In August 2007 In Focus became the first official BirdLife Species Champion and will help the White-shouldered Ibis avoid extinction. This was announced at the Birdfair opening ceremony today as part of a huge new BirdLife International project to save Critically Endangered Species. In Focus were congratulated on their immediate support of this vital initiative. The Birdfair is raising funds during 2007 and 2008 to kick-start this programme as BirdLife International aims to find Species Champions to help fund the conservation of all 189 Critically Endangered birds.
One of In Focus’ directors Richard Campey said ‘we are delighted to be the first of the Species Champions in a fight to avoid the extinction of some of our most precious bird species from around the globe. Our commitment to Birdfair for the last 19 years as main sponsors is further strengthened by our backing of this vital project’.
The White-shouldered Ibis is a critically endangered species with an extremely small, extremely rapidly declining and severely fragmented population. Deforestation, drainage of wetlands, hunting and disturbance has all combined to put tremendous pressure on this red data species.
The worldwide, and sadly declining, population has been estimated at 50 – 249 mature individuals spread through Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Derek Evans (left), manager of the In Focus shop at the WWT London Wetland Centre, receives a framed photograph from Peter Schei, BirdLife International Chairman, at the Birdfair on behalf of In Focus who became the first Species Champion in a ground breaking conservation initiative. Derek Evans said, ‘Continuing on from our sponsorship of the Birdfair since it’s inception 19 years ago, we are delighted to again be at the beginning of a vital new bird conservation programme. We hope that by our sponsorship of the critically endangered White-shouldered Ibis we will provide an example to encourage other businesses to step forward and become Species Champions.’