Aussie surf legend Mick Fanning working on saving endangered bears and rhinos
WITH a lot more time on his hands since retiring, surfing great Mick Fanning is doing his bit to save the planet for the kids of the world. He is working on saving animals on the verge of extinction so his future kids and grandkids will be able to see them.
Confidential
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WITH a lot more time on his hands since retiring, surfing great Mick Fanning is doing his bit to save the planet for the kids of the world.
The 37-year-old hopes to become a father one day and recently returned to Australia after a few weeks in the Alaskan wilderness working with Wild Ark on its Grizzly Plains conservancy.
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“One day I am going to have kids and I’m going to have grandkids,” Fanning told Confidential.
“For them not to be able to go and see bears or rhinos is pretty heartbreaking. As humans we keep killing off these incredible creatures and that gives me heartache. If we can save these animals and people can still see them, that is the goal for me.”
The Grizzly Plains area has the largest population of brown bears in North America due to its natural salmon fisheries. The area is under threat from Pebble Mine, the world’s largest open pit gold and copper mine that is planned for the area.
Fanning is one of many high-profile athletes to work with Wild Ark, a conservation group started by environmentalist Mark Hutchinson that has projects around the world.
Rugby player David Pocock is also an ambassador and will join Fanning on a trip to the wilds of Papua New Guinea later in the year.
Both have also spent time in South Africa, where Wild Ark has its Pridelands conservancy.
“There’s been different projects I’ve been approached to be involved in,” he said. “This one is a little more in tune with what I do. Even though we are trying to make change, we are having a lot of fun, which is awesome. It is just about raising awareness. If everyone lends a hand, we can change the world.”
Fanning famously survived an encounter with a great white shark during the J-Bay Open finals in Jeffreys Bay in South Africa in 2015.
Sharks are another animal he believes need protecting.
“It was nothing personal,” he joked about his shark encounter. “Sharks do get a rough trot. We’ve got to look after all the apex predators just as much as we look after the cute and cuddly animals.”
Originally published as Aussie surf legend Mick Fanning working on saving endangered bears and rhinos
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