Priceless or Worthless? Cover image of a juvenile Eleutherodactylus thorectes © Robin Moore

Priceless or Worthless? The world’s most threatened

by Jonathan E M Baillie and Ellen R Butcher

Nominations provided and text reviewed Disclaimer: by members of the IUCN Species Survival Comission Specialist Groups The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part and Red List Authorities of the Zoological Society of London, IUCN or the compilers concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Zoological Society of London, IUCN or other participating organizations.

Published by: Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY Copyright: © Zoological Society of London and contributors 2012. All rights reserved. The use and reproduction of any part of this publication is prohibited without prior consent of the copyright owner.

Hardback ISBN: 978-0-900881-65-7 Paperback ISBN: 978-0-900881-66-4 Online ISBN: 978-0-900881-67-1

Baillie, J.E.M. & Butcher, E. R. (2012) Priceless or Worthless? The world’s most threatened species. Zoological Society of London, United Kingdom.

Design: Kevin Hawkes www.22creative.co.uk Print: witherbysonline.co.uk

2 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 3 Acknowledgements David Minter Mary Seddon Sandy Luk We would also like to give particular thanks to the following individuals Dominique Burgauer Matthew Grainger Sanjay Molur Donald McFarlane Matti Hämälainen Sara Oldfield and organisations who generously Douglas Gibbs Mervyn Lotter Scott Black gave their time and expertise to Elizabeth Boakes Micheal Neutens Sir David Attenborough Large Carnivore Initaitve for Europe Mammals Cactus and Succulent Specialist Group We give gracious thanks to the Frank Glaw Michael Fay Stefan Wiswedel Re-introduction Specialist Group Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group review sections of, and to provide global network of scientists who African Elephant Specialist Group Frank Hawkins Mike Maunder Stewart McPherson Sustainable Use Specialist Group Caucasus Plant Red List Authority suggestions for, this book: comprise the IUCN Species Survival African Rhino Specialist Group Franz Seidenschwarz Neil Burgess Stuart Butchart Wildlife Health Specialist Group Afrotheria Specialist Group Central African Plant Red List Authority Adam Kerezsy Fred Katterman Neil Cumberlidge Tandora Grant Commission Specialist Groups Fish Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group Chinese Plant Specialist Group Adam Matthews Galen Rathbun Nicholas Kinyau Tim Bauer IUCN/WI Freshwater Fish Specialist Group Antelope Specialist Group Conifer Specialist Group Adam Sweidan Georgina Mace Nicholas Dulvy Tim Flach and Reptiles Groupers and Wrasse Specialist Group Asian Elephant Specialist Group Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group Alan Whitfield Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara Nigel Collar Tim Gerrodette Hawkfishes and Sandperches Red List Authority Asian Rhino Specialist Group Cuban Plant Specialist Group Specialist Group Alastair Robinson Gordon Reid Nigel Maxted Tomas Hallingbäck Salmonid Specialist Group Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group Cycad Specialist Group Anoline Lizard Specialist Group Aljos Farjon Héctor Hernández Macias Onildo Marini-Filho Usama Ghazali The GMSA Team Australian Marsupial and Eastern African Plant Red List Authority Boa and Python Specialist Group Allanah Weston Henk Beentje Paul Cowley Vimoksalehi Lukoschek Sciaenid Red List Authority Monotreme Specialist Group Freshwater Plant Specialist Group Chameleon Specialist Group Anders Rhodin Ilse Storch Paul Donald Vincent Florens Seabreams, Snapper and Grunts Specialist Group Bat Specialist Group Galapagos Plant Specialist Group Crocodile Specialist Group Annabelle Cuttelod Isaac Malugu Paul Racey Vincent Kalkman Seahorse, Pipefish and Stickleback Red List Bear Specialist Group Global Trees Specialist Group Iguana Specialist Group Anthony Rylands Itambo Malombe Paul Williams Viola Clausnitzer Authority Bison Specialist Group Hawaiian Plant Specialist Group Marine Turtle Specialist Group Arlo Brady James Burton Paul Wilkin Will Duckworth Shark Specialist Group Canid Specialist Group Indian Subcontinent Plant Specialist Group North American Reptile Red List Authority Ather Rafi James Collins Peter Cranswick Willem-Joost de Gier Sturgeon Specialist Group Caprinae Specialist Group Japan Plants Red LIst Authority Sea Snake Specialist Group Axel Hochkirch James Kalema Peter Garson William Baker Sygnathiformes and Gasterosteiformes Red List Cat Specialist Group Korean Plant Specialist Group Snake and Lizard Red List Authority B.A. Daniel James Kushlan Peter Ng Kee Lin William Perrin Authority Cetacean Specialist Group Macronesian Island Plant Specialist Group Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group Barbara Taylor Jessica Sweidan Peter Paul van Dijk William Robichaud Tuna and Billfish Specialist Group Deer Specialist Group Madagascar Plant Specialist Group Viper Specialist Group Barney Long James Thornton Peter Rand Yvonne Sadovy Coral and Reef Fishes Specialist Group Equid Specialist Group Mascarenes Plant Specialist Group Birds Battal Ciplak James Wren Peter Thomas Fungi Hippo Specialist Group Medicinal Plant Specialist Group Baz Hughes Jean-Christophe Vié Philippe Chardonnet Bird Red List Authority Hyaena Specialist Group Mediterranean Island Plant Specialist Group Special thanks to Client Earth for Chytrid, Zygomycete, Downy Mildew and Slime Ben Collen John Donaldson Quentin Luke Bustard Specialist Group Lagomorph Specialist Group North American Plant Red List Authority their assistance in formulating this Mould Specialist Group Bert Orr John Dransfield Raj Amin Cormorant Specialist Group New World Marsupial Specialist Group Orchid Specialist Group concept and for providing valuable Cup-fungus, Truffle and Ally Specialist Group Bibhab Kumar Talukdar John Himes Ralph Armond Crane Specialist Group Non-volant Small Mammal Red List Authority Palm Specialist Group Lichen Specialist Group Bush Heritage Australia John G Robinson Randall Reeves contributions to the book. Diver/ Loon Specialist Group Otter Specialist Group Seagrass Red List Authority Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball Specialist Group Byron Wilson Jonathan Eames Reagan Villanueva Duck Specialist Group Pangolin Specialist Group Southern African Plant Specialist Group Rust and Smut Specialist Group Charles Clarke Jonathan Ogweno Rebecca Lee Additional thanks to all those who Flamingo Specialist Group Peccary Specialist Group Temperate South American Plant Specialist Group Invertebrates Chavalit Vidthayanon Jörg Freyhof Rich Storton provided the images featured Galliformes Specialist Group Pinniped Specialist Group Christian Randrianantoandro Jörn Köhler Richard Jenkins Goose Specialist Group Bumblebee Specialist Group Polar Bear Specialist Group throughout this publication. Christine Rose-Smyth Justin Gerlach Richard Lansdown Grebe Specialist Group Butterfly Specialist Group Primate Specialist Group Christoph Schwitzer Karen B Strier Richard Young Heron Specialist Group Coral Specialist Group Sirenian Specialist Group Finally, sincere thanks to Rachel Claude Gascon Katalin Csatadi Robert Cantley Pelican Specialist Group Dragonfly Specialist Group Small Carnivore Specialist Group Roberts and Emma Edwards for Colin Maycock Kingsley Dixon Robbin Thorp Stork, Ibis and Spoonbill Specialist Group Freshwater Crab and Crayfish Specialist Group South American Camelid Specialist Group providing feedback on the text, and to Craig Hilton-Taylor Laura Owens Robin Moore Swan Specialist Group Grasshopper Specialist Group Tapir Specialist Group Craig Turner Lina Eugenia Daza Rojas Rodrigo Medellin Simon Stuart and Mike Hoffman for Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group Horseshoe Crab Specialist Group Wild Pig Specialist Group Darren Yeo Chong Jinn Lize von Staden Ron Kopas assisting with the selection of the top Vulture Specialist Group Marine Invertebrate Red List Authority Wolf Specialist Group David Burslem Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society 100 species. Woodcock and Snipe Specialist Group Mollusc Specialist Group Plants David Gill Luana Lucena Roy Gereau Disciplinary Groups South Asian Invertebrate Specialist Group Arabian Plant Specialist Group David Harries Luigi Boitani Rudy Pothin Conservation Breeding Specialist Group Terrestrial and Freshwater Invertebrate Red Arctic Plant Specialist Group Please accept our apologies for any David Long Marie Bruegmann Russell Mittermeier Invasive Species Specialist Group List Authority Bryophyte Specialist Group accidental omissions. David Mallon Mariella Superina Samuel Turvey

4 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 5 Contents

Foreword 8

Chapter 1 - The value of 12

Chapter 2 - Species at a tipping point - the 100 most threatened species in the world 22

Chapter 3 - Past 86

Chapter 4 - Pulled back from the brink 98

Chapter 5 - Final word 112

Glossary 116 “Conservation began with a focus on species, Bibliography 118 especially those in danger of extinction, and a major species focus needs to continue as a central element in all efforts to ensure the long-term viability of our living planet” Dr Russell A Mittermeier President, Conservation International

Ardeotis nigriceps © Rahul Sachdev 6 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 7 Foreword Written by: Dr Simon Stuart, Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission

The IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) is a science-based Launched in time for the world’s largest gathering of conservationists network of more than 8,000 volunteer experts from almost every (the IUCN World Conservation Congress), ‘Priceless or Worthless’ country of the world. SSC members include experts on plants, challenges us to confront our moral and ethical beliefs about the fungi, birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates, value of nature. The future of many species is going to depend on and are deployed in over 100 Specialist Groups. It is these reconciling the needs of people and nature, and ensuring economic experts who have nominated the species featured in this book development and conservation do not undermine each other. to draw attention to those which, without urgent conservation If society believes that all species have a right to exist on the intervention, might no longer be with us in the near future. planet,then why are 100 of the most threatened species on the planet receiving so little funding or attention? At a time when The SSC vision is of a just world that values and conserves thousands of species are truly on the edge of extinction, it is time Simon Stuart nature through positive action to reduce the loss of diversity of to ask society to take a stand – to declare that the 100 species in life on earth. This diversity includes the huge variety of species this book, and millions of others like them, have the right to exist highlighted in the book: the aptly named Suicide palm, a colossus on this planet. This then needs to be followed with appropriate tree that dies shortly after flowering, and the iconic Red River conservation action, innovation, community participation, policies, giant softshell turtle, tightly woven into Vietnamese mythology. legislation and enforcement. If we ignore the question, and fail to Teetering on the edge of extinction, these species and many take action, we shall be inadvertently accepting the ethical position others urgently need strong, global collaboration to survive. that human-caused mass extinction is acceptable. This book signals a wake-up call and challenges us all to take the necessary action ‘Priceless or Worthless’ identifies the threats that these 100 species on behalf of our fellow species as a matter of urgency. face, but it also identifies how they can be addressed. In addition, to remind us that all is not lost and that conservation has tangible benefits, the book highlights the successful efforts which have rescued species from the brink of extinction. We should be greatly encouraged that, worldwide, there are people with the determination and dedication to prevent species being lost. By learning from our mistakes, sharing our skills and knowledge and placing value on the life around us, we can help to ensure that, as custodians of our environment, we save species rather than accelerate their loss.

8 Priceless or Worthless Rhinopithecus avunculus © Le Khac Quyet/ University of Colorado Boulder PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 9 “Wild places are where we began. When they end so do we” David Brower

Equus ferus przewalskii © Tim Flach 10 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 11 Chapter 1

The value of “Nowadays we know the price of everything, and the value of nothing” extinction Oscar Wilde

12 Priceless or Worthless PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 13 Priceless or worthless; you decide. Written by: Professor Jonathan Baillie, Director of Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London

The future existence of the 100 species in Although a few species on the list provide economic benefits to people, such as the sale of the Giant yellow croaker’s swim this book lies squarely in our hands. Do these bladder (worth over seven times the price of gold in 2001) for use species have a right to exist, or do we have in traditional medicine, the majority do little for society other then represent cultural or existence values. If the 100 species on this the right to drive them to extinction? list were to disappear tomorrow there would be little impact on the global economy, jobs or security. This is in fact the case for For the first time the IUCN SSC network of 8,000 scientists have millions of species on the planet, where their value to humanity identified 100 of the most threatened , plants and fungi. is unknown or tangential at best. The declines of most of these species have been caused by Jonathan Baillie humans and in almost all cases their extinction can be avoided With the threats to biodiversity rapidly escalating, and growing and the decline reversed. Thus, their future existence lies squarely numbers of species on the doorstep of extinction, society is in our hands. Whether they disappear forever or remain on the at a point in history where a decision needs to be made. Do planet simply depends on whether we as a society believe they these species have the right to exist? A decision not to tolerate are worth protecting. In this book we ask you to consider whether human-caused extinction would of course be entirely value the 100 most threatened species are priceless or worthless. Do based – but so is the alternative of allowing extinction to occur. they have the right to exist or do we have the right to drive them We need to decide where we stand on this moral and ethical to extinction? issue and implement and enforce national and international laws accordingly. So – it is up to us. The future of these species The book starts by introducing 100 species from 48 different depends on our values, are they priceless or worthless? countries that will be the next to go if conservation action is not taken immediately. Twenty-five of the 100 are highlighted to demonstrate the diversity of life that is about to be lost. We introduce the reader to the unique traits and characteristics of each species – essentially the wonder and natural beauty of each creature, plant and fungi. We then highlight examples of “Every living species represents one unique pathway to species that have been brought back from the brink of extinction such as Przewalski’s horse or the Chatham Island’s black robin, success, developed over millions of years. What we lose demonstrating that averting extinction is possible. with each passing species can never be replaced ” Professor Georgina Mace, CBE, FRS

14 Priceless or Worthless Psorodontus ebneri © Battal Ciplak and Sarp Kaya PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 15 Game changing

For the value of these 100 Marketing and Communications Policy species to be recognised in The truth is I don’t know if it is possible to save the nature in our day to day lives, surrounded by tarmac, Politics is driven by [moral] values and economics. There is now a real political opportunity for the our political, legal, social and 100 species listed in this book. That’s a punchy start, concrete and glass. Caring about nature is increasingly The influence that each has on public policy conservation movement to continue to maintain the economic systems, changes but it’s just me being honest. It may be too late and not natural. varies according to both national context and the moral and ethical arguments that are the foundation it may require too much effort. That’s a sweeping individuals involved. Although their respective of its legitimacy, while at the same time highlighting will need to be made. Here value judgement that us humans will make, based In order for people to be moved to action they firstly importance is determined by their context, the the economic benefits that biodiversity provides. four leading figures from on an analysis of four basic points that we have need to be aware of the issue (no mean feat in a combination of the [moral] values and economics The Natural Capital approach provides a framework embedded in our psyche: world where we are bombarded by messages about defines and determines the public policies on which to do exactly this – to recognise simultaneously the policy, legal, funding and soap, sport and smartphones, 24/7). Then we need a political party will fight an election. both the intrinsic and utilitarian values of nature. It • Do I know anything about this, is it on my radar? communications arenas give a powerful rational and/or an emotional argument - encourages governments to measure and monitor their personal opinions on • What’s the rational argument (economically you only need a powerful response to one of them The conservation movement faces competition for species and ecosystems and calls on society to speaking) for doing something? to get some traction. Then finally, when you have politicians’ time, interest and commitment. How decide how these should be valued. They can then what would need to be done. established interest you have to be sure not to fall it addresses these driving forces will be the key be protected through legislation and viewed as a • What’s the emotional argument for doing at the final hurdle by neglecting to provide a call factor determining its relevance to, and impact on, national asset, with degradation showing up as a something? to action, something that your audience can do politicians and the key decisions that they will make loss on the national balance sheet. This does not undermine or displace the long-standing cultural or • Can I actually do anything anyway? themselves to help. Get all that in place, or even in the coming years. part of it, and you are well on the way to saving ethical values people may have in and for nature, If we, as conservationists, want to give saving species and getting nature back on the agenda. For most of its history the conservation movement but provides another politically relevant reason for these species a shot then the first stage is to has largely advanced moral and ethical (values- decisions to be made that support conservation. consider our answers to these questions. It is in based) arguments for protecting nature, rather than answering these questions that communications promoting a more utilitarian, ecosystem-service and marketing has a significant role to play. based approach. This balance is now changing, Dr Arlo Brady with focus turning towards functional arguments. Adam C T Matthews We may not be able to craft a convincing argument Managing Director Commitment to a more utilitarian approach Secretary General in all instances, but we will be able to flush out freud Communications may be at the expense of some of the world’s Globe International the most convincing angles. The first question is most . However, it would be Disclaimer: often the hardest; it is also the most important. politically naïve to use this as a reason completely The views expressed in this section are the opinions As conservationists we frequently assume that to reject it, when it demonstrates the material of the individual authors themselves, and as such do everyone else should have the same degree of benefits some components of biodiversity provide not necessarily reflect those of the authors of this care and passion about the natural world that we book, the Zoological Society of London, IUCN or other to people. participating organizations. have. This is not the case. Nature is not prominent in the media; increasingly we are divorced from

