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From the arboreal to the aquatic Fifteen species of rodent make up about a quarter of the wild terrestrial mammal species in Britain. They’ve filled a wide range of niches, from the arboreal (red squirrels and hazel dormice) to the aquatic (water voles and beavers), and many are familiar urban neighbours. Most conspicuous are red …

Stopping the demand of rhino horn The last decade has witnessed a rhino poaching crisis. On average almost 1,000 rhinos were being killed every year. Why? Most rhino horn is taken to Asia, but the reasons people demand rhino horn are complex. Horn has historically been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine but recent years have …

Our project leader, William Isebaiddu, sent a message the other day from Uganda. Your donations are helping us to support his Singida tilapia fish breeding programme at Kibanga Village, Koome Island, on Lake Victoria. The Lake hosts hundreds of species of fish, but over fishing, agriculture and the introduced Nile perch have devastated Singida tilapia …

Between sessions at the UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 26), the whistles and chatter of starlings should be played to remind delegates of the Danish dairy farmer, Peder Thellesen. Thellesen, who has no formal scientific training, may or may not be at the climate talks in person, but his work has been described as …

People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is calling on supporters to sign a petition to address the global wildlife trade. The global wildlife trade can be cruel and a hotbed for emerging infectious diseases like COVID-19. Join us in demanding a solution to the global wildlife trade. Now. The Coalition to Ban Wildlife Trade campaign, …

Hope for the most endangered crocodile in the world Siamese crocodiles are one of the most endangered crocodile species in the world. Every individual matters when the wild population numbers less than 300 adults. Earlier this year we reported that ten baby crocodiles had been spotted: the largest group of wild hatchlings ever found. Now …

Mammals have long inspired us to observe and care for the world around us, even becoming symbols of conservation such as the WWF Panda. The last few decades have seen range reductions and population declines for many mammal species due to overexploitation, pollution and habitat loss, amongst other reasons. Figures suggest that at least one-fifth …

There were times this spring when it seemed not much was going on. One day blended into another and lockdown began to feel like a period of torpor or, perhaps even, hibernation. For the greater good, many of us had our movements restricted, and our favourite spots felt quite distant. As one of the fortunate …

The words we choose are important. Do we talk about ‘climate change’ or a ‘climate emergency’? Do we face a ‘loss of biodiversity’ or an ‘extinction crisis’ (or even an ‘insect apocalypse’)? It depends on our audience. So, as conservationists, who should we be talking to? Environmental change impacts us at a societal level—affecting human …

Travelling to the Great Gobi Whilst we’ve been staying close to home, life has begun to slowly return to normal in other countries. Our Conservation Partner, Bayara, has been in contact from her home in Mongolia, where the government reacted quickly with a strict lockdown. With fewer than 200 cases of Covid-19 reported and no …

1. Retain stumps The single most important action to help stag beetles is to keep stumps in place when trees or woody shrubs die or are cut down. This provides essential decaying wood underground for stag beetles to eat for years to come. 2. Build a log pyramid If you don’t already have stumps or …

1. They spend most of their life underground, looking like this! Striking stag beetles start their life as a larva (or grub) and it takes several YEARS- sometimes up to seven- for them to grow and develop into the adult beetles. During this time, they live underground. You might come across larvae whilst digging in …