Resources
We are in the process of updating our Resources!
Please see below some writing from Animal Law Reform South Africa’s founders

Professor David Bilchitz
For a full list of publications, please see here
Of particular relevance to our work, please see:
- ‘Exploring the Relationship between the Environmental Right in the South African Constitution and Protection for the Interests of Animals‘
- ‘Moving Beyond Arbitrariness: The Legal Personhood and Dignity of Non-Human Animals’ (2009) 25 South African Journal on Human Rights 38-72, ISSN 0258-7203, IBSS
- ‘Does Transformative Constitutionalism Require the Recognition of Animal Rights?’ (2010) 125 Southern African Public Law 267-300, ISSN 2219-6412, DoE list
- ‘When is Animal Suffering Necessary?’ (2012) 27 Southern African Public Law, 3-27 ISSN 2219-6412, DoE List
- ‘What was Left Unsaid: The Unconstitutionality of the Performing Animals Protect Act in NSPCA v Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ (2014) 30 South African Journal on Human Rights, 183-195 ISSN 0258-7203, IBSS
- ‘Animal Interests and South African Law: The Elephant in the Room?’ Animal Issues Around the World (Springer, 2015)

Amy P Wilson
- “Key Animal Protection Laws in South Africa” Chapter 32, Co-Authored with Professor David Bilchitz Routledge Handbook of Animal ISBN 9781032022062 (2022) – Book Chapter
- “(NON) HUMAN(IMAL) RIGHTS: Dismantling the Separateness in Law and Policy” Society Register, 3(3) 2020, 39-65
- “Animal Law in South Africa – Until the Lions have their own lawyers, the law will continue to protect the Hunter” (dA.Derecho Animal (Forum of Animal Law Studies) 2019, vol.10/5)
- “South Africa’s Fallen Pride: How Law and Government Fail to Protect Lions” (The Revelator – May 2019)
- “Chronicle on the Animal Welfare Conference in Africa 2018 and the Animal Law Convention of Africa” (Derecho Animal (Forum of Animal Law Studies) 2019, vol.10/5)
Our Webinars and Seminars
“Bodies on the Line? Exploring the Intersection of Violence Against Women and Animals” Seminar
[LINK]
Held on 10th August 2022 in recognition of women’s day in South Africa, which is commemorated on 9th August each year. Hosted by Animal Law Reform South Africa (ALRSA); the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (a centre of the University of Johannesburg) (SAIFAC) and the Centre for Research on Animal Rights (India). The panel included: • Dr Carla Tsampiras (South Africa – Medical and Health Humanities, University of Cape Town) • Bharati Ramachandran (India – Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations) • Dr Sheena Swemmer (South Africa – Centre for Applied Legal Studies, the University of Witwatersrand) Moderated by: Dr. Makanatsa Makonese (Zimbabwe – Independent Consultant with Animal Law Reform South Africa).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
“Uncaging Rights: How Litigation against Zoos is Unlocking Legal Rights for Animals Globally”
Seminar on 26 May 2021
______________________________________________
“What is Animal Law?”
Webinar on 22 July 2020 with Professor Joyce Tischler
[LINK]
Animal Law Library
General Animal Law Resources
*We are not affiliated with these institutions and have included for information purposes only. We have only included these here for information purposes and do not have consent to share these sites or any resources therefrom.
- Constitution
- Animals Protection Act
- Performing Animals Protection Act
- Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
- National Environmental Management Act
- National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act
- Threatened or Protected Species (“TOPS”)
- Biodiversity Management Plans
- Norms and Standards Example: Elephants
- Game Theft Act
- Animal Diseases Act
- Animal Identification Act
- Department of Agricultural Affairs – Animal legislation
- Department of Environmental Affairs – Environmental legislation
- National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals v Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Another (CCT1/16) [2016] ZACC 46; 2017 (1) SACR 284 (CC); 2017 (4) BCLR 517 (CC) (8 December 2016)
- Kruger and Another v Minister of Water And Environmental Affairs and Others (57221/12) [2015] ZAGPPHC 1018; [2016] 1 All SA 565 (GP) (28 November 2015)
- Eastern Cape Poultry Club v National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (44057/2016) [2017] ZAGPJHC 283 (11 August 2017)
- National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals v Openshaw (462/07) [2008] ZASCA 78; [2008] 4 All SA 225 (SCA); 2008 (5) SA 339 (SCA) (30 May 2008)
- South African Predator Breeders Association and Others v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (1900/2007) [2009] ZAFSHC 68 (11 June 2009)
- Lemthongthai v S (849/2013) [2014] ZASCA 131; 2015 (1) SACR 353 (SCA) (25 September 2014)
- CITES: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
- ICRW: International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling:
- CBD: Convention on Biological Diversity
- World Trade Organization (WTO) and General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT):
- Animal Legal and Historical Center
- Animal Legal Defense Fund
- Center for Animal Law Studies
- Animal Law Resource Center
- Animal Law UK
- Animal Law New Zealand
- Voiceless Australia
- Global Animal Law Website
- World Animal Protection Index
- Derecho Animal
- Non Human Rights Project
- Harvard Animal Law Policy
- Tierimrecht
- Joyce Tischler – The History of Animal Law, Part I and Part II
- Jerrold Tannenbaum – What is Animal Law?
- Greg Miller – The Rise of Animal Law
- Patrick S. O’Donnell – Animal Ethics, Rights, and Law: A Basic Bibliography
- Animal Legal Defense Fund – Animal Law 101