16 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 17 Legal Funding

What would have to change about the law to protect What might this look like? We could start with the There are few universal causes that require massive Wildlife generates interest and arouses our passion It is time to scale up funding efforts and call upon the threatened species celebrated in this book? The Convention on Biological Diversity and give it some mobilization from all sectors of society. Preserving which is demonstrated by the huge popularity of zoos the governments to increase their contribution main problem is that there is simply no enforceable real teeth. Here’s how. Placing a species on a the diversity of life on Earth is one of them. or botanical gardens visited worldwide. Species have towards a better understanding and monitoring of law globally that protects threatened species in their National Red List would trigger the requirement Governments have repeatedly recognized the need the power to communicate; their conservation is biodiversity, as well as conservation action on the . We have the Convention on Biological to produce a biodiversity action plan for the most to do so, but this is no longer an option; we must portrayed through wonderful photos, amazing stories ground, directly, through multilateral bodies such as Diversity, under which action plans and protected threatened species. These plans would differ from do it. Thousands of enthusiastic people are trying to and dedicated, driven individuals working with local the Global Environment Facility or dedicated species areas are created, but it is not legally binding. the current ones in that they would be binding. do miracles around the globe, often anonymously communities. We have first and foremost an ethical conservation funds. However this responsibility We have the Convention on International Trade in They would come with targets, timetables and a and with very limited support. Most of the time obligation to conserve wild species. Our materialistic cannot be left solely to governments. SOS – Save Endangered Species which is legally binding, but only pathway to the desired outcome. There would also it is to preserve one species or one natural site. world, however, tends to restrict its attention to what Our Species, is a global partnership initiated by covers species threatened by trade. We have the be sanctions attached for not complying with the plan. This publication features some of their successes. is useful to human kind, has an immediate monetary leading conservation organizations aimed at mobilizing IUCN Red List prepared by the International Union for Crucially, technical help and funds must also be made These committed conservationists and conservation value and considers the rest as obstacles. For this new sources of funding for threatened species, Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is a key tool available for the countries that will be doing the groups stand ready to do more but unfortunately, utilitarian view of nature, we are not short of powerful their habitats and the people depending on them. in identifying species at risk of extinction. But it has conservation work needed to help threatened species we cannot rely indefinitely on the contributions of reasons to conserve the diversity of species that By joining SOS, governments, foundations, no effect in law. Many countries also have National to thrive. The critical issue is whether we can generate volunteers, nor the passion of a few committed we have inherited. Wild animals, plants and fungi companies, wealthy individuals can join forces and Red Lists, but few are linked with any legal the understanding to create the political will to make individuals, to undertake such a mammoth task. are excellent indicators of environmental change, ensure that species featured in this book prosper obligations. What we need to do to protect the the legal regime work. They need money. contribute significantly to ecosystem services. again. www.SaveOurSpecies.org species in this book and a host of other threatened Conserving species also helps to tackle complex species is create a system of law that tracks species Billions of dollars are being invested to carry out environmental problems. Species are also of great at risk and creates real enforceable protections. research on other planets. The landing of the robot value to companies which depend on their use Curiosity on Mars with the objective of finding tracks for business or for promotion and for brand logos. James Thornton of new forms of life is the most recent example. What is the gain for species from their extensively Dr Jean-Christophe Vié CEO At the same time, the diversity of life, on which our valuable and free contribution to the world economy? Deputy Director ClientEarth very existence depends, is disappearing fast. If equal Global Species amounts of money and ingenuity were invested to Programme Director protect the natural resources of our world, our future SOS - Save Our on Earth would be secured. Then species such as Species IUCN those featured in this publication would not disappear.

18 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 19 “There’s no better designer than nature” Alexander McQueen

20 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 21 Chapter 2

The species featured here represent the Species at 100 most species in the world. If we don’t rapidly increase the amount of conservation attention that a tipping they receive they may soon be lost forever. point

22 Priceless or Worthless PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 23 Astrochelys yniphora Ploughshare tortoise, Angonoka

Text reviewed by the Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group Often referred to as the most endangered tortoise The illegal trade of ploughshare tortoises is in the world, the ploughshare tortoise (Astrochelys undermining the otherwise laudable attempts of Population size: yniphora) is named after the plough-like projection local conservationists and organizations to protect 440 - 770 individuals that protrudes between its front legs. Having this species. There have been concerted efforts narrowly survived hunting pressure and to stop illegal collection with the presence of the Range: destruction by fire in the past, this species’ good Madagascar National Parks Authority in the town 2 looks may be its ultimate downfall as illegal of Saolala, close to the species’ habitat, and the 25-60km in Baly Bay region, collection for the international pet trade is likely to establishment of a small network of village northwestern Madagascar push it to extinction in the wild in the near future. para-rangers. These para-rangers monitor for possible smugglers and outbreaks of fire. Primary threats: Baly Bay, the location of the single remaining Illegal collection for international metapopulation of the ploughshare tortoise, was What needs to be done? gazetted as a national park in 1997 by the Malagasy Expansion of the current network of para-rangers, pet trade government to protect the remaining fragments along with an increase in the level of protection of the species’ habitat. Another layer of security provided by government authorities, would go a Action required: for this attractive reptile is accorded by its listing in considerable way toward ensuring the survival of Enforcement of legal protection CITES Appendix I, outlawing its international trade. ploughshare tortoises in the wild. These efforts However, poor enforcement undermines these need to be coupled with ongoing monitoring of the and protected area management legal protections, with illegal trade and collection species’ presence in the illegal global pet trade, escalating in recent years. In 1996, 73 individuals along with effective repatriation of confiscated were stolen from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation animals. Unless these measures are implemented Trust’s offsite captive breeding facility, while in rapidly, human desire to own one of these May 2009 four tortoises were stolen from their fascinating creatures will rob future generations of onsite quarantine facility, where they were being the opportunity to ever see them in the wild. monitored prior to their planned release into the wild. Many wild animals have been poached off national park lands and appeared in the illegal pet trade, especially in Southeast Asia and China. Relying only on the current levels of legal protection to save this species has an extremely poor chance of success.

24 Priceless or Worthless © Peter Paul van Dijk Priceless or Worthless 25 Atelopus balios Rio Pescado stubfoot toad

Text reviewed by the Amphibian Specialist Group Drawing its name from the Greek word for dappled Also known as harlequin toads, the rediscovery of or spotted, ‘balios’, the beautiful Rio Pescado this species was a rare moment of celebration in Population size: stubfoot toad (Atelopus balios) is clinging to an otherwise sobering search for ‘lost’ amphibians. Unknown existence in a fragment of habitat in the pacific However, amphibian lovers should draw hope from lowlands of south-western Ecuador. Unseen since the fact that they now have a rare opportunity to Range: 1995, the rediscovery of this species in 2010 was rescue a member of a group that has been hit one of few high points in the ‘Search for Lost particularly hard by amphibian declines. Azuay, Cañar and Guyas provinces, ’. Launched in August 2010 by the IUCN SSC south-western Ecuador Amphibian Specialist Group and Conservation What needs to be done? International, with support from Global Wildlife The immediate protection of this species’ habitat Threats: Conservation, this campaign resulted in expeditions in the Pacific lowlands of south-western Ecuador, Chytridiomycosis and habitat by 26 researchers in 21 countries. Sadly only four of coupled with further intensive searches for other the high priority ‘lost amphibians’ were found, only individuals that could be used for captive breeding, destruction due to logging and one of which featured in the ‘top ten’. This was the may yet save the Rio Pescado stubfoot toad. agricultural expansion Rio Pescado stubfoot toad. Ecuadorians must take rapid, decisive action if this beautiful piece of their natural heritage is to be saved. Action required: Only a tip-off from the local community led researchers to find a single adult toad by a Protection of last remaining habitat river during their search in 2010. This discovery partially allayed fears that the species had already succumbed to chytridiomycosis. However, the spot where it was found was not under any form of protection. As habitat degradation and loss due to agriculture, logging and pollution also severely threaten the survival of this species, protection of the last remaining fragments of the toad’s habitat is needed without delay.

26 Priceless or Worthless © Eduardo Toral Contreras PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 27 Brachyteles hypoxanthus Northern Muriqui, Wooly Spider Monkey

Text contributed by Karen B. Strier, Primate Specialist Group The long-limbed northern muriqui (Brachyteles To address these threats, current conservation hypoxanthus), or wooly spider monkey, is found tactics are aimed at the preservation and expansion Population size: exclusively in the Atlantic forest of south-eastern of remaining habitats and at the protection and < 1,000 individuals Brazil. This peaceful primate is quite peculiar as, management of existing populations. This often instead of fighting to monopolize fertile females, requires delicately balancing research, ecotourism, Range: males wait patiently for their turn to copulate. It is and environmental education programs, with both not unusual for an ovulating female to mate with the well-being of the animals and environmental Atlantic forest, south-eastern Brazil multiple males in close succession. These low impact concerns. levels of aggression give females the opportunity Primary threats: to choose their own mates without the risk of What needs to be done? Habitat loss and fragmentation violence that other female primates may face. With the formation of an advisory committee of due to large-scale deforestation Revelations about the northern muriqui’s egalitarian experts and the recent completion of a national social relationships and promiscuous sex lives have action plan for the muriquis (O Plano de Ação and selective logging captured attention both in Brazil and internationally, Nacional para a Conservação dos Muriquis), leading to the proposal for it to be a flagship species the Brazilian government has taken impressive Action required: for the upcoming (2016) Olympic Games in Brazil. steps in demonstrating its commitment to the Habitat protection and development of informed conservation policies for Large-scale deforestation in the past and selective its endangered and critically endangered species. commitment of resources to logging has reduced the northern muriqui’s unique The success of these policies now depends upon support the implementation ecosystem to a fraction of its original extent, and the appropriate allocation of global resources for of the national action plan hunting pressures have taken their toll on local conservation initiatives. populations. Today, fewer than 1,000 northern muriquis are known to survive, distributed among about a dozen private and government owned forests in the states of Minas Gerais, Espírito Santos and Bahia. Habitat fragmentation has isolated these populations from one another and most of the remaining populations are now alarmingly small.

28 Priceless or Worthless © Andrew Young Priceless or Worthless 29 Bradypus pygmaeus Pygmy three-toed sloth

Text reviewed by the Anteater, Sloth and Armadillo Specialist Group Less than half the size of its mainland cousin – the Isla Escudo de Veraguas is already gazetted as a brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus) – the protected nature sanctuary. However, enforcement Population size: pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) lives of this status is currently nonexistent, leading < 500 individuals almost exclusively in the red mangrove forests to the exploitation of both the sloths and their which cover between 1.3km2 to 1.5km2 of the Isla habitat. Though there is currently some evidence Range: Escudo de Veraguas, off the Caribbean coast of of local indigenous governance, this needs better 2 2 Panama. This small sloth has blotchy, pale grey- coordination and enforcement, via engagement of Approximately 1.3km – 1.5km on brown fur with a slight greenish tinge. This green all the stakeholders. Isla Escudo de Veraguas, Panama hue is actually a cunning camouflage created by a coat of algae, helping the sloths to blend in with The pygmy three-toed sloth is a quintessential Threats: their habitat. charismatic species. The willingness of humanity Habitat loss due to illegal logging to save such species is well documented and if this Although the island is uninhabited, seasonal visitors little sloth could be elevated to flagship status in the of mangrove forests for firewood pose an increasing threat with reports of fishermen minds of Panamanians and the global community, and construction and hunting of and lobster divers opportunistically hunting the it could become a valuable ambassador for the sloths. There is also evidence of clearance of their conservation of the mangrove ecosystem on which the sloths mangrove habitat for use as firewood and in local it depends. construction, endangering the survival of this tiny Action required: creature. Anecdotal observations from researchers What needs to be done? Enforcement of protection of the visiting the island have estimated the population As the primary threat to this species is of human Isla Escudo de Veraguas nature of the pygmy three-toed sloths to be around 200 origin, transforming the current perception of individuals. The small size of the population and the the species is of paramount importance. Local sanctuary and raising awareness limited extent of their habitat increase the species awareness programmes could improve its profile of vulnerability to unexpected environmental events, and, when coupled with increased law enforcement and reduce their ability to withstand continued and to protect the nature sanctuary, could help to reduce increasing anthropogenic pressure. the myriad of pressures that these little sloths face. Furthermore, the use of the pygmy three-toed sloth as a flagship species for both its mangrove habitat and Panama could increase its value to the Panamanian people and their government.

30 Priceless or Worthless © Craig Turner/ZSL PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 31 Calumma tarzan Tarzan’s chameleon

Text reviewed by the Chameleon Specialist Group Named in the hope that it would be a clarion ‘Tarzan’ The preservation of tiny fragments of forest, while call for conservation, the arresting Tarzan’s chameleon seemingly less important for the conservation of Population size: (Calumma tarzan) was discovered in a small, and larger animals such as lemurs, play a critical role Unknown shrinking, patch of rain forest close to the village in plant, amphibian and reptile conservation on formerly known as Tarzanville (now Ambodimeloka) in Madagascar. In light of the current rapid rates of Range: eastern Madagascar. Madagascar has rich chameleon habitat degradation and destruction, the protection 2 diversity with numerous strikingly beautiful species of these refugia is of utmost importance. While the < 10km in Anosibe An’Ala region, occurring throughout its remaining forests. The bright situation may seem dire, prior experience shows eastern Madagascar green and yellow Tarzan’s chameleon is a spectacular us that the ‘Tarzan’ calls of species such as this species, with the yellow stripes that males display charismatic chameleon can inspire communities to Primary threats: when agitated being particularly eye-catching. overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to for agriculture preserve their heritage. Sadly, habitat destruction as a result of slash-and-burn Action required: agriculture is threatening the survival of this recently What needs to be done? discovered species. Currently only known from three Local community organisations require support, as Support for nascent community small rainforest fragments, covering an area less well as the promotion of economic activities that conservation initiatives and than 10km2, the species faces an uncertain future. don’t require forest clearance, to effectively manage the remaining fragments of forest. One such activity protection of habitat Thankfully there are some legal restrictions in place could be the development of a basic infrastructure and forest clearance, enforced by local community for ecotourism as a partial alternative to destructive associations, is prohibited in two of the small agricultural practices. Eco-tourism that rests on the fragments in which the species is found. However, survival of Tarzan’s chameleon, coupled with the during a recent visit to Ampotaka Forest, a provisional provision of better education and health services, protected area, researchers found evidence of forest could provide the impetus needed for locals to clearance for the creation of trails for logging. protect this valuable habitat. Community conservation efforts, including the establishment of new protected areas, are underway in two of the sites where this species occurs. These tiny patches of rainforest harbour a variety of endemic plants and animals, and their value to the local economy and environment is well understood locally. Communities that use these forests are strongly supportive of conservation efforts that focus on sustainable use.

32 Priceless or Worthless © Frank Glaw Priceless or Worthless 33 Coleura seychellensis Seychelles sheath-tailed bat

Text reviewed by the Bat Specialist Group A member of an ancient family, the tiny Seychelles What needs to be done? sheath-tailed bat (Coleura seychellensis) owes its Aggressive control of invasive vegetation and Population size: name to the membrane stretched between its hind predators, drawing from international experience Aggressive control of invasive < 100 mature individuals legs. The bat’s aerial acrobatics are facilitated by in the eradication of these threats, could assist the presence of this membrane - by shifting its hind this little bat’s recovery. These activities should vegetation and predators, drawing Range: legs the bat can adjust the length of the membrane, be coupled with the restoration of the bats’ enabling it to rapidly duck and dive whilst in flight. lowland forest home which should increase the Two small caves on Silhouette and Sadly, this winged aerialist is now flying ever closer bats’ invertebrate prey and augment the currently from international experience in the Mahé, Seychelles to the edge of existence and may soon be lost for limited habitat available to the species. Finally, legal good. protection of habitat and roosting sites, combined eradication of these threats, could Threats: with the initiatives mentioned above, could secure Habitat degradation and predation Already extinct on the islands of La Digue and the persistence of this species into the future. Praslin, this captivating species is now clinging to assist this little bats recovery. by invasive species life in several caves on the islands of Sihouette and Mahé. However, even these caves are no longer Action required: safe havens as the world’s most endangered Removal of invasive vegetation and bat is beset from all sides. The most significant declines of this species were probably driven by control of introduced predators, lowland forest clearance and the extensive use coupled with legal protection of of horticultural pesticides in the late 1800s and habitat and roosting sites early 1900s. Now however, the proliferation of invasive species, such as the Kudzu vine (Pueraria phaseoloides), seems to be the primary factor imperilling the species’ survival due to damage to forest habitat and the entrances to roosts. Human disturbance to the bat’s roosts in well lit boulder caves, coupled with predation by voracious feral cats, rats, and introduced barn owls may seal the fate of this aerial acrobat.

34 Priceless or Worthless © Justin Gerlach PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 35 Cyclura collei Jamaican iguana, Jamaican rock iguana

Text reviewed by the Iguana Specialist Group Believed to be extinct for much of the last century within the Portland Bight Protected Area, which following its disappearance from the Goat Islands, was declared in 1999, and should provide further Population size: two small islands off the Jamaican coast, the legal weight to stop current levels of abuse. Unknown Jamaican iguana (Cyclura collei) was re-discovered These legal instruments could also be used to on the mainland in 1970. Hanging on in a remote limit the expansion of development projects into Range: section of the harsh Hellshire Hills, this large lizard the area that would open up the forest to further 2 seems determined to fight on. When cornered the exploitation. < 10km core area in Hellshire Hills, species will strike out with its front claws, and there Jamaica are reports of it putting out the eye of hunter’s dogs What needs to be done? when attacked. The reintroduction of the Jamaican iguana to the Primary threats: offshore Goat Island cays, which also fall within Predation by introduced species Once common on the southern coast of Jamaica, the Portland Bight Protected Area, should proceed the introduction of invasive predators (particularly without delay. The establishment of a dry forest and habitat destruction the Indian mongoose in 1872) coupled with biodiversity reserve on these islands, and the changing land-use patterns and human population eradication of predators, would provide the iguanas Action required: growth, have driven the rapid decline of this with a safe haven and is critical in ensuring the Translocation to predator-free species. In the absence of reintroductions from species long-term survival. The head-starting a head-starting programme run from Hope Zoo in programme, which has released over 174 iguanas islands and control of deforestation Kingston, and extensive predator control managed back into the wild since 1996, could then be used by the University of the West Indies, the species to boost populations in these sanctuaries. The would probably have vanished entirely from its establishment of populations on these offshore refuge in the Hellshire Hills. As it is, they persist islands would provide a lifeline for the iguanas and only within a 10km2 core zone that is protected secure their future. from predators by a series of traps.

