The World Wildlife Fund
Have you ever seen the black and white
panda on the logo of the World Wildlife
Fund? The inspiration for the logo
came from Chi-Chi,a giant panda.It had
arrived at the London Zoo in the year 1961,
when the organiztion was being created.
WWF founders realized that they needed a
strong,recognizable symbol that would attract
people's attention to their cause.So they chose
the furry,cuddly animal with its appealing,
black-patched eyes.
The World Wildlife Fund was founded
in 1961 when a small group of scientists,
naturalists,politicians,and business people
joined forces to create an international fund
on behalf of endangered animals.This group
of committed individuals signed a declaration
which stated: "All over the world today a vast
number of fine and harmless wild creatures
are losing their lives or their homes,as a result
of thoughtless and needless destruction."
The WWF has become the world's largest
independent conservation organization with
over 5 million supporters
worldwide,in more than 100 countries.The group's
objective is to halt the damage to our planet's natural
environment,and build a future in which humans live in
harmony with nature.The fund takes concrete actions in
a number of areas.For example,it works with governments
to reduce poaching of tigers and to set aside land to
increase the size of tiger habitats.The WWF reports that
humanity is already using nearly 50 percent more natural
resources than the Earth can replace.To address this problem,
it is developing and implementing new ways of growing crops,
managing fisheries,forests,and wetlands,generating energy,and
dealing with waste.
In order to carry out its conservation mission,
the organization works with businesses and
receives many donations and contributions from
supporters,as well as help from hundreds
of volunteers.Here is what two of them have to
say about WWF.