Now in its seventh year, Earth Hour is a global event symbolising solidarity in the fight against one of the greatest threats to our planet – climate change.

In 2011, more than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries switched off their lights for WWF’s Earth Hour, sending a powerful message to global leaders that the world wants immediate action on tackling climate change. Hundreds of millions of people are set to join in again this year, with many going ‘Beyond the Hour’ to commit to lasting action for the planet.

Earth Hour 2012 takes place at 8:30 pm local time on Saturday 31^st March, so get ready to flick those switches and join in the fight for a healthier planet! Here at ARKive, we’re taking a peek at a few species which are pretty good ambassadors of energy conservation and efficiency, as well as a species which functions quite well without light!

Mexican tetra

The Mexican tetra lacks functioning eyes

The Mexican tetra is a primarily carnivorous fish, of which there are two different forms. One of these forms lives in dark caves, and as a result it does not have functioning eyes. If this fishy fellow can survive without light its whole life, I reckon we can cope for an hour or so!

Sea otter

Sea otters often hold their paws out of the water to retain heat

Sea otters are able to keep warm by having the densest fur of any mammal, with about one million hairs per square centimetre of skin. While resting on its back, this marine mammal is often seen holding its paws out of the water; this helps to reduce the amount of body heat lost to the water, and can also help keep the sea otter’s body temperature up by absorbing radiant heat from the sun.

Emperor penguin

Emperor penguins huddle together to keep warm in harsh, icy winds

Emperor penguins live in one of the harshest environments on the planet, braving temperatures as low as -60°C. In order to survive the extreme cold, penguins often huddle together in large groups to conserve body heat. The penguins rotate positions within the swarm of feathery bodies, so that no single individual is constantly on the colder exterior of the group.

California condor

California condors soar on thermals created in their arid environment

The California condor may be big and bulky, but it is an energy-efficient flyer. It takes advantage of the hot air currents formed in its arid environment, and simply uses its large wings to soar on these thermals, expending little energy in doing so. This species has also developed its own answer to air-conditioning; the California condor urinates on its own legs to take heat away from its body through evaporation. The cooled blood is then circulated through the rest of the body.

Cheesman’s gerbil

Cheesman's gerbils are well adapted to conserving water

Cheesman’s gerbil lives in desert areas where water is a luxury, and this rodent has developed a highly efficient digestive system which enables it to extract as much water as possible from its food.

Dung beetle

Dung beetles are some of nature's best recyclers

Dung beetles are rather ‘green’ creatures, as they play a huge role in the removal and breakdown of dung in the environment, and help to recycle nutrients into the soil. There are many species of dung beetle, and the work of these recycling champions improves soil structure and fertility.

Don’t forget, Earth Hour is on Saturday 31^st March at 8:30 pm local time, so join the ARKive team and millions of other people worldwide and switch off those lights!

Kathryn Pintus, ARKive Species Text Author

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Immediate action on habitat loss is needed to secure the future of the Sumatran elephant, according to WWF.

Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) bathing

A subspecies of the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the Sumatran elephant has been uplisted by the IUCN Red List from Endangered to Critically Endangered after losing nearly 70% of its habitat and half its population in the last 25 years.

This dramatic decline is largely due to widespread deforestation on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, with much of the elephant’s natural habitat being converted for agriculture, oil palm production and timber plantations.

Rapid deforestation rate

Three subspecies of Asian elephant are generally recognised: the Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus) on Sumatra, the Sri Lankan elephant (E. m. maximus) in Sri Lanka, and the Indian elephant (E. m. indicus) on the Asian mainland.

Asian elephants in forest habitat

Although Sumatra holds some of the most significant populations of Asian elephants outside of India and Sri Lanka, it has experienced some of the most rapid deforestation rates within the species’ range. As a result of increasing human encroachment, many elephant populations have come into conflict with humans, and Asian elephants are also illegally targeted for their ivory.

Only an estimated 2,400 to 2,800 Sumatran elephants now remain in the wild, and the species has been lost from many parts of the island. Confined to the remaining forest patches, many herds are now too small and isolated to remain viable in the long term.

If current trends continue, it is feared that the Sumatran elephant could become extinct within the next 30 years.

Herd of Sri Lankan elephants (Elephas maximus maximus), another Asian elephant subspecies

Urgent action needed

“The Sumatran elephant joins a growing list of Indonesian species that are Critically Endangered, including the Sumatran orangutan, the Javan and Sumatran rhinos and the Sumatran tiger,” said Dr Carlos Drews, Director of WWF’s Global Species Programme.

“Unless urgent and effective conservation action is taken these magnificent animals are likely to go extinct within our lifetime.”

WWF is calling on the Indonesian government to ban all forest conversion in elephant habitat until a conservation strategy can be put in place to conserve the species. It also recommends that large patches of habitat should be designated as protected areas, and that smaller areas should be linked with habitat corridors.