The iguana’s forest habitat is protected under the Forest Act of 1996, but a lack of enforcement has meant that the area continues to be exploited for wood used in charcoal production. If this destruction is not controlled within the near future, there is a real risk that forest users will enter the remaining iguana habitat and destroy it, wiping out the species within it. The Hellshire Hills is also

36 Priceless or Worthless © Jaclyn Woods/Fort Worth Zoo Priceless or Worthless 37 Dendrophylax fawcettii Cayman Islands ghost orchid

Text reviewed by the Orchid Specialist Group Known only from Grand Cayman Island, the ethereal Flower), and Hohenbergia caymanensis). The latter, ghost orchid (Dendrophylax fawcettii) grows on a giant bromeliad nick-named “Old George”, is Population size: the trunks of trees and bare rocky limestone karst known naturally only from this area. Unknown pinnacles. A leafless, spider-like network of roots for most of the year, delicate pale cream flowers bloom What needs to be done? Range: between April and June, decorating the moist forest The Cayman Islands currently lack the comprehensive adjoining the wetlands. Sadly, this beautiful orchid conservation legislation necessary to establish 6 acres in Ironwood Forest, George faces an uncertain future. The Ironwood Forest, national protected areas, and only five per cent is Town, Grand Cayman the last remaining fragment of old-growth forest in under the protection of the National Trust for the George Town, is bounded on all sides by the urban Cayman Islands. With appropriate legislation, protection Threats: development of the nation’s capital. The forest of the Ironwood Forest would be possible, either Habitat destruction due to extends to just 46 acres; of this, the ghost orchids by purchase or through establishing management are confined to an area of just some six acres. agreements with the private landowners. This would infrastructure development benefit the landowners by enabling them to maintain Development of the west side of Grand Cayman their land in its natural state, as they have done for Action required: has been voracious in recent years. In 2008, generations. All that is required to enable this is the Development of legislation that government plans to construct a bypass through political will. the forest, and through the portion occupied by the will facilitate the protection of orchids, provoked outcry from both the public and the Ironwood Forests the owners of the privately-held Ironwood Forest land. The forest won a stay of execution thanks to the campaign by the protestors and the bypass plans were shelved. However, this temporary reprieve will be insufficient to ensure the long- term survival of the enchanting ghost orchid as the Ironwood Forest continues to remain without any formal protection. The successful protection of the forest would also preserve (among numerous other native species) four additional Cayman Islands endemics of cultural as well as natural significance (Ironwood: Chionanthus caymanensis, Thatch palm: Coccothrinax proctorii, the Banana orchid: Myrmecophila thomsoniana (Cayman’s National

38 Priceless or Worthless © Christine Rose-Smyth, Stuart Mailer PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 39 Dioscorea strydomiana Wild yam

Text reviewed by the South African Plant Specialist Group Touted as a cure for cancer in South African As the primary threat to the wild yam is unsustainable traditional medicines, the recently discovered levels of collection, developing solutions that will Population size: wild yam (Dioscorea strydomiana) holds the alleviate this are essential. Concerned parties, 200 individuals unenviable title of the most threatened yam in the including the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks world. While claims of its healing properties are Authority, the South African National Biodiversity Range: currently unsubstantiated, related species are rich Institute and the Mpumalanga Plant Specialist in elements which formed the original basis of Group, are currently collaborating to address this. Oshoek area, Mpumalanga, steroidal drugs and the contraceptive pill. These groups will also need to develop conservation South Africa programmes in conjunction with the community that Unfortunately, the plants purported curative has primary custodianship over the wild yam if they Primary threats: attributes may be the cause of its destruction. are to have any chance of success. Collection for medicinal use Excessive levels of collection for medicinal use are currently the primary threat to this slow-growing Action required: species. In fact, the most recent survey of the wild What needs to be done? yam population found over 89 per cent of the plants Possible solutions could include substituting other Develop strategy for sustainable had harvesting scars. Collectors remove large parts similar species in medicinal products or developing use and establish ex-situ populations of the tuber, which protrudes from the ground, often systems for harvesting the seeds and selling plants leading to the death of the plant. If the species post-cultivation. The development of a successful continues to be exploited at the current rate, its cultivation project in particular could provide a persistence in the wild is highly unlikely. In addition, lifeline for the species, alleviating pressure on the burning, mining, cattle farming and firewood wild population. Ex-situ cultivation projects have collection are threatening the surrounding area, been started, but after eight years no plants have adding to the pressure on this valuable species. reached reproductive maturity. Although cultivation and the stockpiling of seed may provide an emergency parachute of sorts for the species, they alone can’t be relied on to save the wild yam. This makes immediate protection of the species in the wild of paramount importance.

40 Priceless or Worthless © John Burrows © Mervyn Lotter © John Burrows Priceless or Worthless 41 Eurynorhyncus pygmeus Spoon-billed sandpiper

Text contributed by Rebecca Lee and reviewed by the Threatened Waterfowl Specialist Group The spoon-billed sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus Many organisations across the conservation pygmeus) is a weird and wonderful bird, having community have united to attempt to save the Population size: a uniquely shaped bill that resembles a flattened spoon-billed sandpiper and preliminary results are < 100 breeding pairs spoon. It is also a species in deep trouble and is positive. In Myanmar, efforts to reduce trapping today considered to be one of the most endangered by providing local communities with livelihood Range: birds on the planet. With the global population alternatives have shown success, and two arduous estimated at less than 100 breeding pairs, and an expeditions to far north eastern Russia have Breeds in Russia, migrates along annual rate of decline of 26 per cent over the last resulted in a captive population of spoon-billed the East Asian-Australasian Flyway decade, the species could be extinct within the sandpipers, as well as birds being released on the next ten years. On leaving its breeding grounds in breeding grounds after being hatched and reared to wintering grounds in Bangladesh the coastal tundra in far north-eastern Russia, the in captivity, which has helped to alleviate the high and Myanmar. spoon-billed sandpiper undertakes an epic 8,000km mortality rate of chicks in the wild. migration along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway Primary threats: to winter in southern and Southeast Asia. What needs to be done? Trapping on wintering grounds A flagship species for the East Asian–Australasian The most acute cause of the species’ very rapid Flyway, the spoon-billed sandpiper’s fate, and that and land reclamation. recent decline is believed to be trapping and of the millions of other waterbirds that migrate hunting, primarily on the wintering grounds along the same flyway, hangs on the preservation Actions required: including the Bay of Martaban in Myanmar and of key staging sites. In addition to the long-term Maintenance of critical intertidal Sonadia Island off the Bangladesh coast. This small measures needed to protect these sites, activities staging posts and reducing wader has also undoubtedly been affected by the such as conservation breeding and a reduction in loss of intertidal habitats along its migratory route, winter trapping pressure are essential. trapping on wintering grounds. particularly in the Yellow Sea. This problem also affects many other birds and local communities who It will not be easy to save the spoon-billed depend on the region’s coastal natural resources. sandpiper – time is short, funds are limited and the The precipitous decline of waterbirds along this logistical problems are considerable. Success is by flyway has been described as the gravest bird no means guaranteed, but with a huge collaborative extinction crisis on Earth. effort on habitat protection, reduction of trapping and conservation breeding, there is still hope for this remarkable bird.

42 Priceless or Worthless © Baz Scampion/bazscampionnaturephotography.co.uk PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 43 Heteromirafa sidamoensis Liben lark

Text reviewed by the Bird Red List Authority Perfectly camouflaged amongst the sunburnt As well as threatening the Liben lark, the decline Ethiopian grassland, the cryptic Liben lark in pasture quality is impacting the livelihoods of Population size: (Heteromirafra sidamoensis) resides solely in the the local Borana pastoralists. Deteriorating pasture 90 - 256 individuals open, tall grass habitat of the Liben Plains. Sadly quality has transformed the homelands of the this enigmatic species looks as though it could Borana from some of the most productive in Africa Range: become mainland Africa’s first recorded bird to a landscape overrun with famine and ethnic 2 extinction. Between 2007 and 2009 the number hostilities. Regeneration of these once productive < 36km in the Liben Plains, of Liben larks dropped by 40 per cent with the areas is urgently required. southern Ethiopia population now numbering between 90 and 256 individuals. Unless current trends of habitat loss are What needs to be done? Threats: reversed, there seems little hope for the species As the Liben lark avoids woody vegetation, very short Habitat loss and degradation due survival. grass, and bare ground, regeneration of the open, tall grass habitat on which it depends will be pivotal to agricultural expansion, over- While as insidious and disastrous for the to any recovery programme. The establishment grazing and fire suppression biodiversity they contain, the degradation of of cattle exclosures could facilitate this. In rangelands globally attracts far less attention addition, implementing sustainable management Action required: than the destruction of tropical forests. It is this practices, including clearing scrub and abolishing destruction of rangelands that is pushing the Liben fire suppression policies, is necessary to ensure Restoration of grasslands, including lark to the edge. The loss of habitat in this area has the species long-term survival. By reinvigorating establishing sustainable land been driven by crop planting, overgrazing and scrub traditional land and water management strategies management practices, clearing encroachment, a result of both excessive grazing and increasing the appeal and sustainability of and fire suppression. Modelling suggests that apart pastoralism, both the livelihoods of the local people scrub and reinstating fire regime from a small, politically insecure area near Somalia, and their biodiversity may yet be saved. there is no other suitable habitat for the species anywhere in the Horn of Africa. This makes the protection of remaining patches in the Liben Plains critically important.

44 Priceless or Worthless © Paul Donald Priceless or Worthless 45 Johora singaporensis Singapore freshwater crab

Text reviewed by the Freshwater Crab and Crayfish Specialist Group Hiding under rocks and dank leaf litter in just two or The survival of this freshwater species now hinges three streams in central Singapore can be found the on this stream in the reserve and a small drainage Population size: Singapore freshwater crab, Johora singaporensis. canal near Bukit Batok within five kilometres of Unknown One of only three endemic freshwater crabs in this this stronghold. Worryingly, the latter site remains highly developed island city state, for over half a unprotected, and lowering of the water-table that Range: century it had been assumed to be a population of sustains the stream, pesticide use, and urban the Malaysian species Johora johorensis. However, development could all result in the loss of this species Bukit Timah Nature Reserve morphological and genetic studies have since from it altogether. However, the National Parks Board and streamlet near Bukit Batok, confirmed it to be a distinct species, and it was of Singapore is working with other government formally named in 1986 – underlining the need agencies in an urgent bid to prevent impacts to this Singapore to conduct careful analysis of when unprotected site and help to prevent the impending developing conservation strategies. This tiny (up to extinction of one of the country’s iconic species. Primary threats: 30 mm in size), mainly nocturnal creature feeds on Habitat degradation – reduction in detritus and worms found in the stream bed. What needs to be done? water quality and quantity Protection of the crabs’ habitat and the surrounding Until recently the Singapore freshwater crab was stream systems offers the only chance to ensure the Actions required: assumed to be relatively well protected with one of long-term survival of this species in the wild. In its two populations occurring in a stream drainage addition to in-situ conservation by protecting the Protection of remaining habitat within the country’s oldest and best protected national species’ habitat, the establishment of an ex-situ and establishment of ex-situ park, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. However, studies population is being explored; as this could provide in 2008 surprisingly found that it had completely some insurance in the short term against the sudden populations disappeared from this particular stream within the disappearance of the Singapore freshwater crab. reserve. Acid rain was suspected to be one of the Without the rapid implementation of these measures, culprits as the water in this stream had become the loss of this species seems almost inevitable. too acidic for the crabs to persist. Most recently, however, follow-up surveys revealed the presence of a hitherto unknown population in another part of the reserve but in a different drainage, which fortunately does not appear to be experiencing similar problems of stream acidification.

46 Priceless or Worthless © Choy Heng Wah PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 47 Lophura edwardsi Edwards’s pheasant

Text reviewed by the Galliforme Specialist Group and the World Pheasant Association Since proper records began 400 years ago, no What needs to be done? pheasant species has been lost from the wild in Complete cessation of hunting is necessary in Population size: Asia. It now looks as though Edwards’s pheasant any protected areas found to hold Edwards’s Unknown (Lophura edwardsi) from central Viet Nam may pheasant, as will increased control of hunting in the succumb to this fate, leaving its shimmering blue surrounding habitat. In addition, habitat restoration Range: and black plumage and bright red wattles to adorn and management will need to be incorporated into a only display cases and zoo exhibits. comprehensive conservation plan that includes the Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua full establishment of protected areas in the known Thien-Hue, Viet Nam Rediscovered in 1996 after a 70year gap in records, range. Phong Dien and Dakrong have already been there have been no confirmed sightings of this species classified as nature reserves, but their status needs Threats: in the wild since 2000 despite intensive surveys in to be confirmed without delay. Hunting and habitat loss previously known areas. Deforestation has left the species’ historical range almost completely devoid Fortunately, there are a large number of individuals Action required: of the original tree cover. The spraying of herbicide held in captivity around the globe, although the genetic during the Viet Nam war, and logging and clearance purity of this population is uncertain and requires Effective law enforcement, habitat for agriculture have driven this loss which has left investigation. If this captive population is deemed restoration and development of a only fragments standing. In addition, indiscriminate suitable for a breeding programme, then this could captive breeding programme hunting practices have pushed Edwards’s pheasant be considered as part of a long-term management to what may be a point of no return. strategy to save the species. Habitat restoration and management, coupled with conservation breeding Previous experience with highly threatened bird and reintroduction within the historical range of the species gives us reason to hope that this seemingly Edwards’s pheasant, could provide a much-needed desperate situation could be reversed. Intensive reprieve for this enigmatic bird. surveys may yet uncover small remnant populations, and attempts to find these survivors should be continued. Critically though, the key to the survival of this striking species in the wild lies in effective law enforcement, coupled with awareness raising within local communities. Although current hunting practices do not specifically target Edwards’s pheasants, the random nature of the activity still results in bird deaths.

48 Priceless or Worthless © Tom Friedel / BirdPhotos.com Priceless or Worthless 49 Nepenthes attenboroughii Attenborough’s pitcher plant

Text reviewed by members of the Carnivorous Plant Specialist Group Named after one of the world’s most famous Had Attenborough’s pitcher plant been discovered broadcasters and naturalists, Sir David Attenborough, any later, attempts to protect the plant and its Population size: Attenborough’s pitcher plant (Nepenthes species-rich habitat may have been too late. Unknown attenboroughii) is one of the world’s largest, with traps Fortunately, governments, scientists and the local reaching up to 30cm in height. This spectacular, inhabitants have been given an early opportunity Range: colourful species was discovered by science in to safeguard this remarkable pitcher plant and 2007 and three colonies have since been found on Palawan’s unique biological heritage for the benefit 2 < 1km on either side of the the uppermost slopes of the Mount Victoria Massif. of future generations. summit of Mount Victoria, The location of Attenborough’s pitcher plant is What needs to be done? Palawan, Philippines currently relatively inaccessible, meaning that habitat Attenborough’s pitcher plant currently has little degradation and destruction do not yet pose a major monetary value, apart from that gained through “This project is clearly a most Primary threats: threat. Instead, the primary risk is that of over-collection its collection and sale - a practice that is ultimately valuable initiative, focussing Poaching by locals and visitors. The monetary and curiosity futile since harvested plants are unlikely to survive. attention as it does on species that value of this species is high, particularly in Asian An education programme focusing on developing are particularly endangered. I was Actions required: markets and if unregulated, could drive this fascinating responsible eco-tourism, coupled with better greatly flattered when a pitcher plant Creation of a protected area and iconic plant towards extinction. Elsewhere in enforcement of existing laws prohibiting wild the Philippines, the locals have noted the interest collection of the species, could ensure the plant’s with perhaps the biggest pitchers and enforcement of current of foreigners in rare plants and may occasionally continued existence. Designation of the species’ yet discovered was given my name, legal protection respond by collecting plants from the wild and selling habitat as a protected area under Philippine law but aware too that such a potential them at roadside stalls. As the profile of this species would also assist in ensuring its long-term survival, record-breaker could attract the continues to rise, this practice may escalate in as would escalating cultivation efforts with the aim Palawan, especially in the absence of an enforced of reducing demand for wild-collected plants while attention of unscrupulous collectors. protected status. Another potential threat to potentially facilitating future reintroductions. So it is good to know that the Attenborough’s pitcher plant relates to mining Zoological Society of London and expansion. Though operations are currently suspended IUCN SSC have decided to include at the nickel mine at the base of Mount Victoria, the it among the species to be given soils in the area are rich in heavy metals and have been prospected for future mining operations. special attention” Such expansion would result in habitat destruction and open up the area, facilitating poaching. Sir David Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA

50 Priceless or Worthless © Stewart McPherson PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 51 Neurergus kaiseri Luristan newt

Text reviewed by the Amphibian Specialist Group Restricted to only three fast-flowing streams in the The Luristan newt is protected by Iranian national southern Zagros mountains of Lorestan in Iran, the legislation and was listed on CITES Appendix I in 2010. Population size: stunning Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri) was This listing renders all trade in the species illegal, < 1,000 mature individuals described relatively recently in 1952. Spending the unless in exceptional circumstances which require a winter hibernating in arid shrub land under stones, the licence. However, enforcement of this legislation is Range: species then returns to spring-fed streams to breed. currently insufficient and needs to be strengthened 2 The males of the species perform an intricate courtship to respond to increasing international demand. < 10km area of occupancy in dance prior to mating, but after expending all that Zagros Mountains, Lorestan, Iran effort the pair don’t even touch. Instead the male What needs to be done? deposits a sperm packet for the female to retrieve. Monitoring movement of the species both locally and Primary threats: internationally should be an important component Illegal collection for pet trade Cloaked in black, white and flashes of bright orange, of any management plan, in order to map the illegal this handsome amphibian has experienced a trade flows. In addition, the expansion of the Zagros Action required: dramatic decline in its population over the last ten Oak Forest to include the range of the Luristan years with numbers now estimated to be less than newt would provide a strong legal framework for Enforcement of protection 1,000 mature individuals. A significant threat to the tackling current levels of habitat destruction. Finally, survival of the Luristan newt is the growing demand a habitat restoration project should be initiated to from the international pet trade. Prized for their connect the remaining fragments and to ensure distinctive colouring, a warning of their toxic skin that genetic isolation of the remaining populations secretions, some individuals have been spotted for does not further threaten the chances of survival for sale in markets in Tehran. Wood collection, together this colourful amphibian. with the effects of severe droughts in the region, is severely limiting the suitable habitat available for the species. Finally, damming of the streams in which the species lives, and the spread of non-native cyprinid species that predate on larvae and eggs, may be the final nail in the coffin for the species.

