Wildlife Fund

There are over 500 species of primates, and over 65% of them are threatened with extinction. The major threats are deforestation, habitat degradation, poaching, disease, and small populations. Although primates receive a relatively large amount of conservation support, this is not the case across the group with species like the great apes and lemurs receiving far more attention than other species. The Milkywire Wildlife fund focuses on the more overlooked groups of species such as the Red Colobus of Africa, the primates of the Mentawai islands in Asia and the primates of Brazil’s Atlantic Forests.

Amphibians are represented by over 8,600 species of frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. 50% of amphibians are threatened with extinction. This makes amphibians the most threatened vertebrate group compared to sharks and rays (37%), mammals (27%), reptiles (21%), and birds (13%). A recently completed Global Amphibian Assessment led by Re:wild identified several groups of amphibian species with the highest conservation and restoration needs, such as the colorful Harlequin toads, Viviparous toads, Robber frogs, Pumpkin toadlets, and Mentella frogs. These priority species are the focus of the Wildlife fund. Alongside species, the assessment identified 50 prioirty landscapes for amphibian conservation. Coordinated efforts in these landscapes provide opportunities to restore whole communities of threatened amphibians, maximizing positive impact from the Fund’s investments.

The wildlife of Southeast Asia is spectacular including many of humankind’s favorite species such as tiger, rhino, elephant, orangutan, birds of paradise, Komodo dragons, manta rays and freshwater dolphins. However, the region’s wildlife is impelled with 22 percent of all threatened species and 20 percent of all Critically Endangered Species found within Southeast Asia. In addition to the Annamites with ongoing conservation efforts, the initiative will cover several priority landscapes such as Sumatra, Mindoro, Negros, Sulawesi, Seram, Java, and Eastern Cambodia.

Eastern Africa is home to unique ecosystems, such as the Eastern Afromontane, which hosts a multitude of endemic species not found anywhere else in the world, many critically endangered or vulnerable. However, the region faces severe challenges, including deforestation, wetland draining, and other habitat destruction, driven by rapid population growth, urbanization, and agricultural expansion. As human populations expand, conflicts between people and wildlife (like elephants raiding crops or lions preying on livestock) also pose major threats to wildlife. Wildlife tourism is a major revenue generator for several Eastern African countries. Protecting species ensures the continued viability of this industry, which supports local economies and funds conservation efforts.