Jo in Thailand - Asian Elephant

My animal's the Asian elephant. Elephants have always been my favourite animals - I don't really know why. But the Asian elephant really is endangered - there are less than 50,000 of them left in the world today!

Day 1

Tina: "We spent today exploring Chiang Mai, which is where we are staying. We all went to a tailor's to get fitted for a traditional Thai outfit. It was great fun, but also really difficult trying to choose from all the different, beautiful materials."

Jon: "We also went shopping in the Night Bazaar, to buy presents for the rest of the band. There are some great things to spend your money on here."

Day 2

Jo: "I had my first encounter with some elephants today at a WWF project. Although I was really nervous when I first saw them, they were actually very gentle. I then trekked with another elephant and a guide into the jungle to meet up with a Thai hilltribe. They were such friendly people and made me feel really welcome."

Day 3

Jo: "We spent today at the Thailand Elephant Conservation Centre and visiting some more of the elephant projects WWF funds. There was a really cute baby elephant that we all fell in love with. He was gorgeous. Elephant's have always been one of my favourite animals and I'm really glad I got to meet some - especially as they are so endangered and in need of our help!"

WWF's Work

No organisation has had a deeper long-term commitment to elephant conservation than WWF. They have been working to save elephants for more than 30 years and in 1994 spent some £2.2 million on 30 elephant-related conservation projects.

WWF works on long-term policies in Africa and Asia to minimise conflicts between elephants and humans.

Asian elephants generally live in forests, so projects to protect forests such as Xishuangbanna in China and The Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan are vital. In addition, WWF supports the Asian Elephant Conservation Centre in Bangalore, India and public ation of the Asian elephant newsletter - Gajah.

Bradley in Brazil - Hyacinth Macaw

I'm supporting the hyacinth macaw, which really is a beautiful bird - and everyone knows how much I like birds! There are only about 3,000 left in the world, which is really sad.

Day 1

Hannah: "Well, we arrived in Rio de Janeiro this morning and decided that one of the first things we had to do was go and see the statue of Christ. It was something I've always wanted to see. Bradley decided to take the lazy option and view everything from a helicopter though."

Day 2

Bradley: "Hannah went handgliding this morning and I have to say she done very well considering she was a bit nervous beforehand. I've decided to let her continue enjoying herself in Rio on her own though, as I'm flying on to Sao Paulo to watch some football. Brasil are playing Argentina in a World Cup qualification match. A man's got to do, what a man's got to do!"

Day 3

Hannah: "Today was pretty much a day of travelling for me, working my way into the Pantanal rainforest, to meet back up with Bradley. It wasn't too bad because there was so much to look at on the way."

Day 4

Bradley: "We spent today in the rainforest, so that I could find my special bird - the Hyacinth Macaw. We actually managed to track down a nesting pair, which was really lucky. They were much bigger than I thought they were going to be and a really beautiful blue colour. I can now say that I've seen a few of the 3,000 left in the world. This evening we are going back out into the forest to try and find some crocodiles. It's easier to spot them at night."

Day 5

Hannah: "We spent today at a cowboy ranch, herding cattle. Bradley loved it and was very good, although I don't think his horse was too happy sometimes. He's always owned horses though, so it suited him down to the ground."

WWF's Work

WWF has been involved in the fight to stop and reverse the loss and degradation of the world's forests for over three decades. Much of this work has been towards establishing a network of protected areas throughout the world's forests. In addition, WWF played a leading role in establishing the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which lays down strict international standards for forest management and encourages consumers to buy products derived from sustainable sources. This continuing work will help safeguard the remaining macaw habitat, and thereby reduce one of the major threats to their survival.

In Brazil, WWF is working with conservation partners and governments to find alternatives to a planned waterways project, which threatens the forest habitat of the hyacinth macaw in the Pantanal wetland region.

TRAFFIC International, the wildlife monitoring programme of WWF and IUCN (the World Conservation Union), is working to improve CITES legislation, assist and train customs officers and other officials involved in the regulation of trade, and carry out monitoring, research and investigations into wildlife trade and illegal trade activities. TRAFFIC is also supporting the development of enforcement methods such as DNA testing for countering fraudulent captive breeding claims. These measures will help to reduce the illegal trade in macaws.

