This is a picture of a white rumped vulture, it is a critically endangered animal, however, like many animals that are not cute, it does not enjoy the support of mindless B-grade celebrities. Never-the-less it performs a valuable role in the ecosystem and the reason it is endangered is because of a chemical, diclofenac, which was fed to sick cows. It happens that this chemical causes kidney damage and death in vultures.

Thankfully serving "drug-free", safe carcasses to these endangered birds by Bird Conservation Nepal is bringing them back from the brink of extinction. Thankfully some people in this world look beyond the attractiveness of the animal when deciding whether it deserves to to survive as a species.

It is important for us all to reflect on why we want to save a species and the fact that it is attractive, "cute" if you like, is the most trivial of reasons.

read more here