Desert and rangeland areas of the earth contain unique plant, animal and human communities that have adapted to survive in these extreme and fragile environments

However, these ecosystems are being degraded through unsustainable practices leading to desertification and wildlife losses. Responding to these threats, ZSL has long been involved in aridland conservation, through genetic research, wildlife veterinary work, captive breeding and reintroductions, reserve management and tourism development, and wild population monitoring.

Populations of three of India’s commonest griffon vultures have declined by more than ninety per cent during the last decade and since late 1999 ZSL has been working closely with Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and the RSPB to investigate this problem.
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The rhinoceros as a genus are all critically endangered bar the southern white rhino, which although still threatened has shown remarkable recovery.
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© Tim Wacher Due to the pressure of severe drought, civil war and modern hunting techniques, wild antelope populations are under severe threat, with some species extinct in the wild such as the scimitar horned oryx and many close to the brink.
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© ZSL - Nick LindsayZSL has been working for many years on a range of conservation projects in Nepal, and ZSL’s main project currently is the conservation of the Greater One Horned rhino.
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Asian elephants are forest elephants and it is very hard to count them, but fewer than 50,000 are thought to survive in total.
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The biodiversity of Mongolia, including fascinating species like Saiga antelope, Khulan and the two humped Bactrian camel, is at threat.
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Rhinos and Art
Help support international rhino conservation and pick up a beautiful art book at the same time.
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Join the ZSL Wild Adoption Programme and help support international conservation projects.
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