Earn your stripes and save the tiger!
12 July 2010
WWF is looking for 18-22 year olds to come to Russia and help save the tiger
WWF-UK has launched an exciting new competition offering 18-22 year-olds a once-in-a-life-time chance to travel to Russia for a Tiger Youth Summit in Vladivostok this September.
With as few as 3,200 tigers left in the wild, world leaders are meeting up in St Petersburg in Russia this September to draw up vital plans to double wild tiger numbers by 2022. To ensure these leaders realise that future generations are relying on them to act now to stop the decline. WWF is organising a youth summit to take place at the same timeI in the Russian Far East.
We are looking for two 18-22 year olds to come to the summit and learn about tiger conservation first hand. The lucky winners, chosen by WWF, will join others the same age from all over the world, in order to see our work for themselves, and to help us spread the word about tiger conservation. Countries where wild tigers live are especially being encouraged to send representatives, as well as young people from other countries that support tiger conservation.
“Without decisive global action right now, we are in serious danger of losing the species forever in many parts of Asia. This is a fantastic way for two young dynamic individuals to help make it clear to our world leaders that the next generation is counting on them to save the tiger” said Diane Walkington, Head of Species at WWF-UK.
“We are keen to get young people engaged in our work, so they understand the real threats facing some of our most iconic species and habitats, and can help raise awareness of the conservation work WWF does .”
Our two winners will get to visit tiger habitats, learn first-hand about the threats facing this iconic species, and find out what WWF is doing to protect it. WWF will ask for them to share their experiences, both during the summit and afterwards, through blogging, tweeting and facebook, to encourage other young people to learn more about our work.
WWF is also calling on the UK public to sign up to a petition to show their support for a united push for tiger conservation. This will be handed in at the St Petersburg summit in Russia this September.
“If we lose the tiger, not only do we lose one of the world’s top predators, we will lose so much more. By safeguarding their habitats, we will protect hundreds of other species in the process,” said Diane Walkington.
“It is vital that leaders at the summit in Russia understand that the UK public does not want to live in a world without tigers, so WWF is asking as many people as possible sign our petition, which will be added to thousands of voices from all over the world and handed over to negotiators in September.”
For more details of the competition please go to: http://www.wwf.org.uk/what_we_do/campaigning/year_of_the_tiger/earn_your_stripes.cfm
To sign the WWF tiger petition please go to:
http://www.wwf.org.uk/how_you_can_help/donate_now/save_the_tiger/
Editor’s notes:
The deadline for applications for the Tiger Youth Summit is 9am, 21st July.
For further information, please contact:
Rowan Walker, tel: 01483 412 387 email: rwalker@wwf.org.uk
