Nature’s beauty pageants

Dolphins, lions, elephants and whales. What do these animals have in common? 

The term “charismatic fauna” is typically used in conservation literature to refer to animals with a certain appeal, both to practitioners and to the public. Known for being beautiful, majestic, impressive creatures, these animals are also commonly referred to as flagship species, often being used as poster-children for conservation campaigns and attracting much of the attention and focus of the media and public. Unsurprisingly, with the spotlight and popularity comes more money from donations into the conservation and research of these animals, leaving many other threatened species of equal or even higher ecological importance on the sidelines. 

Take the giant panda for example. These mammals are easily one of the most adored animals on earth. However, they also used to be one of the most endangered mammals on earth. Initially endangered from excessive poaching and loss of food due to deforestation, much has been put into helping this species rebound from their status of endangerment, especially so after they became an icon for the conservation movement in the 1980s. As the public’s love for this species grew, so did the efforts to prevent their extinction. And this effort has surely paid off – having increased in population by 17% within a decade, giant pandas are no longer classified as ‘endangered’ but are now at ‘vulnerable’. No doubt, the appearance of these cuddly, adorable bears played a role in leading to the huge success of these conservation efforts. Being more attractive and charismatic, people cared about them more, and continue to care about them more, compared to other less attractive species such as the pacific bluefin tuna, despite the urgency of being at close to historically low levels today. 

What exactly is it about animals like tigers and whales that makes us so attracted to them, over other animals like bats or snails? What are the benefits that come with this focus on specific fauna, as well as the potential issues of this bias? This blog will expound on these questions!