ZSL

Researchers at the Zoological Society of London ZSL and the University of Cambridge studied animal population changes at 78 protected areas across Africa and found the steepest falls in west Africa, where up to 85% of wildlife had been lost in the last 35 years, and in east Africa, where nearly half of all wildlife has disappeared.

Africa's declining wildlife 2011

The Edge Coral Reefs project, led by ZSL scientists, has identified 10 of the most at-risk coral species for protection

Conservationists unveil plans to save coral from extinction 2011

Researchers at the Zoological Society of London ZSL and the University of Cambridge studied animal population changes at 78 protected areas across Africa and found the steepest falls in west Africa, where up to 85% of wildlife had been lost in the last 35 years, and in east Africa, where nearly half of all wildlife has disappeared.

Africa's declining wildlife 2011

Heather Koldewey, international marine and freshwater conservation programme manager for ZSL, said: Corals are one of the most threatened groups of animals on our planet and iconic flagships of the marine environment.

Conservationists unveil plans to save coral from extinction 2011

The scene was looking bleak for Karamat, a baby rhino born breeched back feet first at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

WATCH: 'Miracle' Baby Rhino Birth The Huffington Post 2010

The scene was looking bleak for Karamat, a baby rhino born breeched back feet first at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

WATCH: 'Miracle' Baby Rhino Birth The Huffington Post 2010

Jonathan Baillie, the director of ZSL conservation programmes, said: "The results are far worse than we imagined, but the increasing population trends in southern Africa provide hope and demonstrate that protected areas can be very effective for conserving large mammals if properly resourced."

Africa's national parks failing to conserve large mammals, study shows 2010

The scene was looking bleak for Karamat, a baby rhino born breeched back feet first at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.

WATCH: 'Miracle' Baby Rhino Birth The Huffington Post 2010

The team of scientists, including experts from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and the United Nations environment programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre in Cambridge, compiled population records of 69 key species, including lion, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra and buffalo, inside 78 protected areas across Africa from 1970 to 2005.

Africa's national parks failing to conserve large mammals, study shows 2010

Current scientific studies date from a joint WWF/ZSL mission to the Aïr in 1979, leading to an IUCN/WWF project initiated in 1982.

Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger 2008