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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

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Ending animal testing
Alternatives in Scientific Research

In contrast to product testing, in which some animal use is required by law, there is no law requiring the use of animals to study basic biology, or the pathology and treatment of human illness. Here, animal experiments are a carry-over from

Validation of Animal Tests

Although some animal tests in use today were created nearly 80 years ago, most have never been formally validated (i.e., assessed in multiple laboratories to see if they reliably give the correct answers). However, there is a great deal of scientific evidence

Transatlantic Regulatory Co-operation

In light of today’s global marketplace, a meaningful reduction in animal testing can only occur if different countries are prepared to recognise and accept the results of validated alternative methods. Otherwise, companies will be forced to perform different tests to satisfy different

Scientific Research

The great majority of animal use for experimental purposes can best be described as “curiosity-driven” research. Animals who have been purpose-bred, captured from the wild, or purchased from pounds, animal shelters, and animal brokers can be subject to a seemingly limitless variety

Product Testing

A large number of laws and regulations have been enacted worldwide to control the marketing of drugs, vaccines, food additives, pesticides, industrial chemicals, and other substances of potential toxicological concern. Such regulations often prescribe a specific regime of toxicity testing to generate

Outdated Testing Methods

In the time since the most commonly used toxicity tests were conceived, there has been a revolution in biology and biotechnology. Advances in tissue engineering and robotics have given birth to rapid “high throughput” in vitro (cell culture) systems, while emerging technologies

Legal Obligations

As public opposition towards animal testing has grown, animal use has been broadly prohibited where alternative methods are “reasonably and practicably available” (e.g., EU Directive 86/609 and legislation in the U.S. states of California [PDF], New Jersey [PDF] and New York [PDF])

Ending animal testing
Animal Welfare Considerations - UPDATE

Some toxicity tests consume hundreds or thousands of animals per substance examined (e.g., lifetime cancer studies consume approximately 400 rats and 400 mice; a study of birth defects and developmental toxicity consumes 1,300 rats and/or 900 rabbits; and a study of sexual

Primates in Traditional Medicine and as Hunting Trophies

When it comes to human exploitation of primates, the animals are often just as valuable dead as they are alive. Their parts may be used in traditional medicine by people in some cultures and their bodies stuffed as hunting trophies by others

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