On the Brink: Preserving Our Planet's Species

There is so little known about the silver monitor lizard that it is not even possible to say whether these lizards may already be extinct. The species, which is endemic to only one small Indonesian island, is so rare that it hasn't been seen for over 25 years. This is precisely why reptile collectors all over the world are willing to put a lot of money on the table for a live specimen - while researchers are trying by all means to learn more about this rare animal. Species conservationists are calling on the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora to provide greater protection for the monitor lizard and similar species before they are traded into extinction. But the treaty is not living up to its name.

The pangolin's only enemy - humans. A documentary about the most poached mammal in the world. Pangolins are one of the oldest animal species in the world and are considered sacred in many cultures. But their keratin armor, which previously protected them from predators, is now becoming their downfall. In China, the scales are considered a miracle cure for cancer and skin diseases. The harmless ant-eaters are already on the brink of extinction in Asia, which is why more and more are being hunted in Africa. How can these fascinating animals be saved from their seemingly unstoppable demise?

In South Africa, safari tourists are increasingly dropping out. This is a catastrophe for animal welfare and over one million people, because the safari industry is one of the most important sectors of the economy. As a result, poaching has increased and animal protection has decreased. Operators of private wildlife parks are now looking for innovative solutions: alternative safaris are on the rise. They are more basic with tents and huts instead of lodges and want to encourage more people for animal conservation.

Turtles have lived in our oceans for over 200 million years. Today, they are on the list of endangered animals. Although the shell animals themselves have few natural enemies - if it weren't for humans. Hundreds of thousands of turtles end up unintentionally in the nets of fishermen. In Puglia, an unusual alliance is saving sea turtles. Fishers hand over the captured animals at the port to the blue turtle ambulance. There they are examined and cared for before being released back into the depths of the Adriatic Sea.

A new form of nature conservation aspires to make the world a wilder place. Worldwide, there are various projects and approaches to give nature more space again. The aim is to create larger wilderness areas that develop with hardly any influence of humans - by reintroducing so-called key animal species and creating a network of wilderness corridors across entire continents. Rewilding promises to be a cost-effective form of conservation in which we can boost biodiversity and protect the climate.