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78-476: The Aspinall Foundation (formerly The John Aspinall Foundation ) is a British charity (Registered Charity 326567) that promotes wildlife conservation . It was set up by casino owner John Aspinall in 1984 and runs the two zoos he established, Port Lympne Wild Animal Park and Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent , England . It also runs conservation projects to protect endangered species and rehome captive animals in

156-596: A miscarriage earlier that year. Their daughter, Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson, was born on 9 December 2021 in London. In May 2023, Johnson announced she was pregnant with her third child. Their son, Frank Alfred Odysseus Johnson, was born on 5 July 2023, at UCLH . Amid the Partygate scandal, she was issued with a fixed penalty notice for £100 in April 2022 for breaching COVID-19 regulations . She apologised and paid

234-606: A private day school for girls. She went to the University of Warwick to study Art History and Theatre Studies , graduating as BA (Hons) in 2009. Symonds originally planned to become an actor, and unsuccessfully auditioned for the 2007 film Atonement . She subsequently worked in marketing. In 2009, Symonds joined the Conservative Party as a press officer . She worked at Conservative Campaign Headquarters , and later campaigned for Boris Johnson in

312-499: A senior advisor to the ocean conservation charity Oceana , and is a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation . She began an affair with Johnson, then Foreign Secretary , in 2018 while he was still married to his second wife, Marina Wheeler . In July 2019, Johnson became Prime Minister and both he and Symonds officially moved into the flat above 11 Downing Street . She

390-494: A 2016 interview, chairman Damian Aspinall blamed one gorilla that the doundation had released for killing the five others in 2014. He also criticized the negative publicity about the event stating, "What about the 60 we released that survived? There's no glory if you get it right. We get no press, no publicity – but boy, if anything goes wrong, they jump on you." In February 2022, the foundation announced that 13 elephants, born in captivity, would be returned to Kenya and released into

468-505: A cute and fun side of owning exotic pets, therefore indirectly encouraging illegal wildlife trade. On March 30, 2021, TikTik joined the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online. They, along with other big social media companies work to protect species from illegal, harmful trade online. Research has shown that machine learning can filter through social media posts to identify indications of illegal wildlife trade. This filtration system

546-480: A firm of which another trustee was a director. The charity owns a 30-room mansion in Kent; it was rented to chairman Damian Aspinall for £2,500 a month in 2019 and £10,000 per month in 2020. In January 2021, the foundation hired Carrie Johnson , wife of Boris Johnson , as director of communication months after it asked Zac Goldsmith , Minister of State for Climate, Environment and Energy , for government support to buy

624-410: A habitat for many of coral's diverse inhabitants. Research (conducted through methods such as coral fossils and ancient ice core carbon analysis) suggests ocean acidification has occurred in the geological past (more likely at a slower pace), and correlate with past extinction events. Culling is the deliberate and selective killing of wildlife by governments for various purposes. An example of this

702-696: A hard shell, and is endangered. It is found throughout the central Pacific and Atlantic Oceans but several of its populations are in decline across the globe (though not all). The leatherback sea turtle faces numerous threats including being caught as bycatch , harvest of its eggs, loss of nesting habitats, and marine pollution . In the US where the leatherback is listed under the Endangered Species Act , measures to protect it include reducing bycatch captures through fishing gear modifications, monitoring and protecting its habitat (both nesting beaches and in

780-542: A majority of its funding through appropriations from the federal budget, annual federal and state grants, and financial efforts from programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program , Wetlands Reserve Program and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program . A substantial amount of funding comes from the sale of hunting/fishing licenses, game tags, stamps, and excise taxes from the purchase of hunting equipment and ammunition. The Endangered Species Act

858-466: A more complete picture of population viability. When designing a wildlife monitoring strategy, it is important to minimize harm to the animal and implement the 3Rs principles (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement). In wildlife research, this can be done through the use of non-invasive methods, sharing samples and data with other research groups, or optimizing traps to prevent injuries. Distributing vaccinations to wildlife who are particularly vulnerable

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936-625: A park or reserve, it can still be monitored and maintained. The red-cockaded woodpecker ( Picoides borealis) is an endangered bird in the southeastern US. It only lives in longleaf pine savannas which are maintained by wildfires in mature pine forests. Today, it is a rare habitat (as fires have become rare and many pine forests have been cut down for agriculture) and is commonly found on land occupied by US military bases, where pine forests are kept for military training purposes and occasional bombings (also for training) set fires that maintain pine savannas. Woodpeckers live in tree cavities they excavate in

