If you watch the Cutest Cat in the World video, you then get a choice of 7 more videos. My favorites are Beyond The Myth Clips 1, 2 and 3, which show great footage of endangered snow leopards in the wild. The cats are magnificent, and the equipment being used to film them is impressive. Warning, though – the 3rd video clip ends sadly. 

Below the Snow Leopard videos on the Society’s webpage is a great video about the Scottish Wild Cat. The wild Scottish Highlands are home to an array of endangered animals that once called all of Britain its home, the video tells us.  The Wild Cats’ gene pool has been diluted by breeding with domestic cats, which may sometimes also pass along disease.  There are only about 400 wild cats left today, and captive breeding is important to keep them alive and healthy.

Field research on the reclusive giant panda had started with China’s Ministry of Forestry doing the first panda survey between 1974 and 1977.  WWF was invited and participated in the mid 1980’s in a study that identified priority conservation areas.  By the end of 2003, China had established 40 panda reserves that protected 60% of the giant pandas.

China is also a home to the Siberian Tiger and Amur Leopard.  Human pressures, including poaching, pollution and logging of their forest, have threatened their population.  Since 2001, WWF has worked with three Chinese provinces to protect almost 8.4 million acres.  They have now identified High Conservation Value Forests in the region, and are working on improving and managing the existing and new protected areas.

China’s main river, the Yangtze, is home to the endangered Yangtze dolphin and Chinese sturgeon.  A worsening cycle of flood and drought are challenging the people living along the river.  WWF has been applying their “Living River” management model, that sees the Yangtze’s branches, and connected lakes and wetlands, as part of a web of life.  With WWF’s encouragement, provincial governors and key ministers for the area’s water, environment, forest, and agriculture sectors gathered in 2005 to develop a common strategy and action plan for protecting the entire Yangtze basin.

WWF has also worked with Chinese communities to restore farmland to its former wetland state, while developing conservation-friendly alternative livelihoods for the local people which tripled their household incomes.  A similar program near Dongting Lake has witnessed the return of over 10,000 birds and 50 species of fish.

The next 30 years will likely see continued amazingly fast economic development and growing population.  WWF has a conservation vision focused on the health and survival of the region’s natural treasures, as well as the prosperity of its local communities.  Their view includes sustainable sourcing, production, and consumption across global supply chains.

We wish WWF the best of luck in creating more conservation successes in China.

More details are available in WWF’s press release.

WWF US (& Canada)

World Wildlife Fund is one of our world’s most recognizable wildlife conservation groups.  Established over 45 years ago, their focus is on protecting the future of nature.  Aside from offering one of the most extensive online gift store item selections (WWF Canada has donated the black-footed ferret adoption kit for the current contest on this blog’s homepage), WWF US offers a range of wallpapers for your desktop including polar bears, snow leopards, panda bears, tigers, penguins, and many other scenes.  All you have to do is sign up for their newsletter.

WWF – UK

WWF – UK offers two screensavers for download, one featuring a variety of adult animals and one with a selection of baby animals.  PC and MAC versions.

Snow Leopard Trust

Since 1981, the Snow Leopard Trust has led the world in studying and protecting the endangered snow leopard.  They offer a downloadable screensaver of photographs from finalists in their 2007 photo contest, as well as one featuring children’s creative and colorful posters from the 2008 poster contest.  Screensavers for MAC are currently being developed.

African Wildlife Foundation

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the leading international conservation organization focused on protecting Africa’s wildlife and wild landscapes.  For over 45 years, the organization has worked towards the future prosperity of Africa and its people.  The AWF screensaver has over 15 different photographs of beautiful African wildlife.  As well, if you don’t like a changing screensaver, they have a single picture screensaver of a gorilla and one of an African Elephant.  Available for both PC and MAC.

Orangutan Foundation International

Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas’ foundation is dedicated to preserving and nurturing orangutans.  OFI’s main focus is on continuing the research and conservation activities at the historic Camp Leakey site in the Tanjung Putting Reserve in Central Borneo.  The site was named after Louis Leakey, the famous anthropologist who mentored and inspired Dr. Galdikas, Dr. Goodall and Dian Fossey.  The Foundation offers a choice of four photographic orangutan wallpapers.

CARE Canada

For readers who prefer to have photographs of people as screensavers or wallpaper, check out CARE Canada.  The organization is dedicated to defending dignity and fighting poverty by empowering women and girls, the world’s most vulnerable and greatest resource for change.  This blog’s first homepage article was about one of CARE Canada’s programs.  They offer several human-focused screensavers and wallpapers.

Conservation International

This leading international organization builds on science, partnerships and field demonstrations to care for nature as well as the well-being of humanity.  They have 49 screensavers to choose from, featuring a wide range of human, animal and landscape subjects.

International Crane Foundation

This international organization is dedicated to crane conservation, field ecology, education, veterinary services, and site administration.  They offer a screensaver which is a photograph of two grey-crowned cranes at dawn on the beach in South Africa.  It’s a great photograph but it’s copyrighted so I won’t publish it here – you’ll have to go look at their website to see it. 

The Ocean Project

If you prefer a changing photo that’s not on your desktop, you can enjoy a daily look at The Ocean Project’s Ocean Picture of the Day.  A Newfoundland photo was up the day I looked, and although it took a moment to load it was worth the wait.  It’s like a 30-second holiday by the sea!

A Few Sounds

For my readers who are more hearing-focussed than visually-oriented, check out the different North American Bird Sounds at the bottom of the Organizations list on Acres Land Trust.  The Trust helps to protect the remaining natural habitats in northeast Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio, and to teach others the value of keeping natural areas intact.