Preserving Our Planet

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 ...

  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, blac...

One of the elephants found in Myanmar with its skin removed. Sick new poaching trend As if elephants didn’t have enough to deal with due to the ivory trade, now they are being persecuted for their skin. The UK’s Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, recently announced plans to ban the sale of all ivory products. But this doesn’t affect the current poaching methods or save the 20 elephants recently killed. Why? Because in a sick new trend that has been circulating for the last 3 years or so, elephants are now being hunted in Asia only for their thick hides. The 20 were killed by poisonous darts – some of them mothers and calves. The skin was half-peeled off whilst their bodies were still warm, and their remains left in the forest to rot. Traditional beliefs across Asia have exacerbated this trend of using elephant skin to make bracelets, further decimating their declining numbers. This horrifying poaching epidemic stems from this lucrative business opportunity with claims...

A slate-grey male Montagu's harrier shows off the black wing markings . UK’s rarest raptor If you’ve never heard of a Montagu’s harrier , it’s hardly surprising: with only four breeding pairs in the UK, they are officially the rarest raptor and the rarest breeding bird with a precarious status. Found in the east and south of the country, they are summer visitors, migrating south to Africa for winter. Harriers are renowned for their exquisite aerial acrobatics, passing food in flight and performing ingenious displays during courtship. The Montagu’s agility and elegance when hunting makes them a majestic harrier and particularly spectacular to watch. To learn more about them, experts have been tagging individuals to track their migration, habits and breeding grounds.  Each pair needs special protection and their nests are kept secret, so egg poachers cannot detect them, and they can be left undisturbed.  The tagging process has also meant secretive meeti...

 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...