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International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
Encyclopedia
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is currently one of the largest animal welfare
and conservation
charities
in the world.
The group says its mission is "to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress".
. One of IFAW's founders, and possibly its most well known member, is Brian Davies.
Today (per April 2008), with offices in 16 countries, IFAW is one of the largest animal welfare organisations in the world. The work of IFAW’s global team of campaigners, legal and political experts and scientists is concentrated in three areas: reducing commercial
exploitation
of wild animals; protecting wildlife
habitat
s; and providing emergency relief to animals in distress.
In the United Kingdom
, IFAW played a pivotal role as a member of a coalition of groups campaigning to put a stop to hunting
with dogs.
IFAW's AICD department was merged with its wildlife and habitat to create one department known as Programs. This was due to larger restructuring efforts underway mainly resulting from greatly reduced funding. IFAW also reduced its workforce by more than 100 employees worldwide.
and Tsavo National Park
s in Kenya
, to Liwonde National Park
in Malawi
, and to wildlife law enforcement officials in China
and other nations. IFAW uses environmental education, job training and human-animal conflict resolution, with the goal to help local communities coexist with wildlife.
In 2007, IFAW supported the United Nations University
initiative Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System, a wildlife enforcement and compliance monitoring tool. The project completed the development stage and is planned for national level implementation.
s, payable over 7 years, on leaving IFAW in 1997. This was to enable IFAW to continue to use his name and image in their fundraising after he had left. Through the Brian Davies Foundation, IFAW invested money in organizations that carry out animal experiments, such as Bausch & Lomb
, US Surgicals, Glaxo, Merck
, Abbot
, Upjohn
, Philip Morris
and McDonald's
. This, and Davies' payout, sparked allegations that Davies, and IFAW, saw money as more important than helping animals.
IFAW has often been criticized for its extremely high fundraising to program ratio and resulted in the 2009 drop to one star rating by CharityNavigator.org. While the organization claims that only a small fraction of funds go to fundraising costs the truth is far from that. This has led to many questions of the organization from countries such as Germany. See this article which appeared September 30, 2011.
Animal welfare
Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals.The term animal welfare can also mean human concern for animal welfare or a position in a debate on animal ethics and animal rights...
and conservation
Wildlife conservation
Wildlife conservation is the preservation, protection, or restoration of wildlife and their environment, especially in relation to endangered and vulnerable species. All living non-domesticated animals, even if bred, hatched or born in captivity, are considered wild animals. Wildlife represents all...
charities
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
in the world.
The group says its mission is "to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress".
History
The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) was founded by a small group of people in 1969 to stop the commercial hunt for seal pups in CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. One of IFAW's founders, and possibly its most well known member, is Brian Davies.
Today (per April 2008), with offices in 16 countries, IFAW is one of the largest animal welfare organisations in the world. The work of IFAW’s global team of campaigners, legal and political experts and scientists is concentrated in three areas: reducing commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
exploitation
Exploitation
This article discusses the term exploitation in the meaning of using something in an unjust or cruel manner.- As unjust benefit :In political economy, economics, and sociology, exploitation involves a persistent social relationship in which certain persons are being mistreated or unfairly used for...
of wild animals; protecting wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
s; and providing emergency relief to animals in distress.
In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, IFAW played a pivotal role as a member of a coalition of groups campaigning to put a stop to hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
with dogs.
Activities
- Locally and globally, IFAW conducts marine mammal research and educate from their ship, called Song of the Whale.
- Rescuing and releasing whales, dolphinDolphinDolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s and porpoisePorpoisePorpoises are small cetaceans of the family Phocoenidae; they are related to whales and dolphins. They are distinct from dolphins, although the word "porpoise" has been used to refer to any small dolphin, especially by sailors and fishermen...
s that have stranded or been entangled in nets and fishing gear. - Promoting whale watchingWhale watchingWhale watching is the practice of observing whales and other cetaceans in their natural habitat. Whales are watched most commonly for recreation but the activity can also serve scientific or educational purposes. A 2009 study, prepared for IFAW, estimated that 13 million people went whale watching...
, as an alternative to whale hunting. - IFAW aims to protect the last 350 critically endangered North Atlantic right whaleRight whaleRight whales are three species of large baleen whales consisting of two genera in the family Balaenidae of order Cetacea. Their bodies are very dark gray or black and rotund....
s, and have developed acoustic detection systems, and collaborate with lobstermen, commercial fishers and shipping industries to prevent collisions with ships and gear entanglements. - Through the Animal Action Week, the IFAW educate more than two million children worldwide, about animal welfare and wildlife conservation issues.
