“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France

Sitting in the popup shop for fundraising for my favourite charity “Cats Protection”, got me thinking. How little we do for the other creatures with whom we share this planets.  A lot of talk by celebrities,  talk show hosts, politicians and even the man on the street but how much of it does change to action.  On one side you have rich kids of a President  and flamboyant big game hunters who flaunt their trophies on social media and on the other there are those who are trying their best to keep the illegal poachers at bay when the affluent “big game enthusiasts” get away scot free.  No offense to all the people who spend their entire lives in the thankless task of conservation, but when you look at the governments and the majority of population, the focus is progress and economic prosperity of humankind.

Watching the live webcams on Springwatch on the BBC, I am amazed by the resilience of the parents in the animal and bird kingdom when parents are desperately bringing up the next generation to continue the species against all odds. Looking at all the great tit chicks fledge and leave the nest warmed my heart. There has been so many moments of sheer pleasure 😍 watching the new families battle the elements, predators and winning but then also heartache and sorrow when the chicks were stolen and became dinner for the woodpecker family and when the very resilient chaffinch chick who  was named Custer got ambushed by the pine marten and lost his battle.😢

I have also been keeping an eye on the progress of the osprey chicks on the webcams at the Loch of the Lowes at the Scottish Wildlife Trust near Dunkled. But last week, we went there to see the nests and loch for myself. It was most definitely amazing to actually see the nest with my eyes even though it was through the telescope.. with the Mum sitting on the nest protecting her chicks from the rain whilst the Dad perched on a tree close by surveying the Loch. What majestic birds.

Watching an aerial view of large parts of the rain forests all devastated and cut down in the name of progress just breaks my heart.  Can you imagine the plight of all those animals who called those forests their home for millennia.  But there are pockets of community deep within these forests and habitats who have always lived with nature and have learnt to sustain the environment for their children.

There are so many animals and bird species on this planet many of whom are not yet discovered. Planet Earth is full of life on land, air and water making it such a magical unique planet in this solar system. Every little effort should be made by each and every person to help this planet conserve and help all these plant and animal species flourish and make a wonderful life to add to the diversity on this place called Earth.

I hope and pray with all my heart that with all the publicity, good education and awareness, the future of this planet and it’s creatures big and small is saved for future generations.