WWF is also funding vital research into macaw populations in order to monitor their numbers and distribution. Through this continuing work, we are able to learn more about these birds, their behaviour and needs, which puts us in a much better position with regard to their conservation.

Tina in China - Giant Panda

I've chosen the giant panda because I've always had soft spot for them. Believe it or not, there are only around 1,000 of them left in the entire world, so it's very important that we do our bit to help them out.

Day 1

Tina: "We went to the Great Wall of China and Tianemen Square today. It was amazing to see the Wall - one of the only man-made landmarks you can see from space."

Day 2

Jo: "I got to do a bit of singing this evening, as we all had a go at karaoke. We then went on to ten-pin bowling, which we all love. I just think we need a bit more practice though."

Day 3

Tina: "It was a great day today, because I got to meet my pandas, which I've always had a soft spot for! Seeing them though made me realise how much they need our help. They are so beautiful. It made me really sad to think that there are only 1,000 of these gorgeous bears left."

Day 4

Jon: "We went up Mount Emei Shan today and there were fantastic views from the top. We could see for miles and miles. Certainly a good way to see China"

WWF's Work

WWF - the first conservation organisation ever to work in China - has proposed the creation of 17 bamboo "corridors" so that pandas can move from one feeding area to another in order to reduce the risk of in-breeding. This has been incorporated into an overall management plan written by the Chinese government for nearly 30,000 square kilometres of panda habitat. The focus of WWF's involvement remains in the forefront of panda conservation: they finance the training of local rangers to combat poaching activities and they assist with the implementation of the government's plan.

The Chinese authorities are interested in loaning pandas to foreign zoos, thereby generating millions of dollars. While WWF is opposed to short - term loans, it believes that long-term breeding loans may benefit panda conservation, provided they are part of an integrated international captive breeding programme designed to complement conservation in the wild.

Since 1980, WWF has worked with the Chinese government and spent £2.6 million on panda projects. Scientists, managers and guards have been trained and equipped to protect the panda and its precious habitat. WWF has also helped build the research laboratory and captive breeding centre at Wolong, China's largest reserve. Captive breeding is continuing with the aim of releasing pandas into the wild, but as yet success is limited.

Hannah in Turkey - Monk Seal

Everyone knows how much I like the water, so I just had to support a marine animal. The one I've picked is the monk seal, which is one the planet's most endangered mammals. There are no more than 500 surviving, so we need to do everything we can to stop them being completely wiped out.

Day 1

Bradley: "Hannah and I both went shopping mad today, all around Istanbul. There were loads of markets selling everything you can think of, at really cheap prices."

Day 2

Hannah: "I got up really early today, to go to the market and buy some presents for Bradley it's his birthday."

Bradley: "We went camel trekking through sand dunes today which was a laugh. How I didn't fall off as the camel rose to it's feet I don't know. I soon got used to it though just had to hold on tight."

Day 3

Hannah: "We travelled to Foca today, which is where I will be trying to spot a Mediterranean monk seal. This evening we're going out with some fishermen to help them set some nets for tomorrow."

Day 4

Hannah: "I spent all of today trying to catch a glimpse of a monk seal, but unfortunately had no luck. I had been warned that there would be a very slim chance of spotting one, because they are so endangered. I still couldn't help but feel upset though. It's really made me realise the problems they face and how much they need our help."

Day 5

Bradley: "As Hannah was upset about not seeing her seal, I decided to cheer her up by arranging for us to go jet-skiing. I even set up a race between us, but unfortunately she won and that wasn't supposed to happen!"

WWF's Work

WWF projects to conserve the Mediterranean monk seal have been established off the Greek and Turkish coasts, where they are working with local fishermen, carrying out seal surveys and monitoring pollution. In Mauritania WWF has helped manage a national park to protect the seal for the last 18 years.

