WWF-UK Research centre: Endangered species

chimpanzee, elephant, golden lion tamarin and whale

"Never have the threats to endangered species been so numerous. Never has the opportunity to change the destiny of a species been so great."
Stuart Chapman, Head of Species Programme, WWF-UK

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Endangered species

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Why protect species?

WWF-UK's work on species

WWF network's work on species

Why protect rare and endangered species?
Protecting the world's species and their habitats lies at the heart of WWF's mission to conserve the earth's biodiversity and was the prime reason for the organisation's establishment in 1961.

Whilst important in their own right, species are also critical for maintaining the fundamental balance of ecosystems. As charismatic icons, they also provide unique opportunities for promoting and communicating critically important conservation and environmental issues.

WWF-UK
At WWF-UK our goals are:

to reduce threats - such as wildlife trade and habitat loss - to wild populations of 12 'flagship' species groups:
- Chimpanzee
- Elephant (Asian and African)
- Giant panda
- Hawksbill turtle
- Humpback Whale
- Iberian lynx
- Mountain gorilla
- Orang utan
- Rhino (black, Sumatran, Javan and one-horned)
- Snow leopard
- Tiger
to ensure wildlife trade does not threaten additional selected wild populations of plants and animals - including the musk deer, sharks, sturgeon, Tibetan antelope and mahogany.

Success!
North Atlantic right whale
Having achieved our policy aims - to encourage the Canadian Government and the IMO to move international shipping lanes to reduce ship collisions with right whales (by 80 per cent) - WWF-UK will now focus on the humpback whale. However, WWF-US will continue to support North Atlantic right whale conservation.

WWF network
The WWF global network focuses particular attention on a small number of globally important 'flagship' species: the giant panda, tiger, marine turtles, great apes, whales, elephants (African and Asian) and rhinos (in both Africa and Asia).

These charismatic creatures inspire conservation efforts for themselves - and for the thousands of lesser-known, but vitally important, plants and animals with which they co-exist.

Extinct

In December 2006 WWF-UK was involved with ITV's Extinct programme highlighting the plight of endangered animals around the world. Read more about the animals that were featured on Extinct.