Top Picks For You
START

Look at These Adorable Rescue Animals—and While You’re at It, Donate to These Organizations

Donate to the cause, take a virtual tour, and/or simply look at photos of baby toucans—your choice.

There are many organizations around the world looking out for wildlife conservation, and all of them rely, for the most part, on donations and support from the communities around them. However, just because you can’t get there in person—because, say, it’s in another country you or (*gestures to the global pandemic, generally*)—doesn’t mean you can’t support them. Here are 10 organizations doing good work around the world to protect and rehabilitate animals, and ways that you can help them out right now, from the comfort of your own home.

1 OF 10

The Sloth Institute

WHERE: Costa Rica

The Sloth Institute Costa Rica is a small nonprofit organization, founded in 2014 by a zoologist. The organization rescues and rehabilitates sloth orphans, releasing them back into the wild once they are rehabilitated. You can support them virtually, as well: via their website, you can adopt a sloth and shop sloth merchandise. Also not a bad idea to follow their Instagram, for daily photos of individual sloths.

2 OF 10

The Gentle Barn

WHERE: Santa Clarita, Calif.

The Gentle Barn was founded in 1999 in California’s San Fernando Valley, but has since moved to Santa Clarita and expanded with two additional locations in Missouri and Tennessee. The property contains pastures for horses and cows, as well as a barnyard for the smaller farm animals. The facility is home to more than 170 rescued animals. Right now, during These Trying Times, they offer drive-thru tours allowing you to see the animals in person without even getting out of your car, as well as virtual tours via their website.

3 OF 10

Wild Bird Fund

WHERE: New York City

Wild Bird Fund is New York City’s only animal rehabilitation center and cares for more than 7,000 patients annually. During COVID-19, the clinic is only open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The center takes in injured birds (and other animals), and on their website you can view many of their success stories. They also aim to educate people about how to take care of birds, and their website includes information about what to do when you find an injured pigeon or baby birds in the wild.

4 OF 10

Puget Sound Goat Rescue

WHERE: Puget Sound, Wash.

The Puget Sound Goat Rescue is a completely volunteer-run organization dedicated to helping goats (and other animals) in need. They rescue goats from bad situations as well as take in goats who are no longer wanted by their owners. They care for around 200 a year with help from donations from the public. Goats are available for adoption once rehabilitated. You can also help the goats out by purchasing items for them from their Amazon Wishlist.

5 OF 10

Jaguar Rescue Center

WHERE: Costa Rica

Despite being called the Jaguar Rescue Center, this organization helps all sorts of animals and you should not arrive here expecting to see a live jaguar (the name is symbolic). They provide 24/7 care for sloths, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals that cannot survive on their own in the rainforest. The center covers around 22,000 square meters and can provide housing to about 160 animals at a time. Newly orphaned or injured patients are brought in constantly to this organization funded entirely by donations via their website, as well as from guided tours of the facility.

6 OF 10

The Kangaroo Sanctuary

WHERE: Alice Springs, Australia

Oh, dear, these are some cute little friends. Before we even begin, why don’t you head on over to Instagram and follow The Kangaroo Sanctuary for photo updates of its tall, adorable residents? Done? OK, then let’s carry on. Open since 2011, this 188-acre center in central Australia rescues baby kangaroo orphans, as well as adult kangaroos. Their goal is to educate the public on kangaroo care and encourage them to care, generally, about kangaroo rescue efforts. Sunset tours are available in person, donations are accepted online, and they even have a BBC documentary you can watch.

7 OF 10

Toucan Rescue Ranch

WHERE: Costa Rica

Please welcome the sweetest organization ever (not to mention the best account on Instagram for tiny toucan photos, as well as sloth piles): the Toucan Rescue Ranch in Costa Rica. The TRR aims to rescue, rehabilitate, and release all of its patients back into the wild, enabling them to have a happy and long life after their stay at the ranch. They specialize in toucans (obviously), sloths, and owls, but also house otters and other small animals. The TRR hosts virtual tours via their website, accepts donations, and has an online store with super cute sloth merchandise.

 

8 OF 10

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund

WHERE: Rwanda

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund is the world’s largest, longest-running gorilla conservation organization, saving gorillas year-round and educating communities about gorilla conservation. They spend their days studying families of gorillas, protecting them, and educating the public on conservation. To prevent the extinction of gorillas, it takes effort, and these guys are doing all they can, but can’t do it without the support of donations from animal lovers like you. Their website features an online store, including a special shirt made specifically for this year’s World Gorilla Day on September 24, as well as information about fundraising tools and activities.

9 OF 10

Best Friends Animal Society

WHERE: United States

Best Friends Animal Society started as a group of friends rehabilitating animals in the 1980s and has since grown into a leading national animal welfare organization in the United States. It’s the largest no-kill animal rescue sanctuary in the country for companion animals. They have centers across the country, and are housing around 1,600 animals at any given time, giving them a good, healthy life and care until they are ready to be adopted and moved into a forever home. The Best Friends Network is compiled of shelters and rescues across the country.

10 OF 10

Iowa Farm Sanctuary

WHERE: Iowa

Iowa Farm Sanctuary is a safe space for rescued farm animals to roam freely without confinement. The sanctuary is home to many rescued cows, ducks, chickens, goats, and pigs—and every last one of them is simply adorable. Wilma the Piglet, for example, was found in the cold, frostbitten and scarred, at only a few weeks old. The center took her in, rehabilitated her, and she made a full recovery. She is just one of the many success stories, and you, too, can become a sponsor for a farm animal, or support the organization with merchandise purchases and donations, via their website.