Branding is all about delivering promises to your customers and your people – and success is measured by a company’s ability to deliver on those promises every single time. Branding is far more than a logo, name or corporate colour. The brand strategy that sits behind it is an enormous part of building a successful business. I help clients clearly define their brand and what it stands for, allowing them to make effective decisions to drive their company forward.

  There Are Only 180 Panthers Left in Florida. Here’s How We Can Help Save This Keystone Species

Recognized as the official state animal, the Florida panther is one of the most rare and endangered mammals on planet earth. Sadly, there may only be 100-180 panthers still roaming the wilds of Florida. So it goes without saying that this is one big cat that needs our unwavering attention and support.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission point out that panthers barely escaped extinction and in the 1970s, when there was only perhaps a handful left, the panther was within a hairsbreadth of disappearing from the face of the earth forever.

Intolerance towards the species, habitat loss, road kill, issues with genetic diversity … the list of threats seem almost overwhelming, but we can take heart in the efforts being made torecover the populations of these majestic cats.

Fighting for Survival

I always find that it’s during an animal’s recovery, particularly a predator, when it is most under threat from those who never wanted to see it recover in the first place. Already we are hearing the usual rhetoric and calls to remove the panther from the endangered species list.

Every time I hear this logic, I cannot help but bury my head in my hands and silently scream with exasperation. The species is still critically endangered and so fragile, why on earth would you remove the protection that allowed it to escape the clutches of extinction in the first place?

Even to say the population is fragile is an understatement in my opinion. Despite its endangered status and the legal protection this provides, the threats to this species are immense. Like other top predators, the panther plays a key role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. When panther populations are reduced, prey populations are allowed to grow unchecked, in Florida this would mean an increase in deer and raccoons, species that are generally considered pests to humans. Further, because they are selective hunters, panthers help to reduce the number of sick or weak animals, which in turn keeps the prey populations healthy.

However, despite the many benefits of panther, the intolerance towards these animals is proving deadly. On December 7, an 18 month-old female Florida panther was found shot dead.

Road deaths in particular are proving to be absolutely devastating. Last year a record number of panthers were killed on the roads – thirty dead. With an estimated population of at most 180, that is shocking. All signs show that 2015 could follow the same script as at least four panthers have been killed on the roads already.

Corridors of Death

But we cannot just blame the vehicles. According to Elizabeth Fleming, a Florida representative for Defenders of Wildlife, extensive development and road networks have destroyed and fragmented panther habitat meaning that in order to find food and breed, the panthers must now crisscross these dangerous highways. These big cats once enjoyed avenues of wilderness in Florida – now they have to navigate their way through corridors of death.

This destruction to the panther’s habitat seems almost irreparable but great work is being done to reverse some of the damage done with programmes to conserve and restore panther habitat, and underpasses to reduce panther road fatalities. Also, in order for the population of panthers to increase, efforts are being made to ensure that they can move safely northward from south Florida back into their historical range in the Southeastern U.S.

Thankfully, not all road collisions have been fatal. In January, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released a rehabilitated panther at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park after recovering from a vehicle strike. Watch the heart-warming footage of the release here.

Panther Release from My FWC on Vimeo.

It is scenes like this which give hope to the recovery of the Florida panther but with the persistent threats to this species we must remain vigilant and  ensure that this big cat never again falls to the brink of extinction.

How Can You Help the Florida Panther Survive?

Securing habitat and travel corridors for the Florida panther is one of the highest priorities in the fight for its survival.

If you would like to help, please take action to make protecting more habitat and travel corridors for the Florida panther a high priority of the USFWS and Department of Interior. You can also check out the work that Defenders of Wildlife is doing to protect this incredible species. By protecting the panther, we can help protect the entire ecosystem of South Florida. Sounds like win for everyone, doesn’t it?

