What is SAVE Nepal?
The goal of SAVE Nepal is to strengthen protections for animals and the environment by training the next generation of Nepali lawyers in animal law. Through legal education, advocacy, and policy development, SAVE Nepal aims to help make Nepal a healthier, safer, and more compassionate place for both people and animals. The organization will contribute to the drafting of new laws, support amendments to existing legislation, and equip future lawyers with the knowledge and skills needed to advance animal welfare and environmental protection in Nepal.
Accomplishments of SAVE Nepal
Nepal needs to enact and enforce animal law
New legislation to address the neglect, cruelty and abuse of street dogs that occurs, issues of human-wildlife conflict, the protection of animals used for food, in work, and during festivals that involve animal sacrifice are all desperately needed in Nepal.
This article was published in the Nepali Times on Oct. 22, 2025 by Julie Palais, Varnika Singh, Swikriti Sharma, Ayusha Yogi, Pariksha Dhungana, Rabindra Acharya.
Spring 2026 Animal Law Seminar: KUSOL
Talks from Spring 2026 are available here. Each student selected their own research topic: Aayushna Thapa: The Right to Life and Stray Animals: A Constitutional Interpretation of Coexistence Prinsha Bastola: The Effectiveness of Animal Welfare Laws in Nepal: Challenges in Enforcement and Public Awareness
Bringing Animal Law to Law Schools in Nepal
As part of the 2024-2025 Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) Global Ambassador Program (supported by Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon), Julie Palais and Varnika Singh have been working to bring the field of animal law into the law schools in Nepal. The project began in November 2024, and these short talks represent the culmination of the research experiences undertaken by four students taking a course in legal research methods.
Industrial Animal Agriculture in Nepal
ABA Webinar (sept. 12, 2025)
International Industrial Animal Agriculture Laws and Practices: Australia, Nepal, and South Korea (Nepal starts at 21 minutes)
Animal Law Courses around the World
Do You Want to Study Animal Law?
"There are 167 law schools in the U.S. and Canada, and 11 in Australia and New Zealand, that have offered a course in animal law. Interested in starting an animal law class at your school? Learn how!"
For more information, check out the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) website: https://aldf.org/article/animal-law-courses/
For more information, please check out the new Animal Law for All (ALfA) website:
TOP 10 LAW SCHOOLS FOR ANIMAL LAW PROGRAMS in THE USA
Do You Want to Study Animal Law?
"Animal Law is a small but burgeoning field. In 2001 there were only nine animal law classes offered in the United States, and today there are over 100. Animal law is any type of legal action that affects the rights, standing, or welfare of an animal. It can encompass many traditional areas of law, like torts, contract law, and family law. Cases can range from litigation against negligent veterinarians or manufacturers of harmful pet products, to defending animal activists’ Constitutional rights."
From the Kaplan Test website: https://www.kaptest.com/study/lsat/law-school-top-10-animal-law-programs/
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For More Information about where to study Animal Law, please see the new website Animal Law for All (https://animallawforall.net/)
AnimalLawForAll.net is a free, accessible clearinghouse of information and resources for students, educators, and advocates around the world who are interested in the growing and evolving field of animal law. Whether you're a law student, professor, or legal professional, especially in the Global South or in regions where animal law is not yet part of legal education or policy, this site is designed to support your journey.
Our Past Work- Announcing the 2024-25 CALS Ambassadors (Nov.
2024-2025
Five alumni have been selected as CALS Ambassadors to carry out selected projects to advance animal protection and animal law around the world.
Julie Palais
Julie retired from NSF at the end of 2016 and began her “Encore Career” in animal welfare. She completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law (IAWEL) from the University of Edinburgh (2017) and a Master of Science (MS) in Anthrozoology (2019) at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Julie was among
Julie retired from NSF at the end of 2016 and began her “Encore Career” in animal welfare. She completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in International Animal Welfare Ethics and Law (IAWEL) from the University of Edinburgh (2017) and a Master of Science (MS) in Anthrozoology (2019) at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. Julie was among the first cohort of students to complete the new Master of Studies in Animal Law (MSL) Program in the Center for Animal Law Studies (CALS) and graduated with honors.
Varnika Singh
Varnika Singh
Varnika Singh is a distinguished lawyer and advocate specializing in animal law, with over a decade of experience in litigation, legal advocacy, and policy work. Currently serving as the Head Legal Consultant at the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), India Varnika has been instrumental in leading landmark animal
Varnika Singh is a distinguished lawyer and advocate specializing in animal law, with over a decade of experience in litigation, legal advocacy, and policy work. Currently serving as the Head Legal Consultant at the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), India Varnika has been instrumental in leading landmark animal protection cases in the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts.
Past Conferences - December 2023
