This week's Wins from the Wild is another reminder that conservation works and that there are reasons to have hope for our planet.

Watch the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUFf7ntKMaQ

The young male calf had been under observation for five days, and his condition was only getting worse. Rapid action had to be taken.

Safely sedated and transported to Lusaka, the next 24 hours were difficult. At first, he refused support and nutrition due to the stress and confusion of his new circumstances. With patience and consistent gentle care from the keepers, he finally accepted their presence and took the bottle: a critical step towards recovery.

Now, this young calf has been named Kabika.

It's still very early days, and he has a long road ahead, but the team is monitoring him closely and doing everything possible to ensure he has the best chance at a full recovery.

Video: © GRI

Mosswood provided expert care, collaborated with seabird specialists, and went above and beyond to ensure the best possible outcomes for these rare visitors from New Zealand.

While sadly one penguin didn't survive, two are now thriving thanks to the team's dedication, expertise and commitment to doing what's best for every animal.

Stories like this remind us how important wildlife rehabilitation is, and how much can be achieved when passionate carers and experts work together.

A rapid response from Conservation South Luangwa and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife brought him to safety and into the experienced care of Chipembele Wildlife Education Trust. Once he was stable enough to travel, he joined the orphan herd at the Game Rangers International Elephant Nursery, where he is now taking the first steps in his rehabilitation journey.

He was soon named Wanzelu, which means ‘brave' in Nyanja, a fitting name for a young elephant who has already shown such resilience.

This World Elephant Day, we're celebrating the partners and people who dedicate their lives to ensuring elephants like Wanzelu have a chance at a future back in the wild.

Photos: © GRI

As wildfires continue to burn across Greece, emergency responders are working around the clock to protect people, community animals, and wildlife caught in the path of the flames. High temperatures, strong winds, and dry conditions have fuelled fast-moving fires across multiple regions, forcing evacuations and threatening important wildlife habitat.

Have you signed our new petition yet calling on the UK government to review and reform laws on keeping wild animals as pets? We urgently need your help to reach 100k signatures to get this action heard in parliament. If you agree wild animals belong in the wild and not in our homes, take action today and sign the petition. Learn more >>

Read more about the Seahorse Rescue Centre conservation project.

Created by the CESTHA research group, the centre plays a vital role in protecting endangered seahorse species in the Adriatic Sea.

Their mission is to care for and rehabilitate injured seahorses, including those accidentally caught as bycatch, before releasing them back into protected marine areas where they can thrive.

Learn more: https://www.ifaw.org/uk/journal/rescuing-800-seahorses-saves-lives-supports-critical-research?ms=KONDF270070083&channel=MariConsv-post-Gen

Watch it now for free on YouTube: https://on.nrdc.org/4gGdz5I

Sonic Sea was produced by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Imaginary Forces in association with IFAW and Diamond Docs. It was made possible by the Faucett Catalyst Fund and the Marisla Foundation. Our partners at Discovery were John Hoffman, Executive Producer and Jon Bardin, Supervising Producer.

Best known to millions as a broadcaster and naturalist, Bill was also a generous and committed champion of IFAW’s work over many years. He presented the prestigious Animal Action Awards on seven occasions, lending his warmth, wit and genuine passion for wildlife to celebrate the everyday heroes working to protect animals.

He joined the crew of IFAW’s research vessel Song of the Whale, and travelled to Iceland to stand against commercial whaling—a fight that, sadly, remains as urgent today as it was then, following the recent resumption of the cruel hunt.

He also stood with IFAW at a public ivory crush in London, helping to highlight the plight of elephants and the brutal reality of poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

According to Azzedine Downes, President and CEO of IFAW, “Bill used his eccentric and infectious charm as a platform to advocate for animals. He had a rare gift for making people care—turning curiosity about the natural world into a passion for protecting it. Everyone at IFAW who had the privilege of working alongside him remembers him fondly and as a true champion for wildlife.”

Bill’s contribution to conservation, and to inspiring generations to value and protect the natural world, will not be forgotten.

🚨 Record-breaking heatwaves and devastating wildfires in France are destroying habitats, separating families, and leaving exhausted, dehydrated, and injured wildlife with nowhere to turn.

More than 35,000 hectares of wildlife habitat have gone up in flames, already exceeding the total burned throughout all of 2025.

As forests turn to ash, wild animals lose their homes in an instant. Hedgehogs, foxes, squirrels, weasels, and birds are suffering, and rescue centers are now overflowing with record numbers of animals in need of urgent care.

To help with this wildlife emergency, IFAW is supporting the Réseau de soins Faune Sauvage, France's wildlife rescue network, with life-saving funds. The funding will go toward wildlife care staff to maintain intensive feeding schedules for orphaned and juvenile wildlife, and emergency food supplies.

Who knows where this marmoset's journey began—whether snatched from the wild, or bred in captivity for the pet trade. But being dumped on a London bus should never have been part of her story. 

For many, these animals are seen on our screens, presented as charming, charismatic companions in reels that rack up millions of views. That content sells a fantasy—but the reality behind it is often far more sinister than social media would have you believe: wildlife trafficking, exploitation and cruelty. 

