2/3
koalas in New South Wales, Australia lost over the last 20 years
Wildlife Rescue
We rescue, rehabilitate and release baby elephants back into the wild.
10,000
big cats are kept captive in the U.S.
Our rescue teams save wildlife that have been orphaned, injured, displaced or confiscated in illegal trade. We rescue animals one by one, anytime, anywhere. And we work to rehabilitate rescued animals and return them to the wild.
2/3
koalas in New South Wales, Australia lost over the last 20 years
30%
decline in African savannah elephant population between 2007–2014
4 million
live birds are estimated to be trafficked annually
We believe every individual animal matters. Saving one animal can mark the difference between losing or saving an entire species.
Rescue, then Rehabilitate
Across six continents and three oceans, we deploy rescue teams wherever animals need help. And since we can’t save every animal, we invest heavily in training our partners and preparing local communities to step up when animals need them most. Survival is a team effort.
We treat and rehabilitate injured animals, to not only help them heal, but prepare for an eventual return to the wild. Our wildlife rescue teams are constantly pushing back against the common wisdom of what can’t be done. We were the first to successfully rehabilitate orphaned tigers and release them to the wild. And we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with the rehabilitation and release of orphaned and injured elephants and koalas. And now we’re pioneering interventions with live animals confiscated from illegal trade with the aim of returning as many as possible to the wild where they belong.
Make a Home
When animals are no longer safe where they live, we help them find a new home. For example, without the necessary space or nutrition, big cats in captivity are often just barely alive. That’s why we relocate lions and tigers locked up in roadside zoos or backyards to one of the verified big cat sanctuaries in North America. Meanwhile, half a world away, our Beijing Raptor Rehabilitation Centre has rescued and released more than 5,000 birds.
Raise Orphans
When animals are orphaned, their survival is an open question. We step in to answer, providing the nurturing that orphans desperately need. From elephants in Zambia and Burkina Faso, to rhinos and bears in India, our orphan-rescue teams attend to these animals’ physical and social needs. We take them for walks, feed them, socialise them, teach them how to survive, and even watch over them as they sleep. It takes years, but when they’re ready, we help orphaned animals get back to the wild, where they can start their own families.
rescuing wildlife
#RescueAnimalsInNeed
disrupting wildlife trade in Southeast Asia
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
empowering frontline officers to rescue animals from wildlife trafficking
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
for over 30 years we’ve been on the ground helping animals affected by bushfires
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
planting a future for koalas, one tree at a time
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
stopping smugglers is the first step, rescuing animals is the next
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
near Kaziranga National Park, animals are being threatened by a single highway
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
a cub that loses its mother shouldn’t have to lose its home
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
Australia has one of the highest mammal extinction rates in the world
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
saving one elephant calf can make a big difference
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
in Australia, detection dogs are koalas’ best friend
See project#RescueAnimalsInNeed
birds of prey are falling prey in China
See projectPress releases
Brave the leopard finds safety from Ukraine in Spain
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Hawaii wildfires: IFAW is on the ground helping Maui Humane Society
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exotic wildlife trade rampant in Europe
read moreUpdates
worst flooding in WA history: IFAW is providing urgent support for wildlife in need
learn moreevery problem has a solution, every solution needs support.
The problems we face are urgent, complicated, and resistant to change. Real solutions demand creativity, hard work and involvement from people like you.
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