Preserving Our Planet

 The little-known pangolin: the most hunted species alive. The pangolin has seen its numbers decimated, earning them the unsavoury accolade as the most endangered species on earth due to the exponential growth of poaching and trafficking in countries where tighter control is needed to prevent their extinction.   Exactly what is a pangolin? Pangolins, dubbed the ‘scaly anteater’, are burrowing mammals with a small head and a broad tail. These humble creatures walk with an awkward gait, making them easy prey for lions, leopards and tigers. To make up for this vulnerability, their overlapping scales form a natural protection against predators but sadly offer no defence against poachers and hunters. When threatened, they roll up into a ball, covering their faces and underbellies. Remarkably, once rolled, not even a lion can penetrate their armoured bodies. For further protection, they emit a noxious acid from glands near to their anus to ward off predators...

The treatment an elephant faces in the tourist industry. A recent study by Oxford University revealed some of the secret methods used in animal attractions so people can make money out of the practises involved in selling trips to tourists. From seemingly innocent rides to petting and selfies, the lifelong suffering involved is heart-breaking. Here’s the truth that travel agents profiting from selling these trips don’t want you to know.   1.     Elephant rides Whilst ambling along atop a strong elephant might not seem cruel to most, it is the treatment behind these innocent rides that people are unaware of. Yes, elephants appear docile and friendly, so it is plausible that they will allow people to ride them. However, the reason you’re able to sit astride them is rather sinister. To allow interactions with humans to take place, young elephants are forcibly removed from their mothers and compelled to endure a horrendous training process referred to a...