Pokemon are similar to animals right? And pokemon is a respectable thing to get inspiration from? Right?! The poke rap lists all the pokemon (well only the important first generation), much like the EDGE list lists all the most evolutionary important animals... and so the EDGE rap was born!

Everyone that knows me knows how important ZSL (Zoological Society of London) is to me. I've been volunteering at ZSL London Zoo for 7 years, and working there for 2. Everyone I've ever met has been subjected to some sort of ZSL story or animal fact, or had random things shared with them on social media. So you probably all have an odd assortment of ZSL and animal related knowledge now.

What you might not know is that ZSL is an international conservation and scientific charity. I repeat - we are a charity!

ZSL relies on ticket sales from the zoos, and donations from the public to fund our work. That work does not just cover London Zoo and our sister zoo Whipsnade. It also covers our conservation work in over 50 countries worldwide - including conservation work we do right here in the UK.

Our zoos cost thousands of pounds each day to run. Our 200,000 animals still need to be fed. They still need looking after, they still need vetinary care. They still need you.

So what's the EDGE rap?

Well, EDGE stands for Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered. The EDGE of existence programme was developed by ZSL and used around the globe. It identifies and prioritises the most unique animals on the planet, that have few close relatives on the tree of life. There are different lists for birds, mammals, reptiles, corals, amphibians and sharks/rays. 

My EDGE rap incudes the top 26 animals on the EDGE mammal list. They're not in order - but hopefully it will help people be slightly more familiar with the names of the animals, and give you a good laugh at my expense as I embarrass myself. Yes this was also inspired by pokemon - gotta save 'em all! (I'm yet to work out if I'm going to wear my ZSL cap backwards like Ash Ketchum does!)

So please donate as I embark on this ridicuous task. I promise it's significantly harder to fit 'Hispaniolan Solenodon' and 'Chalchalero Vizcacha Rat', than 'Squirtle' or 'Pikachu' into a rap.

Please share this with everyone you know that likes animals, or cares about wildlife and conservation. We can all work together to #workforwildlife




You can find more information about zsl here www.zsl.org

You can find more about EDGE here www.edgeofexistence.org