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Well 2020 was unequivocally shit.
BUT! I think it's important not to lose sight of the good things.
So here is a thread showing some of the GOOD WILDLIFE NEWS that has happened this year, starting with a mountain gorilla baby boom!
1/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53997900
BUT! I think it's important not to lose sight of the good things.
So here is a thread showing some of the GOOD WILDLIFE NEWS that has happened this year, starting with a mountain gorilla baby boom!
1/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53997900
Five years' worth of conservation work has paid off, after the large blue butterfly returned to the Cotswolds for the first time in 150 years!
This is such an impressive achievement because the butterfly's lifecycle relies on ants!
2/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/13/large-blue-butterfly-flutters-in-cotswolds-for-first-time-in-150-years
This is such an impressive achievement because the butterfly's lifecycle relies on ants!
2/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/13/large-blue-butterfly-flutters-in-cotswolds-for-first-time-in-150-years
Over TEN THOUSAND Olive Ridley turtles were released off Gianyar beach in Bali!
The turtles are considered Vulnerable, and it is hoped that this release will help boost their numbers and encourage local people to protect their future
3/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/08/thousands-of-baby-turtles-released-into-sea-off-bali
The turtles are considered Vulnerable, and it is hoped that this release will help boost their numbers and encourage local people to protect their future
3/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/08/thousands-of-baby-turtles-released-into-sea-off-bali
Sticking with the ocean, blue whales have returned to South Georgia!
It may have taken five decades following the whaling ban, but this year almost 60 individual whales were spotted suggesting that they may finally be starting to recover
4/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54994814
It may have taken five decades following the whaling ban, but this year almost 60 individual whales were spotted suggesting that they may finally be starting to recover
4/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-54994814
The most threatened subspecies of chimpanzee, the Nigeria-Cameroon chimp, will get a supporting hand after the government of Nigeria's Ekiti state moved to establish a conservation zone in order to help protect some of their last remaining habitat 
5/ https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/nigeria-declares-new-conservation-zone-for-most-threatened-chimpanzee/
5/ https://news.mongabay.com/2020/04/nigeria-declares-new-conservation-zone-for-most-threatened-chimpanzee/
For the first time in over 600 YEARS, white storks successfully bred in the UK!
Two pairs of birds on the Knepp Estate hatched a total of six chicks this year
#ConservationOptimism 6/ https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/2020/07/after-606-years-white-storks-are-nesting-in-britain-again
Two pairs of birds on the Knepp Estate hatched a total of six chicks this year
#ConservationOptimism 6/ https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/animals/2020/07/after-606-years-white-storks-are-nesting-in-britain-again
On the theme of births, Diego the giant tortoise has done his bit helping to save his species from extinction and has now entered retirement.
The 100-year-old tortoise is (part) responsible for 40% of the 2,000 Española tortoises that now exist
7/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/16/diego-the-tortoise-father-to-hundreds-and-saviour-of-his-species-finally-retires
The 100-year-old tortoise is (part) responsible for 40% of the 2,000 Española tortoises that now exist
7/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/16/diego-the-tortoise-father-to-hundreds-and-saviour-of-his-species-finally-retires
OK this is not actually conservation news, but I missed this story and it is really freaking cool so I wanted to share it anyway.
Andean condors can fly for 100 miles (160km) without once flapping their wings
#ConservationOptimism 8/ https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2020/07/experts-high-flying-study-puts-soaring-birds-in-spotlight.php
Andean condors can fly for 100 miles (160km) without once flapping their wings
#ConservationOptimism 8/ https://www.swansea.ac.uk/press-office/news-events/news/2020/07/experts-high-flying-study-puts-soaring-birds-in-spotlight.php
A rare plant not seen for over 100 years has reappeared in Norfolk after the reestablishment of a ghost pond!
It is thought the grass-poly seeds have remained dormant in the mud this entire time
#ConservationOptimism 9/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55104153
It is thought the grass-poly seeds have remained dormant in the mud this entire time
#ConservationOptimism 9/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55104153
I'd like to take this moment just to acknowledge that this list is very subjective!
It is v vertebrate heavy and v UK centric because that is what (unsurprisingly) mostly makes the UK press. So if you have any other non-vertebrate/UK positive stories then do share!
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It is v vertebrate heavy and v UK centric because that is what (unsurprisingly) mostly makes the UK press. So if you have any other non-vertebrate/UK positive stories then do share!
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Forget bears, lynx and wolves, the UK will be reintroducing the burbot!
Last seen swimming British rivers in 1969, hundreds of thousands of fish will be raised and released over a five-year project
#ConservationOptimism 11/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/06/return-of-the-burbot-great-lost-fish-to-be-reintroduced-to-uk
Last seen swimming British rivers in 1969, hundreds of thousands of fish will be raised and released over a five-year project
#ConservationOptimism 11/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/mar/06/return-of-the-burbot-great-lost-fish-to-be-reintroduced-to-uk
Alright look I know my gorilla bias is showing, but this is amazing and there is no way I couldn't share it!
Camera traps capture the first-ever footage of a large troop of cross river gorillas, including a little baby! #ConservationOptimism 12/ https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/14574/First-Ever-Images-of-Worlds-Rarest-Gorilla-with-Groups-of-Babies.aspx
Camera traps capture the first-ever footage of a large troop of cross river gorillas, including a little baby!
#ConservationOptimism 12/ https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/14574/First-Ever-Images-of-Worlds-Rarest-Gorilla-with-Groups-of-Babies.aspx
The last known Loa water frogs have bred, producing over 200 tadpoles!
