2025: A Year of Triumphs in Conservation Around the World

The year 2025 has delivered a powerful message of hope for the planet’s threatened species, proving that dedicated, long-term conservation efforts can truly turn the tide against extinction. From rebounding megafauna to recovering island species, this year’s victories highlight the incredible resilience of nature when given a fighting chance and a helping hand.

A Turtle Triumph: The Green Sea Turtle’s Comeback

Once hunted relentlessly for their eggs and decorative shells, green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) have been rescued from the brink of extinction. Thanks to decades of coordinated conservation efforts—including the protection of nesting beaches, the release of hatchlings, and the implementation of turtle-safe fishing gear to reduce accidental capture (bycatch)—global populations have significantly rebounded.

This remarkable success was formally recognized this year when the species was moved from an “Endangered” to a “Least Concern” rating on the IUCN’s (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List.

In other encouraging news for sea turtles, Florida recorded a record-breaking nesting season, with more than 2,000 nests for the massive leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), demonstrating the continued efficacy of coastal protection and monitoring programs.

The Roar of Recovery: India’s Tiger Population Soars

India’s conservation commitment to its national animal has paid off in a spectacular way. India is now home to 75% of the world’s wild tigers (Panthera tigris), having more than doubled its tiger population to over 3,600 individuals in just over a decade.

This thriving population lives in an area spanning roughly half the size of the UK, coexisting alongside some 60 million people. This achievement is the result of immense work focused on anti-poaching, habitat restoration, and strategies to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Scientists agree that India’s success provides a valuable global lesson in how conservation can simultaneously protect big cats, boost biodiversity, and support local communities.

More Victories From Around the World

The global conservation community celebrated wins for several other unique and vulnerable species:

Eastern Santa Cruz Giant Tortoise (Chelonoidis niger donfaustoi): Found only on Santa Cruz Island in the Galápagos, this iconic tortoise remains Critically Endangered. However, intensive captive breeding and head-starting programs (where young tortoises are raised in protection until they are large enough to fend off predators) have yielded significant success in recent years, with translocations continuing to bolster the wild population and restore island ecosystems.

Jamaican Rock Iguana (Cyclura collei): Once believed extinct in the 1940s, a small population was rediscovered in the Hellshire Hills. Listed as Critically Endangered, this magnificent lizard has become a global conservation success story. Ongoing head-starting programs, where hatchlings are raised in captivity before being released, have successfully increased the estimated wild population from the few dozen found to several hundred, demonstrating the power of focused, species-specific recovery plans.

Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus): The world’s only flightless, nocturnal, and heaviest parrot, the Kakapo remains Critically Endangered. However, intense, highly-managed conservation on predator-free islands in New Zealand is showing remarkable results. Innovative techniques, including supplementary feeding and assisted breeding, have steadily boosted their numbers, with conservation teams celebrating a record number of healthy chicks this year, moving the species further away from the brink.

Magenta Petrel (Pterodroma magentae): Also known as the Chatham Island Tāiko, this seabird is one of the world’s rarest and remains Critically Endangered. Confined to a single small patch of forest on New Zealand’s Chatham Island, ongoing efforts, including predator-proof fencing and translocating chicks to secure, safe nesting sites, have led to a gradual, vital increase in the breeding population, securing a tenuous future for this unique flyer.

Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii): Listed as Critically Endangered, this ancient fish has been severely impacted by habitat loss and overfishing. While the species faces an uphill battle, recent international and cross-border collaborative projects focusing on restoring river connectivity, controlling poaching, and the successful release of thousands of juvenile sturgeon (like those released in the Danube in July 2025) are providing crucial momentum, showing that even the most threatened fish can be given a path to recovery.

Patagonia Frog (Species within the Batrachyla and Telmatobius genera): While many amphibian species worldwide face extinction due to habitat loss and the deadly chytrid fungus, 2025 brought hope through new strategies. Conservationists working in Patagonia, for example, have received recognition and funding for innovative techniques, such as creating frog saunas to “bake off” the fungus and developing potential anti-fungal vaccinations, which are being scaled up to protect threatened frog populations in the region.

These incredible successes remind us that conservation is a high-return investment and success is in our grasp. Every species saved is a testament to the dedication of rangers, scientists, policymakers, conservationists, and local communities working together to ensure a wilder, more biodiverse future. You can take part in conserving threatened and endangered species by visiting the Global Wildlife Center, adopting (in spirit!) one of our wonderful animals, or donating to our Quarters for Conservation program, which supports the conservation of giraffes, scimitar horned oryx, and cranes.