Lead image source: Dan Bodensten/Flickr

Idaho Requests More Money for Its Wolf “Control” Board: This week, news surfaced that Idaho’s Governor Butch Otter is requesting an additional $400,000 to fund a second year of the state’s wolf control board. This money will go exclusively towards killing wolves. The wolf control board was implemented by Governor Otter in 2014; the legislation requested $400,000 per year for five years to drive Idaho’s wolf population down as low as possible. News reports say that money from the Wolf Control Board in 2014 has gone towards killing 31 wolves from Aug. 7 –December 31, at a cost of $4,600 per wolf. The wolf control board has already contracted out an additional $235,000 of work between now and the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1, 2015. Throwing money at lethal control programs without even considering effective non-lethal options for keeping wolves away from livestock makes absolutely no sense! And many such programs do exist. Working with ranchers, Defenders has pioneered many practical solutions to help livestock and wolves coexist – for example the Wood River Coexistence Project in central Idaho –uses proven, effective nonlethal deterrents like fladry, range riders, electric fencing and guard dogs to help protect livestock and build social acceptance for wolves.

Help us continue to fight efforts like this one in Idaho >> Advocates Testify in Opposition to Bills That Would Weaken Protections for Washington Wolves: Two committees in the Washington State legislature held public hearings this week on a series of bills that would weaken protections for wolves in the state. Offered as “solutions” to the wolf-livestock conflicts involving the Huckleberry Pack last summer in northeastern Washington, the bills included one to authorize increased lethal control of wolves and another to delist wolves in large portions of the state. Defenders of Wildlife and numerous other wolf advocates testified in opposition to these bills, highlighting for legislators how these proposals are likely to increase conflicts and tensions among stakeholders, generating needless controversy and reducing the chance to produce common ground. We will keep you posted on these bills as they are considered by the committee. “How Anti-Wolf Propaganda Threatens The Survival of the Species:” We wanted to share a particularly compelling news story this week from One Green Planet which discusses the ways in which anti-wolf propaganda undermines wolves’ continued recovery. The article hits the nail on the head: “Anti-wolf fanatics have been hard at it spreading myths and fairy tales, and sadly some people seem susceptible to this scaremongering and genuinely believe that the big bad wolf is going to enter their homes with fangs bared to gobble them up for dinner. You think I’m joking? I’m really not. But that’s not even the worst part. This anti-wolf rhetoric has made its way into the corridors of power.” False portrayals of wolves as cruel and threatening creatures only serve to undermine their recovery. You can help by sharing this article on your social networks and by reminding your friends and family that false depictions of wolves in the media have real world consequences for the species. The post Wolf Weekly Wrap-Up appeared first on Defenders of Wildlife Blog.

Idaho's Killing Campaign

Idaho state officials have just requested another $400,000 to kill even more wolves.

It’s breaking the bank and breaking our hearts. Idaho is at it again – state officials have just requested another $400,000 to kill even more wolves! Enough is enough. Your urgent support for Defenders of Wildlife will help us protect wolves and other vulnerable wildlife. The state calls it the “Wolf Depredation Control Board.” We call it the “Wolf Kill Board.” What it really does is funnel state taxpayers’ money for the sole purpose of killing wolves. And make no mistake – this wolf-hating panel wants to kill every wolf it’s allowed to. Here’s what one Wolf Kill Board member told state legislators at a budget hearing: “We think we’re going to need every dime of that money before this is over.” Many of these killings are sanctioned to artificially inflate deer and elk numbers! Idaho’s wolves have been in growing jeopardy since Congress stripped them of protection under the Endangered Species Act in 2011. Since Idaho took over their management, the number of breeding pairs, which are necessary to maintain the population, have plummeted. Defenders is the only national organization with staff on the ground in Idaho working not only to help restore wolves but at the statehouse and state wildlife commission testifying against these actions threatening wolves. Your urgent support will help us fight to end Idaho’s rogue war on wolves. Keep the dream of red wolf recovery alive

