WIN! AN OUTDOOR JACKET WORTH £179.99 See page 30 THE MAGAZINE FOR WWF MEMBERS SUMMER 2017
MEET THE TIGER PROTECTORS How you’re supporting teams on the front line
FISHERMEN’S FRIENDS THE BEST OF EARTH HOUR OUR SHARED HERITAGE How you’re helping Kenya’s All the ways you helped us make Thanks to your support, fshing communities to learn Earth Hour a night to remember some of the world’s most special to love marine turtles – and our Heroes are revealed places are now better protected CONTENTS TOGETHER, WE DID IT! 4 WORKING WITH BUSINESS 26 A round-up of all you’ve helped We celebrate 10 years of M&S’ us achieve in recent months sustainability programme BIG PICTURE 6 NEW: EAT BETTER 27 Wim Vorster tracks down the Tasty, lean and planet-friendly world’s only scaly mammal recipes to help you eat better. This issue: crab omelette WWF IN ACTION 8 Environment news, including OVER TO YOU 28 Earth Hour’s greatest moments All your Earth Hour adventures and the great ways you’ve TIGER PROTECTORS 12 supported our work From Russia to Bhutan, we meet the people devoted to keeping GIVEAWAYS 30 tigers safe. By Mike Unwin Win a Mountain Warehouse waterproof jacket, worth £179.99, SAVING SHARED HERITAGE 18 and £50 in M&S vouchers There’s plenty to celebrate in our campaign to protect World CROSSWORD 31 Heritage sites. By Barney Jefries Solve our crossword to win a copy of the art book, Ice Bound TURNING THE TIDE 22 In Kenya, WWF’s Mike Olendo NOTES FROM THE FIELD 31 works with local fsherfolk to Harriet Clewlow braves Antarctic help protect rare marine turtles. winds to study how climate By Barney Jefries change afects Adélie penguins
MEET THIS ISSUE’S CONTRIBUTORS SINGYE PAVEL MIKE
COVER: SIMON RAWLES / WWF-UK; INSET IMAGES © GETTY IMAGES © ALAMY; CONTENTS © GETTY IMAGES / LARA ZANARINI / LARA IMAGES © GETTY CONTENTS © ALAMY; IMAGES © GETTY IMAGES INSET / WWF-UK; RAWLES SIMON COVER: WANGMO FOMENKO OLENDO is a senior is WWF’s heads up forestry species WWF’s marine ofcer and tiger protector programme coordinator team in Kenya. He says: PROTECTING ELEPHANTS in Bhutan. She says: in Russia and an expert “Marine turtles are an “My job is mentally and on Amur tigers. He says: indicator of ocean health, If you’re looking for the Africa of TV wildlife physically challenging, “Tigers are like family to so it’s important we build documentaries, then Selous (pronounced but when you live me. They’re powerful, strong relationships with seloo) Game Reserve in southern Tanzania your passion, you feel intelligent creatures, local communities to enormous satisfaction.” but they need our help.” protect them.” is one of the best places to fnd it. This vast wilderness area is home to some of the largest remaining populations of elephants, lions, hippos and bufaloes on the continent. GET IN TOUCH MEET THE ACTION TEAM Forty years ago, the reserve was home to Editor Jessie-May Murphy nearly 110,000 elephants. But their numbers ACHIEVING ZERO [email protected] [email protected] Acting editor Liz Palmer have been devastated by poachers. By 2014, POACHING IN SELOUS IS 01483 426333 Loyalty marketing manager Ruth Simms a census estimated that just over 15,000 WWF-UK Living Planet Centre, Senior editor Guy Jowett remained – almost 90% of Selous’ elephants Ruford House, Brewery Road, GOING TO TAKE A HUGE For Immediate Media Co. have gone. Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL Consultant editor Sophie Staford Every year, poachers kill around 20,000 EFFORT. BUT WITH FOLLOW US Art editor Nicole Mooney African elephants to feed the illegal trade in Production editor Steve O’Brien ivory. That’s an average of 55 elephants every wwf.org.uk/facebook Account director Duncan Reid THE SUPPORT OF OUR Design director Will Slater day, or one every 25 minutes. We urgently wwf.org.uk/twitter Editorial director Dan Linstead need your help to stop this terrible crime. INCREDIBLE MEMBERS, wwf.org.uk/pinterest We’re pushing to strengthen wildlife laws, wwf.org.uk/news THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS improve detection, enhance law enforcement Colin Butfeld, Harriet Clewlow, wwf.org.uk/youtube and prosecution, and reduce demand for WE CAN MAKE SELOUS A Pavel Fomenko, Barney Jefries, wwf.org.uk/instagram Mike Olendo, Miranda Richardson, ivory products. Find out how you can support Mike Unwin, Singye Wangmo our vital work to help stop the wildlife GREAT SUCCESS STORY criminals at wwf.org.uk/wildlifetrade FIND OUT MORE ON PAGE 18 Produced in association with Immediate Media Co. www.immediatecontent.co.uk THANK YOU “Thanks to your support, the global transition to a low-carbon future is already under way and it’s unstoppable. TOGETHER, WE DID IT! The real issue is how quickly we will get Thanks to your membership, we can help there, not whether we will get there” protect wildlife and wild places. Here are LANG BANKS, DIRECTOR OF WWF SCOTLAND Scotland has fantastic some of the great things supporters like renewable energy potential. Successfully unlocking this you have helped achieve 6 will secure our climate goals 5 4 2 6 1 BHUTAN 3 SCOTLAND BHUTAN’S FIRST NATIONAL YOU HELPED US CAMPAIGN FOR SNOW LEOPARD SURVEY 1 RENEWABLE ENERGY IN SCOTLAND Bhutan has announced that there are around 100 snow We were delighted when the Scottish government announced leopards roaming the country, following its frst nationwide in January that it would set a new target to generate half of survey, which WWF-Bhutan helped fund. These all Scotland’s energy needs from renewables by 2030. Thanks endangered cats are known to live in Bhutan’s highest to your support for our climate and energy campaigns in mountains, but previous surveys did not provide a reliable Scotland, this new target means Scotland will be reducing national population estimate. The census involved staf climate-damaging emissions from transport, electricity, and hiking for months through some of the country’s highest, the heating of homes and businesses. With well over half of steepest and remotest mountain ranges, surveying tracks Scotland’s electricity already coming from renewables, we and installing camera traps in 221 locations. The cameras know this target is achievable and necessary. We now need to captured evidence of previously unknown populations of DID YOU turn our attention to making the same progress in cleaning snow leopards in Jigme Khesar Strict Nature Reserve and 60% up the transport and heating sectors, moving away from fossil of Europe’s animals and Paro Territorial Forest Division, indicating that Bhutan KNOW? plants – and 70% of their fuels to a low-carbon economy ft for the future. We’ll continue provides critical habitat for the species in the eastern The snow leopard could to work on ensuring the Scottish government delivers the lose up to 30% of its natural habitats – are at risk Himalayan region. This is the frst time any snow leopard © MYRIAM NAVAS / WWF-SPAIN policies needed to meet all our climate change targets. habitat in the range country has conducted a full national survey of from increasing demands for
Himalayas due to X 2 © GETTY
© GETTY the species. These fndings will allow Bhutan to space, water, energy and food climate change FIND OUT MORE in our Energy of Scotland report: devise a management plan to conserve these wwf.org.uk/scotlandenergy big cats, their prey and their habitat.
