toxic water testing

‘This Is Absurd’: Train Cars That Derailed in Ohio Were Labeled Non-Hazardous

Ohio Department of Natural Resources has confirmed 3,500 dead fish in waterways as well as deceased hellbender salamanders, an endangered species in the state. 

pig intelligence

New Study: How We Misjudge Animal Intelligence

We’re curious about animal intelligence but we might not want to believe it.

Danone dairy emissions

Danone’s New Climate Plan Doesn’t Deal With the Cows

Experts worry the pledge to slash methane encourages “unproven techno-fixes” over systemic solutions.

companies failing cage-free commitments

21 Brands Fail to Keep Cage-Free Promises

Wendy’s and other national brands are failing to make good on their cage-free egg commitments.

factory farms bankrolled by Rabobank

Rabobank Bankrolling Meat Industry’s Biggest Emitters

New research shows Rabobank provided global meat and dairy corporations with billions in financing.

backyard chickens and avian flu

Avian Flu Is Making it Tougher to Keep Backyard Chickens

Domestic chicken-keeping surged in popularity during lockdown. Then avian flu happened.

Diseases Are Bred on All Animal Farms, Even the Ranches

A growing body of evidence shows that both intensive and extensive farms are increasing the risk of the next pandemic.

UK government mulls law to engineer animals

Can Precision Breeding Be Good for Animal Welfare? It’s Complicated.

Campaigners say the U.K.’s Genetic Technology Bill doesn’t do enough to protect farm animals.

New Study Shows Staggering Increase in Heatstroke-Induced Chicken Culls

Between February and August of last year, more than half of commercial chicken depopulations used ventilation shutdown.

What Is a Microsanctuary

4 Principles of the Microsanctuary Movement

The microsanctuary movement gives rescuers with limited resources a way to do the work.

Animals Conquered Snowball Earth

How Animals May Have Conquered Snowball Earth

We know there were animals during Earth’s chilliest era. The question is, what did they look like?

where your caviar comes from

This Is Where Your Caviar Comes From

Touring a caviar farm gives a rare glimpse into the life of a captive sturgeon.

cop15 animal impacts

How Much Has the COP15 Biodiversity Conference Achieved for Wildlife?

At COP15, world governments are at a crossroads.

cow in Tanzania

Please Don’t Gift a Cow for the Holidays

A growing chorus of animal advocates and researchers argue farm animal gifts cause more harm than good.

factory farm expansion

Ireland Braces for Factory Farm Expansion

36 new factory farms are slated to open in Ireland, pending approval from the Irish EPA.

sheared sheep

How “Sustainable” Wool Wipes Out Wildlife and Pumps Out Emissions

Marketed to consumers as “sustainable,” this “climate-beneficial” wool is polluting the land and killing wildlife.

156 North Carolina Factory Farms at Risk for Flooding

Climate change is causing more North Carolina farms to flood, killing animals and flooding the streets with their manure.

Penguins in Climate Change

These Nests Help Penguins Survive Climate Change

Researchers in South Africa developed artificial nests to help protect penguins from extreme heat.

pigs science conflict resolution

How Pigs Resolve Conflicts, According to Science

A new study shows pigs socialize in similar ways to humans.

bee play

What We Still Don’t Get About Bees

“Bees have a richer behavior and life than we would have previously thought.”

Big Dairy Infiltrating TikTok

How Big Dairy Infiltrated TikTok

The dairy industry is targeting Gen Z with a new social media campaign.

reboot food report

End Animal Farming and Scale Up Protein Breweries

Reboot Food calls for replacing factory farms with precision fermentation.

lion cub tourism industry

New Study Highlights Harms of Captive Lion Cub Tourism

Researchers found tourists — despite their best intentions — may make life worse for the lion cubs they visit.

egg-free flu vaccines

These Flu Shots Are Better for Animals and Just as Effective, Researchers Say

More than 80 percent of flu vaccines rely on chickens confined in secret FDA facilities. But there are alternatives.

egg farm

In Some Countries, Enriched Cages Stand in the Way

Consumers say they prefer “cage-free” eggs, yet some producers are slow to adapt.

cattle ranch reforestation

In Brazil, Researchers Spent 20 Years Reforesting a Cattle Ranch

Beef production is a leading driver of climate emissions but in Brazil, a collaborative carbon sink project has returned a degraded cattle ranch to carbon-rich forest.

pollution

Toxic Pollutants a Growing Concern for Pregnant Mothers and Babies

Links between exposures to toxic pollutants, like agricultural pesticides, and maternal health outcomes remain under-researched.

cows

Cambridge University Says It’s ‘Closing a Chapter on Meat’, but There’s Still Plenty of Beef on the Menu

One of the world’s most prestigious universities made a pledge to go meat-free but the reality has been far from sustainable.