Indian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus) calf

According to Asian elephant expert Ajay Desai, “It’s very important that the Government of Indonesia, conservation organisations and agro-forestry companies recognise the critical status of elephant and other wildlife in Sumatra and take effective steps to conserve them.”

“Indonesia must act now before it’s too late to protect Sumatra’s last remaining natural forests, especially elephant habitats.”

Read more on this story at WWF – Habitat loss drives Sumatran elephants step closer to extinction.

View photos and videos of Asian elephants on ARKive.

Liz Shaw, ARKive Species Text Author

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WWF has launched a new campaign in a bid to protect the threatened virgin forests of Romania.

Eurasian grey wolves rely on the forests of Romania.

The Carpathian Mountains of Romania harbour 250,000 hectares of virgin forest, pristine tracts of biodiversity untouched by human activities, which act as a stronghold for a wide variety of species. These unspoilt areas have high scientific, educational and ecological value, yet they equate to less than three percent of the country’s total forest cover.

In this, the International Year of Forests, and with the future of a major part of Europe’s natural heritage at risk, WWF is spearheading a new campaign to obtain total protection for more than 80 percent of Romania’s virgin, or old growth, forest. These areas house iconic species such as the grey wolf, Eurasian lynx and imperial eagle and were historically widespread, but are sadly now severely depleted as a result of poor management.

The Eurasian lynx is one of many majestic species found in the forests of Romania.

Irreplaceable

Virgin forests are complex, dynamic ecosystems built up of seedlings, young, mature and old trees, as well as dead trees and decaying logs, which provide a diverse range of habitats in which many plant, animal and fungus species thrive.

WWF’s Danube-Carpathian Programme in Romania works to protect all forest types, but the scheme recognises the importance of targeting the conservation of virgin forests. Magor Csibi, Romania’s Country Manager for the programme, highlights the urgency in acting now to save these areas of natural beauty: “We will never be able to rebuild this part of nature. Once lost, it is lost forever.”

Historically, Romania’s virgin forests remained untouched, partly as a result of their inaccessibility, and partly due to the low economic value of the wood obtained from old trees. Yet socio-economic pressures in Romania are currently high, and with an ever-increasing demand for wood and development, the country’s virgin forests are becoming more and more vulnerable.

Imperial eagle

Taking action

WWF has written to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in Romania, urging them to make the implementation of effective protection for the country’s remaining virgin forests a priority. The letter also asks for changes to the legislative framework, which would guarantee the protection of this critical ecosystem, as well as compensatory funds for private forest owners.

Magor Csibi is confident that the campaign will be successful: “We expect our initiative to be supported not only by people who wish for a sustainable future, but especially by the authorities who can decide whether to solve this problem or not. I believe that we can obtain 100 per cent protection of our virgin forests.”

An awareness raising campaign for the public has also been launched, which highlights the importance of virgin forests and urges people to sign a petition.

The capercaillie is still found in the forests of Romania.

Legend, legacy and life

The forests of Romania, which once inspired the legend of the vampire, are some of the last untouched areas of wilderness in Europe. With their biodiversity, along with their rich and deep-set culture, the loss of these wooded habitats would be a huge blow to the country.

Magor Csibi called upon people to take into account moral, as well as environmental, values: “Considering that we are among the last European nations fortunate enough to have such a treasure, it is our moral obligation to preserve this piece of nature intact and to leave a small piece of wilderness to our children.”

Read more on this story at WWF – WWF acts to save Europe’s last remaining virgin forests.

View photos and videos of species from Romania on ARKive.

Find out more about WWF’s forest conservation work.

Kathryn Pintus, ARKive Species Text Author

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The population of banteng in the Eastern Plains of Cambodia numbers between 2,700 and 5,700 individuals, according to research by WWF and the Cambodian government. This makes it the world’s largest remaining population of this Endangered wild cattle species. 

Male banteng in forest habitat

Thought to be the most likely ancestor of Southeast Asia’s domestic cattle, the banteng faces a number of threats, including hunting, habitat loss, and hybridisation with domestic livestock. The global population of this handsome cattle species is estimated at just 5,900 to 11,000 individuals, making the large Cambodian population particularly important to this species’ survival. 

“The current findings provide strong evidence of the global significance of the Eastern Plains of Cambodia for the conservation of the species,” said Mr Phan Channa, one of the researchers. 

However, banteng numbers in Cambodia have decreased by more than 90% since the 1960s, and this important population is under threat from hunting and increasingly rapid habitat loss. 

Female banteng

Important prey for tigers 

As well as banteng, the research also looked at numbers of other large mammals, including wild pigs and muntjacs. These species are in turn important prey for the tiger, another species that has undergone large population declines across Cambodia and the rest of Asia. 

