On 8 October 1961, the Daily Mirror ran a major appeal on behalf of the newly formed World Wildlife Fund (WWF's former name). Over four decades later, WWF has become the world's largest and most respected nature conservation organisation.

During its 40-plus-year history, WWF has been involved in countless successful conservation initiatives. Here are just a few of our succes stories illustrating the scope and variety of our work:

1 Amur (Siberian) tiger
In the 1930s, there were only 20 or 30 Siberian tigers recorded in the wild; now there are just under 500. Still an endangered species, the major threats to them are loss of habitat and poaching for use in traditional Asian medicines.

WWF's work includes cooperating with local government agencies investigating and exposing the illegal trade in tiger parts and supporting patrols in protected areas. In 1999 WWF set up an emergency fund to provide immediate support for the tiger in critical situations such as forest fires.

2 Asian elephant
The wild elephant population in Thailand is now under 2,000, while the captive population is over 3,000. Many forests which previously supported them are now protected as National Parks. They contain good elephant habitat but have lost their wild elephant populations. The logging ban in place since 1989 means more and more captive elephants - previously used as workers and transporters in logging operations - are now redundant and unemployed.

WWF is conducting experimental releases of selected captive elephants into target areas to assess the viability of this strategy as a long-term option for increasing the wild population and reducing captive elephant welfare problems at the same time.

3 Giant panda
WWF's support for panda conservation in China started 22 years ago, and WWF was the first international environmental organisation to be invited into the country. WWF has supported the Chinese government in the creation and management of panda reserves. In addition, it funds and trains reserve staff and anti-poaching operations, is undertaking population surveys and is looking at the potential for ecotourism to provide income to local communities in and around panda habitat.

4 Orang utan
WWF has been involved in the conservation of the orang utan since 1962. In spite of this, the population is believed to be fewer than 25,000 - approximately half what it was 10 years ago. The most serious threat to the species is habitat loss due to conversion to agriculture and development, and forest fires.

Thanks to a tip-off from a photographer from The Mirror, WWF worked with local police in Bali to free 16 orang utans from captivity. The animals were found caged in shops and were in danger of dying in the sweltering heat. The shop owners now face possible prison sentences.

5 Black rhino
Despite the constant threat from poaching, the number of black rhinos is slowly increasing from a low in the early 1990s of 2,300 to a recent estimated population of 2,800. WWF has supported rhino conservation in many ways, ranging from providing equipment and training to assisting on maintenance jobs such as fencing in conservation areas.

Since 1984 WWF has worked to establish and expand rhino sanctuaries. It has also helped in the translocation of rhinos between these sanctuaries to increase breeding, genetic health and re-stock under-populated areas. These sanctuaries are beginning to exceed their capacities to sustain healthy levels of population growth, so they are now being slowly re-established in more open, free-ranging habitats.

6 Great one-horn rhinoceros
WWF has been supporting species and habitat conservation in Nepal since 1973. One specific achievement is the successful translocation of 38 rhinos from Chitwan National Park to other protected areas in order to establish new breeding populations. In 1994, the Nepalese government announced that a joint WWF rhino survey indicated that the Chitwan population of rhinos had increased from 358 to approximately 600 in just 10 years. This is due in part to the successes of anti-poaching units, the benefits from tourism which are returned to local people, and park management.

7 Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project
The Golden Lion Tamarin Conservation Project is one of the best-known forest conservation schemes in Brazil. The golden lion tamarin, a strikingly beautiful squirrel-sized primate that exists only in the lowland Atlantic Forest of the state of Rio de Janeiro, is one of the most endangered wildlife species on earth.

The population has significantly increased since 1984 due to protection, expansion of habitat, reintroduction and the support of landowners. golden lion tamarins have bred very well in captivity and have been reintroduced into Brazil thanks to the efforts of many zoos around the world, including Jersey and Marwell.

8 Javan rhino
In 1999, WWF received the first ever pictures of the rare Vietnamese population of the Javan Rhino. Up to eight of these critically endangered rhinos live in the Cat Tien National Park. These animals are so elusive that many scientists thought they were extinct until a poacher was arrested trying to sell a skin and horn in 1988. The other population of Javan rhinos - in Ujong Kulong Reserve, Java - numbers 60 and is protected, with WWF help.

9 New species in Vietnam
Three new species of large mammal have been discovered in the Vu Quang Nature Reserve in Vietnam since 1993. The Truong Son muntjac, the giant muntjac and the Sao la have all been found by WWF-sponsored surveys.

10 Chimpanzee
Nigeria's Gashaka Gumti National Park, located on the border with Cameroon, houses the most significant population of chimpanzees in west Africa. These primates are rare in other parts, but around 2,000 still exist here, thanks in part to the mountainous undisturbed forests. A survey of these chimpanzees revealed a new sub-species unique to the area. WWF recognises the importance of Gashaka Gumti to the survival of these animals, and over the past year we have spent £100,000 on conversation projects in the area.

