As the world faces climate change and the loss of natural habitats, many wild animals are threatened with extinction.
A United Nations report calculated that up to one million of the world’s estimated eight million animal and plant species were threatened with extinction, with many likely to disappear within decades.
But it is not all bad news, because some creatures have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years and decades thanks to a focus on helping their numbers to grow.
From the Arabian Oryx, once extinct in the wild but now enjoying population growth, through to the fin whale, which has returned to its former feeding grounds in the Antarctic Ocean in large numbers, there are conservation success stories.
"If you can restore a habitat using a charismatic species as a flagship, lots of other lesser-known species will benefit," said Dan Eatherley, an environmental consultant and author who is researching a book on animals and plants brought back from near-extinction in the UK.
"Often particular species are now being restored not just for their own intrinsic value, but because of ecosystem services they provide.
"There’s a lot of work to bring back oysters because their filter feeding improves water quality, the reefs they build provide vital habitats for other marine life, and they can capture and store carbon. There are all these benefits."
Ahead of Earth Day this month, we consider five successful case histories from land and sea around the globe.
The black rhino in Kenya
In the 1980s, habitat loss and poaching meant that Kenya’s population of black rhinos had fallen to fewer than 350, a tiny fraction of the more than 20,000 that existed in 1970.
However, while numbers are still well short of what they used to be, it was recently announced that there are now 1,000 of the animals in Kenya.
The country, whose government has partnered with conservation organisations such as WWF, is said to be on track to reach its target of having 2,000 black rhinos by 2037.
Conservation programmes, which include monitoring to reduce poaching and veterinary treatment, have been so successful that the 16 sanctuaries in the country where black rhinos live have become overcrowded.
As a result, recently 21 animals were moved from three of these sanctuaries to Loisaba Conservancy, a 58,000-acre game park in northern Kenya that in previous times had black rhinos.
The success story extends beyond Kenya: total numbers of black rhinos and white rhinos in Africa as a whole are increasing, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), although the organisation continues to classify the black rhino as critically endangered.
Threats remain, including poaching, with WWF reporting that an average of two African rhinos are killed a day.
Climate change is another issue, as higher temperatures will make the animals’ current habitats less hospitable, a study published in January indicated.
"For rhinoceros conservation to be effective, misting stations and wallowing mud pits may be required during peak temperature periods," the study authors wrote in Biodiversity.
The bald eagle in the US
While the bald eagle has been a national symbol of the United States since the 18th century, this bird of prey experienced a devastating drop in its numbers across the country.
Hunting – often carried out because bald eagles were, wrongly, seen as a threat to livestock – and loss of habitat were key reasons for the decline.
Another factor was the insecticide DDT, which the birds ingested when they ate fish contaminated when the chemical was washed into waterways.
Across the 48 "lower states" of the US – all states excluding Alaska and Hawaii – populations of the bird were almost eliminated, with just 417 nesting pairs in 1963.
Prohibitions against hunting, the banning of DDT in 1972 and the introduction the following year of the Endangered Species Act, which protected habitats, and captive-breeding and reintroduction programmes are among the measures credited with helping numbers to recover.
Now there are more than 300,000 bald eagles in the US, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, including more than 70,000 breeding pairs.
Arabian oryx in the Middle East
One of the most iconic animals of the Middle East, the Arabian oryx was actually declared extinct in the wild after precipitous declines in numbers that were brought about by hunting, with the last wild example thought to have been shot in 1972.
However, there are now more than 1,200 living in the wild, mostly in the Empty Quarter desert between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Many thousands more live in semi-captivity.
Numbers have been steadily increasing in areas such as the 6,000-square-kilometre Al Dhafra reserve, the UAE’s largest nature reserve.
Jordan and Oman play host to reintroduced populations of the animal, which is said to be able to smell water from miles away.
The UAE has played a pivotal role in the recovery of the Arabian oryx, through for example the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Arabian Oryx Reintroduction Programme, which was set up in 2007.
