Your help filling an urgent funding gap – Page 3
Nine further turtle nests discovered – Page 6
Thriving dolphin population
Irrawaddy dolphins showing signs of breeding – Page 9
We recently wrote to you after receiving some worrying news that the funding for our critical tiger defences across Southeast Asia was beginning to fall through, putting the remaining 4,000 wild tigers at extreme risk of being wiped out. This news came at the worst possible moment, as our tiger conservation experts believe that poaching could soon be on the rise again, as traffickers are starting to run low on tiger parts stockpiled throughout the covid pandemic.
Before this news, tiger conservation efforts had been demonstrating clear signs of hope. Tiger numbers across all our key sites were stabilising, and even increasing in some areas. This funding shortfall stood to reverse the decades of effort put in by the incredible local people working to protect tigers.
We’ve raised over £200,000 from our tiger appeal thanks to you!
As we always do when an emergency arises, we reached out to you for help, and - as always - you stepped up. We’ve raised over £200,000 so far from this appeal, which could make a huge difference to our tiger conservation programme.
Thanks to your overwhelming support, we’ll be able to provide local ranger teams with the equipment they need to protect tigers, including first aid supplies, uniforms and GPS units. We’ll be able to get more rangers trained and out in the field, dismantling snares and defending tigers from poachers.
Thank you so much to every single person who donated to our urgent appeal to help save tigers. We will be sure to keep you updated over the coming months on the progress of our work.
Fauna & Flora’s long-term partner, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, is among those celebrating the successful translocation of 21 eastern black rhinos to a new safe haven in Kenya.
The carefully coordinated relocation of these rhinos took place over 18 days and was facilitated by highly trained capture and veterinary experts drawn from the Kenya Wildlife Service and its partners.
A total of 11 female and 10 male rhinos were tranquilised and transported by lorry to their new home in Loisaba, a community conservancy in Laikipia, Kenya.
The 21 newcomers – comprising three rhinos from Nairobi National Park, six rhinos from Ol Pejeta and 12 rhinos from Lewa Conservancy – will form the nucleus of a new breeding population in Loisaba.
Black rhinos are solitary creatures by nature and require plenty of space to breed. Currently, Kenya’s 16 rhino sanctuaries are victims of their own success, and some no longer have the carrying capacity to accommodate the growing numbers of resident rhinos.
Overcrowding can have lethal consequences: one of the main causes of rhino mortality in recent years has been territorial fights between males in existing sanctuaries. Competition for space also inhibits breeding activity and prevents the kind of population growth that would occur in more natural, truly wild conditions.
The long-term future of this critically endangered subspecies will therefore hinge on re-establishing viable breeding populations in some of its former strongholds across Kenya and the rest of East Africa.
Black rhinos were once numerous in Loisaba, but years of intensive poaching took a severe toll. According to local elders, they were locally extinct by the mid-1970s. However, the habitat itself remains ideal, meaning that the reintroduced rhinos should thrive provided they receive adequate protection.
Kenya was home to around 20,000 black rhinos in the 1970s before poachers decimated them for their horns, which were sold as decorative dagger handles in the Middle East and medicines in the Far East. By the time the Kenya Wildlife Service was established in 1989, numbers of eastern black rhino had declined to below 400.
Since then, they have made a remarkable comeback. The eastern black rhino population has more than doubled since the mid-1980s and now stands at 1,004 individuals, approximately 80% of which live in Kenya. However, there is work still to be done, as the national action plan for black rhinos has a target of 2,000 individuals, which is considered the minimum for a sustainable population.
EASTERN BLACK RHINO population now stands at 1,004 individuals, THE KENYA
APPROX.
of which live in Kenya
Kenya’s recent success is down to a combination of government policy and global partnerships with conservation organisations and donors, whose collective efforts have reversed the decline of one of Africa’s most iconic animals. In particular, increased security and successful prosecutions of poachers have helped to stem the tide.
Ol Pejeta Conservancy, which Fauna & Flora has supported for over two decades, is a perfect example of what can be achieved through collaboration. It is currently the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa (and home to the world’s last two surviving northern white rhinos). In 1993, Ol Pejeta was home to just 20 rhinos. It now harbours over 200, thanks to its dedicated rangers and innovative anti-poaching operations.
The latest reintroduction of these 21 animals represents another significant milestone in Kenya’s rhino recovery action plan, which wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our incredible donors. Nevertheless, the black rhino remains a critically endangered species both here and elsewhere in Africa. Ongoing support for its protection will be crucial to the long-term survival prospects of this supersized symbol of the savannah.