11 Jaguar
The main threats to the jaguar are rainforest destruction and persecution as a predator. Since 1986, WWF has given substantial funding to the Cockscomb Basin wildlife sanctuary in Belize, which is home to around 200 jaguars. WWF has also supported jaguar conservation in the vast Pantanal region of Brazil.

12 Snow leopard
Despite its name, the snow leopard is rarely found in snow, though it does live in cold, high Asian mountain ranges. Only a small proportion of the 4,500-7,500 animals live in protected areas. Poaching, the decline of its natural prey and encroachment of alpine pastures by humans and livestock hinder its recovery. WWF continues to fund projects involving these creatures in Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan.

13 Year for the tiger campaign
WWF's Year for the Tiger campaign raised more than £880,000, which secured immediate funding for projects in seven countries. It helped establish an international rapid response emergency tiger fund, strengthened anti-poaching patrols across Asia and contributed towards a significant change in United States law relating to imports of tiger parts.

14 Mauritius kestrel
This bird of prey was apparently common in the mid-19th century wherever native forest remained. However, deforestation and the effects of pesticides are believed to be the main reasons why numbers fell drastically. By 1974 only four birds remained in the wild and two in captivity. Captive breeding for reintroduction and supplementary feeding of wild pairs has fostered a remarkable population recovery. In 1994 there were between 229 and 286 birds, which included around 60 pairs.

15 Tibetan antelope (shahtoosh)
WWF launched an awareness campaign in London with the Metropolitan Police targeting retailers of luxury wool products. Retailers were sent information packs on the illegal trade in shahtoosh (the wool from the endangered Tibetan antelope) and asked to display stickers proclaiming 'we don't sell shahtoosh'. The campaign resulted in a 90-per-cent positive response from retailers.

16 Pedaliodes (Isobel's) butterfly
A new species of butterfly was recently discovered by a WWF conservation officer on an expedition to the foothills of the Andes. Pedaliodes, a medium-sized butterfly with a wingspan of around eight centimetres, was found in Podocarpus National Park. This discovery is particularly poignant as some 90 per cent of the Andean forest in this region has been cleared, destroying habitats and species at a faster rate than they are being discovered.

17 African Elephant
In the eastern sector of the mighty Selous Game Reserve, where WWF-UK is supporting the reserve management, elephant poaching has been significantly reduced. This reduction in poaching is attributed to the provision (by WWF-UK) of additional vehicles, the opening of new patrolling roads, the construction of permanent ranger posts and the training of rangers. A notorious poacher (among others) was arrested in August 2000, together with his rifle and ammunition.

18 Wild flowers in Turkey
With funding from WWF, Flora and Fauna International embarked on a project in a remote village in Turkey to control unsustainable harvesting of wild bulbs for the European market. Until relatively recently, wild bulbs had been collected by poor Turkish villagers with little effective regulation, and as a result the bulb trade was unsustainable. Now, however, the programme is teaching the villagers that wild collection can be replaced by cultivation and therefore provide long-term income. In 1993 seven villagers started the scheme, and by 1999 the number had reached 44 with the potential for many more to become involved.

19 Korup rainforest
One of the most ambitious projects yet undertaken by WWF is in the west African country of Cameroon. The Korup project is one of only a handful of schemes in the world that show how a forest can not only pay for its own protection but also bring about a significant improvement in living standards for local people. A core area has been set aside as a national park, and outlying regions are used to provide an income from Korup's natural resources.

20 Thailand - illegal trade in wildlife and plants
Thousands of live animals, hundreds of thousands of skins and millions of orchids passed through Bangkok each year until WWF launched a vigorous drive to combat this trade. The campaign included a tourist boycott that remained in place until the Thai government introduced and enforced laws to stop the illegal trade. This action, coupled with airlines operating an international ban on carrying wild animals and the Thai Prime Minister's personal interest in the issue, resulted in remarkable success. Within a year, the National Assembly brought in rigorous wildlife protection legislation and trade controls - some of the toughest in the world. As a result, the problem has vastly improved.

21 Mining ban in Antarctica
In 1991, WWF played a significant role in bringing about an international moratorium on prospecting, oil drilling and mining in the Antarctic, the most pristine continent on our planet, for at least 55 years.

22 International polar bear convention
In 1973, WWF, in association with the World Conservation Union, persuaded the five Arctic nations to sign the International Polar Bear Convention to promote scientific study and control hunting. By 1983 the polar bear population had doubled to 2,000; today it stands at about 30,000.

23 Southern Ocean Sanctuary
WWF's vigorous lobbying culminated in the Southern Ocean being declared a whale sanctuary in 1994. It covers 30 million square kilometres and links with the Indian Ocean sanctuary to create the biggest such area in the world.

24 Driftnet ban
WWF's constant efforts bore fruit in 1998 when the European Commission decided to ban fishing with driftnets in EU waters by the end of 2001. Driftnets catch many non-targeted species such as dolphins and turtles, as well as non-commercial fish species.

25 World Conservation Strategy
WWF, the World Conservation Union and the United Nations Environment Programme launched Caring for the Earth, a strategy for sustainable living, in 60 countries. It listed 132 actions people at all social and political levels could take to safeguard and improve their environment and quality of life.

