Pangolins are the most trafficked animal because of the value of their scales, which are used to produce traditional medicines in China. In 2020, their scales were removed from the list of approved ingredients for medicines, and the species were granted the highest status of protection under wildlife laws.

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Gray wolves will be reintroduced to Colorado - The gray wolf, a species that was once found all over the US, will be reintroduced to the wild in Colorado following a ballot initiative.

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Tasmanian devils were brought back to Australia -

The name doesn’t suggest it, but the Tasmanian devil resided in Australia 3,000 years ago. They have recently been reintroduced to the country in a wildlife sanctuary. They’re expected to reproduce in large numbers within the century and become a staple species in Australia's ecosystems.

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The reforestation of the Hoima region of Uganda began -

The forests of Bulindi in the Hoima region of Uganda have been over-farmed for cocoa and coffee beans for decades, hurting the welfare of chimpanzees that live there. In 2020, more than 2,000 farmers have been given enough seeds and supplies to rebuild the region’s forests.

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Northern Quebec's wildlife will be protected -

Canadian authorities have committed to protecting 30% of the country’s wilderness in the next decade. Vast stretches of land in Northern Quebec will be protected, which is expected to positively affect ecosystems.

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The 30 by 30 agreement -

At the turn of the decade, the 30 by 30 agreement was signed at a UN convention. This agreement binds the 30 participating countries to protect 30% of their oceans by 2030.

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The population of Ethiopian wolves grew -

The population of Africa’s most threatened carnivore, and the world’s rarest species of wolf, the Ethiopian wolf, increased in 2020. A total of 48 pups were born during the year. It’s estimated that the total population, found mostly in the Bale Mountains in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia, is between 120 and 160 individuals.

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Elephant ivory was banned in Kenya -

Elephant ivory, which elephants are poached for, was made illegal to sell in Kenya, meaning that as elephants in Kenya continue to reproduce, their population is expected to increase.

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A new sanctuary was established for marine life -

Tristan da Cunha became the fourth largest sanctuary for marine life in the world in 2020. The volcanic archipelago in the south Atlantic is home to 250 people and hosts an extraordinary amount of marine species, including the Rockhopper penguin.

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The white-tailed eagle returned to England -

The white-tailed eagle went extinct in England 240 years ago but miraculously returned in 2020. The bird of prey, with a wingspan reaching over 2.5 meters (over 8.2 ft), was spotted flying over North York Moors.

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The lion population increased in Kenya -

The Kenyan government estimates that the population of lions in the country has increased by roughly 25% since the last count in 2010. The number of lions rose from 2,000 in 2010 to 2,489 in 2020.

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Carrefour agreed to higher animal welfare standards -

The public pressured retailer Carrefour in 2020 to commit to higher welfare standards for piglets. The company’s Brazilian branch has promised to end the castration of piglets and reduce the amount of time they spend in cages.

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The bowhead whale is adapting to rising sea temperatures -

In the 1700s, the bowhead whale was almost hunted into extinction. Bowhead whales have experienced an unexpected increase in numbers in US waters in 2020, despite rising sea temperatures.

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The Iberian lynx population increased -

The Iberian lynx population was endangered decades ago, but thanks to the Life Iberlince program, set up in coordination with the EU, numbers in Spain and Portugal have increased. Their population in 2020 was estimated to be 900.

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A record number of animals were rescued from California wildfires -

Due to the wildlife defense network in California, a record number of animals were saved during and following the hellish wildfires that swept across the state in 2020. A diverse team of experts physically rescued and treated animals. The species of the saved animals ranged vastly and included foxes, mountain lions, and black bears.

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A new species of lemur was discovered -

One of the most endangered animals, lemurs have seen an addition to their species in 2020 with what scientists have named the Jonah’s mouse lemur, after the primatologist Jonah Ratsimbazafy.

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The black rhinoceros population increased -

Black rhinoceros are one of the world’s most endangered species. In 2020, the black rhinoceros population continued to increase by 2.5%, as it had been doing for the previous two years.

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Ying Ying and Le Le finally mated -

It’s been difficult for carers to get Ying Ying and Le Le (photographed), two giant pandas living in Ocean Park in Hong Kong, to mate. For the first time since the pair have been living together since 2007, they mated in March 2020.

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The exotic animal industry gained public concern -

It’s common knowledge that awareness of a problem is often the first step to solving it. The moral questionability of the industry of exotic animals was brought to light by the Netflix series ‘Tiger King’ in February 2020.

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Primates were rescued from illegal captivity -

In 2020, 19 vervet monkeys (right) and baboons (left) were rescued from illegal captivity in Zambia.

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Cheetah cubs were rescued -

Somali authorities tracked and rescued two cheetah cubs in Ethiopia that had been taken from the wild to be sold illegally as exotic pets.

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Plans for Pebble Mine were rejected -

Plans for Pebble Mine in Alaska, intended to extract gold and copper, were set to devastate the population of salmon, brown bears, and almost 200 species of bird. The plans were rejected, and the ecosystems will, for now, remain uncorrupted.

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Cher helped save an elephant -

Singer Cher (right) was instrumental in moving 35-year-old elephant Kaavan from where it was suffering in a dingy zoo in Pakistan, to a sanctuary in Cambodia. Although rescuing a single elephant may not seem like a weighted victory for the species, the message is significant.

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Live streams brought us closer than ever before to wildlife -

Live streams were never as popular as they have been due to the 2020 pandemic and resulting lockdown. Many wildlife sanctuaries have responded to this demand, and now we can get closer to the lives of animals than we ever have before.

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Roxana found a new home -

At 15 years old, Roxana the bear was given a peaceful life at Libearty Bear Sanctuary in Zarnesti in Romania. She had been bullied by other bears at Zoo Barlad, where they were also using her for baiting and dancing.

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Street dogs were vaccinated in Delhi -

The vaccination of hundreds of street dogs in Delhi in 2020 will protect them against rabies and other diseases.

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Foxes were protected in England -

The Born Free Animal Welfare Charity upped their efforts in 2020, after receiving extra funding, to protect foxes in England. They nursed hundreds of sick foxes throughout the year, and helped raise fox cubs who had been abandoned.

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There was a significant reduction of car accidents involving animals -

Car accidents involving animals in the US decreased in 2020 by 58%. There are estimated to be a quarter of a million road accidents involving animals in the country in any given year.

Sources: (World Animal Protection)(Nature World News)(Open Access Government)

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Wildlife success stories of 2020

There's always a silver lining

06/01/21 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Wild animals

Amidst the collective struggle that humans have suffered during 2020 due to COVID-19, nature has continued on its course. Some animals have enjoyed the benefits of slowed down human activity that often undermines their existence by interrupting ecosystems. Others, on the other hand, have only been able to survive because of human intervention. Between remarkable efforts made by individuals, governments, and organizations last year to help animals and wildlife and their own perseverance, some animals thrived. Click through this gallery to discover some of the most remarkable wildlife success stories of 2020.