Why would a federal agency completely abandon three decades of painstaking wolf conservation for no good reason? Hard as it is to believe, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is actively considering abandoning recovery efforts for the critically endangered red wolf. It would be an unjustifiable and tragic act on their part. And we can’t let it happen. Your urgent donation to Defenders will help protect red wolves and other vulnerable species from coast to coast. Just last month, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission passed a resolution asking FWS to declare the red wolf extinct in the wild. This would bring more than three decades of painstaking wolf conservation to a screeching halt and could doom the last wild packs. Shockingly, FWS officials have said they will seriously consider the request! Red wolves, smaller cousins of the gray wolf, once roamed across the southeastern United States. Habitat loss and extermination took a deadly toll. By the 1970s, only a few of these shy animals remained in captivity. In 1987, red wolves were reintroduced into a small area in eastern North Carolina. Today, roughly 100 red wolves are making their last stand for survival in a five county area in North Carolina scrub forest. Defenders has been a stalwart supporter of red wolf reintroduction since the program began, and we have consistently won court battles to secure the protection of red wolves. Please help us continue the fight to save endangered red wolves and other vulnerable wildlife! As recently as 2013, we went to federal court to stop the practice of night hunting for coyotes in the red wolf recovery zone. Coyotes and red wolves look a lot alike in broad daylight. At night they are nearly impossible to tell apart. Dozens of red wolves have been shot and killed in recent years as a result. After the court ruled in our favor on night hunting, the state agreed to discontinue the practice. For FWS to agree with the North Carolina Commission’s request to walk away from red wolf recovery in the wild and shut the program down would be a monumental mistake and tragedy. With your continued support, we can keep the dream of red wolf recovery alive. 

  How Anti-Wolf Propaganda Threatens the Survival of The Species

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf? Well the three little pigs and Little Red Riding Hood are certainly not fans … but apart from myths, legends and children’s fairy tales, why is this beautiful creature so demonized in the modern world?

If someone asks you what is more likely to kill you; a wolf or a cow? You would probably go with the wolf, right? I know that’s what my first thought was. But let’s have a reality check.

Cows are responsible for an average of twenty two human deaths in the U.S. each year. On average wolves are responsible for zero. In fact, you are more likely to be struck by lightning or killed by an elevator than be killed by a wolf. In the 21st century, only two known deaths have been attributed to wild wolves in the entirety of North America.

The War on Wolves

So what’s with all the hysteria? Anti-wolf fanatics have been hard at it spreading myths and fairy tales, and sadly some people seem susceptible to this scaremongering and genuinely believe that the big bad wolf is going to enter their homes with fangs bared to gobble them up for dinner. You think I’m joking? I’m really not. But that’s not even the worst part. This anti-wolf rhetoric has made its way into the corridors of power.

Fairy tales are influencing legislation, regulations, public opinion and threatening the recovery of wolves and their vital contribution to our ecosystems.

I could give you countless examples of this war on wolves but let’s take a look at what’s going on in Washington state, where wolves are only just beginning to re-establish themselves after being very nearly wiped out by human persecution.

Anti-wolf fanatics have launched a campaign to demonise the wolf. In a crusade to win over the hearts and minds of Washingtonians a group by the name of Washington Residents Against Wolves (WARAW) have erected billboards carrying a warning of death and destruction to all by the big bad wolf. Snarling teeth, glaring vicious eyes … at first glance you could mistake it as an advertisement for a new horror flick. They even say that the wolf is going to kill your children! Reminds me a bit of a dingo stole my baby.

So it is pretty clear that calm, fact based debate is not on the table for the anti-wolf fanatic’s. They are steadfast in their quest of fairy tale ideologies. They even seem to openly admit this. With a quick browse of their Facebook page I noticed they have a picture of Little Red Riding Hood brandishing a gun and the message, “looks like Little Red decided to join WARAW and fight back on the wolf issue.” Well at least they are honest about the fairy tales within their ranks.

The Casualties of War

The sad fact is that, as ridiculous as this anti-wolf hysteria is, wolves do suffer and will continue to suffer as a result of this demonization. Just look at Idaho.

Over 1,470 wolves have been killed in Idaho since 2009 when the state demanded the chance to control wolves within its territory. Wolves have been slaughtered by various methods including firearms, aerial gunning, trapping and snaring. And shockingly this is just the beginning of Idaho’s war on wolves as a wolf killing fund has been set up to kill hundreds more wolves. All of this despite the fact a recent scientific study shows that killing wolves actually increases livestock predation. What an absolute tragedy.

Could this be the future for Washington’s wolves? Reassuringly Washingtonians are not falling for the fairy tales. Billboards where erected by Defenders of Wildlife to counter the anti-wolf campaign and the bulk of the funding was actually initiated by locals who thought the anti-wolf bill boards needed a response. It is wonderful to see local people taking a stand for their natural heritage and rejecting the crusade of the fanatics. But we must also speak out for wolves.

So What Can You do to Protect Wolves?

Wolves need you now more than ever to secure their full recovery.

