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Two-thirds of adults were unaware that bees are at risk, while 60 percent assumed the gorilla population was thriving. A further 44 percent didn’t know black rhino numbers are under threat, and 48 percent were out of touch when it comes to the future of orangutans.
This lack of awareness extends to working animals such as donkeys, which are currently under threat in many parts of the world as a result of the skins trade – a troubling fact 88 percent of adults had no knowledge of.
Commissioned by SPANA (the Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad), the study identified a lack of awareness about working animals in general – especially working horses, donkeys, camels and elephants in developing countries.
Three quarters admitted their knowledge on the plight working animals in the developing world is “minimal”.
Dr Ben Sturgeon, director of veterinary services at SPANA, which provides free veterinary treatment to working animals in developing countries, said: “Donkeys are firm favourites of the British public, but the vast majority of people are unaware about the devastating global trade in donkey skins, which is causing the brutal slaughter of millions of animals every year – and threatening to wipe out the species.
Despite the low awareness about the donkey skins trade, the majority of respondents admitted they were “sad” and “shocked” to learn that donkeys around the world faced being wiped out.
Dr Ben Sturgeon continued: “The suffering endured by working animals overseas receives little attention in the UK, and many people are unaware about the punishing conditions that working horses, donkeys, camels and elephants face every day.
“The horrific donkey skins trade is also almost completely unknown and overlooked, and urgent action is needed to put a stop to this crisis, before it’s too late. SPANA is campaigning for an immediate end to the donkey skins trade to prevent the extinction of these much-loved animals.”
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