Letter: Free the rhino
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: We find it difficult to believe that anyone can justify the $22m cost of potentially freeing Keiko, the orca of Free Willy fame ("The $14 million epic adventure to free Willy - into an unknown future", 9 September).
David Usborne asks if the operation is "an absurd display of do-gooding sentimentality", and it certainly appears that $22m has been dedicated to the welfare of a single animal of a species which is perhaps threatened, but certainly not endangered.
In the last 30 years 97 per cent of the world's rhinos have been wiped out. Save The Rhino International has a campaign to raise $21m which would safeguard every remaining rhino on earth in perpetuity. As we struggle to raise funds to prevent the extinction of five rhino species, it is horrifying to see so much money raised to translocate one ageing individual from a familiar environment with no guarantee of a successful release into the wild.
Keiko is a worthy cause but this project will not alter the survival of his species. If we are to prevent the extinction of critically endangered species and thereby maintain the earth's biodiversity, we need to change the public's perception of conservation priorities.
JANE MORRIS, NEIL BRIDGLAND, CHRIS LEDER, JO SHAW
Save The Rhino International
London SE1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments