Fighting the extinction crisis: conservation in action

Globally threatened species often require a combination of conservation responses to ensure their continued survival. Species can be, and many have already been saved from extinction, but the majority of threatened species require substantially greater action to improve their future.

Blue poison frog	Giraffes	Goliath grouper	Sicilian fungus	American alligators	Sea-ducks in New Zealand

Pink pigeon	Mekong giant catfish	Asian vultures	African mammals	Kenyan dragonflies	Dragonflies in South Africa

Rosier future for Blue Poison frog

Blue poison frog (Dendrobates azureus) Vulnerable. © Russell Mittermeier

The distinctive appearance of the Blue Poison Frog (Dendrobates azureus) makes it particularly popular in the international pet trade. Only known from the forest patches in the Sipaliwini Savanna of southernmost Surinam, illegal collection was pushing the species close to extinction. However, it is now extensively bred in captivity and collection no longer poses a serious threat; and its streamside habitat of wooded savannah is now conserved within the Sipaliwini Protected Area. It is classified as Vulnerable because its small range still leaves it at risk to chance events like forest fires. SSC Amphibian Specialist Group

West Africa’s giraffes going up at last

West African Giraffes, Niger. © Hubert Boulet/ECOPAS/IGF

Until the 1970s, giraffes (sub-species Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) were abundant and widespread in sub-Saharan West Africa, but habitat loss and poaching have had a devastating effect, reducing the regional population to less than 50 individuals in Niger in 1996. Numerous conservation initiatives to reduce hunting, raise awareness amongst local communities, and develop wildlife-based ecotourism which ultimately benefit local people have been put into place and these are now bearing fruit. The latest population survey in 2005 recorded 135 giraffes of the sub-species. IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group

Goliath grouper - encouraging signs of recovery

Dr. Pat Colin videotapes goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara)(Endangered) at a spawning aggregation site on a boat wreck in Florida's Gulf of Mexico. © Seapics.com

The goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) is the largest coral reef fish, sometimes attaining over 2 m in length. They live in shallow waters of the tropical Atlantic, Caribbean, and eastern Pacific where they are easily accessible to recreational spearfishers, anglers* and sports divers. As a result of overhunting, the population crashed by 95% in 3 decades. The US flagged it as a Species of Concern in the early 1990s, and in 1996, the IUCN Red List classified it as Endangered. The listing of this species led to a moratorium in the US Caribbean since the 1990s and protection in Brazil since 2002. Encouraging signs of recovery have now been reported: juvenile densities have increased in key mangroves of southern Florida. SSC Grouper and Wrasse Specialist Group IUCN Marine Programme

Rare sicilian mushroom finds a new way onto epicureans' plates

Funcia di basiliscu (Pleurotus nebrodensis), Critically Endangered. © Giuseppe Venturella.

Funcia di Basiliscu is a mushroom so rare and delicious that it is sold in northern Sicily at a price fluctuating between 50–70 Euros per kg. Today the population has declined to such an extent that fewer than 250 individuals reach maturity each year. This is due to the increasing number of mushroom gatherers (both professional and amateur) who are encouraged by the high price this mushroom commands. Additionally, the mushroom only grows in a few scattered localities that amount to fewer than 100 km2 in the Madonie mountains of northern Sicily.

The fungus was first described by Giuseppe Inzenga in 1863, and he called it "the most delicious mushroom of the Sicilian mycological flora." It has been a sought-after species since ancient times, and today remains a prized species. Local farmers now cultivate Funcia di Basiliscu and sell it at a lower price than species collected in the wild, reducing pressure on the wild population. Fortunately the popular species retains its characteristic aroma and flavour even under cultivation. The Top 50 Mediterranean Island Plants SSC Mediterranean Island Plant Specialist Group

Both alligators and humans benefit from sustained conservation management

Alligator eggs hatching (Alligator mississippiensis). Photo © Ruth M. Elsey

Conservation efforts have successfully averted a population decline of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) while providing livelihoods for locals in the southeastern US. After establishing hunting quotas, a “ranching” program opened in 1986 allowing landowners to collect and sell eggs to alligator ranchers. Focusing on egg collection gives landowners an economic incentive to maintain wetlands and targets an especially vulnerable phase of the reptile’s life cycle. 14% of juveniles born are returned to the wetlands where the eggs were collected to maintain a stable (and sometimes increasing) population of wild alligators. Thousands of landowners, trappers, farmers, ranchers, buyers, and dealers earn part or all of their living from participation in the alligator management program and thanks to this effort, 507,000 eggs were saved from the devastating effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. SSC Crocodile Specialist GroupSSC Re-introduction Specialist Group

