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. (Image courtesy of Whipsnade Zoo)

1. Chile’s endangered Darwin’s Frogs rescued from deadly fungus

“In October, the team located the Darwin’s frogs, all near a population believed to be free of chytrid. These tiny but very important frogs are extremely well camouflaged to blend into their mossy homes. A temporary bio-secure facility was built to undertake health checks, monitor and care for the frogs, in preparation for their journey to a new home at London Zoo under the care of their amphibian experts and on loan from Chilean authorities.”

2. New Thawthi Taw-Oo Indigenous Park Created by Communities During Myanmar Conflict

“Covering an area of 575,450 hectares (1,421,967 acres) and 318 villages, the park includes 28 kaws (ancestral customary lands), four community forests, seven watersheds, six reserved forests and one wildlife sanctuary.”

3. University of Edinburgh Takes Action to Reforest Native Highlands with Two Million Trees

“University of Edinburgh has announced plans to partner with a community landowner to rewild the Kinloch Woodlands. The partnership is thought to be the first of its kind in Scotland – where an educational institute is delivering natural capital benefits to a community landowner.”

4. World’s Largest Conservation Area Sees Leopard Population Nearly Triple

“With an increase of 2.9, there are now 4.4 leopards per 100 square kilometers of terrain, which is much more than it sounds when you consider just how big Zambia’s Kafue National Park is.”

5. Helping Pregnant Seals: Volunteers Build Giant Snowdrifts in Finland

“The Saimaa seals make “snow caves” inside snow drifts where they raise their young and protect them from the elements and predators such as red foxes – but as the climate warms, the snow is disappearing. To save these rare seals, 300 volunteers spend days shovelling snow into piles 7m long and 1.5m high around the edge of the frozen lake.”

6. “Tigers Return to Russia After 50 Years Thanks to Conservation Efforts”

“Conservationists have succeeded in restoring tiger populations in a region where they were virtually absent for more than 50 years in Russia. This restoration took place from 2012-2021 in the Pri-Amur region of Russia. The study specifically examined the success of rehabilitating and releasing orphaned cubs to restore tigers to their historical range in Russia.”

7. £5 million announced by Scotland for rainforest restoration

“Since 2023, £5 million has already been invested in restoring Scotland’s rainforest, and the additional £5 million announced by the Government will support ongoing restoration efforts. Rainforests also known as Atlantic woodland or Celtic rainforests are as important as the tropical forest for the planet. However, this habitat is becoming increasingly rare with only 30,000 hectares left on Scotland’s land.”

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