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.

1. An endangered fox shows signs of returning

” In the summer of 2022, volunteers patrolling for Arctic fox dens spotted a welcome surprise. Three pups, covered in grayish-brown fur, peered out at them from a lush patch of grass on an otherwise barren tundra. Their mom, in her brown coat, sat close by. That discovery represented a conservation milestone: It was the first confirmation in over 25 years that these small foxes were breeding in Finland, where the species is listed as critically endangered. ”

2. Rare footage of female Tibetan antelope giving birth in snowy valley

” In a heartwarming and rare scene, workers at the Altun Mountains National Nature Reserve in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region captured footage of a female Tibetan antelope giving birth in a snow-covered mountain valley.”

3. Otters: Animal returns to River Cynon following clean up

” Sightings of otters in a Welsh river are on the rise following the launch of a programme to boost local wildlife. As many as five of the animals have been spotted in the River Cynon, after pollution caused numbers to dwindle. ”

4. Western Europe’s first free-roaming herd of Przewalski’s horses to enhance Iberian Highland rewilding

” A herd of 10 Przewalski’s horses – the last truly wild horse – has been released in the Iberian Highlands rewilding landscape in Spain. They arrived last May and will soon roam free across an extensive area, where the animals will help to reduce the risk of wildfire, enhance biodiversity, boost nature-based tourism and environmental education, and improve the conservation status of this endangered subspecies. ”

5. Rare clearwing moth found in Staffordshire nature reserve for first time

” A rare moth has been found at a nature reserve in Staffordshire after it was declared extinct to the area. Staffordshire Wildlife Trust is celebrating the discovery of Welsh Clearwing moths after an entomologist, an insect scientist, reported signs of them emerging from a tree. “

6. Philippines research offers hope for conserving enigmatic Rafflesia plants

” With Rafflesia species edging closer to extinction due to habitat loss, botanists are working to better understand the genus and to develop methods that allow the plants to be propagated in labs and botanical gardens. Parallel research efforts from two teams led by Filipino scientists are yielding promising results in both understanding how Rafflesia function at the genetic level and in refining methods that will allow for ex situ cultivation. “

7. Brazil’s Amazon deforestation plunges in first six months of Lula’s presidency

” Deforestation in Brazil’s Amazon has decreased by one-third during the first half of the year, according to new satellite data. ”

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