4 5 UK 2 RUSSIA 3 SPAIN EUROPE YOU HELPED SAVE AMUR TIGER HABITAT YOU HELPED YOU HELPED PROTECT EUROPE’S YOU HELPED CONNECT Thanks to you, the Korean pine forests in Russia’s Far PROTECT DOÑANA WONDERFUL NATURE East remain protected from commercial logging. FROM DREDGING The European Commission agreed not to review, change PEOPLE TO THE More than 90% of the world’s Amur tigers are found in or weaken the EU Birds and Habitats Directives, which CELTIC SEAS Russia, where they need large, intact forest ecosystems Every year, six million migratory birds stop of in Doñana National Park, protect thousands of species and habitats. It declared to survive. So when the tigers’ main habitat – old- a World Heritage site in Spain, on their way between Africa and Europe, the laws ft for purpose. This welcome news followed a Our four-year Celtic Seas growth Korean pine forests – was threatened, WWF including a million en route to the UK. Last autumn, you helped create a Europe-wide campaign by WWF and our partners, which Partnership project has now come to and our partners were quick to respond. In January, diferent type of migration. We invited you to send emails to the Spanish helped secure a an end. It successfully brought together a potentially devastating amendment to timber cutting prime minister asking him to stop a river dredging project that would 500,000-strong governments, sea-users and scientists to fnd new ways regulations in Russia came into force that stripped 80% of have been a catastrophe for Doñana’s wetlands and bird life. And you petition that many of managing the Celtic Seas to secure a sustainable these forests of their protected status. With your support, responded brilliantly – more than 141,000 emails were sent. We also of you signed. future for our valuable marine economy and protect
we worked with other NGOs to appeal the decision. We held / WWF HUBERT && © KLEIN asked you to send us origami birds and your colourful paper creations It puts an end to our precious seas. The project was supported by an urgent press conference highlighting why these changes migrated from all corners of the Earth. In November, we displayed almost two years EC LIFE+ and match funded by WWF and valued would be disastrous for the Amur tiger, which is already them outside the Spanish parliament. Shortly after, the government of heated debate supporters like you. It’s been helped by all the national sufering from dwindling habitat. Our voices were heard! announced that dredging wouldn’t be going ahead! over the future of governments in the area, and engaged more than 1,500
The ban on logging operations has now been upheld – and the the EU’s fagship © GETTY people, empowering them to shape a more sustainable Korean pine forests are safeguarded once more. FIND OUT MORE about protecting Doñana on page 18. nature laws. future for everybody – and the Celtic Seas.
4 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 5 BIG PICTURE STOPPING ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE
SCALING UP PROTECTION
The pangolin is one of the strangest animals In Asia, pangolins are highly prized by consumers you’ve never seen – and the most heavily trafcked for their meat and scales. Over the past decade, over mammal on the planet. We’re working with our a million pangolins have been illegally taken from the partners to stamp out the illegal wildlife trade wild to feed this demand. Their meat is considered that threatens this species a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional The world’s only scaly mammals, all eight species medicine. They’re believed to treat a range of ailments of pangolin (four in Africa and four in Asia) look like from asthma to rheumatism and arthritis. evolutionary escapees from the time of the dinosaurs. We’re working with TRAFFIC to crack down on wildlife But you’ve probably never seen one because they’re crime and reduce demand for illegal wildlife products solitary, nocturnal and highly secretive. When startled, a in countries along the trade chain from source, transit pangolin rolls into a ball, presenting a suit of armoured and destination. We’re helping governments to tackle scales towards the threat. Indeed the word pangolin poaching, and lobbying for strong national laws and comes from ‘penggulung’ – the Malay word for roller. improved enforcement to ensure wildlife crime doesn’t Also called scaly anteaters, pangolins subsist almost pay. Last year, 182 nations agreed a total ban on exclusively on ants and termites. Their tongues are international trade in all pangolin species – throwing very long, highly sensitive to touch and covered in these unique survivors a much-needed lifeline. sticky saliva – and they use them to collect thousands of ants every night. Help us stop wildlife crime at wwf.org.uk/wildlifetrade © WIM VORSTER
6 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 7 WWF IN ACTION WWF IN ACTION © RICHARD STONEHOUSE / WWF-UK / WWF-UK STONEHOUSE © RICHARD EARTH HOUR 2017 AROUND THE UK Our recent challenges and triumphs for wildlife and the environment Huge thanks to all our supporters who helped make Earth Hour so special. Here’s how you did it...
In February, we got together to honour our 2017 Earth Hour Heroes – people who have a passion for making a diference CLIMATE CHANGE At the Living Planet Centre, children made Earth Hour EARTH HOUR HEROES – UNMASKED lanterns... THE SUPERHERO world was buzzing and Infant School in Bath move to solar energy, in February when it welcomed four and Fiona Ball, who leads Sky’s work to reduce
You sent new members to its ranks: our its environmental impact. Runner-up was hundreds of Earth Hour Heroes Tom Hunt who founded the Forgotten Feast, a ‘messages in a bottle’ for These everyday heroes have been quietly going campaign to revive the UK’s cooking heritage our Welsh art about their business of saving the planet. But and help reduce food waste. installation... in the build-up to Earth Hour 2017, we joined Gloria Esposito was our Community Hero. forces with People’s Postcode Lottery to lead a She works to improve air quality in London and nationwide search for unsung heroes. And you advocates the use of new and renewable energy. In London, our inaugural helped us fnd them. We invited the shortlisted Catherine Fookes from the Organic Trade Board Rickshaw Run sent rickshaws dashing across nominees to an exclusive award ceremony at the was named runner-up for her dedication to London to thank its great Palace of Westminster, so that their phenomenal promoting organic food in the UK. landmarks for switching of work could be recognised at an award ceremony Our Lifestyle Hero was the inspirational hosted by Olympic rowing champion and WWF David Saddington, who has promoted the supporter, Andrew Triggs Hodge. understanding of climate change locally, Our heroes go above and beyond to help nationally and globally for the past 11 years. protect the planet in many ways, so Earth Hour Runner-up was award-winning blogger Jane ANOTHER RECORD-BREAKING EARTH HOUR Heroes has three categories – Workplace Hero, Cook, who champions ethical and sustainable On Saturday 25 March, WWF’s Earth landmarks for switching of. Thank you to all of you who joined the Community Hero and Lifestyle Hero. Thanks lifestyle choices in what we eat and buy, and Hour rolled across the world once Up and down the UK people took part millions taking part across the UK to send a Scotland to the support of players of People’s Postcode how we travel. again in a global show of support in their own way – from stargazing forest clear message of support for our celebrated by Lottery, each winner received £1,000 to WWF’s Karen Gates said: “Our winners are switching of for climate action – and it was the walks to cycle-powered flm screenings and brilliant planet. 165 landmarks further their green eforts. all amazing people who are really making a BIGGEST yet, all thanks to you! candlelit dinners – all switching of the lights Our Workplace Hero winners were Tim diference for our planet. I’m delighted we’re able From Nairobi to New York, Delhi for one hour to send a clear global message SEE OUR EARTH Whitemore, who helped St Saviours Nursery to celebrate their great achievements.” to Dublin, millions of you across an about the need to protect our amazing planet HOUR HIGHLIGHTS Dancers unprecedented 187 countries and territories from the threats of climate change. from The Check out our Earth came together to call for urgent action Our UK Earth Hour campaign reached Royal Ballet NEWS IN NUMBERS Company
© MAVERICK/ WWF-UK | © ANDRE USPENSKI / WWF-UK USPENSKI | © ANDRE WWF-UK © MAVERICK/ Hour highlights and on climate change. Over 300 landmarks over 70 million people on social media alone. helped fnd out how you spread the
