10/10/2025
14:00 - 14:45
Ekthar Wildlife Development Limited
Session with interpretation
Why attend
Discover how sport can become a powerful ally for conservation. Learn about the untapped potential of wildlife iconography in team branding to inspire fans, mobilize resources, and shift social norms toward biodiversity protection.
Session Description
In the face of unprecedented biodiversity loss and limited resources to address it, exploring new socio-economic models is vital. One promising avenue is bridging two seemingly disconnected worlds: biodiversity and sport. This presentation introduces a novel framework for integrating biodiversity into the sustainability agenda of the sport industry by aligning the interests of professional organizations, fans, and conservationists. Many teams worldwide use wildlife iconography in names, logos, or supporter nicknames, creating powerful emotional connections. At a time of global biodiversity crisis, these representations offer unique opportunities to shift social norms, raise funds, and promote conservation. We will highlight (i) the large number of teams using wild animals in their branding, (ii) the diversity of species represented, and (iii) the concerning status of many of these species. Finally, we present a socio-economic model where conservationists, sport organizations, and fan communities mutually benefit, illustrating the untapped potential of interdisciplinary collaboration.Organized by
Ekthar