Humane World for Animals International

End cosmetic and chemicals animal testing: Although many non-animal testing methods already exist and many ingredients already have a history of safe use, animals in laboratories still suffer and die for our cosmetics and chemicals. Currently, animal testing is legally required for many of the products used every day—from fragrances to painkillers to fabric dyes. Our current focus is to end animal testing for these products.

End trophy hunting: Each year, hundreds of thousands of animals are killed by trophy hunters, whose primary motivation is simply to obtain animal parts for display and bragging rights. Trophy hunting is not only extremely cruel, it can also exacerbate the population decline of already imperiled species. Our current focus is to reduce the number of African lions, leopards and elephants being imported as trophies into the E.U. and U.K.

End the use of fur in fashion: Millions of rabbits, foxes, mink and other wild animals spend their entire lives in cramped cages, only to be gassed or electrocuted for their fur. Our current focus is on ending the farming of wildlife in Europe for their fur.

End the use of cages for egg-laying hens: On factory farms, egg-laying hens are kept in cages and crates so small they can barely move. Our near-term goal is to support passage of a policy in the E.U. to phase out all cages for egg-laying hens.

End the dog meat trade in South Korea: An estimated 1 million dogs are kept and killed in cruel conditions on thousands of dog meat farms in South Korea, the only country in the world that raises dogs for slaughter for human consumption. With a legislative phase-out passed in January 2024, our near-term goal is to ensure a smooth and humane transition away from this industry over the next three years.

Increase immunocontraception of elephants in South Africa to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts: African elephants are threatened with extinction due to poaching and habitat loss, degradation and destruction. They are being squeezed into smaller and smaller areas and are often threatened with lethal culling to manage the population. Since 1996, we have funded cutting edge research on the use of immunocontraception of wild elephant populations. Our near-term goal is to contracept virtually all breeding-age female elephants in South Africa (outside of Greater Kruger National Park, where immunocontraception is not used) to ensure their protection.

Train law enforcement officials in India: While there are strong laws in India to prevent cruelty to animals, the implementation by government agencies is a challenge. To address this gap, we have undertaken a training initiative to educate the officials with authority to implement and enforce the existing laws and help expedite work on animal welfare issues. Our near-term goal is to train all police, veterinarians, forest officers and judges in three target states.

Humane World for Animals addresses the root cause of animal suffering, which requires changing the legal framework governing the treatment of animals and the practices of large-scale industries, as well as winning the hearts and minds of the public.

Training and capacity building: We invest in activities that lift up the whole animal protection movement, engaging and training volunteers, animal advocates, shelter and rescue professionals, educators and government agencies around the world.

Strengthening public policy and enforcement: We’re strengthening legal protections for animals at the local and national levels around the globe. We defend those victories in court and press for robust enforcement of existing policies.

Improving corporate policy: We work with the world’s biggest food and apparel companies, cosmetics manufacturers and leaders in other industries to improve the treatment of animals. We make the case that caring about animal welfare is good for business, but we also use media coverage and other channels for evaluating and encouraging further progress in the industries we target.

Rescue and direct care: We respond to natural disasters and cruelty cases, manage a sanctuary for chimpanzees in Liberia, support humane and sustainable management programs for street dogs and cats and much more.

Education and awareness: We’re driving the wider conversation around animals, encouraging everyone to join us in creating a culture that lives up to the promise of our name: A humane world.