osta activities
Animal Landscapes
Animal Landscapes serves as our primary platform for exploration, where we channel our efforts into understanding and embodying the perspectives of animals. Animal Landscapes relies on four pillars: Animal Aspirations, Animal Horizons, Animal Atlas and Animal Expeditions.
Much like how human populations are represented by their political figures, our objective is to represent specific animal populations, such as the Flemish, Brussels, Walloon, or Belgian animal populations. By understanding their unique challenges and contexts, we can more effectively voice their perspectives. While we currently concentrate on these regions, we intend to broaden our scope and extend our influence beyond these territories when the time is right.
Animal Aspirations
The OSTA charter outlines what animals want from humans. These ten points serve as the cornerstone of our advocacy efforts.
Animal Horizons
In our Animal Horizons initiative we aim to quantify the animal population within distinct geographical regions and identify elements that either enhance their well-being or contribute to a sense of hardship.
Animal Atlas
The Animal Atlas serves as a comprehensive guide offering scientific, legal, and spiritual insights into the animal world.
Animal Expeditions
Our Animal Expeditions have two distinct aspects. We bring to light initiatives and projects by individuals and communities that serve animals and we develop animal stories.
Animal Aspirations
Begin your exploration with the OSTA Charter
The OSTA Charter outlines what animals want from humans. We initiate our work with this fundamental comprehension of the animal viewpoint, developing the remaining pillars of Animal Landscapes. Because of the fundamental nature of this charter, we invite you to contribute your thoughts, ideas, or visions. To share your feedback please contact us via the form on our contact page.
Animal Horizons
Flanders, The Flemish Animal Population
55.1 million poultry
[1]
6.7 million pigs
[2]
1.1 million cattle
[3]
700,000 cats
[4]
560,000 dogs
[5]
262,666 equids
[6]
161,762 veal calves
[7]
123,363 sheep
[8]
85,475 rabbits
[9]
76,372 goats
[10]
70,000 wild ducks
[11]
30,000 foxes
[12]
5,830 cervids
[13]
2,867 flightless birds
[14]
150 to 200 beavers
[15]
4 wolves
[16]
ANIMAL HORIZONS: Unlocking Animal Happiness
Navigating Well-Being Across Regions and Species
We identify the factors contributing to animal happiness in Flanders. The pictures and text below refer to this.
ANIMAL HORIZONS: Navigating Animal Hardships
Embarking on a Journey Beyond Comfort Zones
We identify scenarios that challenge animal well-being and provide detailed accounts of the current state of affairs in Flanders. We suggest optimal scenarios and offer strategies to transition towards conditions more favorable to Flemish animals.
Animal Atlas
Understanding the Animal Perspective
The Animal Atlas, developed by OSTA and various contributors, serves as a valuable resource for diving into multiple aspects of animal life. This database offers a broad exploration of animal-related topics from numerous perspectives, including scientific, legal, policy-oriented, and spiritual. Immerse yourself in this comprehensive information collection to deepen your understanding of animals.
Animal Expeditions
Our Support for Initiatives that Serve Animals
OSTA is an active supporter of initiatives aimed at improving and enriching the lives of animals, undertaken by individuals and communities. We showcase these efforts through Animal Expeditions, where we visit those who serve animals, carry out interviews, and create videos and blog posts.
Animal Stories
We develop and share animal stories from various sources. We curate these efforts into reports, presented as articles, blog posts, and videos.
[1] Including 37,6 million broiler chicken, 8,8 million laying hens and 8,7 million other poultry. (Animal Healthcare Flanders, Yearly Report 2023 (in Dutch) 7).
[2] This number includes 412.872 breeding pigs, 89.201 rearing pigs, 4.348.031 finishing pigs and 1.808.819 piglets (Ibid. Animal Healthcare Flanders, Yearly Report, 7).
[3] This number includes cattle for meat production, dairy cattle and mixed farming; Moreover, 161.762 calves live in Flanders (Ibid. Animal Healthcare Flanders, Yearly Report, 6).
[4] According to Statistics Flanders and a news article by Mark Horckmans published in Business AM on August 26, 2016, it’s estimated that 25% of households in Flanders, Belgium, own a cat. Given a total of 2.8 million households, this equates to approximately 700,000 cats in Flanders. Please note, the original sources are in Dutch.
[5] Approximately 20% of households in Flanders, which equates to around 560.000, are estimated to own a dog. This is based on the total count of 2.8 million households in the region ( source: ibid. Statistics Flanders)
[6] The Flemish Agriculture and Fisheries Department’s report, titled ‘The Horse Sector in Flanders’ (2020), includes various equids such as horses, ponies, donkeys, zebras, and their crossbreeds. The report indicates that around 197,000 equids are registered. However, it is estimated that only 75% of the equids are registered, suggesting that the total equid population in Flanders is approximately 262,666.
[7] Ibid. (n 1) Animal Healthcare Flanders, Yearly Report, 6.
[8] Ibid. (n 1) 6.
[9] Ibid. (n 1) 7.
[10] Ibid. (n 1) 6.
[11] ‘www.onzenatuur.be’, species bank section.
[12] Flemish Parliament, Proposal for a resolution concerning a moratorium on fox hunting (902, 2016-2017) (Original text in Dutch).
[13] Ibid. (n 1) Animal Healthcare Flanders, Yearly Report, 6.
[14] Ibid. (n 1) 7.
[15] Species Protection Program for the European Beaver (Castor fiber) in Flanders, 6.
[16] Flemish Parliament, Commission Environment, Question for Explanation from Tinne Rombouts to Zuhal Demir, the Flemish Minister of Environment. The question pertains to the presence of wolves in Flanders. The original text in Dutch can be found in the report of Commission meeting C218 (2023-2024) from 7 May 2024, page 22.