Close up images of a pig, moon bear, asian elephant, black and white dog and a shark.

October 4, 2025 • Bears | Captive animal welfare | Cats and dogs | Elephants

What we do to the earth, we do to animals

World Animal Day: Save animals, save the planet

Today marks the 100th anniversary of World Animal Day, a moment to reflect on the rich diversity of life on Earth, and how closely our fate is tied to that of animals.

A planet under pressure

Our forests, wetlands and wild spaces are vanishing, replaced by concrete and industry. The air we breathe and the water we drink are poisoned by pollution.

The damage is visible, and devastating.

Asian elephant roams through a lush forest.
Forests where many wild species live are being decimated

The cost of consumption

Felling forests to grow crops for animal feed, destroying wild habitats, and treating nature as expendable has led us down a dangerous path.

And it’s not just the planet that suffers: animals and people do too.

We are not separate from nature

It’s tempting to see ourselves as outside the natural world, but we’re part of it.

When we destroy ecosystems, we harm our own health, wellbeing, and future. Every polluted river and lost species is a piece of ourselves disappearing.

Close-up of a young moon bear looking upwards.
Demand for animals in tourism, entertainment and medicine has led to the reduction of many species in the wild such as moon bears

Small changes, big impact

Nature can recover, if we let it. By embracing wilder gardens, making thoughtful purchases, and reducing our meat and dairy consumption, we can help animals and the planet thrive once more.

Face of a brown cow looks at the camera surrounded by other cows.
By reducing our meat and dairy consumption, we can help animals and the planet thrive again.

A time to reimagine our place

This 100th World Animal Day is a chance to rewrite the story. We don’t need to dominate nature, we need to live gently within it.

And when we support the natural world, it supports us in return.