May 23, 2025

75 years of animal welfare progress: A CEO's perspective

topic:	Animal Cruelty
tags:	#animal rights, #factory farming, #meat industry
located:	Suriname, Thailand, Korea, South, Australia
by:	Tricia Croasdell

As I write this, history is being made. For the first time ever, countries have agreed to an international pact for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. 

What does this mean for humans, and for animals, who my organisation works hard to protect? This legally binding agreement includes critical elements of disease prevention. It recognises the “One Health” approach according to which the health of humans, animals and the environment are linked - and any solutions should benefit all three. This is a huge development, especially considering that the welfare of animals has been frequently overlooked in reducing risk and protecting wellbeing for all.

It is often after times of great uncertainty that a significant transformation takes place. Seventy-five years ago, as the world rebuilt after World War II, a parallel movement began - one dedicated to protecting some of the most vulnerable among us: animals. A defining moment came in 1964, when International Society for the Protection of Animals (ISPA)’s John Walsh led the heroic rescue of over 10,000 animals from catastrophic flooding in Suriname, South America - an early example of the rapid-response rescue missions that are now critical in an era of climate-driven disasters.

A simple but radical idea - that animals deserve freedom from suffering - led to the 1975 merger of ISPA and World Federation for the Protection of Animals (WFPA). Today we are known as World Animal Protection. As the world grapples with climate change, habitat destruction, industrial farming and wildlife exploitation, our mission is more urgent than ever.

I’m proud to continue the incredible work of those early visionaries. Their legacy fuels our determination to confront the evolving challenges animals face and drive systemic change that protects animals, people and the planet.

The Climate Crisis is an Animal Welfare Crisis

The recent floods in Chiang Mai, Thailand highlight the devastating impact of climate change on animals. Rising temperatures, shifting weather and habitat destruction are pushing many species to the brink of extinction. And it isn't just wild animals - farmed animals are also victims of extreme weather.

Improving animal welfare means addressing global food systems. Factory farming subjects billions of animals to cruel conditions while accelerating deforestation, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions. If we are serious about protecting animals and our planet, we must build a humane and sustainable food system that prioritises animal welfare, reduces the number of animals farmed and eliminates factory farming.

Our work is driving that change. Through partnerships with food retailers and producers we are pushing for better welfare standards. We’re engaging in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change process to drive global policy change. We’re also helping people understand their choices matter - every plant-based choice moves us towards more compassionate and sustainable food systems for all.

The Wild Animal Crisis: A Global Emergency

Wildlife exploitation has reached a shocking scale. Our recent report, 'Bred for Profit: The Truth About Global Wildlife Farming,' exposed that 5.5 billion wild animals are in cruel conditions on commercial wildlife farms, posing risks to public health, biodiversity and conservation. These animals are bred for sale as exotic pets, used for entertainment, or slaughtered for luxury goods, traditional medicine and fashion.

Tourism also continues to drive suffering. Lions, dolphins and elephants are exploited for human entertainment - often stolen from the wild or bred in captivity to endure lifetimes of misery.

This must stop. We’re committed to making this the last generation of animals suffering in captivity. Through advocacy, public awareness and corporate pressure, we’re working to end cruel wildlife attractions and hold those responsible to account.

Progress We Must Build On

Despite the challenges, we have made significant strides. Our advocacy helped link animal welfare to sustainable development at the 2012 UN Earth Summit, leading to the 2022 UN Environment Assembly adoption of the ‘Animal Welfare–Environment–Sustainable Development Nexus.’ We played a critical role influencing the G20 to address the link between wildlife exploitation and pandemics, paving the way for the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

Since the 1960s, disaster response has been at our core. In 2016, we integrated animal protection into the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, helping millions of animals affected by natural disasters worldwide.

We’ve achieved landmark policy victories: helping end the bear bile industry in South Korea and drastically reducing it in Vietnam; advancing fur-free policies in fashion; and working with partners to ensure Melbourne Fashion Week banned feathers in 2024, followed by London banning exotic skins in 2025.

In South Africa, after years of campaigning alongside partners, the government pledged in 2021, and reaffirmed in 2024, to close all captive lion facilities. Meanwhile, our Wildlife Heritage Areas initiatives are setting new standards for ethical, sustainable tourism, helping communities protect their local wildlife while benefiting from responsible tourism.

A Future Without Animal Cruelty

The progress we’ve made proves that change is possible. But we cannot afford complacency. The systems driving animal cruelty, whether factory farming, wildlife exploitation or climate destruction, are deeply entrenched. Dismantling them requires bold action, relentless advocacy and global collaboration.

This is our moment. Seventy-five years of history have led us here, but our greatest impact lies ahead. Together, we can build a future where animals are free from suffering, governments and corporations are held accountable and compassion shapes the choices we make.

As I look ahead, one thing is certain: we will not stop until every animal is protected. We do it for them, for us and for this beautiful planet of ours. 

Tricia Croasdell is CEO at World Animal Protection.

Image by Mischa Eliseev.