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WATCH: 75 years of moving the world to protect animals

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Together, we’re celebrating 75 wonderful years of protecting our wild and farm animal friends.

Over the past seven decades, compassionate supporters like you have helped us achieve massive breakthroughs for animals.

Nearly eight million factory-farmed pigs have been given lives worth living in China, Thailand, Brazil and the USA. The South Korean Government has been persuaded to ban bear bile farming. And one of the world’s largest travel companies, Tripadvisor, was moved to end dolphin and elephant entertainment sales and promotion.

Here’s a look at just a few of the incredible milestones people like YOU helped make possible:

What does World Animal Protection do?

For 75 years, we’ve been protecting animals in Australia and around the world. From the boardrooms of large corporations to the frontline of the wildlife trade, our supporters help us create better lives for all animals.

Key wins

  • 558,000 supporters moved TripAdvisor and more than 200 other travel companies to end their promotion of cruel elephant attractions.
  • 513,000 supporters moved KFC to improve chicken welfare in the United Kingdom and six European countries.
  • Ending bear dancing in India, Turkey, Greece and most recently Nepal by working with local partners.
  • 188,000 supporters moved Turkish Airlines to stop transporting African grey parrots out of the Congo.

Today, we have 13 offices and we operate in more than 47 countries to help animals around the world.

 

When was World Animal Protection founded? 

World Animal Protection was founded in 1950. But our journey began under a different name, with the same unwavering mission to protect animals from suffering. Here’s a look at some of the powerful moments that shaped who we are today: 

Animal rescue

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.

Suriname animal rescue

1964

10,000 animals were rescued from floodwaters in Suriname, laying the foundations of our disaster response work around the world.

Chicken farm, Thailand

1975

WFPA and the International Society for the Protection of Animals (ISPA) agreed to merge to become one major international animal protection organisation.

WSPA disaster rescue

1981

The merger of ISPA and WFPA was completed, and the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) was born.

Chernobyl

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.

Indonesia disaster response

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.

Bear dancing, India

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.

Elephant sanctuary

2014

Our name changes to World Animal Protection, to clearly and simply demonstrate our purpose, mission and what we stand for.

Chang Chill sanctuary

2018

With help from us and some leading travel companies, ChangChill – formerly an elephant riding camp in Thailand – became an elephant-friendly venue, transforming the lives of their six elephants.

Elephant Peace Project

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.

Bear, South Korea

2022

After decades of working hard in partnership with Green Korea United to end bear bile farming, the South Korean government finally announced an end to this cruel industry.

Moo to ewe sheep

2024

The Australian Parliament passed the historic Bill to end live sheep exports by sea. Meaning thousands of Australian sheep will no longer suffer in the barbaric live export trade from May 1st, 2028.

With you by our side, together, we can continue working tirelessly to move the world to protect animals.