Training the Frontline: How World Animal Protection Is Helping First Responders Save Animals From Wildfires
Blog
By Ari Solomon
Teams of first responders are stepping up to protect the animals caught in these disasters. And World Animal Protection is helping make that possible.
As wildfires intensify across the globe, the images we see are heartbreaking—charred landscapes, displaced families, and wildlife struggling to survive in the wake of devastation. But behind the scenes, something powerful is happening: teams of dedicated first responders are stepping up to protect the animals caught in these disasters. And World Animal Protection is helping make that possible.
This past September, World Animal Protection supported an intensive four-day training program in Brazil designed specifically for first responders who rescue wildlife affected by fires. Firefighters, veterinarians, biologists, and other emergency professionals gathered in the Pantanal region—a place increasingly defined by destructive wildfires—to learn the specialized skills required to save animals in crisis.
Led by biologist and professor Paula Helena Santa Rita, co-founder of the Pantanal Animal Technical Rescue Group, and supported by Ibama’s PrevFogo firefighting teams, the course blended rigorous classroom instruction with hands-on, real-world practice. Participants trained in essential techniques, including safe animal containment, transport, triage, and rehabilitation. They also learned to use drones and camera traps for wildlife monitoring and to set up advanced veterinary field stations capable of stabilizing animals in critical condition.
The need for this expertise is urgent. Forest fires don’t simply scorch landscapes—they leave thousands of wild animals injured, orphaned, or displaced. Many die not from the flames themselves, but from a lack of specialized care once the fire passes. By equipping responders with the tools and knowledge to act swiftly and safely, World Animal Protection is helping close a critical gap in emergency response.
Recent years have shown just how high the stakes are. In both 2020 and 2024, fires tore through the Pantanal—one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth—causing catastrophic damage and leaving behind gut-wrenching images of burnt and suffering wildlife. The Cerrado, South America’s vast tropical savanna, faces similar threats, with wildfires becoming more frequent, widespread, and destructive.
This training is more than just professional development—it’s a call to collective action. As fires intensify, so does the urgency to protect the animals who share these environments with us. By empowering first responders with the ability to act decisively when every minute matters, World Animal Protection is helping build a coordinated, compassionate frontline of defense.
Your support helps ensure that when disaster strikes, vulnerable animals aren’t left behind. Donate today to strengthen our lifesaving work on the frontlines and around the world.