From the sunny savannahs of East Africa to the rapid river basins of China, we're working together with WWF to help protect some of the most biodiverse habitats around the world. This includes a WWF project that protected a whopping 500,000 acres in the Amazon Rainforest. Not only is the Amazon home to 10% of all species on Earth, the trees there also help clean the atmosphere by storing an impressive 140 billion tons of carbon emissions. Basically, no Amazonian trees= no fresh breeze!
THE WORLD'S QUIRKY CREATURES NEED OUR HELP!
From the lush landscapes of New Zealand to the exotic Amazon rainforest, the world is full of weird and wonderful creatures that often get overlooked. But just like the more popular endangered animals, habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to their existence.
Kiwi - New Zealand
This quirky little bird is like no other!
Kiwi - New Zealand
This quirky little bird is like no other; they’re flightless, have feathers like fur and even have nostrils at the end of their beak. Instead of nesting in trees, they dig underground burrows and lay gigantic eggs. The kiwi became nocturnal to hide from predators introduced by man. Their population has decreased by 99% in the last 50 years. But, together with Kiwis for kiwi, we’re turning their fortunes around.
Yangtze Finless Porpoise, China
Lovingly called "river pig" by locals
Yangtze Finless Porpoise, China
Lovingly called "river pig" by locals, the porpoise’s naturally cheeky smile has made it quite an icon in China. But food loss and boat collisions are making the river a dangerous place – driving the Yangtze River Dolphin to extinction in 2006, now the finless porpoise is at risk of facing the same fate.
Gharial, India
Despite their huge size, this cousin of the crocodile is far from a man-eater.
Gharial, India
Despite their huge size, this cousin of the crocodile is far from a man-eater. Male Gharials use their snout to make sounds and blow bubbles to attract a mate. Incredibly endangered, they often get caught in fisherman’s nets and their homes, in rivers like the Ganges, are being polluted by toxic waste.
Jaguar, Amazon
They’re the largest cats in Latin America and the top predator in the Amazon.
Jaguar, Amazon
They’re the largest cats in Latin America and the top predator in the Amazon. Unlike most cats, jaguars love water and will even hunt whilst swimming. Tragically, their habitat has already decreased by 50%, and they’re still killed because people fear them or because they prey on livestock.
Giant Anteater, Amazon
Surprisingly these greedy eaters don’t have teeth.
Giant Anteater, Amazon
Surprisingly these greedy eaters don’t have teeth. Instead they guzzle around 30,000 ants and termites a day with their long tongues. Scientists estimate there may be as little as 5,000 of them left in the wild. They really need protecting.
Short Ear Dog, Amazon
These dogs are pretty cheeky and rely on another quirky creature for their burrows.
Short Ear Dog, Amazon
These dogs are pretty cheeky and rely on another quirky creature for their burrows. They take shelter in a hole once an armadillo has done the hard work of digging it! Their fruity diet means they also play a vital role in the Amazonian ecosystem, which is why it’s essential we protect them.
In the past 20 years alone, over 2000 new species of plants and animals have been identified in the Amazon. Fabulous finds in the last 10 years include a vegetarian piranha, a bronze-legged poison dart frog, a flame-patterned lizard and a monkey that purrs like a cat. It’s also estimated that over 90% of the Amazon’s insects are still unknown. With so much still to discover in the rainforest, and around the world, we want to ensure these places are protected before they’re lost forever.
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
If you think this is a cause that you’d like to get involved with, why not join us in the fight for your world with WWF? There are so many different ways, both big and small, in which you can help to ensure more species and spaces are able to thrive – click below to find out how you can make an impact.
Established in NZ. Made in the UK.
