Four Good News Stories in Conservation 💚
🦏 Endangered black rhinos in Zimbabwe have made a remarkable comeback!
Decades after 90% of the world’s black rhinos were slaughtered due to poaching for their horns, a massive effort between Zimbabwe’s government officials, conservationists, and private landowners has proved successful! Critically endangered since 1996, black rhinos are one of five rhinoceros species left in the world. In the 1980s, Zimbabwe’s Zambezi Valley held the largest bordering population of black rhinos — 500 animals — yet due to poaching, the species' numbers dwindled. However, through an extensive plan to find and move any remaining rhinos onto private lands and public safe zones, the descendants of the surviving black rhinos have returned, bringing with them the vital genetic diversity of their ancestors!
Decades after commercial poaching killed over 90 percent of the world’s black rhinos, a longshot plan by government officials, conservationi
🦧 Rescued orangutans are rebuilding a new population in Indonesia!
Fifteen years ago, one nature reserve in Indonesia's island of Sumatra had no orangutans. Years later, it’s now home to a growing wild orangutan population, consisting almost entirely from rescued and relocated animals! Since 2011, conservationists brought nearly 200 orangutans to Jantho Pine Forest Nature Reserve, rescued from the illegal wildlife trade or relocated from areas that were being deforested. Some rescued orangutans spent years relearning skills they would have normally learned from their mothers, and others had to adapt to new and unfamiliar forests — yet despite the complex reintroduction process, these conservation efforts have proven successful! At least 10 orangutans have been born in the reserve, with there possibly being more undetected!
Sumatra — Fifteen years ago, Jantho Pine Forest Nature Reserve in Indonesia’s western Aceh province, on the island of Sumatra, had no orangu
🐆 Cheetahs have been successfully reintroduced to Zambia!
After almost 30 years since their last recorded presence, six cheetahs — three males and three females — were moved from South African private reserves to Zambia’s North Luangwa National Park! As the first stage of a larger reintroduction project, the project aims to introduce at least 18 cheetahs over the next two years and, ultimately, establish a thriving and self-sustaining population! Cheetahs historically lived in the Luangwa Valley, but factors like disease and habitat destruction diminished the animals’ presence. However, the reintroduction project, made possible by over seven years of planning and four decades of conservation efforts, chose North Luangwa for relocation due to its variety of habitats, large space, and connectedness to the ecosystem — all of which are expected to aid the cheetahs!
Why North Luangwa was chosen for Zambia’s cheetah return, and how habitat, predators and dispersal will shape long-term success
🐬🐍🐦🌿 A new fund will provide $200 million to help bring 100 critically endangered species from the brink of extinction!
The Phoenix Species Project is one of the largest philanthropic funds focused entirely on species recovery and features a variety of diverse habitats, countries, and types of species, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants! Many of the project's species often receive little public attention compared to iconic species like pandas or rhinos, ranging from a succulent whose unique appearance matches its equally unique name, the Fuzzy Belly Button; to the small dolphin-like vaquita found only in Mexico’s Gulf of California; to the closest living relative of the woolly mammoth, the Sumatran rhino!
