Humane Society International is the international division of The Humane Society of the United States. Founded in 1991, HSI has expanded The HSUS's activities into Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. HSI's Asian, Australian, Canadian, and European offices carry out field activities and programs.
Activities
Humane Society International claims to address issues such as inhumane practices and conditions affecting companion and , , threats to , slaughter of , the use of animals in research and testing, the suffering of animals for the fur trade. HSI works with national and jurisdictional governments, humane organizations, and individual animal protectionists in over 50 countries worldwide to find practical, culturally sensitive, and long-term solutions to common animal problems and to inculcate an ethic of respect and compassion for all life. After it became public in 2020 that Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer, notorious for having killed Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe in 2015, had paid almost $100,000 in 2019 to kill an endangered Altai argali, the world's largest species of ram, one which is considered a national treasure in Western Mongolia. HSI wildlife Vice President Dr. Teresa Telecky said, "For trophy hunters to travel to Mongolia to kill a beautiful and endangered ram is an absolute outrage."
Humane Society International is the largest animal protection organisation in the world with over 12 million supporters globally. They have offices in the United States, Canada, Central America, United Kingdom and Europe, South Korea, Australia and special conservation projects in many other countries.
Australia
was established in May 1994 to support conservation and animal protection efforts in Australia and the Asia Pacific region. With over 40,000 Australian supporters and a number of significant achievements, HSI is now a major NGO influence for advocating positive change for environmental management and animal protection. HSI works with national and state governments, conservation NGOs, animal welfare organisations, scientists and individuals to find practical, culturally sensitive, and long-term solutions to common environmental and animal protection problems. HSI Australia has a particular emphasis on the following areas:
a small grants program for environment and wildlife protection programs across Asia, Africa and India ;
disaster relief support in developing countries to rescue stricken and abandoned animals and wildlife;
the food label to improve the lives of farm animals and address the unsustainable practice of intensive farming;
habitat protection in Australia with the ,' a network of wildlife sanctuaries around Australia ;
national and international against whaling, and seeking greater protection for sharks, turtles, seals, albatrosses and threatened fish species.
, and the protection of ‘carbon sinks' such as rainforests and areas of high biodiversity value
national and international biodiversity policy and implementation to critical to the survival of many native species;
Awards
In 2012 the HSI awarded Marcelle Meredith, Executive Director of the National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - South Africa, with the Award for Extraordinary Commitment and Achievement. The award is to recognize an individual animal protectionist whose hard work and compassion have led him or her to exceptional levels of bravery and self-sacrifice in striving to mitigate and prevent the suffering of animals from neglect, cruelty and exploitation. In the past 25 years, Marcelle Meredith has achieved countless advancements in the protection of farm, wild and companion animals in South Africa and surrounding countries, creating model examples and laws for others to follow.