1014-623: A popular method is to use camera traps for population estimation along with mark-recapture techniques. This method has been used successfully with tigers, black bears and numerous other species. Trail cameras can be triggered remotely and automatically via sound, infrared sensors, etc. Computer vision -based animal individual re-identification methods have been developed to automate such sight-resight calculations. Mark-recapture methods are also used with genetic data from non-invasive hair or fecal samples. Such information can be analyzed independently or in conjunction with photographic methods to get

1092-451: A population to extinction without human intervention. Methods of vaccination varies depending on both the extent and efficiency of limiting the transmission of disease, and can be applied orally , topically , intranasally (IN), or injected either subcutaneously (SC) or intramuscularly (IM). Conservation efforts regarding vaccinations often only serve the purpose of preventing disease related extinction. Rather than completely cleansing

1170-516: A prime example of the direct negative effect climate change has on wildlife and ecosystems. Meanwhile, a warming climate, fluctuating precipitation, and changing weather patterns will impact species ranges. Overall, the effects of climate change increase stress on ecosystems, and species unable to cope with the rapidly changing conditions will go extinct. While modern climate change is caused by humans, past climate change events occurred naturally and have led to extinctions. The illegal wildlife trade

1248-463: A relationship with The Sun journalist Harry Cole . She began an affair with British politician Boris Johnson , then Foreign Secretary , in 2018 while he was still married to his second wife, Marina Wheeler . In July 2019, Johnson became prime minister and both he and Symonds officially moved into the flat above 11 Downing Street . She was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to reside at Downing Street . The following month, she

1326-416: A result, people have started utilizing green spaces more frequently, which were previously habitats for wildlife. Unfortunately, this increased human activity has caused destruction to the natural habitat of various species. Deforestation is the clearing and cutting down forests on purpose. Deforestation is a cause of human-induced habitat action destruction, by cutting down habitats of different species in

1404-402: A select species are often prioritized on several factors which include significant economic and ecological value, as well as desirability or attractiveness. Yet, because resources are limited, sometimes it is not possible to give all species that need conservation due consideration. The leatherback sea turtle ( Dermochelys coriacea ) is the largest turtle in the world, is the only turtle without

1482-518: A sustained period of drought and neglect at a mismanaged game reserve. In February 2020, the foundation became the first to send captive bred cheetahs from the UK for rewilding in South Africa. Damian Aspinall personally released the two male cheetahs, who were born at Port Lympne, into their new home close to Cape Town . In May 2024, research by the charity found 3,000 violations of standards set by

1560-568: A wildlife reserve in South Africa. Tara Stoinski of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund made this comment on the television program 60 Minutes (aired 15 March 2015): "I think that humans have a very romantic notion of what the wild is like, and the wild is not a place where it is safe, and animals get to roam free and make choices". She wonders about the value of sending zoo-born animals to Africa and believes that it would be wiser for Aspinall to use his funds to save gorillas already in

1638-890: Is shark culling , in which "shark control" programs in Queensland and New South Wales (in Australia ) have killed thousands of sharks , as well as turtles , dolphins , whales , and other marine life. The Queensland "shark control" program alone has killed about 50,000 sharks — it has also killed more than 84,000 marine animals. There are also examples of population culling in the United States, such as bison in Montana and swans, geese, and deer in New York and other places. A wide range of pollutants negatively impact wildlife health. For some pollutants, simple exposure

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1716-589: Is a continuously updated list that remains up-to-date on species that are endangered or threatened. Along with the update of the list, the Endangered Species Act also seeks to implement actions to protect the species within its list. Furthermore, the Endangered Species Act also lists the species that the act has recovered. It is estimated that the act has prevented the extinction of about 291 species, like bald eagles and humpback whales , since its implementation through its different recovery plans and

1794-489: Is a main concern in the tropical forests of the world. Tropical forests, like the Amazon , are home to the most biodiversity out of any other biome, making deforestation there an even more prevalent issue, especially in populated areas, as in these areas deforestation leads to habitat destruction and the endangerment of many species in one area. Some policies have been enacted to attempt to stop deforestation in different parts of

