Wildlife Conservation Stories

  • Sprinkler system gives hope to flying foxes in Australia

    April 13, 2021

    With climate change driving more extreme heat events in Australia, species across the country are at heightened risk. Flying foxes, in particular, can suffer fatal heat stress when temperatures climb to over 108 degrees, an occurrence growing more and more common across the country. But a successful trial of a system of atmospheric cooling sprinklers has given hope to researchers working to protect this vulnerable species.

    Grey headed flying fox takes flight from a large leafy tree
  • Carnivore collaring in Zambia helps protect wildlife and communities

    April 07, 2021

    In an effort to better understand large carnivores like lions and wild dogs, scientists in Zambia use radio collars to track their movements, distribution, and behavior. The more we know about these umbrella species, the better we can protect them and mitigate human-wildlife conflict with the communities they share land with.

    Portrait of a large male lion standing in tall tan grass
  • What does the world gain when we protect tigers?

    April 01, 2021

    Tigers and the habitat they live in provide untold benefits to people, other wildlife, and the climate. Tom Gray, who is the Tiger Scientist at WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative, explains what's at risk if we were to lose tigers.

    Tiger walking in tall grass in a beautiful golden light
  • Eye to eye: An up-close encounter with gray whales in Mexico's Baja Peninsula

    March 30, 2021

    Every late winter and early spring, gray whales navigate to the protected bays of the Baja Peninsula, to mate or give birth to their young. Getting up close to these amazing animals is an unforgettable experience.

    A close-up of a gray whale underwater but near the surface
  • Exciting new survey shows stable snow leopard population in Mongolia

    March 17, 2021

    Mongolia’s first-ever national snow leopard survey shows that the country’s population of this elusive, big cat is stable. The survey confirmed the presence of approximately 953 snow leopards—an exciting discovery because it indicates that current conservation efforts are effective and will help develop future strategies to protect this charismatic big cat.

    A snow leopard stalks along a mountain pass in Mongolia
  • Meet the women in tech blazing a trail for conservation

    March 08, 2021

    Women leaders have established themselves as a formidable force in sustainability positions within tech. Though a relatively new discipline, this trend is helping to modernize environmental sustainability and conservation efforts as we know them—and will undoubtedly see its impact grow in the next decade.

    Florence Adewale stands in front of a group of elephants gathered under a roof
  • 5 forest-dwelling wildlife species we love

    March 03, 2021

    Celebrating 5 of our favorite wildlife species living in forest habitats around the world.

    A side view of an adult jaguar walking in front of large tangled tree branches
  • Small-scale dairy manufacturing provides local livelihood opportunities in western Mongolia

    February 02, 2021

    Dairy is a staple in the diets of Mongolian people but until recently, the sale of milk products was not a prominent source of income for local herders. As it turns out, diversifying community livelihood options in this village in the Bayan-ulgii province has also led to increased protections for snow leopards in the area. A win for people, and a win for nature.

    An adult yak stands with two baby yaks staring at the camera with a mountain range in the background
  • Conservation Reboot

    WWF Magazine: Spring 2021
    Scientists around the world are harnessing the power of technology to address conservation challenges.
    Graphic of signals
  • A snaring crisis grips Southeast Asia, threatening its biodiversity

    WWF Magazine: Spring 2021
    A deadly crisis is spreading across Southeast Asia, silently emptying forests of wildlife. Snaring impacts over 700 mammal species in the region, including rare animals such as the Asian elephant.
    Elephant line illustration
  • A sign of a balancing ecosystem, the Himalayan lynx returns to its ancestral home

    WWF Magazine: Spring 2021
    As the markhor, a key food source for the lynx, has returned, so has the lynx, and its reappearance is being celebrated as a sign that the ecosystem’s natural balance is on the mend.
    Lynx walking on rocky ground
  • Tatyana Minenko, polar bear patrol team leader

    January 15, 2021

    Every fall, the Ryrkaipiy polar bear patrol, with the support of WWF Russia, works to protect the community and prevent human-wildlife conflict. Tatyana Minenko has been leading the patrol team since 2006. That’s when climate change increased conflict in her village.

    Closeup of a woman looking through binnoculars, wearing yellow gloves and a white hat, blurry background
  • Meet Dr. Jacques Flamand

    January 06, 2021

    WWF-South Africa's wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Jacques Flamand, has dedicated his career to the protection and conservation of South Africa's iconic species, including the critically endangered black rhino.

    A man touching a black rhino that is waking up after being sedated
  • How honey can help protect tigers in China

    December 29, 2020

    WWF donated nearly 400 beehives to residents in the continental tiger range and organized training on beekeeping. Investing in their futures is also an investment in the conservation of tigers.

    A man looks at honeycomb with bees flying around
  • Securing a future for wild tigers

    December 22, 2020

    The tiger is making a comeback—learn about a few tiger champions who are helping this iconic species to recover.

    Close up portrait of an adult tiger in tall green reeds looking at the camera with its mouth open
  • New Facebook alert informs users about wildlife trafficking

    December 21, 2020

    Since 2016, Facebook and WWF have been working together to address wildlife trafficking by detecting and removing illicit activity that fuels the trade in wildlife and its products on one of the largest social media platforms in the world. As part of this effort, Facebook launched a new pop-up interstitial alert message that will inform users about illegal wildlife trade when certain wildlife-related search words are entered.

    A barbary macaque sits in a tree looking up
  • An Eye on Recovery

    December 17, 2020

    WWF is helping to support Australia’s first large-scale collaborative camera trap project.

    Two men crouching down on the ground to set up netting and a camera to capture images of wildlife passing by
  • Meet Dr. Parikshit Kakati, WWF India’s wildlife veterinary specialist

    December 15, 2020

    Dr. Parikshit Kakati, WWF India’s wildlife veterinary specialist, plays a key role during the flood season in Assam, India, as part of a team that rescues and treats injured wild animals.

    A vet tends to an elephant that is safely tranquilized and laying on the ground
  • 100 bison find a new home with the Rosebud Sioux Tribe

    October 30, 2020

    The Tribe will create the largest native-owned and managed bison herd in North America. These 100 bison are the first of as many as 1,500 animals setting foot on 28,000 acres of native grassland.

    Bison walk out into a brown field
  • Investing in "Thirty Hills"

    October 27, 2020

    Thirty Hills is the last large block of intact, lowland forest still standing in central Sumatra. After five years of successful forest conservation, we celebrate five major wins within this critically important landscape.

    The Bukit Tigapuluh, or “Thirty Hills,” landscape is one of the last great stands of rain forest in the deforestation hotspot that is the Indonesian island of Sumatra
  • Ghost fishing gear

    October 20, 2020

    Ghost fishing gear includes any abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear. It is the deadliest form of marine plastic debris and often goes unseen. Learn more about how you can help stop this silent killer and protect the health of our ocean its inhabitants.

    A large seal on the beach with its neck caught in abandoned fishing gear
  • Crossing Paths

    WWF Magazine: Winter 2020
    As seasonal waters ebb and flow, the movements of elephants and other wildlife follow.
    African elephant facing camera
  • Flow Lines

    WWF Magazine: Winter 2020
    Keeping water flowing for people and wildlife in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area will take action at every level. Here's what WWF is doing for it.
    Aerial photo of three elephants wading through water
  • Employing AI to evaluate wildlife populations on a global scale

    WWF Magazine: Winter 2020
    Launched in December 2019 by Google and a host of conservation partners, Wildlife Insights offers a simple upload system, cloud-based storage, and AI tagging and analysis.
    Wildlife Insights logo