Archive for the ‘Animal Charities’ Category

Only 2 weeks now until the WWF charity Earth Hour, which will be taking place in the UK at 8.30pm on Saturday 27th March 2010. Over 1000 cities and towns across the globe will be taking part by switching off their lights to show they care about climate change. 88 countries took part across the world last year and 2010 looks like even more will be taking part in what will be one of the world’s biggest unified messages to the world leaders that climate change need to be dealt with.

World famous landmarks across 25 time zones will be switching off their lights for one hour, including in the UK -

• Big Ben
• Piccadilly Circus
• London Eye
• Royal Albert Hall
• Manchester’s Trafford Centre
• Inverness Castle
• Wales Millennium Stadium

Supported by companies like M&S, Coca-Cola and Ikea, this worldwide phenomenon will show the world’s leader that the people of the planet are serious about stopping climate change. First time participants include Kosovo, Madagascar, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Mongolia, Cambodia, Czech Republic, Paraquay, Ecuador and the US Commonwealth of the Northern Marina Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Head of Campaigns at WWF-UK, Colin Butfield, said -

This years Earth Hour hopes to attract some one billion people. By signing up to switch off their lights, individuals, businesses, towns and cities can join a global phenomenon and show world leaders that we care about climate change.

> > Click here to sign up for Earth Hour

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

WWF UK is absolutely over the moon that ‘Operation Tram’, INTERPOL’s targeting of the illegal trade in medicines that contain protected wildlife products, has seized millions of pounds worth of illegal medicines. The contraband, worth more than 10million Euro’s, has resulted in many arrests across the globe during the international operation.

‘Operation Tram’ was the outstanding work of wildlife enforcement authorities, police, customs and specialized units from 18 countries across all five continents that ran between 1st – 28th February 2010, and is one of the biggest seizures of illegal medicines containing endangered animal and plant species ever.

> > Click here to read the full INTERPOL media release

WWF-UK’s wildlife charity trade advisor, Heather Sohl, said -

Given that this crosses many borders, co-ordinating effective efforts to tackle the illegal trade in wildlife is not easy. However, this UK-inspired operation proves what’s possible. It’s great to see 18 countries all working simultaneously to investigate and curtail the trade in traditional medicines containing threatened species.  This can be a blueprint for future action on other areas of illicit wildlife trade too.

During the month-long operation, large amounts of medicines containing ingredients such as tiger, bear and rhinoceros were discovered by investigating groups of individuals and companies. Hopefully this will put a big dent into the resources of what is a truly horrific trade.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

If you currently live in a marginal constituency, you have a unique opportunity to be a major influence at the next general election. WWF UK would like to use your influence to help preserve some of the world’s most incredible animals and create a better future for everyone in the country.

You may be wondering what links tigers, the general election and your future, and the answer is climate change. Rising temperatures are putting up to 30% of the world’s species at risk. Tackling climate change not only offers the opportunity to safeguard the wildlife at risk from a warming world, but also to help create a green economy right here in the UK. This could also open up the door for thousands of new green jobs during a time of high unemployment.

This years general election is the perfect opportunity to let your local politicians know that there is public support for action on a greener Britain. WWF UK has teamed up with CAFOD, Christian Aid, Tearfund, Greenpeace, Oxfam UK, RSPB and many other charities to encourage all of their supporters to ‘Ask the Climate Question’. This can be done by

1. Every time a member of a political party asks whatís important to you, list climate change in your top three issues.
2. Attend a candidates political meeting with family and friends to quiz them on climate change.
3. Get involved locally help with this campaign by writing letters to candidates

Marginal constituencies will be closely fought in the country, with political parties taking far greater interest in the views of voters in your area. With the ear of the politicians, now is a great time for you, your family, friends and neighbours to tell them that you are concerned about the future of not just humans, but also the countries wildlife and their habitats due to climate change.

> > Click here to visit the WWF campaign site

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

WWF charity officials feel that the international community should reject the latest deal proposed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). Although the new compromise features a great deal of positive action, it appears that it may also potentially legitimise ’scientific’ whaling by Japan in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Species Trade and Policy Officer at WWF-UK, Heather Sohl, said -

It is imperative that whales in the Southern Ocean are fully protected. All whaling in the Southern Ocean, including Japanese commercial whaling thinly disguised as ’scientific research’ should be eliminated immediately. Unfortunately, the newly proposed deal could actually make it even easier for Japan to continue taking whales from this ecologically sensitive and unique region.

