Sonia Horon, Global Animal
Not all animals are cute, cuddly, or even all that pleasant to look at. Unfortunately, this genetic gap could be responsible for better-looking animals getting more protection than their aesthetically challenged brothers and sisters.
We hear a great deal about the plight of the adorable baby seal, but what about all the other animal species who need help but don’t necessarily have the movie star looks?
Thankfully the Ugly Animal Preservation Society (UAPS) is working to ensure the so-called “ugly” animals receive as much exposure as cute baby seals.
Simon Watt, the president of UAPS, said that the goal of the unusual organization is “raising the profile of some of Mother Nature’s more aesthetically challenged children. The panda gets too much attention.”
Watt, who is also an evolutionary biologist, said, “The vast majority of life out there is dull and ugly. The vast majority is insects. The vast majority is stuff in the sea that we don’t even see.”
The group notably uses comedy to publicize their favorite “ugly” species. They have also participated in events during the Edinburgh Science Fest and Bristol’s Big Green Week where they focused on nature’s “icky” children like the blobfish, the mole rat, the surinam toad, and many others.
Watch the video below to learn more about UAPS’s comedic conservation efforts.
