Preserving Our Planet

  How the way we engage with supporters in our campaigns might actually be harming the success of the campaign over time and discrediting our groups. Pilot whales are killed for food during a Grind Being a member of several conservation groups in the UK and abroad, I have had many a scathing debate or heated discussion with those on the pro side of hunting and mindless killing of animals. None of them resulted in a positive solution for either side. This got me thinking. When creating material for a conservation cause or campaign, what kind of language and persuasion should we be using to ensure the success of the campaign? Faroese viewpoints Last year, I learnt an important lesson whilst arguing with the Faroese over the annual Grind. With the likes of Sea Shepherd and other anti-whaling groups bringing the Grind into the media spotlight, the Faroese have had a backlash of criticism and abuse. It’s a very emotive subject with people on both sides impassioned and exaspe

Red deer in the Woburn Deer Park who boast of producing the  biggest antlers in Europe.  (Photo credit: Paul O'Connor) What is trophy hunting? Trophy hunting involves the paying of a fee to hunt an animal for ' the sole purpose of winning a part of its body as a ‘trophy ' , including antlers, heads, skin and bones. It is not something generally associated with the UK.  Woburn Estate herald their herd The Woburn Estate Deer Park was set up in 1993 with a vision to maximise the genetics of red deer and produce some of the biggest antlered red deer in the world. The deer are farmed for excellence and the semen of their sires sold. A quick visit to their website and their true intentions become unequivocal: they pride themselves on the size of the antlers, not the health of their deer. The males for sale are numbered, not named. They boast of the size and strength of the males, not the overall health of the herd. Woburn's Deer Park claims to be one

  The enigma of the Bornean bay cat means we know virtually nothing about them .   Most of us love a cat. We just can’t resist their contented purrs, sneakily agile antics and the warmth they share when curled up on a comfy lap. But, one cat is such a mystery to us that TS Eliot's famous mystery cat, Macavity, pales into insignificance. Bay cat description Deep in the Bornean rainforests and swamps, a chestnut streak may be the only glimpse of the mysterious Bornean bay cat that those seeking it may ever see. Not much bigger than their average house cat cousins, the beautiful bay cat has a relatively long body and tail and short, rounded ears. Their tails have a distinct white stripe that taper to a white tip. Although the chestnut-red form is most common, some bay cats have a grey-black coloration. Their underparts are paler: ranging from a gold-tan on their bellies, that fades to white at the chin. Some have been known to have pale, black spots and fle