In the pink – successful recovery of the pink pigeon

A recovery programme has brought the pink pigeon (Columba mayeri) up from 20 birds in the wild to 350. Endangered. Photo © Charlie Moores

The pink pigeon (Columba mayeri) was once one of the world’s rarest birds. Formerly widespread thoughout the forests of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, numbers declined to less than 20 birds by the mid 1970s, due to forest loss and predation by introduced rats, cats and monkeys. By 1990, only 9-10 birds were left in the wild. To avoid its imminent extinction, a recovery programme was developed, and by 2000, a total of 301 captive-bred and captive-reared young were re-established on mainland Mauritius and one offshore island. In 2006, the free-living population numbered 350, thanks to intensive post-release management, such as supplemental feeding, predator control, habitat protection and restoration. Thanks to this improvement, it was downlisted from from Critically Endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2006. SSC Re-Introduction Specialist GroupBirdLife

A migratory giant inspiring a trans-boundary conservation partnership

In 2003 the Mekong Giant Catfish was listed as Critically Endangered which resulted in a new trans-boundary partnership for conservation and management of Mekong wetlands biodiversity and ecosystems. IUCN is a partner of the Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (MWBP), a joint collaboration of the four riparian governments of the Lower Mekong Basin – Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Mekong Giant Catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), one of the world's largest freshwater fishes. Critically Endangered. Photo © Jean-François Helias

The Mekong Giant Catfish Pangasianodon gigas) is one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world, reaching a maximum length of 3m and total weight of up to 300kg. It is endemic to the Mekong basin, though its historic range has been greatly reduced by overfishing and river modifications. The population of Mekong Giant Catfish is declining throughout the basin and is now very rare. Many residents of the basin used to rely on fish as a major food source, but now the catfish catch averages a mere 5-10 fish per year.

Since the inception of conservation efforts in early 2005, implementation of conservation actions on the ground have also taken off, including establishment of the world’s first freshwater fish concession to protect the Giant Catfish and a full time monitoring programme. A captive breeding programme in Thailand introduced it to rivers and reservoirs throughout Thailand but it is not known to have resulted in any established populations. The Thai Department of Fisheries is also giving serious consideration to designation of its reported spawning area along mainstream Mekong as a conservation zone.  IUCN/Wetlands International Freshwater Fish Specialist Group Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme

Asian vultures - a glimmer of hope

White-rumped vultures (Gyps bengalensis) Critically Endangered. © BirdLife International and Guy Shorrock/RSPB Images

Once one of the world’s most common birds of prey, the Indian vulture (Gyps indicus) population has fallen by 97% in the last 15 years. Conservationists consider it one of the fastest declines of a bird population witnessed to date. The culprit is the veterinary drug Diclofenac, which unintentionally poisons vultures that feed on carcasses of animals treated with it. Three species of vulture, White rumped (G. bengalensis), Indian (G. indicus) and Slender-billed (G. tenuirostris), have been affected. The IUCN Red List classifies them all as Critically Endangered, highlighting the need for urgent action.

Without vultures, Indians are increasingly at risk of disease and pollution from uncleared carcasses, and the growing number of wild dogs that feed on them heightening the risk of rabies.

To bring back the vultures requires two steps: removal of Diclofenac from their food chain and captive breeding to sustain the remaining populations until the environment is once again safe. Substantial progress has already been made to achieve this in a short period of time.

The Indian government announced a phase-out of the drug in March of 2005, but without a replacement this was slow to happen. Fortunately, a safe alternative has recently been discovered: Meloxicam.

The White rumped Vulture and Indian Vulture are already housed in good numbers at breeding facilities run by BirdLife in India and recently, 18 Slender-billed Vultures – the rarest of the three species - were captured and taken into care. The vultures will be introduced into the wild once the environment is free of Diclofenac. BirdLife International

A combination of hunting and protected areas - a way forward to conserve large natural ecosystems?

Roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus) and Lelwel Hartebeast (Alcelaphus buselaphus), C.A.R. Photo © Philippe Chardonnet/ ECOFAC/IGF

Large mammal conservation in west and central Africa is often described as problematic. However, the complemetary association of National Parks (public management with most human activities excluded) and Hunting Areas (private managment with human activity controlled) shows encouraging results for the conservation of very large natural ecosystems in the region. In Benin, Burkino Faso and Niger, the transfrontier WAP ecosystem is made up of three national Parks (W, Arly and Pendjari) surrounded by Hunting Areas which act as buffer zones. This has produced a positive conservation dynamic. Hunting Areas provide satisfaction for hunters who generate revenue through controlled hunting and act as a first line of exposure to agricultural encroachment. Conservation benefits have already been observed, with a substantial increase in large antelopes, elephants and buffalo in the first National Park (W) to be censused. SSC Antelope Specialist Group

Dragonflies as indicators of water quality and ecosystem health in the tropics – first steps in Kenya

Maathai’s Clubtail dragonfly (Notogomphus maathaiaea) Endangered. Photo © Viola Clausnitzer

With their semi-aquatic habits, dragonflies have proved to be useful indicators of habitat quality above and below the water surface. Industrial effluent, agricultural pesticides, siltation, eutrophication and clearing forests in watersheds affect not only dragonflies, but also mankind’s well-being.

The recent discovery of the montane forest stream dragonfly Notogomphus maathaiae (Endangered) in central and eastern Kenya, and the naming of this species after the 2004 Nobel Peace winner Kenyan Wangari Maathai has highlighted the potential of dragonflies as "guardians of the watershed" in East Africa. Water quality is an important issue for large parts of Kenya, since the highlands, where most streams and rivers originate are densely populated. Some species, which where once common in the highlands have already disappeared from large areas, due to the changes in water quality and the water regime.

Protecting this and other species requires the conservation of natural forests, which will also serve the farmers in the foothills by guaranteeing soil stability and a steady flow of water.

Wangari Maathai was honoured for her tireless effort to protect Africa’s natural environment through sustainable solutions for human development, emphasizing the importance of the protection of the world’s natural resources in the fight against poverty. Odonata Specialist GroupThe Sahara Conservation Fund

Making way for ducklings in New Zealand

Campbell Island Teal (Anas nesiotis) Critically Endangered. Photo © Garry Norman/Department of Conservation, New Zealand.

On remote, windswept Campbell Island, off the southern coast of New Zealand, several rare bird populations have made a come-back, thanks to the success of the largest island species eradication project which cleared the 11,300 hectare island of the world’s densest population of Norway rats. In 2001, the New Zealand Department of Conservation successfully coordinated the eradication of these unwelcome predators that had been unintentionally introduced by shipping vessels. The rats were having a devasting effect on the island’s bird population, which includes the Campbell Island teal (Anas nesiotis), the rarest duck in the world.

The Campbell Island teal (classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List) is endemic to the island, which is the cornerstone of New Zealand’s subantarctic World Heritage Site, a place internationally recognized by UNESCO as having outstanding natural ecosystem and species, including 40 seabirds, 5 of which breed nowhere else.

Now that the island is rat free, birds have been returned from a captive breeding site and the Campbell Island teal should spread to occupy their entire former range on the island. Further benefits of the rat eradication project are demonstrated by the recent return of 30 individuals of the Campbell Island snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica. nov. sp), also endemic to the region. The snipe once lived on Campbell Island, but had recently been restricted to neighboring Jacquemart Island. SSC Invasive Species Specialist GroupSSC Threatened Waterfowl Specialist GroupBirdLife

Astonishing Recovery of Rare and Threatened Dragonflies in South Africa

The Mahogany Presba (Syncordulia venator) has re-appeared in South Africa. Vulnerable. Photo © Michael Samways

The rich endemic dragonfly fauna of South Africa has been under threat from invasive alien trees, particularly eucalyptus, wattles and pines.  The trees shade out their habitat, making it unsuitable for sun-loving dragonfly species.  To deal with these threats, a huge, nation-wide programme has been launched to remove these trees.  The aim of the programme was originally to improve hydrology and provide jobs, with little thought for biodiversity.  As it turns out, the endemic dragonfly species have benefited enormously, with some becoming locally common.  Interestingly, three species are only known from where invasive alien trees have been removed.  They must have been hanging on in some unknown locality and then suddenly responded to the improved conditions.  Many other rare and threatened aquatic insects are also showing a come-back

Among the species that have re-appeared is the Mahogany Presba (Syncordulia venator), last recorded on the mountain in 1934 and the remarkable Marbled Malachite damselfly (Ecchlorolestes peringueyi), both classified as Vulnerable.

This programme has shown that the clear identification of the threat, and a highly targeted recovery programme can save not just one, but several threatened species.  As long as the threat is contained, which in this case is removal of any alien regrowth, the recovery is virtually permanent. Odonata Specialist Group