Weird species' rescue missions outlined

The slender loris is one of the 100 creatures to be protected

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Tuesday, 13, Mar 2007 04:59

Scientists will outline the first missions to find and conserve some of the world's weirdest creatures this evening.

During the next six months members of the Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) Edge (evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered) programme will travel to countries including Haiti and Mongolia to help protect the creatures.

Speaking at the ZSL in Regent's Park, London, Edge scientists will explain how the Hispaniolan solenodon, Attenborough's echidna, long-eared jerboa and Bactrian camel will form the first part of the programme's focus.

Edge aims to protect creatures which the scientists believe have so far been neglected by conservation plans.

Jonathan Baillie, lead scientist for the Edge programme, described the creatures as "astonishing" and "secretive".

"These first expeditions are just the start of the ZSL's plans to save some of the world's most extraordinary creatures from extinction," he said.

"We will be exploring some of the most challenging and extreme environments in the world, from the rocky, arid plains of Mongolia, to the scorched, degraded forests of Haiti, to the lush, densely vegetated mountains of Indonesia."

A total of 100 creatures have been identified as in need of help by the Edge programme.