Rhinos have given conservationists cause for concern for many decades, and there have been regular reports in Oryx of their deteriorating status in several countries. Now the authors, former Chairman and Executive Officer, respectively, of the IUCN/SSC African Elephant and Rhino Specialist Group, give an up-to-date account of rhinos in Africa, their numbers, distribution, and descriptions of areas where they are particularly vulnerable, as well as those where conservation action is having a positive effect.

Between 1966 and 1969 17 chimpanzees, which had all been captured in the wild and had spent various amounts of time in European zoos, were released in Rubondo Island National Park in Lake Victoria, Tanzania. Now there is a healthy population of at least 20 chimpanzees, and it is likely that there is now a second generation of Rubondo-born animals. The author, who has been recording sightings of the chimpanzees since 1978, discusses this early rehabilitation experiment, sets it in the context of others and examines the problems of how best to cope with those animals that are confiscated while enforcing the laws prohibiting the capture of wild chimpanzees.

In Tanzania, in the dry season, Tarangire National Park is second only to Ngorongoro in the concentrations of wildlife to be seen there. But there is a bleak outlook for the species that traditionally migrate to pastures outside the park in the rainy season. Over the last 10 years many of their routes out of the park have been blocked by farms and ranches, and further expansion of agricultural schemes could threaten the remainder. Part of the zebra and wildebeest populations that migrate north have already been lost. The author, who has been carrying out wildlife surveys in Tanzania for the Frankfurt Zoological Society for seven years, proposes some remedies to prevent the park from becoming the domain of only a few resident species.

The author found many changes when he returned to Azraq after an absence of 14 years. Although the concept of a major Desert National Park had been abandoned, two reserves, embracing semi-desert and wetland, had been created. The Shaumari Reserve is having some success in breeding desert species for re-establishment in the wild, notably the oryx. The Wetland Reserve, however, is in danger; its wildfowl populations appear to be declining and the central marsh may be shrinking. Remedial action is essential if the wetland is to retain its importance, both as a reserve for birds and as a tourist attraction.

When the author visited Belize in 1983 and 1984 to survey the turtle fauna of that country, to which the Oryx 100% Fund contributed £500, he was able to collect some information on the three marine turtle species that nest on Belize's beaches and forage along the coast. All three species are exploited in the country and, although there is a degree of legal protection, the ban on egg-collecting is widely ignored, turtles are taken for their meat in the closed season, and tortoise-shell jewellery and curios still find a ready market among tourists from abroad.

In a study supported by the FFPS Oryx 100% Fund, the authors investigated the impact of traditional hunting practices on native land birds in Samoa. Hunting and habitat modification have contributed to the near extinction of several endemic species. Through new hunting regulations, conservation education programmes and the development of a national park system, the Government of Western Samoa has moved to strengthen its commitment to the conservation of a unique insular biota.

It became clear in 1979 that commercial poaching was drastically reducing the numbers of rhino in Luangwa Valley and the Zambian Government, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the World Wildlife Fund, responded by setting up Save the Rhino Trust (SRT). Neither past nor present numbers and distribution of these animals were sufficiently known to provide a baseline for monitoring the effects of the poaching and the author carried out research on behalf of NPWS and SRT during 1981–82 to assess the status of the rhinos in the Luangwa Valley; FFPS was among the financial supporters of the work. Here he describes the problems that the task presented and the development of a technique that will provide a way of assessing the effectiveness of future anti-poaching operations. The study's findings that 72 per cent of rhinos that die in Luangwa do so from poachers' bullets led to a recommendation for a change in patrol policy; this was adopted by SRT in 1983 and its success is being monitored.

Most of Mauritania's populations of large mammals have been exterminated or severely depleted by hunting. The Mauritanians usually do not hunt birds, however, and as a result the avifauna are protected, albeit somewhat passively. The Parc National du Bane d'Arguin is an exceptionally rich coastal area, attracting huge concentrations of waders in the European winter and impressive nesting colonies of birds in the summer, including eastern white pelicans, greater flamingos and royal terns. Although the birds are probably safe, the Park's mammals are not, and the last few dorcas gazelles need urgent protection from poachers.

Papua New Guinea takes insect conservation seriously, and for 10 years now has involved hundreds of villagers in an innovative butterfly farming scheme, which benefits both people and wildlife. Angus Hutton, who was National Co-ordinator for the project at its inception, describes this successful integration of conservation with development.

The fynbos of the South African Cape is renowned for its high number of endemic plants and animals, many of which are under threat. Much effort and money are being spent to secure their future. Amphibians may be especially vulnerable due to land drainage, and amongst those facing this and other threats is the Cape clawed toad Xenopus gilli for which a conservation programme has been developed.

The future of the St Vincent parrot is seriously threatened. It is still captured for the pet trade, its forest habitat is being destroyed and the remnant populations are subject to natural catastrophes. In 1979 Mt Soufrière, the island's active volcano, erupted and many parrots died from the effects of toxic gases. In 1980 Hurrican Allen damaged forest in the east of the island. In 1982 the ICBP, concerned about the effect of these incidents on an already precarious parrot population, promoted an expedition from the University of East Anglia to investigate and FFPS was among those that helped finance it.

There are perhaps 7000–10,000 formers in South Africa who derive some income from game farming. They sell the meat, sell live animals to other formers, allow hunters to shoot animals for trophies, or allow tourists onto their land for game viewing. The system has benefits for both wildlife and the formers, and it is tempting to assume that similar results could be obtained in other African countries. But is its that simple?

The author made a brief visit to the Maldive Islands in 1984. These beautiful coral atolls are being rapidly developed for tourism and there is an urgent need to achieve a balance between the attendant changes and wildlife conservation.

London has far fewer ponds than it had 100 years ago. In some parts 90 per cent of ponds have been lost since 1870, although the creation of gravel pits and lakes has compensated to a small extent. Such declines have made those ponds that are left of supreme importance for nature conservation, but many are neglected and harbour only remnants of their once rich flora and fauna. In 1984 Thomas Langton carried out a survey of London's ponds and other areas of standing water with the aim of identifying which ponds needed saving and managing for wildlife. This much needed work was made possible by the Greater London Council, which gave a grant to the FFPS for the purpose.

The future looks bleak for the manatee population in the waters around Haiti. Results of a survey conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service suggest that numbers have declined drastically over the last 50 years. The best hope for the few remaining is that the hunting expertise will vanish with the older generation.