animal protection

 Recent legal developments show how governments are rethinking animal protection. The UK is strengthening welfare rules for crustaceans, prompting retailers to adopt more humane slaughter methods, while Mexico City has passed a law banning bullfights that harm or kill animals. In contrast, the EU has voted to reduce legal protections for wolves, highlighting tensions between conservation goals and agricultural interests. Together, these cases show that animal-related laws are shifting, but not always in the same direction. 

These articles show that animal law is evolving, but in uneven ways. While some countries are expanding protections by recognizing animal suffering and limiting harmful practices, others are weakening conservation rules under political or economic pressure. This contrast suggests that global progress in animal welfare is real but still inconsistent and highly dependent on social and political priorities.

1. Co-op and prawn welfare（Financial Times）

Bentham, M. (2025, January 19). Co-op to stop selling suffocated prawns following welfare outcry. Financial Times. https://www.ft.com/content/8f19519e-9f3b-4b03-

2. EU wolf protection vote（AP News）

Lawless, J. (2025, May 8). European Parliament votes to lower protections on wolves. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/3e0b269e283facd6c292b94985484f1a

3. Mexico City bullfight ban（People Magazine）

Lenthang, M. (2025, January 31). Mexico City votes to ban “violent” bullfight events that harm or kill animals. People. https://people.com/mexico-city-votes-to-ban-violent-bullfights-11699819

Elephant ivory

 

Researchers at university of Hong Kong found a new way to identify whether ivory cames from elephants or from woolly mammoths. To make a sale of elephant’s ivory is mostly illegal in the world and this technique will promote the prevalence of this kinds of laws and their protection.(1)

Also, this law became operative to another species like hippos or whales in UK. This is also for animal protection from the marketers. (2)

While I searching this topic, I found a barbaric photo on the website that children lifting ivory of elephants dripping blood and the man behind them was just swinging a axe for cutting out another ivory. I feel so sorry about that many people including younger people are related to animal ivory’s market. As a solution of this tragedy, strengthen laws that I was mentioned seems efficient and effective, but some people will not be able to earn a living. Moreover, marketers in this area can sacrifice another animals which are not banned to haunt yet. 

(1)

Africanews. (2025, June 24). Scientists find way to identify elephant ivory disguised as legal mammoth ivory. Africanews. https://www.africanews.com/2025/06/24/scientists-find-way-to-identify-elephant-ivory-disguised-as-legal-mammoth-ivory/

(2)

Oceanographic Magazine. (2025, January 18). Sperm whale, orca, and narwhal now protected from UK ivory trade. Oceanographic Magazine. https://oceanographicmagazine.com/news/sperm-whale-orca-and-narwhal-now-protected-from-uk-ivory-trade/

Mink fur marketing

  In these days, mink fur coats are sold in many countries as luxuries. However, the beginning of history of  mink fur market is quite different than that I expected. After 1929, North American species were imported into UK, and be released to wildlife by their owners or bleeders during fluctuations in fur trade. Minks were first recorded as breeding in wildlife in 1956 and spread to other parts of countries after then. After the otter hunting was banned in 1976 because of their precipitous decline , people started to enjoy hunting mink. Ordinary, people in the UK hunt mink along the rivers with otter hounds or mink hounds which are dogs good at hunting small animals. They should go into the river, so hunting is conducted in summer or autumn. Though hunting is necessary to prevent from bleeding extremely, it is said that prior to the Hunting Act, which made mink hunting illegal, the 20 mink hunts killed between 400 and 1,400 mink annually. Mink’s fur can be sold at a high price, so over hunting is one of the serious problems. For this, national governments like UK or US made laws to protect minks from this problem by imposing legal limits such as open seasons for hunting, licenses and merchandising contracts. By ding so, we can not only protect minks but also the other life’s environment. Moreover, there are another regulations of traps. I learned that many countries have introduced strict laws to regulate or even ban mink hunting and fur farming.These laws, such as the Hunting Act in the UK and the EU regulations on invasive species, show how society is trying to protect both animals and the environment.I think legal restrictions are necessary because they prevent cruelty to animals and help maintain ecological balance.However, it is also important to raise public awareness so that people understand the reasons behind these laws, not just obey them.Through learning about mink and related legislation, I realized that law is not only about punishment, but also about promoting ethical responsibility toward nature.

MF130255wsx. (2023, August 28). Wildlife Guardian | Mink hunting. Wildlife Guardian. https://www.wildlifeguardian.co.uk/hunting/mink-hunting/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/pei120182.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com