What Is Compassionate Conservation? - Mark Jones | VETchat by The Webinar Vet

Joining Anthony for today's episode of our sustainability series on VetChat by The Webinar Vet, is Mark Jones, Head of Policy at Born Free Foundation. The Born Free Foundation are an animal charity that is passionate about wild animal welfare and Compassionate Conservation. Founded by Virginia McKenna OBE, Will Travers OBE and Bill Travers MBE in 1984, they work to stop the exploitation and suffering of individual animals living in captivity or in the wild. They campaign for a future where animals and people can co-exist, and where threatened and endangered species are protected for generations to come. In this episode, Anthony and Mark discuss whether zoos have a role to play in conservation, or whether they are actually not needed at all. Mark shares his thoughts on the one-health aspect of wildlife trade, and how the way that we interact with wildlife creates the risks associated with the spread of diseases. Yet, explains some of the actions taken up by countries following the Covid-19 pandemic, that are attempting to mitigate the risk of future pandemics. They also discuss the need to remain optimistic following events such as COP26 and make an emphasis on the level of public understanding, for instance with the rise in environmental protests. Find out more about The Born Free Foundation here. Watch The Born Free Foundation's 'State of Earth' Question Time from COP26 here.