Despite the hardships it faces, nature is remarkably resilient when given the chance, offering us encouraging stories of survival. Here are our favorites.
The challenges facing the natural world are critical. Human pressures — which have altered 75% of Earth’s land, impacted 66% of oceans, and contributed to an extinction rate 1,000-10,000 times higher than that of the natural rate — have resulted in a world now facing a looming tipping point and the possibility of a sixth mass extinction.
Saving the future of Earth’s species may appear to be an unsurmountable challenge. But even the smallest of efforts can have profound and lasting impacts. In honor of NATIONAL THREATENED SPECIES DAY, here are just a few instances of nature’s resilience and hope for a better future for our planet:
- Humpback Whales — By the mid-1950s, only 450 humpback whales existed. Following a ban of commercial whaling, the humpback whale population returned to 93% of its original size.
- Tigers — Thanks to Project Tiger, their population nearly doubled since 1947, when the tiger population fell to only 1,800. Today, tiger populations in India are over 3,000 strong.
- Mountain Gorillas — Once thought to become extinct by the end of the 20th century, conservation efforts in Virunga Massif helped increase their numbers by 400% (1,000+).
- Grey Wolves — Once a population of 2 million, the grey wolf population fell to 300 by 1960. Now protected, there numbers have increased to nearly 5,500.
- White Rhino — Poaching decimated their numbers, but through environmental regulations and breeding efforts, there are now 20,000+ rhinos at large.
Let’s help achieve more ENDANGERED animal success stories by donating today.
