Animal Planet :: Conservation Efforts

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Conservation Efforts

Each episode of Caught in the Moment takes you to a different amazing location! Learn about the conservation efforts of each location and find out how you can help animals in need! Come back every week to learn about more conservation efforts.

Don't miss Caught in the Moment on Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

Costa Rica
Until recently, Costa Rica was losing its forests at an alarming rate and facing a host of serious environmental issues. Although deforestation continues its pace has slowed thanks to a national commitment to conservation and ecotourism. In fact, Costa Rica was one of the first countries in the world to establish a viable ecotourism industry. Learn more now.

British Columbia
The spirit bear is "endemic" or confined to British Columbia. If they disappear from this area, they will be extinct. The spirit bears need the Great Bear Rainforest in order to survive and reproduce. Also, protecting spirit bear habitat means that many other animals are also protected. The spirit bear is what scientists call an "umbrella species," which means that if suitable habitat can be protected for the spirit bear, many other species sharing the same ecosystem will also be protected under this umbrella. Learn more now.

Cocos Island
Shark populations around Cocos Island have declined drastically in recent years. Overfishing is the primary reason, but sharks also get caught in fishing nets and trawls set for other species. This is especially true of silky sharks, another species found in the waters of Cocos Island. But perhaps the main reason for the decline in shark populations is "finning," a particularly destructive and wasteful fishing process in which fins are removed from the shark and the remainder of the body is thrown overboard. Learn more now.

Japan
The Japanese terrain is a maze of steep mountains, active volcanoes, bubbling hot springs and fertile green valleys. These geographic features have a profound influence on the climate of the country, which includes some of the snowiest, rainiest, and driest places on earth. The varied climate has in turn shaped wildlife in Japan, which is home to a bounty of exotic and fascinating animals. Learn more now.

Madagascar
Madagascar is famous for its populations of lemurs, a primitive family of primates that once occurred throughout Africa but are now only found on Madagascar. There are more than 70 known lemur species and subspecies, 16 of which have gone extinct since the arrival of humans on the island. Those that remain are seriously endangered due to habitat loss. Learn more now.

India
The people of India are passionate lovers of nature and wildlife, and India has one of the most extensive networks of protected areas in the world. However, as the second most populous nation in the world, there is often conflict between human communities and wildlife. In recent decades, India has seen a number of its beloved animals go extinct. And although it is still one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, the fight to save animal species is only becoming more intense as the population grows. Learn more now.

Monterey
With pristine forests, sandy beaches, rocky tide pools and a thriving ocean ecosystem, Monterey is a paradise for animals. A variety of marine mammal species live in or pass through Monterey, such as California gray whales, orcas, dolphins, porpoises and sea lions. Monterey is also home to hundreds of different birds, including the bald eagle and California condor. Learn more now.

Thailand
Located in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand is a nation of picturesque beaches, rainforest jungles and majestic mountains. It is a land defined as much by its arresting natural beauty and spectacular wildlife as its rich history and ancient traditions. Learn more now.

Pictures: DCI | Getty Images
Contributors: DCI | Colleen Cancio

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