Native to Chile, their habitat has been drying up, so this will be a huge boost for the species
#ConservationOptimism 13/ https://www.iucn.org/news/species-survival-commission/202010/fewer-20-loa-water-frogs-left-world-hatching-tadpoles-revives-hope-critically-endangered-species#:~:text=The%20Loa%20water%20frog%20is,still%20living%20in%20the%20wild
Native to Chile, their habitat has been drying up, so this will be a huge boost for the species
#ConservationOptimism 13/ https://www.iucn.org/news/species-survival-commission/202010/fewer-20-loa-water-frogs-left-world-hatching-tadpoles-revives-hope-critically-endangered-species#:~:text=The%20Loa%20water%20frog%20is,still%20living%20in%20the%20wild
A new species of praying mantis has been described from Brazil's Atlantic rainforest!
It has been named in honour of the National Museum of Brazil, which caught fire in September of 2018
#ConservationOptimism 14/ https://news.mongabay.com/2020/03/a-new-mantis-species-rises-from-the-ashes-of-brazils-national-museum/
It has been named in honour of the National Museum of Brazil, which caught fire in September of 2018
#ConservationOptimism 14/ https://news.mongabay.com/2020/03/a-new-mantis-species-rises-from-the-ashes-of-brazils-national-museum/
Sticking with the Atlantic rainforest, this year saw the first birth of a tapir in the forest for over 100 years!
The Atlantic rainforest is heavily degraded, so it is hoped that the baby tapir signals some form of recovery
#ConservationOptimism 15/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/birth-of-wild-tapir-offers-hope-for-brazils-endangered-ecosystem
The Atlantic rainforest is heavily degraded, so it is hoped that the baby tapir signals some form of recovery
#ConservationOptimism 15/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/18/birth-of-wild-tapir-offers-hope-for-brazils-endangered-ecosystem
Satellite images have revealed 11 new emperor penguin colonies!
By looking out for ice stained with guano (that's poop to you and me), scientists have boosted the known number of colonies by 20%
#ConservationOptimism 16/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/05/throng-of-new-penguin-colonies-in-antarctica-spotted-from-space
By looking out for ice stained with guano (that's poop to you and me), scientists have boosted the known number of colonies by 20%
#ConservationOptimism 16/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/05/throng-of-new-penguin-colonies-in-antarctica-spotted-from-space
The European commission ordered France to stop using glue traps.
This particularly brutal practice is still used in some regions of France to catch song birds, and has been criticised as it is cruel and non-selective
#ConservationOptimism 17/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53930797
This particularly brutal practice is still used in some regions of France to catch song birds, and has been criticised as it is cruel and non-selective
#ConservationOptimism 17/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53930797
There has been a mountain lion baby boom in California!
This summer saw 13 kittens born in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills west of Los Angeles, a record year since the records began
#ConservationOptimism 18/ https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-09-03/southern-california-sees-summer-of-mountain-lion-kittens
This summer saw 13 kittens born in the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills west of Los Angeles, a record year since the records began
#ConservationOptimism 18/ https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-09-03/southern-california-sees-summer-of-mountain-lion-kittens
The first bevers to live wild in England for HUNDREDS of years have been allowed to stay!
The family of beavers were discovered on the River Otter a few years ago, but this year were granted official permission to remain
#ConservationOptimism 19/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/06/englands-first-wild-beavers-for-400-years-allowed-to-live-on-river-otter
The family of beavers were discovered on the River Otter a few years ago, but this year were granted official permission to remain
#ConservationOptimism 19/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/aug/06/englands-first-wild-beavers-for-400-years-allowed-to-live-on-river-otter
OK OK I'm going to take a break here as I need to eat.
BUT! I will pick it up a little later as I think we could all do with a little more positivity at the moment!
In the meantime, do comment with any other positive wildlife news from this year that you know of!
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BUT! I will pick it up a little later as I think we could all do with a little more positivity at the moment!
In the meantime, do comment with any other positive wildlife news from this year that you know of!
20/
Right, I'm fed and watered and I've got a full glass of 
wine
So check this out! A new scheme has been set up to create hundreds of miles of wildflower verges!
#ConservationOptimism 21/ https://twitter.com/shootsfilm/status/1340747359895101442?s=19
wine So check this out! A new scheme has been set up to create hundreds of miles of wildflower verges!
#ConservationOptimism 21/ https://twitter.com/shootsfilm/status/1340747359895101442?s=19
For decades Tasmanian devil numbers have been devastated by a deadly contagious face cancer.
But this year, there have been signs that the marsupials may well have turned a corner and that the R number (
) may now be <1 #ConservationOptimism 22/ https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/tasmanian-devils-claw-their-way-back-extinction?utm_campaign=NewsfromScience&utm_source=Contractor&utm_medium=Twitter
But this year, there have been signs that the marsupials may well have turned a corner and that the R number (
) may now be <1 #ConservationOptimism 22/ https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/tasmanian-devils-claw-their-way-back-extinction?utm_campaign=NewsfromScience&utm_source=Contractor&utm_medium=Twitter
A colony of one of the UK's rarest seabirds has had their best breeding season in over 25 years!
Over 200 little terns have fledged from Norfolk this year
#ConservationOptimism 23/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-norfolk-55286518?__twitter_impression=true
Over 200 little terns have fledged from Norfolk this year
#ConservationOptimism 23/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-norfolk-55286518?__twitter_impression=true
