Category: Animal Cruelty

As the new year begins, we’re taking a moment to reflect back on the top 10 conservation wins of the century (so far). One of the biggest wins was the creation of ARPA — the world’s largest tropical rainforest conservation program. And this century has also brought progress for tigers, giant pandas, bison, and more.

2025 is almost over, so our podcast is counting down the top 10 conservation wins of the century (so far). From restoring wild tigers populations to protecting rainforests, there’s a lot to celebrate. Check out the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=undiB_keE4g.

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re looking back at the 10 biggest conservation wins of the 21st century (so far). We’ll revisit iconic successes like the Paris Agreement on climate, the rebound of wild tigers and giant pandas, and the creation of the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program, the largest tropical forest conservation initiative on Earth. Plus, we’ll celebrate grassroots efforts like Earth Hour and the return of bison to Native lands—proof that progress is happening at every level. If you care about wildlife, climate, and sustainability, this episode will give you hope and inspiration for the future. Links: Donate to support WWF’s conservation mission: wwf.help/podcast Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:33 Intro 1:36 Rules of the Countdown 4:31 High Seas Treaty 5:57 Global Biodiversity Framework 7:06 Bison Restoration 9:27 Giant Pandas No Longer Endangered 10:43 The Paris Agreement on Climate Change 11:32 Global Response to the Poaching Crisis 12:55 Rebound of Wild Tigers 16:06 Earth Hour Launches 17:03 Creation of the Amazon Region Protected Areas (ARPA) Program 19:55 Environmentalism Goes Mainstream

We’re wrapping up 2025 by celebrating some of the conservation highlights that defined this year. Together, we made meaningful progress for both people and nature.

Did you know gorillas are mainly vegetarians? They thrive on a plant-powered diet, snacking on fruit, stems, and bamboo shoots, with the occasional bark and invertebrates for extra nutrients.

Nature gives us so much: clean air and water, food, medicine, and the moments of peace and joy we feel when we’re surrounded by it. Its beauty—from our lush forests to our vast oceans—fills us with awe and gratitude. At WWF, we are inspired by you—by your love and passion for protecting this incredible planet we call home. Thank you for all you do for nature. We are so grateful. Music: Music: Souvenir/Jeff Dale-PRS, Time Reilly-PRS – Audio Network

The near-extinction of vultures in India had a terrible impact on people. What does this story tell us about the hidden costs of wildlife decline?

What happens when nature’s cleanup crew disappears? In this episode of Nature Breaking, host Seth Larson talks with Professor Eyal Frank, an environmental economist at the University of Chicago, about his groundbreaking research on the near-extinction of vultures in India—and the devastating ripple effects on human health. Frank explains: -Why vultures are critical for ecosystems and public health -How a common painkiller triggered a collapse in vulture populations -Why that collapse may have caused 500,000 additional human deaths -What this teaches us about the hidden costs of biodiversity loss This is a fascinating—and sobering—look at how species we often overlook play vital roles in our lives. Tune in to learn why protecting wildlife isn’t just about saving nature—it’s about saving ourselves. Listen now and subscribe for more episodes on the connections between people and the planet. Links for More Info: Eyal Frank bio: https://harris.uchicago.edu/directory/eyal-frank Study: The Near Extinction of Indian Vultures Led to the Death of a Half Million People: https://climate.uchicago.edu/news/the-near-extinction-of-indian-vultures-led-to-the-death-of-a-half-million-people/ Shocked Podcast Ep. 3: Vultures: https://climate.uchicago.edu/insights/episode-3-vultures/ WWF web story: Vultures as Nature’s Influencers: https://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/facts/vultures-natures-influencers/ Chapters: 0:00 Preview 0:25 Wild Guess trivia 0:57 Intro 2:41 Eyal Frank’s background 5:05 Comparing attribution science in climate change v. biodiversity loss 6:52 Why are vultures important? 9:31 How Eyal learned about vulture loss in India 11:27 What happened to vultures in India? 16:15 How did vulture loss contribute to human deaths? 27:12 What were the actual causes of human deaths? 32:27 How many people died due to loss of vultures? 38:03 Lessons for policymakers and the general public 42:28 What’s next for Eyal Frank? 45:27 Outro #Vultures #Biodiversity #NatureBreaking #WWF #EcosystemServices #PublicHealth #Conservation #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture

Nature is the foundation of everything we value, but the natural systems that support all life on Earth are under unprecedented threat. The time for action is now. For more than 60 years, WWF has been the world's leading conservation organization, working in nearly 100 countries to protect our planet's most critical forests, rivers, wetlands, and oceans. We don't just protect nature—we work with communities, governments, and businesses to create practical solutions that keep our planet in balance. This is our moment to give back to the resource that gives us everything. Together, we can protect the nature we all depend on. Learn how you can be a part of the solution: http://wwf.org/now