I n t e R n A t I o n A l F U n d F o R A n I m A l w e l F A R e
the impacts of climate-related emergencies on wildlife, livestock, and companion animals.
In 2005, after Hu
icane Katrina, the International Fund for Animal Welfare
dispatched emergency rescue teams to New Orleans. The teams methodically
combed the city, door-to-door, rescuing thousands of cats and dogs left behind
y evacuees. Most of the residents left their pets thinking they would be allowed
to return home in a couple days. Others were rescued by first responders and
weren’t allowed to
ing their pets. Evacuees who made their way to shelters
or temporary housing were not allowed to
ing pets either.
The mass exodus out of New Orleans left animals in a dire
situation. IFAW and other animal rescue groups f locked to
the city and spread across the ruined neighborhoods in boats
and trucks. Teams were forced to pry open doors and windows
to retrieve pets on the
ink of starvation and dehydration.
A countless number of dogs and cats drowned. Many residents
of New Orleans simply refused to leave without their pets.
They turned away rescuers and stayed in the city for days until
they were assured their pets would be evacuated too. Though
thousands of animals were rescued, many were not. The failure
to include animals in the evacuation plans complicated disaster
elief efforts, causing death and harm to animals and increasing
the suffering of the human victims of the disaster.
Though disasters of the size and scope of Hu
icane Katrina
are the exception rather than the rule, the impact of disasters
on animals is not. Every year in the United States fires, floods,
hu
icanes and other natural disasters leave thousands of animals
vulnerable. There is an urgent need to ensure that animals are
formally considered in disaster preparedness plans. The after-
math of Hu
icane Katrina amplified the message that people
care passionately about animals. Most consider pets to be part
of the family and abandoning them is unthinkable. We need
to ensure that policy and planning reflect this sentiment.
No one should be forced to leave a pet behind.
This isn’t only an issue for the United States. Worldwide, due to
climate change, natural disasters are increasing in frequency and
severity. In developing countries, IFAW often encounters refugee
camps in which animals are not allowed. Again, intervention
is required and animal emergency relief groups, such as IFAW,
spring to action. Other times, animals and evacuees mass
together informally, congregating around cooking and latrine
areas, and creating an increased risk of disease. In these cases,
animals must be vaccinated. Sometimes by the thousands.
Climate change is affecting animals around the world. Not only
companion animals stranded after natural disasters, but also
livestock and wildlife. Species of sea turtles, some old enough
to have seen the dinosaurs come and go, are disappearing before
our eyes. Stronger storms are eroding the sandy beaches which
the turtles use to nest and increasing sand temperatures have
skewed egg sex ratios, producing mostly females. The loss of
summer sea ice is causing starving polar bears to move to towns
and human settlements in search of food, leading to human-
wildlife conflict. Harmful algal blooms are stripping seabird
feathers of vital water-proofing properties, causing hundreds
of seabirds to wash up dead or dying on our beaches. Out
eaks
of the deadly Ebola hemo
hagic fever virus is increasing among
great apes. The future migration of monarch butterf lies is
threatened. Long-term climate change adaption strategies
are needed to address many of these animals’ needs.
Although all animal crises linked to climate change wa
ant
meaningful attention, this report looks specifically at animals
in distress from climate change in events requiring emergency
intervention. The report details the connection between
climate change and the pressing need for animal emergency
preparedness. The report also offers recommendations for
actions decision-makers and stakeholders can take to mitigate
the impacts of these incidents. With anticipated increases in the
frequency and severity of disasters due to climate change, animals
and humans need preparedness planning and response efforts
now more than ever.
Sincerely,
Fred O’regan
President, IFAW
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In the Philippines following typhoon Ketsana — Neck-high
floods forced humans and animals to rooftops. Relief in the
form of water and food was provided for animals and a meal
consisting of
ead, canned tuna and water was provided for
humans in the devastated areas.
