Best Blogs of 2014

So, as the sun sets on the last day of the year, here is my list of some of the best blogs of 2014. 

Blogs are typically short and punchy and express an opinion. The ones that I have chosen here are also brave, produced by experts and often touch on things we might not otherwise know.  I am undoubtedly biased in terms of topic and author but that is probably not entirely unique in end-of-year-type reviews.

Firstly, here is Birdlife's Luca Bonaccorsi on Europe's new attitude to nature (this is going to be a big issue in the coming year):

'... we keep destroying habitats and endangering the “festival of life”, through careless neglect and culpable plunder. It is us, human beings, that are impoverishing and degrading our living planet. We cover our fields with biocides, concrete and tarmac. We consume resources and dump our waste which poisons the water of rivers and seas. We chop down and burn trees way faster than they can possibly regrow. And we’re altering our climate, setting the stage for unpredictable and possibly catastrophic consequences.'  Full article HERE


Next, here is a short piece that for me reflects on one of the great achievements of 2015, when an international convention (a UN body no less) embraced culture within its lexicon of conservation and this time it is Whale and Dolphin Conservation's Philippa Brakes speaking on the New Scientist website:  

''The new resolution recognises both positive and negative consequences of non-human culture. Individuals passing on knowledge may increase population viability by allowing the rapid spread of innovations amid environmental challenges, which could mean more-resilient social groups. On the other hand, the effects of human-induced threats may be amplified by the presence of non-human culture...'. Full article HERE


In this next piece published in the Ecologist is a prelude to the last meeting of the International Whaling Commission and in it the Environmental Investigation Agency's Clare Perry focuses on Iceland:: 

"Iceland claims its whaling is sustainable when the best available scientific evidence reveals that its fin whale quota is more than three times greater than the level considered sustainable." Full article HERE. 


Leaving the whales, here now is Mark Jones (now with the Borne Free Foundation) looking at the contentious badger cull in the UK on the Huffington Post::

"After two years, the government's own results clearly show the pilot culls have failed to deliver on either effectiveness or humaneness. Its apparent determination to carry on regardless reflects the political motivation behind the policy, which has little or nothing to do with science-led disease control". In full HERE.

Chris Butler Stroud looks at foreign policy and whaling here in a rare analysis of the behavior of the USA in this matter:

"Some would argue that despite decades of the development of international law, some nation states still seek to avoid the ramifications of upholding this growing area of law, relying on historical soft and hard power to influence future policy. The ramifications of such a world-view are that such countries can therefore fail to hold other states to account for their failures under international law. But what has this to do with US foreign policy?" Find out HERE: 

Here Wayne Parcelle reviews the sixty year history of the Humane Society which was celebrated this year:

"In the post-World War II era, their first campaigns helped pass a federal humane slaughter law and restrict the seizure of pets from shelters for use in animal experiments. They realized that we would not be able to rescue our way out of the problems -- but needed to prevent cruelty by raising awareness, professionalizing our entire field of work, and driving sound public policies and corporate reforms."  Full blog HERE.

And, finally, amazing footage of  those (in my experience) very illusive and amazing Welsh Risso's dolphins leaping from the water off Bardsey Island taken last summer and  c/o Vicki James HERE

I started to blog on the Huffington Post this year and you can judge my seven offerings HERE. 

Happy New Year!

Seasons Greetings

Images from in and around Bath at Christmastime to wish all friends, colleagues, students and readers a very happy end to the year and a peaceful 2015. 

(The centre image shows the Christmas Market with Bath Abby behind). 

Final Blog of the Year!

One of the world's cetaceans is poised to go extinct.

This must not be allowed to happen.

In this final piece for the year for the Huffington Post HERE I explain a little more of this desperately urgent situation.

Galapagos Giants REV

The Galapagos Islands are extraordinary. They are populated by a rich variety of remarkable and accessible animals and their diversity famously helped Charles Darwin ferment his theory of evolution. 

Galapagos Mockingbird

The legend is that he was most taken by the birds. He recognised the subtle differences between the different species. The mockingbirds were allegedly the group that drew his attention most, although his name is more associated with the finch species.

Shy giant (they hiss to warn you off)

However, the animals that the island are best-known for, the tortoises whose evolution in this isolated archipelago allowed them to reach great size and develop into a number of subspecies attracted his attention for a different reason. Like many early visitors, famously including visiting whalers, Darwin captured and sailed away with a number of the giants because they survived for many months out at sea, providing a ready source of fresh meat. 

