IFAW

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was set up to explain and show people that our actions have an effect on animals and that what we do can directly impact upon them. The UK office began in 1976 and initially they campaigned for the Harp seals and more specifically the pups that were being hunted for their snowy white coats.

These days their work takes them throughout the world with the aim to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals and protecting wildlife habitats, reducing commercial exploitation and helping animals in distress. One of their main aims has always been to educate the public on the realities of what was happening and to enlist their support in putting an end to it.

Through tirelessly campaigning they managed to secure a small victory in that it is now illegal to hunt for seal pups, however, as is widely publicised, the hunting of these pups for commercial purposes still continues today, especially in Canada. The IFAW have remained committed to this cause and are still campaigning and making people aware of the plight of these seal pups. They have many offices around the globe, including in Canada, the United States, Australia, India, China, Russia and Southern Africa, enabling them to reach out to even more animals.

The IFAW have more than 200 experienced campaigners, educators, internationally acclaimed scientists and legal and communications experts that work for them and make the work they do possible.

Since their beginnings, the IFAW have begun to work in other areas and just some of the animals that they have campaigned to protect include other types of seal such as the hooded seal and Hawaiian monk seal but also dolphins, porpoises, whales, bears, elephants, rhinoceros, primates, domestic companion animals such as cats and dogs, African penguins, snow leopards, basking sharks and tigers.

Campaigns have included emergency relief for oiled penguins and for animals that have been the victims of natural or man-made disasters, releasing stranded dolphins and whales, ending commercial whaling and protecting endangered species, protecting elephants from poachers and ivory dealers, helping to save dogs and cats in South Korea, eradicating the keeping of monkeys as pets, ending the bush meat trade and protecting tigers and other animals from being kept at exotic pets.

The IFAW has become known around the world as being a great force for animal welfare and environmental protection and has built up a huge network of supporters. As with many charities and organisations, they rely heavily on the support of the public as it is only with like-minded people on board that the IFAW are able to continue with their work and put pressure on governments to make the changes needed.

There are many ways in which you can get involved and help, including making a donation online, taking part in fundraising activities, circulating petitions and literature, writing to MP’s and generally helping to spread the word about the work that they do and making people aware of these important issues.