Don’t miss it!   Meet the Bears on Natural World

Tonight, (that’s BBC2 at 8pm UK time, 4 November 2019), Natural World takes a look at the habits of a family of bears in “Meet the Bears”. 

The programme looks at the skills they need to learn to survive, such as finding food, raising their cubs, facing rivals and habitat loss.

It introduces bears in all their different forms from the spectacled bear to the sloth bear, the polar bear and the grizzly bear.

The footage should be quite something to see and there are short clips to enjoy while we’re all waiting.

Hugh Bonneville is the narrator.  If you miss it, the programme should be available on IPlayer shortly after viewing, and there’s the most beautiful gallery of pictures you can take a look at here.

Visit Meet the Bears’ website here 

You’ll find a list of bear charities here.

PS The week after, on 11 November 2019, Natural World looks at Saving the Orangutan.

Urgent, Urgent, Urgent! 

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) takes place between August 17-28 and this is a very good chance to bring about a considerable change for the wildlife of Africa.  In short, they need our support and our voice.

They may not be able to use a computer to add their names to a petition – but each and every one of us can be their voice and add our own names.

The African Wildlife Foundation says that CITES is a treaty between governments.  It ensures that wild fauna and flora in international trade are not exploited in an unsustainable way.

The African Wildlife Foundation has submitted its own recommendations to 7 proposals – and these are based on findings from their own work across different contexts in Africa.

The Foundation is asking for enhanced conservation efforts for species such as giraffes and pancake tortoises.  Their populations are dwindling – the reasons being:

• Wildlife trafficking
• Habitat loss
• Poorly understood conservation efforts compared to other speicies

The Foundation rejects proposals for legalized international trade in species such as white rhinos and elephants.  It points out that any trade that’s legal sends mixed messages out into the world.  We need a single, very clear message to be sent out to the world that these wildlife need to be saved.

Please join 50,000 others and pledge your support to AWF’s recommendations.   Please give the wildlife of Africa a chance.

Please add your name now.

Change.org have a petition calling for an #IvoryFreeCanada.

The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition is counting on you

The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition needs your help with “You Can Make History - Ban the Sale of Elephant Ivory in Canada - #IvoryFreeCanada”. Join The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition and its supporters today.  

In 1980 Africa had over 1.3 million elephants.  In under 40 years, 70% of our elephants have disappeared. 

Thanks to ivory’s value, organised terrorism syndicates are committing mass slaughter.   They are using helicopters and AK-47 rifles.

Back in 1989, theConvention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) made the selling of elephant ivory internationally illegal.

The problem is that each country creates its own laws pertaining to the sale of ivory within their borders.  So the only way to protect elephants is to ban ALL the elephant ivory trade.

China shut down its domestic ivory trade at the end of 2017.  This was good news.

And then on 1 March 2018, the USA lifted the ban on the import of elephant trophies.  How could they do such a thing?

This means there’s more pressure on the rest of us to be ivory free. 

And at the last IUCN World Conservation Congress, Canada was 1 of only 4 countries to oppose the closure of domestic ivory markets across the globe.

The hope by the organisers of #IvoryFreeCanada is that new laws can protect both elephants and the indigenous trade of narwhal and walrus.

The petition asks the Canadian government to:

1. Ban all domestic trade of elephant ivory; and
2. Make the import, export and re-export of all elephant ivory illegal.

Please sign this petition here

Add your voice to nearly 500,000 people who have added theirs. 

The Ivory-Free Canada Coalition:
Elephanatics, Global March for Elephants and Rhinos-Toronto, World Elephant Day, Humane Society International-Canada and Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.  Find out more here