In 2011, thanks to efforts that are ultimately said to have involved at least six countries and five zoos, the International Union for Conservation of Nature changed the status of the Arabian oryx to vulnerable.
This is three categories up from extinct in the wild and the Arabian oryx is the only animal that was once extinct in the wild to have made this level of progress.
Fin whales in the Antarctic
The world’s second-largest mammal after the blue whale, the fin whale was almost wiped out from the southern hemisphere in the 20th century as a result of industrial-scale whaling.
In the early 20th century, before their large-scale killing began in the Antarctic Ocean, the population of fin whales there was about 325,000.
Surveys between 1978 and 2004 found "very few" fin whales in their former feeding grounds in the Antarctic Ocean, but in their 2022 paper, the authors report that their surveys "confirm a return of the whales to their ancestral feeding grounds in high numbers". The animals formed, they wrote, "large feeding aggregations".
Iceland is the only country that still hunts the animals (Norway and Japan carry out commercial whale hunts, but of different species).
Bison in North America
Bison, some weighing more than a tonne each, were a symbol of nature’s extraordinary power, with as many as 100 million of them roaming across the Great Plains of North America. One contemporary observer said that herds in the early 1800s "exceeded imagination".
They were, however, almost driven to extinction thanks to people’s desire for goods made from their leather, and by the end of the 1800s there were fewer than 600 left.
There were factors other than hunting that put bison populations under pressure, including the spread of horses on to the Great Plains as far back as the late 17th century, and drought from the mid-1800s onwards.
But it was hunting, by Native Americans (who began using horses to chase bison) and European settlers (who brought guns with them), that caused a precipitous decline in numbers.
While bison are nothing like as numerous as they used to be, there are now about 500,000 in North America, with a ban on culling introduced in 1969 being a key factor that helped numbers to grow.
European bison too were also almost driven to extinction, but captive-breeding programmes and reintroductions in the wild in countries including Poland and Romania have reversed declines. Bison have also recently been reintroduced to a site in the UK.
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Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000
Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder
Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm
Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
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Rating: 1 out of 4
Running time: 81 minutes
Director: David Blue Garcia
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FIXTURES
Saturday, November 3
Japan v New Zealand
Wales v Scotland
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Ireland v Italy
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Saturday, November 17
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
The biog
Place of birth: Kalba
Family: Mother of eight children and has 10 grandchildren
Favourite traditional dish: Al Harees, a slow cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled cracked or coarsely ground wheat mixed with meat or chicken
Favourite book: My early life by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Ruler of Sharjah
Favourite quote: By Sheikh Zayed, the UAE's Founding Father, “Those who have no past will have no present or future.”
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
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• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
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Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
The Facility’s Versatility
Between the start of the 2020 IPL on September 20, and the end of the Pakistan Super League this coming Thursday, the Zayed Cricket Stadium has had an unprecedented amount of traffic.
Never before has a ground in this country – or perhaps anywhere in the world – had such a volume of major-match cricket.
And yet scoring has remained high, and Abu Dhabi has seen some classic encounters in every format of the game.
October 18, IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders tied with Sunrisers Hyderabad
The two playoff-chasing sides put on 163 apiece, before Kolkata went on to win the Super Over
January 8, ODI, UAE beat Ireland by six wickets
A century by CP Rizwan underpinned one of UAE’s greatest ever wins, as they chased 270 to win with an over to spare
February 6, T10, Northern Warriors beat Delhi Bulls by eight wickets
The final of the T10 was chiefly memorable for a ferocious over of fast bowling from Fidel Edwards to Nicholas Pooran
March 14, Test, Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by six wickets
Eleven wickets for Rashid Khan, 1,305 runs scored in five days, and a last session finish
June 17, PSL, Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 15 runs
Usman Khawaja scored a hundred as Islamabad posted the highest score ever by a Pakistan team in T20 cricket
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
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Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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