to end all animal experiments
The vote was nearly unanimous – 667 to 4. The motion aims to prioritize the shift towards scientific methods that do not involve animals, including for research, regulatory testing, and education.