Indian American animal rights leader Poorva Joshipura has been appointed as the first-ever president of PETA International, marking a historic milestone for the organization. A longtime member of the board of directors of PETA India, Joshipura will now oversee PETA’s projects and initiatives across Europe, Asia, and parts of the Middle East.
Born in Philadelphia to Gujarati parents and raised in Suffolk, Virginia, Joshipura’s journey into animal activism began more than 25 years ago. She joined PETA as an intern at its Norfolk, Virginia headquarters in 1999, after graduating magna cum laude in psychology from Old Dominion University. Over the years, she has held numerous roles within PETA entities, from undercover investigator to international campaign strategist, dedicating her life to what she calls “animal liberation.”
In a press release, Joshipura recalled a defining moment early in her career when she witnessed the brutal killing of cows inside a slaughterhouse. “I locked eyes with a terrified calf who knew he was about to die, and in that moment, I promised myself I would dedicate my life to ending animal suffering. More than 25 years later, I am still honoring that pledge,” she said.
Her activism has often drawn both praise and controversy. She was jailed for disrupting a New York fashion show to protest Michael Kors’ use of fur, burned in effigy after helping secure an Indian Supreme Court ban on bull-based entertainment, and even caged in Nairobi to draw attention to the plight of chickens killed for food.
As PETA International’s president, Joshipura intends to harness technology and innovation to challenge traditional practices of animal exploitation. Her priorities include replacing elephants chained in temples with mechanical alternatives, using animatronic animals in education to foster empathy among children, and highlighting links between animal abuse, pandemics, antibiotic resistance, and climate change.
Over her career, Joshipura has been credited with landmark victories such as convincing Mercedes-Benz to offer leather-free interiors, blocking a US laboratory-animal supplier from expanding into Europe, banning cosmetics testing on animals in India, and ending horse-drawn carriage use in Petra and Mumbai. She has also authored two books: For a Moment of Taste and Survival at Stake.
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk praised Joshipura’s leadership, calling her “an unstoppable force in the animal liberation movement” and saying her “extraordinary drive and determination are invaluable in helping animals worldwide.”
Reflecting on her new role, Joshipura said, “I am deeply honored to shape the global future of animal liberation. How we treat animals ultimately defines us, and I will dedicate myself to making compassion part of every culture.”