- Through their Community-Linked Animal Welfare (CLAW) projects, the IFAW aims to help companion animals in underserved communities around the world.
- IFAW have training customs officerCustoms officerA customs officer is a law enforcement agent who enforces customs laws, on behalf of a government.-Hong Kong:4 931 posts, of which nine are directorate officers, 3 804 are members of the Customs and Excise Department, 504 are Trade Controls Officers and 614 are staff of the General and Common...
s and game wardenGame wardenA game warden is an employee who has the role of protecting wildlife. Game wardens may also be referred to as conservation officers or wildlife officers...
s in many countries, to prevent the killing of endangered species. - Carrying out legislative and educational campaigns across the globe. This is an effort to try to prevent cruelty to animals, preserve endangered species, and protect wildlife habitats.
IFAW's AICD department was merged with its wildlife and habitat to create one department known as Programs. This was due to larger restructuring efforts underway mainly resulting from greatly reduced funding. IFAW also reduced its workforce by more than 100 employees worldwide.
Wildlife and Habitat Protection (WHP)
IFAW believes that the destruction of natural habitats is a threat to wildlife and people. Therefore they provide operating funds and ranger training to MeruMeru, Kenya
-Transport:The City of Meru is linked to Nairobi by a paved road, whether from the south around the east side of Mount Kenya, via Embu, or from the northwest around the west and north side of Mount Kenya, via Nanyuki and Timau....
and Tsavo National Park
Tsavo National Park
Tsavo National Park may refer to:* Tsavo East National Park, a national park in Kenya on the eastern side of the A109 road.* Tsavo West National Park, a national park in Kenya on the western side of the A109 road....
s in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, to Liwonde National Park
Liwonde National Park
Liwonde National Park is a national park in Malawi. It is located on the upper Shire River plain, east of the river, 140 km north of Limbe. Its southern gate lies about 6 km from the town center of Liwonde, and is accessible by bicycle taxi or walking...
in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, and to wildlife law enforcement officials in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and other nations. IFAW uses environmental education, job training and human-animal conflict resolution, with the goal to help local communities coexist with wildlife.
Protection Against Commercial Trade (PACT)
Since IFAW believes that international commercial trade in wildlife products, is a major cause of species extinction and cruelty to individual animals, they work with the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to help control this. IFAW also cooperate directly with many nations, from Kenya to China, to train anti-poaching rangers and customs officials. IFAW collaborates with law enforcement agencies and conducts campaigns to stop the trade in elephant ivory, as well as souvenirs and traditional medicines that contain animal parts.In 2007, IFAW supported the United Nations University
United Nations University
The United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of...
initiative Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System, a wildlife enforcement and compliance monitoring tool. The project completed the development stage and is planned for national level implementation.
Controversy and criticism
Brian Davies received a payout of about 2.5 million Canadian dollarCanadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
s, payable over 7 years, on leaving IFAW in 1997. This was to enable IFAW to continue to use his name and image in their fundraising after he had left. Through the Brian Davies Foundation, IFAW invested money in organizations that carry out animal experiments, such as Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
, US Surgicals, Glaxo, Merck
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
, Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
, Upjohn
Upjohn
The Upjohn Company was a pharmaceutical manufacturing firm founded in 1886 in Kalamazoo, Michigan by Dr. William E. Upjohn, an 1875 graduate of the University of Michigan medical school. The company was originally formed to make friable pills, which were specifically designed to be easily digested...
, Philip Morris
Altria Group
Altria Group, Inc. is based in Henrico County, Virginia, and is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company, Inc., Philip Morris Capital Corporation, and Chateau Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. It is one of the world's largest tobacco corporations...
and McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
. This, and Davies' payout, sparked allegations that Davies, and IFAW, saw money as more important than helping animals.
IFAW has often been criticized for its extremely high fundraising to program ratio and resulted in the 2009 drop to one star rating by CharityNavigator.org. While the organization claims that only a small fraction of funds go to fundraising costs the truth is far from that. This has led to many questions of the organization from countries such as Germany. See this article which appeared September 30, 2011.
External links
- Official website
- IFAW Charitable Trust (ICT)
- Stop the Seal Hunt, IFAW's seal hunt campaign
- Stop Whaling Now, IFAW
- IFAW's Animal Rescue Blog
- IFAW in India - Wildlife Trust of India
- http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3892, Charity Navigator
- http://charityreports.bbb.org/public/seal.aspx?ID=25862722009, Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance