Wildlife Conservation

In an ideal world, humans would live peacefully with one another and with the wildlife around them, however obviously this is far from the reality we live in. The news of Walter Palmer killing Cecil the lion is absolutely heartbreaking, but we should keep in mind that its not just Cecil that this happens to, this ridiculous act happens all the time to other lions, elephants, rhinos, bears the list goes on and on. It just so happens that Cecil was a beloved animal within Zimbabwe, The Guardian describes him as one of 'Africa's most famous lions and the star attraction at the Hwange National Park'. Cecil was also part of a research study at Oxford University. Therefore due to the lions status, the killing of Cecil has created a huge amount of media attention and also turned everybody's attention to hunting...in particular 'trophy' hunting.

I really can't get my head around why anyone would want to hunt/hurt/torture animals. 'Trophy hunting', 'hunting for SPORT' (how is hunting a sport?)  they are both completely barbaric. Hunters who have been questioned as to why they do what they do, have used excuses such as 'conservation' or 'population control'. However Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, tells us that individuals with characteristics most suited to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce than the individuals that are poorly suited to their environment and are therefore less likely to survive and reproduce, this enables a natural balance. Hunting disrupts this natural balance, what gives hunters the right to do this? Why do we as humans get to decide? All animals belong in this world as much as humans do!!

 Hypothetically, even IF  hunters were doing a justice towards wildlife conservation, why do they need to pose proudly next to the poor beautiful animals?? Its psychotic. This also goes for hunters who claim that they don't hunt purely for sport, but that they share the meat of the animal they have killed with those in need. If that was the case to help people in need, and not get a thrill out of killing a wild animal, then A) stop taking your photo grinning from ear to ear next to a dead animal and B) why not donate the thousands and thousands of pounds used to pay for the hunting trip to the same people in need? In my opinion, I think the people in need would prefer the money.

'Animals are not here for us to do as we please with. We are not their superiors, we are their equals. We are their family. Be kind to them' Ricky Gervais.  

*EDIT*
I wrote this post last week, but didnt have a chance to post it. Im thrilled to see so many airlines now stepping up and banning the transport of big game trophies. 

Global Tiger Day 29th July 

WWF-World Widlife Fund

This Wednesday - 29th July is Global Tiger Day, which was founded at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit in 2010. This was created to give worldwide attention to the conservation and wellbeing of tigers, because at that moment wild tigers were on the brink of extinction. The goal of Global Tiger Day is to promote the protection and expansion of wild tiger habitats and to raise awareness for tiger conservation. Recent numbers estimate that there are as few as 3000 tigers remaining in the wild (2014). There are sadly more tigers in captivity than in the wild and the tiger is officiallt classed as endangered by IUCN, as three of the nine known tiger subspecies are extinct, and according to WWF the South Chine tiger hasnt been seen in the wild since the 1970s.

How did this happen?

 

Tiger Trade

One of the most serious threats that tigers are facing is poaching, for the increasing value of tiger parts. This problem is rife across the globe, however conservationists report that it is a huge problem for the tiger population in Asia. There is a market for tiger bones, which are tradittionally prized for their alleged healing and aphrodisiac properties and also tiger skins for home decor. Tiger parts can vastly range in price, from skin pelts costing US$20,000 and a foot US$1,000. Their skins are taxidermed and turned into rugs whilst their bones are used for healing tonics. The demand for this barbaric trade has allowed people to take advantage for a chance to earn some more money, and there is now an increase of tiger farms in China. One farm in particular farms both tigers and bears to extract their bile for wine. The 'bone-strengthening' rice-based wine costs US $132 for a six-year-old vintage. A daily shot of the wine allegedly reduces joint stiffness, alleviates rheumatism, and increases sexual vigour. It is seen that the purchasing of tiger bone wine and tiger body parts is seen to increase ones status within society due to the price.

Habitat Loss

Habitat loss is another reason in the huge decrease of the tiger population. Due to expansions of cities, commercial logging, plantations, agriculuture etc tiger habitats are being wiped out. This therefore forces tigers to live within a closer proximaty to eachother as well as human settlements in or around forests, this creates conflict between humans and tigers for space and it also makes tigers even more vulnerable to poaching. 

How Are Organisations Helping Tigers?

WWF have implemented various projects to help increase the tiger population such as TX2 - doubling the numbers of wild tigers to at least 6,000 by 2022. In order to meet this goal, all 13 tiger range countries have agreed to issue an updated global tiger number to enable WWF to access progress. Another way that organisations and conservationists are helping tigers is tackling the illegal widlife trade through CITES, education of illegal tiger products and also by helping to reduce human-animal conflict by engaging with local communities.

The Woodland Trust is an extremely important charity in the protection of wildlife and habitats in the UK and most of the protection they deliver is courtesy of the EU Nature Directives. The EU Nature Directives consist of: -

• Habitats Directive - which provides protection for important habitats and threatened species.
• Birds Directive - protection for all wild birds. 

This particular legislation allows The Woodland Trust to protect species and habitats that are at risk as well as providing a framework of protected areas known as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for birds. Therefore it is extremely important for this legislation to stay in place for our woods and their wildlife.

However, the EU Commission are doing a 'regularly fitness check' (REFIT) of these laws to see if they still work and/or are relevant, which could result in this legislation being changed or worse, removed! Without this legislation in place our woods and wildlife will be in great jeopardy.

Please help save our WOODS and WILDLIFE by simply filling out this form on Nature Alert. You can also make your own voice be heard by sending a message to the EU Commission expressing how important woods, wildlife and nature is to you.

Our ancient woods and trees are irreplaceable. We cant afford to lose them.