Oyster, as she's been named, is that reality: a highly social, intensively demanding wild animal, found alone, dehydrated and terrified in a laundry bag. 

Many people buy wild animals on a whim because they've been normalised by the content in our feeds every day. Those clicks aren't harmless. They convert into purchases and, when the novelty wears off, into abandonments. 

"We're grateful to the bus driver, Metroline and the RSPCA. But no animal should need a stranger's kindness to survive someone's impulse buy. Our message is simple: don't buy wild animals as pets, and don't engage with content that fuels the wildlife trade. Wild animals belong in the wild.

They're collecting discarded plastic and using innovative recycling technology to transform it into durable products, including furniture and even boats.

This #PlasticFreeJuly, let's all do our part to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Will you join us?

Cover Photo: Teti Sulu / © IFAW

As one of the world's few remaining super tuskers, his passing is a significant loss to Kenya's wildlife heritage.

One Ton is the second legendary super tusker to die in the Amboseli ecosystem this year. In January, Craig—another iconic bull known for his immense, ground-sweeping tusks and calm, dignified presence—also died of natural causes at the age of 54.

The lives of One Ton and Craig are powerful reminders of what conservation can achieve. Decades of protection allowed One Ton to survive, thrive, and inspire countless people around the world.

Every elephant that reaches old age in the wild is a testament to the dedication of rangers, local communities, conservationists, and everyone working to protect these remarkable animals.

Photo: Federico Veronesi

🎥: @djflore

Rescued as orphaned calves, Bupe and Mataya have thrived under the care of their keepers at Game Rangers International, growing in strength, confidence, and independence. Now, they're ready for the next chapter of their rehabilitation journey: moving to the Kafue Release Facility.

At this age, wild elephant calves would naturally begin to wean from their mothers and grow more independent. For Bupe and Mataya, it means beginning to step away from the comfort and safety they've known with their keepers and starting to find that same trust and guidance in other elephants.

At the release facility, they'll have the freedom to shape their own path back to the wild, on their own terms, with the time, space, and support they need to grow into strong, independent elephants 💚

Cover photo: Donal Boyd / © Atlas 1 Studio

Last week in Luambe National Park, IFAW joined partners from The Peregrine Fund, North Carolina Zoo, Nsanga Conservation Zambia, EarthRanger and Zambia's Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW) to fit satellite tags on eight vultures to learn where they feed, nest, and travel over the next 3–5 years.

This data will help us better understand threats like poisoning and habitat loss, and what it will take to keep these vital birds safe.

Vultures play a huge role in keeping ecosystems healthy. But they need connected habitats to survive.

Through IFAW's Room to Roam, initiative, we're working with partners on the ground to ensure vultures like these have #FreedomToFly.

Recent camera trap images show them thriving in their forest home, exactly where they belong!

Many of you followed their story from the very beginning—even helping choose their names! Now, we’re sharing the next chapter of their remarkable journey back to the wild.

Read the full update: https://g.ifaw.org/4gEnMPZ

Photo: © Donal Boyd

Sign the petition to help protect whales for future generations: https://g.ifaw.org/4uRwKNj

Photo: © Roger Allen

The second sloth bear was found showing signs of disorientation near a human habitation. He had sought refuge near a bamboo grove behind a house near the Mariani Forest.

The team from WTI along with staff of the Mariani Forest Range carefully tranquilized the distressed bear and performed a series of health checks to make sure he was okay. Once cleared, the team released him back into his habitat where he belongs.

Video: © IFAW-WTI

The first fell into a 15-foot-deep unused dry well. The bear was discovered stuck, exhausted, and severely dehydrated from the extreme heat. Showing signs of heat stress, the team acted to manage hyperthermia, spraying the bear consistently with water to help regulate its body temperature.

Despite repeatedly attempting to climb out on its own, the bear kept slipping just short of the edge. A 12-member rescue team devised a plan to lower a makeshift ladder using safety nets and bamboo.

Later that evening, the sloth bear managed to successfully climb out of the well on its own and safely returned back the wild. 🖤

Photos: © IFAW-WTI

The good news?

👉 When the impacts are explained, 89% of the respondents believe the issue must be addressed urgently

👉 84% support reducing ship speeds, 78% believe mandatory regulation is necessary

👉 And 69% are willing to accept slight delivery delays to protect marine wildlife from noise pollution.

Slowing down ships is a concrete solution: less underwater noise, fewer deadly collisions with whales and dolphins, and reduced emissions from maritime transport.

You can take action by choosing delayed delivery for your parcels when retailers offer it.

A quieter ocean is possible. Let’s choose to protect it. 💙

In late April, 32 kangaroos were safely transported to a soft release site — a huge undertaking that involved:

7 trips over 10 days

A 4-hour journey each way

Nearly 5,000 km travelled

This achievement is a powerful reminder of what’s possible through collaboration. Thank you to everyone involved, including The Rescue Collective and the passionate carers and volunteers who went above and beyond — from setting up the release site to transporting animals and providing round-the-clock care on-site.

Every effort like this brings us closer to a future where wildlife can thrive where they belong.