1872-842: Is able to search for keywords, pictures, and phrases that indicate illegal wildlife trade, and report it. It is estimated that, because of human activities, current species extinction rates are about 1000 times greater than the background extinction rate (the 'normal' extinction rate that occurs without additional influence). According to the IUCN , out of all species assessed, over 42,100 are at risk of extinction and should be under conservation . Of these, 25% are mammals, 14% are birds, and 40% are amphibians. However, because not all species have been assessed, these numbers could be even higher. A 2019 UN report assessing global biodiversity extrapolated IUCN data to all species and estimated that 1 million species worldwide could face extinction. Conservation of

1950-668: Is enough to do damage (e.g. pesticides). For others, its through inhaling (e.g. air pollutants) or ingesting it (e.g. toxic metals). Pollutants affect different species in different ways so a pollutant that is bad for one might not affect another. Humans are responsible for present-day climate change currently changing Earth's environmental conditions. It is related to some of the aforementioned threats to wildlife like habitat destruction and pollution. Rising temperatures, melting ice sheets, changes in precipitation patterns, severe droughts , more frequent heat waves , storm intensification, ocean acidification , and rising sea levels are some of

2028-481: Is often true of species living in biodiversity hotspots , which are areas of the world with an exceptionally high concentration of endemic species (species found nowhere else in the world). Many of these hotspots are in the tropics, mainly tropical forests like the Amazon. Habitat conservation is usually carried out by setting aside protected areas like national parks or nature reserves. Even when an area isn't made into

2106-609: Is sexist. Journalist Sarah Vine , on the other hand, said that while it is easy to "blame the woman", the truth is "far more complicated", adding that Johnson's head did not deserve "to be on the block". In December 2021, Politico Europe named her as one of the "disrupters" in its annual list of 28 people who will shape Europe in the year to come. In February 2022, Carrie Johnson's spokeswoman denied that Johnson has influence over her husband amidst allegations from Tory peer Lord Ashcroft , who had written an unauthorised biography of her. Labour leader Keir Starmer said in relation to

2184-597: Is that if too many of a species offspring are taken, then the species may not recover. For example, overfishing of top marine predatory fish like tuna and salmon over the past century has led to a decline in fish sizes as well as fish numbers. Poaching for illegal wildlife trading is a major threat to certain species, particularly endangered ones whose status makes them economically valuable. Such species include many large mammals like African elephants, tigers, and rhinoceros (traded for their tusks , skins, and horns respectively). Less well-known targets of poaching include

2262-690: Is the illegal trading of plants and wildlife. This illegal trading is worth an estimate of 7-23 billion and an annual trade of around 100 million plants and animals. In 2021 it was found that this trade has caused a 60% decline in species abundance, and 80% for endangered species. This trade can be devastating to both humans and animals. It has the capacity to spread zoonotic diseases to humans, as well as contribute to local extinction. The pathogens to humans may be spread through small animal vectors like ticks, or through ingestion of food and water. Extinction can be caused due to non-native species being introduced that become invasive. An example of how this may happen

2340-604: Is through by-catch.These new species will outcompete the native species and take over, therefore causing the local or global extinction of a species. Due to the fittest animals in the species being hunted or poached, the less fit organisms will mate, causing less fitness in the generations to come. In addition to species fitness being lowered and therefore endangering species, the illegal wildlife trade has ecological costs. Sex-ratio balances may be tipped or reproduction rates are slowed, which can be detrimental to vulnerable species. The recovery of these populations may take longer due to

2418-435: Is typically a high priority as well. High genetic diversity increases survival because it means greater capacity to adapt to future environmental changes. Meanwhile, effects associated with low genetic diversity, such as inbreeding depression and loss of diversity from genetic drift , often decrease species survival by reducing the species' capacity to adapt or by increasing the frequency of genetic problems. Though not always

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2496-455: Is useful in conservation to prevent or decelerate extreme population declination in a species from disease and also decrease the risk of a zoonotic spillover to humans. A pathogen that has never once been exposed to a specific species' evolutionary pathway can have detrimental impacts on the population. In most cases, these risks escalate in conjunction to other anthropogenic stressors, such as climate change or habitat loss, that ultimately lead