Carribean sargassum

Besieged by Sargassum, Caribbean Islanders Are Looking for Solutions

Sargassum provides habitat for hundreds of species and food for turtles. But when it chokes the coastline, it’s a sea-life killer that smothers shallow-water habitats.

bear

Can Vietnam’s ‘Last Bear Sanctuary’ Help End the Bile Trade?

Animal advocates are working with farmers and communities to get the last of the bile bears released to sanctuaries.

fish

How Senegalese Fish End Up in Factory Farms

Exploiting wild fisheries for animal feed disturbs marine ecosystems, drives food insecurity and supplies an industry responsible for massive environmental pollution.

Meeat

From Meat to Plant-Based, One Factory at a Time

Finland’s Meeat Food Tech is accelerating food system change by converting existing meat facilities into plant-based protein factories.

House of Chick'n

Sentient Media Spotlight: House of Chick’n Founder Chris Burnam

Chris Burnam talks about developing the perfect vegan chick’n, being a conduit for food transitions and the importance of discussing Black veganism.

Animal Rebellion

Animal Rebellion to Block U.K. Dairy Supply Until Demands Are Met

Animal Rebellion is pledging to block dairy deliveries until the government agrees to support rewilding and plant-based food system transition.

universal school meals

Making Plant-Based More Accessible Through Universal School Meals

One way to make plant-based foods more accessible is to increase the “universal meals” served at schools, prisons and hospitals.

‘Our Oceans Are Not Getting Any Healthier’: Conservationists React to Failed High Seas Treaty Talks

A UN treaty to protect international waters has been delayed for the fifth time.

baby grouse

Grouse Hunting Persists Despite Record of Damage to Wildlife and Environment

Grouse hunting kills hundreds of thousands of animals each year in the U.K. and releases 260,000 tons of carbon.

animal caregiver

Animal Sanctuaries Face a New Threat — Compassion Fatigue

“Animal caregivers tend to want to help others but not always themselves.”

rooster sanctuary

How a Latinx-led Rescue Group Is Changing the Sanctuary Movement

The Latinx-led Chicago Roo Crew rescues roosters and works with the communities who keep and protect them.

cows

Animal Sanctuary Founder Jailed After Taking in Wandering Cows

Are sanctuary owners obligated to nearby cattle farms? A recent case sparked outrage among animal rights activists and farmers.

giraffe zoo

The Disturbing Rise of the Pseudo-Sanctuary

A new paper finds businesses that exploit captive animals for profit are marketing themselves as sanctuaries to draw in conscious consumers.

gestation pig

California’s Proposition 12: Animal Protection Groups Fear Supreme Court Reversal

Earlier this week, animal protection groups filed briefs in support of Proposition 12, California’s landmark animal protection law.

digital pets

Pets in the Metaverse: Can Technology Put an End to Overflowing Animal Shelters?

At least 10 percent of households no longer have their pandemic pets. In the future, digital pets could be an alternative.

chicken

New Singapore Partnership Aims to Boost Cultivated Meat, But With Chicken

A poultry processing company in Singapore offers up its waste to cultivated meat companies. But should they use it?

bee

Bees Can Almost Certainly Feel Pain, According to Science

A new study shows bees not only experience pain but can make decisions about whether to endure pain for reward.

Lush

Sentient Media Joins Lush Cosmetics Charity Pots Program

Sentient Media is now featured on Charity Pots at over 250 Lush Cosmetics Stores in the United States.

feral cats

Hawaii’s Cats Are in Danger

Companion animals and the state’s feral cat population are at risk.

pigs in CAFO

Iowa Residents Have Lost an Important Right to Sue Factory Farms

Iowa residents once had a right to sue polluting factory farm neighbors, Now the Iowa Supreme Court has taken that right away.

perdue farms

How the U.S. Poultry Industry Is Crushing Contract Chicken Farmers

Through a series of exclusive interviews, our reporters offer key insights into the role chicken farmers are playing in the fight for a more equitable food system.

small farm

On Small Farms, the Threat of Zoonotic Disease Still Looms Large

The connection between factory farms and zoonotic diseases is well-established. But new research shows that less-intensive farming styles also come with their own risks.