Beyond Cecil the Lion

The sad news regarding Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe has garnered an amazing response from many people and I've seen a number of petitions flying around social media asking for justice for Cecil. It's great to see so many people engaged in the fight against illegal poaching and the trade in wildlife. However, it's not enough.

The sad fact is, many thousands of animals are killed every year through illegal poaching and hunting. This practice has pushed a number of species, including rhinos and tigers, to the very brink of extinction. But most of these animals were never given names. Most never had the protection of Cecil in life (for what it was worth in the end) nor his fame in death. The media don't give their story time. The public is rarely informed about the issue.

If you've been moved to share Cecil's story or forward a petition asking for justice, then please do take the time to also visit our friends at TRAFFIC (www.traffic.org/trade/) who, along with their partners at the WWF are at the forefront of the fight against the illegal wildlife trade. On their site you can find out about the issues, how you can help and possibly even donate to support their work. I've seen first hand their work here in Malaysia. I also know what they are up against in a seemingly hopeless fight. Your support would be crucial.

You can also find more info from WWF: (http://wwf.panda.org/…/co…/species_programme/wildlife_trade/)

Or read the two blogs linked below on the issues facing tigers and the illegal trade in ivory.

http://www.dragonsr.org/…/2…/7/28/global-tiger-day-july-29th

http://www.dragonsr.org/…/time-to-re-commit-to-end-the-ivor…

Signing and forwarding a petition is great, but being informed about the bigger issues and perhaps getting involved is better. If you want real justice for Cecil, putting an end to the illegal wildlife trade is the only way. Please take time to look at the links above and share this post as much as you've shared the petition. The enthusiasm shown in recent days gives hope. Lets take the next step.