Dr. Sultan Al Qasimi hosted a discussion session entitled “Protecting Big Cats” at the Expo International Photography Festival, which was attended by Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of Sharjah Media Council. The violations and abuses it leads to doom.
The session dealt with the major factors that threaten the lives of large cats and put them on the brink of extinction, including the loss of living habitats, environmental degradation, conflicts and wars, trade in animal parts such as fur, bones and claws, and increasing rates of poaching.
A group of global photographers specializing in wildlife photography stressed the importance of maintaining sustainable conservation measures and the need to involve local communities in nature conservation efforts as the first line of defense for wildlife.
“Big cats should be rescued for the simple reason that they are living beings who have the right to walk on earth, live in peace, form their own communities and benefit from nature around them without being exposed,” said Steve Winter, a photographer with National Geographic. She has one. ”
"The geographic areas where these unique organisms live are very important to us as humans. They provide us with the oxygen we breathe and provide us with 75% of the planet's freshwater resources."
“The reality of Africa's weak economy poses a serious challenge to lucrative transcontinental activities, such as overfishing and the export of animal organs,” said Dr Paul Funston, a Namibia-based director of the Panthera Black Program and a global leader in the protection of big cats. The real and most important threat is that what is happening to these big cats is not documented and told the world, the entire international community does not know what is going on there, in addition to the lack of national resources and nature reserves in Africa, as well as "The cost of up to $ 1 billion a year to manage the continent's protected areas adequately." The award-winning documentary photographer, David Chancellor, emphasized the critical need to empower communities and recognize local people as important agents of change in wildlife conservation. “People who come into direct contact with these organisms should be placed at the forefront of natural resource protectors,” he said. To be able to manage it, take advantage of its life system and live in harmony with those beings. ”
Kathy Moran, deputy director of National Geographic Photography Agency, stressed the importance of photography and documentation in attracting world public opinion, noting that the publication of the image of the lion Hollywood Cougar has since contributed to the doubling of the work to protect these objects, and played an active role in Find one of the largest wildlife reserves in the world.
Global photographer Steve Winter pointed to the importance of activating the role of global youth, and drew their attention to the preservation of these beings.