Faunalytics Index – May 2025

Summary By: Faunalytics | Published: May 7, 2025

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

This month’s Faunalytics Index provides facts and stats about the decline of fur farming in China, the damage fireworks can do to wild animal welfare, the scale of global duck slaughter, and more.

Each month, our Faunalytics Index provides a round-up of data, statistics, and facts gleaned from the most recent research we’ve covered in our library. Our aim is to give you a quick overview of some of the most eye-catching and informative bits of data that could help you be more effective in your advocacy for animals.

If you want to know more about any given statistic, follow the links below, read the source articles, and dive deeper into the issues.

400%

The percentage by which chicken growth rates increased between 1957 and 2005.

41%

The bankruptcy rate of fur production businesses in China from 2023 to 2024.

13 billion

The number of eggs produced each year in Egypt, a place where intensive animal agriculture is on a steady increase.

3%

The national return rate for animal shelters in the U.S. aiming to reunite lost cats with their guardians.

500 kilometers / 310 miles

The maximum distance that some birds may flee in response to the concussive sounds produced by fireworks explosions.

23%

The percentage of participants, in a study on cognitive reactions to animal experimentation, who refused to begin a task where they would be harming a goldfish.

10x

The factor by which biogas — an energy byproduct of animal agriculture — is considered more toxic to humans than natural gas.

10 million

The number of donkeys living in Ethiopia, home to the largest donkey population in the world. The country does not currently have animal welfare legislation that protects them.

25% : 75%

The recommended ratio of animal-based foods to plant-based foods that the USDA recommends in its dietary guidelines.

4.19 billion

The number of ducks slaughtered in 2023, making them the second most slaughtered land animal annually.

You can explore an archive of our past Faunalytics Indexes here.

Meet the Author: Faunalytics

Faunalytics is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to helping animals by providing useful information to advocates to help them increase their impact.

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