© DAVID PARRY / WWF | © DAN GREEN / WWF-UK © DAVID |/PARRY ©WWF-UK / GREEN DAN WWF across the UK, including Big Ben, Celebrity supporters, including musician can go beyond message 10 Downing Street, Edinburgh Castle and Ellie Goulding, Yoko Ono and Olympian the hour: the Cardif Millennium Stadium switched Andrew Triggs-Hodge, helped spread the wwf.org.uk/ of their lights in support of climate action, word and called for climate action too, earthhour joining over 3,000 landmarks across all as did hundreds of businesses and KM SQ KM seven continents. organisations including HSBC, Coca-Cola, 3,000 7,380 In the UK, we had a brilliant night with M&S and Sky, plus Arsenal Football Club, The distance covered by actor Nicholas Hoult and The area of forest on the coast of a record 306 landmarks switching of their which shared an Earth Hour flm with two pals on India’s famous Rickshaw Run in January. Kenya that we’re helping to conserve lights. Around 38,000 viewers watched the 37 million fans on Facebook. To see more Earth Hour Their goal: to raise funds for WWF’s one-horned for people and nature thanks to £40,000 London Eye turn dark on Facebook Live, and highlights from around Singer Ellie Goulding is a long-standing rhino conservation, following a visit to Chitwan funding secured this year through our our inaugural Rickshaw Run sent rickshaws advocate for action on climate change and the world, visit:
dashing across London to thank its great supported this year’s Earth Hour campaign wwf.org.uk/ehfickr National Park to learn about rhino conservation. partnership with Size of Wales. 8 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 9 WWF IN ACTION © MARTIN HARVEY / WWF HARVEY © MARTIN IMAGES © GETTY COALITION CLIMATE © THE © HWDT
Elephant ivory is mainly Starring Charles NEWS IN BRIEF sought after for carvings, Dance, Love Song is Silurian is the jewellery and ornaments. a powerful three- Hebridean Demand is highest in minute flm that urges Whale and markets in Asia, especially everyone to protect Dolphin Trust’s China, where ivory is a the life they love from research yacht status symbol climate change
ACTION INTERVIEW WHALES AND DOLPHINS AHOY! In your last issue of Action, we gave you the chance to win a MIRANDA place on a research expedition RICHARDSON and help conduct a survey of CLIMATE CHANGE Scotland’s whales, dolphins and Actress and WWF ambassador porpoises. Our lucky winners Miranda Richardson starred in were Adrian Snell from Poole, our Show The Love film, in the SHOWING LOVE FOR THE PLANET Melanie Adams from Helston WILDLIFE CRIME IN THE RUN-UP to Valentine’s Day, we Ridley Scott Associates created the centrepiece and Shannon Elliot from run-up to Earth Hour. We asked joined the Climate Coalition for another of the campaign, a beautiful and emotive Taunton. We look forward to her a few questions… year of turning red hearts green flm featuring WWF ambassador Miranda hearing about their adventures. CHINA TO BAN DOMESTIC IVORY TRADE More than 400 events took place across the UK Richardson and British actor Charles Dance. WE’RE DELIGHTED that China has and make it harder for ivory trafckers to sell WHY DO YOU SUPPORT WWF? in support of climate change action. Thousands The flm was a huge success, with over six million NEW SHARK DISCOVERED announced it will close its legal domestic illegal stocks. Now that three of the world’s Because WWF was set up by one of my of individuals, schools and community groups views online in a week. It even took to the big IN BELIZE WATERS ivory market by the end of this year largest domestic ivory markets – China, Hong childhood heroes, Sir Peter Scott, to save showed their love for the things they want to screen, thanks to Picturehouse who showcased A new species of bonnethead Last December, China promised to close Kong and the US – are being phased out, we species. That’s what I am most interested protect from climate change by making, wearing it in all 23 of their nationwide cinemas. shark has been discovered of down its domestic ivory trade by 31 December hope other countries will follow suit.” in and is most important in our time. and sharing green hearts. We rounded of the campaign with a Twitter the coast of Belize. The species, 2017. This signals an end to the world’s largest Only 415,000 African elephants remain, We celebrated the launch of the #ShowTheLove debate hosted by Al Gore’s Climate Reality which is yet to be named, does legal ivory market and gives a major boost to and each year about 20,000 are killed illegally HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE campaign with the great news that Lord’s Cricket Project, focusing on the reasons we should not migrate far and requires international eforts to tackle the elephant for their tusks, primarily to feed demand in EARTH HOUR? Ground is going 100% renewable, leading the way all be hopeful for the future. clean water and healthy poaching crisis. The authorities in Hong Kong Asia, particularly China. While closing key I switched of every single electrical towards a clean and secure future. The talented Watch the flm: wwf.org.uk/lovesong mangroves for its nurseries. also announced that they will phase out the commercial domestic ivory markets will have a item, including taking them of standby, Its discovery highlights the need city’s domestic ivory trade by 2021. major impact, bans alone will not stop the illegal of course. And I indulged in some ‘dark for urgent action by the Belize Lo Sze Ping, CEO of WWF-China, applauded ivory trade if demand persists – stronger law gardening’ and watched the stars. government to strengthen the Chinese government’s determination to enforcement is also needed. JOIN THE WEEK OF CLIMATE ACTION protection for this marine reduce demand for illegal ivory. He said: “Closing WWF and TRAFFIC will continue working We’ll be taking part in the Week of Action From group nature walks biodiversity hotspot. The area is the world’s largest legal ivory market will deter together to end the illegal ivory trade – and WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED again this year. From 1–9 July, thousands of and street tea parties with also home to the Belize Barrier people in China and beyond from buying ivory, give elephants a safer future. ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE? people across the country will be holding your local MP to showcasing Reef, a natural World Heritage Because climate change poses a huge events with their MPs in their communities. community energy projects, why not come site that our Shared Heritage
© WWF NEPAL / SIMRIKA SHARMA / SIMRIKA NEPAL © WWF threat to species around the world. I am It’s your chance to speak up for the things you along to an event – or host one of your own? campaign is helping to protect. also concerned that our generation’s legacy love that are afected by climate change. Find out more: wwf.org.uk/weekofaction17 Find out more on page 18. NEW HOME FOR RHINOS will be an impoverished world. Poverty THANKS TO your support, eight greater increases desperation, which results in environmental degradation. © WWF-MONGOLIA one-horned rhinos have been translocated PICTURE STORY to Shuklaphanta and Bardia National Park, in Nepal, to boost the breeding population HOW MIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE there. In early April, fve rhinos were sedated SNOW LEOPARD QUADRUPLETS! AFFECT YOU PERSONALLY? A snow leopard with an incredible litter of four cubs has been in Chitwan National Park, ftted with satellite- Our landscapes could become increasingly caught on a WWF camera trap in Mongolia. The night-vision GPS collars and transported in a specially degraded and our children may well sufer camera footage shows a mother with four cubs. Snow leopards designed truck to Shuklaphanta, bolstering the consequences. I fear that the quality of in this region have previously been seen with two cubs, or the existing population of 10 rhinos. In the life for all species will be compromised. same expedition, a further three rhinos were occasionally three. But this is the frst time quadruplets have been seen. The discovery was made when remote cameras translocated to Bardia. The move is part of an HOW CAN OUR MEMBERS TAKE ongoing programme, which started last year were recovered from the mountain last December. Our snow and is supported by WWF, to translocate 30 ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE? leopard specialist, Rebecca May, explained: “With only 4,000 rhinos to the two national parks between 2016 Be vigilant, lobby governments, take care to 6,500 snow leopards estimated to be living in the wild, and 2018. The Nepal government is committed not to waste resources, think seriously seeing footage of one with four cubs is astonishing! These The footage from Mongolia is the frst time a snow leopard to restoring rhino numbers to their historic size about how you travel and teach your hardy cats are threatened by poaching, confict with people and loss of living space. Sadly, hundreds are killed for their has been seen with four cubs. It of 800, and creating a second viable population children to be inspired by the natural world. proves that these cats can give of rhinos in the western Terai Arc Landscape. Be positive whenever you can. beautiful spotted coats each year.” birth to quadruplets Watch the video here: wwf.org.uk/leopardcam 10 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 11 TIGER PROTECTORS ON THE FRONT LINE
EARNING THEIR
STRIPESMeet the tiger protectors – people who dedicate their lives to helping to secure the future of this iconic but endangered species. Find out how, with your support, these brave wildlife warriors overcome the challenges of their daily work © SIMON RAWLES / WWF-UK “I’m very happy working here in Royal Manas National Park. I’m living my dream and I love every bit of what I do,” says Singye Wangmo. “My team and I share a passion and determination to protect tigers. It’s what keeps us going.”
