Intervention

The first step is to establish the need for reintroduction by monitoring a species’ numbers and range, and understanding the rate, causes, and impacts of its decline. Even using technology such as drones and camera traps, precise numbers are still hard to obtain. However, any species classified as “critically endangered” on the IUCN Red List are at “extremely high risk of extinction” and likely to need human intervention to survive. This often starts with detailed scientific studies of the animal, its behaviors, and even its genetics to determine what’s needed for a successful reintroduction.