Animal Welfare
Oranga Kararehe
Why might animal welfare be an important problem?
There is strong evidence that animals can feel pain and suffering, and are worthy of at least some degree of moral concern.
There are also vast numbers of animals in the world: almost 40 times as many animals as humans, by biomass.¹ Many of these animals lead lives of extreme suffering. For example, billions of animals are living in intense confinement in factory farms.² We know less about the experiences of wild animals, but it seems reasonable to think that they also suffer, from starvation, disease, and many other causes.
In light of this widespread suffering, many in the effective altruism community see improving the welfare of animals as one of the world’s most pressing moral priorities. Given its scale, neglectedness, and tractability, helping animals may also be one of the most cost effective ways of doing good:
Āwhata
Scale
Animals currently make up the vast majority of sentient beings. As many as 2.8 trillion animals might be killed for food each year, and there are many more wild animals.
Neglectedness
Mahuetanga
Despite its importance, this focus area is highly neglected: animal charities receive only 3% of charitable donations, and 99% of that money is focused on pets, who make up less than 0.1% of all domesticated animals.
Solvability
Whakaotitanga
The area also appears to be somewhat tractable. Open Philanthropy estimates that past corporate cage-free campaigns have spared about 120 years of suffering in battery cages per dollar donated.
For full references and further information, see 80,000 Hours’ reports on factory farming and wild animal welfare
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Donate to highly effective animal charities
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Managed philanthropic fund that makes grants to top animal welfare opportunities
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Support ACE’s recommended charities with a single donation.
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Nonprofit focused primarily on improving the welfare of animals on factory farms
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Develops and promotes plant & cell based alternatives to animal products.
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NZ-based charity focused on welfare reforms for chickens and fishes.
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Conducts research and shares knowledge to help advocates help animals effectively
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Works to improve wild animal welfare by expanding the field of wild animal research.