If you’ve been keeping up with us for a while, you might remember that back in March 2022, we made the incredible finding of a green turtle nest in Cambodia for the first time in a decade.
The discovery was made during beach patrols conducted jointly by Fauna & Flora and our government partners in Cambodia on a remote offshore island. To the surprise and delight of those present, hatchlings were witnessed emerging from the clutch of 93 eggs. This was big news, offering renewed hope for the country’s threatened sea turtle populations.
And now, it gets even better. Because we have received unbelievable news that the team has found a further nine sea turtle nests within the space of just a few days.
Fauna & Flora and our partners have been scouring this particular area for signs of turtle nesting for many years, convinced that it could be a perfect haven for any females searching for a relatively undisturbed beach where they could safely lay their eggs.
That confidence and persistence in the face of so much disappointment was finally vindicated with the long-awaited news that a nest had been found.
Chea Bona, the Cambodian Navy volunteer who made the first of the discoveries, said ‘For me, being part of this volunteer team is a joy, and witnessing sea turtle nests in Cambodia for the first time is a wonder.’
Since that initial discovery, Fauna & Flora has continued to engage with Cambodian naval personnel stationed on the island, training volunteers in turtle identification and explaining the importance and the rarity of these marine reptiles. The volunteers now conduct daily patrols, searching for signs of turtles and their nests, and it’s thanks to them that the latest findings came to light.
The confirmation that sea turtles are still coming to nest in Cambodia – and in significant numbers – reinforces the urgent need to work with the government to ensure a basic level of protection for these increasingly rare reptiles. The fact that the females have chosen such a remote nesting site on an uninhabited island demonstrates the vital importance of sanctuaries that are free from human interference.
The next step for Fauna & Flora and our government partners is to put a minimum level of protection in place and to ensure the long-term security of this vital turtle haven. We hope to encourage nesting females to return to the island’s beaches in the years to come.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to the endemic eastern lowland gorilla, of which shockingly few remain. Their numbers have plummeted from 17,000 in the mid 1990s, to just 6,800 by 2020, representing a staggering 60% loss.
In 2022, we made a significant step forward in our work to protect eastern lowland gorillas, thanks to your support of our urgent appeal. We were able to secure three key areas of forest for conservation in the DRC, known as Kanyama, Bitule and Omate. These forest areas neighbour the crucial Maiko National Park and therefore provide a safe zone for any gorillas that wander outside of the national park’s boundaries.
Now, for the first time, we have been able to place camera traps in these forest areas to observe and study the wildlife present in the area, and the findings from these cameras were truly special.
Incredibly, we have captured photos of eastern lowland gorillas in Kanyama. These camera trap images can help us to understand the location, range and population trends of these great apes. In turn, this knowledge enables us to continuously refine our conservation strategy to better protect them. But the good news doesn’t stop there, because these cameras have revealed a plethora of
species that we can gain crucial insights about. Pangolins, okapi, chimpanzees, leopards, civets, golden cats and owlfaced monkeys were all captured by our camera traps.
The vast array of creatures photographed by the cameras demonstrates the vital importance of the community forest to the conservation of not only eastern lowland gorillas, but so many other threatened species.
Through your support of our Kanyama appeal, we are continuing to protect eastern lowland gorillas and the species that share their home. The threats they are facing continue to grow – demand for wild meat is increasingly high in the DRC, and forests are being torn down for agricultural conversion and logging at an alarming rate.
This means our brave teams of community rangers can never let their guard down. We need to continue to provide them with the crucial equipment they need – boots, packs, first-aid kits and camping gear to keep them safe in the forest.
Theirs is not an easy job - every day, poachers are constantly on the lookout and swathes of centuries-old forests are being reduced to ash, leaving the gorillas with nowhere to hide. But - with your continued support - we can support the rangers and give these wonderful creatures a chance.
Exciting news! A new magnolia tree species has been discovered in Pico Bonito National Park in northern Honduras. This park, rich in threatened tree species, is a globally important biodiversity haven. The new species has been named Magnolia ciroorum, after two prominent Honduran conservationists.
The discovery was made by Fauna & Flora’s partner, Fundación Parque Nacional Pico Bonito (FUPNAPIB), during field surveys in collaboration with local community-led partner LARECOTURH, supported by Fauna & Flora through funding from Fondation Franklinia.
