News
We bring you the latest from around the World in wildlife and conservation news.
Indian Wild Tiger Population Shows Encouraging Growth Of 20 Per Cent
A tiger census in India which for the first time surveyed the entire country suggests that the population of wild tigers has risen by 20 per cent. The previous census of the tiger population in 2007 pegged the number of wild tigers at just 1,411, the latest census shows that number to have grown to 1,706.Despite the increase in numbers officials remain concerned that the amount of territory tigers have to roam is falling. Officially, India has over 45,000 square kilometres of forest area to roam in, spread across 39 designated tiger reserves.
Support the Adelie Penguins with WWF
With the current abuse of their habitat, there is a strong possibility that 75% of all Adelie penguin colonies could be facing extinction in the coming years. But now you can make a massive difference to their plight by providing WWF charity officials with much needed funds through their sponsor a penguin initiative.
WWF Want the Year of the Tiger to End With a Roar
WWF charity officials are urging world leaders to keep their promise to help preserve the world’s remaining tiger population before it is too late. With the Chinese Year of the Tiger ending today, now is the perfect time for the historic Global Tiger Recovery Programme (GTRP) to lead us into a brave new world of conservation. The International Tiger Forum, held in November in St. Petersburg, Russia, was the first ever international summit to help wild tigers, with goals now set to double their number in the wild by 2022.
WWF Concern as Ape Parts and Leopard Skins Uncovered in Gabon
WWF charity officials were left stunned after law enforcement officers arrested five men accused of possessing a whole horde of endangered animal parts. The find, in Gabon, West Africa, included a wide and varied selection of horrific and totally illegal parts of many species on the endangered list, including gorilla and chimpanzee heads, hands, leopard skins and elephant tails.
WWF to Translocate 20 Black Rhinoceros to Increase Breeding
WWF charity officials are pleased to announce the translocation of 20 extra black rhinoceros to new habitats in 2011. The Black Rhino Range Expansion Project aim is to increase the number of black rhinoceros worldwide by moving them to newly established areas to increase breeding rates. The project, which has been in place since 2003, has already translocated 98 of the critically endangered species to 6 different sites, with at least 26 calves resulting from the moves.
Oil Exploration in African National Park a Concern to WWF
WWF charity officials are calling for the UK listed companies SOCO and Dominion to halt their planned oil exploration in the Virunga National Park in Congo. If they become successful in their plans, it could undermine many years of work to save the park’s amazing natural habitat. The park, which is home to elephants, hippos and many other rare species, will be put severely at risk, not to mention the livelihoods of the local population who benefit from tourism.
Win £5000 at WWF Christmas Raffle and Help Protect Tigers
WWF UK are having a Christmas raffle this year to help protect the tiger who’s worldwide numbers have dropped to as little as 3,200 globally. The plight is even more significant as this is the Chinese ‘Year of the Tiger’, will WWF hoping to double that number by 2022.
WWF Concern at Black Market Tiger Trade
WWF charity officials are concerned that the shared border between Myanmar, Thailand and China are fast becoming the home for the illicit trade in tiger parts and other endangered species. A report conducted by WWF and TRAFFIC in the lead up to next week’s International Tiger Forum in St Petersburg, Russia, showed that live big cats were available for sale on the black market. Amongst the animals available were endangered tigers and even a rare Asiatic lion, along with hundreds of tiger and leopard parts.