What’s going on here?
A recent investigation conducted in Italy reveals the dangerous impact of rising air temperatures on animals. Essere Animali, an Italian animal welfare lobby group, found animals struggling to survive whilst being transported in trucks. Some internal truck temperatures reached 45 degrees Celsius, with footage showing pigs gasping for air.
What does this mean?
Heatwaves across Europe this summer illustrate the dangerous impact rising temperatures have on animal welfare. Essere Animali’s investigation focused on animals in transit, seeking to highlight the poor protection of animal transport in European law. They’re calling for the long distance transport of live animals to be banned.
However, this case is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to animals being affected by rising global temperatures. Different animal species are affected by extreme heat all around the world.
Why should we care?
The warming climate can cause mass population die offs. May heatwaves in Mexico saw 157 Howler monkeys die from heat-related causes. High heat, drought, forest fires and logging which deprive monkeys of water, shade and fruit all contributed to this exceptionally high death toll.
Heat can also change animal behaviour. A recent Functional Ecology research article identified dehydration from heat stresses as a primary cause of lower reproduction rates in burying beetles. This reduces their population size and threatens the species’ survival.
With climate change proven to be anthropogenically induced; it is the responsibility of humans to protect wildlife. Where humans can install air conditioning or build sea walls to protect from rising sea levels, animals do not have the same capacity to adapt and mitigate against the effects of climate change. There are charities across the world seeking to help and rehabilitate animals suffering but this problem is growing and they are heavily dependent on volunteers.
Be curious…!
- Read the Essere Animali enquiry
- Sign the Essere Animali petition to stop suffering in animal transport
- Have a look to see whether there are any animal welfare charities in your local area to volunteer!
Featured image credit: Xurzon via iStock
