http://www.wspa.org.uk

The President of RSPCA Victoria, Dr Hugh Wirth, is a former President of the Board for the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and currently holds the position of Chair, WSPA Australia. The RSPCA supports WSPA on global animal welfare issues and international campaigns. WSPA has offices in thirteen countries and works in co-operation with more than 380 member organisations in 80 countries across the world. A key area of WSPA's work is the promotion of animal welfare principles and standards into regions where there has been little awareness of animal welfare issues. Some of WSPA's major campaigns include the "Libearty" campaign to save dancing bears from the streets of Turkey, and campaigns for the end of bear baiting in Pakistan, force-feeding of geese in France for foie gras production, bull-fighting and civet farming for perfume production. There is also a major campaign to stop the practice of farming bears for bile in China and great work being carried out to combat the illegal hunting of apes and to provide help to the hundreds of apes that are sold as exotic pets.