...and yet, the president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums probably doesn't LOOK completely insane

Conservationist warns of Mad Max scenario - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The president of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums says the type of barren landscapes shown in Australia's famous Mad Max movies could become a common reality because of global warming.

Professor Gordon McGregor Reid was speaking in Adelaide where more than 300 zoo and conservation leaders have gathered for the association's international conference.

Professor McGregor Reid, who is also the chief executive of Chester Zoo in Northern England, says zoos around the world must work together to prevent an apocalyptic scenario from occurring.

"These films are kind of prescient, they give us some kind of glimpse of one horrible future that we don't certainly want to be heading towards and it's the job of the entire world conservation community - including zoos and aquarium - to help address these issues," he said.