Protego's March 2026 World Animal News Roundup

4/6/2026

Protego’s World Animal News Roundup for the month of March 2026 is here, and we’ve gathered the biggest fandom news, animal rights news, and plant-based news for your reading edification!

This month features a cat named Dobby with cute ear mutations, new vegan food product launches, the growth of the vegan chocolate market, and some good work from PETA!

We hope the stories bring joy to your month as we say goodbye to March and hello to the next month of positive animal news!

Rescue Cat’s Mutations Make Him Go Viral

In animal news today, a rescue cat from Alabama is going viral for his four ears, curled tail, and underbite. Dobby the cat, named after the elf from Harry Potter, has four ears due to a rare genetic mutation.

His foster, Stephanie Brown, says, “He has two extra earflaps that are just in front of his regular ears and they are smaller, and it’s almost like they’re backwards,” in an interview with As It Happens. “They don’t cause any problems or discomfort. It doesn’t affect his hearing. They’re just additional skin flaps,” she added.

Dobby needed surgery to correct his underbite, and Brown set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise $3,000. Within just two weeks, the campaign goal was met.

On April 20, Dobby will have surgery to shorten his lower canines to prevent them from protruding into his upper palate. After that, he will become available for adoption.

Butterbeer Season Back at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, But No New Vegan Options

Butterbeer Season is back at Universal Studios, running from March 1 to May 31.

This year features a Butterbeer Cream Puff (in Hollywood), Butterbeer waffle, Butterbeer-flavored macaron, Butterbeer ice lolly, and other Butterbeer-themed sweets and merchandise.

Unfortunately, there have been no announcements about new vegan Butterbeer-flavored treats. We hope that there are additional vegan options in development for future releases.

Vegan Butterbeer can still be found in its cold and frozen forms at The Three Broomsticks and The Leaky Cauldron. The vegan version cannot be ordered at the carts.

PETA Slams Treatment of Japanese Monkey, Punch

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has slammed the confinement of the monkey, Punch, and other animal species, at Ichikawa City Zoo outside Tokyo.

Punch is a baby macaque who was abandoned by his mother, and his plight has brought up important conversations about animal welfare issues. He went viral after being videoed getting bullied by other monkeys in his enclosure and seeking comfort from a plush orangutan toy from IKEA.

"Zoos are not sanctuaries -- they are places where animals are confined, deprived of autonomy, and denied the complex environments and social lives they would have in the wild," said People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

"What some are calling 'cute' is actually a glimpse into the trauma of a young, highly social primate coping with isolation and loss," the group's Asia director, Jason Baker, said in a statement.

"Until facilities stop treating sentient beings as attractions, animals like Punch will continue to suffer in captivity," Baker said, calling for Punch to be moved to a "reputable sanctuary, where he could live in a more natural environment.”

Read more about how captivity is harmful to animals on our “Defying Captivity” campaign page.

Emmys Go Fur-Free As Ban on Real Fur Attire is Announced

In other positive vegan news, and in a major victory for animals, the Television Academy announced that the Emmy Awards will ban real fur from all red carpet attire. The move makes them the first major award show to adopt a fur-free policy on the red carpet.

The animals most commonly used for fur include mink, chinchillas, arctic foxes, and raccoon dogs, amongst others. They are often housed in cramped farms and suffer while they are skinned, with priority being given to the condition of the pelt rather than to animal welfare.

Vegan Chocolate Bar Market Growing

In a release from HTF Market Intelligence, the vegan chocolate bar market is expanding worldwide. Increasing demand from consumers appears to be the primary driver of the expansion, due to increasing awareness about health, sustainability, and ethical food production.

OpenPR says, “The global market size is estimated to reach USD 1.6 Billion in 2025 and is projected to expand significantly to around USD 5.2 Billion by 2033, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 15.5% during the forecast period.”

Do you have a favorite vegan chocolate bar? Our favorites include Trupo, Go Max Go Foods, and Break Free Candy.

PETA Delivers Free Groceries to TSA Agents

As TSA workers remained unpaid for over a month, many were forced to turn to food banks for food and take on extra jobs while also facing evictions for not being able to pay rent and bills.

PETA stepped up by delivering healthy vegan food and other supplies at airports across the country, including Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

According to PETA, the donations included, “shelf-stable vegan milks, vegan jerky, protein bars, dairy-free mac and cheese, and more, as well as food, treats, and toys for companion animals.”

Our own Campaigns Manager, Brittany Drake, and Board Members Matthew Braun and Amanda Brody, were among those who made airport deliveries.

Linda McCartney Foods Launches New Vegan Dippers

Linda McCartney Foods has introduced a new line of chicken style dippers to its vegan food product range. The best part about this is that the company is targeting schools in their marketing efforts to provide convenient and meat-free options for students.

The new product, called Chicken Style Dippers, contains 29g of protein per recommended school serving. This supports the UK government’s School Food Standards in England which require a non-dairy protein option at least three days every week.

Daiya to Launch New Taco Mac and Cheese

The popular vegan food brand, Daiya, will reportedly launch a gluten-free and dairy-free vegan taco mac and cheese soon, according to bigboxvegan. While details are still coming out, it appears that the launch will happen first at Walmart. It is not yet known if the launch is exclusive, though.

What was your favorite piece of world animal news this month? Did you read something that we missed out on that you feel should be in our list? Let us know below in the comments!

Written by Visala Kantamneni