TV conservationist Bill Oddie visited Banham Zoo yesterday to lend his support to a campaign to save endangered big cats around the world.

Wymondham & Attleborough Mercury: TV presenter, Bill Oddie, visits Banham Zoo to promote Big Cat Big Match conservation fund, aiming to conserve large cats. A red ruffed Lemur. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYTV presenter, Bill Oddie, visits Banham Zoo to promote Big Cat Big Match conservation fund, aiming to conserve large cats. A red ruffed Lemur. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Denise Bradley)

The writer, who has presented the wildlife shows Springwatch and Wild In Your Garden, helped to put the spotlight on the World Land Trust's (WLT) Big Cat Big Match Fortnight, which aims to raise £500,000 to save cats on the brink of extinction in the wild, such as tigers, pumas and jaguars.

The aim of the initiative, which is being held during the first two weeks in October, is to raise £250,000, which is being match funded by the charity's supporters, bringing the total to £500,000.

Mr Oddie said wild animals were in danger from wars around the world which threatened to destroy their natural habitats and turn them into commodities, adding that tigers were being poached for their skins and bones.

He added in some parts of the world there were more animals in captivity than in the wild.

'Part of the benefit of this initiative is a certain reassurance that there are people doing good things instead of doing bad things. Working with and for animals can bring out the best in people,' he said.

He said the money could help to conserve species such as the Caucasion Leopard in Armenia and would be used to extend existing reserves and create wildlife corridors.

Funds will also be used to support WLT's Keepers of the Wild programme, which supports the employment of wildlife rangers in reserves created with WLT funding.

John Burton, WLT chief executive, said: 'After 25 years of conservation success in countries as diverse as Belize, Paraguay and India, we know that WLT's model of land purchase and protection is making it possible for big cats to survive in the wild in Latin America and Asia.

'We aim to raise £500,000 during Big Cat Big Match so that we can continue to support big cat conservation in countries where we already have programmes and in parts of the world such as Iran and Vietnam, where we are developing new partnerships.'

To donate, visit www.worldlandtrust.org.Do you have a conservation story? Email newsdesk@archant.co.uk