52 Priceless or Worthless © R D Bartlett Priceless or Worthless 53 Phocoena sinus Vaquita

Text contributed by the Cetacean Specialist Group During the last decades of the twentieth century, Creation of the Upper Gulf of California and the population of baijis, China’s endemic Yangtze Colorado River Delta Biosphere Reserve in 1993 Population size: River dolphins, declined from several hundred to and the Vaquita Refuge in 2005 gave cause for < 200 individuals and declining nothing. Sadly, the global attention and political optimism that protection for this species was on its will needed to save this charismatic species was way, but these initiatives proved far from adequate. Range: too little and arrived too late. The world’s smallest Initial implementation of the 2008 ‘Action Plan to porpoise, a beautiful desert species known as Protect the Vaquita’ was designed to reduce fishing core area of approximately vaquita (Phocoena sinus), is now facing a similar pressure through a voluntary buy-out programme 2,500km2 in Northern Gulf fate. and there was a strong effort to enforce the refuge boundaries. Today, however, fishing effort, although of California, Mexico The only immediate threat to the vaquita’s existence reduced, is still higher than in the early 1990s is accidental drowning in gillnets deployed by and while fishing is banned in the Refuge, both Primary threats: artisanal fishermen. This makes saving the species gillnetting and trawling continue to occur there. Incidental capture in gillnets as simple as removing these nets from its small range. However, doing that presents an economic © T.A. Jefferson © P. Olson Actions required: and socially complex problem as fishing is one of What needs to be done? Ban on use of gillnets throughout the primary sources of income in the region. The Gillnets will need to be removed from the vaquita’s government of Mexico has taken important steps entire range immediately. Alternative ‘vaquita-safe’ the species’ range to reduce fishing effort in the upper Gulf, and has shrimp gear has been developed, but The government of Mexico has taken important banned gillnets and other fishing gear from central its adoption by local fishermen awaits governmental parts of the vaquita’s range. However, models indicate approval, training in its use, and initiatives to support steps to reduce fishing effort in the upper Gulf, that the current levels of protection have only slowed, gear replacement. Alternative gear for catching finfish not stopped, this species decline. Winning the still needs to be developed. Only with the wide- and has banned gillnets and other fishing gear race to alter human behavior in time to save this scale adoption of ‘vaquita-safe’ fishing methods desert porpoise will require a complex mixture of will it be possible to ensure the species’ survival. governmental will, genuine economic alternatives International support of gear-switching efforts and from central parts of the vaquita’s range. for local people (including access to alternative a mandatory timetable for gillnet phase-out will be fishing gear), and the funds for implementing and critically important. enforcing some difficult changes to the status quo.

© T.A. Jefferson

54 Priceless or Worthless PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 55 Prolemur simus Greater bamboo lemur

Text reviewed by the Primate Specialist Group Possessing powerful jaws that can crack through Encouragingly, positive collaboration between the tough bamboo that makes up the majority national and international non-governmental Population size: of its diet, the greater bamboo lemur (Prolemur organisations and local communities provides hope 100-160 individuals simus) has returned from supposed extinction that this species will continue to chew through once before. Discovered in 1870, the species stocks of bamboo well into the future. Range: was believed extinct for almost fifty years before being rediscovered in 1972. Since that date there What needs to be done? Southeastern and southcentral has been a near constant struggle to protect the Protection of suitable habitat in the Ivato and rainforests of Madagascar species’ last remaining strongholds. Karlanaga regions should be implemented immediately. In addition, to reduce the impact of Primary threats: The greater bamboo lemur was once widespread continuing destruction outside reserve areas, the Habitat destruction due to throughout Madagascar but now survives in only development of a reforestation programme to create about 1 - 4 per cent of its historical range. In fact, it corridors between the forest fragments needs urgent slash-and-burn agriculture, may have the smallest population size of any lemur consideration. This would also facilitate movement, mining and illegal logging in Madagascar, and hence the world. The major and therefore the transfer of genes, between threat to this species is habitat destruction as a populations. If the survival of the greater bamboo Action required: result of slash-and-burn agriculture, mining and illegal lemur is to be ensured, as well as that of many logging. other Malagasy species, community education and Habitat protection and the development of more sustainable agricultural reforestation in the Ivato and The establishment of the Ranomafana National Park practices, which drives large amounts of habitat Karlanaga regions in 1991 and the Andringitra National Park in 1999 destruction, will be of paramount importance. provided legal protection for large chunks of the greater bamboo lemur’s habitat, throwing a lifeline to populations in this area. However, there may also be additional groups that are clinging to existence in the Ivato and Karlanaga regions, where their home range is completely unprotected and severely threatened by slash-and-burn agriculture. Without immediate protection the habitat and populations in these areas may be lost, significantly undermining the genetic viability of the species.

56 Priceless or Worthless © Noel Rowe Priceless or Worthless 57 Pseudoryx nghetinhensis Saola

Text contributed by Barney Long and reviewed by the Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group The saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) is such To have any hope of stemming the unsustainable a distinctive species that no general English loss of species throughout Asia national and To have any hope of Population size: descriptor, such as cat or dog, can be applied to it. international groups must collaborate to stem the Unknown It is simply a saola – a relative of cows and goats- illegal wildlife trade. Preventing the sale of illegally stemming the loss of and its name represents the only Lao word in the caught wildlife in restaurants across the area would Range: English language. Despite its recent and remarkable help to save species, but demand in other sectors discovery in 1992, this modern day unicorn remains will also need to be addressed. Finally, reducing species throughout Asia Annamite mountains, on the Viet under immediate threat of extinction. Residing in the rate of forest loss in the saola’s habitat and Nam - PDR Laos border the dense rainforests that cloak the steep Annamite improving protected area management will be national and international Mountains along the Viet Nam-Laos PDR border the critical. The situation seems dismal, but if local, Threats: saola has yet to be seen in the wild by a scientist. national and international support can be mustered groups must work Hunting and habitat destruction there is still hope that the saola can be saved. Intensive hunting in the species habitat is the together to stem the Action required: greatest threat to the saola’s survival, with What needs to be done? ubiquitous and uncontrolled snaring to supply the A reduction in snaring effort in the areas where Increase enforcement efforts illegal trade in wildlife products being the principle saola are thought to still survive will be an essential illegal wildlife trade. and habitat protection driver. Although hunters are not targeting saola, conservation measure for this species and could their incidental capture results in a similar outcome. be achieved with an increase in both the number © Toon Fey/ WWF The failure to address this, due to a lack of control of rangers and their operational budgets. A pilot of hunting in both Viet Nam and Laos PDR, is programme in Thua-Thien Hien Saola Reserve in Viet driving the declines in populations of numerous Nam was extremely successful with 12,000 snares threatened species. The lack of enforcement of removed in the first year it was implemented. national laws that govern the sale and trafficking of Financial and operational support from the wildlife products only adds to the difficult situation. international community is urgently needed to Finally, habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by expand this programme to other areas in which the agricultural expansion, infrastructure development saola may still roam. and extractive industries is increasing the extreme pressures currently facing saola populations. Though researchers are unable to provide any confident estimates of numbers, they are aware that the species has only been found in less than 15 patches of forest. © W Robichaud/ Ban Vangban village/ WCS/ IUCN © W Robichaud

58 Priceless or Worthless PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 59 Rafetus swinhoei Red River giant softshell turtle

Text reviewed by the Freshwater Turtle and Tortoise Specialist Group The enormous Red River giant softshell turtle be on sale there. However, as officials focus their (Rafetus swinhoei) can reach up to 120kg in weight, hunt on gigantic specimens (large adults), younger Population size: with a shell over 100cm long. The species plays a individuals may be slipping through under the 4 individuals significant role in the cultural history of the area. assumption that they are a more common species. In fact, the turtle in Hoan Kiem Lake is fabled to Range: be the legendary Kim Qui, or Golden Turtle God, What needs to be done? and has appeared at notable points in Vietnamese The creation of a clear identification kit for officials Hoan Kiem Lake and Dong Mo Lake, history. Unfortunately this cultural icon may soon that distinguishes between all size classes of softshell Viet Nam, and Suzhou Zoo, China be lost forever as hunting and habitat destruction turtle species in the area would be invaluable. If these have devastated populations. Previously found were then distributed throughout the area other Primary threats: throughout the Red River of Yunnan, China and individuals could possibly be rescued and included in Hunting for consumption Vietnam, the known global population now consists captive breeding programmes. In addition, options to of four individuals. include the turtle in Dong Mo Lake in the breeding and habitat destruction and programme should continue to be explored. degradation as a result of wetland An intensive conservation breeding programme at Suzhou Zoo with an old male and the last known Finally, comprehensive surveys and awareness destruction and pollution female has been running since 2008. Unfortunately, campaigns across the region need to be continued. despite multiple attempts, none of the clutches of The value of these was demonstrated in 2010, when Actions required: eggs laid by the female have produced hatchlings, Dong Mo Lake broke its dam and a turtle was caught Education and awareness and in 2011 were all found to be infertile. Attempts downriver. In the absence of an awareness campaign programmes, and captive breeding continue and efforts may be made to pair the this individual would have found his way onto a dinner female with a younger Vietnamese male discovered table, rather than being rescued and released back in 2007 in Dong Mo Lake. into its wetland home.

As well as continuing conservation breeding efforts, scientists have made several missions to Yunnan in recent years to assess reports of possible sightings of the species by the forestry bureaus and others in the area. Although awareness levels of the species and its significance was encouragingly high, there were no confirmed recent sightings. The forestry bureaus in the area were continuing to monitor markets in order to rescue any individuals that might

60 Priceless or Worthless © Tim McCormack, Asian Turtle Program Priceless or Worthless 61 Rhinoceros sondaicus Javan rhino

Text reviewed by the Asian Rhino Specialist Group Formerly found throughout south-east Asia, as far What needs to be done? afield as Bangladesh and southern China through As the primary threat to the survival of the Javan Population size: to peninsular Malaysia and the islands of Sumatra rhino is hunting, then the success of rescue efforts < 100 individuals and Java in Indonesia, the Javan rhino (Rhinoceros will hinge on understanding the motivations for sondaicus) is now the rarest of all the living rhinoceros these activities and effectively addressing them. Range: species. Like many rhinos, their horns are prized Ramping up patrolling efforts and the enforcement in traditional medicine and can fetch up to $30,000 of protection laws in the area will also be of critical Ujung Kulon National Park, (US) on the black market. importance to save this species. Due to the small Java, Indonesia population size, disease is also a significant threat This charismatic species is battling to survive, and needs to be continually monitored. In addition, Threats: with only a small population of between 40 - 60 habitat management, to enhance its suitability for Hunting for traditional medicine individuals remaining in Ujung Kulon National Park the Javan rhino, should continue. in Java. Until recently a population hung on in the and small population size Cat Tien National Park in Viet Nam. However the With the loss of the final population in Viet Nam, last individual was poached from the protected there is an urgent need to review the feasibility Action required: area in early 2010, the value of its horn in traditional of a conservation breeding programme and the Enforcement of protection laws medicine is overshadowing any intrinsic value that potential for reintroductions and translocations. and possible establishment of the species has. Any translocation or reintroduction would carry substantial risk, but as the sole remaining population a captive breeding programme A principal form of legal protection for the species of this rhino exists in a geographically limited is its listing on CITES Appendix I, and since 1975 area of Java, not implementing these ambitious this has made the trade of individuals or any conservation measures may no longer be an option. component parts illegal. However, the often under-resourced nation states that hold CITES Appendix I species require increased levels of international support to enforce this legislation and protect what is of global value.

Rhinos are one of the world’s most recognisable species, filling children’s story books and providing inspiration for generations. Losing one of their species due to the human desire to consume ever more resources would be inexcusable.

62 Priceless or Worthless © Klaus Lang PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 63 Risiocnemis seidenschwarzi Cebu frill-wing

Text contributed by Reagan Joseph Villanueva and reviewed by the Dragonfly Specialist Group Discovered in 1999, the Cebu frill-wing (Risiocnemis The fate of this distinctive, blue-eyed damselfly seidenschwarzi) is a beautiful black damselfly with (and Protosticta plicata, another endangered Population size: unusual blue eyes and is found only on the island damselfly) depends largely on encouraging various Unknown of Cebu, in the Philippines. Two years after its stakeholders to protect the habitat around the discovery a local farmer moved onto the only site Kawasan Falls. There is a high risk of this site Range: from which the species was known, destroying being destroyed, with the lower section having 2 the original vegetation. With its forested habitat already been developed with concrete paving and < 1km in a rivulet beside the lost, the population of Cebu frill-wings began to ornamental plantings. Clearance of vegetation Kawasan River, Cebu, Philippines decline rapidly. After the farmer was found washing above the waterfalls has also been noted. As the his pesticide sprayer in the frill-wing’s only known area is not currently protected, there are no legal Primary threats: habitat, thus poisoning the water, the species restrictions to prevent landowners modifying the Habitat degradation and seemed to be lost forever. Extensive efforts to area further. locate the species and to raise awareness of its destruction plight came to no avail. What needs to be done? The presence of the two threatened odonata Actions required: Fortunately, in 2009, a small population was species, four other island-endemics and a number Designation of area as ‘Critical discovered at a spring located by Kawasan Falls, of other Philippine endemics, should accord the near the source of the Kawasan River. This Kawasan Falls ‘Critical Habitat’ status. This would Habitat’ – restricting human access population is confined to a narrow area measuring restrict human access to the area and remove the to the area less than 30m2 and may itself have only narrowly threat of habitat modification. It would also reduce escaped destruction. According to locals, the site the risk of the site being poisoned, which wiped was nearly destroyed in 1990 by the construction out the previous population. Careful management of a house. In a strange twist of fate, the delicate of the designation process will be of paramount frill-wings were saved only by the deportation of importance, to avoid negative reactions from the the owner, leaving nature to reclaim the abandoned current landowners which could have disastrous property and return it to its former state. consequences for the Cebu frill-wing.

64 Priceless or Worthless © Reagan Joseph T Villanueva Priceless or Worthless 65 Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis Red-finned Blue-eye

Text contributed by Adam Kerezsy, Freshwater Fish Specialist Group The red-finned blue-eye Scaturiginichthys( total numbers were estimated at between 2,000 vermeilipinnis) is a tiny fish which has an extremely and 4,000 individuals. In contrast, the gambusia Population size: restricted range in an isolated group of artesian springs population had exploded and they were present 2,000 - 4,000 individuals on Edgbaston, a former sheep and cattle station in their millions in thirty springs. It is thought that in central western Queensland, Australia. First gambusia invaded the springs following extensive Range: discovered in 1990, the existence of a beautifully- flooding of the region, and there is a high risk that coloured member of the blue-eye family in such the species could colonise the final strongholds Edgbaston Station, central an unlikely environment was exciting to everyone. of the red-finned blue-eye. The situation is a little western Queensland, Australia better in 2012, but is still precarious. Rotenone – a However, from the onset of its discovery there was substance used to kill fishes - has been trialled at Threats: recognition of an impending disaster: the presence Edgbaston. It successfully eliminates gambusia and, Predation by introduced species of the fishGambusia holbrooki. Introduced as a when applied correctly, doesn’t damage populations biological control for mosquitoes, feral populations of non-target taxa. Red-finned blue-eyes have also Action required: of gambusia are associated with catastrophic been successfully relocated to three springs which declines in indigenous fish populations, and this were free of gambusia, opening up the possibility Control of the invasive species is certainly the case in the spring complex at for future successful reintroductions. Work is Gambusia holbrooki, and Edgbaston where the species predate on red-finned currently underway to trial methods of preventing blue-eyes. future gambusia colonisation, barricading springs reintroduction of S.vermeilipinnis using a range of materials. During the 1990s, staff from the state fisheries agency in Queensland worked to get red-finned What needs to be done? blue-eye listed as an endangered species. These The red-finned blue-eye has survived in an extremely efforts were successful and it is now listed as harsh aquatic environment, but unfortunately this endangered under Australian and Queensland little fish’s impressive adaptability is nothing in the legislation. Unfortunately, conservation breeding face of a gambusia invasion. Although much progress efforts failed so the best hope for this fish now has been made in protecting the red-finned blue- rests on conservation efforts in its arid homeland. eye, there is still a long way to go. Rescue currently hinges on red-finned blue eye reintroductions and In 2008, Edgbaston was purchased by Bush prevention of further gambusia colonisations. While Heritage Australia and a project commenced to this is possible, the species requires dedicated attempt to control gambusia and save the red- funding and support to ensure its long-term recovery. finned blue-eye. An audit of all springs in March Without this, the extinction of this unique species 2009 revealed only four springs with the fish, and remains likely.

