Wondering what went right this week in the conservation world? We’ve got you covered with our Conservation Optimism Round-Up! Each week we are collating stories of optimism from around the globe so that you never miss your dose of Monday Motivation.

1. These species are thriving in Europe again thanks to effective conservation efforts

The European Bison, European Wolf, Eurasian Beaver and Red Kites are also bouncing back in Europe

2. Two mountain gorillas born in DR Congo’s Virunga park

 “A male in the “Wilungula family” and a female from the “Humba family” were born on November 15, the park announced on Twitter Wednesday, bringing the number of gorilla births since January to 16. The mountain gorilla population has increased fivefold in 40 years in the three countries where they live — the DRC, Uganda and Rwanda.”

3. Chile’s burrowing parrot marks 35 years of a slow but successful recovery

The Chilean subspecies of the burrowing parrot used to be on the brink of extinction, with small fragmented populations scattered throughout the country.. Conservation measures adopted 35 years ago have now seen the number of parrots increase from 217 to nearly 4,500. Key to this success has been the protection of one of the bird’s key habitats, Río de los Cipreses National Reserve, and the native plants it depends on for food.

4. Historic first rebuilding programme adopted for the endangered shortfin mako shark

“After years of negotiations, today 52 tuna fishing nations and the EU adopted a comprehensive rebuilding programme to allow the recovery of the endangered mako shark in the North Atlantic. WWF welcomes the plan as the most efficient way to immediately stop the overfishing and dramatic decline of shortfin mako sharks and set the species on a path towards recovery.”

5. Seahorses and sharks living in River Thames, analysis shows

“Seahorses, eels, seals and sharks are living in the tidal Thames, according to the most comprehensive analysis of the waterway since it was declared biologically dead in the 1950s.”

6. Jaguars in Mexico are growing in number, a promising sign that national conservation strategies are working

The first surveys to count jaguars in Mexico revealed a 20% increase in the population from 2010 to 2018, up to 4,800 animals. Conservation strategies targeted the most urgent threats to jaguars, and prioritized protecting wildlife preserves and natural corridors.

7. You can’t see them to count them, but Amazonian manatees seem to be recovering

Following intense commercial hunting from the 1930s to the 1950s, scientists and community members are seeing signs that the manatee population in the Amazon is growing. A study carried out in the Piagaçu-Purus Sustainable Development Reserve in the state of Amazonas shows large manatee populations nearby human communities, apparently co-existing in peace.

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