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karol orzechowski

The Faunalytics team shares your heartfelt desire to help animals by finding the best ways for advocates to save lives and reduce suffering. The following articles are written by karol orzechowski for Faunalytics.org.

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Operation Catnip: Working Together to Reduce Free-Roaming Cat Populations Ethically and Effectively
In this well-researched editorial for The Veterinary Journal, Annette Litster presents a strong case for the support of trap-neuter-vaccinate-return programs, which she argues is the best method for both controlling and moderating free-roaming cat populations. Addressing issues such as the effectiveness of lethal animal control methods, human abandonment of cats, and the contention that free-roaming cats are a threat to avian species conservation, Litster discusses each aspect in turn and provides compelling evidence that non-lethal programs are the best possible solution. READ MORE

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Why Do Right-Wing Adherents Engage in More Animal Exploitation and Meat Consumption?
Even though a number of studies have established a link between right-wing ideology and meat-eating, there is a dearth of literature addressing why those with right-wing beliefs are more likely to consume animals. Recognizing the gap, this study of Dutch and Belgian adults begins to address the question of why, and finds that people with right-wing beliefs tend to staunchly oppose any movement that threatens traditions, or perceived human superiority. Though it is only an initial foray into right-wing psychology and its tendency towards animal exploitation, the authors establish a strong link between the two and encourage further inquiry. READ MORE

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Use of Animals in Research and Reporting of Animal Experiments — The Need for Improvement
This editorial in the journal Vascular Pharmacology examines EU-wide and UK-specific guidelines relating to animal welfare in laboratories. It presents the key reasons why the journal requires authors to comply with the European Union Directive on animal research, and describes the penalties that face researchers who don't. The paper notes, however, that it is very difficult for the editorial board of the journal to know if guidelines are being fully adhered to, and that they are actively engaged in a process to improve how they assess the ethics of the papers they receive. READ MORE

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Red Wolf (Canis rufus) Recovery: A Review with Suggestions for Future Research
This article presents a comprehensive review and evaluation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Red Wolf Recovery Program. The paper looks at the human, scientific, and environmentally caused struggles that red wolves have faced, and explains how the combination of different factors has created a particularly challenging climate for red wolves, even as a protected species. Even though the Recovery Program has arguably been successful in protecting red wolves and breeding them for reintroduction, the authors provide this analysis in the hope of improving the success rate of the Recovery Program even further. READ MORE

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Factors Affecting the Human Interpretation of Dog Behavior
This study from Sweden examines the effect of empathy on how humans interpret animal behavior, and specifically how veterinary students interpret the behavior of dogs. Using a combination of written questions and video footage, the researchers sought to determine what factors contribute to the perception of dogs as "aggressive" among vet students. The results of the study suggest that feelings of empathy and interpretations of aggression are (perhaps not surprisingly) negatively correlated, but also that an individual's claims of knowledge about an animal do not necessarily mean that person will correctly interpret that animal's behavior or feel increased empathy towards them. READ MORE

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Cruel Nature: Harmfulness As An Important, Overlooked Dimension in Judgments of Moral Standing
In this study, researchers conducted a series of surveys to try to better understand the role of "harmfulness" in how humans perceive moral standing, especially with animals. Working from the hypothesis that animals who are perceived to have a "harmful disposition" are accorded a lower moral standing - in the same way that humans who are seen as inherently harmful are accorded less moral standing - the researchers considered different angles to better understand why such moral inconsistencies might exist. The results go beyond the usual discussions of moral agency and patiency, and shed light on an often overlooked aspect of how humans do their moral calculus.  READ MORE

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Estimates of Illegal and Unreported Fish in Seafood Imports to the USA
This study looks at the prevalence and impact of illegal and unreported (IU) fishing on the U.S. market, specifically, "a new effort to study and quantify the dimensions of the problem from the perspective of the United States as a major seafood market." Researchers looked at a wide range of sources to estimate the percentages of IU fish that enter the U.S. market, and also provide a breakdown as to how the IU fishing of different species fits into the overall picture. What results is a situation that demands attention from both policy-makers and consumers to rectify. READ MORE

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A Global Gap Analysis of Sea Turtle Protection Coverage
This study takes a global look at sea turtle nesting sites and compares them to maps of protected areas to determine gaps in coverage. Paying special attention to developing countries, or countries in active geopolitical conflict, the study gives a view of sea turtle protection that reaches beyond simply identifying gaps, to better understand why those gaps might exist. The results of the study show that many countries protect only a fraction of their nesting sites, and that more regional and international support is needed to help protect sea turtles in developing countries or those engaged in active conflict. READ MORE
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