The Art of Conservation

Wayag Lagoon

wayag lagoon, conservation international, saatchi gallery wayag lagoon Not only a landscape of breathtaking beauty, the Wayag Lagoon in Raja Ampat, Indonesia also has the greatest biodiversity concentration for a territory its size anywhere on Earth, with 1,250 fish species and 600 hard corals. It was protected in part because of Conservation International\'s Rapid Assessment Program, which quickly documents uncharted habitats to help prioritize areas for protection.

The Fish of Raja Ampat

raja ampat fish and corals, conservation international, saatchi gallery raja ampat fish and corals The amazing abundance of fish and corals -- 550\r\nspecies, an astonishing 70% of the world\'s total -- is apparent in this underwater view of Raja Ampat.

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

peacock mantis shrimp, conservation international, saatchi gallery peacock mantis shrimp The peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus), native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from Guam to East Africa, is believed to have the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom. Each is capable of depth perception and trinocular vision (humans have binocular vision, requiring two eyes to perceive depth). This allows the peacock mantis to detect semi-transparent prey, different coral patterns and the shimmering scales of hungry barracudas. They also have very powerful claws, known to break the glass of aquariums.

Patrolling the Raja Ampat Reef

raja ampat, dugout canoe, coral reef, conservation international, saatchi gallery dugout canoe in the water above a raja ampat coral reef A community patrolman on his dugout canoe near the island of Batanta, Raja Ampat. Local communities, aware of the importance of reef habitats to their fisheries, have learned to patrol their waters to protect against cyanide and blast fishing -- two destructive forms of fishing developed in the last half century.

Slender-Legged Frog

slender legged frog, para brazil, conservation international, saatchi gallery slender legged frog This handsome, slender-legged treefrog, while known to be a Osteocephalus, may be a new species. Discovered by Conservation International scientists on a recent trip to Para, Brazil, researchers are still trying to verify if it\'s ever been identified. With species going extinct every 20 minutes, many disappear without a trace. Since new animal finds have helped humans with everything from diffusing landmines to curing forms of cancer, no one knows what is lost to us when a species vanishes.

Red and Green Macaw

red and green macaw, pantanal brazil, conservation international, saatchi gallery red and green macaw

Brazil\'s Pantanal is home to over a 1,000 species of birds, such as this red and green macaw (Ara chloroptera). Unlike the dense forest canopy of the Amazon, the Pantanal\'s open environment makes wildlife viewing much easier. This is one reason Conservation International promotes ecotourism in the region as an important alternative to environmentally destructive forms of development.

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See more new Brazilian species discovered by Conservation International.

Northern Muriqui

northern muriqui, brazil atlantic forest, conservation international, saatchi gallery northern muriqui

The Northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus) is a critically endangered resident of Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Less than 1,000 remain. To help revive them and other unique species, Conservation International helped create green corridors linking the remaining fragments of the Atlantic Forest, assuring animals have a wider home to roam. (The Nature Conservancy is also working to protect Brazil\'s Atlantic Forest.)

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See more new Brazilian species discovered by Conservation International.

Panther Chameleon

panther chameleon, madagascar, conservation international, saatchi gallery panther chameleon

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) of Madagascar loves sunbathing and enjoys cockroaches. They change color for camouflage and to communicate. When carrying eggs, females turn dark brown or black with orange striping to tell males they aren\'t interested. When two males come into contact, they turn brighter colors to assert dominance. Often these battles end with the loser retreating, turning drab and dark.

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Read more about Madagascar\'s extraordinary reptiles.

Masonjoany

masonjoany, face mask, conservation international, madagascar, saatchi gallery masonjoany

The masonjoany, a Malgasy face mask, softens the skin and protects from the sun. This woman sells traditional crafts and products to tourists in Berenty, in Southern Madagascar. CI and its partners provide financing and advice to ecotourism entrepreneurs. Securing long-term conservation results starts with finding ways for people to profit from leaving forests intact.

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Read more about how natives of Madagascar protect local wildlife.

Orphan Chimp

orphan chimpanzee, conservation international, congo, saatchi gallery orphan chimpanzee Endangered, the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is believed to have shared the same ancestry as humans 6 million years ago, making it the closest living relative to human beings. Habitat loss, hunting for bushmeat and human disease are among the threats it faces. Sanctuaries, like Lwiro in the Democratic Republic of Congo, provide care for orphans. Nearly half of primate species worldwide are endangered.

Grauer\'s Gorilla

grauers gorilla, congo, conservation international, saatchi gallery grauers gorilla Though capable of highly intimidating displays of power when threatened, the largest of the gorillas, Grauer\'s gorilla, is generally calm and non-aggressive. There are about 16,000 in the wild. All live in the Democratic Republic of Congo. War in the Congo has been a drain on tourism, a primary source of funding for the gorilla\'s protection.

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