Poor tortoises! Here are some pictures of the descendants of some of those left behind which I met on the Islands of Santa Cruz and Floreana.

First a picture to show both scale and what the well-dressed Englishman is wearing in the tropics this year:

Man meets ancient tortoise (the tortoise is on the right)

A Giant has a snack

A Giant wallows in some lovely green slime

A youngster - maybe 3 years old - on Floreana 

Snack time at the Floreana feeding station - part of a reintroduction programme

Two subspsecies showing the more traditional shell shape on the left and the 'sadlleback' on the right

A small altercation - they soon settled down - when properly riled they bang noses!

And not far away - the tortoise's cousins - Pacific Green turtles

And by vast popular demand - a blue-footed booby

synchronous diving by blue-footed boobies

juvenile frigate bird

Galapagos sealion and marine iguana take a nap - Floreana

And finally one of Darwin's famous ground finches (small female)

Galapagos sealions come close!

My thanks to Heidi Frisch for permission to use her photos here. (I was not far away as you will see below, but my waterproofed camera had decided not to work at this point.)

So whilst you may be trying to keep a respectful distance from the wildlife, here is an example of what happens when the animals themselves choose otherwise! 

The animals in the Galapagos islands are famously friendly but these young Galapagos sealions took matters to a new level - blowing bubbles into our snorkel masks and nibbling our flippers. They are supremely confident in the water.

That's my flipper being sampled!

The sealions were not the only spectacular wildlife nearby...

White-tipped reef shark (~2m)

Equatorial bottlenose dolphins

Quito, where the Convention for migratory species held its Conference of Parties (please see preceding blogs) is the launch place for trips to the famous Galapagos Islands. The Islands are widely famed for their unusual, copious and friendly wildlife and for being the inspiration for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

I could not miss the opportunity to take a look at them. I found, as advertised, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, Darwin's finches and much more besides, but what I did not expect to encounter was a huge school of bottlenose dolphins.

On day two in the islands, with some friends I was on a diving and snorkeling trip off the islet of North Seymour a few miles north of Santa Cruz, the main island. The divers just gone into the water and I noticed a boiling on the horizon which before long had reconciled itself into explosions of breath and distinctive sickle-shaped dorsal fins cutting through the water and heading in out direction.

The boat was gently motoring away from the dive site and the line of dolphins passed swiftly by the divers - who caught quick views of their number as they passed by - and as we motored on, I could see their face breaking the waves as they determinedly came in our direction. Soon we were surrounded by tens of grey bodies cutting swiftly through the waters and throwing up considerable spray. Some paralleled us and others came under the bow to ride on the pressure wave there. What was remarkable was the sheer number of animals. I estimated as many as a hundred in this one group. Even the crew - who often take trips out into these waters - were impressed. They had never seen such a gathering. Another small boat came over to look at the dolphins and the school split with some going across to the new boat. After a few amazing minutes the dolphins moved rapidly on and away out of sight.

Compared to their Scottish cousins, these bottlenoses of warm equatorial waters appeared about the same size and equally robust. Many of their dorsal fins were sharply pointed and I could see the same kind of rake-marks that we see on British dolphins but very little sign of major scars or damage. In fact they looked very well!

Japan relaunches 'scientific whaling' in the Southern Ocean

Well, they said very clearly at the last IWC meeting that they would and now they have!

Despite the ruling from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that their whaling programme in the Southern Ocean was illegal (as I described here), Japan has issued a new 101 research page plan that they say addresses the ICJ's concerns. It was released just a few days ago (to meet the requirement of availability six months ahead of the next meeting of the IWC's scientific committee).

Here is a response from Wayne Pacelle at the Humane Society and two articles by the doyen of journalists writing on whaling Andrew Darby.here and here.

The full Japanese plan can be found here.

In a nutshell, it is a plan to kill 333 Antarctic minke whales for each of twelve years starting in the next whaling season at the end of next year. The area to be sampled is greatly expanded from the previous programme, although the sample size is smaller and, this time, no mention is made of taking fin or humpback whales.

The arrival of the plan has been called a slap in the face of the international community.

