Help save World’s most threatened animals

by Sacha Dench-Ambassador,UN CMS 2019-24 in Newton Abbot, Devon, United Kingdom

Total raised £19,582

raised so far

+ est. £800.00 Gift Aid

123

supporters

Help us save one of the World’s most threatened animals by donating to fund field investigations and critical research into their decline

by Sacha Dench-Ambassador,UN CMS 2019-24 in Newton Abbot, Devon, United Kingdom

We're still collecting donations

On the 26th November 2024 we'd raised £18,442 with 94 supporters in 81 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.

 New stretch target

We will set off on the next expedition


On our planet, there’s an animal that quietly removes deadly bacteria, viruses, and pathogens, preventing pandemics and maintaining balance in our ecosystems. With 99% of some already gone, the time to act is now.

It’s not just their disappearance that’s at stake - it’s the chain reaction of deadly consequences that follow, that will affect us all.  What happens when they are gone reads like a disaster movie:

Disease Outbreaks

Without them, the carcasses they would normally consume become breeding grounds for dangerous pathogens like anthrax, tuberculosis, and rabies. These diseases then spread to humans and other animals, triggering pandemics.

A rat explosion

Loss of this animal leads to a rise in stray dogs, rats, and other scavengers, who are less efficient at disposing of carcasses and more likely to spread diseases. This compromises food and water safety, affecting the overall health of our communities.

Drowning in Waste causes civil unrest

These animals are nature’s most efficient waste managers. Without them, the natural process of decomposition would slow down, and waste piles overwhelming waste management systems. Community unrest and forced migration grows as living conditions deteriorate. 

Even the climate is impacted 

By eating carrion, they prevent the equivalent of 12-13 million cars of CO2  being released annually during decomposition or disposal.

What if nature begins to unravel?

Their extinction could lead to cascading effects that destabilise entire ecosystems, with unpredictable and far-reaching consequences.

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How you can help

From everyday supporters to industry experts, we need a diverse group of people and organisations to join us in this fight. Here’s how you can be part of this mission:

Individual Supporters: Whether you’re donating, spreading the word, or joining our community, your voice matters.

Corporate Partners: Businesses have the power to drive change—through funding, influence, and outreach.

Influencers and Public Figures: Help us amplify our message and bring awareness to new audiences.

Educational Programs (Schools and Universities): Inspire the next generation to care for our planet by getting involved in our educational initiatives.

Creatives: Storytellers, artists, filmmakers: Help us bring this mission to life and inspire change through your craft.

How We’ll Create Change

Tackling this crisis requires a multi-pronged approach that combines education, collaboration, and on-the-ground action. Here’s how we plan to turn awareness into lasting change:

Stage 1:

Education & Expedition

We’re launching a global awareness campaign to shine a light on this critical issue and lay the foundation for action.

Global Expedition: We’ll gather research and data on the ground to better understand the scope of the problem and identify the most effective solutions.

Documentary Film Series: Our film series will take this story to a global audience, raising awareness and inspiring action.

Radio Programs: Through partnerships with trusted media like the BBC World Service and Radio 4, we’ll reach diverse audiences and spark conversations across communities.

Speaking Tour: We’ll travel across key regions, engaging with communities, policymakers, and thought leaders to build momentum for change.

Stage 2:  Build Support Networks

Creating lasting impact requires the right partnerships and backing.

Conservationists and Companies: We’re building alliances with those who share our commitment to protecting these animals and preventing future health crises.

Partnership Organisations: We’ll unite non-profits, research institutions, and businesses to pool resources and expertise.

Stage 3: Action

We’ll move from awareness to direct impact with a coordinated global effort.

On-the-Ground Impact: Our team will work with local communities, governments, and partners to implement solutions and policy changes that restore balance and protect both ecosystems and human health.

These creatures are the unsung heroes of our environment, quietly protecting us from diseases and maintaining the balance of nature. They are our guardians, and their disappearance would leave us vulnerable to a host of problems we are ill-prepared to face. The cost of losing them is too great to ignore. We need to protect them before it is too late.

