Good News About Wildlife & Conservation So Far in 2026
- Editor OGN Daily
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
A quick summary of all the top good news stories about wildlife and conservation that occurred during January 2026.
High Seas Treaty: The High Seas Treaty, formally known as the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, came into force on 17 January 2026. Decades in the making, the global treaty aims to conserve the high seas by giving nations new powers to protect waters lying outside of national boundaries.
16,000 New Species: Scientists are discovering species quicker than ever before, with more than 16,000 species being discovered each year, a new University of Arizona study has revealed. Such a trend shows no sign of slowing, and researchers behind the new paper predict that biodiversity is much richer than scientists originally thought.
Ice Memory Foundation: Scientists in Antarctica have inaugurated the first global repository of mountain ice cores, preserving the history of the Earth’s atmosphere in a frozen vault for future generations to study.
Back From The Brink: The scimitar-horned oryx has been brought back from extinction through captive breeding. After wild populations vanished in the 1980s, the antelope has now been re-established in Chad through one of the most complex rewilding efforts ever attempted. Around 600 now roam free, prompting the IUCN to downgrade the species from “extinct in the wild” to “endangered.”
Rights of Nature: Wild, stingless bees have become the first insects to be granted legal rights; the latest effort in the growing global movement to protect animals by giving them similar status as people.
Vigilant Protection: The rhino stronghold of Assam in northeastern India has happily reported zero deaths due to poaching among its populations of greater one-horned rhinos in 2025.
Wild Twins: A pair of twin mountain gorillas has been born in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo - a very rare occurrence for the endangered primates, conservationists at Virunga National Park say.
Lynx in Scotland: It’s not prowled Scotland for more than 500 years, but the lynx is a step closer to returning to the country after a public consultation launched that could steer a future reintroduction programme.
Whale Births: Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales have given birth to at least 18 new calves this breeding season, according to the New England Aquarium.
Spanish Highlands: Bison, Europe’s largest terrestrial mammal, are now roaming Spain’s Iberian Highlands thanks to a nature restoration project that aims to tackle wildfires and boost biodiversity by reintroducing the animals.
First Time in 500 Years: In a "bold and historic moment," white storks are set to be reintroduced to London for the first time in 500 years, after plans were approved by council leaders in east London.
Moose Return: In Romania, the towering mammal has been locally extinct for centuries. That’s why scientists were blown away by a recent moose sighting in Transylvania. Moose are highly influential, in a beneficial way, on their surrounding habitat.
Joyous Video: Two Andean bears at Queens Zoo discover how to make a 'see-saw'.
