Five good news conservation stories

Over the last few months, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) and our partners around the world have been working hard to safeguard species and protect their habitats. 

In this first quarterly instalment of good news, we’re taking you on a journey from Turkey to Cambodia to recognise some of our latest successes. 

The start of the year brought some encouraging news from our partners in Turkey: Akdeniz Koruma Derneği’s cave video monitoring system captured footage of an endangered Mediterranean monk seal pup thought to be only a few months old. With approximately 600-700 Mediterranean monk seals worldwide, and only around 100 in Turkey, evidence of the species breeding in the project area is highly significant and shows conservation efforts are paying off.

Caught on camera: a baby Mediterranean monk seal, the world’s rarest pinniped, born in Turkey. Credit: Akdeniz Koruma Derneği

Scientists from FFI and the Hungarian Natural History Museum discovered a new bat species from a single specimen that had been sitting in the museum for 20 years. The new bat species is called Hayes’ thick-thumbed myotis, named in honour of Scottish conservationist and bat expert, Ben Hayes. 

“For two self-confessed bat geeks, it is a real pleasure and privilege to describe a new species.” – Neil Furey, Conservation Biologist, Cambodia

Examining a horseshoe bat during a 2019 survey in Bokor, Cambodia. Credit: Chaderwan Ung/Fauna & Flora International

For the first time in 10 years, a nest of green turtles was found in Cambodia, on a remote island. Green turtles are an endangered species, and their numbers have declined due to poaching, coastal development and destructive fishing. This momentous discovery offers hope for the future of these reptiles in Cambodia.

New hope for turtle conservation; green turtle hatchlings found in Cambodia. Credit: Fauna & Flora International

In the space of a single decade, FFI and our partners have discovered over 100 new species in Myanmar. From primates to toads, geckos and newts, each new discovery demonstrates how much there is still to learn about Myanmar’s biological riches.

Years of extensive study led to the discovery of this new primate, the Popa langur. Credit: Aung Ko Lin/Fauna & Flora International

FFI and our partners in Cambodia recently released 25 Siamese crocodiles into the wild – the biggest ever release of these captive-bred crocodiles. The Siamese crocodile is a critically endangered species and this is a major step forward in their recovery. 

“It’s an exciting moment for conservationists but also for all of Cambodia. Step by step, one of the world’s rarest reptiles is being brought back from the brink of extinction.” – Pablo Sinovas, FFI Flagship Species Manager, Cambodia.

A Siamese crocodile moments before release in Chhay Reap, Cambodia. Credit: Jeremy Holden/Fauna & Flora International