Magnolia ciroorum was found clinging to a steep mountainside of rainforest. This discovery brings the total number of known Honduran magnolias to 11 species, most of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, it is concerning that just five individual trees of this new species have been identified, making it incredibly rare and eligible for Critically Endangered status on the IUCN Red List.
While this species is new to us, magnolias are among the world’s oldest flowering plants, dating back to around one hundred million years. The ancestors of today’s magnolias shared the planet with the dinosaurs and relied on beetles for pollination because they evolved before bees even existed.
Until recently, Fauna & Flora’s magnolia conservation efforts were focused predominantly on the critically endangered species found at our project sites in Vietnam. This discovery is a timely reminder that wild magnolias are seriously threatened throughout their global range, including in Central America, another vital stronghold of these ancient trees.
Sergio Estrada and Donovan Aguirre of FUPNAPIB both expressed their delight at the news: “This is a very exciting discovery for us, one which exemplifies the characteristically rich biodiversity found within Pico Bonito National Park.
Samples of the species were obtained through field visits by our project’s technical team and we were astonished to realise that it was not the rare Magnolia atlantida as first thought, but instead an undescribed species of magnolia.
An immediate field trip was undertaken, which allowed us to study the species – including the timing of its flowering and fruiting – in much greater detail and confirm its identification.”
Rich Howorth, Fauna & Flora’s Programme Manager for Central America, emphasised the importance of ensuring that adequate conservation measures are put in place to safeguard the magnolia’s long-term future: “Now we have discovered this exciting new species, we need to protect it. The rich diversity of tropical forests in the Pico Bonito National Park are severely threatened by deforestation, agricultural expansion and illegal timber extraction, especially in the lower parts of the park’s buffer zone where the tree is found. Like the closely related Magnolia atlantida, Magnolia ciroorum plays an essential role in its local ecosystem and is a critical climate change-fighting carbon sink. We need to ensure it is not lost before it has truly been found.”
TheIrrawaddy River in Myanmar is home to one of the last remaining populations of Irrawaddy dolphins. Their numbers have been decimated by the rise of illegal fishing techniques which can cause dolphins to become entangled in gillnets. This has left the population hanging by a thread.
Last year, you gave these extraordinary dolphins a second chance when you helped us raise over £200,000 for our appeal. Now, we have some exciting news to share. Our Myanmar team have recently led a survey covering the Min Kun area of the Irrawaddy River, resulting in them identifying ten individual dolphins.
This might not seem like many, but this sighting is actually extremely unusual for Irrawaddy dolphins - typically, they are only found in groups of two or three individuals. Local villagers have testified that a group of ten or more dolphins is usually only found during the mating season, which suggests that the population could be breeding!
This good news also highlights the importance of local knowledge to conservation – without this local expertise, we wouldn’t have known that this large group was exhibiting breeding behaviour.
Going forward, we plan to work alongside local communities to establish Fish Conservation areas in this section of the river, as well as to conduct regular surveys to confirm these findings and continue to learn more about the dolphins and how we can best protect them.
WE SPOTTED A GROUP OF
10
Irrawaddy dolphins in the Min Kun area
This finding is a really hopeful sign that the population could soon be expanding, and is extremely positive news given that the Irrawaddy River is believed to be home to just 72 individuals.
The most recent survey covered just one small section in the Min Kun area, so for future surveys we hope to be able to extend our reach to the Takaung area, which was found to be home to eight dolphins when last surveyed in December 2023.
We also plan to organise capacity-building training for local communities to enable them to participate in the study of this incredible dolphin population in their area.
This work couldn’t have been possible without your support of our urgent appeal, so thank you so much.
Myanmar and Vietnam are both known for the striking array of primate species that they harbour. Vietnam is home to 25 species of primate, while Myanmar is home to 20 species, making them both some of the most important countries in the world for primate conservation. Using cutting-edge technology, our conservationists in the field have recently made two findings that further our understanding of some of the world’s rarest primates.
In collaboration with local partners, Fauna & Flora’s conservation team in Vietnam have recently conducted a population survey of cao vit gibbons using a combination of advanced monitoring techniques to ensure more accurate results than traditional monitoring methods can typically hope to achieve.
For the first time, the survey team applied a ‘vocal fingerprinting’ technique, where acoustic recorders are used to listen to gibbon songs and identify individual voices. Incredibly, each gibbon’s singing voice seems to be unique to a specific individual – with the male song particularly distinctive.
The gibbon count was also assisted by drones mounted with thermal imaging cameras, which enabled the team to pinpoint groups more easily and count the number of individuals in them more accurately.