2574-490: The Daily Mail newspaper claiming that the firing was due to poor performance and allegations of significant unjustified expenses claims. These accusations were claimed by an anonymous "longtime colleague" to be a smear campaign allegedly spread by Symonds's political strategist, Lynton Crosby (subsequently denied by Crosby). She is a patron of the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation . In 2007, aged 19, Symonds

2652-478: The 2010 London Conservative Party mayoral selection . During this period, Symonds had a role running campaigns for the newly elected MP Zac Goldsmith . She has also worked as a media special adviser for Conservative Cabinet ministers Sajid Javid ( Communities, Local Government and Housing Secretary ) and John Whittingdale ( Culture, Media and Sport Secretary ). Symonds was present when Whittingdale and others launched Conservative Friends of Russia (later called

2730-602: The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria at zoos in Europe. In March 2021, the Charity Commission for England and Wales opened a statutory inquiry into the foundation over concerns about the charity’s governance and financial management after reports of possible conflicts of interest and related-party transactions. In June 2022, as a result of financial irregularities discovered, Damian Aspinall

2808-524: The NFU , asserted that this meeting and her influence played a key role in the government ignoring scientific advice in favour of retaining the cull. According to The Guardian , a judicial review was granted permission to examine how the decision was reached. She was also influential in making sure that Lee Cain did not get a job as the prime minister's chief of staff , and urged Boris Johnson to fire environment secretary George Eustice from his role. She

2886-470: The 1961 Foreign Assistance Act. Many NGOs exist to actively promote, or be involved with, wildlife conservation: Carrie Johnson Caroline Louise Beavan Johnson ( née Symonds ; born 17 March 1988) is an English media consultant and is married to Boris Johnson . She is the daughter of Matthew Symonds , co-founder of The Independent . Symonds worked as a Conservative Party media official and an environmental activist, and remains

2964-560: The Florida panther population had tripled and offspring between Florida and Texas individuals had higher fertility and less genetic problems. In 2015, the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimated there were 230 adult Florida panthers and in 2017, there were signs that the population's range was expanding within Florida. Monitoring of wildlife populations is an important part of conservation because it allows managers to gather information about

3042-649: The Westminster Russia Forum and disbanded in March 2022) and has attended several of its meetings. Symonds became the Conservative Party's head of communications in 2018, but left the position later that year, taking up a job in public relations for the Oceana project. It was reported that she was asked to leave her post as director of communications, with Conservative Party sources in

3120-476: The animals, whereas indirect methods rely on "signs" that indicate the animals are present. For terrestrial vertebrates, common direct monitoring methods include direct observation, mark-recapture , transects , and variable plot surveys. Indirect methods include track stations, fecal counts, food removal, open or closed burrow-opening counts, burrow counts, runaway counts, knockdown cards, snow tracks, or responses to audio calls. For large, terrestrial vertebrates,

3198-407: The atmosphere, where it can be sequestered in the deep ocean and sea floor; this is a process called the biological pump . Increased carbon dioxide emissions and increased stratification (which slows the biological pump) decrease the ocean pH, making it more acidic. Calcifying organisms such as coral are especially susceptible to decreased pH, resulting in mass bleaching events, inevitably destroying

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3276-480: The book, "I approach politics on the basis that we should treat people with respect... Obviously, respect differences of opinion, but I do not go along with the idea that we should drag everybody into the gutter." In June 2022, an article by Simon Walters appeared in The Times alleging that Boris Johnson recommended Carrie, who was then his mistress, as a candidate for a £100,000 per annum job as Chief-of-Staff in

3354-406: The case, certain species are under threat because they have very low genetic diversity. As such, the best conservation action would be to restore their genetic diversity. The Florida panther is a subspecies of cougar (specifically Puma concolor coryi) that resides in the state of Florida and is currently endangered. Historically, the Florida panther's range covered the entire southeastern US. In

3432-440: The early 1990s, only a single population with 20-25 individuals were left. The population had very low genetic diversity, was highly inbred, and suffered from several genetic issues including kinked tails, cardiac defects, and low fertility. In 1995, eight female Texas cougars were introduced to the Florida population. The goal was to increase genetic diversity by introducing genes from a different, unrelated puma population. By 2007,