We urgently need to make sure we don’t lose them all and are mounting a research and rescue programme, and we need your help 

We have a proven track record in bringing people together to save species, and have been asked by vulture experts to deploy our scientific and problem-solving teams at a series of critical sites and challenges around the world. 

Meet the Creature You’ve Overlooked- But Can’t Live Without

The animal we’ve been talking about might not be what you expected. It’s not a cute species that gets attention and admiration. It’s a bird that many find ugly, repulsive eve - a creature often ignored or despised*.*

But this bird is nature’s clean-up crew, a frontline defender against pandemics, and a critical protector of our ecosystems.

It’s the vulture. 

While they silently protect us by consuming waste and preventing deadly disease outbreaks, vultures have been driven to the brink of extinction. They’re poached, poisoned, and persecuted simply because they aren’t ‘cute’ enough for us to care about. We might not care now, but we will when they’re gone—and the consequences hit home. But there’s still time to change the story.

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For each site we need to raise a minimum of £15k, and we are asking your help to get us there, through this crowdfunder.

We are also offering the opportunity to become involved in the conservation effort, hearing the briefings, meeting the experts live in the field, and being part of our solutions mapping. Whatever age or background or what level of support you can give, all supporters would be most welcome to take part. – we will email all supporters with further details.

If any animal needs a mass communication campaign to convince people to help it, it’s the vultures. If there is anything we need to save to protect ourselves. It’s the vultures.

We must act now to avoid the catastrophic environmental and social consequences of losing nature's most important scavengers.

Fantastic rewards available as a thankyou for your support 

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Rewards

This project offered rewards

£70 or more

Amazing! 'Extinction is not an option':Tote&cards

Thank you for taking a stand with us! A unique limited edition 'Extinction is not an option' tote bag, alongside a handwritten thank you and 10 individual wildlife cards will be sent direct to you. See images in the crowdfunder copy.

£10 or more

Thank you!

Our appreciation along with a thank you email with options for how to join the support crew virtually.

£20 or more

£20 Donation 'gift voucher'

You will receive a beautifully designed voucher to give as a gift. It will say: Dear _____ This voucher represents a donation of £20 made on your behalf, to help save the worlds most endangered birds. This contribution is vital and we hope the impact it is giving, brings you joy. Please use this QR code to learn more, and receive your video message. Thank you Sacha Dench, the 'Human Swan' & CEO and UN ambassador for Migratory Birds 2019-2024

£25 or more

Vulture Champion

A hand written thank you card to display and start conversations about vultures, and exclusive invitation to attend a preview screening.

£35 or more

Sky Guardians

Pack of 10 stunning exclusive wildlife and conservation cards for you to send to friends and family (or keep for yourself!) - complete with a conservation story behind the individual images. These are each conversation pieces, worthy of a place on a wall, and references the donation made ie "This is a card is helping Conservation without Borders save the world's most threatened birds"

£50 or more

Vulture Champion - Film credit

Your name will be added to the credit list on each film completed. Plus an early copy of the films will be sent to you.

£95 or more

Conservation & Impact Photography:online (student)

Learn to take photos that tell stories & have impact. Share your work, support the work of others, or kickstart a new impact career. For beginner or experienced photographers, on any photographic device. 1 evening a week for 6 weeks + guided weekly projects. By week 6 you will have a portfolio + experience of working to a brief, and testimonials. Includes a 1:1 session for each person portfolio review + online group collaboration

£100 or more

Expedition Support Team and Vulture Champion

Thank you so much for your generosity. You will receive a hand written thank you and A4 signed photographic certificate for your wall.

£150 or more

One Day Conservation Photography Experience

Ideal gift! Join award-winning conservationist, film-maker and photographer Sacha Dench for a 1 day exclusive conservation experience, at a secret location. Meet a team behind a conservation project, hear their challenges, use your photography to help. Learn to tell conservation stories that have impact, with your camera. Suitable for any level of photography or conservation experience. Travel and accommodation not included.