66 Priceless or Worthless © Adam Kerezsy PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 67 Sygnathus watermeyeri Estuarine pipefish

Text reviewed by the Seahorse, Pipefish and Stickleback Red List Authority A relative of the seahorse and sea dragon, the Fortunately, a population of estuarine pipefish returned The species was previously found estuarine pipefish Syngnathus( watermeyeri), like all to the Kariega Estuary after an absence of four Population size: species in its family, has flipped reproductive roles decades. This re-emergence was probably linked to in six estuaries in the Eastern Unknown with the male being the one that gets pregnant. a period of heavy rain in the area, which resulted in Females deposit eggs into the male’s brood pouch the Kariega River flowing once again and giving rise Range: after mating, where the male then carries them to to optimal levels of salinity and nutrients in the estuary. Cape Province, but is believed to term – between 12 and 14 days. Unfortunately this Ensuring that this quirky little species improves Kariega Estuary to East diverting species and its quirks may soon be lost its currently shaky grip on life will require careful have disappeared from five. Its Kleinemonde Estuary, Eastern due to continued declines of habitat quality and management of the water flows into the estuary. food resources in its estuarine home. situation was so dire that it was Cape Province, South Africa Threats: The estuarine pipefish relies on pulses of river What needs to be done? water that both nourish its food supply and The establishment of a freshwater ‘reserve’, which feared extinct in 1994. Construction of dams altering maintain habitable saline levels. The construction could help to ensure regular pulses of freshwater river flows and flood events of dams and other barriers along waterways, into the system, coupled with habitat conservation and the direct abstraction of water from rivers, and pollution control are the main measures into estuaries in the Eastern Cape Province have reduced the needed to protect this species. Management of Action required: frequency and intensity of these flows – resulting these freshwater flows, that supply both food and in a decline in food availability for the larval stages living space for the species, should be achieved Establishment of a freshwater of development. The species was previously found without too much difficulty since allocations for ‘reserve’, pollution control and in six estuaries in this area, but is believed to have water use have been agreed for other estuaries in disappeared from five. Its situation was so dire the area. Now all that is required is for them to be implementation of water use that it was feared extinct in 1994, before a new implemented, and then effectively managed, on the allocations population was discovered in East Kleinemonde Kariega and Bushman’s rivers. Appropriate land-use Estuary. Sadly this population was wiped out management and ecological water allocations could by a flood in 1998, which resulted in the loss of avoid potentially catastrophic outcomes for this submerged aquatic grass beds on which this species in the future. species depends.

68 Priceless or Worthless © Paul Cowley Priceless or Worthless 69 Tahina spectabilis Suicide Palm, Dimaka

Text reviewed by the Palm Specialist Group Large enough to be seen in satellite imagery, the well distributed collection. The financial proceeds suicide palm (Tahina spectabilis) can grow a trunk from this enterprise were returned to the local Population size: up to 18m tall which is topped by a crown of leaves population, who used the revenue to build fire 90 individuals over five metres in diameter. This enormous palm breaks around the site and construct fences to remained undetected until 2007, when it was first keep cattle out. An additional benefit included Range: discovered at the foot of a tiny limestone outcrop refurbishment of the local school, demonstrating in Madagascar’s seasonal west. Once mature, the the advantages of conserving the site and the Analalava district, north-western suicide palm extends a 4 - 5m high inflorescence species to the surrounding community. Madagascar which is covered in a multitude of small yellow flowers. This impressive reproductive effort is so What needs to be done? Threats: taxing that, true to its common name, the palm dies Although ex-situ conservation efforts have provided Habitat loss due to fires, logging a few months after flowering and fruiting. Described the suicide palm with a level of security, an ongoing in 2008, the palm’s generic name, Tahina, is based sustainable management plan now needs to be and agricultural developments on the Malagasy for ‘blessed’. developed. This could include the establishment of a protected area, enrichment planting and ongoing Action required: Habitat loss, as with so many of Madagascar’s monitoring, as well as the maintenance of current Establishment of a protected endemic species, is the most serious threat to conservation measures. These efforts will be this species. Its small population size and its instrumental in sustaining the species for the long area and development of a restricted range, makes the suicide palm particularly term in the wild. Encouragingly, progress so far management plan vulnerable. Even small-scale modifications to the indicates that an increase in resources and effort surrounding area may have a devastating impact really could help this species defy its ‘suicide’ moniker while unforeseen events, such as a cyclone or and pull itself back from the brink of extinction. wildfire, could result in the species’ swift extinction in the wild. Establishing new populations of the species is, therefore, of critical importance.

Seed has been harvested from wild specimens through collaboration between the Madagascar National Seed Bank (Silo Nationale des Graines Forestières), the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and a commercial seed distributor. These seeds were then distributed to botanic gardens and private palm enthusiasts around the world to ensure a

70 Priceless or Worthless © William Baker PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 71 Telmatobufo bullocki Bullock’s false toad

Text reviewed by the Amphibian Specialist Group The mottled greyish-brown Bullock’s false toad The hydro-electricity project, and the continuing (Telmatobufo bullocki) was discovered in 1952 habitat destruction from agricultural expansion, Population size: but, being extremely rare, there have only been also threatens the 17 other amphibians (including Unknown three recorded sightings since 1992. Found hiding five endemic species) that inhabit the Nahuelbuta under logs in temperate southern beech forests of forests. This devastating loss must be prevented, Range: Nahuelbuta, this tiny is considered one of the and the treacherous position these species are 2 most evolutionarily distinct amphibians in the world. currently in necessitates quick and decisive action. < 500km , Nahuelbuta, Arauco Its family, the Calyptocephalellidae, split off from Province, Chile other amphibians around 130 million years ago. This means that the toad’s relatives were developing What needs to be done? Primary threats: separately from other amphibians when dinosaurs If the hydro-electricity development goes ahead, Habitat destruction as a result of were still roaming the planet. the known wild populations of this species will almost certainly be wiped out. Therefore, the construction of a hydro-electricity Sadly, this curious creature is now facing a fight for Chilean national government must decide whether scheme its life due to ever-increasing demands for energy. increasing energy supplies is worth the cost of a Its sole known breeding population, discovered in species extinction. Actions required: 2011 in the Nahuelbuta forests in Chile, is threatened by plans to establish a hydro-electric project. Adult Expansion of the existing Parque Nacional Halting development of the Bullock’s false toads spend the majority of their Nahuelbuta, and enforcement of the protection it hydro-electricity scheme and time on land, as evidenced by analysis of their provides, would help alleviate the pressure on the protecting habitat stomach contents, whilst the tadpoles seem to Bullock’s false toad from pine and wood collection. be adapted to swimming in fast-flowing streams. Planting buffer strips along the toad’s breeding Alteration of these habitats could be disastrous for streams would also improve habitat quality by this species. The construction of this hydro-electric reducing the levels of siltation – a by-product of tree scheme would irrevocably alter this amphibian’s removal. Finally, the establishment of an ex-situ home and probably wipe out the only known population, to act as an insurance policy of sorts for breeding population, pushing this little toad closer the species, should be explored without delay. to extinction. An additional threat to this species is the expansion of pine and eucalyptus plantations; the resulting deforestation and habitat modification destroying the habitat of the Bullock’s false toad.

72 Priceless or Worthless © Andres Charrier Priceless or Worthless 73 © Gregory A. Payton, The Dawes Arboretum © Andre Freitas © Vimoksalehi Lukoschek © Viola Clausnitzer © Rebecca Pradhan / Tshewang Norbu © Rahul Sachdev ©Peter Cranswick © Washington Academy of Sciences Abies beshanzuensis Actinote zikani Aipysurus foliosquama Amanipodagrion gilliesi Ardea insignis Ardeotis nigriceps Aythya innotata Azurina eupalma Baishan fir Leaf scaled sea-snake Amani flatwing White bellied heron Great indian bustard Madagascar pochard Galapagos damsel fish

Population size: 5 mature individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: < 500 individuals Population size: 70 - 400 individuals Population size: 50 - 249 mature individuals Population size: approx 20 mature individuals Population size: Unknown Range: Baishanzu Mountain, Zhejiang, China Range: Near Sao Paulo, Atlantic forest, Brazil Range: Ashmore Reef and Hibernia Reef, Range: <10km2 area of occupancy, Amani- Range: 56,300km2 in Bhutan, North East Range: 570,000km2 in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Range: 1km2 volcanic lakes north of Range: Unknown Primary threats: Agricultural expansion Primary threats: Habitat degradation due Timor Sea Sigi Forest, Usamabara Mountains, Tazania India and Myanmar Maharashta, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka Bealanana, Madagascar Primary threats: Climate Change - and fire to pressure from human populations Primary threats: Unknown - likely Primary threats: Habitat degradation due Primary threats: Habitat destruction and and Madhya, India Primary threats: Habitat degradation due to oceanographic changes associated with the Actions required: Ex-situ conservation and Action required: Protection of habitat and degradation of coral reef habitat to increasing population pressure and degradation due to hydropower development Primary threats: Habitat loss and slash-and-burn agriculture, hunting, 1982 / 1983 El Nino are presumed to be re-introduction, and establishment of a Mikania obsoleta (host plant) Action required: Evaluate reasons water pollution Actions required: Develop captive rearing modification due to agricultural development and fishing / introduced fish responsible for the apparent disappearance protected area for population decline and formulate Action required: Habitat protection and release program, eliminate adverse Action required: Establishment of Action required: Formal protection of of this species from the Galapagos appropriate management plans uses of riverine habitat, and mitigate protected areas and community reserves, current breeding site, habitat restoration, Action required: Surveys to identify if the effects of hydroelectric development and realignment of Indira Ghandi Nahar and development of release programme species still exists in Los Lobos Islands Canal Project for captive-bred individuals

©Ciro Albano www.nebrazilbirding.com © Justin Gerlach © Barbara Nicca © Rudy Pothin © Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences © Fletcher & Baylis © David Long ©Tim Wacher/ZSL Antilophia bokermanni Antisolabis seychellensis Aphanius transgrediens Aproteles bulmerae Bahaba taipingensis Batagur baska Bazzania bhutanica Beatragus hunteri Araripe manakin Aci Göl toothcarp Bulmer’s fruit bat Giant yellow croaker Common batagur, Four-toed Hirola terrapin Population size: 779 individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: few hundred pairs Population size: approximately 150 individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: Individuals unknown, Population size: <1,000 individuals Range: 28km2 distribution, Chapado do Range: 5km2 area of occupancy, Range: small springs, south-eastern shore Range: <10km2 area of occupancy, Range: Chinese coast from Yangtze River, Range: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, two populations Range: South-east Kenya and possibly Araripe, South Ceará, Brazil Morne Blanc, Mahé island, Seychelles of former Lake Aci, Turkey Luplupwintern Cave, Western Province, China to Hong Kong Indonesia and Malaysia Range: <10km2 area of occupancy in Budini south-west Somalia Primary threats: Habitat destruction due to Primary threats: Invasive species and Primary threats: Competition and predation Papua New Guinea Primary threats: Over-fishing, primarily Primary threats: Illegal export and trade and Lafeti Khola, Bhutan Primary threats: Habitat loss and expansion of agriculture and recreational climate change by Gambusia and road construction Primary threats: due to value of swim-bladder for traditional from Indonesia to China Primary threats: Habitat degradation degradation, competition with livestock, facilities and water diversion Action required: Habitat management to Action required: Raise awareness Hunting and cave disturbance medicine - cost per kilogram exceeded Action required: Enforcement of CITES and destruction due to forest clearance, poaching Actions required: Formal protection of prevent further invasion by introduced plants in national conservation groups and Action required: Protection of that of gold in 2001 Appendix I restrictions and control overgrazing and development Action required: Establishment of protected remaining habitat and protection of springs governments, monitor and conserve Luplupwintern cave and enforced Actions required: Establishment of of illegal trade Action required: Protection of area to areas and community conservancies, and streams current springs, develop action plan for lost prohibition of hunting appropriate protection in Hong Kong and prevent future development damaging increase in level of management and springs and maintain captive populations enforcement of legal protection in China remaining habitat protection of wild population

74 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 75 IMAGE NOT YET AVAILABLE

© Brendan White / USFWS © Richard Lansdown © Luciano Candisani/ www.lucianocandisani.com © Sheila Curtin © Jeisin bin Jumian © Oz Rittner, Zoological Dept, Tel-Aviv Uni, © Loïc Ruellan Bombus franklini Callitriche pulchra Cavia intermedia Cercopithecus roloway Diospyros katendei Dipterocarpus lamellatus nigriventer Dombeya mauritania Franklin’s bumblebee Santa Catarina’s guinea pig Roloway guenon Hula painted frog Population size: 20 individuals, one population Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: 40-60 individuals Population size: Unknown Range: Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve, Population size: 12 individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Range: 2m x 1m pool on Gavdos, Greece 2 Range: Oregon and California, Range: 4ha on Moleques do Sul Island, Range: Cote d’Ivoire Uganda Range: Siangau Forest Reserve, Sabah, Range: <2km in Hula Valley, Israel Range: Mauritius Primary threats: Exploitation of the species’ United States of America Santa Catarina, Brazil Primary threats: Hunting for consumption Primary threats: High pressure from Malaysia Primary threats: Predation by birds and Primary threats: Habitat degradation habitat by stock, and modification of the Primary threats: Disease from commercially Primary threats: Habitat disturbance and as bushmeat and habitat loss communities for agricultural activity, illegal Primary threats: Habitat loss and range restriction due to habitat destruction and destruction due to encroachment by pool by local people bred bumblebees and habitat destruction possible hunting; small population effects Action required: Protection of habitat from tree felling, habitat degradation due to degradation due to logging of lowland Action required: Restoration of habitat alien invasive plant species and cannabis Action required: Provide alternative water and degradation Action required: Protected area logging and conversion to agricultural land alluvial gold digging and small population forest and creation of industrial plantations cultivation sources for stock, involve local people in Actions required: Protection of habitat enforcement and regulation of access Actions required: Enforcement of legal Action required: Restoration of Sianggau Action required: Control of invasive plant the protection of the pool and document containing nectar and pollen sources to the island protection of area, field surveys for further Forest Reserve and re-introduction of species, habitat protection and re- remaining water bodies on Gavdos search and ex-situ conservation in arboreta / species to previous range introduction of propagated individuals botanic gardens

© David Harries © Lázaro Guevara © Save the Rhino International © Eric van der Vlist © Christopher Kaiser-Bunbury © Robin Moore © Robin Moore © Fred Kattermann Cryptomyces maximus Cryptotis nelsoni Dicerorhinus sumatrensis Diomedea amsterdamensis Elaeocarpus bojeri Eleutherodactylus Eleutherodactylus thorcetes Eriosyce chilensis Willow blister Nelson’s small-eared shrew Sumatran rhino Amsterdam albatross glandulifer Macaya breast-spot frog Chilenito

Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: <250 mature individuals Population size: 100 mature individuals La Hotte glanded frog Range: Pembrokeshire, United Kingdom Range: <100km2 extent of occurence, Range: Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Range: Breeds on Plateuau des Tourbières, Population size: <10 individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: <500 individuals Primary threats: Limited availability of habitat Volcán San Martín Tuxtla, Veracruz, Mexico Malaysia, Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia Amsterdam Island, Indian Ocean. Population size: Unknown Range: Grand Bassin, Mauritius Range: Formon and Macaya peaks, Range: Pta Molles and Pichidungui, Chile Actions required: Continue protection Primary threats: Habitat loss due to Primary threats: Hunting for horn - Primary threats: Disease and incidental Range: Massif de la Hotte, Haiti Primary threats: Habitat degradation Masif de la Hotte, Haiti Primary threats: Collection of flowering of current populations and habitat logging, cattle grazing, fire and agriculture used in traditional medicine by-catch in long-line fishing operations Primary threats: Habitat destruction Actions required: Unknown - trees are Primary threats: Habitat destruction due individuals regeneration projects Action required: Surveys to map species Action required: Expansion and Action required: Prevention of the spread due to charcoal production and currently being closely monitored to to charcoal production and slash-and-burn Action required: Protection of plants through range; improved protected area management reinforcement of anti-poaching programmes of disease and promotion of best-practice slash-and-burn agriculture determine level of threat and how these agriculture construction of a fence and signage alerting and continuation of captive breeding efforts measures in all fisheries within the Action required: Habitat protection Action required: Protection of habitat people to threatened status species range should be addressed

