Have you ever seen the black and white panda on the logo of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)? 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 organization 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.
Danielle (24) marine turtle.
l was part of the WWF's Global Marine Turtle Program. Our objective was to protect marine turtle habitats and areas around their nesting beaches. We also promoted ecotourism at marine turtle sites, so that local communities become involved in protecting the species. The main threat to the turtles is poaching. Researchers estimate that each year 50,000 marine turtles are killed in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.
Jonathan (32) ring-tailed lemur.
I volunteered to work for a lemur conservation group in Madagascar. lt was the most gratifying experience of my life. Madagascar is home to all kinds of unique plants and animals, but the lemur is the most famous. Lemurs are actually primates, like gorillas and chimpanzees, and are the oldest living primates in the world. Unfortunately, a shocking new study has found that Madagascar's lemurs have become the most endangered mammals on the planet. This is because of the continuing destruction of tropical rainforest due to illegal logging.