2022 rescues & milestones
Take a look back at all we have accomplished together!
Despite being a tumultuous year, 2022 saw some of our biggest actions. From our biggest rescues ever in even more countries to making historic animal welfare deals, we continue to reveal suffering, rescue animals in need, and protect them in sanctuaries.
- Rescued or transported 28 bears to safety
- Rescued or transported 23 big cats to safety
- Rescued 6 foxes and raccoon dogs from private captivity and a fur farm
- Helped over 160 horses and 4 elephants
- Fed over 110,000 dogs and cats in Ukraine, thanks to UPAW
- Helped over 67,000 dogs and cats in Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia through our global Stray Animal Care work
- Additionally, we advocated for more compassionate treatment for farmed animals and fought to close fur farms across Europe.
In 2022 and beyond, we fight for Animal Welfare. Worldwide.
Let's take a look back at the highlights!
reveal
suffering to change hearts and minds, and improve animal welfare law.
Progress For All Big Cats
From South Africa's #BreakTheViciousCycle campaign to advocating for all big cats at the global stage at CITES CoP19, we saw tighter regulations to protect big cats this year. More countries are banning big cats trade: The latest being in the USA.
Exposing Suffering, Upping Standards
Our investigative footage revealed barbaric live plucking is still a major problem. This report led to down certifier Downpass committing to mandatory monitoring of parent farms.
Pandemic Prevention and Advocacy
Our team participated in a high-level policy round table at the UN, advocating animal welfare to be a top priority in order to prevent the next pandemic.
Street Art to Stop Factory Farming
FOUR PAWS and 3D artist Gregor Wosik cooperate in creating a 120-sqm artwork in Berlin. The picture highlights the need to put an end to factory farming in the run up to COP27. Watch the video.
First Ever for Sustainable Food Systems
FOUR PAWS attended COP27 and led the first #Food4Climate Pavilion which experts and decision makers together from around the globe to discuss issues relating to climate and our food systems
Advocacy for Farm Animals
Over 60,000 people sent a letter to Nike demanding they #StopCruelWool and exclude mulesed wool from their products. You can sign the letter here.
rescue
and help animals in need from suffering
Our Biggest Bear Rescue in Vietnam
In February 2022, we rescued 9 bears from 3 different farms in Vietnam, Danh, Thi, Teo, Tai, Tin, Khoi, Vui, Nui, and An now live at our BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh.
Watch the rescue video here.
Watch the rescue video here.
The Golden Pride
10 lions — Sandile, Khaya, Zuri, Kimi, Dandi, Sarafina, Rudo, Kali, Zendaya and Sihle — were rescued and brought to our LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa.
Watch their rescue story here.
Watch their rescue story here.
#TrainTigers in Argentina
Dr. Amir Khalil and team rescued the #TrainTigers: Sandro, Malfada, Gustavo, and Messi from a train carriage, where they had lived for more than 15 years, to our LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary.
Watch the amazing rescue.
Watch the amazing rescue.
Albania is Now 'Restaurant Bear' Free!
With bear Mark's rescue, there are no more restaurant bears left in Albania. He was rescued to our BEAR SANCTUARY Arbesbach.
Watch the heartwarming rescue.
Watch the heartwarming rescue.
Groundbreaking Dental Work for Elephants
Dr. Amir Khalil and his team performed a groundbreaking never-been-done-before dental surgery on elephants Noor Jehan and Madhubala in Pakistan.
Watch the full story here.
Watch the full story here.
Emergency Rescue: 7 Bears in Ukraine
At the start of the Ukraine War, seven bears were temporarily relocated from White Rock Bear Shelter near Kyiv to safety at our
BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr.
BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr.
Lion Cub Nikola in Montenegro
Lion cub Nikola found a new home at our FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary after escaping from illegal keeping and wandering the streets of Montenegro for 10 days.
Watch the incredible rescue of this brave lion cub here.
Watch the incredible rescue of this brave lion cub here.
Emergency Rescue: 4 Horses in Ukraine
Together with our partner ARCA, we helped rescue several horses along with their owners (and a dog and cat) from war-torn Odessa to Romania. The humanitarian convoy travelled across 1,700 km in 3 full days to safety.
Lion Gjoni in Kosovo
After years fighting for lion Gjoni's release, we finally rescued him in an emergency mission after the restaurant near his cage burned down. Gjoni is now safe at our BEAR SANCTUARY Prishtina.
Read more updates on Gjoni here.
Read more updates on Gjoni here.
Bear Vova in Ukraine
Despite challenging circumstances in Ukraine, we succeeded in rescuing bear Vova, a 20-year-old male bear who now lives at our BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr.
Watch Vova's rescue during wartime Ukraine.
Watch Vova's rescue during wartime Ukraine.
Helping Refugees With Pets in Ukraine
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, we have aided over 2,500 refugees crossing the border with their pets.
Watch how we helped them here.
Watch how we helped them here.
Emergency Food Delivery to Zoo Animals in Ukraine
We delivered 40 tons of food to wild animals in captivity in Ukraine when zoos are facing desperate times.
Watch the mission to deliver #FoodForAnimals.
