International Fund for Animal Welfare

Infobox_Company | company_name = The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
company_
company_type = Charitable trust
foundation = 1969, New Brunswick, Canada
location = Yarmouth Port, Cape Cod Massachusetts
key_people = Fred O’Regan, Thomas C. Ramey
industry = Conservation
products = Landmark & framework legislation, research, activism.
revenue = $91 Million USD (2005)
num_employees = "300+ (worldwide)"
homepage = [http://www.ifaw.org/ www.ifaw.org]

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".cite web|url=http://www.wildlifeinformation.org/Members_Directory/w0159.htm|title=International Fund for Animal Welfare|publisher=Wildpro|accessdate=2008-02-26]

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 Canada. One of IFAW's founders, and possibly its most well known member, is Brian Davies.

Today (per April 2008), with offices in 16 countries,cite web|url=http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=457|title=Who We Are|publisher=IFAW|accessdate=2008-02-26] IFAW is one of the largest animal welfare organizations 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 habitats; 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. [ [http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=81383 Enforcing the Ban on Hunting with Dogs] , IFAW]

Activities

*Locally and globally, IFAW conducts marine mammal research and educate from their ship, called "Song of the Whale".
*Rescuing and releasing whales, dolphins and porpoises that have stranded or been entangled in nets and fishing gear.
*Promoting whale watching, as an alternative to whale hunting.
*IFAW aims to protect the last 350 critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, 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 officers and game wardens 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.

Animals in Crisis & Distress (AICD)

In addition to animal welfare education, habitat management, the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals, and legislative efforts on behalf of all animals, IFAW’s campaigns focus on several key species including whales, [ [http://www.chinadevelopmentbrief.com/node/47 Animal welfare group lobbies China to vote against Japanese whaling] China Development Brief, accessed 13/11/07] elephants, seals, [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/05/20/nf_ifaw990520.html IFAW seal video indicts Coast Guard] cbc.ca, accessed 13/11/07] bears, and companion animals.

IFAW’s has an Emergency Relief team that in the past has helped save injured or orphaned wildlife and companion animals including oiled seabirds in North and South America, South Africa, Europe and elsewhere, companion animals injured and abandoned after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the USA and the 2005 and 2006 tsunamis in Southeast Asia, and marine mammals stranded on beaches or trapped in fishing gear in the USA and Canada. IFAW also helps orphaned and injured wild animals by aiding sanctuaries in South Africa, Kenya, China, India, Russia, and the United States.

Wildlife & Habitat Protection (WHP)

IFAW believes that the destruction of natural habitats is a threat to wildlife and people. Therefor they provide operating funds and ranger training to Meru and Tsavo National Parks 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.

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.

Controversy

Brian Davies received a payout of about US$2.5 million, payable over seven years, on leaving IFAW in 1997. This to enable IFAW to continue to use his name and image in their fundraising after he had left. [ [http://www.fur.ca/index-e/news/comm08/communique.asp?action=news&newsitem=40 IFAW Retirement Plan] Fur Institute of Canada, accessed 13/11/07] 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 McDonalds. This, and Davies' payout, sparked allegations that Davies, and IFAW, saw money as more important than helping animals.cite web|url=waybackdate|site=http://www.bava.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/enemypt2.html|date=2006-06-20 |title=The Enemy Within (part2)|date=Summer 1997|publisher=British Anti-Vivisection Association, The New Abolitionist|accessdate=2008-02-26]

NGO Status

IFAW is a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

References

External links

* [http://www.ifaw.org Official website]
* [http://www.ifawct.org/ IFAW Charitable Trust (ICT)]
* [http://www.stopthesealhunt.ca/ Stop the Seal Hunt] , IFAW's seal hunt campaign
* [http://www.stopwhaling.org/ Stop Whaling Now] , IFAW
* [http://www.animalrescueblog.org/ IFAW's Animal Rescue Blog]