12 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 13 TIGER PROTECTORS ON THE FRONT LINE
“A SHARED PASSION IS WHAT KEEPS THE TEAM GOING. BHUTANESE PEOPLE HAVE A DEEP LOVE AND RESPECT FOR NATURE, SO WE NEED TO BE STRONG AND BRAVE FOR THE ANIMALS”
Anti-poaching patrols and camera traps help Singye and her team to monitor the tigers in Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan and detect illegal activity A CULTURAL ICON Himalayan foothills, along Bhutan’s poaching. “Poachers come ensure both sides can share data that will Bhutan’s cultural heritage is one of SINGYE WANGMO border with India. It’s home to a up with many stories,” ultimately beneft tiger conservation. the proudest and best preserved in rich diversity of life, boasting over explains Singye, “but the “We have a very good rapport,” she enthuses. Asia – due partly to a long-standing SENIOR FORESTRY OFFICER, ROYAL MANAS 490 bird species and 65 mammal data doesn’t lie.” “We rely on each other.” policy of cultural and economic species including both common and She recounts how in 2016 Tourism is now also becoming part of isolation that saw foreigners admitted NATIONAL PARK, BHUTAN clouded leopards. Spotting tigers the park lost a male tiger, the Manas picture. The park, which was only towards the end of the 20th in this forested wilderness is close known as TMT018. “With little known outside Bhutan for decades, century. Like Tibet, Bhutan is a “For one feeting moment I thought I was we need to be strong and brave for to impossible – indeed, after three a picture of a seized tiger frst opened up to tourists in 2010. Today Buddhist nation. Its people revere going to die,” says Singye Wangmo, as she the animals.” years in her post, Singye has still skin, we were able to identify it harbours fve homestay eco-lodges, the tantric guru Padmasambhava recalls the terrifying occasion in 2015 when One of only a handful of women in never laid eyes on one. But we’ve which individual it was from and plans to launch such activities as who, according to legend, brought she and a few of her colleagues on patrol Bhutan working as a forestry ofcer, she provided camera traps that give the database,” she explains. birdwatching, mountain biking, fy fshing Himalayan Buddhism to Bhutan in ran into a large group of poachers. is undaunted by this challenge: “I take Singye and her team a unique insight “The ofender was fned and and river rafting, to help generate vital local the eighth century on the back of “Thankfully, we scared them of,” she immense pride in being the frst female into the tigers’ movements. imprisoned.” revenue. Benefting people’s livelihoods in a fying tigress. continues. “Gunshots were fred and the forest ofcer on the front line in Royal “The camera traps have been a Despite poacher problems, this way also creates a more positive attitude As a result, tigers loom large in poachers ran away.” Manas National Park.” breakthrough,” confrms Singye. however, Singye sees a bright towards the park’s natural treasures. spiritual art and iconography across Singye, 31, is no stranger to danger. As While Singye is grateful for the support “Not only in understanding ecology, future for tigers in Manas. There’s no doubting Singye’s commitment. the kingdom, from paintings to senior forestry ofcer in Bhutan’s Royal she receives from her colleagues in the feld but also in helping us track all the park’s She describes how her team works “Tigers are at the crossroads of extinction,” temples, and the animal is treated with Manas National Park, she leads a team of and her proud family back home, it’s clear tigers.” She explains how the infrared closely with the local community, she declares. “We are the answer. Our future great reverence. Many see it as a deity 30 rangers, moving constantly around the that her fre comes from within. “The reason cameras, equipped with motion and heat which has always held a depends on wildlife and forests. If we want protecting the forests, and in some park to monitor and protect its wildlife. It’s I came to Manas was because I love studying sensors, are fxed 40–60cm up tree trunks traditional reverence for wild to save ourselves, we need to save tigers.” regions it’s accorded the respectful
a vast and rugged landscape, and as well as and saving wildlife,” she explains, revealing beside regular tiger trails to automatically animals. And by developing But how will she feel if she ever runs into the term memey tag, which is usually © EMMANUEL RONDEAU poachers, Singye has to contend with foods that she has dreamed of working with tigers snap images of any tigers that pass. They strong partnerships with her big cat face to face? “Seeing a tiger pug mark reserved for elders. This cultural and landslides during the summer monsoon. since childhood. “Tigers to me symbolise have revealed that at least 33 tigers now Indian colleagues who manage is very exciting,” she beams. “But to see a respect for tigers and other wildlife “A shared passion is what keeps the team beauty, power and strength. They are the roam Manas – almost double the number the Indian side of the Manas live tiger in Royal Manas National Park? has proved to be critical to the success going,” smiles Singye. “Bhutanese people most beautiful creatures on Earth.” recorded in 2011, when surveying began. Transboundary Conservation That would be an overwhelming feeling. It of conservation in Bhutan. have a deep love and respect for nature, so Royal Manas National Park lies in the Camera trap images also help combat Area, Singye is helping to would be the happiest moment of my life.” 14 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 15 TIGER PROTECTORS ON THE FRONT LINE
“The tiger is like a brother to me,” explains Pavel Fomenko. “And I always TIGER TRIUMPHS protect my family.” Pavel keeps Amur “TIGERS ARE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF tigers safe by deploying camera traps 2016 was a great year for tigers. Here and tracking them on foot. Sometimes are some of the ways we’ve been making he walks up to 30km a day THE ECOLOGICAL PYRAMID. progress towards the TX2 goal of doubling IF THEY DISAPPEAR, IT UPSETS THE wild tiger numbers by the year 2022 NATURAL BALANCE. THEY ARE AN SNIFFER INDICATOR OF THE HEALTH 16 DOG SQUADS Sixteen snifer dogs whose training OF WILD NATURE” was supported by TRAFFIC, joined the fght against wildlife crime in India. In three months, they have helped crack 15 cases. POSITIVE ACTION The Nepal government endorsed the National Tiger Conservation Action Plan (2016–2021). This provides a way
The body of a forward for the continued recovery of dead tigress wild tiger populations in Nepal. is examined closely to determine the cause of her sad fate 3,900 Tiger populations were estimated to have increased to around 3,900, up from as few as 3,200 in 2010. The new fgures refect rising populations in Russia, Nepal and India.
