Animal Lover Badge

Clause 2: Look after an animal

I don't own pets but I do housesit every year for a friend when she goes on holiday, and look after her dogs and cat for a week. This year she has a 'new' dog (big puppy) that I haven't looked after before - rather like looking after a toddler as needs constant attention and entertainment!

Clause 3: Endangered Animals

https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/directory?direction=desc&sort=extinction_status 

Sunda Tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica)

These tigers live on the Island of Sumatra, and currently number less than 400. They are a critically endangered but protected species. Several organisations are involved in the conservation of these tigers, and are trying to engage local communities to help with the conservation effort. While this is commendable, and a long-term solution if correctly done, there are still many hurdles to get over such as ensuring people don't think they have less rights than the tigers and are not economically disadvantaged.

Yangtze Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis ssp. asiaeorientalis)

This critically endangered dolphin lives in the Yangtze River in China, and numbers between 1000 and 1800 individuals. A close relative of it, also living in the river, was recently declared functionally extinct. The river has become more polluted, overcrowded, and overfished as China's economy has grown, and the building of the Three Gorges Dam has changed the way that the river works too. The Chinese government is now trying to improve water quality and is working with organisations like WWF to improve conservation efforts. Influential businesses along the Yangtze are also working with WWF to improve conservation efforts and reduce their environmental impact.

Cross River Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli)

This small population of about 250 gorillas live in a large area in Cameroon and Nigeria. They have not been studied much until recently as they are very wary of humans. Scientists mostly have to study them indirectly because of this. They are related to Western Lowland Gorillas. Conservation efforts have been focused on making a protected area that crosses the border of both countries, and to promote sustainable logging practices.

We can help protect all of these species by encouraging conservation projects by governments and wildlife organisations, by buying sustainable products, and supporting conservation tourism. Also by raising awareness in our communities, as even though these animals are not in our country, any animal or plant extinction will affect the world as a whole over time. By protecting macro-animal species, micro-aimal species and plant species are also positively affected too.

Clause 5: Visit a zoo, farm or animal sanctuary

I visited Longleat Safari Park with friends and saw a huge variety of animals, both roaming in the park or within the animal enclosures nearer the house. Animals included lions, tigers, cheetahs, wolves, hyenas, deer, bongo, elephant, giraffes, zebra, ostriches, meerkats, otters, hippos, sea lions, gorillas, and rhino to mention a few! The animals appeared to be well looked after, and the park and visitor attractions were well thought out and managed.

Clause 6: Make a book about an animal.

Little books written about foxes and rabbits for some munchkins that I know.

Clause 7: Improve conditions for wildlife

I already try and make my garden as wildlife friendly as possible, and continually aim to improve habitats there. I have a compost heap which contains ants, several slug species, many woodlice and some slow-worms, and probably many more. There are at least six species of bee and bumble bee in the garden, as well as hoverflies, 'normal' flies, moths, butterflies, two species of snail, the occasional toad, pipistrelle bats fly over, several species of spider, sparrows, pigeons, starlings and many more. I am continually amazed and delighted at what I find in such a small, suburban space.