4th September 2026
KAWA team (Sangjun Jeon, Insoo Choi, Jisung Song, Yeryeong Son and Bomae Kim) with WIRES Emergency response team members and WIRES CEO Leanne Taylor.
WIRES Welcomes Korean Animal Welfare Group
WIRES recently had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from the Korean Animal Welfare Association (KAWA) to Sydney for an inspiring 3 days of learning, knowledge-sharing and collaboration.
Founded in 2000, KAWA is Korea’s largest non-profit organisation dedicated to animal welfare. Their work spans across rescuing abandoned and abused animals, advocating for stronger animal protection and campaigning to end exploitative industries, including bear bile farming.
Three Days of Learning and Collaboration
Travelling from Seoul and supported throughout their visit by two dedicated Korean-to-English interpreters Boram and Anna, the KAWA team spent time with a range of WIRES teams, including Emergency Response, Training, Membership, Facilities and Fundraising. The visit provided an opportunity for the KAWA team to learn more about WIRES’ programmes, operations and initiatives, while sharing experiences and exploring approaches that could be adapted to support KAWA’s work in Korea.
Through our colleagues at Taronga Zoo and Hills Wildlife Sanctuary, the KAWA delegates were also able to undertake site visits, providing an opportunity to observe high-quality animal care practices, connect with experienced wildlife professionals and gain valuable insight into different approaches to wildlife rehabilitation, welfare and conservation.
Building Global Connections for Animal Welfare
For WIRES, it was a fantastic opportunity to connect with an organisation that shares our commitment to improving outcomes for vulnerable and at-risk animals. While our organisations operate in different countries and contexts, many of the challenges we face are similar and there is enormous value in sharing knowledge, experience and ideas.
We were delighted to host the KAWA team and look forward to continuing to build connections with animal welfare organisations around the world to share knowledge and further improve outcomes for animals