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1969
IFAW was founded by Brian Davies with the goal to stop the commercial hunt for whitecoat seals on the east coast of Canada.
1981
The first IFAW office outside the United States was called Stichting IFAW. It gave IFAW additional support to fight the seal hunt, which at the time led to a storm of protests in the Netherlands.
1983
Europe bans importation of whitecoat harp seal products, saving more than a million newborn seals from the slaughter over the next 10 years.
1987
In Uganda, IFAW steps in to save elephants, hippos, and other wildlife from poachers in Queen Elizabeth National Park. The elephant population rebounds from 150 to 2,400.
1989
IFAW helps win a crucial ivory ban, saving thousands of elephants from poaching.
1990
1990s: Seminal research on IFAW's research vessel, Song of the Whale, helps demonstrate that Japan does not have to kill whales in the name of science.
1992
IFAW brings veterinary care to pets in poor areas of Johannesburg, South Africa. The project will help nearly 500,000 cats and dogs over the next 24 years.
1994
IFAW spearheads international efforts to establish the Southern Ocean Marine Sanctuary, protecting 90% of the world’s whales.
2000
IFAW stops the Mexican government and Mitsubishi Corporation from building the world’s largest salt factory in Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico, the last undisturbed nursery for critically endangered gray whales.
A freighter sinks off the South African coast, covering 38,000 penguins in oil. IFAW leads the largest oiled bird rehabilitation effort ever. More than 90% of the birds are successfully released back to the wild.
2003
IFAW rescues 24 tigers from a backyard zoo in New Jersey. The publicity helps pass the Captive Wildlife Safety Act.
2007
Kenya’s Meru National Park is awarded world-class conservation status after IFAW's five-year project helps rebuild the park’s entire ecosystem.
IFAW purchases migration corridors in India to protect more than 1,000 endangered Asian elephants.
2009
Russia prohibits the hunting of baby seals, saving 35,000 harp seals each year.
The European Union bans imports of seal products from the commercial Canadian hunt, saving hundreds of thousands of seals each year.
In June, IFAW successfully moves a herd of 83 endangered African elephants out of harm’s way in Malawi.
2010
IFAW proves dolphins stranded alone can be released instead of euthanized.
IFAW releases the first-ever rehabilitated clouded leopards into the wild in India.
Following the earthquake in Haiti, IFAW-led Animal Relief Coalition for Haiti helps more than 68,000 animals.
2012
IFAW responds to an unprecedented number of common dolphin strandings on Cape Cod. Of the 114 dolphins we treat 87 successfully 76 percent are released.
2013
IFAW releases six orphaned Amur tigers into the wild in Far East Russia after years of rehabilitation. One female has cubs two years later
In order to secure 16,000 acres of critical habitat for elephants, IFAW signed an historic lease agreement with a Maasai community near Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
The first-ever Memorandum of Understanding signed by INTERPOL’s Environmental Crime Program with a non-governmental organization established a cooperative framework between INTERPOL and IFAW to combat global wildlife crime.
2014
The World Trade Organization rules that the EU has the right to ban seal products on the basis of animal welfare concerns.
The International Court of Justice finds that Japan’s Southern Ocean whale hunt is illegal under international law.
In China, IFAW launches a major media campaign featuring Chinese opinion leaders who encourage consumers to reject ivory trade to save elephants.
2016
IFAW’s tenBoma program, which combines local intelligence with high-tech data analysis, expands its network beyond Kenya Wildlife Service to include INTERPOL and other NGOs.
What is tenBoma?
The U.S. Government finalizes ivory regulations to protect African elephants by deterring illegal ivory sale in one of the largest consuming nations.
2019
IFAW celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Read moreIFAW at 50
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