Even though the IWC has banned commercial whaling since 1986, Japan, Norway and Iceland have found loopholes in the original treaty, such as scientific whaling, to kill up to 1,500 whales a year. The IWC has also provided a 50 million square kilometre whale sanctuary in the Southern Ocean surrounding the continent of Antarctica, which is a primary feeding habitat. Under the new proposal, this specially protected area would potentially be under threat due to the proposed rulings.

The new proposal will be discussed at a meeting of IWC countries in March, with plans to adopt the new policy at the next full IWC meeting in June this year. Now is the time for those countries that are against whaling to come together as a whole and show united support to halt the unnecessary killing of any more whales.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

The RSPB Gift Shop is currently offering an extra 20% absolutely free with every bag of sunflower mix purchased online. With the weather around the country still cold and snowy, now is a great time to think of the garden’s birds who may be struggling to find food in these treacherous conditions.

Finding food is the greatest test for wild birds, and with the UK’s recent winter being extended till, well, nobody is quite sure when, food for our feathered friends is scarce. But help is at hand at the RSPB Shop , who will be offering an extra 2.5kgs of sunflower mix absolutely free when purchasing online.

Sunflower mix is a high-energy  birdseed that doesn’t contain husks or shells, so you’re not paying for the birds won’t eat. Thanks to its balanced blend of sunflower hearts, kibbles, maize, husk-free oats and canary seed, RSPB sunflower mix is loved by most garden birds and can be fed from seed feeders, bird tables and even from the ground.

With a wide selection  of high quality bird food and bird feeding accessories, the RSPB gift shop is the perfect place to stock up on everything you need to keep your garden friends happy. Plus with 100% of all profit going to the conservation group, you can be sure that everything you purchase is going a long way to keeping the UK’s wildlife fruitful.

> > Click here to order online at the RSPB shop

Freshwater ecologist and environmentalist Chen Yiyu the 2009 WWF charity Duke of Edinburgh Conservation medal. The award has been given in recognition to his life long devotion to conserving China’s freshwater resources.

Having published over 90 scientific papers and 10 books, Mr. Chen is a former Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and is the current President of the Chinese National Natural Science Foundation. Described by many one of China’s most important figures in the field of sustainable development and conservation Mr. Chen has championed many groundbreaking studies. these include his studies on the endangered Baiji dolphin and his research on Lake Hong’s ecosystems, which have led to considerable improvements in its water quality.

Director General of WWF International, James Leape, said -

Thanks to Mr. Chen’s leadership, China’s freshwater protection policies have improved dramatically, particularly in the areas of integrated watershed management and ecosystem management.The contributions Chen Yiyu continues to make to freshwater conservation in China are outstanding, and deserve to be celebrated.

The Medal is awarded annually by the wildlife charity for outstanding service to the environment, and the winner receives a gold medal, a Rolex watch, and a certificate signed by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Director General of WWF International.

Mr. Chen said -

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a great honour for me. But this is also an honour for nature conservation in China, and for the many people who have made contributions. I will continue to work for the preservation of China’s environment, and contribute everything I have to ensuring we leave future generations a healthy, living planet.

Adopt a Dolphin with WWF

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. From as little as £3 a month you can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. The recipient gets -

• a soft, cuddly Dolphin toy
• a certificate
• a print of your Dolphin
• a greetings card
• plus much more…

> > Click here to Adopt a Panda with WWF

View other great charity gifts

One of the WWF charity artworks has been shortlisted for the Design Museum’s  ‘Designs of the Year 2010′ award. The award, sponsored by Brit Insurance, has selected Jason Bruges ‘Panda Eyes’, which was created for WWF’s Pandamonium exhibition.

The piece, which animates 100 WWF small panda mini banks grouped together in a 10×10-panda square, has the pandas rotate in unison. They also respond to visitors by swivelling around and following them with their eyes due to thermal sensors and hidden motors.

The award celebrates the best in international architecture, fashion, furniture, graphics, interactive media, products and transport. The competition features a 100 strong shortlist and will be displayed in an exhibition at the Design Museum in south London. Now in it’s third year, the winner will be announced on 16 March 2010, with the exhibition running from 17th February to the 6th June 2010.