76 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 77 © Cosmas Mligo © Olivier Hamerlynck © Axel Poulson © ZSL © Ken Wood © Sarafutsu Itou no Kai © Nigel Maxted © New Zealand Department of Conservation Erythrina schliebenii Euphorbia tanaensis Ficus katendei Geronticus eremita Hibiscadelphus woodii Hucho perryi Lathyrus belinensis Leiopelma archeyi Coral tree Northern bald ibis Sakhalin taimen Belin vetchling Archey’s frog Population size: < 50 mature individuals Population size: < 50 individuals Population size: 4 mature individuals Range: Kasyoha-Kitomi Forest Reserve, Population size: 200 – 249 mature individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: < 1,000 Population size: Unknown 2 2 Range: Namatimbili-Ngarama Forest, Tanzania Range: Witu Forest Reserve, Kenya Ishasha River, Uganda Range: Breeds in Morocco, Turkey and Syria. Range: Kalalau Valley, Hawaii Range: 233,498km area of occupancy, Range: < 2km , outskirts of Belin village, Range: Coromandel peninsula and Primary threats: Limited habitat and small Primary threats:Illegal logging and habitat Primary threats: Agricultural activity, illegal Syrian population winters in Primary threats: Habitat degradation due Russian far east and northern Japan Antalya, Turkey Whareorino Forest, New Zealand population size increasing vulnerability to degradation due to agricultural expansion tree felling and habitat degradation due to central Ethiopia to feral ungulates and invasive introduced Primary threats: Overfishing (sport fishing Primary threats: Habitat destruction due to Primary threats: Chytridiomycosis and stochastic events and infrastructure development alluvial gold digging Primary threats: Habitat degradation and plant species and commercial bycatch) and habitat loss urbanisation, over-grazing, conifer planting predation by invasive species Actions required: Complete establishment Action required: Enforcement of legal Action required: ex-situ conservation in destruction, and hunting Actions required: Survey the extremely from damming, agriculture and other land and road widening Action required: Continuation of current of Forest Reserves and continue protection in the Witu Forest Reserve, arboreta / botanic gardens; enforcement of Action required: Protection of key breeding steep terrain for additional individuals use practices Action required: Habitat protection, control conservation efforts propagation efforts, ex-situ conservation which has diminished due to civil insecurity protection to contain encroachment and and roosting sites Control of invasive species in the remaining Action required: Expansion of conservation of grazing, halt conifer planting and periodic habitat degradation; community development suitable habitat so that species can be protection in rivers in Russia and Japan and sampling for ex-situ seed conservation programmes in areas adjacent to the reserve reintroduced if more individuals are located enforcement of fishing regulations

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© Quentin Luke © Tom Wilke © Atherton de Villiers © John Himes © Rafa Araujo, MNCN, (CSIC) Madrid, Spain © Justin Gerlach Gigasiphon macrosiphon Gocea ohridana Heleophryne rosei Hemicycla paeteliana Lithobates sevosus Magnolia wolfii Margaritifera marocana Moominia willii

Population size: 33 mature individuals Table mountain ghost frog Dusky gopher frog Population size: < 5 individuals Range: Kaya Muhaka, Gongoni and Mrima Range: Risaralda, Columbia Forest Reserves, Kenya, Amani Nature Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population: Unknown Population size: 60-100 individuals Primary threats: Isolation of species and Population size: < 250 individuals Population size: <500 individuals 2 2 2 2 2 Reserve, West Kilombero Scarp Forest Range: <10km area of occupancy, Lake Range: 9km , Table Mountain, Range: 8km area of occupancy, Jandia Range: < 10km area of occupancy in low regeneration rates Range: Oued Denna, Oued Abid and Range: 0.02km area of occupancy on Reserve, and Kihansi Gorge, Tanzania Ohrid, Macedonia Western Cape Province, South Africa peninsula, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands Harrison County, Mississippi, USA Action required: Protection of remaining Oued Beth, Morocco Silhouette Island, Seychelles Primary threats: Timber extraction and habitat Primary threats: Habitat degradation due Primary threats: Habitat degradation due Primary threats: Habitat destruction Primary threats: Fungal disease and population and exploration of potential Primary threats: Habitat degradation and Primary threats: Invasive species and degradation due to agricultural encroachment to increasing pollution levels, off-take of to invasive plants and water abstraction due to overgrazing and trampling by habitat limitation due to climate change for ex-situ conservation disturbance due to pollution and development climate change and development, seed predation by wild pigs water and sedimentation events Action required: Protection of habitat, goats and tourists and land-use changes Action required: Habitat protection Action required: Protection of habitat Actions required: Enforcement of protection Action required: Implement transboundary continued implementation of management Action required: Conservation of habitat Actions required: Protection of habitat to mitigate effects of construction of and control of invasive species in reserves and establishment of agreements to improve habitat management plans and integration of activities and control of goats, and limiting and management of population to Image © Dr. Jan Wolf, University of Amsterdam Institute hydroelectricity schemes and agricultural for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Dorian Ruiz management plan to mitigate effects of water between sites recreational access to area by tourists prevent spread of disease Penagos, Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira, Colombia, abstraction loss from hydroelectricity developments Grupo de Investigación Jardín Botánico

78 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 79 © Carlos A Mancina © Jessica Bryant © KD Dijkstra © Oliver Lucanus © Tom Ghestemme © FAO ©Kevin Schafer www.kevinschafer.com © Atherton de Villiers Natalus primus Nomascus hainanus Oreocnemis phoenix Pangasius sanitwongsei Pomarea whitneyi Pristis pristis Propithecus candidus Psammobates geometricus Cuban greater funnel eared bat Hainan gibbon Mulanje red damsel Pangasid catfish Fatuhiva monarch Common sawfish Silky sifaka Geometric tortoise Population size: Unknown Population size: <100 individuals Population size: <20 individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: 50 individuals Range: Coastal tropical and subtropical Population size: 100-1,000 individuals Population size: Unknown Range: Cueva La Barca, Isle of Pines, Cuba Range: 10km2 area of occupancy on Range: <10km2 area of occupancy, Mulanje Range: Chao Phraya and Mekong basins Range: Fatu Hiva, Marquesas Islands, waters of Indo-Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Range: Maroantsetra to Andapa basin, Range: Western Cape Province, South Africa Primary threats: Habitat loss and Hainan Island, China Plateau, Malawi in Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Thailand French Polynesia Currently largely restricted to and Marojeju Massif, Madagascar Primary threats: Habitat destruction and human disturbance Primary threats: Hunting Primary threats: Habitat destruction and and Viet Nam Primary threats: Predation by introduced northern Australia Primary threats: Hunting and habitat degradation, and predation Actions required: Protection of Cueva La Action required: Gun confiscation in the degradation due to drainage, agricultural Primary threats: Overfishing and collection species - Rattus rattus and feral cats Primary threats: Exploitation - has removed disturbance Action required: Establishment of additional Barca and its surrounds area of the Bawangling population and expansion and exploitation of forest for aquarium trade Actions required: Increase control the species from 95 per cent of its Action required: Continuation and reserves and management of fire regimes habitat protection Action required: Enforcement of habitat Action required: Protection from overfishing of introduced species and consider historical range expansion of efforts to end hunting and protection and collection translocation, either to another island or Action required: Further research required establishment of protected areas by creating another, larger controlled area to understand current distribution and in an accessible part of Fatu Hiva threats and ways of managing these

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© Onildo Marini-Filho © Sanjay Molur/WILD/ZOO © Loïc Ruellan © Battal Ciplak and Sarp Kaya © Le Khac Quyet/ University of Colorado Boulder © Kingsley Dixon Parides burchellanus Picea neoveitchii Pinus squamata Poecilotheria metallica Psiadia cataractae Psorodonotus ebneri Rhinopithecus avunculus Rhizanthella gardneri Qiaojia pine Gooty tarantula, metallic tarantula, Beydaglari bush-cricket Tonkin snub-nosed monkey West australian peacock parachute spider, peacock tarantula, Salepurgu underground orchid Population size: <100 individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: <25 mature individuals Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: < 200 individuals Range: Cerrado, Brazil Range: Qinling Range, China remaining Population size: Unknown Range: Mauritius Range: Beydaglari range, Antalaya, Turkey Range: Northeastern Viet Nam Population size: < 100 individuals Primary threats: Habitat degradation Primary threats: Forest destruction Range: Qiaojia, Yunnan, China Range: Nandyal and Giddalur, Andhra Primary threats: Habitat degradation and Primary threats: Climate change / habitat loss Primary threats: Habitat loss and hunting Range: Western Australia, Australia Pradesh, India due to pressure from human populations Action required: Ex-situ conservation Primary threats: Limited distribution destruction due to development project Action required: Development of a Action required: Establishment of a Primary threats: Land clearance for Primary threats: Habitat loss and degradation and range restriction and re-introduction; establishment of and small population size and alien invasive plant species bioacoustic monitoring scheme and conservation area for Khau Ca Conservation as a result of deforestation, firewood agriculture (96 per cent habitat cleared to strategic conservation action plan, Actions required: Protection of gallery protected areas Action required: Ex-situ conservation collection and civil unrest Actions required: Effective protection of area in Ha Giang province and increase law date), climate change and salinisation forest habitat and re-introduction; establishment of Action required: Habitat protection, the area, continuous and effective control establishment of a nature reserve, enforcement to reduce hunting pressure Action required: In-situ protection of the protected areas awareness at community level, inclusion of invasive alien plants particularly grasses implementation of habitat management two supporting organisms, and protection in the national Wildlife Protection Act and and replanting of hardened nursery scheme, and research on population size, of seed stocks and the fungus partner in national and international trade legislation grown plants trends, distribution, and ecology a seed bank

80 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 81 © Medicinal Plant Conservation Project Egypt and St © Ian Vernon/ Tim Hounsome/ Durrell Wildlife Con- © Hein van Grouw/ National Museum of Natural © ZSL/KWS Katherine Park servation Trust © Lizzie Noble/ Fundación ProAves www.proaves.org © Heiko Kärst © John Dransfield/ Royal Botanic Gardens Kew History , Leiden Rhynchocyon sp. Rosa arabica Salanoia durrelli Santamartamys Valencia letourneuxi Voanioala gerardii Zaglossus attenboroughi Boni giant sengi Durrell’s vontsira rufodorsalis Forest coconut Attenborough’s echidna Population size: Unknown Population size: Unknown Population size: unknown, 10 sub- Population size: Unknown Red crested tree rat Population size: Unknown Population size: <10 individuals Range: Cyclops Mountains, Papua Province, Range: Boni-Dodori Forest, Lamu area, populations Range: estimated to be 200km2 in marshes Range: Southern Albania and Western Range: Masoala peninsula, Madagascar Indonesia Kenya Range: 14.6km2, St Katherine Mountains, of Lake Alaotra, Madagascar Population size: Unknown Greece Primary threats: Harvesting for consumption Primary threats: Habitat modification and Primary threats: Habitat destruction due Egypt Primary threats: Habitat loss Range: Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Primary threats: Habitat destruction, water of palm heart and deforestation degradation due to logging, agricultural to development Primary threats: Domestic animals grazing, Action required: Improved management Colombia abstraction and aggressive interaction Action required: Protection of individuals encroachment shifting cultivation and Actions required: Formal protection of climate change and drought, medicinal of the Lake Alaotra protected area Primary threats: Habitat loss through urban with Gambusia and habitat coupled with public awareness hunting by local people Boni-Dodori forest and finalisation of formal plant collection and restricted range development and coffee cultivation Actions required: Protection of habitat campaigns Action required: Enhance awareness identification Action required: Protection of individuals Action required: Surveys to map species and control of Gambusia and cultural significance of the species, from exploitation range and continued habitat protection at establish sustainable management known site of occurrence practices and conduct additional surveys

© Tony Gilbert © Martin Hale © Norihiro Kawauchi © Nonn Panitwong “Saving all species is not just an option for Squatina squatina Sterna bernsteini Tokudaia muenninki Trigonostigma Angel shark Chinese crested tern Okinawa spiny rat somphongsi wealthy societies or a hobby for nature Somphongs’s rasbora Population size: Unknown Population size: <50 mature individuals Population size: Unknown 2 freaks, it is a necessity for humanity” Range: Formerly coastal waters of NE Range: Breeding in Zhejiang and Fujian, China, Range: 3km on Okinawa Island, Japan Population size: Unknown Atlantic as far north as Norway and into and outside breeding season in Indonesia, Primary threats: Habitat loss and predation Range: Mae Khlong basin, Thailand the Mediterranean Sea. Now restricted to Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand by feral cats Primary threats: Habitat loss and Canary Islands only Primary threats: Egg collection and Action required: Surveys to map species degradation from farmland conversion Primary threats: Benthic trawling habitat destruction range, protection of remaining habitat and and urbanization Actions required: Protection of Canary Action required: Protect breeding sites, feral cat control programme Action required: Wetland restoration Professor Luigi Boitani Islands habitat and nearby continental strengthen legal protection status and shelf habitats from trawling raise awareness at breeding colonies

82 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 83 “These 100 species make their own case for survival. They are beautiful, intriguing, unusual, unique, thought provoking, and emotionally stimulating. They are an expression of the world’s diversity and they appeal to our appreciation of beauty, symmetry and color. Each species expresses a solution to a set of very specific environmental conditions, and each appeals to our fascination with adaptive problem solving. They allow us to turn away from our parochial needs and desires, and play on the larger stage of biological richness and variety. We owe it to ourselves, and to them, to find room on this planet for all of them”

Dr John G. Robinson Executive Vice-President, Conservation and Science Wildlife Conservation Society

84 Priceless or Worthless Antilophia bokermannii © Ciro Albano www.nebrazilbirding.com Priceless or Worthless 85 Chapter 3

These 100 wonderful species could easily Past follow in the path of the species in this chapter and exist only in history books. Extinctions Let us not forget what we have already lost.

86 Priceless or Worthless PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 87 Hernandia drakeana Crustacea Bythinella limnopsis Hibiscadelphus bombycinus Afrocyclops pauliani Bythinella mauritanica Plants Hibiscadelphus crucibracteatus Invertebrates Austrogammarus australis Bythinella microcochlia Bryophytes Hibiscadelphus wilderianus Annelida Cambarellus alvarezi Bythinella punica Flabellidium spinosum Hopea shingkeng Hypolimnus pedderensis Cambarellus chihuahuae Caldwellia philyrina Neomacounia nitida Ilex gardneriana Liocypris grandis Campolaemus perexilis Ilex ternatiflora Namibcypris costata Carelia anceophila Florideophyceae Kokia lanceolata Alasmidonta mccordi Pacifastacus nigrescens Carelia bicolor Vanvoorstia bennettiana Licania caldasiana Alasmidonta robusta Procambarus angustatus Carelia cochlea Madhuca insignis Stygobromus lucifugus Careliacumingiana © Dave Clarke/ Zoological Society of London Alasmidonta wrightiana Jungermanniopsida Melicope cruciata Chambardia letourneuxi Syncaris pasadenae Carelia dolei Radula visiniaca Melicope haleakalae nigella Tropodiaptomus ctenopus Carelia evelynae Melicope obovata arguta arcaeformis Carelia glossema Liliopsida Melicope paniculata Polynesian tree snail Epioblasma biemarginata Carelia hyattiana Oeceoclades seychellarum Myrcia skeldingii Epioblasma flexuosa Achatinella abbreviata Carelia kalalauensis Sporobolus durus Neisosperma brownii Last sighting: 1994 Epioblasma haysiana Achatinella buddii Carelia knudseni Nesiota elliptica Achatinella caesia Carelia lirata Cause of extinction: Epioblasma lenior Magnoliopsida Ochrosia fatuhivensis Epioblasma lewisii Achatinella casta Carelia lymani Acalypha rubrinervis Ochrosia nukuhivensis predation by introduced Epioblasma personata Achatinella decora Carelia mirabilis Ochrosia tahitensis Achatinella dimorpha Achyranthes atollensis snail Euglandina rosaea Epioblasma propinqua Carelia necra Argyroxiphium virescens Oldenlandia adscensionis Epioblasma sampsonii Achatinella elegans Carelia olivacea Begonia eiromischa Ormosia howii Epioblasma stewardsonii Achatinella juddii Carelia paradoxa Blutaparon rigidum Otophora unilocularis Epioblasma turgidula Achatinella juncea Carelia periscelis Byttneria ivorensis Pausinystalia brachythyrsum Lampsilis binominata Achatinella lehuiensis Carelia pilsbryi Campomanesia lundiana Pelea obovata Medionidus mcglameriae Achatinella livida Carelia sinclairi Casearia quinduensis Pluchea glutinosa Pleurobema altum Achatinella papyracea Carelia tenebrosa Casearia tinifolia Pouteria stenophylla Pleurobema avellanum Achatinella spaldingi Carelia turricula Centaurea pseudoleucolepis Pradosia argentea Pleurobema bournianum Achatinella thaanumi Chilonopsis blofeldi Chrysophyllum januariense Pradosia glaziovii Pleurobema flavidulum Achatinella valida Chilonopsis exulatus Clermontia multiflora Pradosia mutisii Pleurobema hagleri Advena campbelli Chilonopsis helena Cnidoscolus fragrans Psiadia schweinfurthii Pleurobema hanleyianum Amastra albolabris Chilonopsis melanoides Coffea lemblinii Psidium dumetorum Pleurobema johannis Amastra cornea Chilonopsis nonpareil Crudia zeylanica Santalum fernandezianum Pleurobema murrayense Amastra crassilabrum Chilonopsis subplicatus Cupaniopsis crassivalvis Shorea cuspidata Pleurobema nucleopsis Amastra elongata Chilonopsis subtruncatus Cyanea arborea Stenocarpus dumbeensis Pleurobema rubellum Amastra forbesi Chilonopsis turtoni © Sue Wickison / New Zealand Plant Conservation Network Wickison © Sue Cyanea comata Sterculia khasiana Pleurobema taitianum Amastra pellucida Clappia cahabensis Cyanea cylindrocalyx Streblorrhiza speciosa Pleurobema troschelianum Amastra porcus Clappia umbilicata Cyanea dolichopoda Trilepedia adamsii Pleurobema verum Amastra reticulata Collisella edmitchelli Trochetiopsis melanoxylon Trilepedia adamsii Amastra subrostrata Cyanea giffardii Adam’s mistletoe Unio cariei Colparion madgei Cyanea marksii Valerianella affinis Amastra subsoror Ctenoglypta newtoni Cyanea pohaku Vernonia sechellensis Amastra tenuispira Cyclophorus horridulum Cyanea pycnocarpa Viola cryana Last sighting: 1970 Amastra umbilicata Cyclosurus mariei Cyanea quercifolia Weinmannia spiraeoides Cause of extinction: habitat destruction, Amphicyclotulus guadeloupensis Diastole matafaoi Wendlandia angustifolia Amphigyra alabamensis Cynometra beddomei over-collection and browsing by introduced species Dupontia proletaria Dipterocarpus cinereus Wikstroemia skottsbergiana Athearnia crassa Elimia brevis Euphrasia mendoncae Wikstroemia villosa Auriculella expansa Elimia clausa Fitchia mangarevensis Xanthostemon sebertii Auriculella uniplicata Elimia fusiformis Galipea ossana Belgrandiella intermedia Elimia gibbera Gomidesia cambessedeana Polypodiopsida Bythinella gibbosa Elimia hartmaniana Guettarda retusa Adiantum lianxianense Dryopteris ascensionis