Image of clash in Southern Ocean between protesters and Japanese 'research' shown by Japan during last IWC ,meeting

CMS Quito Retrospective

Bottlenose dolphins in Galapagos Islands

Cetaceans ,Captures, Culture and celebration in Quito - HERE 

Marine iguana - Galapagos Islands, November 2014

Quito CMS COP 5 - Final Hurdles and Close.REV

The great hall is almost empty - ready for business in the early morning

We are not back in the great hall in the CoW - endorsing and otherwise amending what was agreed over the last week. Please stand by for the final conclusions on some key issues including those related to cetaceans, the polar bear and others. We really are approaching the final hurdles now.

For the first few minutes, we proceed at great speed, endorsing a long stream of initiatives and the flow is only halted when we come to bird poisoning and some NGOs make long interventions.

Matters that have been agreed to this point include the shark resolution, the strategic and climate work plans, the resolution on civil society, the action plan for migratory land birds, the marine debris resolution, guidelines for listing proposals and much more.

Under 'synergies and partnerships' UNEP adds some words to the resolution. These are agreed.

The restructuring of the scientific council proposal is endorsed.

We move to Financial and Administrative matters: The Chair of the F and A committee is not present and South Africa asks for more time on his behalf. This is thus moved to Plenary. Chile asks if the group will meet again? Not clear.

The CoW now closes and the Chairman thanks all for 'putting up with him'. He receives warm applause.

There is a long pause - we may anticipate some drama on the contentious issue of the budget now.

The Ecuadorian Minister for the Environment,Lorena Tapia, returns as our chair for the concluding plenary. In her opening comments she describes the world as being at a tipping point and notes that the wealth of 1% is six times greater than all of the rest.

We move through some organisational matters.that are agreed without comment and then suddenly are in the listing proposals - and the Chair reminds us of the rule agreed on day one that means the decisions of the CoW can only be reopened by a vote of 2/3 of the parties.

Oystein the Chair oif the CoW [Committee of the Whole] is returned to the microphone and now reads out the list of all the species starting with Ziphius, the Cuvier's beaked whale (Mediterranean population) and including the sawfishes, sharks and rays....the polar bear and many others.

Are there any objections asks the chair. There is a pause...

No. She brings down the gavel and it is done. There is loud applause.


The silky shark and European Eel are recommended for inclusion in Appendix II - gavel + applause.

She invites comments from the floor on any of the species listing proposals.

Peru notes its support for the inclusion of the silky shark in appendix 2.Chile joins the consensus.

The lion proposal roars in - this is now a resolution (in Doc CRP 4).

The Executive Secretary takes the floor to say that we do not have the document in all three languages and asks Kenya to read out some changes. Kenya says the English version is still not correct but he reads out the changes. It is adopted. (Rebecca claps.)

We now move to the resolutions

- strategic plan,
There is no objection and it is adopted.

-climate change and migratory species
There is no objection and it is adopted.

- CRP 3 is adopted

-CRP 5 on invasive species is adopted

- CRP 6 on review of decisions is adopted - thanks to a meeting of a small friends of the chair.

-CRP 7 guidelines on listing proposals - adopted

-CRP 8 next meeting of the parties - adopted

-CRP 9 - Sustainable Boat-Based Wildlife Watching as discussed in the Aquatic working group and approved by the CoW - adopted.

- CRP 10 - renewable energy - adopted

-CRP 11 - action plan for migratory land  birds in the Eurasian region -adopted

-CRP 12 - taxonomy and nomenclature of birds - adopted.

-CRP 13 - conservation implications of cetacean culture - the chair notes that amendments came from the aquatic working group and the revised document was agreed by the CoW - adopted

- CRP 14 - management of marine debris - no objection - adopted. The committee also recommended taking note of the three annexes (review documents) - agreed

-CRP 15 - Live captures of cetaceans from the wild - the aquatic working group proposed some amendments - any objections? None. Adopted.

-CRP 16 - adopted

-CRP 17 - concerns large animal migrations in central Asia and the Argali sheep - adopted without amendment. Adopted.

- CRP 18 - ecological networks - adopted

- CRP 19 - fighting wildlife crime - adopted

- CRP 20 - communications - adopted (applause from somewhere near the USA)

- CRP 21 -  - adopted

- CRP 22 - concerted and cooperative actions - adopted.

