Program aims to save "Mona Lisas" of the animal world.

• Author: Herro, Alana
• Position: EYE ON EARTH - Zoological Society of London program to protect endangered, distinct animals - Brief article

A new program from the Zoological Society of London is working to identify and protect some of the world's "most bizarre and unusual animals," according to a news release from the group. The EDGE of Existence program focuses exclusively on animals that are "Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered"--species that have few close relatives, are genetically distinct, and are extremely endangered. Of the top 100 EDGE mammals currently listed--among them the bumblebee bat, the pygmy hippopotamus, and the Bactrian camel--two-thirds receive little or no conservation attention.

The development of a taxonomic "super tree" demonstrating the relationships between different species has made the new EDGE categorization possible, according to the BBC. "This is the first global-scale programme specifically developed to focus on these one-of-a-kind and highly threatened animals," the project's lead scientist, Jonathan Baillie, explained. Of 564 identified EDGE species, the program will focus initially on the top 100 mammals, highlighting only the top 10 in the first year. The Zoological Society hopes to...