3510-491: The effects of climate change. Phenomena like droughts, wildfires, heatwaves, intense storms, ocean acidification , and rising sea levels , directly lead to habitat destruction. For example, longer dry seasons, warmer springs, and dry soil has been observed to increase the length of wildfire season in forests, shrublands and grasslands. Increased severity and longevity of wildfires can completely wipe out entire ecosystems, causing them to take decades to fully recover. Wildfires are

3588-498: The foundation launched a programme to breed European wildcats , with plans to create a breeding centre on the island of Càrna , off the west coast of Scotland. By 2014, according to the foundation, it had "successfully reintroduced more than 50 gorillas back into the wild since 1996". In October 2019, the foundation – alongside an international team of conservationists – rescued 11 elephants , 4 giraffe , 19 African Buffalo and 29 wildebeest from Blaauwbosch, South Africa , after

3666-423: The foundation was the first to reintroduce captivity-born young gorillas into the wild. In 2006, 5 gorillas that were rehabilitated by the foundation and released into the wild after they were orphaned due to the bushmeat trade and then sold into the illegal pet market were relocated to an island after wandering into nearby villages searching for love. In 2007, the charity publicly opposed Chinese attempts to relax

3744-529: The globe". Wildlife conservation Habitat destruction decreases the number of places where wildlife can live in. Habitat fragmentation breaks up a continuous tract of habitat, often dividing large wildlife populations into several smaller ones. Human-caused habitat loss and fragmentation are primary drivers of species declines and extinctions. Key examples of human-induced habitat loss include deforestation, agricultural expansion , and urbanization . Habitat destruction and fragmentation can increase

3822-408: The harvest of protected plants and animals for souvenirs, food, skins, pets, and more. Poaching causes already small populations to decline even further as hunters tend to target threatened and endangered species because of their rarity and large profits. As carbon dioxide levels increase concentration in the atmosphere, they increase in the ocean as well. Typically, the ocean will absorb carbon from

3900-455: The ocean), and reducing damage from marine pollution. There is currently an international effort to protect the leatherback sea turtle. Habitat conservation is the practice of protecting a habitat in order to protect the species within it. This is sometimes preferable to focusing on a single species especially if the species in question has very specific habitat requirements or lives in a habitat with many other endangered species. The latter

3978-554: The penalty, which was halved to £50 due to her paying within 14 days. In the 2023 Channel 4 docudrama Partygate , she was played by Rebecca Humphries . Concerns over her influence on the prime minister were raised in January 2020, when it came to light that she had received briefs from animal rights activists just before the government pulled a planned cull of badgers in Derbyshire . An association representing farmers,

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4056-496: The political and economic impact of USAID funds dispersed for preserving the environment and its natural resources. After the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and the start of former President Bush's War on Terror , maintaining and improving the quality of the environment and its natural resources became a “priority” to “prevent international tensions” according to the Legislation on Foreign Relations Through 2002 and section 117 of

4134-417: The population of the pathogen, infection rates are limited to a smaller percentage of the population. Case study: Ethiopian Wolf The Ethiopian Wolf ( Canis simensis ), a canid native to Ethiopia , is an endangered species with less than 440 wolves remaining in the wild. These wolves are primarily exposed to the rabies virus by domestic dogs and are facing extreme population declines, especially in

4212-981: The prime minister. Cummings also said that the prime minister "cancel[led] an inquiry about a leak ... because it might implicate his girlfriend's friends"; Cummings accused Henry Newman , the senior adviser in Downing Street and ally of Carrie Symonds, of being a "chatty rat" who leaked plans for a second lockdown in October. Cummings later said in 2021 that Symonds acted "illegally" in awarding influential jobs to her friends , including press secretary Allegra Stratton . Conservative MP Caroline Nokes asserted that Carrie Johnson's influence has been exaggerated for sexist purposes; she has been likened to both Lady Macbeth and Marie Antoinette ("Carrie Antoinette") by her critics. Writing in The Sunday Times , Marie Le Conte disagreed that such criticism

4290-460: The process of removing trees. Deforestation is often done for several reasons, often for either agricultural purposes or for logging , which is the obtainment of timber and wood for use in construction or fuel. Deforestation causes many threats to wildlife as it not only causes habitat destruction for the many animals that survive in forests, as more than 80% of the world's species live in forests but also leads to further climate change. Deforestation

