Animals need protection “now more than ever”

Mike Baker, CEO of London-based NGO World Animal Protection, shared his vision of animal protection in an exclusive interview with Chinagate.cn during his visit in Beijing on Wednesday.

Mike has worked in the animal charity sector for more than 20 years. He has lobbied across Europe and campaigned on issues including cosmetic testing, fox hunting, wildlife trade and working animals in developing countries.

“Animals are a vital part of our world, yet today they face unprecedented levels of suffering and exploitation. They need our protection now more than ever,” he said.

On the death of the king of the elephants

Poachers killed one of the world’s largest elephants - a famed great tusker named Satao - in Tsavo East National Park in Kenya in May. Wildlife officials found Satao’s carcass was found with his face hacked off and weighty tusks removed.

“[He was] such a high-profile elephant, well-known and well-protected. Even the king of the elephants was not safe [from poaching]. This tragedy shows how much more we need to do. Because once they gone, they will be gone forever,” Baker commented.

He believes the anti-poaching activists in Kenya are very brave and have done a great job in protecting elephants, but the problem is mankind’s endless demand for ivory. If we cannot reduce our desire to consume ivory, such tragedies can never be stopped.

The illegal wildlife trade is one of the biggest global threats to animal protection. Animals are cruelly traded, trapped or killed. They are treated as commodities, exploited for use as exotic pets, in traditional medicine, or for food, fashion or entertainment causing intense suffering on a mass scale.

He also emphasized the importance of protecting common animals such as monkeys, snakes and parrots. “These common animals are the major victims of illegal trading. Many are dying in transit. This is a hidden part of illegal trading which doesn’t get enough attention,” Baker explained.