Saint Lucia Racer Snake
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| Credit: Pexels |
Up until 1973, it was believed that the world's rarest snake had died out. There may be as few as 20 Saint Lucia racers left in the world today. The Asian mongoose, introduced in the latter part of the 19th century, nearly eradicated the most common snake in Saint Lucia. This critically endangered species is still at risk from invasive species like rats and is confined to a tiny, predator-free offshore island less than one kilometre from the mainland. FFI hopes to increase the global population to 500 by 2025 by creating a new snake sanctuary on Saint Lucia's mainland that will be populated by an ambitious captive breeding program.
Menzbier’s marmot
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| Credit: Pexels |
The Menzbier's marmot is native to the meadows and steppes of the Western Tien-Shan Mountains in Central Asia, where it thrives in high-altitude conditions. Due to the expansion of agricultural land, it is susceptible to habitat loss, and its population has significantly decreased. However, Menzbier's marmot population in Kyrgyzstan has increased to over 16,000, a 30% increase in two years, according to the most recent survey conducted by FFI and partners in the Besh-Aral State Nature Reserve. Bears, wolves, golden eagles, bearded vultures, and other predators have also been observed in the region, indicating that the increasing number of marmots is also benefiting other species.
Goliath frog
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Even though this enormous frog can weigh more than three kilograms, hunting and habitat destruction are reducing its population and range. FFI will collaborate with conservationists to help local communities in southwestern Cameroon, where the goliath frog is endemic, understand the need to protect this endangered species and encourage them to participate in citizen science reporting.African pangolin
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| Credit: Pixabay |
The pangolin holds the unenviable distinction of being the mammal that is the subject of the most trafficking in the world; It is increasingly under threat from the illegal wildlife trade, which values its distinctive scales, which are utilized in traditional medicine. Tag and tack them is one method for keeping track of their decreasing numbers. Conservationists in Guinea are currently working on a pilot project to track African white-bellied and black-bellied pangolins. They hope that the project will shed light on the little-known movements and activities of these endangered animals.
Lemon shark
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In tropical mangrove ecosystems like the forests off the coast of Cabo Verde, this sociable shark thrives. The lemon shark uses these waters as a crucial refuge and breeding ground, protecting its young from predators. These sharks face two major threats: they are frequently caught as bycatch in fishing, and mangroves, which support many other species, are being cut down to make way for aquaculture and coastal development. FFI has been collecting shark-related data in collaboration with local conservation groups to assist in the identification of nurseries, the development of local conservation initiatives, and the planning of protected areas.
Okapi
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| Credit: Pixabay |
This striped animal is more closely related to a giraffe than a zebra, despite its appearance. It lives in the Ituri Rainforest in the northeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where its greatest threats are human activities like illegal logging and mining. It is believed that the wild population has decreased by half in the past three decades, although the exact number that remains is unknown. FFI is studying and monitors individuals in their forest homes with the help of camera traps to get a better idea of the best way to protect the unusual species.
Indochinese tiger
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| Credit: Pixabay |
Protecting this threatened tiger species is urgently required. In just over a decade, the number of Indochinese tigers had decreased by more than 80% by 2020. It is estimated that only 221 individuals remain in Thailand and Myanmar. The Indochinese tiger, its prey, and a crucial forest breeding site are being protected, according to FFI, in collaboration with communities in the lowland forests of southern Myanmar, home to the largest remaining tiger population in the country.
