Wondering what went right this week in the conservation world? We’ve got you covered with our Conservation Optimism Round-Up! We are collating stories of optimism from around the globe so that you never miss your dose of weekly motivation. (Featured image credit: Freepik)

1. Chile moves to create national park at the edge of the world to protect wildlife

Rewilding Chile, a foundation set up by the late philanthropist and founder of the North Face outdoor clothing company Douglas Tompkins, donated about 127,000 hectares of land to the Chilean government in November with the condition that the national park would be created within two years.

The park would shelter the southernmost continental population of the endangered huemul deer and its productive waters support a vast marine food chain including whales, sea lions and orcas.

Project coordinator Gabriela Garrido said authorities hope to finalize the decree in coming months, adding the park to an 8 million-hectare biological corridor in Patagonia that includes the Kawesqar and Alberto de Agostini National Parks.

2. This Mama Polar Bear Adopted a Young Cub—and You Can Track the Family as They Wander Around the Hudson Bay

In a heartwarming turn of events a mama polar bear was observed to adopt a cub.

When female polar bear X33991 first emerged from her maternal den in northeastern Manitoba this spring, she had one young cub toddling around by her side. Months later, researchers spotted X33991 again—and, this time, they were surprised to see her ambling around with two little ones in tow.

Evan Richardson, a scientist with Canada’s environment and climate change department, in a video statement provided to media said, “There must be some sort of confusion going on. But we really think it’s just because they’re so maternally charged and such good mothers and they can’t leave a cub crying on the tundra, so they pick them up and take them along with them.”

3. Police and locals come together to save white-lipped deer

Ice-cold river, hearts on fire. In Sichuan, police and locals teamed up to brave -10°C waters, saving three precious white-lipped deer from a frozen trap.

4. “Christmas came early for the Horseshoe Crabs!”

Gov. Kathy Hochul yesterday signed the Horseshoe Crab Protection Act, legislation that will phase out the taking of horseshoe crabs from New York waters for commercial and biomedical purposes over a three-year transition period, with a full prohibition taking effect in 2029, according to the bill’s lead Assembly sponsor, Deborah Glick.

“Christmas came early for the Horseshoe Crabs! This is an amazing holiday gift, and Governor Hochul has given us a big reason to celebrate!” Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said in a statement.

5. Indian SUPREME COURT tightens Great Indian Bustard safeguards

The Supreme Court has accepted a set of expert-recommended measures aimed at protecting the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican.

The Supreme Court’s December 19 judgment on protecting the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), which is rapidly declining, will directly reshape India’s Green Energy Corridor (GEC) projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat, locking large volumes of renewable capacity into narrowly defined transmission routes and heightening the risk of stranded assets in the country’s desert heartlands.

6. A historical former royal hunting ground is being transformed into a nature paradise – with the help of three pigs

Harold’s Park Wildland is a 509-acre nature reserve in Waltham Abbey, in Essex, but it has proved unsuccessful as arable farmland and as a Christmas tree plantation.

But owner Nattergal is on a mission to use “soft engineering” – a natural process to manage environmental challenges – to improve biodiversity.

And that’s where three Iron Age pigs, and later cattle and ponies, will help revitalise this site.

The reserve could be a host for wild plants and animals including nightingales.

7. students are going door-to-door, counselling adults, and standing between their forest and the flames. This is what hope looks like.

In Bandhavgarh’s fringe villages, where tiger attacks and forest fires are a painful reality, children are emerging as unexpected conservation leaders. Led by conservationist Bhavna Menon through Prakriti Ki Pathshala and the ‘Junior Fire Watchers’, students are counselling families, preventing fires, and spreading awareness door-to-door.

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