Directory · Sanctuaries and accreditation
The clearest way to judge a wildlife sanctuary is accreditation by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, which sets standards of care and has accredited facilities internationally since 2011. Accreditation distinguishes a genuine sanctuary from an attraction that uses the word — a distinction that matters because many facilities marketed as sanctuaries breed, trade or offer animal handling.
How this list was assembled
Verified organisations selected for accrediting sanctuaries or operating accredited sanctuary facilities. Deliberately short — this facet lists bodies that can be checked, not every organisation that describes itself as a sanctuary.
"Sanctuary" is not a protected term. Any facility can use it, and many that do breed animals, sell them, or offer paid handling experiences — none of which a genuine sanctuary does, because a sanctuary exists to provide lifetime care for animals that cannot be released, not to produce more of them.
This is the single most useful thing to understand before donating to or visiting one. The practical test is accreditation: an external body that inspects against published standards and can withdraw the accreditation.
The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries is the main international accreditor, founded in 2007 by leaders including Born Free USA, the Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Note that it covers wildlife rather than companion cat and dog sanctuaries.
A note on length: This facet lists accreditation bodies and operators we have verified, not every sanctuary organisation. It is deliberately short — we would rather name two we can stand behind than pad the list.
A UK wildlife charity opposed to keeping wild animals in captivity, running rescue and sanctuary work including a GFAS-accredited big cat sanctuary at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in South Africa.
Founded in 2007, GFAS sets standards of care and accredits animal sanctuaries, rescue centres and rehabilitation centres worldwide. Accreditation is the clearest external signal that a facility is a genuine sanctuary rather than an attraction. Note that companion cat and dog sanctuaries fall outside its remit.
Listing is not endorsement. WARN has no relationship with the independent organisations above, funds none of them, does not inspect them and receives nothing for listing them. They are here because someone asking this question needs real names, and WARN is not the only answer to it.