- CRP 23 - criteria for assessing proposals for new proposals - Brazil asks for the floor and notes that the working group did not report to the CoW and takes this opportunity for thanking all parties for their contributions. He then add that these words actually relate to document 33.

- CRP 24 - enhancing the effectiveness of the organisation - adopted

- CRP 25 - discussion postponed

- CRP 26 - world migratory bird day - adopted.

- CRP 27 - sakar falcon global action plan - considered by the Avian working group - no objection by the plenary and adopted.

- CRP 28 - enhancing synergies - substantial changes were made and then the CoW recommended it be adopted, and it is.

- CRP 29 - migratory birds and flyways - adopted

- CRP 30 - on prevention of illegal killing, taking and trade of migratory birds - adopted

- CRP 31 - on preventing poisoning of migratory birds - adopted

- CRP 32 - synergies and ppartnerships- a friends of the chair group amended this and it is approved.

- CRP 33 - scientific council restructuring - no objections? Someone calls out but it is not an objection and it is adopted.

- CRP 34 - programme of work - adopted

- CRP 35 - capacity-building work programme

And so we continue....

Then  suddenly we are in 'the date and venue of the next meeting' - the Philippines have offered to host CoP 12.

They take the floor noting that they are a mega-diverse country and that they have three of the largest shopping malls in the world. ... it is more fun in the Philippines he adds and we are shown a jolly video.

Rules of procedure return - and are now approved.

The adoption of the report arrives but there are now many interventions on the budget. Germany believes that the budget has been agreed and it is a pity he adds that there are so many constraints on the parties in economic terms.

Eventually, the Chair says that the resolution has been discussed and adopted and no one wants to argue.

And we move on.

Finally, under AoB a closing intervention comes from NGO corner:

We leave this 11th Conference of the Parties in beautiful Ecuador with much to celebrate and I speak here on the behalf of the following organisations, the Pew Charitable Trusts, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, Borne Free, IFAW, Shark Advocates International, Project Aware, the Humane Society International and Bird Life International; and others may also wish to associate.
.

Ground-breaking resolutions have been agreed in terms of both the integration of animal social biology and culture into the work of this convention and also the call that has gone out to the wider world to end the live capture of cetaceans at sea for commercial purposes. These are inspiring developments and puts CMS firmly into a leadership role in the international conservation community.

This has also been the most innovative COP ever for the avian agenda. Guidance, with associated working groups to promote implementation on the ground, was adopted to address key threats to migratory birds, namely illegal killing, taking and trade, poisoning and poorly planned renewable energy developments.  The action adopted for Africa-Eurasian landbirds, with a lead from African parties, will complement existing instruments for waterbirds and raptors and provide a framework for linking with other stakeholders to ensure sustainable land use in Africa.  Parties from Latin American have taken a similar lead with respect to the newly adopted Americas Flyways Framework.

Similarly, we salute all the Parties and the Secretariat in successfully carrying forward a number of excellent and important marine initiatives, including of course the listings of sharks and rays. These listings are just the start of the further urgent work that these species need to ensure that they have a future. We congratulate you on the listing of the great ice bear. We look forward to new initiatives being developed under the auspices of CMS for this emblematic species and hope that the peoples of the region will come to see this as a friendly, appropriate and respectful attempt from the wider international community to protect this species which is revered, admired and appreciated across the whole planet. While disappointed to see the withdrawal of the Appendix II listing for the lion, we appreciate the effort that has gone into developing a meaningful resolution and urge the CMS family and all stakeholders to work together to ensure future generations can see these iconic animals in the wild, and not just behind bars or fences.

We highly commend CMS for taking far-reaching decisions to strengthen the convention overall via the new Strategic Plan, the new Listing Criteria and other governance decisions. These things make CoP11 a key meeting in the history of this convention, increasing the chance for better conservation and well-being of migratory species around the world. WE urge governments to take action resulting in adequate financial support for the work ahead. 

We encourage you all to build further on what has been agreed here on the cross-cutting threats including marine debris, poisoning, illegal trade and of course climate change.

The role of civil society is primarily to help you to help the migratory species. We deeply appreciate the openness of the dialogue that we have here. We sometimes have our differences, of course, but this is all part of a healthy process of dialogue and debate, as is the ability of a convention to appropriately review and accordingly amend and develop its work programmes. As partner and non-partner organisations, we commit to work with you all in achieving the best outcomes for all species and all threats.

