This heart wrenching image is the real face of poaching. An unborn baby rhino cradled by a photographer that has been taken from its mother killed for her horn is the price paid by wildlife for human greed. Not just one animal but two lose their lives. Could we hope that 2019 might be a year where this suffering may see an end ? I hope so.

The vulnerable Pangolin is now one of the most trafficked animals on the planet. This shy and reclusive animal is poached for it's extraordinary scales and used in a variety of asian medicines as well as regarded as a delicacy to eat. Tragically and as usual there is absolutely no medicinal evidence to support the beliefs that it cures any of the ailments it is poached for. Pangolins are also taken from the wild for bush meat. This endearing little animals doesn't stand a chance of survival unless we humans do something to save them. Their only defence when under threat is to roll into a ball exposing all their scales to the outer thereby foiling a predator. Naturally this is no defence against human predators so they are very easy to pick up and take from the wild. These defenseless creatures must be helped.

As the end of the year approaches it's good to focus on what good has been done what changes have occurred to benefit wildlife and our environment especially in the face of so much bad news. Pressure has been brought to bear on the trade in rhino horn and ivory so that some of the key countries driving sales now have bans in place. Of course it's sobering to consider how it will be policed but small steps first I guess. It's so easy to think all is lost that the worlds beautiful creatures have no hope of a future as we as a species pillage all that is the natural world with apparent disregard. I applaud those conservationists film makers photographers and rangers who risk so much to bring awareness of the plight of so many species and the threats they face.