Frankfurt Zoological Society / Zoologische Gesellschaft Frankfurt’s Post

Just over a decade ago, the arapaima — a fish capable of growing up to 10 feet long and weighing up to 500 pounds — faced extinction, its numbers ravaged by overfishing. But conservation efforts spearheaded by local communities have turned things around, with arapaima numbers dramatically increasing across the Amazon 🐟. The arapaima’s resurgence is a conservation triumph that can serve as a blueprint for safeguarding other large aquatic species in the Amazon and globally, according to Brazilian ecologist and #NatGeoExplorer João Campos-Silva. And it highlights the crucial role of local communities in leading successful conservation endeavors. Campos-Silva works with communities along the Juruá River, a major Amazon tributary in western Brazil, as part of the National Geographic and ROLEX #PerpetualPlanet Amazon Expedition — a multi-year science and storytelling exploration of the Amazon River basin to further our understanding of this intricate freshwater system and advance solutions to ensure its protection. Explore more: https://lnkd.in/ejM_yhci. Photo by André Dib

These are the examples we need to multiply.

The recent recognition of Colombian marine biologist Fernando Trujillo as the 2024 Rolex National Geographic Explorer of the Year shines a spotlight on the critical work being done to protect the Amazon’s river dolphins. His moniker, 'omacha,' bestowed by the Tikuna Indigenous community, reflects the deep connection between his conservation efforts and the cultural values of the people who inhabit the Amazon basin. Trujillo's approach is a beacon of hope in the realm of conservation. By collaborating with local communities to develop dolphin-friendly practices, he not only safeguards the river dolphins but also supports sustainable livelihoods. His work underscores the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge and community engagement in conservation strategies. The Amazon’s aquatic health, as indicated by the status of its river dolphins, is a testament to the health of the entire ecosystem. Trujillo’s efforts, including the 2023 Global Declaration for River Dolphins, aim to address the multifaceted threats these creatures face from fisheries, mining, and deforestation. His story is a powerful reminder that protecting biodiversity is not just about the species themselves but about preserving the integrity of entire ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them. Let's take inspiration from Trujillo's dedication and remember that every effort counts in the fight to preserve our planet's precious biodiversity. Together, we can transform our own communities and industries to support a more sustainable and equitable future for all inhabitants of this Earth. Read more about Fernando Trujillo's impactful work and the enchanting 'omacha' here: #ConservationHero #AmazonRiverDolphins #SustainableFutures

🌳🔥After São Paulo and the Amazon, the Brazilian cerrado savanna is on fire A fire at the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, in the heart of Brazil’s savanna-like Cerrado biome, reached its fifth day on Monday, consuming over 10,000 hectares of land. The park is located in the state of Goiás, about 230 kilometers from Brazil’s capital Brasília. Firefighters have been in the region since September 5. On the first day, they faced challenging terrain, walking three kilometers in a hard-to-reach area to get to the fire, which was consuming native Cerrado vegetation in an area with many hills and rocks. The first fire, which was put out, extended for about 10 kilometers. Created in 1961, the National Park Chapada dos Veadeiros protects an area that spans nearly 241,000 hectares in central Brazil. The park is a Unesco World Heritage Site for “containing flora and fauna and key habitats that characterize the Cerrado — one of the world’s oldest and most diverse tropical ecosystems.” The region features over 10,000 plant and 1,500 animal species. 🔗Read more in our full article by Cedê Silva here 👇 https://lnkd.in/dkPyssfu #Deforestation #ClimateChange #ExtremeWeather #ForestFires

While not an isolated occurrence, the recent revelation of a young sturgeon's migration from #Turkey to #Bulgaria underscores the crucial significance of cross-border collaboration and the imperative to curb the illegal #caviar trade. The urgent need to address habitat loss, over-exploitation, pollution, and climate change is starkly highlighted by the alarming decline in populations of freshwater migratory fish including #Sturgeon. WWF Central and Eastern Europe WWF CITES

