rescued bear

The year that was! 2021 milestones for animals – Thank YOU from FOUR PAWS Australia

A note from FOUR PAWS Australia National Director, Rebecca Linigen 

14.12.2021

It’s hard to believe it’s been just 8 months since I joined FOUR PAWS. I’m so inspired by how much we have accomplished together already. We are changing the lives of animals around the world, and it couldn’t happen without people like you.

Despite the global challenges we faced individually and collectively, your support had a global impact on animals. These are not FOUR PAWS’ achievements; they are your achievements.

This year you helped: 

  • Thousands of stray animals all over the world - from Bali to Moldova through our Cans of Kindness campaign  
  • Welcome 21 companies as new members of the Fur Free Retailer Program
  • Mobilise over 30 international fashion brands, including Adidas, H&M, Esprit, and The North Face to sign a letter of Intent calling for a mulesing-free future in the Australian wool industry by 2030. 
  • Build on the animal-friendly fashion movement, which began in Australia and the US in 2020, is now backed by over 1,000,000 people around the world  

With so many wins for animals and so many reasons to be proud of our efforts to rescue and protect animals in need, I would like to take a moment to reflect on two stories in particular.  

1 year anniversary of Kaavan's rescue

For over three decades, Asian elephant Kaavan had been confined to an inadequate enclosure of the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad, Pakistan. He lived alone for the first six years of his life until he was joined by a mate, elephant Saheli from Bangladesh. The two elephants spent the next 22 years together, until tragically, Saheli developed a leg infection from cuts caused by her chains and died in 2012. 

Deeply affected by the death of his life companion, Kaavan showed signs of stress and aggression which resulted in attention from animal rights activists who dubbed him the "world's loneliest elephant". Following campaigning efforts from animal rights activists and a storm of media attention, he was finally rescued by FOUR PAWS on the 29th November 2020 and relocated to Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary.  

We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of Kaavan’s rescue, and it’s such a joy to see him thriving in his new home. With access to hectares of spacious jungle, a huge pool built just for him, and surrounded by other elephants, he is now living a happy and enriched life. I am so inspired by Kaavan’s story, whose resilience teaches us to never give up hope, even in our darkest moments.  

Note: Any advertisements that may appear during the viewing of this video are unrelated to FOUR PAWS. We assume no liability for this content.

#SavetheSaddestBears in Vietnam

An issue very close to my heart is the exploitation of bears for their bile. I have seen first-hand the cruelty and suffering experienced by bears kept for this purpose. After working on the ground volunteering to help rehabilitate bears rescued from the bile industry, I was shocked at how little the world knew about this deeply cruel practice. This is just one of the reasons I joined the FOUR PAWS family and why we are determined to #SavetheSaddestBears.

(Scratch the image below to reveal the life we want to give bile bears at our sanctuary)

from bile bears to happy bears
from bile bears to happy bears
from bile bears to happy bears
eraser image

I know we say this a lot, but it’s true, you are what makes this work possible, and we can’t thank you enough. It’s not just the impact we’ve made together that I am proud of. I am constantly inspired by our supporters – every donation, every petition signature, every story you share on social media, is making a difference.   

There is nothing more powerful than a movement of people, who share the same values to reveal animal suffering, rescue animals in need, and protect the lives of all animals.  

So here’s to you and to making 2022 an even better year than the last!

For the animals,
Rebecca Linigen

leopard Mike and Tulani

help us achieve another great year in 2022


For the animals.
Rebecca Linigen

Rebecca Linigen, MAICD

National Director, FOUR PAWS Australia

"I work in animal welfare because like millions of Australians, I am a lifelong animal lover, and someone who believes in FOUR PAWS' vision of a world where people treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding.

 

I am honoured to carry that vision forward as National Director for FOUR PAWS Australia.” 

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