Madam Chair, we thank the Secretariat for their excellent facilitation of this meeting and thank you one last time for the kind hospitality that Ecuador has shown to us. 

Muchas gracias Señora Presidente

There is  applause. 

The Ecuadorian minister returns to the podium - many species she says are waiting for us to take actions she says and calls for that action. 

Señora Presidente

Bradnee Chambers comes last to the platform.

This has been the biggest and the best conference with unprecedented results - this is the result of months of planning and much work behind the scenes. 

He too thanks the chair for her warm hospitality. She has fed us and entertained us, he adds. He notes among other things the new partnership with HSI and concludes on a high note that the time for talk is over and now it is time for action. 

Bradnee's final speech at CoP 11

Some gift giving follows. First the minister and then others that have helped to make the conference a success recieve colourful bouquets. Soon many flowers are cradled in many arms. In  return the minister thanks Bradnee for his kind words. 

She makes two closing announcements and call for the members of the CMS standing committee to stay put. The delegations should also stay for an official photograph and then redoubtable Melanie Virtue of the CMS Secretariat says that it is her bittersweet responsibility to tell us how to leave here and explains the bus schedule back from the mall to central Quito.. 

And it is done.Soon we are back in the bus whizzing back up the winding roads and into the future.


Article in the Guardian today about this HERE.and new (and on Wednesday concluding) reports and excellent pictures of the CoP from ENB HERE.including Mr Simmonds in action HERE!

Quito CMS COP 4 - The Compliance Battle

Friday arrives.

Since the last blog, we have had another meeting of the marine/aquatic working group to try to agree all those key resolutions (staring with cetacean culture and ending with the shark and ray action plan and marine debris.)

Outside the convention centre

Further to the usual morning drive through busy cobbled mountain roads from the main city centre to the shopping mall-come-conference centre and a brisk security check we are back in the main hall.

Bird issues break out in the CoW and these include work plans and the issue of bird poisoning. This is one of the hot topics here. Part of the concern is poisoning by lead shot fired from guns that do not kill the animals outright but leave them suffering and dying sometime later. (We were shown some distressing film yesterday evening of a swan in the last stages of poisoning and the autopsy that followed.) Large numbers of migratory birds are turning up in the UK with lead shot in their bodies. There is a hunting lobby here which seems to be opposed to any ban on lead shot, although alternatives exist. My colleagues tell me the same is true in the USA. This matter is sitting in front of a working group.

There are also concerns about second generation pesticides that may – in particular - be affecting top predators such as birds of prey.  

We move to the illegal trade in migratory birds, then onto the report of the Saker Falcon Task Force.

CITES encourages the workplan. The International Association for Falconry and Conservation of Birds of Prey also encourages this.

We move to the Central Asian Mammal Initiative. This is endorsed after some debate along with an action plan for the Argali sheep.

World migratory bird day flutters in and lands next. This has been going on for some ten years now.

Implementation of the Capacity Building Strategy breaks out – the chair is having problems finding the appropriate secretariat staff to support issues. A document is approved.

After lunch (with a large bird of prey and some falconers in a side event), the great hall reflects on its communication strategies. The lead member of the secretariat is unhappy with his budget and says so. He shows a photo of a small doughty group of people who are working away behind the scenes of the conference tweeting and blogging to draw the attention of the world to what is happening here.

(I should note that elsewhere a big drafting group has been meeting in parallel to the Committee of the Whole looking at implementation issues including, reportedly a spirited discussion on rules of procedure and the involvement of NGOs!)

Back in the great hall the EU has some small amendments (as is its want) on the resolution on communications and outreach but apart from these (whatever they are – no details are provided) the resolution is sent on its way to the closing plenary.

The Analysis of National Reports as compiled by UNEP-WCMC is presented by a lady with a nice English accent.  [All such documents are available on the CMS website for those interested an present a significant amount of work by all concerned.]

The Battle for Compliance

The CMS legal expert – the lofty Professor Chris Wold - then returns to the room and is called to the microphone. He suggests that many feel that the convention is ready to have a process of review of its implementation. There were also other views, he says carefully, and over the last few days he has had various discussions with interested parties. This is a targeted means of providing support, it is not about sanctions. The task is not to create the review process today but to produce the procedures for this. The secretariat did not want to identify that process yet and he adds that there was also criticism that the Secretariat did not provide a justification for this.

