When policymakers come together and create conservation laws that are well-thought-out, it’s amazing what it can do in the real world. Just take a look at Britain where badgers, otters, and other furry carnivores are staging a spectacular comeback after the government clamped down on hunting and pollution. The reasons for each carnivore’s recovery are different, but all tied to the government in one way or another. Otters were harmed by organochlorine pesticides washed into the river but have returned to every English county since the pesticides were banned and hunting was outlawed in 1978. Polecat numbers have risen to 83,000 in the decades since a 1958 ban on gin traps, which were once used to control rabbits. Badger populations, on the other hand, have doubled since the 1980s thanks to legal protection granted to them in 1973. It all goes to show that contacting your representatives and pushing for better conservation laws can make a huge difference for animals.
Why badgers and otters are staging a comeback in Britain
More of Today's Solutions
Nations agree to fund nature in a breakthrough for biodiversity
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a rare display of unity amid global tensions, nations reached a landmark agreement to fund nature conservation. ...
Read MoreThriving in uncertainty: science-backed ways to build resilience
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a world increasingly defined by unpredictability, many of us would rather accept a negative outcome than face ...
Read MoreHow to have a conversation with someone you disagree with
Recent events in the United States underscore a deep trend towards polarization that is spreading throughout the country. As current events bring up strong ...
Read MoreYour future rooftop could be made out of easy-to-install solar shingles
The roofs of the future may be made entirely out of solar panels. At least that’s the goal of GAF Energy, which has recently ...
Read More
