Project Peril

Project Peril

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Conserving At-Risk Species and Habitat

Project Peril is dedicated to the conservation of species identified as in peril, threatened, endangered, or close to extinction throughout the world. Humans are one of more than 1 million species. Yet our existence has marked our planet, leaving many species on the brink of extinction, 30-50 percent of which might be gone by mid-century. Biodiversity is crucial to our planet’s survival, and rapid loss rates endanger it and everything living within it.

$7.8 MM+
Grants to Protect Threatened Habitat and Endangered Wildlife
1.2 MM+
Acres Protected
6
Continents Served
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Greater Good Charities is proud to meet the 17 goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. Learn more about each goal and how programs like Project Peril is transforming the world.

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1-in-5 Species On Earth Now Faces Extinction

Global biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. In order to combat this, Project Peril works with our partners on the ground to:

  • Rescue animals from illegal trafficking
  • Train and employ locals to protect their habitats from illegal deforestation and animal poaching
  • Help ensure natural migration corridors of numerous species remain uninterrupted
  • Protect and restore species’ natural habitats through land protection and reforestation
  • Provide cohabitation education to reduce retaliation against species
  • Build sanctuaries for endangered animals to safely live out the remainder of their days

From protecting and exploring the Madrean Sky Islands in North America to protecting the Sumatran Rhino in Asia, our projects reach the most vulnerable species across the globe.

Where We Focus Our Efforts

We work in strategic areas with a need for biodiversity protection. This includes areas that span biodiversity hotspots that are home to unique species not found anywhere else. Conservation, education, and protection are crucial to protect the endangered species of flora and fauna in these areas.

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OUR IMPACT FOR THE PLANET

Interested in Partnering with Us?

We want to hear from you! Let's work together to protect the planet.

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A HOLISTIC APPROACH

Wildlife is particularly threatened by changes to its ecosystems. Through hunting, habitat fragmentation, the introduction of invasive species, local pollution and climate change, humans have made permanent changes to the fabric of life on which all species depend and thrive. Project Peril is working to preserve biodiversity by protecting threatened species and their habitats, as well as supporting measures to prevent unnecessary destruction in the future.

Saving Species Threatened With Extinction

Project Peril prioritizes species listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically-endangered including those on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. We work to identify wildlife that is particularly important for overall conservation, such as:

  • Keystone species like the jaguar, which play an essential role in the functioning of an ecosystem
  • Umbrella species like the tiger, whose protection indirectly ensures the protection of other species in the habitat
  • Evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered species like the pangolin, which have few close relatives left on the planet
  • and flagship species like the elephant, charismatic species that encourage conservation at large
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Our Program in Action
Protect the Planet with Greater Good

Become a Greater Good Protector to have a lasting impact on our planet! Your monthly donation will protect endangered species and habitat all year round. Your support is vital in preserving our world for generations to come.

Where We Work

We work in strategic areas with a need for biodiversity protection. This includes areas that span biodiversity hotspots that are home to unique species not found anywhere else. Conservation, education, and protection are crucial to protect the endangered species of flora and fauna in these areas.

 

North America

North America has a diverse array of wildlife species and is home to an estimated 457 mammals, 914 birds, 662 reptiles, more than 300 amphibians, and 4,000 known arachnids.

North America is famous for its many carnivores, like bears, wolves, foxes, coyotes, and cougars (mountain lions). They make up keystone species for their ecosystems, but many of them are endangered.

The North American region is rich in biodiversity and is home to species not seen anywhere else, which makes it important for researchers and its inhabitants alike.

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Endangered Species in This Area
Explore More

Greater Good Charities also works to identify and preserve endangered species in the Madrean Archipelago, a biodiversity hotspot in North America. This series of unique ecosystems range from New Mexico and Arizona to Mexico. As a part of our program, Global Discovery Expeditions, scientists and students from both sides of the border come together to record the flora and fauna of this unique region. We store our findings in an open-source database for the world to share and learn from. 

 

Central & South America

The fauna of South America consists of a huge variety of unique species some of which evolved in relative isolation and is home to the largest number of recorded bird species. Overhunting and habitat destruction have seriously depleted populations of wildlife in much of South America. In fact, forest habitats are often destroyed if its inhabitants are not seen as valuable.

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Endangered Species in This Area
Protecting Land in Argentina

We have worked to preserve 65,000 acres of permanently protected habitat in Patagonia, Argentina — home to the critically endangered Andean Cat. The culmination of over two years of work came to fruition in 2019 when the final 16,000 hectares of land was added to this wildlife corridor. Local ranchers in the Payunia province in northern Patagonia agreed to sign a resignation of grazing rights, expanding the protected habitat of not only the Andean cat, but also migratory populations of guanacos, Darwin’s rheas, and Andean condors.

This was done while also taking financial care of the descendants of goat herders in Payunia. They will no longer need to remain in isolated lands which don’t properly support their livestock. Our work has benefitted the people, animals, and ecosystem in this area.

This work was made possible thanks to our collaboration and partnership with Wildlife Conservation Society.

 

Africa

Home to diverse wildlife, Africa’s biodiversity provides critical ecosystem services. However, it’s estimated that by 2100, the region could lose over 50% of its bird and mammal species, as well as most of its plant species as a result of climate change.

However, in addition to natural habitat loss and degradation, the direct overexploitation of wildlife is an even more immediate threat to these species. This loss of biodiversity affects livelihoods, water supply, food security and leaves the region more vulnerable to extreme events like disasters.

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Endangered Species in This Area
Our Work with Lions and Tigers (oh, my!)

