US Government undermines animal protection rights
Grizzly hunting based on a Lottery system

Repeal of animal protection laws
Earlier this year the US government repealed numerous laws dealing with livestock farming. These are laws only just approved by former president Barack Obama, which set new standards for protecting livestock on organic farms. For example, they defined that laying hens need a minimum of one square metre, as well as proper outdoor access. The laws also inluded changes to the species-appropriate slaughter transport and the treatment of the animals there. However, the US ministry for agriculture (USDA) anulled them as they do not see the need to change the current situation. Many small, organic farms have welcomed the animal protection laws. But this change of laws would open the market for large suppliers, offering their factory-farmed animals and animal products as organic. Consequently, the certificate “organic” would completely lose its credibility.
Reintroduction of brutal hunting methods
Obama also signed a law prohibiting numerous hunting methods in Alaskan National Parks in 2015. These included; the hunting of bear cubs together with their mothers, the trapping of bears with the help of artifical light and bait, the hunting of wolves and coyotes during denning season, the hunting of black bears with dogs, as well as the shooting of caribous from a board while the animals are swimming. The repealing of the law prohibiting these brutal hunting methods is now openly discussed on the ministry page regulations.gov. Currently most of the comments on the discussion are against a reintroduction and call it a setback for animal protection. However, Ryan Zinke, Secretary for Interior, strongly supports the reintroduction of these hunting methods in Alaska. Alli Harvey, from the Sierra Club says:
“these brutal hunting methods would work exactly against what these protected areas would try to achieve.”
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