A recent report into the numbers of the world’s large predators, published in the Science journal, emphasises yet again what a dangerous game mankind is playing with nature and the world’s eco systems. Staggeringly, the report reveals that over three quarters of the world’s large carnivores, such as lions, tigers, wolves and bears, are in decline.

In Yellowstone Park, USA studies have shown that a reduction, through hunting and culling, in the numbers of the top predators, the wolf and the cougar, has resulted in an increase in the number of elk. This has led to a widespread destruction and loss of vegetation leading in turn to a reduction in the numbers of birds and small mammals living there.

In large parts of Africa the eradication of lions and leopards, again through man’s hunting and culling, has led to a huge increase in the number of olive baboons, resulting in large scale damage to crops and livestock, putting small farmers out of business and adding to food shortages.

We have to stop playing God, listen to these experts and learn from what they are telling us. It’s no use relying solely on governments and big business since they have other priorities, many of which are diametrically opposed to conservation.

It all comes down therefore to charitable institutions (and by implication, us) to actually try to do something about it. We have to do more than wring our hands in frustration or shake our heads in disbelief at these tales of destruction. If we really do care about our planet and care about the state it will be in when we hand it down to succeeding generations we have to put our hands in our pockets.

There are plenty of worthy charities out there, Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund to name but two, and I’m sure we can all find at least one that fits our own particular bill.