Watch the mission to deliver #FoodForAnimals.
Emergency Help for Stray Animals in Ukraine
Since April, we restarted our work for stray dogs and cats in Ukraine, helping over 2,000 animals. Recently, we have also launched Project Kishka, a special project to help stray cats in Ukraine.
Former Zoo Bear Sam & Jamila
After 4 days of travel across 3 borders, bears Sam & Jamila, the two bears from a zoo in North Macedonia, arrived safely at Arosa Bear Sanctuary.
Watch the heartwarming rescue video here.
Watch the heartwarming rescue video here.
Working Donkeys and Horses in Petra
Together with Princess Alia Foundation, we treated over 160 equines who toil all-year-round in high temperatures in tourist hotspot Petra Park, Jordan.
Bear Cubs Bé & Em
Victims of the illegal wildlife trade, Asiatic black bear cubs Bé and Em were rescued by police. Now the two cubs are thriving at our BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh.
Watch their rescue video here.
Watch their rescue video here.
Emergency Rescue: Bear Bakhmut
Found by the Ukrainian military in war-torn Donetsk region, Bakhmut was rescued during another emergency mission to our BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr.
Watch his rescue video here.
Watch his rescue video here.
Working Horses in Romania
In order to help working families and their animals in Romania, our team provided veterinary treatment to 40 working horses in Smardioasa and Cervenia.
Bear Iva
Rescued during an emergency mission in Skopje, North Macedonia, bear Iva now lives at BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa in Bulgaria.
Watch her rescue video here.
Watch her rescue video here.
Lonely Bear Soi
Asiatic black bear Soi was rescued from a bile farm in Vietnam and taken to our BEAR SANCTUARY Ninh Binh.
Watch his rescue video here.
Watch his rescue video here.
Fur Farm Rescue
Foxes and raccoon dogs Emi, Asami, Skadi, Mala, and Samara are rescued from a fur farm in Poland, and are now living at our TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary.
The Sudan Lions Finally Rescued
After two long years of fighting for Kandaka and Mansour, they were finally rescued and brought to Al Ma’wa for Nature and Wildlife.
Watch the incredibly moving rescue story here.
Watch the incredibly moving rescue story here.
Arctic Fox Wukk
Arctic Fox Wukk rescued from private captivity and brought to our TIERART Wild Animal Sanctuary.
Helping Stray Dogs & Cats
Our stray animal care teams in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and India continue to provide veterinary care, food, and loving homes for dogs and cats in need. Learn more about our stray animal care work here.
UPAW to the Rescue
FOUR PAWS and partners help established UPAW, who has now delivered more than 1,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid, helping more than 110,000 dogs and cats.
protect
animals in safe homes and through animal welfare standards
Dog Meat Free Coalition
In 2022, 19 jurisdictions in Indonesia committed to going dog meat free as a result of our coalition work with Dog Meat Free Indonesia.
Read more about our work to end the dog and cat meat trade here.
Read more about our work to end the dog and cat meat trade here.
A Gamechanger for Animals in Australia
FOUR PAWS joins forces with fellow animal groups to establish the Australian Alliance for Animals. With over two million supporters, we will lead a powerful voice for change.
Bear Cubs Huba, Vihar & Goran
Rescued in 2021 and after being rehabilitated in Greece, bear cubs Huba, Vihar, and Goran are released back into the wild in a protected area in Bulgaria.
Wildlife-friendly Fashion Week
For the first time ever, Sydney’s Afterpay Australian Fashion Week went fur- and exotic- skins free. We’ll be continuing to work with these sponsors to build further momentum for animals.
Stray Animal Care in India
FOUR PAWS launches the first-ever “Hospital on Wheels” service to help street animals in need in Chennai, India.
Therapy Dog Busia
Therapy dog Busia, who was formerly a stray dog, continues to work with soldiers, refugees, and school children in Ukraine. She is changing hearts and minds proving stray dogs can be loveable pets and therapy dogs.
All "Dancing Bears" Rescued
In celebration of the fact that all the “dancing bears” have been rescued, our DANCING BEARS PARK Belitsa, which is run in cooperation with Foundation Bridgette Bardot, is renamed BEAR SANCTUARY Belitsa.
The 5 Romanian Lions
The 5 Romanian lions — Ellie, Geena, Vincent, Dolf, and Roman — were transferred to LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary after being rescued from private captivity in Romania last year.
Watch their journey to happiness.
Watch their journey to happiness.
Loving Homes in USA and Switzerland
13 dog meat trade survivors in Cambodia became global ambassadors to end the dog meat trade. They found loving homes in the USA (#HomeForTheHolidays) and Switzerland (#FiveForMillions).
Progress for Sheep
Over 300 major brands have now committed to end their use of Mulesed sheep wool. See which brands are kindest to sheep here.
Elephant Kaavan
18 months after we first rescued the world’s loneliest elephant, Kaavan reunites with his rescuers and Dr. Amir Khalil at a spacious sanctuary in Cambodia.
Watch a video of the reunion here.
Watch a video of the reunion here.
More Brands Go Fur Free
The fur-free brands list now sits at almost 1,600 member brands!