26 Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy
In 1985, WWF and the World Conservation Union launched the first global campaign to alert the world to the increasing danger to plants. As a result, experts from 42 countries created a Botanic Gardens Conservation Strategy to maintain collections of many wild plant species endangered in the wild and to educate the public about the value of plants.

27 Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
WWF pioneered the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 1993 to oversee the independent certification of wood and wood products that come from well-managed forests. Since then, over 180 forests, covering more than 21 million hectares, have been independently certified, and more than 10,000 products now carry the FSC logo - accounting for over 20 per cent of all wood products sold in the UK.

28 Protected area network
In 1998, an alliance was established between WWF and the World Bank to set up a worldwide network of protected areas, including 200 million hectares of well-managed forests by 2005.

29 Resolution of harmful anti-foulants
Working with the International Maritime Organisation, WWF ensured a world-wide phasing out of harmful organotin anti-foulants by 2003. These chemicals, used on the hulls of ships, have been shown to cause damaging and irreversible effects to marine life.

30 Persistant organic pollutants protocol
WWF has been involved, through lobbying and consultation, in the completion of a global treaty which calls for the elimination of eight man-made chemicals that are directly toxic to wildlife and humans. Restrictions on the use and production of a further four are also included in the treaty.

31 Bat
The UK has 14 species of bat remaining, but they are in decline due to lack of habitat and the use of insecticides. In 1990, WWF played a part in setting up the Bat Conservation Trust, which aims to project bats, their roosts and breeding habitats. WWF has also been involved in many projects throughout the country, constructing and installing bat grilles and boxes.

32 Otter
Otters are protected by national and international law, and WWF has been instrumental in maintaining the existing otter populations. Together with the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, it has been recreating a historic wetland area on a section of the River Avon to provide a suitable habitat for these animals. WWF is also lobbying for protected sites in other areas to maintain the otter population.

33 UK wildlife habitats
Important wildlife sites in the UK and Ireland have been saved, thanks to WWF. With backing from WWF, local residents have ensured that the Burren, a vast area of limestone on the west coast of Ireland, is safe from development and unsustainable tourism.

Plans to widen the M25 London orbital motorway to 14 lanes were scrapped following opposition from groups including WWF. The plans threatened reservoirs and gravel pits important for wintering wildfowl.

WWF intervened in a High Court case to ensure that the Severn Estuary received the first stage of crucial international protection for its wildlife. The European Court supported the arguments put forward by the UK government and WWF.

Working with local farmers and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, WWF has secured a review of water level management on the Derwent Ings, an internationally important wetland supporting rare plants, breeding and wintering birds.

34 Countryside and Rights of Way Act
This Act, which became law in February 2001, is a vital step forward for the survival of some of Britain's best-loved and most vulnerable creatures and habitats. WWF has been instrumental in ensuring that this legislation has come into force. Its Living Countryside Campaign helped raise public awareness of the lack of legal protection for species and habitats. WWF also lobbied MPs, civil servants and government ministers with great success.

35 Woodland Assurance Scheme
In 1999, WWF, the UK government and the forest industry launched the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme - a national certification standard for British forestry. It was the first such scheme anywhere in the world.

36 Environmentally sensitive farming
In the 1980s, WWF persuaded governments in the UK and Europe to pay farmers to farm in a more environmentally-sensitive way. This was a major turning point in agriculture, encouraging farmers to manage important features of our countryside, which are vital for farmland butterflies, birds and flowers. WWF is continuing to campaign for more money to be made available for these schemes.

37 Habitats Directive and Special Areas of Conservation
WWF produced a list of important wildlife sites in the UK that it believed should be designated as Special Areas of Conservation. Using the list as a tool to lobby both the UK government and the European Commission, WWF achieved great success. Under the EU Habitats and Species Directive, the number of SACs in Britain has now been increased from 340 to 576.

38 Climate Change Levy
Through extensive lobbying of government, WWF can claim success for the introduction of a levy, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the 1999 Budget, to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. This reduction, to come into force in April 2001, will be achieved by taxing business use of fossil fuels and electricity. A study, commissioned by WWF and applauded by the Environmental Audit Committee, concludes that this levy will help reduce greenhouse gases in the UK by almost one million tonnes of carbon dioxide in the first year alone.

39 Souvenir Alert Campaign
WWF launched a campaign in 1996 to stamp out the illegal trade in wildlife, estimated to be worth over £3 billion a year. It called on the public to use their eyes and ears and phone a special hotline to report any wildlife-related crime. This campaign has achieved great success thanks to the public's vigilance. Tip-offs led to the collapse of an international bird egg-smuggling ring based in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. In addition, a phone call from a member of the public helped crack an astonishing case in London involving some of the world's most endangered species.

40 Education for Sustainable Development
In 1999, WWF achieved a landmark goal when the UK government identified sustainable development as a vital part of the National Curriculum for England. This means that all curriculum subjects will explore social, economic and environmental aspects and how they'll influence natural and manmade environments.

To find out more about WWF's work and history, visit the about WWF section.