World Animal Day 2026: FOUR PAWS urges South Africans to ‘see the world through their eyes’ - IOL
Global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is encouraging South Africans to embrace the theme "See the World Through Their Eyes" as the country commemorates World Animal Day today, Sunday, October 4.
FOUR PAWS director Fiona Miles said World Animal Day serves as a reminder that all animals deserve to live their lives free from suffering.
This year's theme challenged people to look beyond their own experiences and consider what animals need to live "healthy, dignified lives".
Miles said animal welfare is about recognising that animals are "sentient beings that can feel pain, distress, comfort and joy", and as animal lovers and carers, it is the responsibility of humans to ensure their needs are respected.
Improving animal welfare starts with understanding animals as individuals with specific physical, psychological, and behavioural needs. "A dog needs safety, companionship and responsible care," Miles said.
On World Animal Day on October 4, animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS is advocating for farm animals to be given the space and freedom to express their natural behaviours.
Farm animals, for example, need space, appropriate living conditions, the ability to express natural behaviours, and humane treatment throughout their lives, while wild animals need freedom from exploitation and the opportunity to live according to their natural behaviours.
The organisation urges the public to use World Animal Day to take practical steps that improve the lives of animals.
While many people care deeply about animals, Miles said, "Sometimes we are not always aware of how our everyday choices affect them." She noted that "small actions, when multiplied across communities, can make a significant difference".
To mark this year’s theme, World Animal Day partnered with illustrator-in-residence Emma Jayne to create an insightful design highlighting the impact of human activity and climate change on marine ecosystems.
Emma drew inspiration from the Coral Triangle, a vast marine sanctuary surrounding Papua New Guinea and one of the most biodiverse aquatic regions on Earth.
“I find the Coral Triangle, which encompasses Papua New Guinea, to be such a fascinating area. There is a huge amount of sea life to be found there,” Emma explained.
“The coral reefs are some of the planet’s richest and most important ecosystems, supporting around 25% of all marine life in an area covering just 1% of the ocean floor.”
Emma’s artwork brings this crisis into focus by inviting the world to see the ocean directly through the eyes of marine life. “In my composition, I am looking at the ecosystem from the perspective of the sea life within it.
"To represent sea life, I am creating a lens in the shape of a fish, through which we can see coral and coral bleaching,” she said.
Framed within the fish-shaped lens, the perspective gazes upon the beauty of parrotfish, clownfish, sea turtles, dolphins, dugongs, manta rays, octopuses, and a sperm whale, a vivid visual reminder of the life beneath the waves.
"This World Animal Day, we encourage South Africans to see the world through animals' eyes and ask a simple question: What can I do today to create a better life for the animals around me?" FOUR PAWS South Africa director Fiona Miles said.
