You protected 224 million animals in 2020, turning a year of challenge into lasting change

You were a voice for wild animals

When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, you leapt into action.

This year it became clear that the way we treat wild animals had to change to help avoid another catastrophic zoonotic disease from ravaging the planet.

A pangolin in the wild

Over 1 million of you signed our petition demanding G20 world leaders take action to end the cruel wildlife trade and protect animals, people and the planet.

Although the G20 failed to address the global wildlife trade at the Leaders’ Summit in November, with your powerful voices behind us, we’re continuing the fight into 2021 for the lasting change our world so drastically needs.

You were there when they needed you most

You provided much-needed food and medical care to over 11,000 wild animals affected by the global pandemic, including elephants at high-welfare venues that were struggling to care for them properly when their income from ethical tourism declined.

You were their rescuers

When wildfires, floods and explosions endangered the lives of animals, your generosity meant our partners on the ground had everything they needed to respond quickly and help those animals in most need.

In total, your support helped 28,475 animals affected by disasters in 2020.

You were their champions

Intensive farming is the single largest source of animal suffering on Earth. Thanks to your commitment, we’re working with major food producers to help them move to more compassionate models and reduce farm animals’ suffering.

In the UK, after 36,000 supporters signed our #TheRealCheekyNandos petition, the fast-food chain agreed to move away from the use of fast-growing chicken breeds that suffer from painful heart, lung and bone problems.

You were their protectors

Over 10 million dogs are culled inhumanely and cruelly every year in misguided attempts to control rabies. Your support vaccinated 148,733 animals across the world – mostly dogs – to help end this cruelty and help reach the UN goal of eliminating rabies in people by 2030.

A World Animal Protection staff member petting a dog in Nairobi, Kenya

We know we must focus on dogs to end this awful but preventable disease. Globally, on average, it only costs US$4 to vaccinate a dog against rabies, but 27 times that – US$108 – to treat a person that has been bitten.

Next year, we will do even more

Each time you watched one of our videos, donated, shared our posts on social media, volunteered, ran a marathon, signed a petition, you gave your time and effort to end animal cruelty. Thank you.

Despite a year of great sadness and challenge, we managed to achieve so much. Imagine what we can do together in 2021!