Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 3 March 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# South Africa’s first pangolin rescue centre has opened in Lapalala Wilderness Reserve in Limpopo. The Pangolarium, launched by the African Pangolin Working Group, offers trafficked pangolins a chance to heal and return to the wild, while providing veterinary care and rehabilitation. The Pangolarium enhances conservation efforts and security for these endangered creatures as they are the world’s most illegally traded mammals.

# Today is the United Nations World Wildlife Day, a call for the protection of endangered species and natural environments. This year’s theme is Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet, emphasising the critical need for innovative financial solutions to support conservation projects. More than one-million species are now estimated to be threatened with extinction amid the intensifying triple planetary crisis. The UN says that this day is also an opportunity to step up the fight against wildlife crime and the human-induced reduction of species.

# And finally: A state of emergency has been declared in North and South Carolina in the US, as firefighters continue to battle over 100 wildfires amid dry conditions and strong winds. Thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes, with one of the biggest wildfires raging in Carolina Forest near Myrtle Beach. South Carolina governor, Henry McMaster, says the state of emergency declaration will allow first responders to rapidly get any resources they need to battle the wildfires.

Stay tuned for more news………….