As an apex predator, the wolf plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy and thriving ecosystem. When the wolf population was removed from the Yellowstone region of Wyoming, we saw an increase in small, grazing animals who decimated the local verbiage, making tree roots less stable, leading to an increase in soil erosion. Soil erosion poses a threat to local waterways and can damage the health of aquatic life. The wolf is the stable peg that holds the entire ecosystem in balance and if we do not wish to see this same sort of degradation in Washington, or other regions of the U.S. it is up to us to protect the wolf species.

The greatest threat to wolves in the U.S. is the proposal to delist them from Endangered Species Act Protection. Demand that this reckless delisting proposal is abandoned and secure the full recovery of gray wolves.The wolves in Idaho desperately need your support. If you are sickened by the 1, 470 wolves already killed then please take part in this action.

Lead image source: Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr

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  There Are Only 180 Panthers Left in Florida. Here’s How We Can Help Save This Keystone Species

Recognized as the official state animal, the Florida panther is one of the most rare and endangered mammals on planet earth. Sadly, there may only be 100-180 panthers still roaming the wilds of Florida. So it goes without saying that this is one big cat that needs our unwavering attention and support.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission point out that panthers barely escaped extinction and in the 1970s, when there was only perhaps a handful left, the panther was within a hairsbreadth of disappearing from the face of the earth forever.

Intolerance towards the species, habitat loss, road kill, issues with genetic diversity … the list of threats seem almost overwhelming, but we can take heart in the efforts being made torecover the populations of these majestic cats.

Fighting for Survival

I always find that it’s during an animal’s recovery, particularly a predator, when it is most under threat from those who never wanted to see it recover in the first place. Already we are hearing the usual rhetoric and calls to remove the panther from the endangered species list.

Every time I hear this logic, I cannot help but bury my head in my hands and silently scream with exasperation. The species is still critically endangered and so fragile, why on earth would you remove the protection that allowed it to escape the clutches of extinction in the first place?

Even to say the population is fragile is an understatement in my opinion. Despite its endangered status and the legal protection this provides, the threats to this species are immense. Like other top predators, the panther plays a key role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem. When panther populations are reduced, prey populations are allowed to grow unchecked, in Florida this would mean an increase in deer and raccoons, species that are generally considered pests to humans. Further, because they are selective hunters, panthers help to reduce the number of sick or weak animals, which in turn keeps the prey populations healthy.

However, despite the many benefits of panther, the intolerance towards these animals is proving deadly. On December 7, an 18 month-old female Florida panther was found shot dead.

Road deaths in particular are proving to be absolutely devastating. Last year a record number of panthers were killed on the roads – thirty dead. With an estimated population of at most 180, that is shocking. All signs show that 2015 could follow the same script as at least four panthers have been killed on the roads already.

Corridors of Death

But we cannot just blame the vehicles. According to Elizabeth Fleming, a Florida representative for Defenders of Wildlife, extensive development and road networks have destroyed and fragmented panther habitat meaning that in order to find food and breed, the panthers must now crisscross these dangerous highways. These big cats once enjoyed avenues of wilderness in Florida – now they have to navigate their way through corridors of death.

This destruction to the panther’s habitat seems almost irreparable but great work is being done to reverse some of the damage done with programmes to conserve and restore panther habitat, and underpasses to reduce panther road fatalities. Also, in order for the population of panthers to increase, efforts are being made to ensure that they can move safely northward from south Florida back into their historical range in the Southeastern U.S.

Thankfully, not all road collisions have been fatal. In January, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) released a rehabilitated panther at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park after recovering from a vehicle strike. Watch the heart-warming footage of the release here.

Panther Release from My FWC on Vimeo.

It is scenes like this which give hope to the recovery of the Florida panther but with the persistent threats to this species we must remain vigilant and  ensure that this big cat never again falls to the brink of extinction.

How Can You Help the Florida Panther Survive?

Securing habitat and travel corridors for the Florida panther is one of the highest priorities in the fight for its survival.

If you would like to help, please take action to make protecting more habitat and travel corridors for the Florida panther a high priority of the USFWS and Department of Interior. You can also check out the work that Defenders of Wildlife is doing to protect this incredible species. By protecting the panther, we can help protect the entire ecosystem of South Florida. Sounds like win for everyone, doesn’t it?

Lead image source: Dan Bodensten/Flickr