Petropedetes dutoiti is endemic to Mt. Elgon Kenya. However, the frog has not been seen in the wild since 1962. Ms Beryl Akoth Bwong (National Museums of Kenya) hopes to change that. Ms Bwong has completed her first efforts, and recently reported her results to the Fund. Read more after the jump…. Read more…
Conservation Projects
Lost frog in Kenya…still lost.
Snow leopard field survey in remotest Nepal
A remote camp in north west Nepal used to find snow leopard
“The study area is the most remote area in Nepal with no road access and the flights irregular. It took us nearly two weeks to reach our field site. Everything had to be carried from Kathmandu. The effort to manage the logistics was very tiring and we had to devote our energy more in these arrangements rather than starting field work which was the first and foremost challenge,” Said Mr. Raju Acharya, Director of Friends of Nepal in Kathmandu.
Happy New Year from the Fund
Brighamia insignis (CR) only two can be found in the wild on the island of Kauai in Hawaii.
We recently received this photograph of Brighamia insignis from Seana Walsh, a June 2013 grant recipient who is working on the plant’s breeding systems and pollination ecology. Though there are only two Brighamia insignis remaining in the wild, we think the photograph symbolizes our hope for species conservation. We are inspired by the enthusiasm, energy, and dedication of our grant recipients. We wish everyone a successful new year. Keep up the good work.
For the 3rd time in 2013, the Fund distributes more than $500k to support the world’s most endangered species
For the 3rd time in 2013, the Fund distributes more than $500k in support of the world’s most endangered species bringing its annual contribution in 2013 to $1,605,091.
As a result of its recent review of grant applications, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund is distributing $519,666 to 65 conservation projects located in 45 countries across the world. This is the third distribution of Funds in 2013. The total distribution to projects in 2013 amounted to $1,605,091.
Since its inception in 2008 the Fund has distributed $10,328,429 to more than 1,000 species conservation projects worldwide.
Small Wild Cat Conservation Alliance contributes $11k to complement 5 recently approved projects
The Fund supported five small wild cat conservation projects in its most recent round of grant giving. The Small Wild Cat Conservation Alliance (SWCCA) generously contributed $11,000 to these same projects. Each of the five small wild cat projects will now receive full funding. Read more…
Thriving African Wild Dog Population Confirmed in Kenya
With a grant from the Fund, the African Wild Dog Conservancy has confirmed the existence of a significant and widely distributed wild dog population in the North East and Coast Provinces of Kenya, from just north of the equator to the Indian Ocean, and near the Kenya/Somalia border region to Tsavo National Park. This wild dog population was previously unknown to the international conservation community.
Given the limited availability of water for human settlement, relatively low density of people, and that the dominate ethnic group living in much of the core area does not hunt game (wild dog prey species), this region is a potential long-term stronghold for this endangered canid.
Also promising, interviews with locals indicate that wild dogs accounted for only 4% of overall livestock losses to predators; approximately half of those losses occurred in one area. All reported losses due to wild dogs occurred while grazing, not in bomas where livestock is kept. This information will be incorporated into AWD’s education outreach program.
Overall, the program is very interesting and we encourage you to visit AWD’s website to learn more about their project at http://www.awdconservancy.org/