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Think you might be a bird of prey, or elegant antelope? Find out which of our Conservation Optimism creatures you are, and the story behind their conservation success.

Which Conservation Optimism Creature Are You?

What would be your ideal holiday location?

It's Saturday night. What are you up to?

In your spare time, you can be found...

My friends would describe me as...

It's dinner time! What are you eating?

You're a high flyer, like this beautiful Red Kite!

You're a bit of a collector (Red Kites will often 'decorate' their nests with oddments they find near the nest- paper, rags, crisp packets, carrier bags, even underwear and toys have been found!), ridiculously loyal (Red Kites usually mate for life- though 'divorces' aren't unheard of!) and, as a bird, you have big dreams and a wild imagination.

Conservation Optimism story: Red kites were successfully reintroduced to England in 1989. 10 years later at least 121 pairs bred in southern England, rearing over 200 young!

Red Kite

You are the ultimate playful-but-shy soul- the rare Irrawaddy River Dolphin!

Some people may think you're a bit of an enigma- in a big room, you'll be quite shy and quiet (Irrawaddy River Dolphins will often avoid boats and dive when one approaches) but once someone gets to know you, you're full of smiles and laughter, and make a great friend (fishermen have reported 'friendships' with dolphins who will help them herd fish in return for bycatch). 

Conservation Optimism story: 146 dolphins were just counted in Chilika Lake, India, and they were spotted in new areas of the lake-  which is 1,165 square kilometres (a little bit smaller than Greater London!).

Irrawaddy River Dolphin

You are the ultimate lone explorer!

You'd rather have a quiet night in than join a big party, but when you do go out, you find the most exciting places and travel far further than anyone else. Leatherbacks can dive to depths of 4,200 feet—deeper than any other turtle—and can stay down for up to 85 minutes! They migrate across whole oceans- some migrating more than 11 000 kilometres every year. They have been sighted as far north as Alaska and the North Sea and as far south as Chile and New Zealand.

They also eat jellyfish... so you have an odd taste for slimy stingy things.

Conservation Optimism: The number of leatherback nests has increased by 350% (wow!) in Brazil between 1988 and 2017.

Leatherback Turtle

You are a rare gem... and a bit of a mystery.

The Admirable Red-bellied Toad has only been found in a small forest in Brazil. Striking and beautiful, but hardly seen and therefore little-known, you have incredible charisma which inspires others to fight your corner when you may not be able to speak up yourself. 

Conservation Optimism: When a hydro-electric power plant threatened to chop down the only forest where this toad lives, joint efforts between universities, government, and NGOs managed to stop the construction of a hydroelectric power plant which was threatening its very survival!

Admirable Red-bellied Toad

You are a charming night-parrot!

Completely one-of-a-kind, you are in a class of your own. A number of things make the  Kākāpō completely different from any other parrot. You take a different path (they are the world's only flightless parrot, which means they have to be really creative about climbing trees to forage), are nocturnal, vegetarian (they are herbivorous) and possibly one of the world's longest-living birds.

Conservation Optimism: In 2019, the kākāpō population has reached a record high of 213 birds for the first time in more than 70 years.

Kākāpō

You are the puppy of the sea!

Although you may look intimidating (the Nassau Grouper can grow as long as a yard, weigh up to 55 pounds and feed by opening their huge mouths and inhaling helpless prey...) you are actually a massive softie. Nassau Groupers are famous among scuba divers for being the most friendly fish you could ever meet- they swim up to divers demanding attention and pets, and if you refuse, they'll keep nudging you until you give in. 

Conservation Optimism: Too much fishing was making this 'puppy of the sea' disappear, but from 2003 to 2015, the Nassau groupers living around Little Cayman Island more than tripled thanks to conservationists!

Nassau Grouper

You are a natural leader!

Literally called the King/Queen of the Bees in Indonesian (Raja Ofu/Rotu Ofu), you are a monarch in the animal world. They disappeared from science for almost 40 years due to their secretive nature (they build their nests inside the nests of tree termites).

Conservation Optimism: The Wallace's giant bee was rediscovered in 2019 by a group of scientists after not having been seen since 1981!

Wallace's Giant Bee

You are one tough cookie!

You are able to stand situations which would make any normal person give up (Saigas live in some of the harshest environments on Earth (extreme heat in summer and cold in winter)) partly because you are so adaptable (Saiga's famous long noses filter dust and sand from the desert air as well as help cool down or warm up air). This extends to your taste in food (they are able to eat several species of plants which are poisonous to other animals). 

You also have incredible stamina which serves you well if you are sporty (these antelopes can easily cover long distances in herds and even swim across rivers, unlike other antelopes, and can run up to 80 per hour when running from predators!).

Conservation Optimism: Saiga numbers in Kazakhstan have tripled over the last 4 years!

Saiga

You are a natural hunter!

Although you may look attractive and quite delicate... you are far from being an innocent wildflower in the meadow. You are ambitious and creative, as sundews use their beautiful pink-tipped leaves and a sweet scent to lure in prey such as flies and small butterflies. You aren't someone to be crossed!

Conservation Optimism: English sundews have made a comeback in Manchester after more than a century of absence in the North West of England!

English Sundew

You are the sweet singer of the sea!

You're a creative soul (humpbacks can produce a complex songs lasting 10 to 20 minutes) and a natural performer (humpbacks are well-known in the whalewatching industry for leaping out of the water and splashing their huge fins and tails near boats).

You love to travel (they typically migrate up to 25,000 km (16,000 mi) each year) and although you don't mind being alone, your family is incredibly important to you (mothers will spend around a whole year with their babies before they separate and are very protective of their young).

Conservation Optimism: Thanks to a protected status from the 1960s which made whaling illegal, the humpback whale population is back to 93% of its pre-exploitation size!

Humpback Whale

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Which Conservation Optimism Creature Are You?

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