Introduction
Mitigating the devastating effects that climate change will have on our planet
is undeniably the most important environmental challenge our generation, and
indeed future generations, will face. According to the world’s leading scientists,1
climate change will have significant impacts lasting decades and centuries to
come. However, a changing global climate will have — in fact is having — more
immediate detrimental consequences for both human communities and the
countless animals upon which humans depend for sustenance, economic growth
and stability, and social and quality of life development.
it is critical to develop and
implement far reaching
measures to combat the
negative long-term impacts of climate
change on animals. in the interim,
however, animals are suffering and
will continue to suffer from the more
immediate effects of climate change,
which also causes suffering and
destruction to human communities.
it is becoming increasingly evident
that as climate change progresses,
natural disasters will occur with
increasing frequency and severity.
Prior to, during, and following these
disastrous events, local communities,
non-governmental organizations,
governments, and other stakeholders
need to collaborate to prevent the suffering
and death of livestock, companion animals,
and wildlife — the animals upon which human
populations depend.
Livestock
More than 900 million people
worldwide are undernourished.
Most of those people are in
developing countries where
secure food supplies often
depend on the health and
productivity of animals, and
these in turn depend on the
care and nutrition that animals
eceive. 3 Climate change is
expected to worsen this hunger
crisis by negatively affecting
crop productivity and loss of
livestock. 4 As climate change
impacts food availability, livestock
animals are becoming increasingly
important. In Asia, for example, live-
stock cu
ently provides the livelihood
support for over 35 percent of the poor
and is seen as one of the key sectors for
poverty alleviation. 5
Livestock animals are highly valued for their milk, meat, eggs,
draft animal power, wool, leather, and dung. Often one of the
only economic activities available to poor people in developing
countries, livestock rearing can provide a steady stream of food
and revenue for families, and does not require formal education,
large amounts of capital, or land ownership. 6 Owning livestock
also increases the essential consumption of protein and creates
employment opportunities beyond the immediate household. 7
Companion Animals
The link between animal welfare and human welfare extends
eyond practical benefits. Positive interactions with animals
provide comfort, social contact and cultural identification for
people all over the world. 8 Studies illustrate that an individual’s
elationship with a companion animal positively impacts social
development and quality of life. In fact, research suggests that
there are both psychological and physical health benefits to
owning and interacting with companion animals. 9 In addition,
there is an increased awareness of the links between human
social, personal, and moral development and attitudes and
ehavior towards animals. 10 For example, good animal care
can be a force for social cohesion within a family, a community
or a business 11 while studies have also recognized a co
elation
etween animal abuse, family violence and other forms of
community violence. 12
Wildlife
In addition to the emotional, aesthetic, and social benefits that
people gain from experiencing wildlife in their natural habitats,
wildlife plays a vital role in essential ecological and biological
processes on which we depend. 13 Biodiversity, the combination
of life forms and their interactions with each other and with the
est of the environment, provides invaluable goods and services
that support human survival. 14 Studies show that biodiversity
inf luences the rate, magnitude, direction, and delivery of
essential ecosystem processes such as pollination, agricultural
pest and disease control, nutrient conservation in soil, and water
purification. 15 In order for humans to thrive, we must protect
iodiversity. Given that species are disappearing at an alarming
ate due to the impacts of climate change and human activity,
this need to prevent the further loss of biodiversity is greater
than ever.
Importance of anImal s
Whether we rely on them for food,
evenue, companionship, or to help
alance our ecosystems, animals play
an important role in our lives. The Food
and agriculture Organization of the
United nations (FaO), the leader in
international efforts to defeat hunger,
has recognized the close link between
the welfare of humans and the welfare
of animals. cu
ently, roughly one billion
people depend directly on animals for
income, social status and security as
well as food and clothing. 2
Cu
ently, roughly one billion people
depend directly on animals for
income, social status, and security
as well as food and clothing.
Climate Change
Unnatural Disasters2 3International Fund for Animal Welfare
importanCe of animalsintroDUCtion
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Significant
Climate
Anomalies
2007 to 2009
Drought colD front raIn/flooDIng Warm front
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40
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27
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1 south california (apr 09)Worst wildfire in 30
years scorched nearly 8,100
hectares in the area