High-speed air and sea transport of animals creates welfare challenges from pressure changes, temperature extremes, and prolonged confinement without food or water.
Air transport animal welfare is particularly acute for day-old chicks, who are transported in cardboard boxes as a normal industry practice. The cardiovascular and respiratory stress of pressurized flight on neonatal birds is poorly studied. Competition horses transported across time zones experience jet lag equivalent to human athletes, with predictable performance and welfare effects. Regulatory requirements for air transport welfare rarely keep pace with expanding volume.