why it had attacked.” He discovered that the OTHER WAYS TO tiger had been watching him for three days. PAVEL FOMENKO It was a pregnant female and he deduced that BECOME A TIGER WWF’S SPECIES PROGRAMME she had taken his dog for a wolf and killed it to protect her cub from a potential threat. PROTECTOR Today, Pavel brings this hard-earned COORDINATOR, AMUR HEILONG, RUSSIA For the frst time in conservation knowledge to his work at the Animal Diseases history, global wild tiger numbers “When I’m in the forest I try to live in by poachers and become so ill in the wilds Diagnostics Centre in Ussuriysk, Primorskii are increasing, thanks partly to your accordance with its laws,” explains Pavel that he’s resorted to eating soil as a natural Krai. Here, Pavel and his team conduct membership. But we need to step Fomenko, describing how he survives when remedy. “I once spent 40 nights in a row forensic tests on tiger carcasses to investigate reveal whether a human has been complicit in inspire Russia’s next generation of tiger up our work to tackle urgent threats patrolling the vast taiga of north-east Russia. sleeping in the snow,” he recalls. “I used my possible criminal cases. This evidence can be the killing of an animal or not – and it must protectors. “I try to share my experience,” such as poaching and the illegal “We shouldn’t forget that we are also animals skis as a bed and my dog as a blanket.” used to help prosecute tiger poachers. be honest, objective and professional, because he explains. “I’ve written books, I teach trade in tiger parts. Please join us in – and animals try not to waste their energy. It was Pavel’s frst encounter with a wild During a recent autopsy on a tigress found it will decide the fate of that person.” In the wilderness survival to border patrol guards, our mission to help double wild tiger A tiger would never wade through snow if tiger, however, that afected him the most. dead beneath a timber truck, Pavel discovered face of such responsibility he knows he must and I give lectures to customs ofcers on numbers by 2022: there’s a clear path nearby.” “Suddenly my dog started barking,” he recalls. marks on the animal’s bones that showed remain rigorously scientifc. “It’s always hard. wildlife crime.” Pavel, or ‘Pasha’ to his friends, works “I turned just in time to see the tiger attack it.” how her front paw had been damaged in a I am fully aware that, due to my expertise, a Ultimately, though, it comes down to Become a tiger protector tirelessly to protect Amur tigers and leopards The situation was over in seconds. “I fred my poacher’s trap. The tigress had not been killed person may get a jail sentence.” passion and belief. “Tigers are important for wwf.org.uk/tigersupport © ANTONIO OLMOS / WWF-UK from threats such as habitat loss and rife in the air, but it all happened so fast – the by the truck, as frst suspected, but had sought With this unique combination of survival the planet,” insists Pavel. “Our world is not Make a donation poaching. Once a hunter himself, he knows dog was already dead.” refuge beneath it. The injury had prevented skills, scientifc knowledge and technical merely confned to the town or country we live wwf.org.uk/tigersx2 the forest inside out – and he knows how Paradoxically, this traumatic incident her from hunting and, weak and frostbitten, know-how, Pavel recognises that his may be a in. Tigers are right at the top of the ecological Sign up for a Team Panda event dangerous it can be. “My job comes with brought Pavel closer to tigers. “I was very she had fnally starved to death. hard act to follow. “It’s a complicated job,” he pyramid. If they disappear, it upsets the to raise money for tigers: signifcant risk,” confrms Pavel. He describes upset about losing my canine friend. But I “Every expert holds the truth in their concedes. “It requires an arsenal of knowledge natural balance. They are an indicator of the wwf.org.uk/events how he has fallen under ice, been attacked followed the tiger’s trail in order to understand hands,” explains Pavel. “Their expertise can and skills.” Meanwhile, he works hard to health of wild nature.” 16 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 17 CAMPAIGN SUCCESSES SAVING OUR SHARED HERITAGE
Black-winged stilts breed at Doñana and rare Iberian lynx (left) call it home SEISMIC SHIFT IN BELIZE
You’ve helped stop the threat of oil spills in Belize’s beautiful waters. SHARED Now we’re going to make sure the world’s second-biggest barrier reef is protected for good Belize is only a little larger than Wales, but its barrier reef is the second largest MAIN IMAGE © ALFONSO MORENO / WWF-SPAIN | © OFELIA DE PABLO & JAVIER ZURITA / WWF-SPAIN | © GETTY | © ALAMY VICTORIES on Earth, and is one of the wonders of the natural world. It spans underwater corals, tiny sandy islands (or ‘cayes’), mangroves and the mesmerising depths of the famous Great Blue Hole. An oil spill in these waters would be FOR devastating. Not just for marine turtles, manatees and other stunning wildlife, Fishermen rely on the area’s rich waters for but for the people of Belize too. The their livelihoods tourism and fshing industries support 190,000 people, well over half the country’s population. NATURE So when, in October 2016, the Belize government said it would allow seismic Natural World exploration for oil within one kilometre Heritage sites are of the reef, we raised a massive global DOÑANA outcry. More than 265,000 people some of the planet’s all over the world, including WWF supporters, emailed the prime minister most extraordinary DREDGING PLANS of Belize to ask him to protect the reef. Within three days, the government places – invaluable CANCELLED agreed to suspend seismic tests. And to people and wildlife. Yet over with your help, we’ll keep pushing for a permanent ban on oil exploration half of them are threatened anywhere near the reef, and make sure One of Europe’s most important wetlands received a big boost this marine jewel is properly protected. by harmful activities. WWF’s at the end of last year when the Spanish government cancelled Colin Butfeld explains how, the dredging plans that would have afected this World Heritage site. But there’s still work to be done The Great Blue Hole is a thanks to your incredible We celebrated a big victory at the end of 2016 when Spain agreed to giant sinkhole of the coast cancel plans to dredge the Guadalquivir river – after the Spanish prime of Belize. Many of the creatures that live here support, our campaign is minister received more than 140,000 emails from WWF supporters like are found nowhere else you. Our colleagues in Spain have been warning for years that deepening working to protect these the river would have spelled disaster for Doñana National Park, the largest wetlands system in the European Union and a World Heritage site. natural treasures Helping to save Doñana was one of WWF’s frst achievements way back in 1963, and we’ve been working there ever since. It’s a vital stop-of for millions of birds migrating between Europe and Africa, and is home to more than 4,000 species of plants and animals – including the Iberian lynx, the world’s rarest cat. The wetlands are hugely important for local people too, from small-scale fshers and strawberry farmers to the tourist trade. While the dredging plans have been cancelled, Doñana still faces threats – including unsustainable water use. More than 1,000 illegally dug wells and illegal farms have led to a severe fall in water levels, with some lagoons drying out completely. With your help, we’ll be building on our recent success to help secure Doñana’s long-term future. 18 | Action18 | Action Summer Summer 2017 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 19 CAMPAIGN SUCCESSES SAVING OUR SHARED HERITAGE
We’re working with George Athanus, our partners to create a wildlife ranger a sustainable future for in Selous, uses Selous Game Reserve camera traps to HOLDING THE that will provide monitor black space for wildlife and rhinos on the LINE IN VIRUNGA livelihoods for people reserve
Our victory in Virunga National Park showed what can be achieved when people come together to protect their shared heritage Back in 2014, more than 750,000 of you signed our petition calling on UK oil company Soco to abandon plans to explore for oil inside this World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). And, thanks to your incredible support, not only did Soco agree to pull out of the park, but it also made a pledge COUNTING RHINOS not to conduct any operations in any World Heritage site, Selous may have lost 99% of its black rhinos anywhere. Other companies with commitments to respect over the past four decades. It’s crucial to fnd World Heritage sites include French oil company Total out all we can about those that are left, if and many mining organisations, such as the International we’re to bring them back from the brink. Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). Since the Virunga With your support, we’re helping to carry campaign, they’ve been joined by Tullow Oil and Mexican out a census of the black rhinos in Selous. cement giant Cemex. Over the next two years, we’ll be using Getting others to make the same commitment has camera traps to fnd out exactly how many been an important part of our current campaign. We’ve males and females are left – and where they MAIN IMAGE been raising awareness of World Heritage sites under “WE’RE FITTING 60 ELEPHANTS WITH are. This will provide crucial information to threat from extractive industries, and working with UPPING THE GAME IN SELOUS develop an efective conservation strategy investors to put pressure on the companies that have GPS COLLARS. THESE WILL PROVIDE GAME for this critically endangered species. © GETTY the biggest impact. Rebuilding rhino populations from
As for Virunga National Park, we’re pushing the small numbers is challenging, but we’ve | ©
WARDENS WITH REAL-TIME INFORMATION ALAMY DRC government to cancel all permits to explore for oil The size of Switzerland, Selous Game Reserve in southern Tanzania is done it before. One solution that’s proved in the area. Meanwhile, we’re working with civil society, one of the largest wilderness areas on the continent. Its woods, forests efective in Kenya and elsewhere is |
