On 26 February 2026, the UPF-Centre for Animal Ethics hosted the talk Animal Welfare in China: Current Realities and Emerging Voices by Chinese animal activist Shao Ran, with the collaboration and translation of Eric Li.

Watch the talk on our Youtube channel.

📍 Tànger Building – Room 55.309, Roc Boronat 138, Barcelona
🗓️ Thursday, 26 February 2026 – 17:30 h

This session provided an overview of the animal welfare situation in China, highlighting legal frameworks, societal attitudes, and emerging advocacy. Wildlife protection laws, such as the Wild Animal Protection Law, focus on species conservation rather than the welfare of individual animals. Companion animal protection is an area of growing public concern. Although dedicated laws are still lacking, high-profile cases and rising civic advocacy reflect shifting perceptions, with companion animals increasingly recognized as family members. Farmed animal welfare remains largely unregulated, with legal attention primarily on food safety rather than living conditions of the animals. Animals used in entertainment are also attracting scrutiny, as activists like Shao Ran challenge traditional practices and influence public perception. Together, these developments illustrate a transitional moment in China’s animal welfare landscape, shaped by evolving social values, legal debates, and advocacy efforts, setting the stage for deeper insights from personal experiences in promoting animal rights.

Shao Ran is a Chinese animal rights advocate and independent public interest activist known for her pioneering work in advancing animal ethics in Mainland China. Formerly celebrated as the “leading female whale trainer in South China,” she left the marine entertainment industry after witnessing the psychological suffering of captive animals, transforming from industry insider to outspoken critic. For nearly a decade, she has worked independently—without institutional backing—traveling across China to deliver public lectures promoting veganism, nonviolent consumption, and cross-species ethical awareness. Her advocacy spans marine mammals, farmed animals, laboratory animals, and companion animals, grounded in the conviction that animal justice is inseparable from social justice. In early 2026, her story reached nationwide prominence, generating over 100 million online views within days and marking a significant moment in the public emergence of animal ethics discourse in China.