Island Conservation
Three new lemur species have been identified in Madagascar, an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa. Scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Kentucky, the American Duke Lemur Center and the Université d’Antananarivo in Madagascar have described three new species of Mouse Lemurs. The identification of new lemur species has […]
Endangered species find refuge on predator-free Wedge Island, Australia. The protected area offers species a chance to bounce back from extinction. The Critically Endangered Brush-tailed Bettong and Black-footed Rock Wallaby used to thrive in Australia. However, due largely to predatory invasive species such as feral cats and foxes on Mainland Australia, these mammals have experienced […]
As part of a recovery program, two Critically Endangered Kakapo chicks have been flown in a helicopter to a sanctuary on Codfish Island, New Zealand. There they will spend three months in an enclosure that ensures their protection from predators. Conservationists are working hard to help the Kakapo thrive in the wild. New Zealand Conservation […]
Snipe, Penguins, Parakeets, and Petrels are some of the many bird species that live and nest on Antipodes Island. In addition to this impressive variety of winged natives, a diversity of plants and insects call Antipodes Island home. But there used to be more. Since the accidental introduction of mice in the 1800’s, the unique native flora […]
Loop Tonga recently covered our successful operation to protect native biodiversity on the islands of Malinoa and Motu Tapu in Tonga, Polynesia by removing invasive rats. The project to restore Malinoa and Motu Tapu was carried out by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), Island Conservation and the Government of Tonga. On May 24, 2016, the partners […]
The second-known land mammal to be a native of Hawaii has been identified. Sadly, it’s extinct. In 1981, the remains of an unknown species were found in a lava tube on Maui. Researchers struggled for decades to identify the species. This year, they finally arrived at their answer. The remains belong to a unique subcategory of the Evening or Vesper […]
Study finds that higher biodiversity enhances disease-resistance in ecosystems. A recent study published in the journal Ecology by Australian and Chinese researchers from University of Adelaide and Fudan University suggests that higher levels of biodiversity increase an ecosystem’s disease resistance. The researchers studied the relationship between biodiversity and the severity of a fungal disease. Alpine Meadow. Photo: […]
Blue Iguanas, threatened by invasive species, were downlisted from “Critically Endangered” to “Endangered” thanks to conservation efforts. What could possibly put a 5-foot long, 25-lb giant reptile on the Critically Endangered species list? How could the largest species on the Grand Cayman Islands be at risk of extinction? Under normal conditions the Blue Iguana would thrive in its native […]
Have you heard of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot? It’s a small furry marsupial that lives in Tasmania and Victoria, Australia. If you’ve never seen one before, it’s not too late. Thanks to a recovery program, this adorable species is rebounding from extinction. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot’s population size had fallen at an alarming rate in […]
Though they make up less than 5% of the world’s land mass, islands are home to 20% of bird, plant, and reptile species. The Seychelles Islands are among these major hotspots for biodiversity. Quarter-ton tortoises, minuscule frogs, charismatic birds and many other astonishing species have long lived together in the dazzling Seychelles landscape. However, hundreds of years of […]