Gambling Addiction is a Blight on Animal World.Evening, in the Coconino National Forest, Arizona. In the canyon below a mountain a lion is searching for prey. But another predator stalks the unsuspecting members of the animal kingdom tonight. Twenty years ago the silence of night-time would be broken only by the odd wolf howl, but tonight, the sound of music and slot machines rings in the distance. Gambling, once the pastime of humans only, has, in recent years, become increasingly popular with creatures the world over. In the last few decades, casinos catering specifically to animal customers have popped up in forests and jungles across the world, and mammals, reptiles and birds have flocked (often literally) to gamble away their hard earned wages. “I had to sell my cave” one bear told me. “Now I work as a street performer, and in the evenings I come here and spend all the money I’ve earned during the day. I’ve tried to get help, but nothing works.”Harriet, a racoon with three young children is afraid of meeting a similar fate. She hasn’t seen her husband in three days. “I used to go in there and beg him to come home, but recently I’ve stopped trying. We’re running out of money for basics. We’ve been reduced to hunting through rubbish bins for food.”Gambling affects 1 in 10 animal families in Arizona. And has put over a thousand out of their homes. While in England it is said to be the main cause of squirrel poverty. Last year the government spent thousands of pounds on support groups to help those who want to get out of the cycle, but the problem is still escalating.On Saturday the UN is meeting to discuss a plan of action.“We understand that this is a very serious issue, and we are making plans to help those who need it, and prevent more animals from falling into the same trap,” A government spokesman told me. But for animals like Harriet and her children, help may come too late.

Sophie Powell

Sophie Powell Louis Vinet

Leanne ColemanAnna McNeeJay BarnhamBecky Hill