ON THE HERDS AND THEIR MOVEMENTS, © MARTIN HARVEY / WWF | infuential decision makers and other stakeholders to and grassy plains are home to some of the largest remaining populations creating rhino sanctuaries that are smaller, support sustainable development pathways in of elephants, lions, hippos and bufaloes. These populations were one of SO THEY CAN PROTECT THEM” fenced areas with suitable habitat and Virunga National Park. the reasons Selous was declared a World Heritage site in 1982. water where rhinos are safer and more Forty years ago, nearly 110,000 elephants roamed the reserve, likely to encounter each other and breed along with around 2,000 black rhinos. But industrial-scale poaching successfully. has taken a terrible toll. Almost 90% of the Selous elephants have Selous is one of Africa’s It might also be necessary to bring in
largest wilderness areas and © now disappeared and the numbers of rhinos may already be among the most precious rhinos from other areas to help grow GREG ARMFIELD | close to single fgures. No one knows for sure. As a result of this places on the planet the population in Selous – again, that’s rampant poaching – and threats to the reserve from mining, oil something we’ve done successfully in South and gas, and hydropower developments – UNESCO has placed Africa, Nepal and elsewhere. We’ll know
Selous on its list of World Heritage in Danger. more once the cameras start clicking – © GETTY But the tide may be turning. Last November, after an email watch this space… campaign you supported (see page 5), Tanzania’s president pledged to make poaching history and so protect its elephants. We’re working with the government to ft 60 elephants with GPS collars. These will provide game wardens with real-time information on the elephant herds and their movements, so they HELP SAVE THE VAQUITA can be more proactive in protecting them. The collars also alert By speaking up for World Heritage sites, wardens if elephants stray too close to the crops and homes of you’ve helped remove the immediate people living on the outskirts of Selous to prevent possible confict. threats to these beautiful places. But our Getting local communities onside is crucial. There’s huge campaign isn’t stopping there. We need potential for the 1.2 million people living in surrounding areas your help to protect the Gulf of California Virunga National Park to beneft from Selous’ amazing wildlife. The reserve has great World Heritage site. It’s home to is home to about a untapped ecotourism potential, which could increase quickly. Mexico’s vaquita porpoises, the world’s quarter of the world’s critically endangered Achieving zero poaching and getting Selous of the World most endangered marine mammal. mountain gorillas Heritage in Danger list will take a huge efort. But with your Ask the Mexican president to take strong support and that of our other incredible members, we can make action now: wwf.org.uk/vaquita Selous an inspirational success story. 20 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 21 SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROTECTING TURTLES
In Kenya’s Lamu seascape, one of the ways we’re helping to forge better relationships between fsherfolk and marine turtles is by giving fshers twine to repair nets damaged by turtles
The islands around Lamu seascape in Kenya are important nesting sites for marine turtles – and these seas are rich fshing grounds. It’s a challenge ensuring turtles and fshers thrive together. But, as Mike Olendo explains, your support is helping him and our Kenya marine team to achieve great results
he best part of my job is meeting to map where the turtles swim, and encourage community members, fsherfolk and the fsherfolk not to set their fshing nets in young people, and involving them these areas. in conservation. It’s vital that we do, If a turtle does get entangled in a net, the because conserving marine turtles is fsherfolk have to let it go. Often the turtle gets onlyT possible when we work in partnership with really tangled up and then tries to swim to the the people who rely on the sea. In Lamu seascape, surface to breathe – this makes a mess of the net more than 70% of people depend directly on so the fsherfolk can’t catch anything else. fshing – for the food and income it brings to And then they have to cut their net to get the their households. And for many older people turtle out. So it’s a double loss. It’s easy to see why here, fshing and the sea are all they know. the fsherfolk used to feel aggrieved about this. Marine turtles have long held great cultural But now we provide twine to help them mend importance to the community here. People used their nets. We ask them to carefully cut the turtle to seek them out: a single turtle can provide 40kg free and let it go, then come and tell us. As well of meat, and locals would also make soup from as ensuring the fsherfolk don’t lose out, our their carapaces and bones. Then there’s turtle oil, approach means they’ll report their interactions which is another valuable product used to treat with turtles, which helps our research and respiratory diseases. monitoring work. It’s now illegal to hunt turtles in Kenya, thanks Over the years, we’ve built a rapport and an to the Wildlife Conservation and Management understanding with the fsherfolk, and we now Act, which came into efect four years ago. enjoy a friendly relationship. At frst, some of Poaching them carries the same penalty as them thought we cared more about turtles than poaching elephants or rhinos – life in about people. Of course, the turtles are a big prison. Thanks to your membership, part of the reason we’re there in the frst and the support of players of People’s place. But it’s led to work with the fshing Postcode Lottery, we provide training community on things that directly beneft for rangers from Kenya Wildlife Service them – like using more sustainable
in prosecuting and convicting fshing gear, lobbying the government © JONATHAN CARAMANUS / GREEN RENAISSANCE WWF-UK wildlife crime ofenders. to give local people more say in how An important part of my work they manage their fsheries, and with local people is raising introducing them to new markets to TURNING awareness and understanding increase their income. of the law, and of why turtles None of this would have been need this protection. possible without your continued Incidents of poaching have support. Thanks to you, we’ve fallen in Lamu seascape. But been able to raise awareness about marine turtles still get caught marine turtles in Lamu seascape in fsherfolk’s nets – especially if and help these ancient mariners the nets are set along the turtles’ to coexist peacefully with migration routes. So we’ve been fsherfolk – which means a THE TIDE working closely with the community better future for everyone. 22 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 23 SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROTECTING TURTLES
HUMAN POPULATIONS MANGROVES are growing rapidly, with an infux protect the coastline, store carbon and of migrants, putting pressure on provide a haven for many species, natural resources. We’re supporting including young turtles. The mangroves people to develop alternative, of Lamu seascape are the most sustainable livelihoods – from extensive in Kenya, but large swaths beekeeping to ecotourism. have been dying recently – and nobody Our work in Lamu seascape knows why. We’re working to identify the cause, and the best response.
MARINE TURTLES are at the heart of our work in Lamu seascape. Hawksbill, green and olive ridley turtles all nest here, while leatherbacks and loggerheads pass through. As well as engaging fsherfolk and communities with turtle
conservation, we protect and monitor PLASTIC RUBBISH gets swept up on beaches in important nesting sites. Lamu seascape, where it’s a hazard for nesting turtles and their hatchlings. We’re CLIMATE CHANGE OVERFISHING working with local people to poses many threats, which is why and destructive fshing practices keep beaches clean. it’s so central to our work. Rising sea are a growing problem – due to temperatures and ocean acidifcation demand from local people and from are bad news for coral reefs, and coastal vessels from other parts of Kenya communities are vulnerable to rising sea where fsh stocks have declined. levels and storm surges. Marine turtles are We’re supporting people to switch NEW INFRASTRUCTURE, also sensitive to temperature, which can to more sustainable fshing gear including a deepwater port, is being built in affect whether they breed successfully. and manage their fsheries, such the area. We’re working to infuence national as lobsters, sustainably. and local governments and the private sector to make development plans more sustainable, protect the most biodiverse he Lamu archipelago is one of the world’s areas, and minimise any negative impacts most magnifcent seascapes. Here, you’ll on the environment and local people. fnd beautiful beaches and deserted islands, mangrove forests, coral reefs and seagrass meadows, as well as a vibrant and unique Tcultural heritage. Its nutrient-rich waters support some of east Africa’s most abundant fshing grounds DUGONGS HOW YOU CAN HELP and numerous other marine species, including fve of YELLOWFIN TUNA (or sea cows) migrate through Your membership already supports our work the seven species of marine turtle. are abundant in Lamu seascape. the waters of Lamu seascape. with local communities in Lamu seascape to But a growing population, a developing economy If stocks are well managed, Protecting the region’s marine monitor turtle movements and protect their and a changing climate are all putting pressure on they could provide a lucrative ecosystems – particularly habitat. But if you’d like to do more to help, you the seagrass meadows this amazing ecosystem. With your support, Mike source of income. We’re training can adopt a turtle: wwf.org.uk/turtleadopt ILLUSTRATION © MUTI / FOLIO and his team are working to protect the wildlife and people how to catch tuna more where they graze – It’s not just the beaches of Lamu seascape the marine resources of Lamu seascape, and secure a sustainably, for example, will beneft this docile, we want to keep clean and healthy. Why not better future for the people who depend upon them. using a pole and line. threatened species. join the UK’s biggest beach clean and make a difference to somewhere special near you? Find out about local events or organise your own: wwf.org.uk/beachclean WORKING FOR A GREENER PLANET
CHANGING BUSINESS SUSTAINABLE This year is the 10th anniversary of our partnership with M&S and the RECIPE company’s Plan A sustainability programme. Working together, we’ve achieved some outstanding successes. Here are just a few of them...
