7 animal cruelty facts and what you can do to change the statistics

1. Tens of millions of pigs spend their entire adult lives in a space no larger than a fridge

Millions of pigs around the world are raised on cruel factory farms that confine them to cages and barren environments, mutilate piglets to prevent fighting in overcrowded spaces, and break their spirits by not allowing them to express their natural behaviors - it’s time for us to rethink farming. 

What You Can Do: Get your humane shopping guide and help farm animals live a better life by making informed decisions at the grocery store.

Pictured: Pregnant pigs (sows) are kept in rows of cages (known as gestation crates) on a farm in Brazil.

2. Handling sloths can cause them stress and anxiety, and it can shorten their life span

The growing demand for “wildlife selfies” has dramatically increased the number of wild animals used for photo opportunities in the tourist entertainment industry. Each year, hundreds of sloths are taken from the wild to be used as photo props for tourists. In the wild, sloths live quiet, sleepy lives. Research shows that in captivity, sloths sleep less, behave in ways abnormal for the species and are fearful of their surroundings.

What You Can Do: Sign the Wildlife Selfie Code and commit to cruelty-free selfie and photo experiences with wild animals when we’re able to travel again.

3. There is a 96% chance that an attraction offering saddled rides or shows keeps elephants in cruel and unacceptable living conditions

Elephant rides are a popular and lucrative tourist activity, but behind the scenes the animals are taken from their mothers, their spirit is broken, and they endure cruel and stressful ‘training’ to make them tolerate being ridden. The demand for wildlife holiday experiences is driving the cruel animal entertainment industry.

What You Can Do: Sign the Wildlife. Not Entertainers Pledge and help us end the suffering of animals in the tourist entertainment industry.

Pictured: An elephant giving rides at African Lion safari, Canada.

4. Over 462,000 reptiles are kept as pets in Canada

Increasingly, reptiles are becoming popular pets, with many people keeping snakes, lizards and turtles in their homes. Ensuring the welfare of exotic pets, including reptiles, can be complicated. Often, despite good intentions, it is extremely challenging for pet owners to meet the complex needs of their reptile. In the wild, reptiles demonstrate a multitude of behaviours and when kept in artificial environments as pets, this is not always possible.

What You Can Do: Sign the petition to tell PetSmart to stop supporting the wildlife trade and stop selling reptiles and amphibians as pets in their stores.

5. There are 5,000-6,000 tigers living in captivity in China to fuel the traditional medicine industry.

While most traditional Asian medical remedies do not contain wild animal products, the ones that do are fueling a growing demand for big cat farming. Tigers and lions around the globe are being poached and farmed for their bones and body parts to support the traditional medicine industry. Those raised in factory-style farms are kept in cramped, barren enclosures and suffer both physically and mentally. 

What You Can Do: Support World Animal Protection’s efforts to protect big cats from the threat of the traditional medicine industry by signing the global wildlife trade ban petition today.

Pictured: A captive tiger cub spends the entire day in this tiny cage. Credit: World Animal Protection/Emi Kondo

6. Newborn primates bred for the primate pet trade are forcibly removed from their mothers after birth

In the wild, primates are social creatures that live in large groups. Those primates bred to satisfy the demand for household pets are removed from their mothers at a young age and kept in private homes, where their needs cannot be met, and their teeth are often removed as a method of taming them. Since 1990, approximately 300 people have been injured by primates kept as so-called “exotic pets” — primates do not belong in homes.

What You Can Do: Educate yourself on your province’s wild animal ownership laws and send a letter to your province’s minister responsible for wild animal ownership.

7. Up to 66% of African grey parrots who have been poached from the wild for the exotic pet trade will not survive in transit

The journey for a wild animal in the exotic pet trade is cruel. These animals are shipped long distances and taken to countries vastly different from their original homes. Many exotic pets suffocate and die in transit before they even reach their final destination.

What You Can Do: Sign the Wildlife. Not Pets Pledge and help us protect wildlife by keeping them where they belong, in the wild.