Actor Dick Van Dyke, known as the loveable chimney sweep Bert in the 1964 movie Mary Poppins, has been named an official Year of the Tiger ambassador by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Van Dyke joins a team of celebrity supporters including Leonardo DiCaprio and Ethan Suplee who are working to help the WWF raise awareness and funds for tiger conservation.
“Who would have thought that I might outlive one of the most majestic species to ever walk the planet,” stated Van Dyke. “When I learned that tigers, which numbered close to 80,000 when I was born in the 1920’s, were closing in on extinction, I was stunned.”
With tiger populations diminishing quickly due to habitat loss and poaching the WWF decided recently, for the first time ever, to use mobile fundraising to help generate donations. All donations received from generous contributors texting TIGERS to 20222—$10 donation—will be earmarked for tiger conservation.
“It’s amazing -- just a few years ago we had to pull out the checkbook and mail off a check to donate money,” stated Van Dyke. “Now, just by texting ‘TIGERS’ to 20222, we can donate $10 towards protecting tiger habitat and cracking down on poaching. It couldn’t get any simpler.”
For more information regarding WWF’s campaign to save tigers please visit www.worldwildlife.org/tigers.
Follow us on Twitter @thisdishisveg and Facebook [NEW!]
Photo Credit:video screen capture
