Sociocultural dynamics of international animal protection interventions: A case study of free-roaming dogs in India and great apes in Cameroon

Abstract

The international animal protection movement has flourished in recent decades, however, so too has the human population, leading to increasing exploitation and harm of nonhuman animals. This is evidenced by the factory farming of over 92 billion animals per year and near extinction of over 46,300 animal species, and these figures continue to rise. International non-government organisations (INGOs) such as Born Free Foundation and Humane World for Animals, seek to protect animals by delivering interventions worldwide in pursuit of societal change for animals. These organisations are typically western founded and must effectively deliver interventions across diverse cultural landscapes. This raises questions regarding how INGOs understand the sociocultural context of their interventions, how intervention strategies are influenced by this, what impact INGOs have on human culture and society, and the barriers faced. This is explored through document analysis and interviews with experts from across the international animal protection sector and their stakeholders, with a focus on two contrasting case studies: the protection of 1) free-roaming Dogs in India, and 2) Great apes in Cameroon. This research provides novel insight into how INGOs are driving sociocultural change in human societies, shifting norms, and facilitating movement away from traditional activities that are harmful to animals. To achieve this, INGOs adopt a variety of strategic approaches informed by their understanding of the sociocultural context, which is proactively sought via three key methods. Key sociocultural influences in international animal protection are identified as education, government, legislation, religious and traditional beliefs, and socioeconomic status. Free-roaming Dog welfare in India is particularly impacted by education status and religious beliefs, which influence human-dog interactions and Indian law. Whereas socioeconomic status, traditional beliefs, and gender are identified as key influential sociocultural factors in Great ape protection in Cameroon. Corruption is identified as a widespread barrier in the animal protection sector, including free-roaming Dog welfare across Europe, India, and Asia. Generating societal change in the interest of animals is a complex task for INGOs, as sociocultural influences are often entwined and deeply rooted in culture. By providing novel insights into the sociocultural dynamics and barriers of international animal protection interventions, outcomes of this research can be used to inform INGO strategies, provide a framework for INGOs developing or reviewing interventions, and be utilised in future research in this interdisciplinary field. 

Date of Award	1 Jul 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Winchester
Supervisor	Ulrike Ziemer (Supervisor) & Steven McCulloch (Supervisor)