Carla Shaik

Carla is passionate about animal welfare and our natural environment and is on a mission to give you the knowledge you need to help protect our planet and all of its inhabitants. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, is a teaching support officer at the College of West Anglia, and also works as a cat sitter in her local community. Aside from writing, she has a love of music, teaching her daughter how to play piano, and enjoys getting creative with craft activities.

Find Carla on

Photo of author
Illustration of the world inside a pram

9 Best Charities for Population Control (Complete 2023 List)

There are now over 8 billion people on the planet, with an increase of 1 billion taking place between 2011 and 2022 alone. Furthermore, wild animal populations have declined by two-thirds in the time that the human population has doubled. This exponential growth has put a strain on natural resources and is caused by a variety of factors, particularly a lack of access to contraception and sexual reproductive education. Fortunately, many charities around the world are now trying to tackle this problem head-on. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities for population control?

Illustration of two giraffes

9 Best Charities for Protecting Giraffes (Complete 2023 List)

Giraffes were once a common sight across the African Savanna. Yet, today there are just 97,000 individuals left in the wild, a decrease of 40% since the 1980s. Nicknamed the silent extinction, the disappearance of these gentle giants had gone largely unnoticed until recently. Fortunately, many charities are now working hard to protect the remaining populations of giraffes and ensure their survival for future generations. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for protecting giraffes?

Attempted illustration of cyberbullying

9 Best Charities That Help Combat Cyberbullying (Complete 2023 List)

Around 38% of people experience cyberbullying on social media platforms daily. It is now the number one concern for school teachers, with 25% of students who experience cyberbullying turning to self-harm as a coping mechanism. In our modern digital age, charities are working hard to reduce instances of online bullying and offer support to affected individuals. So we had to ask: What are the best charities combating cyberbullying?

Illustration of two penguins

9 Best Charities for Protecting Penguins (Complete 2023 List)

Penguins are one of the two most endangered groups of seabirds in the world, with over two-thirds of the 18 species listed as vulnerable or endangered. And it’s estimated that 50% of Emperor Penguins and 75% of Adelie Penguins will disappear within the next 40 years if global warming continues at the current rate. Fortunately, charities around the world are now fighting to protect these iconic birds from further threats. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for protecting penguins?

Illustration of a shark fin out in the open sea

10 Best Charities for Protecting Sharks (Complete 2023 List)

Sharks are some of the most ancient, powerful, and majestic creatures in the world. They have been on this earth for over 450 million years and have survived 5 mass extinctions. Yet, today, 75% of all shark species are threatened with extinction due to overfishing, the illegal wildlife trade, and shark-human conflict. Fortunately, charities worldwide are fighting to save sharks and change public opinion about these animals. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for protecting sharks?

Illustration of a polar bear

9 Best Charities for Protecting Polar Bears (Complete 2023 List)

There are estimated to be 22,000-31,000 polar bears left in the world. This may sound like a lot, but populations are declining fast due to a range of threats including poaching, oil drilling, and climate change. Perhaps the biggest threat facing polar bears is the rapid decline of sea ice. If nothing changes, experts estimate that there is a 70% chance polar bear populations will decline by over a third by 2050. Charities around the world are now recognizing this crisis and are fighting to ensure the survival of polar bears. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for protecting polar bears?

Illustration of a sea turtle

10 Best Charities for Protecting Sea Turtles (Complete 2023 List)

Sea turtles have been around for 110 million years. Yet, all of the 7 sea turtle species alive today are threatened with extinction. Sea turtles face a number of threats including poaching, habitat destruction, climate change, and harmful commercial fishing practices. Furthermore, the survival rate of sea turtle hatchlings today is just 1 in 1,000. Thankfully, many charities have recognized the need for drastic change and are working to protect these prehistoric creatures. So we had to ask: What are the best charities for protecting sea turtles?

Attempted illustration of a person with depression

9 Best Charities That Fight Depression (Complete 2023 List)

Depression affects 21 million people in the US alone, equaling 8.4% of the population. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, which causes 700,000 deaths every year. Depression is treatable, but many people still suffer in silence due to the stigma that surrounds the condition or because of a lack of available support. Fortunately, charities around the world are working hard to provide these people with the vital guidance they need to treat their depression. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that fight depression?

Illustration of an exemplary restaurant of a fast food chain

6 Fast Food Chains Seeking to Lower Their Environmental Footprint (Complete 2023 List)

Fast food restaurant Initiatives such as net-zero restaurants have gained a lot of admiration for being proactive solutions to the worldwide environmental crisis. However, many people claim their climate solutions are meaningless and the benefits are exaggerated (also known as greenwashing). So we had to ask: Which fast food chains are really trying to lower their environmental footprint?

Illustration of a group of women

9 Best Charities That Fight for Reproductive Rights (Complete 2023 List)

Over 111 million unintended pregnancies and 35 million unsafe abortions occur every year because vulnerable individuals are unable to access professional reproductive healthcare. Additionally, 1 in 4 women in developing countries struggle with infertility, yet they can’t get IVF treatments due to high costs and limited availability. Charities worldwide are now fighting for the right of every woman to make choices about her own body. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that fight for reproductive rights?