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Our work in Africa

Humane World for Animals tackles the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering to create permanent change. We make change at scale, advocating for policy change at all levels of government and working with companies so that they can be kinder to animals their businesses impact. We work in partnership with communities, bringing diverse expertise to the most complex issues, and doing it all with a compassionate and welcoming approach.  

Our impact

We envision a world without animal cruelty, where humans and animals coexist peacefully. In Africa, we work to promote non-lethal solutions to human-wildlife conflicts, improve the lives of animals raised for food, end the illegal wildlife and captive big cat trade, advocate for a more plant-forward food system, increase access to spay/neuter services and primary veterinary care for companion animals, ending cosmetics animal testing and helping animals in disaster situations.  

70%
female breeding-age elephants

outside Kruger National Park have received an immunocontraceptive vaccine

60+
chimpanzees retired from research

have a permanent home at our sanctuary in Liberia

1,300+
dogs and cats

in South Africa have been sterilized through our Healthy Pets, Healthier Communities initiative

Where we work

Humane World for Animals is a leading force for animal protection across the continent. In South Africa, we have active campaigns to improve conditions for farmed animals, protect wildlife, reduce the use of animals in testing and better protect companion animals. In Liberia, our Second Chance Chimpanzee Refuge provides lifetime care to more than 60 chimpanzees who were used in invasive research for decades. 

Latest News

Press Release
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Race horses running on track

Stan Rohrer/Alamy Stock Photo

Protecting equines
United States
New accountability report reveals thoroughbred racehorses are dying in training

WASHINGTON (March 19, 2025)—A new report released by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, a federally mandated regulatory group that monitors thoroughbred racehorse safety, confirms that thoroughbreds are not only dying on race day but face significant risks in training as well

Bullfighting

Humane World for Animals

Mexico
Mexico City’s vote for “violence-free” bullfights cautiously welcomed by Humane World for Animals Mexico as step in the right direction

MEXICO CITY—Humane World for Animals Mexico (formerly Humane Society International/Mexico) cautiously welcomes a vote by the Mexico City Congress to ban what it calls “violent bullfights.” The ban brings in new rules with immediate effect that ban the killing of bulls inside

Dogs in the dog meat trade in Indonesia

Katherine Polak/Humane World for Animals

Ending the dog and cat meat trade
Indonesia
JAAN and Humane World for Animals launch "United Against Rabies: Together for Animal Welfare" program in Indonesia’s Nusa Tenggara Timur province

KUPANG, Indonesia—The JAAN Domestic Indonesia Foundation, in partnership with Humane World for Animals (formerly called Humane Society International), proudly announces the official launch of our “United Against Rabies: Together for Animal Welfare” program in Nusa Tenggara Timur province. This is the first-ever

Cows in India

Nayana Scaria

Dog and cat welfare
India
Good news: India’s first-ever emergency animal evacuation shelter to be established in Wayanad

WAYANAD, Kerala—A pioneering emergency evacuation shelter designed to evacuate animals prior to disasters like floods and landslides, is set to be established in Kottathara panchayat in Wayanad district, Kerala. Situated in a region prone to multiple hazards including annual floods, cyclones and

Fur farm

Humane World for Animals

United States
Chicago City Council to vote on crucial fur sales ordinance

CHICAGO (March 10, 2025) – On Wednesday, the Chicago City Council is expected to vote in favor of an ordinance to end the sale of new fur products, doing away with the city’s support for the cruel fur trade. Introduced by Raymond

A wolf sitting outside in the wild

Alamy Stock Photo/Alamy Stock Photo

Wildlife protection
Europe
Animal protection organisation warns that EU proposal to downgrade wolf protection may set the stage for wider attacks on EU nature laws

BRUSSELS—Humane World for Animals Europe (formerly called Humane Society International/Europe) warns that a new proposal to downgrade the protected status of wolves could open the floodgates to more serious attacks on EU nature laws. In the wake of the December 2024 decision

Lion

David Keith Jones

South Africa
BREAKING: South African Predator Association seeks to reinstate irresponsible lion bone export quota through High Court

CAPE TOWN—The South African Predator Association (SAPA) together, with 10 individual lion farmers and ‘canned’ hunting operators, filed a court application seeking to renew a controversial lion bone export quota deemed “unlawful and constitutionally invalid” by High Court Judge Kollapen in 2019

REMA conference in Spain about ending animal testing

Lora Semova/Jastag

Ending animal testing
Europe
Experts united to advance non-animal testing methods at major Spanish conference

MADRID—The Spanish Network for Alternative Methods, known as REMA, with Humane World for Animals—formerly known as Humane Society International—and Animal-Free Safety Assessment hosted the XI REMA Conference on Feb. 20, 2025, at the Ministry of Health in Madrid. The conference, honouring the

Chickens

Lukas Vincour / Zvirata Nejime /We Animals

Europe
Fast-food giants in Poland and Romania urged to step up chicken welfare efforts

BRUSSELS—Humane World for Animals Europe (formerly called Humane Society International Europe) has released The Pecking Order 2024, a new report that evaluates the chicken welfare policies and progress of major fast-food brands in Poland and Romania. The report highlights an urgent need

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