Help us save one of the World’s most threatened animals by donating to fund field investigations and critical research into their decline
by Sacha Dench-Ambassador,UN CMS 2019-24 in Newton Abbot, Devon, United Kingdom
On our planet, there’s an animal that quietly removes deadly bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, preventing pandemics and maintaining balance in our ecosystems. With 99% of some already gone, the time to act is now.
It’s not just their disappearance that’s at stake - it’s the chain reaction of deadly consequences that follow, that will affect us all. What happens when they are gone reads like a disaster movie:
Disease Outbreaks
Without them, the carcasses they would normally consume become breeding grounds for dangerous pathogens like anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies. These diseases then spread to humans and other animals, triggering pandemics.
A rat explosion
Loss of this animal leads to a rise in stray dogs, rats, and other scavengers, who are less efficient at disposing of carcasses and more likely to spread diseases. This compromises food and water safety, affecting the overall health of our communities.
Drowning in Waste causes civil unrest
These animals are nature’s most efficient waste managers. Without them, the natural process of decomposition would slow down, and waste piles overwhelming waste management systems. Community unrest and forced migration grows as living conditions deteriorate.
Even the climate is impacted
By eating carrion, they prevent the equivalent of 12-13 million cars of CO2 being released annually during decomposition or disposal.
What if nature begins to unravel?
Their extinction could lead to cascading effects that destabilise entire ecosystems, with unpredictable and far-reaching consequences.
How you can help
From everyday supporters to industry experts, we need a diverse group of people and organisations to join us in this fight. Here’s how you can be part of this mission:
Individual Supporters: Whether you’re donating, spreading the word, or joining our community, your voice matters.
Corporate Partners: Businesses have the power to drive change—through funding, influence, and outreach.
Influencers and Public Figures: Help us amplify our message and bring awareness to new audiences.
Educational Programs (Schools and Universities): Inspire the next generation to care for our planet by getting involved in our educational initiatives.
Creatives: Storytellers, artists, filmmakers: Help us bring this mission to life and inspire change through your craft.
How We’ll Create Change
Tackling this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach that combines education, collaboration, and on-the-ground action. Here’s how we plan to turn awareness into lasting change:
Stage 1:
Education & Expedition
We’re launching a global awareness campaign to shine a light on this critical issue and lay the foundation for action.
Global Expedition: We’ll gather research and data on the ground to better understand the scope of the problem and identify the most effective solutions.
Documentary Film Series: Our film series will take this story to a global audience, raising awareness and inspiring action.
Radio Programs: Through partnerships with trusted media like the BBC World Service and Radio 4, we’ll reach diverse audiences and spark conversations across communities.
Speaking Tour: We’ll travel across key regions, engaging with communities, policymakers, and thought leaders to build momentum for change.
Stage 2: Build Support Networks
Creating lasting impact requires the right partnerships and backing.
Conservationists and Companies: We’re building alliances with those who share our commitment to protecting these animals and preventing future health crises.
Partnership Organisations: We’ll unite non-profits, research institutions, and businesses to pool resources and expertise.
Stage 3: Action
We’ll move from awareness to direct impact with a coordinated global effort.
On-the-Ground Impact: Our team will work with local communities, governments, and partners to implement solutions and policy changes that restore balance and protect both ecosystems and human health.
These creatures are the unsung heroes of our environment, quietly protecting us from diseases and maintaining the balance of nature. They are our guardians, and their disappearance would leave us vulnerable to a host of problems we are ill-prepared to face. The cost of losing them is too great to ignore. We need to protect them before it is too late.
We urgently need to make sure we don’t lose them all and are mounting a research and rescue programme, and we need your help
We have a proven track record in bringing people together to save species, and have been asked by vulture experts to deploy our scientific and problem-solving teams at a series of critical sites and challenges around the world.
Meet the Creature You’ve Overlooked- But Can’t Live Without
The animal we’ve been talking about might not be what you expected. It’s not a cute species that gets attention and admiration. It’s a bird that many find ugly, repulsive eve - a creature often ignored or despised*.*
But this bird is nature’s clean-up crew, a frontline defender against pandemics, and a critical protector of our ecosystems.
It’s the vulture.
While they silently protect us by consuming waste and preventing deadly disease outbreaks, vultures have been driven to the brink of extinction. They’re poached, poisoned, and persecuted simply because they aren’t ‘cute’ enough for us to care about. We might not care now, but we will when they’re gone—and the consequences hit home. But there’s still time to change the story.
For each site we need to raise a minimum of £15k, and we are asking your help to get us there, through this crowdfunder.
We are also offering the opportunity to become involved in the conservation effort, hearing the briefings, meeting the experts live in the field, and being part of our solutions mapping. Whatever age or background or what level of support you can give, all supporters would be most welcome to take part. – we will email all supporters with further details.
If any animal needs a mass communication campaign to convince people to help it, it’s the vultures. If there is anything we need to save to protect ourselves. It’s the vultures.
We must act now to avoid the catastrophic environmental and social consequences of losing nature's most important scavengers.
Fantastic rewards available as a thankyou for your support
This project offers rewards in return for your donation.