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. In supporting our call to end the global wildlife trade, you helped us fight to stop their cruel exploitation and to help avoid another catastrophic zoonotic disease from ravaging the planet.

This year, we spearheaded the Campaign to End Wildlife Trade, a coalition of 25 of the UK’s leading animal welfare and wildlife conservation groups calling on the UK government to secure a global wildlife trade ban and end the import and export of wild animals into the UK.

This campaign was backed by 83 MPs and peers across all parties, as well as a host of celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Dame Judi Dench who wrote an open letter sent to the Prime Minister earlier this year.

How you helped animals in 2020: the amazing things you helped us achieve.

In the UK, over 165,000 people 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.

A pangolin in the wild

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 and floods 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.

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

Next year, we will do even more

Each time you made a donation, shared our posts on social media, volunteered, helped us to fundraise and added your name to 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.

Join us

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with news on our work and to join us in taking action to protect animals in 2021.