International Fund for Animal Welfare

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International Fund for Animal Welfare – ifaw
Company type Non-profit Organization
Industry Animal welfare, conservation
Founded1969, New Brunswick, Canada
Headquarters The Hague, Netherlands
Key people
Azzedine Downes (CEO) [1]
ProductsLandmark & framework legislation, research, activism.
Revenue $97,079,000 USD (2013 Annual Report)
Total assets 59,481,028 United States dollar (2022)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Number of employees
300+
Website ifaw.org

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is one of the largest animal welfare and conservation charities in the world. The organization works to rescue individual animals, safeguard populations, preserve habitat, and advocate for greater protections. [2] Brian Davies founded IFAW. [3] In 1983 Europe banned all whitecoat harp seals products. This ban helped save over 1 million seals. IFAW operates in over 40 countries. [4]

Contents

History

Elephants roaming in Kenya Elephants in Amboseli Kenya.jpg
Elephants roaming in Kenya

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was founded in 1969, in initial efforts to stop the commercial hunt for seal pups on the east coast of Canada.

In 2014 it had offices in 15 countries, and projects in more than 40. [5] IFAW is one of the largest animal welfare organisations.

The fund is supported by corporate donors including the Disneynature and the Disney Conservation Fund, the Petfinder Foundation and Arctic Fox. [6] [7] [8]

In 2025, it was announced that villagers near Kasungu National Park were beginning legal action proceedings against IFAW, following the death of ten people after the NGO relocated 263 elephants to the area in 2022. [9] According to Malawi locals, over fifty children were orphaned between July 2022 and November 2024 as a result of the translocated elephants. [9] The prospective plaintiffs are demanding for IFAW to construct fencing to protect the 167 villages surrounding the park and to also compensate locals for any damages caused by the elephants. [10]

In response to the allegations, which were orchestrated by a former IFAW employee, the charity rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.

In a statement to the Guardian IFAW said: "It is deeply saddened by all cases of human-wildlife conflict in and around Kasungu, where it has been working to support government and communities develop sustainable solutions for reducing human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence,”.

It was also highlighted that Malawi’s government had overall responsibility for its national parks. IFAW provided technical and financial support, following international best practice while moving the elephants.

[9]

Activities

IFAW had campaigns to end the commercial seal hunt in Canada [13] and end commercial whaling. [14] It helps dogs and cats in impoverished communities, [15] protects elephants, [16] reduce illegal ivory trade, [17] rescue and release of wild animals such as orphan rhinos [18] and rescues animals in the wake of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in the US. [19]

See also

References

  1. "IFAW Staff". International Fund for Animal Welfare. 2025. Archived from the original on 6 April 2025.
  2. "International Fund for Animal Welfare About Page" . Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  3. Young, Oran R (1989). "The Politics of Animal Rights: Preservationists vs. Consumptive Users in the North". Studies / Inuit / Studies. 1 (13): 43–59. JSTOR   42869651.
  4. "Animal welfare and conservation organisation ifaw unveils rebrand". Bizcommunity. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  5. "About IFAW". IFAW. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  6. "Three Indian organisations win grants from Disney's Wildlife Conservation Fund". Tech2. FirstPost.com. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  7. Jander, Megan (5 December 2018). "2018 Vanguard Series Honors Unsung Heroes". Pet Age. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  8. Anaya, Gabriella (29 January 2019). "Arctic Fox: The Best Vegan Hair Dye Brand". Raise Vegan. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Green, Patrick (26 March 2025). "Charity faces legal action after relocated elephants in Malawi allegedly kill 10 people". The Guardian.
  10. Davis, Barney (26 March 2025). "Charity relocated hundreds of elephants to new home in Malawi – angry locals say they have now killed 10 people". The Independent via Yahoo! News.
  11. Kelly, Megyn (1 June 2017). "What's it like to travel to Kenya to report on elephant poaching?". NBC News. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  12. Ferguson, Jane (17 November 2017). "How lessons from fighting terrorism are saving elephants in Kenya". PBS NewsHour. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  13. "WTO confirms EU seal trade ban". EU Observer. 23 May 2014.
  14. "U.N. court rules Antarctic whaling by Japan illegal, orders halt". Los Angeles Times. 31 March 2014.
  15. Jenkinson, Stephen (November 2012). "Diary of a Countryman" (PDF). Your Dog Magazine: 77.
  16. "IFAW, Maasai community secure corridor for Amboseli elephants". kws.go.ke. Kenya Wildlife Service. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  17. Carlton-Schaul, Jordan. "The War on the Illegal Ivory Trade: A Conversation with IFAW's US Bureau". NatGeo.com. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  18. "Two rhinos released into Manas National Park in India". wildlifeextra.com. Wildlife Extra. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  19. Davis, Matthew (10 September 2005). "Saving New Orleans' animals". BBC. Retrieved 29 July 2014.