Bald eagles, humpback whales, and giant pandas have a few things in common. They are larger than their peers, their looks are striking, and they are or have been endangered. These species, along with various types of tiger, dolphin, and wolf, have become known as Charismatic Megafauna.
These oversized, handsome specimens have become poster children for conservation efforts. Who wouldn’t want to protect the habitat of a cuddly panda or stop the systematic poisoning of the regal California Condor? Sometimes, these charismatic species can be effective representatives of the larger environmental problems, as is the case with the polar bear, whose icy hunting grounds are being broken up by the warming climate.
Some conservationists worry that our emotional attachment to charismatic species comes at the expense of less interesting ones. They’d prefer that we focus on what they call Keystone species – whose demise would have larger impacts on an ecosystem.
The Zoological Society of London has developed the concept of Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species. These so-called “EDGE” species are largely irreplaceable and usually much less well known than their large, charismatic neighbors.
Other groups are moving away from targeting specific animals for protection and instead designating geographic hotspots, also known as flagship regions, as conservation priorities. It’s a holistic approach that considers how best to protect the landscape and its inhabitants, including humans.
As is so often the case, a combination of all of these approaches will probably yield the best results in conservation.
Web Links
“Branding land: Conservation marketers choose land over beast” (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/node/10486391
EDGE of Existence (Zoological Society of London)
http://www.edgeofexistence.org/about/default.php
“Attention for charistmatic endangered animals hurts more important species”
http://voices.yahoo.com/attention-charismatic-endangered-animals-hurts-11557846.html?cat=57
Photo, taken on January 6, 2007, courtesy of Pen Waggener via Flickr.