£170 or more

Conservation & Impact Photography: online course

Exclusive: Learn to take photos that tell stories & have impact. Promote conservation, your work or others, or kickstart a new impact career. For beginner or experienced photographers, on any photographic device. 1 evening a week for 6 weeks + guided weekly projects. By week 6 you will have a portfolio + experience of working to a brief, and testimonials. Includes a 1:1 session for each person portfolio review + online group collaboration.

£200 or more

Culture Vulture

Vulture print + thank you signed by Joanna Lumley and vulture experts. See stunning image by Wolf-Deitrich Ademeit in the crowdfunder copy.

£250 or more

Species Champion & Executive Producer

For such a contribution you will have earned our extreme gratitude and executive producer credits in all the films. You will also be invited to attend the launch event with Joanna Lumley and have a certificate presented as part of the launch.

£250 or more

2day Conservation Impact photo experience

Ideal gift & incredible value! Join award winning conservationist and conservation photographer Sacha Dench for a two day conservation experience. An exclusive opportunity to learn the key elements of having impact with your camera and to have your photographs used to support a conservation project. Suitable for any level of photography experience & 18 years or older, or younger if accompanied by an adult. Contact us for any questions).

£250 or more

Inspire young people!

Only through this crowdfunder, heavily discounted to only £250 (because it will be doubled by Aviva's generous contribution and because we want to rally young ambassadors), you can gift an engaging and inspirational talk about vultures, other birds, and how we can all 'Find our Wings'. This is a truly magical & life-changing experience for the young people you gift it to, that they will talk about for years to come. See option to add a workshop

£250 or more

VIP meet a Vulture experience

Join Sacha in Wales to meet the vultures at a breeding centre - a unique VIP to visit and photograph vultures in a location not open to the general public. Go behind the day-to-day scenes to see what it takes to breed and care for these endangered birds and meet the team for a Q&A followed by a relaxed and locally resourced dinner.

£250 or more

"Finding Your Wings' School workshop

In addition to a school talk, add this option for a mind-blowing workshop to help young people take inspiration from Sacha and discover their own potential through a series of fun interactive expedition-based activities. (note this is only available in addition to a school talk, applied to the same school and students)

£500 or more

Species Ambassadors

Option to attend the launch and final events, framed certificate given at ceremony on the night and VIP experience with Dame Joanna Lumley for 2 guests

£1,000 or more

Species Ambassador Team:

option to attend the launch event, framed certificate/s given at ceremony on the night and VIP experience with Dame Joanna Lumley for you and 4 guests

£1,000 or more

Corporate Motivational Talk (Small company)

EXCLUSIVE OFFER through this crowdfunder only (talks are usually a minimum of £5,000 through her agent), book Sacha to speak to your C-suite, staff, stakeholders or other audiences. Sacha draws on a vast experience of adventure and conservation to open eyes, hearts and minds. She will work with you to ensure the talk is relevant to your audience and tailored to help address the challenges your company is facing right now.

£2,000 or more

Corporate Motivational Talk (Medium company)

EXCLUSIVE OFFER through this crowdfunder only (talks are usually a minimum of £5,000 through her agent), book Sacha to speak to your C-suite, staff, stakeholders or other audiences. Sacha draws on a vast experience of adventure and conservation to open eyes, hearts and minds. She will work with you to ensure the talk is relevant to your audience and tailored to help address the challenges your company is facing right now.

£3,000 or more

Corporate Motivational Talk (Large company)

EXCLUSIVE OFFER through this crowdfunder only (talks are usually a minimum of £5,000 through her agent), book Sacha to speak to your C-suite, staff, stakeholders or other audiences. Sacha draws on a vast experience of adventure and conservation to open eyes, hearts and minds. She will work with you to ensure the talk is relevant to your audience and tailored to help address the challenges your company is facing right now.

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