A recent poll conducted by
YouGov found that 54% of people in the UK do not think that animals like
tigers, rhino, and orangutans will exist in the wild in 30 years time.
This shocking statistic
comes as Secretary of State Owen Paterson launches the year long ‘If They’re
Gone…’ campaign, which has been designed to highlight the threats posed to four
iconic endangered species – rhinos, tigers, orangutans and elephants.
Environment Secretary Owen
Paterson said:
“Today, I am launching a
very important campaign. ‘If They’re Gone…’ aims to raise awareness and
encourage individuals to take action to protect four of the planet’s most
iconic species, rhinos, elephants, orangutans and tigers, from extinction.
“I don’t want future
generations to think of these species in the same way I think of the Dodo. We
must act now.
“It’s by working together
that we show international leadership in the fight against the disastrous trade
in wildlife and devastating impact of deforestation.”
Charlie Mayhew, CEO of Tusk
Trust said:
“On average this year one
rhino has been lost to poachers every 11 hours. If this poaching continues
to escalate, a species, which has existed on this planet for 40 million years,
faces the very real prospect of extinction in our lifetime. We cannot be
the generation that allows this to happen and Tusk is working hard to preserve
all endangered species in Africa.”
Reggie Heyworth, Owner of
Cotswold Wildlife Park
“Rhinos are perhaps the
iconic species at Cotswold Wildlife Park, and the recovery of the White Rhino
population in the 20th Century from near extinction proves that we can save
these magnificent animals. We must not let the poachers and the illicit traders
win in the 21st Century: Rhinos now are under dreadful pressure but we can make
a difference. The tide has been reversed before and we can do it again. We are
all diminished as human beings by the poaching of these magnificent animals,
and we must all do what we can to save them”.
Together all the campaign
partners will help to raise awareness and encourage individuals to take action
to protect the four species that are being highlighted. As such the campaign
calls on the public to:
- Think before you buy anything that could be made from or contain
body parts of endangered species;
- Ask where products have come from and if they have been
produced sustainably;
- Get involved and support wildlife conservation programmes;
- Spread the word – tell your friends and family about tigers,
rhinos, elephants and orangutans and how important it is to
help protect them; and
- Report any suspicious activity concerning the buying and selling of
wildlife products to your local police.
CRS’S Head of Environment,
Richard Ball said:
“ It’s often difficult to
relate personal actions in the UK to internationally endangered species. This
campaign recognises we all have a role to play a home or at work in protecting
biodiversity. Raising awareness with staff and friends is a key role of any
environmental Practioner ”.
The launch of the ‘If
They’re Gone…’ campaign coincides with the first day of the Convention of
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) conference in Bangkok. At
this conference Defra is calling for maintaining the ban on ivory sales and to
protect rhinos by introducing stricter measures on the export and re-export of
rhino horn. Currently it’s estimated there are only 28,000 rhinos left in the
wild.
The ‘If They’re Gone…’
campaign will run for a full year and starts with a focus on rhinos. Every
three months the focus will switch. A poster competition aimed at primary
school children and an extensive programme of activity by all partners will run
during different parts of the year. For more information visit the ‘If They’re
Gone…’ Facebook page www.facebook.com/IfTheyreGone
You Gov Poll – All figures,
unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1,704
adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 24th – 25th February 2013. The
survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are
representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