Soon after the Guatemalan government banned animal circuses, Greater Good Charities partnered with Animal Defenders International (ADI) to rescue 18 exploited and abused lions and tigers, including two cubs, Max & Stripes. Circus-goers would play with the cubs and if the cubs protested, they would be severely punished. The cubs and their mother were regularly separated, much to their distress.

For over a year, ADI team members on the ground bravely stood by these animals despite unprecedented attempts to disrupt and derail the rescue operation including intimidation and harassment of the rescue team.

In early 2020, with your support, 12 tigers and five lions were flown to safety and are thriving at the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (ADIWS) in South Africa.

 

Asia & Europe

Poverty, population growth, and rapid economic development have created a wave of pressure on Asia’s natural ecosystems. Across the continent, wildlife populations and habitats are being destroyed by industrial and agricultural exploitation, infrastructure development due to overpopulation, and illegal activities such as poaching and timber theft.

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Endangered Species in This Area
Our Work with Elephants During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Located in the most densely populated countries in the world, the Asian elephant’s natural habitats are rapidly disappearing to urban development, and they’re being abused and exploited by humans for labor and entertainment.

Project Peril works with organizations like International Elephant Foundation, Elephant Nature Park, and Fauna & Flora International to save these species.

Our work during the COVID-19 pandemic helped Elephant Nature Park in Thailand keep the 3,000 rescued animals in their care fed. When the animal sanctuary was forced to close their doors to curb the spread of the virus, it struggled without the income from visitors. Thanks to our supporters, we provided ongoing support to ensure their 3,000 animals, including 87 elephants, didn't go hungry.

Check out little Belle, the baby elephant, enjoying your donations!

Our Work with Pandas
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Panda cubs are the smallest newborns in the bear species, weighing in at about 4 ounces at birth. Because they are so small, they are very fragile and defenseless. Twins are common in Giant Pandas, but when twins are born, mother pandas only have enough milk for one cub and cannot care for both. In the wild, the stronger cub is selected.

Project Peril is working with Pandas International to provide bags of formula to different panda bases throughout China, aiding in their efforts to save and help rehabilitate Giant Panda populations.

Photo © Pandas International

 

Asia Islands & Australasia

The islands of Southeast Asia have the highest rate of deforestation of any major tropical region and is expected to lose 75% of its original forests and up to 42% of its biodiversity within the next century.

Australasia is a diverse region encompassing Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, New Zealand, and Polynesia. This region contains six of the world’s 39 biodiversity hotspots. Due to major habitat loss, land degradation, and human exploitation, it has a poor record for extinctions, particularly for birds and mammals.

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Endangered Species in This Area
Our Work During Australia's Bushfires

Record-breaking temperatures and months of severe drought ignited a series of massive bushfires across Australia in early 2020, putting people, pets, and millions of unique wildlife species in grave danger. Ecologists at the University of Sydney and WWF Australia estimated over 1 billion animals died in the fires.

Thanks to our supporters, Greater Good Charities worked with partners on the ground including World Central Kitchen, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and local RSPCAs to feed, provide medical care, and protect all those affected. We granted $115,000 to these organizations to provide relief and ongoing support in the area.

Connie the Joey Police Rescue_©RSPCA Qld_Australian Bushfires 2020

Photo © RSPCA Queensland

 

The Oceans

Our ocean covers more than 70% percent of the planet and is home to over 220,000 known species and another estimated 2 million undiscovered flora and fauna. Yet in the past few decades, climate change and pollution have endangered this habitat.

The UN’s latest Intergovernmental Report on Climate Change outlines the warming of the earth’s oceans surface since 1970, highlighting temperatures in the past 25 years increasing twice as fast. This rapid warming coincides with rising sea levels from ice loss in the arctic and more frequent marine heatwaves which together create a ripple effect through the ocean food chain, resulting in mass marine life and bird die-offs.

Recent major flooding has led scientists to predict the more frequent occurrence of ocean dead zones—areas of water not able to sustain life due to low concentrations of oxygen. Flooding causes the agricultural industry’s runoff (including nutrients and chemicals) to go straight into nearby rivers, with many of these rivers emptying into oceans, creating these dead zones.

Additionally, there are an estimated 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, polluting countless habitats and putting many species in danger.

Given our oceans comprise more than 70% of Earth’s surface, this can all lead to catastrophic economic implications for coastal communities dependent on ocean life and even more dire global consequences.

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Endangered Species in This Area
Our Work with Sea Lions

In recent years, more and more sea lions have been found entangled in nets and other fishing debris. These discarded nets hurt not only sea lions but also much of the northern Gulf’s marine ecosystem. This can be attributed to a lack of solid-waste management and comprehensive regulations in the fishing industry. The sea lion’s future food sources are also threatened by the warming of the oceans.

Thanks to your support, our Project Peril team attended a workshop hosted by Centro Intercultural de Estudios de Desiertos y Océanos (Intercultural Center for Desert & Ocean Studies) in Puerto Peñasco, Sonora where participants were trained on how to safely remove entangled debris from sea lions. Participants included nonprofits from coaster cities, veterinarians, multiple Mexican state-level federal agencies, the Federal Office for Environmental Protection (PROFEPA), and the Secretariat of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR).

Five sea lions were rescued during the workshop; however, there is still more work to be done. It is estimated that in the Gulf of California alone, one would find 50 sea lions entangled in ghost nets and old fishing debris daily.

Sea Lion tangled in fishing line.
You made it this far! Thanks for diving deep with Project Peril.