ABSTRACT
Whenever prominent environmental organisations want more of our cash, they have a habit of confronting us with the plight of what are described as charismatic megafauna – a term coined in 1985 to describe attractive, large, wild animals that could be useful for marketing purposes. Such animals experience a range of problems in the wild, many of which are as a result of development. The problems include loss of habitat, pollution, poaching, overhunting and competition from other species. Such charismatic animals are sometimes known as flagship species. Organisations employ a range of megafauna-based strategies. Although people never seem to tire of looking at giant pandas, it's not obvious that exposing the animals to public gaze provides whatever level of intimacy that they need to get together. It's important to say, however, that there are positive stories about species that were almost extinct in the wild that have been rescued.
