World Animal Protection, formerly The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is an international non-profit animal rights organization that has been in operation since 1981. The charity describes its vision as: A world where animal rights matter and animal cruelty has ended. The charity has regional hubs in: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

, and offices in 14 countries. Its headquarters is in London.

History

The organization was known previously as the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). This resulted from the merger of two animal welfare organizations in 1981, the World Federation for the Protection of Animals (WFPA) founded in 1950 and the International Society for the Protection of Animals (ISPA) founded in 1959. In June 2014, the charity became World Animal Protection.

Campaigns

Animals in the wild

In 1985 WSPA launched a campaign to outlaw

bullfighting Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter attempting to subdue, immobilize, or kill a bull, usually according to a set of rules, guidelines, or cultural expectations. There are several variations, including some forms wh ...

in cities in France and Spain. In the 1990s, the charity contributed to the prohibition of

bear dancing A tame bear, often called a dancing bear, is a wild bear captured when young, or born and bred in captivity, and used to entertain people in streets or taverns. Dancing bears were commonplace throughout Europe and Asia from the Middle Ages to the ...

in Greece, Turkey, and India. In India, the charity funded a sanctuary for bears previously used in the trade. After a BBC investigation in September 2013, the charity launched a campaign against the caged civet coffee trade. Several retailers have since stopped selling coffee produced by caged civets. The charity campaigns in Asia for an end to the

bear bile Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...

industry. In Pakistan they work to end bear baiting by campaigning for a change in law, offering alternative livelihoods to bear owners and housing bears rescued from bear baiting in a purpose built sanctuary.

Animals in communities

The organization is working to end the inhumane culling of stray dogs, which many countries do in a misguided effort to eliminate rabies. The organization points out that vaccination programs are the only effective way to eliminate rabies, and work with governments on vaccination programs. In 2012, a mass vaccination program was started in the Shaanxi, Guizhou and Anhui Provinces of China, working with the Chinese Animal Disease Control Centre; as of June 2014, 750 veterinarians have been trained and over 90,000 dogs have been vaccinated. Mass vaccination programs have also been delivered in

Bali Bali () is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands. East of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nu ...

, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zanzibar,"Mass dog vaccination program to combat rabies"
''China'', 18 June 2014. and Kathmandu, Nepal. A second focus is on stray dog population management itself, through proven humane methods such as education, improved legislation, registration and identification of dogs, sterilisation and contraception, holding facilities and rehoming centres. They help governments design a program, and monitor and evaluate progress, using the model provided in the document "Humane Dog Population Management Guidance", developed in November 2007 by The International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM Coalition), of which the organization is a member. Programs often include veterinary services such as mobile clinics for stray cats and dogs or those belonging to people who cannot afford veterinary care. The animals are sterilized, vaccinated, and provided other needed veterinary care. Such programs are provided in Sri Lanka, Zanzibar, Colombia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Sierra Leone, and Bali. A further focus is on helping working animals (horses, donkeys, and mules) in the West Bank, where mobile clinics were noticing increases in signs of neglect and cruelty. Through a partner organization, the Palestine Wildlife Society, "In each community, we train a few people who can teach others about equine welfare. They attend workshops and visit communities where our training is already having an impact. They then share what they learn. Word spreads. Habits change. Animal welfare improves. And, because their animals are healthier, owners can earn a better living too.""Protecting working animals in the West Bank"
World Animal Protection, accessed 19 July 2014.

Animals in disasters

The charity has disaster operations teams in Asia and Latin America. In the aftermath of disasters they travel to worst affected areas to administer emergency veterinary care, distribute food and reunite animals with their owners where possible. The work is of particular benefit in

developing world A developing country is a sovereign state with a lesser developed industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. There is also no clear agreem ...

countries, where communities rely on animals for food, transport and income. The charity also works with governments and local animal welfare groups in disaster-prone areas to set up national warning systems and teach communities how to protect their animals in the event of a disaster. In November 2013 the charity were filmed for a BBC documentary called ''Vets in the Disaster Zone'', during disaster response work in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan. The programme aired on ''BBC Two'' on 28 April 2014.

Animals in farming

World Animal Protection works with governments, food businesses and farmers to improve the welfare of farmed animals. They encourage the general public to buy food produced in line with high welfare standards. In 2013 the charity joined with

Compassion in World Farming Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is a campaigning and lobbying animal welfare organisation. It campaigns against the live export of animals, certain methods of livestock slaughter, and all systems of factory farming. It has received celebr ...

to create a business benchmark on farm animal welfare (BBFAW). According to The Guardian, there has been a 10 percent rise in companies publishing farm animal welfare policies since the benchmark launched.

Global animal welfare

The charity is campaigning for a universal declaration on animal welfare. In 2013 they successfully lobbied the United Nations to include language on

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...

in two

General Assembly Resolutions A United Nations General Assembly resolution is a decision or declaration voted on by all member states of the United Nations in the General Assembly. General Assembly resolutions usually require a simple majority (50 percent of all votes plus on ...

on agriculture and disaster risk reduction.

Jeannette McDermott Award

In 2015 World Animal Protection awarded

Marcelle Meredith Marcelle Meredith, born in Zambia and grew up in South Africa, is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA). Meredith has been in the position since 19 ...

, Executive Director of the

National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - South Africa National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), also known as the National Council of SPCAs, is the largest and oldest animal welfare organisation in South Africa. The NSPCA handles all matters relating to animal c ...

(

NSPCA National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA), also known as the National Council of SPCAs, is the largest and oldest animal welfare organisation in South Africa. The NSPCA handles all matters relating to animal c ...

), and former Board member of the World Animal Protection, with the Jeannette McDermott award for animal welfare. The award was created in Canada by World Animal Protection in 1996 "in recognition of someone’s life devoted to animal welfare." Dominique Bellemare, Chairman of WAP Canada stated: "Marcelle has done amazing work for the past decade and for the cause of animal welfare. She has used her years on the international platform to advance the cause of animal welfare in Africa. I thank her profusely for all her work and dedication."

References

External links

Animals in disasters blog

World Animal Protection, YouTube channel

Animales SOS Bolivia Organization

Senda Verde Bolivia Organization
{{Authority control Animal charities based in the United Kingdom Animal welfare organisations based in London International organisations based in London Organisations based in the London Borough of Camden Organizations established in 1981