In the past, WWF projects have included conserving Saimaa seals in Finland and hooker sealions in New Zealand, developing an Antarctica conservation strategy and supporting the Galapagos Islands national park service. Off the coast of Chile, WWF also backed research into the Juan Fernandez fur seal, which was hunted almost to extinction and is only now making a slow comeback. In the United Kingdom, WWF works to reduce overfishing, disturbance and pollution, all of which threaten our own populations of harbour and grey seals.

Rachel in Russia - Siberian Tiger

I'm supporting the Siberian tiger, which is such a beautiful animal. I've always been fascinated by them because they're so striking and powerful. We should all try to save animals from extinction.

Day 1

Rachel: "After nearly two days of travelling I've finally arrived in the far east of Russia. I had to leave Paul exploring in Moscow, because he lost his tickets for the flight to Vladivostock. I hope he catches up soon!"

Day 2

Paul: "After I caught back up with Rachel, I asked her to show me around Vladivostock, which is actually a naval port. Unfortunately there weren't loads of shops, so Rachel was a bit disappointed. She loves shopping!"

Day 3

Rachel: "We took a beautiful, old train to Usserisk today and I met up with some of the staff from WWF. First of all we came across a tiger footprint, which proves that there are tigers in this area and that's scary. They then told me all about the anti-poaching brigades they fund to help protect the tigers and also showed me a tiger skin which was really horrible. I can't understand why people want to kill these animals, rather than help them."

Day 4

Rachel: "Today we actually saw some tigers - a mum, a dad and their three cubs. Although they were beautiful to look at and it was a fantastic experience, I was terrified. They were so big and strong and looked like they were really hungry! I realise how lucky I am to have seen them though when they are so endangered."

WWF's Work

Along with TRAFFIC, their highly effective wildlife trade monitoring network, WWF are investigating and exposing illegal trade in tiger parts, assisting law enforcement agencies to crack down on dealers, and finding acceptable alternatives in the countries where the medicinal use of tiger parts has been practised for centuries. But lifetime customs are difficult to change and WWF has to treat people's traditional beliefs delicately and with respect. They also continue to lobby governments to enforce international treaties and wildlife protection laws.

WWF continues to conserve tigers in the wild by working with governments and local people to establish, improve and manage important reserves in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

Jon in Malaysia- Orang utan

The orang utan has been one of my favourite animals since I was tiny. They're really intelligent and are said to be the closet living things to humans, yet they are often mistreated. In less than 10 years there may not be any left in the world, which would be awful.

Day 1

Tina: "We all visited the Monsopiad Cultural Village this evening, which is where the legendary Kadazan Warrior lived. It was really spooky to see 39 human skulls, which are from the people he headhunted."

Day 2

Jon: "I took a boat trip down the Kinabatangan River today and was really lucky to see an orangutan with its baby, hanging from a tree. The best bit though was seeing a herd of wild Asian elephants that some WWF trackers had managed to find. I never thought it would be possible to get so close to them. It was amazing!"

Day 3

Jon: "I finally got to meet my animal face-to-face today, as we spent the day with Orang utans. There was one that was a real show-off and was very cheeky - a bit like me I suppose. He just wanted to be near us and hold our hands. I even managed to give him a quick cuddle at one point, after he dropped down off a rope into my arms. The thought of there possibly not being any Orangutans left in the wild in less than 10 years is just awful."

Jo: "Tina and I flew from Langkayan Island today by helicopter to meet up with Jon. We'd spent yesterday there and helped release some baby turtles back into the sea. It was really sweet to see them work their way down the beach into the water. They were so tiny and cute!"

WWF's Work

WWF has been involved in orang utan conservation since 1962. Research has played a vital part in the work carried out over the past three decades, with surveys being conducted in many parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Data collected has been used to indicate where there is a particular threat to the orang utan and its habitat.

As a result of this continuing work, WWF has been able to assist governments and other conservation organisations in creating and extending protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries where hunting and logging are prohibited. WWF has also helped the governments to enforce restrictions on the trade in live animals and orang utan products. When live orang utans are recovered from traders, they are often taken to refuges where they can recover and be rehabilitated, and eventually be released back into the wild.

Wherever WWF works in the field, great importance is placed upon the extensive knowledge and expertise possessed by local people and communities.