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: Orca tail by Taras Bains)

1. First elephant sighting in 6 years sparks hope for species’ return to a Senegal park

” For the first time in six years, an elephant was seen in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park. Grainy black-and-white footage shows Ousmane, a bull 35 to 40 years old named after a park ranger, in the forest at night, stopping to look at the camera trap that recorded his presence.”

2. IBAT Alliance celebrates investment of USD 2.5 million in nature data

” The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) Alliance has today announced that its 2024 investment in biodiversity data reached a record level of USD 2.5 million – an increase from USD 1.2 million in 2023. This growth further consolidates IBAT’s position as a leading curator of world-leading, authoritative biodiversity data. “

3. Rare birds appear on restored wetland ‘in hours’ in the UK

” Rare wetland birds such as cranes and great egrets have appeared within hours of the completion of a peatland restoration project, according to the National Trust. The charity began restoring 590 acres (238 hectares) of lowland peat, a vital carbon store, at its oldest nature reserve, Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire, a year ago. “

4. On a Patagonian plateau, a microendemic frog makes a hopeful comeback

” Conservationists in Argentina’s Patagonia region have helped save the country’s most threatened amphibian, the El Rincon stream frog, a species whose entire existence centers on a single warm stream in the Somuncurá Plateau. To restore the frog population, researchers removed invasive trout from the stream, bred hundreds of frogs in captivity and released them in the wild, and worked with ranchers to keep cattle out of the frogs’ habitat. “

5. Killer whales seen grooming each other with kelp in first for marine tool use

” Killer whales have been observed mutually grooming each other with a type of seaweed, the first known instance of a marine animal using tools in a way that was previously thought to be the preserve of primates such as humans. “

www.theguardian.com/environment/... Killer whales seen grooming each other with kelp in first for marine tool use | Cetaceans | The Guardian

[image or embed]

— (numunu, quahadis band) - Sky Kwihnai Pihi (name) (@anarcho.bsky.social) June 24, 2025 at 2:56 AM

6. Norway offered residents a chance to win a $1,000 prize for recycling; now 97% of all plastic bottles are returned

” In Norway, the bottle recycling lottery was implemented over a decade ago, and now, approximately 97% of all plastic beverage containers are returned across the country. Here, the model is choice-driven, giving people the option to choose between the guaranteed refund or the chance to win anywhere from 5 to 100,000 euros. “

7. Seagrass planted to revive lost meadow

” Volunteers have planted hundreds of seagrass plants in the Tees Estuary after two failed attempts in recent years. The Tees River Trust is using more mature plants this year after a previous effort was ruined by a storm and another by suspected human interference. The process began last August with volunteers collecting seeds which were then planted in January. They have now been placed in the estuary at Greatham Creek.  “

Have a story to share for our weekly round-up? Use #ConservationOptimism on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram!