| When I was talking to my daughter, who was | | | | worse state if not for the public support of |
| seven years old at the time, about adopting a | | | | the WWF and similar organizations. |
| panda, I neglected to explain the concept | | | | |
| properly. She asked me if our house was big | | | | Animals for adoption plays an important part |
| enough for a panda and what would we feed it | | | | in conservation and raising awareness. |
| on! Much as I would really like a pet panda, | | | | |
| I don't think I'd cope very well. I remember | | | | The Giant Panda is greatly affected by forest |
| that episode of The Simpsons when Bart won an | | | | clearing for timber and agriculture. There is |
| elephant. Animals for Adoption, as far as | | | | also the problem of overgrazing. Habitat |
| wild animals are concerned, is not so hands | | | | destruction is also a problem for the |
| on. | | | | Orangutan, as land is cleared for agriculture |
| | | | and commercial logging. The Borneo and |
| The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), have an | | | | Sumatra islands are now the only places left |
| adoption scheme that works very well. The | | | | on Earth where wild Orangutans can be found. |
| idea is to choose an animal from their | | | | |
| Animals for Adoption program and commit to | | | | Bottlenose Dolphins have their own problems |
| paying an amount of money each month. The | | | | at the hand of humans. The oceans are |
| money goes towards the conservation of that | | | | increasingly polluted and dolphins are |
| animal in it's natural surroundings. The WWF | | | | frequently caught up in fishing tackle. As |
| doesn't operate zoos but is committed to | | | | the shipping lanes become busier, they are in |
| preserving endangered species in their | | | | danger of colliding with ships. The Animals |
| natural habitat. | | | | for Adoption scheme is vital for the depleted |
| | | | numbers of Bengal Tiger in Nepal, who are in |
| The choice of animals that the WWF offers is | | | | constant danger from poachers. It's hoped |
| the Giant Panda, Orangutan, Bottlenose | | | | that the patrols that have been put in place |
| Dolphin, Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant and | | | | can help the situation. |
| Black Rhino. The Animals for Adoption scheme | | | | |
| enables you to feel part of the excellent | | | | The demand for the horn of the Black Rhino |
| work that the WWF does. On joining the scheme | | | | has made this species very rare. The powder |
| and choosing your individual animal, you | | | | derived from the horn has long been a favored |
| receive a certificate, a photograph of the | | | | ingredient for traditional Chinese medicine. |
| animal and a soft toy. You also get a fact | | | | Again, habitat clearance for agriculture and |
| sheet about the species and information on | | | | logging is putting the Asian Elephant under |
| how to be environmentally aware. | | | | threat. Animals for Adoption is one way to |
| | | | show you care about all these endangered |
| Each species is on the endangered list for | | | | animals. |
| one reason or another and would be in an even | | | | |