Your children may never see a rhino, polar bear or gorilla - even in the zoo.

Rhinoceros numbers are at an all time low, tigers are in trouble, elephants are endangered and it’s very rare to see a cheetah.  We have a huge problem with poaching and try as we might, we’re not winning the anti-poaching battle.  Add climate change to the mix - think about polar bears and the lack of ice for them - and the world really is in trouble.

In fact, it has been reported that by the year 2020 we will have had a mass extinction of much of our wildlife.  More than two-thirds of animals are going to disappear.  

Let’s stop for a minute.  Your children may never see a rhinoceros, not even in the zoo.  And if we don't stop polluting the environment, your children won’t see a polar bear either.  Polar bears are starving.  Rhino are being shot for their horns. Gorillas are in terrible trouble due to a combination of poaching and deforestation of their land. And fish are dying because of all the plastic in the ocean.

Since the early seventies animal numbers have been dwindling.  Rivers and lakes have been hard hit by climate change and pollution.  Deserts are becoming hotter, making it harder for animals to survive.  Floods and mudslides are more common than ever and huge areas are being lost to fire.  Our animals are struggling and it is up to us to start changing things before it is too late.

It may already be late, say some scientists.  To reverse global warming is going to take an enormous world effort.  We need to cut carbon emissions drastically and to do that we need to change our lifestyles.  Can we? Are we prepared to?  We are going to have to work a lot harder for clean air, clean water and a clean environment.