88 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 89 Elimia impressa Leptoxis lirata Partula citrina Posticobia norfolkensis Elimia jonesi Leptoxis occultata Partula compacta Pseudamnicola barratei Elimia lachryma Leptoxis showalterii Partula crassilabris Pseudamnicola desertorum Elimia laeta Leptoxis torrefacta Partula cuneata Pseudamnicola doumeti Elimia macglameriana Leptoxis vittata Partula cytherea Pseudamnicola globulina Elimia pilsbryi Leucocharis loyaltiensis Partula dolichostoma Pseudamnicola latasteana Elimia pupaeformis Leucocharis porphyrocheila Partula dolorosa Pseudamnicola oudrefica Elimia pygmaea Libera subcavernula Partula eremita Pseudamnicola ragia Elimia vanuxemiana Libera tumuloides Partula exigua Pseudamnicola singularis Elimia varians Littoraria flammea Partula filosa Pseudocampylaea loweii Erepta nevilli Littoridina gaudichaudii Partula formosa Pseudohelenoconcha spurca Fluvidona dulvertonensis Lottia alveus Partula fusca Pupilla obliquicosta Gastrocopta chichijimana Lyropupa perlonga Partula garretti Pyrgulopsis nevadensis Gastrocopta ogasawarana Marstonia olivacea Partula imperforata Quintalia flosculus Gibbus lyonetianus Mautodontha acuticosta Partula labrusca Quintalia stoddartii Gonidomus newtoni Mautodontha consimilis Partula leptochila Rhachis comorensis Gonospira nevilli Mautodontha consobrina Partula levilineata Rhachis sanguineus Graecoanatolica macedonica Mautodontha maupiensis Partula levistriata Rhachistia aldabrae Gulella mayottensis Mautodontha parvidens Partula lugubris Rhodacmea filosa Gyrotoma excisa Mautodontha punctiperforata Partula lutea Samoana inflata Gyrotoma lewisii Mautodontha saintjohni Partula microstoma Samoana jackieburchi Gyrotoma pagoda Mautodontha subtilis Partula navigatoria Sinployea canalis Gyrotoma pumila Mautodontha unilamellata Partula ovalis Sinployea decorticata Gyrotoma pyramidata Mautodontha zebrina Partula planilabrum Sinployea harveyensis Gyrotoma walkeri Megalobulimus cardosoi Partula producta Sinployea otareae Harmogenanina linophora Mercuria letourneuxiana Partula protea Sinployea planospira Harmogenanina subdetecta Nancibella quintalia Partula protracta Sinployea proxima Helenoconcha leptalea Neoplanorbis carinatus Partula radiata Sinployea rudis Helenoconcha minutissima Neoplanorbis smithi Partula raiatensis Sinployea tenuicostata Helenoconcha polyodon Neoplanorbis umbilicatus Partula remota Sinployea youngi Helenoconcha pseustes Nesopupa turtoni © United States Fish and Wildlife Service © Hal Cogger Partula robusta Somatogyrus alcoviensis Helenoconcha sexdentata Newcombia philippiana Partula rustica Somatogyrus amnicoloides Helenodiscus bilamellata Ohridohauffenia drimica Partula sagitta Somatogyrus crassilabris Helenodiscus vernoni Oleacina guadeloupensis Incilius periglenes Rheobactrachus vitellinus Partula salifana Somatogyrus wheeleri Heleobia spinellii Omphalotropis plicosa Golden toad, Sapo dorado Eungella gastric brooding frog, northern gastric Partula salifera Taipidon anceyana Helicopsis paulhessei Pachnodus curiosus Partula thalia Taipidon marquesana Hirasea planulata Pachnodus ladiguensis Last sighting: 1989 brooding frog Partula turgida Taipidon octolamellata Hydrobia gracilis Pachnodus velutinus Cause of extinction: chytridiomycosis, climate change, Partula umbilicata Thaumatodon multilamellata Incerticyclus cinereus Pachystyla rufozonata Last sighting: 1985 Partula variabilis Tomigerus gibberulus Incerticyclus martinicensis Panulena perrugosa restricted range and airborne pollution Cause of extinction: unknown, likely chytridiomycosis Partula vittata Tomigerus turbinatus Islamia ateni Partula approximata Partulina crassa Tornelasmias capricorni Lamellidea monodonta Partula arguta Partulina montagui Trochoidea picardi Lamellidea nakadai Partula atilis Perdicella fulgurans Tropidophora desmazuresi Leiorhagium solemi Partula aurantia Perdicella maniensis Tropidophora semilineata Leiostyla lamellosa Partula auriculata Perdicella zebra Vitrinula chaunax Leptoxis clipeata Partula bilineata Perdicella zebrina Vitrinula chichijimana Leptoxis compacta Partula callifera Physella microstriata Vitrinula hahajimana Leptoxis foremanii Partula candida Placostylus cuniculinsulae Leptoxis formosa Partula castanea Planorbella multivolvis Leptoxis ligata Partula cedista Pleurodonte desidens

90 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 91 Insecta Scotorythra megalophylla Ptychochromoides itasy Acanthometropus pecatonica Scotorythra nesiotes Rhinichthys deaconi Agrotis crinigera Siettitia balsetensis Vertebrates Rhizosomichthys totae Agrotis fasciata Stonemyia volutina Actinopterygii Romanogobio antipai Agrotis kerri Tischeria perplexa Acanthobrama hulensis Salmo pallaryi Agrotis laysanensis Triaenodes phalacris Alburnus akili Salvelinus agassizi Agrotis photophila Triaenodes tridonata Anabarilius macrolepis Salvelinus neocomensis Agrotis procellaris Trigonoscuta rossi Aplocheilichthyssp. nov. ‘Naivasha’ Salvelinus profundus Alloperla roberti Trigonoscuta yorbalindae Barbus microbarbis Stypodon signifer Argyresthia castaneela Tritocleis microphylla Characodon garmani Telestes ukliva Campsicnemus mirabilis Chasmistes muriei Tristramella intermedia Clavicoccus erinaceus Oligochaeta Chondrostoma scodrense Tristramella magdelainae Coleophora leucochrysella Hypolimnus pedderensis Coregonus alpenae Xystichromis bayoni Conozoa hyalina Coregonus bezola Deloneura immaculata Turbellaria Coregonus fera Amphibia Drosophila lanaiensis Romankenkius pedderensis Coregonus gutturosus Adenomus kandianus Dryophthorus distinguendus Coregonus hiemalis Atelopus ignescens Dryotribus mimeticus Coregonus johannae Atelopus longirostris Ectodemia castaneae Coregonus nigripinnis Atelopus vogli Ectodemia phleophaga Coregonus oxyrinchus Craugastor chrysozetetes Genophantis leahi Coregonus restrictus Craugastor escoces Glaucopsyche xerces Cottus echinatus Cynops wolterstorffi Helicoverpa confusa Ctenochromis pectoralis Discoglossus nigriventer Helicoverpa minuta Cyprinodon ceciliae Incilius holdridgei Hydropsyche tobiasi Cyprinodon inmemoriam Incilius periglenes Hygrotus artus Cyprinodon latifasciatus Lithobates fisheri Hypena laysanensis Cyprinodon spp. Nannophrys guentheri Hypena newelli Cyprinus yilongensis Phrynomedusa fimbriata Hypena plagiota Empetrichthys merriami Plethodon ainsworthi Hypena senicula Etheostoma sellare Pseudophilautus adspersus Karocolens tuberculatus Evarra bustamantei Pseudophilautus dimbullae Lepidochrysops hypopolia Evarra eigenmanni Pseudophilautus eximius Levuana irridescens Evarra tlahuacensis Pseudophilautus extirpo Libythea cinyras Fundulus albolineatus Pseudophilautus halyi Macrancylus linearis Gambusia amistadensis Pseudophilautus hypomelas Mecodema punctellum Gambusia georgei Pseudophilautus leucorhinus Megadytes ducalis Gasterosteus crenobiontus Pseudophilautus maia Megalagrion jugorum Gila crassicauda Pseudophilautus malcolmsmithi Neduba extincta Lepidomeda altivelis Pseudophilautus nanus Oedemasylus laysanensis Heteralocha acutirostris Thylacinus cynocephalus Moxostoma lacerum Pseudophilautus nasutus Oeobia sp. nov. Notropis amecae Pseudophilautus oxyrhynchus Pentagenia robusta Huia Thylacine, Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian wolf Notropis aulidion Pseudophilautus pardus Pentarthrum blackburni Notropis orca Pseudophilautus rugatus Phyllococcus oahuensis Last sighting: 1907 Last sighting: 1936 Notropis saladonis Pseudophilautus stellatus Pseudobactricia ridleyi Cause of extinction: Capture for use in ceremonial Cause of extinction: hunting, habitat modification, Pantanodon madagascariensis Pseudophilautus temporalis Rhantus novacaledoniae Pseudophilautus variabilis dress and predation by introduced species competition from domestic dogs and disease Platytropius siamensis Rhantus orbignyi Pogonichthys ciscoides Pseudophilautus zal Rhantus papuanus Priapella bonita Pseudophilautus zimmeri Rhyacophila amabilis Prototroctes oxyrhynchus Raorchestes travancoricus Rhyncogonus bryani Ptychochromis sp. nov. ‘Kotro’ Rheobatrachus silus

92 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 93 Rheobatrachus vitellinus Dromaius baudinianus Podilymbus gigas Cephalaspidomorphi Nesoryzomys darwini Reptilia Taudactylus diurnus Dysmorodrepanis munroi Pomarea fluxa Eudontomyzon sp. nov. ‘migratory’ Nesoryzomys indefessus Ameiva cineracea Dysmoropelia dekarchiskos Pomarea mira Noronhomys vespuccii Ameiva major Aves Ectopistes migratorius Pomarea nukuhivae Mammalia Notomys amplus Bolyeria multocarinata Alectroenas nitidissima Falco duboisi Pomarea pomarea Bettongia pusilla Notomys longicaudatus Borikenophis sanctaecrucis Alectroenas rodericana Fregilupus varius Porphyrio albus Boromys offella Notomys macrotis Celestus occiduus Alopochen kervazoi Fulica newtoni Porphyrio coerulescens Boromys torrei Notomys mordax Cyclura onchiopsis Alopochen mauritianus Gallicolumba ferruginea Porphyrio kukwiedei Bos primigenius Oligoryzomys victus Cylindraspis indica Amazona martinicana Gallicolumba norfolciensis Porphyrio mantelli Brotomys voratus Onychogalea lunata Cylindraspis inepta Amazona violacea Gallicolumba salamonis Porzana astrictocarpus Caloprymnus campestris Oryzomys antillarum Cylindraspis peltastes Anas marecula Gallirallus dieffenbachii Porzana monasa Chaeropus ecaudatus Oryzomys nelsoni Cylindraspis triserrata Anas theodori Gallirallus pacificus Porzana nigra Conilurus albipes Palaeopropithecus ingens Cylindraspis vosmaeri Anthornis melanocephala Gallirallus wakensis Porzana palmeri Coryphomys buehleri Pennatomys nivalis Hoplodactylus delcourti Aphanapteryx bonasia Gerygone insularis Porzana sandwichensis Cryptonanus ignitus Perameles eremiana Leiocephalus eremitus Aphanapteryx leguati Haematopus meadewaldoi Prosobonia ellisi Cryptoprocta spelea Peromyscus pembertoni Leiocephalus herminieri Aplonis corvina Hemignathus ellisianus Prosobonia leucoptera Cuscomys oblativa Plagiodontia ipnaeum Leiolopisma mauritiana Aplonis fusca Hemignathus obscurus Psephotus pulcherrimus Desmodus draculae Potorous platyops Macroscincus coctei Aplonis mavornata Hemignathus sagittirostris Psittacula exsul Dusicyon australis Prolagus sardus Pelusios seychellensis Ara atwoodi Heteralocha acutirostris Psittacula wardi Gazella bilkis Pseudomys glaucus Phelsuma gigas Ara erythrocephala Ixobrychus novaezelandiae Pterodroma rupinarum Gazella saudiya Pseudomys gouldii Tachygyia microlepis Ara gossei Lophopsittacus bensoni Ptilinopus mercierii Geocapromys columbianus Pteropus brunneus Tetradactylus eastwoodae Ara guadeloupensis Lophopsittacus mauritianus Quiscalus palustris Geocapromys thoracatus Pteropus pilosus Typhlops cariei Ara tricolor Mascarenotus grucheti Raphus cucullatus Heteropsomys insulans Pteropus subniger Aratinga labati Mascarenotus murivorus Rhodacanthis flaviceps Hexolobodon phenax Pteropus tokudae Argusianus bipunctatus Mascarenotus sauzieri Rhodacanthis palmeri Hippopotamus lemerlei Rattus macleari Atlantisia podarces Mascarinus mascarinus Sceloglaux albifacies Hippopotamus madagascariensis Rattus nativitatis Bowdleria rufescens Mergus australis Tachybaptus rufolavatus Hippotragus leucophaeus Rucervus schomburgki Bulweria bifax Microgoura meeki Threskiornis solitarius Hydrodamalis gigas Solenodon marcanoi Cabalus modestus Moho apicalis Traversia lyalli Isolobodon montanus Thylacinus cynocephalus Caloenas maculata Moho bishopi Turdus ravidus Isolobodon portoricensis Xenothrix mcgregori Camptorhynchus labradorius Moho braccatus Turnagra capensis Juscelinomys candango Zalophus japonicus Caracara lutosa Moho nobilis Turnagra tanagra Lagorchestes asomatus Chaetoptila angustipluma Mundia elpenor Upupa antaios Lagorchestes leporides Chaunoproctus ferreorostris Myadestes myadestinus Xenicus longipes Lagostomus crassus Chloridops kona Myadestes woahensis Zoothera terrestris Macropus greyi Chlorostilbon bracei Myiagra freycineti Zosterops strenuus Macrotis leucura Chlorostilbon elegans Nannococcyx psix Megalomys desmarestii Ciridops anna Necropsar rodericanus Megalomys luciae Columba duboisi Necropsittacus rodericanus Megaoryzomys curioi Columba jouyi Nesillas aldabrana Monachus tropicalis Columba versicolor Nesoclopeus poecilopterus Neotoma anthonyi Conuropsis carolinensis Nestor productus Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii Neotoma bunkeri Coturnix novaezelandiae Nycticorax duboisi Neotoma martinensis Coua delalandei Nycticorax mauritianus Pinta Island tortoise Neovison macrodon Cyanoramphus ulietanus Nycticorax megacephalus Nesophontes edithae Cyanoramphus zealandicus Paroreomyza flammea ‘Lonesome George’ Nesophontes hypomicrus Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi Pezophaps solitaria Last sighting: 2012 Nesophontes major Drepanis funerea Phalacrocorax perspicillatus Cause of extinction: capture for consumption Nesophontes micrus Drepanis pacifica Pinguinus impennis Nesophontes paramicrus Dromaius ater Podiceps andinus Nesophontes zamicrus

94 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 95 “I think having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anybody could ever want” Andy Warhol

96 Priceless or Worthless © Craig Turner PricelessPriceless oror Worthless 97 Chapter 4

No species need be lost. Given enough Pulled determination and ingenuity we are capable of rescuing even the most desperate of back from cases, as the stories here show. the brink

98 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 99 Equus ferus przewalskii Przewalski’s horse