Together, we raised more than In Orkney, we’ve ORKNEY helped protect 20,000 our seas and CRAB, CHILLI We’ve supported more than 20,000 cotton farmers in SUPPORTED AND HERB India to become certifed as £2.7M ‘Better Cotton’ farmers, by OMELETTE for marine conservation LOCAL LIVELIHOODS programmes in the UK, Fiji and reducing their use of by working with fshermen Pot-caught Orkney Tanzania through the Forever WATER AND CHEMICALS. to improve the sustainability brown crab is Fish carrier bag charge Find out more on page 30 of brown crab tasty, sustainable and good for you – perfect for summer We worked with M&S’ food and fower suppliers in Kenya SPARKS and South Africa to improve the way they use and CARD INGREDIENTS METHOD COULD YOU EAT BETTER? 100g Orkney crab meat Mix the crab meat, chilli, herbs and What we eat not only afects our own One small red chilli, diced crème fraîche and season well. health, but also the environment. Food M&S funding150 restored 1 tbsp chopped coriander is at the heart of many environmental Since the launch of the Sparks almost 150 hectares of loyalty card, M&S customers 1 tbsp chopped dill Beat the eggs with some seasoning issues – it’s a signifcant contributor MANAGE 1 tbsp chopped chives until pale. Heat one teaspoon of oil in a to climate change and responsible for forest in Borneo, helping have raised more than 1 tbsp low-fat crème small frying pan and pour in the eggs, 60% of global biodiversity loss. to protect populations of for WWF. fraîche making a thin omelette. endangered orang-utans Thank you Two eggs By following the Livewell W TER £100,000 1 tsp olive oil When the omelette is just set, SERVES 1 principles – eating more whole for your incredible support! Herb and leaf salad tip the crab mixture in, fold 20 MINUTES grains and plant-based foods, If you haven’t already signed to serve in half and warm through for considering MSC, free-range Chilli sauce to serve a minute. EASY and fair trade, and buying less M&S funding is helping protect up for this exciting members processed food and more locally the lives of both people and club, there’s still time to join. Serve with a herby salad and grown food – you can make a elephants through our project You’ll enjoy tailor-made ofers, chilli sauce if you like! diference. priority access to sales and Look out for another tasty recipe that’s TO REDUCE money-can’t-buy experiences. good for you and the planet in the next Plus, select WWF as your issue of Action – and send us your own HUMAN- sustainable cooking tips. 74%of M&S wild-caught seafood chosen charity and M&S will ELEPHANT is now sourced from certifed donate one penny to us every Find out more about the Livewell plate CONFLICT sustainable fsheries time you use your card.So pick at wwf.org.uk/livewell IN INDIA (up from 19% in 2009) up a Sparks card in-store today.
26 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 27 DO IT FOR YOUR PLANET YOUR EARTH HOUR Thank you for taking part in the biggest Earth Hour ever. We hope you enjoyed it as much YOU! as we did. Thanks to everyone OVER TO who shared photos and stories from the night. Here are some of We know you’ve done some really great stuf for your highlights...
us since the last issue of Action, so why not tell us Tracy Garrad:
“Feels like top about it? These are your pages – let’s celebrate you! of the world
Grand Motte” #passthepanda RUNNING TO #EarthHourUK SAVE THE WORLD Hello! I’m Robert Pope and I’m currently running across the USA, for the second time, in an attempt to recreate Forrest Gump’s route from the 1994 flm Andrew T Hodge starring Tom Hanks. “Down at the London Eye I’m more than 5,000 miles into what getting the @wwf_uk MEET OLLIE, TIGER PROTECTOR panda photo bombing INSPIRED could be a 15,248-mile adventure – It’s not only people working in the feld who protect tigers. raising awareness” taking me across the country almost #makeclimatematter Everyone can make a diference. Like WWF member Oliver BY TIGERS fve times. And I’m doing this for #earthhouruk Sidwell. Ollie, tiger lover and committed conservationist, WWF and Peace Direct. devotes his free time and energy to raising funds and I noticed that WWF is In the flm, Forrest is asked what awareness for our work. Ollie frst ran for charity shining a spotlight on tiger he’s running for. He says he just in 2013, when he and his fancée raised £600 protectors and wanted to LET’S SAVE WATER felt like running. Maybe I just felt for our tiger protection work by running the share my painting of a tiger, The article on protecting rivers in like running, too. Maybe I felt Edinburgh Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon. my contribution to protecting the spring edition of Action really like making a diference. Maybe our world is headed. I’ve been Since then the distances have increased these beautiful cats. Maybe captured my attention. In particular I wanted to see what I was this way since I was little. and the money has kept pouring in. other supporters would like to I was interested in the water-saving capable of. Most likely it was a I’ve always wanted to do what I Last year, he covered over 500 miles, send in their own creations? tips, which highlighted ways in which combination of all three – I certainly could. This is my bit. It flls me with including running both the Paris and Marisa Evetts, Crewe we can make a diference. As an artist draw on them all for motivation. pride and inspiration to think that, London marathons, and completing concerned about environmental I’m a veterinary surgeon by working to keep the issues a Richmond Park duathlon. This issues, I found myself putting pen with a passion for WWF fghts so hard for in the Maurice the Pug: served as perfect training for the Royal
and brush to paper to make a poster conservation, and I get public eye, I am helping. That I “This is not witchcraft. Parks Foundation half-marathon, in which It’s me supporting about turning of the tap while distressed when I think can say #iProtectTigers. #ChangeClimateChange he donned a tiger-print onesie and raised brushing your teeth. I hope you like it! of the direction in which Rob Pope, Merseyside Let’s celebrate together” over £350 – enough to purchase one pair Mary Rouncefeld, Bristol #EarthHour of camera traps for our work in Bhutan or #mauricethepug Russia (see page 12). “We’re not going to lose tigers,” says Ollie. “Let’s stay positive.” With dedicated teams on the ground, including such fearless individuals as Singye TECHNOLOGY IS THE FUTURE and Pavel, and members like you and Ollie For this year’s Earth Hour, I reduced my energy demand for living space, food, water and behind them, tigers now have the best consumption by reading at home, using low- energy. By harnessing modern technology, possible chance of protection. energy lighting, rather than travelling to an we can signifcantly reduce the use of all event. I’d like to see next year’s campaign go these resources per capita. Clearly, not every further by demonstrating how the application technology has been used wisely all of the © GETTY IMAGES of sound science and technology can help reduce time. But if we embrace technology with due JOIN THE ACTION GANG AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR REALLY WILD SUMMER the human pressures on the planet’s natural consideration, as WWF has done in its Living Summer is the best time to get outdoors, get ft and enjoy doing something great for wildlife – and we resources, wildlife and ecosystems. Planet Centre, we can lead a civilised life with a love to hear about all the fun you’ve had. So please email your letters and photos to [email protected] One of the greatest threats to our planet is the huge light footprint on this beautiful planet. Though we read every one, we cannot acknowledge them and must reserve the right to edit them. growth in the human population, and its concomitant Duncan Froggatt, Totley, Shefeld 28 | Action Summer 2017 Action Summer 2017 | 29 COMPETITIONS NOTES FROM THE FIELD
ICE BOUND CROSSWORD Impressions of the Far South LIVING WITH PENGUINS WIN A £50 Solve our crossword and you could win a copy of Ice Bound: Impressions of the Far M&S VOUCHER South, worth £20 and available on Amazon In the Antarctic with Darren Rees