🌊🦈 Dive into the latest findings from https://zurl.co/5DWO for #SharkScienceSaturday! A new study reveals a troubling gap in conservation efforts for some of the ocean's most endangered species, particularly those in the elasmobranch group. These beloved creatures play a vital role in marine ecosystems, yet they're facing significant threats due to insufficient protection measures. Let's shine a light on the importance of safeguarding these oceanic superheroes! https://zurl.co/kuT8 #OceanConservation #EarthCom #OceanLove #SharksAreImportant

Keystone species play a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems, and the #AsianElephant (Elephas maximus) 🐘 is a prime example of such a species. As the largest terrestrial mammal in Asia, these majestic creatures shape their habitats in profound ways.   Asian Elephants are #EcosystemEngineers, shaping forests and grasslands through their feeding and movement patterns. Their browsing behavior helps to create clearings in dense vegetation, allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and promoting the growth of diverse plant species. Additionally, their dung serves as a vital source of nutrients, aiding in seed dispersal and fertilizing the soil.   Beyond their ecological impact, Asian Elephants are cultural icons, revered in many Asian cultures and playing a significant role in traditional practices and rituals. However, their populations are under threat due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.   Conservation efforts are crucial to ensuring the survival of Asian Elephants and the preservation of the ecosystems they inhabit. By protecting these keystone species, we not only safeguard the biodiversity of their habitats but also ensure the well-being of countless other species that rely on them for survival. Terracon Ecotech 🌿   #KeystoneSpecies #AsianElephant #Conservation #BiodiversityGuardian #HabitatPreserver #WildlifePreservation #AsianElephantConservation #EndangeredSpecies #WildlifeProtection

Banknotes and coins symbolise more than just monetary value; they serve as powerful representations of national identity and pride. Through their designs, they capture a nation's history, honour its heroes, and highlight its achievements, while in some cases, they also showcase the unique fauna of the nation, adding to the sense of pride and belonging they evoke. In our latest paper published in People and Nature, we investigated the representation of native fauna on over 4,500 banknotes from 207 countries between 1980 and 2017, to identify geographic hotspots and taxonomic patterns, and determine whether threatened and endemic species were more readily represented. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gXKi_Zmh Read The Conservation article here: https://lnkd.in/gYfuJhir Guy Castley Clare Morrison #Banknoteimagery #conservation #currency #fauna #iconography #nationalidentity

🐟 Sturgeon, among the oldest fish species on Earth, have been around for over 200 million years. Now on the brink of extinction due to overfishing, a flourishing illegal caviar trade and habitat loss, sturgeon are categorized as the most endangered species groups worldwide. 📢 On World Fish Migration Day, WWF urges for enhanced cooperation among countries bordering the Black Sea and connected river systems to ensure the survival of these magnificent creatures. Dive into the story of a rare discovery we have come across earlier this year that clearly highlights the need for collective action 👉

Elephants play a vital role in East African ecosystems. These magnificent creatures, a keystone species, exert a profound influence on the overall environmental health and biodiversity of Amboseli. Elephants not only function as habitat architects, creating clearings that allow sunlight to penetrate and foster diverse plant growth, but they also act as seed dispersers, traveling vast distances and scattering seeds with their nutrient-rich dung, promoting plant regeneration in new areas. Their dung serves another critical function, acting as a natural fertilizer that decomposers break down, returning valuable nutrients to the soil and promoting healthy plant growth. Elephants also create vital water sources during dry seasons by excavating water holes with their tusks, benefiting not only themselves but numerous other animals. Despite their ecological significance, elephants face significant threats from ivory poaching to human-elephant conflict, to habitat loss. To combat these threats, Big Life’s community rangers conduct anti-poaching and anti-trafficking patrols to deter illegal activity and protect elephant populations. We strategically address human-elephant conflict by deploying rapid-response ranger units and building crop-protection fences. Additionally, Big Life collaborates with local Maasai communities to promote sustainable land management practices that benefit both elephants and people. Finally, we believe fostering understanding and coexistence through community outreach programs is crucial for long-term conservation success. By working together, we can ensure elephants continue to roam free and contribute to the ecological tapestry of East Africa. Happy Save the Elephant Day. #savetheelephantday #endangeredspecies #elephants #amboseli #coexistence 📸: Nikki Best