Restoring the World’s Extinct in the Wild species
We are in the midst of a global biodiversity and climate crisis.
Globally, over a million species are now threatened with extinction, with some already Extinct in the Wild: saved only in our zoos and botanical gardens.
We strive to continue to rescue into human care those species most in need, to let none slip to extinction, and to drive their recovery towards flourishing wild populations.
These are the Extinct in the Wild species and their fate hangs entirely in our hands.
What will happen to these species?
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identifies 79 species as currently Extinct in the Wild, with a further 63 classified as ‘Possibly Extinct in the Wild’, and with many more species sadly to join them over the coming years
Many species have gone extinct without creation of populations under human care, some under human care have gone extinct, and others are too small or unstable to allow for responsible releases. Zoos and botanic gardens that guard and maintain the last remaining populations need help to care for these species and return them to the wild responsibly.
Our Vision
The IUCN’s Species Survival Commission Conservation Translocation Specialist Group (CTSG) task force for the recovery of Extinct in the Wild species presented a motion at the 2021 IUCN World Conservation Congress in France. This motion for “Improving Process and Action to Identify and Recover Extinct in the Wild Species” was officially endorsed through 95% of 115 government and 99% of 572 non-government organizations globally.
We strive to let no Extinct in the Wild species slip to extinction on our watch. Through a growing global coalition, we will lead the restoration of the world’s most threatened group of species. We will lead by example, turn innovative plans into courageous actions, and highlight massive potential for responsible species recovery that can yield hope for both nature and humanity.
We have developed a 4-step strategy that aims to
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Rescue Species
Where appropriate, create new ex situ populations for species facing imminent extinction in the wild
Revitalise populations in human care
Strengthen current ex situ populations to ensure that we retain viability for recovery in the wild
Release individuals back to the wild
Engage in ambitious and innovative translocation programs to return species to the wild
Reinforce released populations
Drive recovery of released populations through continued reinforcement and conservation management
So, the choice is ours to make
Will we let these species go extinct
let them be managed away from nature in perpetuity
or return them to the wild for potential re-establishment?
Our Partnership
Under the unifying umbrella and globally sanctioned mandate of the IUCN SSC Conservation Translocation Specialist Group, two leading institutions from separate continents will spearhead the initiative to engage partners from around the world.
Together, these organizations will build on past shared successes to create collaborations with institutions all over the world to develop capacity, innovation, and actions for EW species recovery.
