Conservation calls, the podcast

Mongolia provides suitable habitats for Pallas cats, but the Wildlife Science and Conservation Centre of Mongolia conducted extensive surveys to identify the most optimal locations. Key factors included the abundance of prey, such as pikas and voles, and the availability of natural shelters like rocky crevices. The main priority, however, was locating the cats themselves, especially after a harsh winter that resulted in significant wildlife mortality.

Ultimately, two sites were selected for artificial shelters, strategically placed in flat steppe areas where the cats hunt and along juvenile dispersal routes.

With support from a MBZ Fund grant, 32 camera traps were installed in key habitats, successfully identifying 11 individuals. Among them, only two kittens were born to a single female, indicating poor reproductive success following the difficult conditions.

Insights gained from the camera traps will guide the placement of additional shelters during winter. Volunteers from Russia and local Mongolian residents are also assisting in monitoring the shelters and maintaining the camera traps.


#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment ...

The UAE is proudly supporting a groundbreaking initiative to protect the critically endangered Malayan tiger (Panthera tigris jacksoni) and other rare species in Malaysia’s Pahang State. A generous US$22 million grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, part of the newly established Erth Zayed Philanthropies, was announced during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
 
This five-year project, in partnership with ENGGANG Services, aims to enhance the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve, adjacent to the ancient Taman Negara National Park. Covering approximately 1,340 square kilometers, this reserve is vital for the survival of the Malayan tiger, with fewer than 150 individuals remaining in the wild.
 
H.E. Razan Al Mubarak, Managing Director of MBZ Fund, emphasised that “the initiative will boost climate mitigation measures and benefit local communities. The pristine rainforests within the reserve sequester millions of tons of carbon. The project will also engage local communities, including Indigenous peoples, providing economic opportunities that benefit both people and the environment.”
 
Cross-border collaborations like these are essential for protecting our planet`s natural heritage.

Access the complete press release detailing the partnership through the link in our bio.

#MBZFund #Enggang #malayantiger #reserve #UAE #Malaysia #partnership #indigenouspeoples #localcommunity ...

Iqram and his team at Tapak Diversitas Hayati Nusantara (TARSIUS) are tirelessly working to preserve the Critically Endangered snail Tylomelania zeamais in Lake Matano, Indonesia.

With support from the MBZ Fund, they successfully “re-discovered” this elusive snail, which had been declared extinct on the IUCN Red List and was previously absent from the localities where it once thrived. Through thorough surveys and despite numerous threats, including invasive alien species like the flowerhorn cichlid and sailfin catfish, as well as thick algae and mud covering the lake’s bottom, they found the snail in the shallow waters.

The next crucial step is to develop a comprehensive conservation action plan. The grant also enabled Iqram to engage local students and youth, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for their natural heritage. The MBZ Fund has also facilitated him to finally establish a legally recognised youth community under the Indonesian Ministry of Law, named Tapak Diversitas Hayati Nusantara (TARSIUS), empowering the next generation to be stewards of their environment

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Indonesia #snail #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment ...

A recent grant from the MBZ Fund has been a game changer for a project by Md Jahir Rayhan, centered on the Sundarbans crow butterfly, a stunning species native to the world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans.

Thanks to this funding, they launched their first field survey aimed at uncovering the butterfly’s behaviors and its intricate relationship with local mangrove plants. One of the key discoveries was observing the butterfly replenishing pheromones on the withered Crotalaria plant, a vital part of its mating ritual!

Jahir’s team also documented the various plants visited by the Sundarbans crow butterfly for nectaring, which is crucial for understanding its role in pollination. Additionally, tissue samples were collected for further research, laying the groundwork for targeted conservation efforts.

This project not only enhances our understanding of the butterfly’s ecological significance but also inspires ongoing conservation initiatives. Through collaboration with local communities, we can ensure the long-term survival of this extraordinary species in its natural habitat!

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Bangladesh #wildlife #nature #animals #birds #support #environment ...

This project focused on the conservation of axolotls (Ambystoma) in western Mexico, particularly in Jalisco, home to species such as A. flavipiperatum, A. amblycephalum, A. velasci, and A. rosaceum. With funding from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, expeditions were carried out to locate axolotls, collecting tissue samples and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis swabs from various populations for future genetic analyses.

The project also identified threats such as pollution, the introduction of exotic species, and habitat fragmentation. To raise awareness, educational workshops, and the photo exhibition “Axolotls of Jalisco” by biologist Saulo Cortés highlighted the importance of these species and their ecosystems.

A key factor in the project’s success was the creation of a collaborative network involving government institutions, civil society organizations, and academic institutions, strengthening conservation efforts.

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #sustainability #uae #Mexico #wildlife #axolotl #nature #animals #support #environment ...

The MBZ Fund has supported Students Conserving Nature (Estudiantes Conservando la Naturaleza, ECN) in their efforts to protect the critically endangered Vallarta mud turtle (Kinosternon vogti), the most endangered turtle in the Americas. With only eight remaining habitats and declining wild populations, this species is on the brink of extinction.

The funding has enabled ECN to raise community awareness and collaborate with landowners, developers, and the City of Puerto Vallarta to study and conserve this turtle in four key habitats. Key initiatives include an interactive sticker campaign, a public fair on the Malecón Boardwalk, field studies using radio telemetry, and stakeholder engagement to safeguard the turtle’s habitats.

With the MBZ Species Fund’s support, ECN is making significant progress toward securing a future for the Vallarta mud turtle while promoting community involvement and environmental stewardship.

#mbzfund #conservation #speciesconservation #endangeredspecies #wildlifeconservation #biodiversity #turtle #sustainability #uae #Mexico #wildlife #nature #animals #support #environment ...