The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is one of the most famous charities in the world. They have been a leading international non-government organisation in the field of wilderness preservation since being founded in 1961.
When charities reach such a grand scale, it’s easy to let their familiarity be mistaken for proven virtuosity. That’s why it’s always important to proactively keep these organisations transparent, and accountable for their actions.
Third party investigations like the one that BuzzFeed News has conducted into WWF, are a key part of that accountability process. BuzzFeed’s report includes accusations that the World Wildlife Fund equips and funds guards across Africa and Asia that have allegedly committed violent atrocities.
The yearlong investigation spans across six countries and claims that civilians have been beaten, tortured, sexually assaulted, and murdered, by WWF-supported anti-poaching units. WWF has allegedly provided salaries, training, and supplies to paramilitary forces responsible for raids on villages where indigenous people and locals have faced brutal violence.
WWF has now commissioned law firm Kingsley Napley to lead an “independent review” into the evidence uncovered by BuzzFeed News.
“We see it as our urgent responsibility to get to the bottom of the allegations BuzzFeed has made, and we recognize the importance of such scrutiny,” the charity said in a statement. “With this in mind, and while many of BuzzFeed’s assertions do not match our understanding of events, we have commissioned an independent review into the matters raised.”
“We hope that an accurate picture of our conservation work on the ground,” it continues, “the challenges faced by all, in some of the most dangerous and hostile places on Earth, and the efforts being made to secure a future for people and planet can be reflected in the story.”
The BuzzFeed report is full of an extensive amount of shocking evidence, and we highly recommend having a read.