1950
The World Federation for the Protection of Animals (WFPA) was founded to focus on lobbying governments in Europe and Africa to improve animal welfare.
Our history
Image credit: World Animal Protection / Nick Axelrod
Moving the world to protect animals for over 75 years.
Together, we’ve made huge strides in our mission to protect animals.
We're proud of our past.
Thanks to our amazing supporters, we’ve woken the world up to the cruelty and suffering that billions of animals endure.
In June 2014 we became World Animal Protection. While our name changed, our determination to protect animals remains the same.
Just like our supporters worldwide, we know change for a better world for animals is always possible.
The more people who join us, the more we can achieve for animals. Will you sign up now to help end needless animal suffering?
Key dates
1964
10,000 animals were rescued from floodwaters in Suriname, laying the foundations of our disaster response work around the world.
1981
The merger of ISPA and WFPA was completed, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) was born.
1986
When a nuclear reactor exploded at the Chernobyl power station in Ukraine, you helped feed and relocated 900 animals including cows, horses and sheep to safety in Poland.
2002
During the war in Afghanistan, our team travelled to Kabul, providing urgent medical treatment to 3,000 animals including Donatella, a black bear whose nose has been slashed by a Taliban soldier.
2005
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami on Boxing Day, 117,548 animals were helped thanks to you. And urgent vet care and mobile vet clinics were deployed in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
2010
You helped our local partner the Bioresource Research Centre to establish the Balkasar Sanctuary in Pakistan. The sanctuary provides a safe home for 70+ bears rescued from ‘bear baiting’ and ‘bear dancing’.
2012
Together with the Indian government and our partner the Wildlife Trust of India you celebrated the end of bear dancing in India where we had worked with to eradicate this cruel entertainment.
2014
Our name changes to World Animal Protection, to clearly and simply demonstrate our purpose, mission and what we stand for.
2016
You provided our 1 millionth rabies vaccination - with dogs protected from cruel and unnecessary culling in China, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia.
2018
With help of leading travel companies, ChangChill – formerly an elephant riding camp in Thailand –became elephant-friendly. By ending direct visitor interaction with its six elephants, they transformed their lives.
2020
You helped save 12 observation-only, high welfare elephant venues and sanctuaries in Asia and provided vet care when tourism related income stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2022
After working hard in partnership with Green Korea United to end this cruel industry since 2003, the South Korean government finally announced an end to bear bile farming.
2023
1.37 million animals including chickens and prawns in Southeast Asia were farmed more humanely and lived better lives thanks to partnering with local organisations dedicated to improving farmed animal welfare.
2024
Thousands of Australian sheep will no longer suffer in the barbaric live export trade from May 1st, 2028, as the Australian Parliament passed the historic Bill to end live sheep exports by sea.
World Animal Protection in Aotearoa New Zealand
Since 2003 World Animal Protection in Aotearoa New Zealand has been fundraising and campaigning on a range of important issues, including lobbying the government for stronger animal welfare laws.
We were a member of the National Animal Welfare Emergency Management (NAWEM) Liaison Group, Animal Behaviour and Welfare Consultative Committee (ABWCC) and the New Zealand Companion Animal Council (NZCAC). We worked closely with the Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management, the Department of Conservation and the Ministry for Primary Industries to improve the welfare of all animals in New Zealand.
Previous campaigns
Learn about some of the achievements we've made for animals in disasters, wildlife, community animals, and farm animals.
What we do
Working around the world to end the needless suffering of animals by inspiring people to change animals’ lives for the better.
A history of protecting animals everywhere
We’ve always moved wherever the need for animal protection is greatest – from treating more than 70,000 animals following the Haiti earthquake in 2010, to ending bear dancing across India in 2012, to investigating animal trafficking in El Salvador. And as we’ve grown, we’ve focused on protecting more animals in more places.
Today, we have offices in 12 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America. Find out more about our work worldwide.
A history of disaster work
Ever since ‘Operation Gwamba’ in 1964, when we rescued 10,000 animals from floodwaters in Suriname, South America we’ve protected millions of animals in disasters.
We’ve responded to earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons, tornados, volcano eruptions, cyclones and shipwrecks. We’ve saved animals in conflicts from Bosnia to Rwanda and Afghanistan. See how we save animals in disasters.
A history of campaigning
We’ve campaigned for lasting change for decades. Launched in 1985, our campaign against bullfighting moved almost 50 cities in France and Spain to ban bullfighting.
In the same decade, India banned the trade in frogs’ legs after six years of WSPA campaigning – saving more than 30 million frogs annually. And in the 1990s, our Libearty campaign helped to outlaw bear dancing in Greece, Turkey, India and Nepal.
Today, we continue moving the world to protect animals – add your voice to help protect animals.
Add your voice
Take action
We’re fighting to stop people exploiting wildlife and give farmed animals good lives. Take action today by signing our petitions and pledging to protect wildlife and farm animals. We need your help. Are you with us?
Act Now
Animals in the wild / Ngā kararehe mohoao
We move the world to protect wildlife – and keep them in the wild.
Animals in farming / Ngā kararehe pāmu
We move the world to protect billions of animals farmed each year.
Keep up to date / Kia whakamōhiotia
Join thousands of animal lovers fighting to protect wildlife and give farmed animals good lives. Sign up now to receive emails with all the ways you can help.
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