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Graeme Greene book "The New Big 5" - a photo book of endangered species - 2023

"From the towering giraffe to the bright orange and blue rock agama to the deep-sea anglerfish that produces its own light, we live alongside creatures that are a match for anything science fiction writers have imagined to populate alien worlds," writes Graeme Green in his book The New Big 5, published this month. In April 2020, the wildlife photographer launched a project to flip the idea of the "Big 5" of trophy hunting on its head, inviting people around the world to vote online for their five favourite animals to photograph and see in photos; the New Big 5 of wildlife photography, as decided by the public vote, are the elephant, polar bear, lion, gorilla, and tiger.

Spotted torrent frog, Santa Barbara Park, Ecuador, Lucas Bustamante; International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status: Critically Endangered (Credit: Lucas Bustamante)

Spotted torrent frog, Santa Barbara Park, Ecuador, Lucas Bustamante; International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status: Critically Endangered (Credit: Lucas Bustamante)

Polar bear trade ban

Polar bear trade ban divides campaigners

polar bears and water
 
Some campaigners argue that the key issue for polar bears is climate change

 

Wildlife campaigners are at odds over a new attempt to ban the global trade in polar bear parts.

Some activists say the market for rugs and ornaments made from the bears is

driving them to extinction, but others argue that the most pressing problem for the species is climate

change and the disappearance of polar ice.

The issue will be decided at a UN wildlife conservation meeting in Thailand

in March 2013.

The Humane Society International/UK says that polar bears have been brought

to a tipping point by climate change but that increased hunting in recent years

is pushing the species "beyond the brink."

 

“We can't be arguing for the science when it suits us and then ignore it when it doesn't suit our case”

Dr Colman O'Criodain WWF

 

Polar Bear

Bear (Polar)

Polar BearPolar bear: Ursus maritimus

Distribution: northern polar regions occurring in 5 nations - Greenland, Norway, Canada, United States, the former Soviet Union and also on Arctic sea pack ice usually within 300km of land. Some individuals wander up to 200km inland.

Population: 20,000 - 25,000 with 60% living in Canada.

Status: vulnerable species (IUCN).

Habitat: favourite habitat is a combination of pack ice, open water and coastal land.

Description: coat colour varies from pure white to shades of yellow. Small ears; black eyes and nose.

Height: 1.6m to shoulder

Length: 2.2 - 2.5m.

Size of feet: 30cm long, 25cm wide.