4368-673: The protection that it provides for these threatened species. In the late 1980s, as the public became dissatisfied with government environmental conservation efforts, people began supporting private sector conservation efforts which included several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) . Seeing this rise in support for NGOs, the U.S. Congress made amendments to the Foreign Assistance Act in 1979 and 1986 “earmarking U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funds for [biodiversity]”. From 1990 till now, environmental conservation NGOs have become increasingly more focused on

4446-511: The reproduction rates being slower. The wildlife trade also causes issues for natural resources that people use in their everyday lives. Ecotourism is how some people bring in money to their homes, and with depleting the wildlife, this may be a factor in taking away jobs. Illegal wildlife trade has also become normalized through various social media outlets. There are TikTok accounts that have gone viral for their depiction of exotic pets, such as various monkey and bird species. These accounts show

4524-424: The rules governing the trade in products made from tigers. Since 2008, the foundation has spearheaded conservation efforts to save the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur . The estimated population size of the greater bamboo lemur has risen since 2009 from 100 to 1,000 individuals. As a result of the efforts of the foundation, the greater bamboo lemur was removed from the list of 25 most threatened primates in

4602-697: The same year, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) was passed as part of an international agreement to prevent the global trade of endangered wildlife. In 1980, the World Conservation Strategy was developed by the IUCN with help from the UN Environmental Programme, World Wildlife Fund, UN Food and Agricultural Organization, and UNESCO. Its purpose

4680-530: The southern Ethiopia region of the Bale Mountains . To counter this, oral vaccinations are administered to these wolves within favorable bait that is widely distributed around their territories. The wolves consume the bait and with it ingest the vaccine, developing an immunity to rabies as antibodies are produced at significant levels. Wolves within these packs who did not ingest the vaccine will be protected by herd immunity as fewer wolves are exposed to

4758-476: The status of threatened species and to measure the effectiveness of management strategies. Monitoring can be local, regional, or range-wide, and can include one or many distinct populations. Metrics commonly gathered during monitoring include population numbers, geographic distribution, and genetic diversity, although many other metrics may be used. Monitoring methods can be categorized as either "direct" or "indirect". Direct methods rely on directly seeing or hearing

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4836-488: The trunk. In an effort to increase woodpecker numbers, artificial cavities (essentially birdhouses planted within tree trunks) were installed to give woodpeckers a place to live. An active effort is made by the US military and workers to maintain this rare habitat used by red-cockaded woodpeckers. Conservation genetics studies genetic phenomena that impact the conservation of a species. Most conservation efforts focus on managing population size, but conserving genetic diversity

4914-416: The virus. With continued periodic vaccinations, conservationists will be able to spend more resources on further proactive efforts to help prevent their extinction. In the US, the Endangered Species Act of 1973 was passed to protect US species deemed in danger of extinction. The concern at the time was that the country was losing species that were scientifically, culturally, and educationally important. In

4992-457: The vulnerability of wildlife populations by reducing the space and resources available to them and by increasing the likelihood of conflict with humans. Moreover, destruction and fragmentation create smaller habitats. Smaller habitats support smaller populations, and smaller populations are more likely to go extinct. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant shift in human behavior, resulting in mandatory and voluntary limitations on movement. As

5070-626: The wild. In 2021, the charity was criticized by the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife of Kenya for not notifying it of plans to rehome a herd of 13 elephants in Kenya. Several of gorillas introduced into Africa died quickly, possibly due to having been primed to humans and being unable to care for themselves in the wild and attacks by other gorillas. One report in 2014 stated that a family of ten zoo-born silverback gorillas were sent to Gabon and at least five were killed, an outcome many had predicted. In

5148-496: The wild. Some experts questioned the wisdom of this strategy, citing issues such as the stress caused by "a hazardous journey", low temperatures at night in Africa, as well as "unfamiliar surroundings, foraging for food, predators and illness". Some concern was also expressed about water quality and the risk of conflict with the human population. The Foundation replied that it "has a 30-year history of successful rewilding projects around

5226-520: The wild. The current chairman is Damian Aspinall , son of the founder, and is likely to be succeeded by his daughter, Freya Aspinall, an Internet celebrity who uses social media to increase exposure for the charity and runs the charity's U.S. based affilate. The foundation owns approximately 1 million acres in Gabon , into which it reintroduces gorillas. In 2020, the foundation received £1,500,000 from corporate and private donors. In 2002, in Gabon ,