Does anyone care? The air conditioning is roaring like a jet engine. Many people have found the wireless is actually working and are desperately updating their status on Facebook (or whatever you young people do on that system).

More pause…. Tumbleweed. Facebook updating. Etc.

Finally the silence is broken by the mighty EU speaking in an Italian accent: The EU still needs full justification for this process. This must be the first step. If this can be provided then a number of issues need to be addressed. What aspect of the convention would this link to? What are the resource implications? Who would raise implementation issues? How would the criteria be applied? What would be a clear case of non-compliance? Would rules of procedure need to be changed?

It seems the EU has many questions and it has been unable to find adequate answers.

Much discussion and shrugging between the Chair and the Wold on the high table at the front of the meeting room follows.

The Chair says that this was never going to lead to a sentence by a court… This is not how I know this system. The list is exactly the things that this working group should look at. The question is do we need to wait three more years or can we start this open analysis. Maybe the bottom line is should we start the analysis or not. I am positive to it at the moment. The EU is not.

Switzerland shares the chairs view. These are ideas to be shared.

The Chair suggests some simplifications to the relevant resolution. He says he sees some nodding to this.

The EU does not like this idea of taking bits out and putting bits in. He thinks before the working group commences we need clear terms of reference.

A long pause follows – up on the top table Melanie, the good Professor and the Chair are locked in discussion. Some NGOs huddle to see if they can come up with something relevant to say.

The Chair announces a variety of changes. Including a new operative about the first meeting which would be immediately after the standing committee.

Can the EU accept?

You are dangling terms of reference in front of us. These should be proposed to the standing committee – so these are issues to be decided there. If the standing committee decides … then we proceed says the EU.

The Chair says so this now seems to be a question of when – who!

Professor Wold on the big screen.

Niki Entrup for various groups – notes that the justification is clear in the preamble of the relevant document (10.9) – improved measures to measure implementation etc. We believe this is exactly what we have in front of us. We refer to many documents that show the need to improve implementation. We believe this is hard for any convention. The decision should be made here and this would be a bad sign to the public and a missed opportunity to drive forward.

Tumbleweed x 10. The arrangements for excursions are beamed up on the screen to provide light relief.

More deletions to the resolution follow as the team at the front try to hold onto something. This new plan says the Chair (further to the deletions and amendments) means that we delay the whole thing for 1.5 years.

The EU says there are inclined to support him but would like to hear the changes again. He reads them. The CMS Sec is being instructed to develop terms of reference to be adopted by the Standing Committee and at its 45^th meeting it will review progress if the working group is established.

Switzerland supports. No one else speaks.

The chair thinks he is seeing nodding - perhaps he is not looking at the EU - but this key issue for the future health of the Convention is now moved to the plenary to be concluded. [watch this space]

Boat-based wildlife watching resolution – forwarded to plenary.

Renewable energy resolution – forwarded to plenary.

Cetacean culture – forwarded to plenary.

Live captures of cetaceans….

The representative of the CITES convention raises a point on operative 2. Not clear what he means but in part at least he is highlighting he was not there when the resolution was concluded last night.

Argentina raises a point in the Spanish language version. The Chair rules it can be addressed in the revision and moves it to plenary…. There is some quiet applause and restrained cheering in cetacean corner.

The Chair moves to close the session at 17.32 – he notes that the Secretariat needs all reports and conclusions by 7pm. We break now until Sunday morning when we will reconvene for an hour as Committee of the Whole. Then the plenary will convene. We will seek to finish at 1-2pm. I have asked a few people and had smiles about this. I have not eaten a single dinner… bed at midnight and up at 5am, he says.

The USA is worried about something but they are reassured and the Chair closes the day to applause.

The Convention will not meet tomorrow – Saturday – the Secretariat will be cloistered away making sure all the proposals and resolutions are in final form for adoption at the plenary. Meanwhile some delegates will be touring volcanoes and markets and others will be writing blogs, updating Facebook pages and preparing for what the final few hours will bring. 

Stay tuned - one more set of hurdles to leap.

Finally here for their many fans around the world are Pierre Gallego of Luxembourg and Mark Jones of Born Free. 

Pierre

Mr Jones