Imagine a World Without Wildlife

International conservation charity ZSL launches new campaign

Today the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) has launched Imagine a World without Wildlife, a campaign to inspire conservation action, by encouraging people to truly consider what a planet without wildlife would mean for them.

An elephant is killed by poachers every fifteen minutes. Amphibians across the globe are facing an unparalleled disease epidemic. Fish numbers risk being matched by toxic plastic pollutants within a decade.

The world’s entire wildlife population has halved in just 40 years. 

These terrifying statistics, investigated and revealed by scientists and conservationists at ZSL - during years of research and analysis - paint a sordid picture of the world wildlife is forced to live in. But they can be changed and the time for action is now.

Recognising that these alarming facts, while eye-opening and hard-hitting, can be difficult for many to comprehend in a relatable way,Imagine a World without Wildlife shares beautiful images of scenery and landscapes with iconic species boldly cut out, enabling audiences to visualise the prophetic message.

With elephants missing from the savannah, seahorses omitted from ocean reed beds and rhinos cut from their grassland dwellings, the campaign aims to raise vital awareness of these devastating possibilities, and the work that can be done to prevent them from becoming a reality.

The Zoological Society of London's Director General, Ralph Armond, said: “We’re asking the public to imagine a world without wildlife, to really drive home the need for urgent action.

“A deliberately hard hitting message, we need the public to realise that without the worldwide work of ZSL, iconic species such as elephants, rhinos, seahorses and tigers could genuinely become a thing of the past.

“There are many ways to support ZSL, from volunteering as a citizen scientist and assisting with wildlife population surveys to becoming a ZSL Wildlife Champion to help provide the vital funds to support our global efforts – every action makes a difference.”

Almost 200 years old, and with a mission to protect animals and their habitats, ZSL’s global networks of expert staff are working for wildlife every day.

In 2016 alone, ZSL has revealed that Bengal tiger numbers have nearly doubled thanks to its conservation efforts, published ground-breaking research about the impact of chemical pollutants on killer whales to inform their future protection, reintroduced native oysters to Essex and contributed to global breeding programmes for endangered species among many more.

To join the campaign online, use #WithWildlife and visit www.zsl.org to find out more.