Human interaction with captive animals – both wild-caught and captive-bred – can increase the likelihood of global pandemics, which makes their captivity all the more dangerous. Join legal and rescue experts as they discuss captive animals, with an emphasis on those used for entertainment.
This presentation was part of the 2021 Animal Law Symposium.
Resources
- Laws that Protect Animals (Federal, State, & Local)
- Justice the Horse Sues Abuser (Justice v. Vercher)
- Lawsuit to Protect the Endangered Species Act (Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Bernhardt)
- Zoonotic Spillover Through Intermediate Host (C4ADS)
- Origin & Evolution of Pathogenic Coronaviruses (NCBI, NIH)
- Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
- COVID-19 and Animals in Captivity: Rethinking Our Interactions with Animals in Captivity to reduce the likelihood of the next pandemic
- Learn more about captive wildlife
- Endangered Species Act
- Endangered Species Act Fact Sheet
- Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations
- Daniel Waltz PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) – Zoonotic Diseases & Captive Wildlife
- Claire Tonry PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) – Zoonotic Diseases & Captive Wildlife
- Catherine Doyle PowerPoint Presentation (PDF) – Zoonotic Diseases & Captive Wildlife
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Daniel Waltz
Managing Attorney
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Focus Area
Issues
Related
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Washington Governor Signs Animal Protection Bills into Law
The four laws will offer better protections for companion animals and keep wild animals from being exploited for entertainment in the stateMay 16, 2025 News -
Captive Primate Safety Act Reintroduced in the U.S. House to Protect Nonhuman Primates
Bill will prohibit the type of private possession of nonhuman primates portrayed in the HBO Max docuseries “Chimp Crazy”May 6, 2025 Press Release -
FDA Seeks to Phase Out Animal Testing for Certain Medical Drugs
The Animal Legal Defense Fund continues to advocate for animals suffering in research labsMay 5, 2025 News
