Priority & endangered species

Why cactus and cod?

The plight of polar bears, pandas, and other large iconic mammals is generally well known, at least in industrialized countries.

But most people don't stop to consider whether the fish they eat, the house plants they buy, or the herbal tea they drink comes from a threatened species, or whether taking it from the wild harmed its habitat or another species.

Most people also don't realize that hundreds of millions of plants and animals are harvested from the wild each year, from thousands of species.

We want to make sure that cacti, cod, and all other species involved in wildlife trade are harvested sustainably and in a way that doesn't hurt other species or their wider ecosystem.

© Anthony B. Rath / WWF-Canon

WWF is focusing efforts on a select group of priority species that are especially important, either for their ecosystem...

• Species forming a key element of the food chain
• Species which help the stability or regeneration of habitats
• Species demonstrating broader conservation needs

...or for people

• Species important for the health and livelihoods of local communities
• Species exploited commercially
• Species that are important cultural icons.

These species fall into two groups:

1. Flagship species – iconic animals that provide a focus for raising awareness and stimulating action and funding for broader conservation efforts
   
   
2. Footprint-impacted species – species whose populations are primarily threatened because of unsustainable hunting, logging or fishing. 

Strategially focusing efforts on these species will also help conserve the many other species which share their habitats and/or are vulnerable to the same threats.

Rhinos

There are five species of rhinceros. The black rhino and white rhino in Africa and the greater one-horned rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino in Asia. WWF works in Africa and Asia to protect rhinos and their habitat.