5304-468: The world, like the Wilderness Act of 1964 which designated specific areas wilderness to be protected. Overexploitation is the harvesting of animals and plants at a rate that's faster than the species' ability to recover. While often associated with Overfishing , overexploitation can apply to many groups including mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and plants. The danger of overexploitation

5382-613: The world. In 2010, a video of Aspinall tracking Kwibi, a celebrity gorilla released in 2005 at age 5 in Gabon , became widely viewed on YouTube . The foundation started the Javan Primate Project in 2012 and has since released more than 135 primates including Javan langurs , moloch gibbons and grizzled leaf monkeys into protected sites in Java. The animals include those rescued from the local illegal pet trade and rewilded from Aspinall's two UK wildlife parks. In 2013,

5460-579: Was John Beavan, Baron Ardwick (at one time editor of the Daily Herald and later, during the 1970s, a Labour Party MEP ), and her paternal grandmother was Anne Symonds , a BBC World Service journalist. Symonds was the result of an affair between her parents, who were both married to other people at the time. She was brought up by her mother in East Sheen , South West London, and between 1999 and 2006 attended Godolphin and Latymer School ,

5538-405: Was "a sad, wicked man who is a danger to society. I feel so angry that he pleaded not guilty and made us go through the pain of giving evidence in court". Symonds was the youngest of Worboys's victims, and waived her anonymity to talk about her experiences and, later, to campaign against his early release, fundraising for a successful judicial review of the decision. Symonds was previously in

5616-440: Was additionally involved in a political controversy over the refurbishment of the 11 Downing Street flat , and her comments over the flat's decor being a "John Lewis furniture nightmare" ( John Lewis typically being an aspirational, upper-middle-class shop) led to accusations of snobbery . During Dominic Cummings 's tenure as chief adviser, Cummings and Carrie Symonds were said to represent two separate factions influencing

5694-452: Was asked to stand down as chairman and trustee. Robin Birley and Ben Goldsmith resigned as trustees. Between 2019 and 2020, the foundation paid £150,158 to Victoria Aspinall, the wife of chairman Damian Aspinall, as fees for "interior design services". In 2020, the amount paid to Aspinall represented 10% of donations taken that year. The charity also paid £124,231 for accountancy work from

5772-593: Was barred from entering the United States as her visa application was rejected due to a previous visit with her close friend Nimco Ali to Somaliland , which the US considers to be part of immigration-restricted Somalia. On 16 August 2019, she made her first public appearance since entering 10 Downing Street, when she addressed what she called the "gigantic" climate crisis . On 29 February 2020, Symonds and Boris Johnson announced that they had become engaged in late 2019 and were expecting their first child together in early summer. Their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson,

5850-518: Was born on 29 April 2020 in London. She is a Catholic and had her son baptised into the Catholic Church. Symonds married Boris Johnson in secrecy on 29 May 2021 in a Catholic ceremony at Westminster Cathedral attended by thirty guests. She wore a boho-chic style bridal gown by Greek designer Christos Costarellos . In July 2021, she announced that they were expecting their second child together, also revealing that she had suffered

5928-484: Was driven home from a King's Road nightclub by taxi-driver John Worboys , who in 2009 was convicted of multiple sexual assaults on his passengers. She later recalled Worboys offering her champagne and vodka, which she believed was spiked and, after returning home, began "vomiting and laughing hysterically before passing out until 3pm the next day". Symonds was one of fourteen women who testified against Worboys at his trial. She subsequently told The Telegraph that he

6006-434: Was the first unmarried partner of a prime minister to reside at Downing Street . On 29 February 2020, Symonds and Johnson announced that they had become engaged in late 2019. Symonds married Johnson in 2021. Caroline Louise Beavan Symonds was born on 17 March 1988 to Matthew Symonds , co-founder of The Independent , and Josephine McAfee ( née Lawrence), a lawyer working for that newspaper. Her paternal grandfather

6084-727: Was to promote the conservation of living resources important to humans. In 1992, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was agreed on at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (often called the Rio Earth Summit) as an international accord to protect the Earth's biological resources and diversity. According to the National Wildlife Federation, wildlife conservation in the US gets

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