We’re celebrating 10 years of partnership with M&S 1 234 56 by giving away two £50 M&S vouchers 7 Cotton is used to make nearly half of the world’s clothes and other textile products. But its production can be harmful to 8
people and the planet. It can take up to 2,700 litres of water CLEWLOW © HARRIET to produce one conventional cotton T-shirt, which is the same 9 amount an average person might drink over three years! 10 For the past 10 years, we’ve been working with M&S to promote cotton farming practices that are more 11 environmentally friendly and better for the health of farmers. 12 13 For example, we’ve worked with over 20,000 cotton farmers The western Antarctic Peninsula is home to globally important
in south India to help them reduce their use of water, 14 populations of Adélie, chinstrap and gentoo penguins. During the chemical pesticides and fertilisers. second half of the 20th century, it was one of three areas of the Ashirwadham, a cotton farmer from Telangana, south India, 15 16 world that warmed most rapidly. This change in climate has been says: “Before being introduced to the Better Cotton Initiative linked to declines in the Adélies and chinstraps, but increases in 17 18 [BCI], we used a lot of pesticides and chemicals. We used to the number and range of the gentoos. These three penguin species all love krill, so they breed in have itchiness, headaches, stomach aches and dizziness. With 19 the BCI methods, my costs have decreased, the quality of the sequence to reduce competition and ensure there’s enough food for all their chicks. But the timing of breeding is sensitive cotton is better and we are getting a high rate in the market.” 20 to the climate, so I’m studying how interactions between the It’s not just farmers who are benefting from Better Cotton – BROOK | © M. / WWF-UK AXELROD © NICOLAS 21 three species are being afected. I spent four months attaching we’re involved along the entire supply chain, from the small GPS tags to breeding penguins on Signy Island in the South farmers to the retailers, encouraging a shift in Ashirwadham and his wife assess the WWF Action crossword 36: summer 2017 issue. Compiled by Aleric Linden Orkney Islands. By fnding out where chinstraps and Adélies attitudes and business practices. day’s cotton harvest. forage at diferent times during the breeding season, I hope to After solving the crossword, take each letter from the shaded Read more about M&S’ Plan A sustainability programme Now they are Better be able to predict how these penguins could react to future Cotton farmers, their squares (going from left to right and top to bottom) to spell out the and how WWF is involved at: wwf.org.uk/m&s prospects are good climate change. prize word. To be in with a chance to win, just send a postcard with To enter our competition to win one of two £50 M&S the prize word to the address on page 30 or email it to ANIMAL ANTICS vouchers, simply follow the instructions (below) and [email protected]. The closing date is 21 July 2017. As there are only eight people stationed on this small island, we mark your entry ‘M&S Comp’. Clues across Clues down all help with jobs including fxing the generators and cleaning. 1 Fauna, as opposed to fora (7) 2 Designated conservation areas such Every day is diferent. Some mornings I’m up at 6am to check that 7 Marine organisms such as seaweeds (5) as Spain’s Doñana and the Democratic elephant seals haven’t broken through the fence into the base. The 8 Poaching is a major one faced by the Republic of the Congo’s Virunga (8,5) seals remember when they used to lie on the boardwalks, which HOW TO ENTER world’s tigers (6) 3 Farmers’ _ , retail outlets for fresh, WIN A WEATHERPROOF JACKET 9 _ transport, a more environmentally- locally-grown foods (7) are much nicer than a muddy, wet beach. Each individual weighs We’ve got two Mountain Warehouse jackets, one for him and one for her, to give away ACTION GIVEAWAYS friendly alternative to driving (6) 4 A toxic heavy metal (4) several tonnes, so they only have to lean on the fence to break it. 10 Solar _ , form of renewable energy (5) 5 The Earth, in a spherical sense (5) Once my morning tasks are done, I trek across the island to the Send an email with your name, 11 The lethal act of a predator (4) 6 Aquatic reptiles such as hawksbills, penguin colonies at Gourlay Peninsula. The wind chill here can be With a durable waterproof outer shell and a address and phone number, 12 Dripping ones in our homes can each loggerheads and leatherbacks (6,7) as cold as -20°C, even in summer, so frst I put on plenty of layers. warm, lightweight inner jacket, the Bracken and your chosen competition waste thousands of litres of water 9 & 16 across Magnifcent Arctic each year (4) carnivores whose scientifc name Then I look for the Adélies I’ve tagged with GPS trackers. I mark Extreme 3-in-1 waterproof jacket in petrol – e.g. M&S Comp, Jacket Comp, 13 _ of Special Scientifc Interest, is Ursus maritimus (5,5) their nests with a brick – otherwise it would be impossible to pick blue* is both stylish and versatile. The outer etc – in the subject line, to protected area in the UK often 11 _ ridley, the most endangered of them out from the crowd. If any birds have returned from feeding shell is made of a waterproof and breathable [email protected] referred to as an SSSI (4) all marine turtles (5) membrane that keeps you dry and allows 14 _ tiger, endangered subspecies from 13 _ Areas of Conservation – SACs, overnight, I catch them and remove their tags so I can download Alternatively, post your entry to the Russian Far East (4) for short (7) perspiration out. Its weather protection the location data that’s been recorded. I only leave the tags on for Action Mag, WWF-UK, 16 See 9 down 15 Madagascar _ thickets, forested is so reliable that Mountain Warehouse 17 South American plains (6) ecoregion (5) around 10 days so they don’t cause the penguins any discomfort. Living Planet Centre, Ruford guarantees it for three years. Both the 19 The same product but with less 18 Organisation set up in 1995 focusing It’s hard not to be distracted by the Adélies’ antics. They never House, Brewery Road, packaging (6) on EU forests (4) adjustable hood and the inner jacket detach stand still for long – one is always chasing another or stealing its Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL. 20 Tigers are killed and stripped of them for maximum all-season versatility. To be as part of the illegal wildlife trade (5) prized nest stones. They’re fascinated by humans and even follow Only one competition per in with a chance of winning one of these 21 The Strait of Dover lies in which SPRING 2017 ANSWERS: me around the colony. I fnd them hilarious. I hope my work will entry please. ‘Channel’? (7) Prize word: FARMERS. improve our understanding of how these amazing birds might jackets, worth £179.99 each, just follow the Across 6. Flash 7. Germany 8. Safaris instructions (right), mark your entry ‘Jacket The closing date for the 10. Sperm 11. Tree 12. Rivers react to climate change – and how we can help protect them. 16. Horned 17. Fell 20. Eland Comp’ and let us know whether you would competitions is 21 July 2017. 21. Forests 22. Greener 23. Masai For terms and conditions, visit Down 1. Ofsets 2. Third 3. Grasses like the men’s or the women’s jacket and in 4. Watersheds 5. Pygmy 7. GPS Harriet what size (XS–XXXL). wwf.org.uk/compterms 9. Fresh water 13. Ice 14. Eroding Harriet Clewlow, PhD researcher with British Antarctic 15. Plastic 18. Neagh 19. Crime 21. Far Survey, the University of Exeter and WWF-UK *Please note, jacket colour may difer to that featured, depending 30 | Action Summer 2017 on size availability when competition closes Action Summer 2017 | 31 • ACTION • SUMMER 2017 #36 • SUMMER • ISSUE • ACTION
Gifts in wills account for 20% of our total income, and allow us to THEIR FUTURE continue working hard to protect threatened species. OUR PLANET To fnd out more, please call Maria Dyson on 01483 412459, © GETTY YOUR LEGACY or email [email protected] IN YOUR NEXT ISSUE CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY + PHOTOGRAPHING TIGERS WWF.ORG.UK
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