Today at the World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea, a new approach to getting people interested in helping to preserve some very endangered species in the world was introduced by Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE) . Their 7 Wonders (www.AZE7Wonders.org) campaign asks voters to help select seven sites from around the globe to highlight the plight of species on the brink.  The winning sites will be featured in a campaign to help conserve endangered species.

AZE has posted a list of 20 candidate sites from which voters can select their choice of seven. The 20 shortlisted sites were chosen from among 587 sites around the world that were identified by scientists working with AZE. These are sites that are the last refuges for one or more endangered species. The 20 sites represent a variety of taxonomic groups, including birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, as well as diverse geographies. Voting is open through November and can be carried out at the campaign website: www.AZE7Wonders.org.

According to Mike Parr, AZE Chair and Vice President of American Bird Conservancy, “The world rallies to preserve the heritage of priceless historical places like the Great Pyramid of Giza or the Colosseum, and we should also protect the places on Earth that harbor the most endangered species. By highlighting seven places out of the 587 sites that are most important to the preservation of the Earth’s biodiversity, in the tradition of the ‘Seven Wonders of the World,’ we can help draw attention to the importance of saving these sites."

He goes onto to say, “These species have lived on Earth longer than any man-made structure, and we cannot allow them to disappear in the shadows, unnoticed. We hope citizens feel a sense of pride and vote for the charismatic species found only at the unique places in their country.”

The following 20 sites (in random order) and their endangered species were selected for voting in the AZE’s 7 Wonders campaign. You can be a part of the voting by going to their website at www.AZE7Wonders.org.


1. Gough Island, UK – Tristan Albatross
2. Isla Robinson Crusoe, Chile – Juan Fernandez Firecrown
3. Abra Patricia, Peru – Long-whiskered Owlet
4. Raso da Catarina, Brazil – Lear's Macaw
5. Hellshire Hills, Jamaica – Jamaican Ground Iguana
6. Anhui Chinese Alligator Nature Reserve, China – Chinese Alligator
7. Roti Island, Indonesia – Roti Island Snake-necked Turtle
8. Baly Bay National Park, Madagascar – Angonoka Tortoise
9. Yadua Taba Island, Fiji – Fiji Crested Iguana
10. Río Saija, Colombia – Golden Poison Frog
11. Bale Mountains, Ethiopia – Malcom's Ethiopia Toad
12. Morningside and Handapan Ella Plains, Sri Lanka – Shrub Frog
13. Manas National Park, India – Pygmy Hog
14. Menabe – Andranomena, Madagascar – Madame Berthe's Mouse Lemur
15. Helan Shan Nature Reserve, China – Helan Shan Pika
16. Rodrigues Mainland, Mauritius – Rodrigues Flying Fox
17. Massif de la Hotte, Haiti – La Hotte Glanded Frog
18. Lower Tana River, Kenya – Tana River Mangabey (monkey)
19. Chatham Islands, New Zealand – Shore Plover
20. Poyang Hu, China – Siberian Cran