One important aspect of the research was to understand the current levels of tiger prey species in the area, as part of the Cambodian government’s strategy to restore the Eastern Plains as a priority tiger landscape. The Eastern Plains has been identified as one of the most promising places in Asia for tiger recovery, given its large size and relatively good condition. It has also benefitted in recent years from better law enforcement and improved management of protected areas. 

The Indochinese tiger population in Cambodia is likely to benefit from an increase in banteng and other prey species

“The high levels of law enforcement effort by nearly 60 rangers patrolling regularly inside and outside protected areas is a big deterrent for poachers,” said Michelle Owen, Conservation Programme Manager at WWF-Cambodia. “However, much more effort is needed in order to eradicate poaching in this critically important landscape.” 

Rapid habitat loss 

Unfortunately, poaching is not the only threat to the banteng and other wildlife of the Eastern Plains. As in the rest of Cambodia, the forests in this region are increasingly under threat from land concessions for agriculture, and from plans for large infrastructure projects. 

The granting of land concessions inside protected areas, even if small, sets a dangerous precedent. According to Nick Cox, Species Conservation Manager at WWF, “It essentially means Cambodia’s protected areas, including those that contain globally important species populations, are not as protected by the law as people once thought.” 

The banteng has been domesticated in many locations. Hybridisation with domestic and feral cattle, together with disease transmission from domestic livestock, threatens the wild population.

Stronger protected area management needed 

WWF is urging the Cambodian government to fast track the development and implementation of zoning plans for protected areas, to protect areas of high biodiversity before any decisions on land concessions are made. 

“For tigers and prey species – including a globally endangered banteng population – to recover within the landscape, stronger protected area management and a commitment to conservation from high levels of the Cambodian government are essential,” said Cox. 

“Anything less threatens to unravel a decade of conservation progress and with each passing day diminishes the Eastern Plains’ value as a national and global ecological asset for current and future generations.” 

Read more on this story at WWF – World’s largest banteng population at risk in Cambodia from hunting and rapid habitat loss. 

Find out more about WWF’s work in Cambodia. 

View photos and videos of wild cattle on ARKive. 

Liz Shaw, ARKive Species Text Author

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The population of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River numbers just 85 individuals and may be on the brink of extinction, according to research by WWF.

The researchers also found that calf survival was very low and that the overall population is in decline.

A small population living on the border of Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic may be in an even more perilous situation, with just 7 or 8 individuals. This is the only area in Lao PDR where dolphins remain.

Photographic identification

WWF’s research was based on photographic identification of individual dolphins, using unique marks on their dorsal fins to help produce a population estimate.

Although the current population estimate is slightly higher than earlier estimates, the researchers note that more data and more advanced analysis mean that previously unidentified dolphins have now been included, and that the dolphin population has not increased over recent years.

“Evidence is strong that very few young animals survive to adulthood, as older dolphins die off and are not replaced,” said Dr Li Lifeng, Director of WWF’s Freshwater Programme.

Critically Endangered dolphin populations

The Irrawaddy dolphin is patchily distributed in shallow, coastal waters in the Indo-Pacific, from the Philippines to north-east India. Freshwater populations also occur in three river systems: the Mahakam of Indonesia, the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) of Myanmar, and the Mekong of Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam.

Although the species as a whole is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, the three freshwater populations are classified as Critically Endangered. Irrawaddy dolphins face a number of threats, including entanglement in fishing gear, pollution, the degradation of river systems, dam construction and live capture for aquarium display.

Entanglement in fishing nets is one of the main threats to the Irrawaddy dolphin

In the Mekong River, the Irrawaddy dolphin occurs in a 190 kilometre stretch between Cambodia and the border with Lao PDR, and although fully protected by law, it continues to face significant threats from entanglement in gill nets. The causes of the high calf mortality in this population remain unclear.

According to Dr Li, “This tiny population is at high risk by its small size alone. With the added pressures of gill net entanglement and high calf mortality we are really worried for the future of dolphins.”

Conserving dolphins in Cambodia

WWF is working to conserve this highly endangered dolphin through coordinated management with government agencies and local communities, and through the implementation of the Cambodian Mekong Dolphin Conservation Project. As part of this project, dolphin population surveys are being carried out at least twice a year, and research is being conducted into the causes of dolphin mortality.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is regarded as a sacred animal by many people in Cambodia and Lao PDR, and dolphin-watching ecotourism also provides a source of income and jobs for local communities.

WWF is calling on the Cambodian government to establish clear legislation for the protection of dolphins in Cambodia, which should include the designation of dolphin conservation zones and limits on the use of gill nets.

Read the full story at WWF – Urgent action needed to avoid extinction of Mekong dolphins.

Find out more about WWF’s work in Cambodia.

View photos and images of dolphins and whales on ARKive.

Liz Shaw, ARKive Species Text Author

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