In Kazakhstan be an antelope that would n’t look out of place on the set ofStar Wars . Saiga and their gloriously wibbly nose are one of the planet ’s most singular species , but poach andmass break down off eventssaw their numbers crash . In 2024 , however , theEarthshot Prizeawarded an ecosystem restoration effort that ’s start the saiga antelope universe to recover from 40,000 to 2.8 million in the last 20 year .
As part of the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative , the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds ( RSPB ) are celebrating their international campaign to restore 75 million hectares of grassland , wetland , and desert in Kazakhstan , which is dwelling to the once Critically Endangered antelope . As a keystone species , saiga are pivotal in maintaining a salubrious ecosystem , and one that ’s also relied upon by steppe eagles , sociable lapwings , kulan ( wild ass ) , and thePrzewalski ’s horse , show there ’s a lot more to these antelope than their alien - like trunk .
It ’s large news for enceinte - nosed wildlife , and just one of five report from 2024 that prove we can still be bright about the future of our non - human neighbour .
A fen raft spider female guarding an egg sac.Image credit: Ben Andrew, RSPB
“ This year has secured major nature win – from the historic sandeel fishing stoppage to saving specie like Saiga antelope from extinction – the RSPB has demonstrated what can be achieved through vital preservation efforts , ” said RSPB Chief Executive , Beccy Speight , in a statement email to IFLScience .
“ This would n’t have been possible without the passionate help from our member , volunteers and supporters . Whilst nature still faces many challenges , the RSPB is give to chance , go through and championing solutions that will give Bob Hope to our precious wildlife and fantastic space for many years to come . ”
Hope for the UK’s biggest spider species
The fen raft wanderer is theUK ’s biggest spider , but as one of its rare , it ’s become the focusing of preservation attempt to restore their number . The RSPB alongside several organizations have been enclose spider to newfangled land site and managing the shaving marshes these semi - aquatic ambush predators need to thrive . One such release took place at RSPB Mid Yare on the Norfolk Broads in 2012 , and it ’s judge there are now 3,750 females here .
Spoonbills’ precious teaspoons
Spoonbills made a triumphant comeback to Cambridgeshire for the first time since the 17thcentury in 2024 . They were once wiped out due to hunt and habitat degradation as wetland were enfeeble , but efforts to restore ecosystems have seen number climb in Europe .
Meanwhile , over at RSPB Havergate Island , mating pairs have climbed to 17 and this year fledge 35 spoonbills – live affectionately to hold teams as “ teaspoons ” . The future tense looks promising for these snowy blanched birds and their characteristically spoonful - determine bills .
Preventing one of the world’s rarest birds' extinction… with wasps
Another international project for the RSPB saw a phone number of small parasitoid wasps , Microterys nietneri , transported10,000 kilometers(6,200 miles ) from London to Nightingale Island , which is part of the Tristan da Cunha Group in the South Atlantic . It was hoped the flyspeck wasps could leave a lifeline to the Wilkins ’ Bunting finch , Nesospiza wilkinsi , by see invasive insects that were devastating the bird ’s only food source .
Only 10 percent of the wasps survived the journey , but it was enough to make a stiff enough population to bear the timber ’s recovery by controlling the invasive insect universe . It ’s now figure there are between 60 to 90 breeding pairs of Wilkins ’ bunting , and their bit are have a bun in the oven to go up .
Saving sandeels to save seabirds
Sandeel angle at an industrial scale has had a bash - on effect on puffin and kittiwakes who eat these fish in bombastic number ( and sometimescome to blows over them ) . Since 1996 , the RSPB has been campaigning to conclude the fisheries and it was finally successful in early 2024 .
“ The closure of industrial sandeel piscary has provided a lifeline to under - pressure seabird mintage such as Puffins and Kittiwakes that calculate on sandeels for food for thought , ” said Speight . “ Their populations are in serious decline and this shutdown is an of the essence first step towards helping their populations to recover , thereby underpinning wider marine food mountain chain that patronize our seabird . ”
However , the decision is now being dispute by the EU Commission and so the RSPB and several conservation group across the UK and Europe are continue to run against a drum roll - back on this hard - won victory .
An adult pair of spoonbills nesting with their teaspoons.Image credit: Jonathan Taylor, RSPB
These stories are a admonisher of what we can achieve when we commit to put in nature , and what we stand to mislay if we take their place on this Earth for granted .
Puffins may look cute, but they’ll fight you for a sandeel.Image credit: Katie Nethercoat, RSPB