N.Dovchin, a Mongolian scientist, the Preservation and Protection of the Przewalski Population size: Horse and Mongolian Association for Conservation sighted what could have been the 306 (in the wild) of Nature and the Environment (MACNE), provided last wild Przewalski’s horse, a safety net for these populations. The success Range: of the conservation breeding and reintroduction (Equus ferus przewalskii) in 1969. programme was evident in the downgrading of the Mongolia species status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Following this date, extensive surveys by the Joint SpeciesTM from ‘Extinct in the Wild’ to ‘Critically Primary threats: Mongolian-Soviet Expedition and Chinese biologists Endangered’ in 1996, and then a further lowering to Habitat loss, resource limitation confirmed that no wild populations remained, with ‘Endangered’ in 2011. All horses alive today are the the species considered to be possibly extinct in the descendents of just 13-14 individuals, which formed and small population size Wild by the IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre the core of the conservation breeding programme in 1988. However, conservationists and scientists that saved this species. From this small number Actions taken: refused to give up on this species, the only living the population has swelled to an estimated 306 Captive breeding, reintroduction, representative of wild horses, and embarked on an Przewalski’s Horses now roaming freely in Ukraine, ambitious captive breeding and reintroduction project. habitat protection and awareness- Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. raising initiatives The production of an International Studbook in 1959 The inspiring recovery of this charismatic equid is established the foundation for the development of a testament to the cooperation and dedication of a Species Survival Plan. Following this, the creation organisations and individuals from across the world. of a European Endangered Species programme However, the persistence of the Przewalski’s horse in 1986 shaped the conservation breeding and in the wild is not yet secure - hybridization with reintroduction strategies for the species. In 1994 domestic horses poses a serious risk. In addition, reintroductions began in Takhiin Tal Nature Reserve competition for resources with both domestic horses in Dzungarian Govi Desert, and Hustai National Park and cattle increases the pressure on this iconic in Mongol Daguur Steppe. By 1999, 59 individuals species. Finally, although wild populations have had been reintroduced to Takhiin Tal, while 84 increased substantially, they are still quite small individuals, taken from reserves in Europe, had and at risk from disease and predation by wolves. been introduced to Hustai National Park. Between Management of all these aspects and the continuation 2004 and 2005 a further 22 Przewalski’s horses of breeding programmes will be critical to ensure were reintroduced to a site in Homiin Tal in Great the survival of Przewalski’s horse in the wild. Lakes Depression. Continual supplementation from reserves in Europe, managed by the Foundation for

100 Priceless or Worthless © Tim Flach Priceless or Worthless 101 Falco punctatus Mauritius kestrel

Early colonists to Mauritius Fortunately, the perilous state of the species was realised before it joined its cousin, the Reunion Population size: decimated its forest blanket and kestrel (Falco duboisi), in the extinct species lists 250-300 mature individuals with it went many of the islands and a recovery programme to rescue the species precious endemic species. This was launched in 1973. From 1984 to 1994 intensive Range: management and conservation breeding of the Mauritius deforestation, which spared only species bolstered the population. The conservation three percent of the original forest programme was comprehensive, including captive propagation and restocking, supplementary feeding, Primary threats: cover, precipitated the initial declines nest-site enhancement, provision of nest boxes, Habitat loss and degradation, of the beautiful Mauritius kestrel. nest guarding, control of predators, clutch and and predation by invasive species brood manipulations, and the treatment of parasite By 1974, only four individuals were infections. In the late 1980s, the first group of Actions taken: known to survive in the wild. captive bred birds were re-introduced into the Bambous Mountains. These re-introductions ceased Captive breeding and The crash in their population was believed to be in 1994, and now around 400 individuals fly freely reintroductions, supplementary driven by the widespread use of organochloride around their island home. pesticides throughout the island in the 1950s and feeding, habitat enhancement and 1960s, both for agriculture and to control malaria The value and affection which the Mauritians feel protection and predator control carrying mosquitoes. The introduction of predators towards this splendid species is evident. Out of such as Black rats, Crab-eating macaques, small danger of extinction, the species now plays an Indian mongooses and feral cats did little to help important role in tourism operations and is depicted dwindling populations of the birds. Finally, the bird’s on the Mauritian 50 rupee note, reinforcing the habitat was being overrun by introduced plants, importance of the species. This acknowledgement which resulted in the destruction of natural nest of the significance of this bird is a fitting recognition sites and reduced the species hunting efficiency. of the work by various organisations and individuals to ensure the species survival.

102 Priceless or Worthless © Sam Cartwright Priceless or Worthless 103 Foudia flavicans Rodrigues fody

Less than one fifth of the entire also reduced the pressure off the forests, as island inhabitants no longer needed to rely on firewood for Population size: world’s bird species are restricted fuel. Little native vegetation remained on the island, 668 - 1,000 mature individuals to islands but over 90 per cent of but the Rodrigues fody populations flourished in forests of introduced exotics. Range: all bird extinctions have occurred on islands. Many recovery programmes for critically Rodrigues, Mauritius endangered species rely on sophisticated These unique island species are being wiped out by manipulation of breeding and foraging regimes. Primary threats: the introduction of new predators and competitors This makes the resurgence of the Rodrigues fody Loss of habitat through into their ecosystems, the destruction of their all the more notable as it revolved primarily around deforestation and introduction native habitat and over-exploitation for hunting or re-vegetation initiatives and the restoration of other uses. Sadly, having lost at least 28 endemic degraded habitat. Ironically, while the introduction of exotic species birds since 1600, the Mascarene Islands provide a of invasive, exotic plants often spell disaster for classic example of this. island endemics, the establishment of fast-growing Actions taken: exotics to Rodrigues saved the fody and two other Reforestation (both active and Residing on one of the world’s most degraded endemic vertebrates, the Rodrigues flying fox passive regeneration) and reduced tropical islands; the Rodrigues fody (Foudia (Pteropus rodricensis) and the Rodrigues warbler flavicans) seemed fated to follow in the tragic (Acrocephalus rodericanus), from extinction. deforestation rates footsteps of its fellow endemics. Common in the 19th century, the species populations began to However, as the ultimate goal for this hugely plummet following the clearance of its habitat for modified island is ecosystem conservation, the agriculture in the 1960s. Following the passage island’s forests are now being replanted with native of Cyclone Monica in 1968 scientists estimated vegetation. Large scale restoration of the landscape that only five to six pairs of the species remained. began in 1996 and has been progressing steadily However this stubborn bird hung on, weathering since. Plots are progressively thinned of exotics multiple storms throughout the 1970s to increase to and are then replanted with native seedlings. The 60 pairs in 1979. As the lack of habitat for Rodrigues invasive vegetation provides a makeshift nursery fody was a major factor contributing to its decline, for the native plants, protecting them from the regeneration of vegetation was identified as being a elements. This gradual approach ensures that there key activity required to ensure the species recovery. is always sufficient vegetation for the endemic Island watersheds were fenced and protected, fauna of the island to flourish. allowing the vegetation to regenerate. The introduction of bottled gas for cooking in the 1980s

104 Priceless or Worthless © Dubi Shapiro Priceless or Worthless 105 Megaptera novaengliae Humpback whale

In 1979 National Geographic sanctuaries in a number of countries, and is listed on Appendix I of both CITES and the CMS. Population size: included a sound sheet, ‘Songs of 60,000 (global estimate) the Humpback Whale’ with the Although commercial whaling decimated humpback January issue of their magazine. populations, this resilient species has bounced Range: back. There are continuing threats to the whales including ongoing and planned offshore oil and This ground breaking recording provided many All major ocean basins gas development, entanglement in fishing gear people with their first introduction to the magical and injury by ship strikes; however, the increases song of one of the ocean’s giants – the humpback Primary threat: observed in most populations suggest that human whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). The complicated Commercial whaling induced mortality is not currently at a level where it pattern of trills, whistles and booms emitted by will significantly impact the species. Actions taken: males of this species are particular to populations – groups from different ocean basins will sing Assessed as ‘Endangered’ on the 1988 IUCN Worldwide protection from distinctively different songs. Sung by males during Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM, the species migrations and at breeding grounds, probably as a commercial whaling in 1966, was downgraded to ‘Least Concern’ in 2008. This form of sexual display, these complex songs evolve inspiring recovery creates optimism for the future establishment of numerous over time. While today we marvel at their beauty survival of the humpback whale, as there seems and transcendental qualities, we almost robbed sanctuaries and listing on the little chance of a return to widespread commercial ourselves of the chance to ever hear them. CMS and Appendix I of CITES hunting of the species. There is also considerable commercial value of the species in ecotourism The humpback whale is a coastal species over operations – whale watching now occurs in almost much of its range and as such was an early target 100 countries and has an estimated value of over of the whaling industry. It was frequently hunted $1 billion (US). The exhilaration that people draw to commercial extinction, at which time whalers from this awe-inspiring ocean acrobat – humpback would switch to an alternate species. During the whales are known for their spectacular breaching last century over two million large whales were displays – seems likely to ensure its songs slaughtered, and of this number over 200,000 permeate our oceans for many years to come. humpbacks were killed in the southern hemisphere alone. Worldwide protection from commercial whaling in 1966 may have arrived just in time, as the humpback whale was drifting ever closer to extinction. Today the species is also protected by © Alex Rogers

106 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 107 Petroica traversi Black robin

“If the rarest bird in the world can In a bid to boost Old Blue’s breeding productivity, scientists implemented an ambitious program pinned Population size: be saved then, given human on cross-fostering black robin eggs with Chatham 224 mature individuals determination and effort, no species Island tomtits (Petroica macrocephala chathamensis). need become extinct” - Dr Don Merton This innovative approach proved successful and Range: has since been adopted and adapted to save endangered bird species around the world. The main Trapped on windswept Little Mangere Island, the Mangere and Rangatira, Chatham population of the Chatham Island black robin now diminutive Chatham Islands black robin (Petroica Islands, New Zealand resides on Rangatira (South East) Island, while a traversi) numbered just seven birds in 1976. Its smaller population remains on Mangere Island. New island home had lost the majority of its forest cover Primary threats: Zealand’s Department of Conservation continues and was teeming with introduced rats and cats as to manage the species and has strict protocols in Habitat loss and predation by a result of human settlement. These predators had place to avoid the transport of pathogens or invasive extirpated all but a handful of species, but the seven invasive species species into the bird’s island habitat. black robins hung on in the last remnants of bush. Actions taken: In a last attempt to save the species staff from the Once the most endangered bird in the world, the Re-location, restoration of habitat New Zealand Wildlife Service scaled the cliffs of black robin population now exceeds 200 individuals. Little Mangere, captured the last of the robins and The survival of this endearing bird is testament to and cross-fostering of clutches transferred them to Mangere Island, where 120,000 the commitment and ingenuity of the people who native trees had been planted in an attempt to boost fought to save it. Intensive management efforts have habitat and prey availability. Unfortunately, by 1980 a now been scaled back and this plucky species seems further two birds had died and none had bred. likely to persist in the forests of the Chatham Islands for years to come. Luckily, there was one tenacious bird that refused to give in. Robins usually mate for life, but when all seemed lost, Old Blue, hailed as the saviour of the species, changed mates and tried to breed again. Laying more eggs and mothering more chicks than any other robin, this miraculous bird lived for over 13 years and is the ancestor of every black robin alive today.

© Don Merton

108 Priceless or Worthlessworthless © Don Merton Priceless or Worthless 109 “The curious world we inhabit is more wonderful than convenient; more beautiful than it is useful; it is more to be admired and enjoyed than used”

Henry David Thoreau

110 Priceless or Worthless Eurynorhyncus pygmeus © Paul Marshall/ WWT Priceless or Worthless 111 Chapter 5 Final Word “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed”

Mahatma Gandhi

112 Priceless or Worthless Priceless or Worthless 113 What needs to be done?

All the species listed in this book are unique, particularly of those most in decline, has been And what for the species who are not yet at the • Encourage governments to invest more in our So what can you do to ensure the future of the fascinating and irreplaceable – if we lose them no improved and sustained’. It is now time to resource doorstep of extinction? To avoid pushing everything protected areas, greatly improve capacity in 100 most threatened species and many others amount of money will be able to bring them back. this commitment and to put the legislation and to the brink we will need to make some fundamental management, monitoring and enforcement like them? You can have a major positive impact However, we can still preserve these important legal frameworks in place to ensure it is achieved. changes to our current modus operandi. These will on species conservation if you buy less, buy • Greatly expand protected area systems on land components of our global cultural and biological The private sector, which benefits from nature but include slowing or stabilising population growth, sustainably sourced food and materials, invest in and in the oceans – ensure that at minimum heritage if we take action immediately. also plays a significant role in contributing to the reducing waste (including CO2 emissions) and companies that make nature conservation and the Aichi biodiversity target of protecting 10 per By implementing the actions listed alongside each decline of many species, should also make major consumption and implementing economic and legal sustainability a priority, support conservation cent of the oceans and 17 per cent of land by species in this book we can give them a fighting contributions to the fund. structures that promote environmentally sustainable organisations, vote for governments that keep 2020 is achieved, while aiming much higher chance for survival. growth and ensure good governance. This will biodiversity conservation high on the political However, saving these species requires more require commitments from across society and a • Work with industry to advance clean technology agenda (and keep their promises) and ensure that Urgent cases such as these require species specific than just a large fund; it requires the conservation fundamental change in how we value the natural and pressure governments to promote a rapid ecology and nature conservation is being taught actions – this includes the design and implementation movement and society as a whole to support the world, and how we see our place within it. transition to clean energy in the schools near you. However, one of the best of well researched action plans that involve the moral and ethical position that all species have things you can do is to choose a species or habitat relevant stake holders, focus on realistic solutions to an inherent right to exist. If we accept that a few Conservation organisations have a significant role to • Encourage government and industry to better and make a life-time commitment to ensuring its addressing the threats and have clear and measurable species can be lost, or that there is an economic play in leading this change. To aid the transition to a monitor, manage and report on natural capital future. You can start now by working to ensure the goals with set timeframes. To be successful these argument that justifies extinction, then one by one world where all species are valued and protected, (e.g. forests, fish stocks, coral reefs, and future of one of the 100 priceless species on this action plans must also have adequate resources for the species in this book will disappear. Losing the conservation organisations will need to: freshwater systems) and make it accessible to list. You can stop extinction. their implementation. Unfortunately, the provision 100 species in this book would represent the thin the public and investors • Clearly define the argument orf nature of sufficient resources is often absent, resulting end of the wedge leading to , plant and fungi • Promote and assist with effective land conservation and work with the world’s leading in many well written plans sitting on shelves as extinctions on a massive scale. The steadfast belief use planning at the national level ensuring PR and marketing agencies and cultural icons species move toward extinction. of the conservation community, public, government commitments to sustainable management of to ensure it is effectively communicated and industry that all species have a right to exist, natural capital Therefore, if we are to successfully reverse along with a commitment to pooling the resources, • Involve the next generation in conservation • Ensure industry follows environmental best declines, funding for the world’s most threatened time and energy needed to protect every them, through social media and new technology, practice (specifically the principals of no net loss species must increase several orders of magnitude. would be the first critical step in avoiding a biologically particularly citizen science, and engage the of biodiversity) and reward those companies We need a fund to prevent extinction, resourced by depauperate world. Our treatment of the species public with the task of monitoring and managing that lead the way. governments, that is in the billions, not millions. In in this book reflects the way in which we value all the planet 2010 the world’s governments made a commitment forms of life on the planet. If they are priceless then to prevent extinction by adopting the Strategic Plan all forms of life are priceless and must be protected, • Focus on developing a generation of best for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Aichi Biodiversity if worthless then we can rationalise living in a conservation scientists and managers in Targets, which form a part of this plan, state: ‘By species poor world where only animals, plants countries throughout the world 2020 the extinction of known threatened species and fungi that are deemed useful survive. has been prevented and their ,

114 Priceless or Worthless © Craig Turner Priceless or Worthlessworthless 115 Glossary

CBD: Ex-situ: Least Concern: Convention on Biological Diversity, entered into force on 29 December 1993 Conservation and maintenance of living species outside their natural habitat. This category includes widespread and abundant species and is assigned to Among other reasons, this may be undertaken to remove the species from threats those species which do not qualify for any of the other threat categories on the Chytridiomycosis: to assist re-introductions, restoration or reinforcement of natural populations. IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. An infectious disease caused by the chytrid, zoosporic fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. There is currently no effective means of controlling the disease Extinct: Native: in wild populations and has been cited as a contributing factor to the global A species is determined to be extinct following exhaustive surveys which leave A species that is indigenous to a particular place or country, i.e. it occurs naturally decline of amphibians. no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died. in an area and has not been introduced either intentionally or unintentionally.

CITES: Extinct in the Wild: Near threatened: Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and A species is determined to be extinct in the wild when the only known, Species in this category are those that don’t currently meet the criteria, but are Flora, entered into force on 1 July 1975. survivng individuals, exist in cultivation, captivity or in naturalized populations close to qualifying in the near future, for a threatened category of the IUCN Red well outside the confines of their historic range. List of Threatened SpeciesTM. CMS: Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also Head-starting: Re-introduction: known as the Bonn Convention) entered into force in 1983. When vulnerable life-stages, juveniles, larvae etc, are protected and then The intentional release of species back into the wild, either from captivity, released once they have reached a certain size or life-stage where they will be or by relocation from another area where the species still survives. Critically Endangered: less threatened. Critically endangered species are those considered to be at extrememly high risk of going extinct in the wild. They must have met criteria A to E for ‘Critically In-situ: Vulnerable: Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Conservation work that takes place within the natural populations or habitat A vulnerable species will have met one of criteria A to E for ‘Vulnerable’ in the of a species. This may be carried out by restoring or protecting the habitat and IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM and will be at high risk of extinction in Endangered: species, removing the factors which are threatening them. the wild. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild and must have met any of criteria A to E for ‘Endangered’ in the IUCN Red List of Invasive: Threatened Species. A species that is introduced to an area and survives, thrives and reproduces, and causes economic and/ or environmental harm to the area it has been Endemic: introduced into. An endemic species is one that is found exclusively in a particular place or country.

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