Tanzanians unite to protect lions, elephants, and other endangered species
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Tanzania is home to the largest wild lion population in the world and the second largest population of elephants. It is a vital stronghold for many endangered species including Africa’s shrinking population of wild dogs, and boasts rich and diverse ecosystems like savannas, forests, and wetlands.

Tanzania’s commitment to conservation is evident in its extensive network of protected wildlife areas. The country’s tourism industry, much of it based on nature, accounts for 18% of GDP and generates 1.5 million jobs for local workers.

In many ways, Tanzania is one of Africa’s most inspiring conservation success stories.

But growing and maintaining public and policy support for conservation is a constant challenge, especially when it’s perceived as competing with economic development. That’s why WildAid recently teamed up with a broad coalition of Tanzanians to kick off a communications campaign with this simple message: conservation is for everybody.

The campaign features two new videos spotlighting prominent Tanzanian singers, TV personalities, and influencers, alongside everyday citizens, each sharing what nature means to them and that they are proud to identify as conservationists.

Check out the videos and learn more here ([link removed]) .
Ghost nets are silent killers. Here’s how we’re tackling this global challenge.
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Marine plastic pollution caused by abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear — known as ghost gear or ghost nets — is an urgent global challenge.

These synthetic nets can drift for years, ensnaring marine animals, damaging coral reefs, and degrading slowly into harmful microplastics. When entangled in coral, ghost nets break fragile structures, block sunlight critical for photosynthesis, and introduce harmful bacteria that accelerate coral disease. Ghost nets put entire ecosystems at risk.

Last month, WildAid in partnership with the marine conservation group Nature Ocean Conservation (N.O.C.) and under the guidance of the First Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources launched the public welfare initiative “No Net Left Behind, Dive in to Help Protect” in Wanning, Hainan Province, China.

To kick off the effort, 13 trained divers took to the water for a two-day mission. Across four retrieval dives, they removed roughly 100 kg of abandoned fishing nets from local coral reefs, a small but crucial step toward restoring reef health and raising public awareness.

“The longest net retrieved in this operation was about 80 meters — if fully stretched, it could cover over 100 square meters of coral reefs, affecting countless marine species that depend on them,” said Shen Jian, founder of N.O.C. and a participating diver.

See the impact for yourself. Watch our short video capturing the dive and the important work of this new initiative ([link removed]) .
Sharks are disappearing. Here’s why.
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Sharks are considered some of our planet’s most at-risk animals. Global populations of sharks and their relatives have fallen by around 50% over the last 50 years, putting 37% of species at risk of extinction. But today the threats are increasing and rapidly changing.

Historically, the main issue has been over-consumption of shark fin soup. A decade ago, a landmark study estimated that we humans were killing up to 100 million sharks a year, and that as many as 73% were killed for their fins.

Thankfully, consumption of shark fin soup has declined significantly. In fact, WildAid’s campaigns have helped to reduce shark fin consumption in mainland China by about 80% since 2011.

The bad news is that an updated study in Nature by Dr. Boris Worm at Dalhousie University and published last year showed that humans are still killing about 100 million sharks per year. What has changed over the past decade? Sharks are now being killed not just for their fins but for their meat and other body parts.

Today, the threat is no longer just about shark fin soup. It’s about shark meat in so many products — in fish and chips, pet food, mislabeled seafood, and even cosmetics.

Even worse? Sharks are not highly reproductive like other fish species such as cod or tuna that can spawn thousands of offspring each year. Sharks have an extremely low population growth rate, and they only give birth to 8-12 pups each year. Meaning sharks cannot possibly keep up with humans’ massive fishing pressure.

In honor of Shark Awareness Day, WildAid President John Baker shared a powerful reflection ([link removed]) on the shifting threats facing sharks — and the changes WildAid and our partners around the world need to make to protect them.

Sharks are vital to maintaining the balance and biodiversity of marine ecosystems. Reef sharks limit parrot fish populations, preventing the over-grazing of coral reefs. Tiger sharks keep sea turtles from depleting the Bahamas’ extensive sea grass beds. Just two examples of the critical role sharks play in keeping our oceans healthy. They need us, and we need them.
Introducing Climate Conversations
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88% of Americans support climate action, but you’d never know it from our conversations.

Surveys consistently show that the majority of Americans support both individual and systemic climate action, but we underestimate just how many of our family members, friends, and colleagues feel the same.

The result is that we stay silent, which can come across as indifference.

In fact, two-thirds of Americans rarely or never talk about climate change, even with our families and friends. But simply talking about climate change is one of the most impactful steps we can take. It normalizes concern, makes action contagious, and helps connect the dots between global climate shifts and local impacts, from disappearing pollinators to rising heat and drought in our communities.

That’s why we’re launching “Climate Conversations ([link removed]) ,” a new initiative designed to help spark more meaningful dialogue about climate change, with one simple idea each month to get people talking.

This month’s starter question:
How have the weather and seasons changed since you were a kid? (Think: stronger storms, increased natural disasters, longer heatwaves, etc.)

As the conversation progresses, consider asking:
* Have you seen any benefits of climate action in your community or among your friends?
* What climate action have you seen benefit other regions that you think should be adopted locally?

Let us know how it goes! ([link removed])

Keep an eye on your inbox and our social channels as we roll out new prompts, ideas, and resources to help make climate a part of everyday conversation – accessible, local, and led with curiosity.
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Small But Mighty Agents of Change.
WildAid's Mission is to inspire and empower the world to protect wildlife and vital habitats from critical threats.

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