Target: Julius Maada Wonie Bio, President of Sierra Leone
Goal: Develop robust conservation plan for pygmy hippos.
Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo has become a tourist and Internet sensation because of one of its latest inhabitants. Ever since Moo Deng was born during the summer, visitors have flocked to visit her…so many visitors, in fact, that sightings are limited to five minutes per day on the weekends. Atta Zoological Park in Greece also recently welcomed a member of Moo Deng’s species for the first time in a decade. These adorable animals represent efforts to preserve and restore the species in question: pygmy hippos.
These hippos are the smallest forms of hippopotamus on the planet, measuring about five to six feet long. As natives to West Africa, their habitats have become increasingly threatened, putting the animals themselves at risk. About 2,500 wild pygmy hippos remain, and they are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Four nations are home to the pygmy hippo, but some of these countries are lacking in conservation efforts. Sign the petition below to urge one of the last refuges of this unique species to safeguard its ecological future.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear President Bio,
Sierra Leone has the distinction of hosting many of the 2,500 remaining wild pygmy hippos. These animals are important contributors to ecosystems, as they are recyclers of nutrients, dispersers of seeds, and engineers of riverbanks. This nation should join with its fellow pygmy havens and launch a national conservation effort.
Since deforestation plays a major role in these hippos’ endangerment, a forest conservation scheme in line with the proposal backed by the United Nations should be central to these efforts. Involving local communities in conservation initiatives could build trust and bolster plans of action. Please make preservation of this important and one-of-a-kind animal a top priority.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Chuckupd
