EDGE Achivements
Since EDGE was established in 2007, our passion for nature, optimism and determination to help solve the species extinction crisis, have helped us meet a huge number of conservation milestones. In the last five years we have kick-started the careers of 28 conservationists from developing countries, re-discovered three animals thought to be extinct, discovered one entirely new species, developed four conservation strategies, and expanded the programme so that we now work in over 20 countries worldwide.
Take a moment to browse through our conservation timeline below and learn more about our history.
Panama
Two ZSL scientists conducted the first extensive pygmy three-toed sloth population survey on the island of Escudo and found less than 100 left in the wild. EDGE began a campaign to raise £5,000 for their conservation.
London
A revolutionary new tool that delivers live photographs of wild animals from motion sensitive cameras placed in remote locations across the globe.
The public can then contribute to scientific research by identifying different animals.
Nepal
New fellows from around the world joined the EDGE team in Chitwan National Park. Over four weeks, they were trained in conservation biology, ecological monitoring, social surveying and action planning.
Philippines
After attending the training course, Gregorio ("Ditto") dela Rosa joined the EDGE team to complete a year-long Fellowship carrying out conservation work for three flagship species: mushroom coral, elegance coral, and bubble coral.
Sri Lanka
After the success of the the slender loris campaign, ZSL EDGE scientist Craig Turner travelled out to help the local communities begin replanting native species of vegetation, reconnecting existing forest patches and promoting environmental awareness.
Find out more about the project >
Hoga, Indonesia
Eight early-career conservationists spent three weeks learning vital skills in research, monitoring and management of coral reefs, which are essential to preserving the biodiversity of the world's oceans.
London
The Chinese pangolin (left) was one of 49 new mammals on the new EDGE list, which also included the rondo dwarf galago (far left), the Kha-Nyou and the elusive saola antelope. Species lists are regularly revised so that EDGE stays up to date.
Discover the real EDGE Science >
Kenya
While searching for the golden-rumped elephant shrew, EDGE Fellow Grace Wambui captured the first images of the Boni Forest Sengi, possibly a new species of elephant shrew.
Read the blog >
Sri Lanka
ZSL EDGE scientists reported the first close examination in 70 years of this slender loris (left) subspecies after more than 200 hours of surveys.
An online campaign by EDGE raised over £5,000 for a reforestation programme to help the loris populations recover.
New Zealand
The government abandons plans to mine 7,000 hectares of land that is habitat for two top priority EDGE amphibians: Archey’s frog and Hochstetter’s frog (right) following public pressure.
Dominican Republic
A three-year conservation project for the Hispaniolan solenodon and Hispaniolan hutia (left) received support from the Darwin Initiative.
The project is co-ordinated by EDGE and the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust.
Liberia
Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was reportedly excited by the wild pygmy hippo photos taken in 2008, so she paid a visit to Sapo National Park and met rangers like our Fellow John Konie, calling on the people of Liberia to protect their animals and forests.
United Kingdom
Six new Fellows attended a new two-week Conservation Tools Training Course in England, equipping them for future careers in conservation.
LiberiaEDGE Fellow John Konie and a team from ZSL made the first photographic records of wild pygmy hippos from Liberia, and the second ever footage filmed globally.
Archey's frog - the number one amphibian ambassador for EDGE
Woodlark IslandAfter a huge public response to an online campaign sparked by an EDGE blog, the Malaysian company Vitroplant abandoned its plans to convert the island to oil palm plantations, successfully saving the habitat of local populations of the woodlark cuscus.
Papua New Guinea Scientists from ZSL undertook initial survey work and they found physical signs that confirmed the presence of the elusive echidna.
One of its closest relatives is the eastern long-beaked echidna (left) also endemic to Papua New Guinea.
London
EDGE is the first global-scale programme specifically developed to conserve the world’s most evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered (EDGE) animals, which have few close relatives and are uniquely irreplaceable in the web of life.
The first mammals list is released and our first EDGE Fellow, Uuganbadrakh Oyunkhishig from Mongolia, is appointed to study the jerboa (left).