Now, the 23 October to 1 November is National Mammal Week.

It's a chance to celebrate our mammals and their conservation in Britain - and a chance to raise awareness of how we can all help.

 Image ©  The Mammal Society

The British Isles are home to around 90 species of mammal in the land, air and sea.  And the Mammal Society was established back in 1954

It advocates "science-led mammal conservation, leading efforts to collect and share information on mammals, encourage research to learn more about their ecology, distribution and contribute meaningfully to efforts to conserve them".

There are plenty of ways you can get involved, from surveys to donating to their latest appeal (Hogs on Roads), becoming a member to spreading the word.

Find out more about it here.

SPANA work to help working animals in many countries around the world.  My other half and I saw them at work in Marrakech, helping hard-working horses.

But SPANA report that many working animals such as horses, donkeys and mules are being abandoned and left to fend for themselves as their owners have lost their income during the times of the coronavirus.  They cannot afford to keep their animals.

Many owners who are in this situation think that if they can’t feed their animals, then the best thing to do is to let them go so that they can forage for themselves.  Then at the least, they have a chance of survival.

Thousands of working animals are now left to fight for their lives.  They are defenceless and alone. 

In Africa, SPANA’s teams have seen an increase in traffic accidents as more animals are roaming freely since lockdown.

Some abandoned animals are being discovered and brought to SPANA with problems such as colic – they’ve been scavenging for food and eating things which aren’t edible.   They’ve been gathering together and mixing which has meant that infectious disease and parasites have spread.

Stray dogs and abandoned equids have attacked each other out of hunger and frustration.

They need emergency feed, life-saving treatment and knowledgeable, expert care.  

SPANA are asking for donations to help them care for abandoned working animals.  Please spread the word and see how you can help today.

 image ©The Sloth Institute

The Sloth Institute are based in Costa Rica.  Their mission is "to enhance and expand the welfare and conservation of sloths."

It has a three angled approach to achieving its mission:  research, education and conservation.  It's not a sloth sanctuary;   it specialises in research and education, focusing on the behaviour, health and welfare of recently released, wild and captive sloths. 

This October, The Sloth Institute is running a full diary of sloth actiivties in their first Slothtoberfest!

Follow #slothlove to help keep up with all the sloth goings-on.  There are virtual activities and all "sloth adoptions" are half price for all of October!

Adopt a sloth during Slothtoberfest, and you'll automatically be entered into a live raffle drawing on 2 November.  The winner will receive a FREE upgrade to a Hero adoption - and that includes a live video chat with a sloth expert and the sloth "in training" of your choice! 

Find out how to mix your own sloth cocktail, how to draw a sloth - and there's a quiz too so that you can test your own sloth knowledge!

Head off to the Sloth Institute to find out more!