Celebrating real change for animals in 2009
Dec 23, 2009
© Damila Foundation
Thank you. With your support, WSPA and our member societies have achieved great things for animals in 2009. Many are better cared for, better protected, and have brighter futures. Just a few of this year’s highlights are below.
We have a very long way to go before we achieve our vision: a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. But with your help, WSPA is looking forward to a fresh decade of achievements for animals.
We believe every animal is important. Every donation is important too: you make our work happen >>
Protecting wildlife
WSPA-funded member society Les Amis des Bonobos achieved an amazing world-first, releasing a group of bonobos into the wild. Watch footage >>
With Pakistani group BRC, we stopped 44 of 56 planned bear baiting events by mid-2009. Working with 1,600 mosques and helping bear owners establish cruelty-free livelihoods, we also ensured lifelong safety for four more bears at Kund Park.
In November 2009, 18 animal lovers set off on the Borneo Jungle Explorer challenge run by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). The intrepid bunch became the first charity group to trek through the rainforest of Kalimantan, in Indonesian Borneo. So far, our 2009 trekkers have raised over £65,000 to help care for the orangutans at the WSPA-funded Nyaru Menteng sanctuary - the largest sanctuary of its kind in the world. You can find out more about this amazing experience and register your interest for our 2010 trek on our dedicated microsite.
More in brief: An illegally held bear was rescued from a bear bile farm, thanks to WSPA’s innovative microchipping project; work to reduce elephant–human conflict progressed; our lobbying helped ensure Greenland cannot hunt humpbacks in 2010; WSPA Canada and the OSPCA achieved the first comprehensive changes to provincial animal protection laws since 1919; Australian comic and musical genius Tim Minchin helped WSPA UK go viral with his WSPA-inspired song 'Bears don't dig on dancing' which has had over 235,000 hits to date on YouTube; BBC One Holby City actress Rosie Marcel took on Romania's Carpathian Mountains on our Bear Adventure trek, raising valuable funds and awareness for our Romanian bear sanctuary…
Defending farm animals
The WSPA/FAI ‘model farm’ in Brazil – which aims to prove humane farming can be profitable – welcomed its first cattle! Our farm-based training courses are helping take the cruelty out of animal handling, transport and slaughter.
More in brief: WSPA-led outcry over the possible resumption of live sheep exports from New Zealand brought welfare to fore of the debate; a WSPA petition convinced the EU Health Commissioner to make protecting animals from long distance transport ‘a priority’ …
Caring for companion animals and working horses
WSPA’s expert advice helped shape 2009’s biggest single move towards protecting the world’s stray dogs: the World Organisation for Animal Health’s new stray dog control guidelines urgently call on all 174 member states to exclusively use humane methods.
More in brief: WSPA’s work with the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre helped ensure zero suspected rabies cases in the city for the first time; our pioneering ‘human behaviour change’ workshops helped horse and donkey owners in Thailand, Uruguay and the Palestinian Territories begin finding humane solutions to everyday welfare issues; our wonderful WSPA UK supporters responded to our December appeal for horse noseband protectors, sending in thousands of hand-sewn protectors in a few short weeks (5,251 protectors to be exact!), but we still need more, so please read our news story to find out why…
Mitigating disaster
© WSPA
When a tsunami hit the Western and American Samoa in September, WSPA and the New Zealand SPCA joined forces tohelp animals suffering from infections and trauma. Two tonnes of dog food and training sessions enabled local member societies continue the work.
More in brief: Disaster preparations were successfully tested in Costa Rica and Myanmar; disaster relief operations included activity in Brazil; Costa Rica; Cuba; Bihar and Orissa, India; Indonesia and the Philippines …
Changing minds
We trained over 340 teachers in animal welfare education in Kenya, Thailand and across Latin and South America; 289 university lecturers and 51 Asian trainee teachers also learned about teaching a message of compassion from WSPA.
More in brief: WSPA’s Peru education programme was endorsed by UNESCO; our veterinary syllabus was rolled out across Indonesia, Peru and Argentina …
Stopping bullfighting
In one of WSPA’s largest ever online actions over 85,000 supporters backed the citizens of Catalonia in calling for an end to bullfighting in their region, along with WSPA supporter and comedy legend Ricky Gervais. A vote will be held in 2010.
More in brief: WSPA co-sponsored the worldwide annual bullfighting summit …
Supporting member societies
WSPA grants helped over 90 member societies carry out work, including improvement of clinics and shelters, delivering education, providing rescue vehicles and holding fundraising training for long-term success.
More in brief: We launched a new resources website to help groups combat cruelty effectively; WSPA supported 10 member society campaigns, from protecting marine mammals to saving bats …
Making a difference for all animals
Alongside the 27 European Union member states, Nicaragua, Palau and Samoa all a commitment to animals this year by endorsing the development of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations.
Top international singer Leona Lewis lent her voice to the UDAW campaign. Leona said: "I wanted to get involved with the World Society for the Protection of Animals because I think they are doing great campaigns. I've always been a huge advocate for any charities that are trying to help animals, because they are trying to change laws to protect animals - which I think is amazing.” You can help us make a difference to global animal welfare - go to wspa.org.uk/leonalewis to join in and pledge your support.
More in brief: WSPA Canada’s efforts led to a parliamentary motion in support of a UDAW; our four briefings on animal welfare and sustainable development, held at UN headquarters, reached over 90 governments.
Read about our 2008 achievements (PDF)>>
Make a valuable donation towards WSPA's continuing work in 2010>>