Adopt a Panda with WWF

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. From as little as £3 a month you can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. The recipient gets -

• a soft, cuddly Panda toy
• a certificate
• a print of your Panda
• a greetings card
• plus much more…

> > Click here to Adopt a Panda with WWF

View other great charity gifts

WWF UK has created an interactive map that outlines the top 10 tiger trouble spots, providing a unique overview of threats faced by tigers across the globe. This map is of particular importance this year as the  WWF launch their Year of the Tiger campaign  on Sunday 14th February 2010, which also happens to be Valentines Day. The aim is simple, to help ensure the protection of the species whilst working towards the goal of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022 – the next Year of the Tiger.  Click on the link below to view the map -

WWF Tiger Troublespot Map

Head of Species at WWF-UK, Diane Walkington, said -

Since the last year of the tiger in 1998, tigers have lost 40 per cent of their habitat.  They now occupy only 7 per cent of their historic range. Already, three tiger sub-species have gone extinct since the 1940s and a fourth one, the South China tiger, has not been seen in the wild in 25 years. WWF is committed to ensuring the remaining populations receive the protection they so desperately need.

Tigers are being persecuted across the globe. They are being poisoned, trapped, snared, shot and squeezed out of their homes. But there is now real hope that this trend can be reversed. With 13 countries where wild tigers survive now pledging that they will work towards doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, there has never been such an ambitious, high-level of commitment from governments to work to save this iconic species.

The global number of Tigers is believed to be around 3,200 at present. At the start of the 20th century, there were believed to be more than 100,000. This rapid decline will continue to gain pace if many of the areas on the map are left to drop beyond the point of no return by 2022. By highlighting these areas, the WWF map shows exactly where the increasing threats facing the World’s tigers are at their greatest, and hope that world leaders will join their fight in doubling numbers by the next Year of the Tiger.

Adopt a Tiger with WWF

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. From as little as £3 a month you can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme. The recipient gets -

• a soft, cuddly Tiger toy
• a certificate
• a print of your Tiger
• a greetings card
• plus much more…

> > Click here to Adopt a Tiger with WWF

View other great charity gifts

WWF UK is applauding the UK Government’s strong stance on calling for an international trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna. Thanks to the UK’s support to the Appendix I listing at the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), it is now hoped that other countries will follow suit.

Species Trade & Policy Officer at WWF-UK, Heather Sohl, said -

An international trade ban is the last hope for threatened Atlantic bluefin tuna, following decades of overfishing and mismanagement of the remaining stocks. UK support for this ban is crucial and WWF is delighted that the UK Government has shown a strong commitment to protect this species. We hope this announcement will build further momentum towards agreement of an immediate and unconditional Appendix I listing at the CITES meeting in March.

With extra support mounting from the likes of Italy and France, there is now mounting pressure on Spain, who currently hold the EU presidency. If Spain were to follw the unifed stance of the UK and it’s fellow supporters, then other EU member States and the European Commission would soon follow suit.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts

WWF charity are pleased that the Peruvian National Protected Areas Service has decided to allow extra funds this year to help protect a large area of the Amazon jungle that is home to a selection endangered species and indigenous tribes.

The service has pledged to allocate $280,000 to fund surveillance activities in the area, which is so large in size it is actually bigger than neighbouring country El Salvador. The area, which is formed by the Alto Purus National Park and the Purus Communal Reserve, has been a protected area since it was created in 2004 thanks to the support of WWF wildlife charity.

This amazing area of area of untouched forestary in the southwestern Amazon, is home to a wide and diverse selection of wildlife, with much of it endangered species. Not only is home to at least eight indigenous ethnic groups, living in voluntary isolation, but also pink dolphins, jaguars and arapaimas to name just a few of the rare animals that inhabit this wonderful life centre.

Director of WWF’s Amazon Headwaters Initiative, Jorge Herrera, said -

This represents a major success for all Peruvians. The government’s commitment to safeguard the Peruvian Amazon will help us build long term conservation strategies for roughly 3 million hectares of some of the richest forests in the world.

WWF has help to equip and implement seven control posts with the area, whilst supporting the control and surveillance carried out by reserve authorities. Illegal mahogany logging and poaching has not only a damaging effect on the landscape itself, but also the indigenous communities that reside within it’s confines. Thanks to the Peruvian government’s support, a team of more than 20 park guards and experienced technicians will be on hand to help protect the areas natural beauty and resources.

Help WWF UK with a Charity Gift

The WWF is a non profit organisation who can only sustain their tireless work in saving the planet and its inhabitants through donations. You can help raise funds through the WWF Adopt an Animal scheme.

From as little as £3 a month you receive a certificate, a print of your animal, a greetings card, and a soft toy that would make a fantastic charity gift for a loved one.

> > Click here to Adopt an Animal with WWF UK

View other top charity gifts