The population, confined to a small forest fragment on the Vietnam-China border, is now estimated to comprise a mere 74 individuals in just 11 family groups. This figure is 38% lower than the previous estimate of 120 individuals.
The good news is that, despite the revised estimate, there is no evidence that the cao vit gibbon population has declined. Thanks to the vital work of Fauna & Flora and our partners since this elusive ape’s rediscovery, gibbon numbers are still thought to be increasing, with the number of individuals in long-term monitored groups on the rise, and new groups having formed in recent years. The difference is due to accidental double-counting in previous surveys that used traditional species monitoring techniques.
New methods have found the cao vit gibbon population to be
38% LOWER than previously thought
The cao vit gibbon is one of the world’s rarest primates, thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered by Fauna & Flora in 2002. Accurate monitoring of the last remaining population is critical to the species’ survival, however traditional ground-based monitoring methods - such as using binoculars and cameras - are tricky in this steep, almost inaccessible, terrain and can be unreliable as the gibbons move rapidly through the dense forest canopy.
The new and more accurate population estimate serves as a more robust basis for informing conservation management actions and tracking success over time. However, the cao vit gibbon is evidently in much more immediate danger from the threats posed by small population size than previously thought.
New populations of an endangered primate, named after the lead character in Star Wars when it was identified as a distinct species back in 2017, have been found in Myanmar.
Scientists had already speculated that the Skywalker gibbon might not be confined to the forest in China where the species was originally discovered. They suspected that its range might extend across the border into Myanmar.
That hypothesis has now been proved correct, thanks once again to state-of-the-art conservation techniques including acoustic monitoring and analysis of DNA samples taken from chewed plants.
The new methods enabled the team to confirm 44 groups of Skywalker gibbon in Myanmar. While the exact numbers in these newly identified groups have yet to be determined, evidence suggests that the world’s largest population of Skywalker gibbons may have been hiding in plain sight until now.
Ngwe Lwin, Fauna & Flora’s Country Director in Myanmar and a leader of the expedition, comments: “This is a significant discovery for the future of primate conservation in Myanmar. While there are now more confirmed groups of Skywalker gibbons in the wild, it is feared that their populations are fast declining due to habitat degradation and loss, and poaching. With the new data collected during this study, we hope to continue working with the government and local communities to establish better protection for areas inhabited by gibbons, benefiting multiple fauna and flora species, and the communities that rely on these forests too.”
With new technologies constantly being developed, conservation methods are becoming increasingly more accurate, and our understanding of endangered species is continuously improving.
Last year, we held a competition for one of our supporters to win a trip to visit our project site in Rwanda and see mountain gorillas in the wild. We had a fantastic response to the competition and raised over £31,000 to help support our work with mountain gorillas. This exciting prize was won by Cheryl who, together with her husband, travelled to Rwanda in December 2023. We chatted to Cheryl about her experience on this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Did you learn anything about mountain gorillas that you didn’t previously know?
They are like humans in so many ways and - like most of us - family is everything to a gorilla. I hadn’t expected the silverback to be so tolerant of youngsters, and the level of fine motor skills they showed when grooming each other was incredible. I hadn’t realised that every day, each gorilla builds a nest to sleep in. [The trip] reinforced the importance of conservation to ensure that both these incredible animals, and the landscape that they inhabit, are protected.
How long were you able to spend with the gorillas?
The group we saw is called Hera and has one silverback. We spent just over an hour observing the gorillas, and when we arrived they were in three groups very close to eachother, however they moved around, mixing with each other continually. A few of the very young gorillas were clambering in low trees and bushes while the older ones were on the ground. We saw a lot of mutual grooming and the silverback was incredibly tolerant of the youngsters climbing and rolling all over him. Watching the babies play a game of chase with each other around a hillock was incredible; it was like watching young children play.
The two guides who led the trek were very knowledgeable about the family group of gorillas that we were observing. We also had a porter each who carried our bags and kept us upright, as for the last 40 minutes of the trek we were ankle-deep in mud, and it was very slippery and steep in places! The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the trek was enhanced by the information they shared with us about the behaviour of the gorillas.
All of the staff were from local communities and had grown up in the vicinity of Volcanoes National Park. A key aspect of the park’s ethos is to ensure that local communities benefit from the tourism associated with the mountain gorillas and we saw this in action. Some of the porters were ex-poachers who have been diverted from this illegal activity and have now been trained and are employed by the park so earn a regular income.