Back From The Brink
These species were each down to a small population, teetering on the brink of extinction, when timely conservation efforts intervened to bolster their numbers and bring them back. Learning from past experiences, these successful preservation endeavors were able to identify and target areas of critical impact in each individual case, be they habitat restoration and preservation, legal protection from hunting and injury, banning of harmful agents such as the pesticide DDT, or intensive captive breeding and repopulation programs. Thanks to focused and scientifically-informed efforts these species, and many more, can still be seen, heard and enjoyed around the world. These success stories, coupled with the stories of past species loss, combine to reinforce the importance of biodiversity on our planet, as well as the human roll in supporting or defeating it. Life on Earth relies on us continuing to value and support the complete ecosystems that make this beautiful abundance possible.