Published 23/02/2021

An international group of scientists have sent a letter supporting a citizens’ call to end the use of cages for farmed animals across the EU. Among them is ethologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, PhD, DBE, UN Messenger of Peace and founder of the Jane Goodall Institute. The letter calls on the European Commission to phase out the use of all cages in farming.

More than 140 scientists have sent a letter to the EU in support of the ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens’ Initiative, which gained 1.4 million signatures, urging the EU to put an end to the use of cages in animal farming.

Dr Goodall, who is a vocal supporter of an end to the use of cages in animal farming, comments: “Most people today understand that birds are sentient beings. We have kept hens rescued from factory farms – each had a distinct personality, all showed emotions such as pleasure and fear. A growing body of scientific research supports this, and there can be no doubt that life crammed into a small cage is causing great suffering. The EU needs to take action on behalf of the millions of hens and other animals treated in this cruel manner.”

Despite the EU Treaty’s recognition of animals as sentient beings, over 300 million pigs, hens, rabbits, ducks and quail are confined in cages across Europe. Most cages are barren, cramped, and deny the animals space to move freely. Scientific research shows that cages have inherent severe disadvantages for animal welfare which the letter details. Moving away from cage farming, replaced by commercially viable alternatives, would bring about a seismic shift in our food and farming system with the potential to benefit hundreds of millions of animals a year.

Olga Kikou, Head of Compassion in World Farming EU, added: “We are proud to have Dr Jane Goodall and all the other scientists on board to support an end to the use of cages in animal farming. The ‘End the Cage Age’ campaign has the backing of over 170 European organisations, dozens of Members of the European Parliament, the European Committee of the Regions and 1.4 million EU citizens. Animals in cages live miserable lives, and it is simply unacceptable. The European Commission must commit to legislation that will End the Cage Age for good.”

For more information, please email Media.Team@ciwf.org or call 01483 521 615.