Animals in disasters

For over half a century, World Animal Protection has been a beacon of hope, saving countless animals from the brink of disaster. But we recognize that to create lasting change, we must address the root causes of these crises.

50 years of disaster response and resilience building 

For more than 50 years, we have moved fast to protect animals affected by earthquakes, fires, floods, droughts, typhoons, and other disasters. Our leadership in disaster risk reduction has empowered governments and communities worldwide to act preemptively, reducing harm.

As we've confronted these challenges head-on, a troubling trend has become clear: disasters are intensifying.

Steven Clegg from our disaster team feeding a baby goat in Mongolia.

Confronting the root causes

Climate change, driven by factory farming: 

Our planet is witnessing a surge in the frequency and intensity of disasters, with climate change being a significant catalyst. Alarmingly, the factory farming industry stands as a dominant force accelerating this change. By producing vast amounts of greenhouse gases, factory farms magnify risks, imperiling animals, decimating habitats, and jeopardizing communities. 

Unsustainable animal feed trade:

A staggering 80% of all global land-use shifts can be attributed to agriculture. Delve deeper, and you'll find that nearly the same percentage of this land caters to livestock - fueling them with expansive crops designed for animal feed. As factory farms proliferate, they intensify this strain, potentially demanding even more sprawling expanses of land for feed crops by the close of this decade.

Our work

wild fire
Most of Brazil’s wildfires are being set intentionally, often illegally by those intending to grab the recently-cleared land for cattle or crops. This is yet another way that factory farming is destroying the world.
The flooding of a farm in Abbostsford
Exploring the causes of the largest agricultural disaster in British Columbia’s history and the urgency for animal welfare focused and climate-resilient farming practices.