Skip to main content

The Story of WARN

Founded on the belief that no animal should be left behind in crisis zones, we fund and stand behind the local rescuers who reach the animals others cannot.

Join Our Mission
Rescued spectacled bear in sanctuary

In brief

World Animal Rescue Network (WARN) is a global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation that raises funds from the public and grants them to vetted frontline rescue, shelter and sanctuary partners across 17 countries. It is a registered global not-for-profit in England and Wales, and it does not run its own facilities.

By the WARN Research & Conservation Team · Last updated

Key Facts

17
Partner-network countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Southern Africa and South America
80%
Target share of unrestricted donations for programme delivery through vetted partnersSource: Where your money goes
75,000+
Parrots estimated trafficked annually worldwideSource: CITES and BirdLife International
Co. 17298990
Registered global not-for-profit in England and WalesSource: Registration status

What is WARN?

World Animal Rescue Network (WARN) is a global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation funding frontline animal rescue, animal shelters and animal sanctuary capacity in crisis zones, disaster areas and trafficking hotspots around the world.

  • Crisis Extraction: We remove vulnerable animals from immediate danger, including disaster zones and cull zones, working through partner animal rescue teams on the ground.
  • Trafficking Interdiction: Working alongside local authorities and vetted partners on the illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia and South America.
  • Emergency Medical Care: Funding mobile veterinary clinics and supporting local animal shelters to provide life-saving surgeries in the field.
  • Long-term Sanctuary: Funding long-term places at partner-run, species-appropriate animal sanctuaries for animals that cannot be released back into the wild.

Our Story

WARN was conceived because of a simple pattern. Across the world's most biodiverse countries, the same crises repeat — bile farming, orphaned orangutans in palm-oil concessions, street dogs killed by the thousand, snared elephants, trafficked macaws. Local rescue groups know exactly what needs to happen. What they lack is the funding, equipment, and logistical infrastructure to act at scale.

WARN is the international engine behind those local groups. Our model is to channel international supporters' funding into mobile surgical units, sanctuary land, customs-detection training, and de-snaring patrols — all delivered through vetted local partners with deep in-country experience.

We fund partners across 17 countries spanning South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Southern Africa and South America. Every programme depends on supporter funding to continue. Our core philosophy is to go where the animals need us most, and to support local teams as long as the work continues.

Rescued Macaw in South America

Our Values

Reach

We go where the need is greatest, not where it is easiest. Remote, underfunded, overlooked — those are our target zones.

Transparency

Every donor receives a full breakdown of how their gift was spent. No vague promises. Specific outcomes.

Partner-first

We build local teams up — we do not parachute in. Our strength is in the partners we fund and stand behind.

Accountability

We keep fixed costs deliberately low and are committed to full financial transparency. See where every pound goes.

Check Our Work

Trust should be verifiable, not asserted. Every claim on this page is evidenced somewhere you can read for yourself.

About WARN: common questions

What is World Animal Rescue Network?
World Animal Rescue Network (WARN) is a global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation that raises funds from the public and makes grants to vetted frontline animal rescue, shelter and sanctuary organisations across 17 countries in South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Southern Africa and South America. WARN does not run its own facilities — local partners deliver the field work.
Is WARN a registered charity?
WARN is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation in England and Wales, but it is not a Charity Commission registered charity, so Gift Aid does not apply to donations. Full legal and governance detail is on the registration status page.
Why does WARN fund partners instead of running its own rescues?
Local organisations already hold the permits, veterinary staff, community relationships and language skills that effective rescue requires. Funding them puts more of each donation into animal care rather than overheads, and builds in-country capacity that outlasts any single grant.
How much of a donation reaches animals?
WARN targets at least 80% of unrestricted donations for programme delivery, with the remainder covering essential fundraising and core governance. It is published as a target rather than a claim because WARN is early in its operating life; the full breakdown is on the where your money goes page.
Where does WARN work?
WARN's partner network currently spans 17 countries across South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Africa, Southern Africa and South America. Newsroom articles and wildlife guides cover other countries and species for education and search, but programme funding is directed through this network.

World Animal Rescue Network is a registered global not-for-profit animal welfare organisation in England & Wales, funding partner-led animal rescue worldwide. Full legal identity, regulator and governance detail is on our registration status page.