Hello, Green Voices platform. I am a Yemeni hoopoe bird, bringing you alarming news. Perhaps, through you, I can deliver this message, especially today, February 20, which is celebrated as Yemen’s National Environment Day.
I bring you a message from my fellow creatures in the wild, who can no longer find a place in their homeland. War, poaching, and environmental changes have made survival an impossible miracle, forcing them to seek alternative ways to stay alive!
The Gazelle That Wants to Become a Robot
Yemenis have always loved the gazelle—poets and writers have praised its beauty and grace. Yet, ironically, they have also hunted it relentlessly. Today, it stands on the brink of extinction.
The Arabian mountain gazelle, one of Yemen’s most iconic wildlife species, has become an easy target for illegal hunting and trafficking amid a complete lack of environmental protection. According to local reports, this species is now listed as endangered due to habitat loss and poaching.
Faced with this grim reality, the gazelle has come up with a crazy idea:
“What if I became a robot?”
In the age of artificial intelligence, maybe if it replaced its delicate body with cold metal and its innocent eyes with digital lenses, it could escape the hunters’ bullets!
The Royal Lion Forced to Become a Vegetarian
Have you ever heard of a vegetarian lion?
It might sound like a joke, but for Yemen’s royal lion, once a majestic king feared by all, it’s a tragic reality.
Years of neglect and starvation have left it with no choice but to abandon its natural instincts. Now, it survives on the sweets and vegetables thrown by visitors!
Imagine the king of the jungle eating leftover sweet corn instead of fresh meat. Is this the fate that befits the ruler of the wild?
The Arabian Leopard Considering Becoming Gay
The Arabian leopard is not a king like the lion, but it is Yemen’s national animal, officially designated by the government in 2009. Yet, despite being classified as “Critically Endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is still being hunted and killed.
With no official protection and an increasing threat of extinction, the leopard feels abandoned. Even authorities have turned a blind eye, leaving it defenseless against poachers.
In desperation, it wonders:
“What if I became gay?”
Perhaps then, international organizations would intervene to protect it, and global media would highlight its plight as an endangered species. After all, isn’t that what happens with humans?
The Yemeni Ibex Thinking of Joining a Terrorist Group
The Yemeni ibex was not just another wild animal; it was sacred in ancient Yemeni civilization. Our ancestors carved its image on temple walls, seeing it as a symbol of fertility and strength.
But today, its only remaining presence is in ancient rock engravings, as hunters relentlessly target it.
Finding itself cornered, it considers a desperate option:
“What if I joined a terrorist group?”
Perhaps then, people would fear killing it, and global forces would rush to protect it—just as they do with groups they consider global threats.
After all, no one seems to care about saving endangered animals, but everyone fears terrorism. Isn’t that right?
In 2020, the IUCN added the Nubian ibex to its Red List of threatened species due to poaching and habitat loss.
The Decline of Yemen’s Biodiversity
Yemen’s biodiversity is facing a severe crisis due to poaching, war, and climate change, threatening the survival of many rare species.
According to Yemen’s Ministry of Environment, the country is home to 71 species of wild mammals, including rare ones such as the Arabian mountain gazelle, Arabian leopard, cheetah, and Nubian ibex. However, illegal hunting and environmental destruction have placed them on the IUCN Red List.
If urgent action is not taken, Yemen may soon lose an irreplaceable ecological heritage.
A Call to Action
The hoopoe’s message is not just a cry in the wilderness—it is a call to action.
Authorities and international organizations must act immediately to protect Yemen’s wildlife.
On this National Environment Day, let us remember that preserving our environment is a collective responsibility that requires local and global efforts.
Saving these creatures is our responsibility—will we rise to the challenge?