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The EDGE of Existence programme was officially launched on 16th January 2007
The programme highlighted the world's 100 most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered mammals. The EDGE team were stunned by the response by the media – which wanted to raise awareness – and the general public who wanted to support the conservation of "nature's underdogs". Six expeditions into the wild, five species captured on camera for the first time, three species rediscovered, one entirely new animal discovered and several new conservation initiatives later, it's time to celebrate 5 years living on the EDGE!
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Baby slender loris
This photo of a baby slender loris was ubiquitous. It was in publications ranging from Hello magazine to Science!
© ZSL
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Our first EDGE Fellow
Uuganbadrakh Oyunkhishig studied the little-known long-eared jerboa in Mongolia's Gobi desert. The EDGE Fellows programme aims to equip early-career conservationists on the ground with the tools to conserve their local EDGE species. Uugan's project led to new conservation recommendations for small mammal communities in the Gobi Desert, and the first footage of wild long-eared jerboas!
© ZSL
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Long-eared jerboa
The long-eared jerboa can be distinguished from other jerboas by its enormous ears, which are about a third larger than its head! © ZSL
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Rediscovery of the Hispaniolan solenodon
Solenodons are among the few terrestrial mammals that survived European colonisation of the West Indies. Following the rediscovery of the Hispaniolan solenodon in Haiti, we helped establish the first focused conservation programme for this incredible species – first in Dominican Republic and then Haiti itself.
© Eladio Fernandez
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Attenborough's echidna was presumed extinct until a 2007 EDGE expedition
Known only from a single specimen, collected from the Cyclops Mountains of Papua over 50 years ago, Attenborough's echidna was presumed extinct until a 2007 EDGE expedition uncovered evidence of its continued survival. Now we're working to establish a conservation project to find out more about the status and threats facing this bizarre egg-laying mammal so it can be protected. © Hein van Grouw
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The Cyclops Mountains
The Cyclops Mountains are a rugged mountain chain in Papua (Indonesian New Guinea). They are the only known home of Attenborough's echidna, and are currently severely threatened from overexploitation of natural resources. We do not know for sure how many echidnas – if any – survive there, but any that do are likely to be extremely threatened. © ZSL
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The Yangtze River dolphin
The Yangtze River dolphin (baiji) was the highest ranked EDGE mammal in 2007, meaning it was the most unique and endangered animal on the planet. Just seven months later it was declared functionally extinct – the first large vertebrate to go extinct in 50 years and the only species of cetacean (whale, dolphin or porpoise) ever to be driven to extinction by human activity.
© Wang Ding
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Too late
We may have been too late to save the baiji, but we were determined not to allow any other EDGE species share its fate.
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We launched EDGE Amphibians in 2008
We launched EDGE Amphibians in 2008 and were again astounded by the media interest in the launch. Little known species such as purple frogs and Chinese giant salamanders were suddenly thrust into the limelight and a whole new community of EDGE supporters was founded. The amphibians need as much support as they can get – back in 2008 a whopping 85% of the top 100 were receiving little or no conservation attention.
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Success in Liberia
2008 saw our field researchers capture the first camera trap photos of wild pygmy hippo in Liberia. EDGE team member Ben Collen, helped train EDGE Fellow John Konie in wildlife monitoring using a network of hidden camera traps in Sapo National Park, Liberia. Supported by Fauna and Flora International (FFI), this project has been running for the past 3 years, and has helped us to gain a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of pygmy hippos and other large vertebrates in the park. © ZSL
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Wild pygmy hippo in Liberia
This project acted as a catalyst for the development of a regional conservation programme for the pygmy hippo. There is now a comprehensive conservation strategy for the pygmy hippo across the whole of its range in West Africa.
© ZSL/FFI/FDA
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Our first cohort of EDGE Fellows
Our first cohort of EDGE Fellows came to the UK in August 2008 to receive training in developing and implementing effective conservation projects. They have since gone on to achieve successes ranging from the discovery of animals new to science to spearheading the development of national conservation strategies.
© ZSL
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Amphibians in a Climate of Change
One of the highlights of 2008 was when Sir David Attenborough joined us for an event focusing on amphibians and climate change. It was a fascinating evening and all the proceeds from the event went to support EDGE amphibian projects, including our work on the purple frog, Chinese giant salamander, South African ghost frogs and Chile Darwin's frog. © ZSL
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The Horton Plains slender loris
In 2010, after more than 200 hours surveying the montane forest of Sri Lanka, our slender loris conservation team rediscovered one of the world's rarest and most threatened primates. The Horton Plains slender loris had only been seen four times since 1937 and was widely presumed extinct. Following this discovery we are now focusing our efforts on the conservation and restoration of the remaining montane forest where this subspecies still exists. © ZSL
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Mysterious species
When Kenyan EDGE Fellow Grace Wambui was awarded an EDGE Fellowship to study the golden-rumped elephant-shrew, she had little idea that she would discover a mammal that is potentially new to science. Rumours of a mysterious species of giant sengi in the Boni Dodori forest, close to the Kenya border with Somalia, were confirmed during a joint ZSL-Kenya Wildlife Service expedition to the forest. Expedition members photographed the mystery animal and believe it may be a new species. This discovery has underlined the conservation significance of these isolated forests, which are unfortunately highly threatened by on-going rapid coastal development. There is an urgent need for the development of a management plan for the region and its unique species. © ZSL/KWS
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EDGE Coral Reefs
EDGE Coral Reefs was launched in 2011, following one of the worst years on record for coral bleaching. Coral reefs have been around for 400 million years and support one third of all marine life, despite only inhabiting 0.2 per cent of the ocean floor. Current worst case predictions suggest that tropical coral reefs will be functionally extinct within the next 30 -50 years. EDGE Coral Reefs focuses on improving the resilience of the world's most diverse coral species, ensuring our coral reefs flourish in the future.
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EDGE Corals training course
The first EDGE Corals training course was held in Hogarth, Indonesia in July 2011. It was attended by early-career conservationists from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. With our support, these in-country conservationists will form a global network of ambassadors for coral reef conservation, helping to empower and assist local communities in managing reef resources. © ZSL
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First regional EDGE Conservation Tools training course
The greatest challenge for conservation is building capacity in regions of high biodiversity value. Only by equipping local people with the skills, tools and confidence to manage their own biodiversity will long-term conservation goals be met. Our Fellowship programme aims to do just that. Building on our existing networks, scientific and teaching expertise, we aim to provide comprehensive training and sustained support to the next generation of conservation leaders. We got off to a good start at the first regional EDGE Conservation Tools training course, which was hosted by the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. The course was attended by 15 early-career conservationists from Nepal, India, Vietnam, Croatia, Kenya and Cameroon. We have high hopes that this new generation of conservation leaders will act as ambassadors for EDGE species and help to ensure their conservation. © ZSL
