Natural history

We back Nature’s underdogs — the unseen, the unheard, the lesser-spotted and long-overlooked.

For them to thrive, they need attention from those who know them best. That’s why we fund in-country conservationists and scientists to protect EDGE species worldwide, and help storytellers to create content that reconnects us with these natural superstars.

Why EDGE*?

A Proboscis Monkey climbing a tree in a jungle with animated star stickers and a speech bubble that says 'Best foot forward!'

Amazingly diverse & threatened species

Some of the oldest, most unique, and endangered species on the planet. Welcome to the world of Evolutionarily Distinct Globally Endangered (EDGE) species. They're icons and there's nothing like them.

Two whales swimming underwater, surrounded by colourful abstract shapes in orange and purple, with a speech bubble saying "Pardon? I can't hear you!"

4,000 overlooked species

EDGE species are the ultimate survivors but only one in ten of them is getting the conservation attention it needs.

A dark brown tapir, partly submerged in water, with plants and branches in the background, with a speech bubble saying "Soak it all in" and illustrator water ripples and droplets.

Evolutionary history

Helping these species starts in EDGE Zones. By helping conservationists in all 25 of these special areas and beyond, we're doing our bit to protect nature’s rich history.

What does it mean for a species to become EDGE?

EDGE, explained

  • A series of illustrated EDGE species, framed on a gallery wall.
  • A rat in fancy dress, dressed as a Kakapo, wanting to be considered EDGE.
  • A tree of life illustration, that shows how sturdy and diverse the rat species are, but how kakapo's are on their own.
  • A slide that breaks down 'ED' and 'GE' to show how a species may be considered EDGE.
  • Rat in kakapo fancy dress wanting to be considered EDGE, but not making the cut (however, they are reassured that they don't really want to be considered EDGE!)

Meet some EDGE species

  • Round frog with pointy snout in the middle of the frame

    Purple Frog

    Talk about shy! The purple frog lives entirely underground and emerges one day a year to party – oh, and find their boo.

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  • Temminck's Pangolin

    Spoiler alert: it's not a reptile! These extraordinary creatures are the world's only scaly mammals. They're also the most illegally trafficked wild mammal on earth.

    Read more
  • Great hornbill bird with bright orange beak, perched on a branch and looking in the sun

    Great Hornbill

    These "farmers of the forest" help disperse seeds far and wide; they're important for the health of tropical forests.

    Read more
  • Aye-aye image

    Aye-aye

    This elusive primate has enough jaw-power to bite through concrete! It uses a bony middle finger to find grubs in trees in its native Madagascar.

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  • Image of kakapo in the underbrush

    Kākāpō

    Kãkãpõ are the world's heaviest and only flightless parrot. They live in New Zealand where there are fewer than 250 of them.

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On the Edge Fund

A large cluster of orange and black monarch butterflies flying in a blue sky with some tree branches visible on the left side and an neon yellow squiggly circle drawn on top.

We fund in country conservationists and local storytellers — and uniquely, we pair them together to amplify each other’s impact.

On the Edge Fund Grantee spotlights

Conservation

  • Dr Rosa Vásquez Espinoza

    Ever been up to your ears in bees? Dr. Rosa Vásquez Espinoza has, and for good reason.

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  • Dr Luis Marin da Fonte

    Name someone who goes wild for amphibians like Dr Luis Marin da Fonte... we'll wait.

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  • Long Vu

    Long’s story short: this is one snub nose that desperately needs our attention.

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  • Marina Kameni

    An amphibious guardian with an appetite for protecting Cameroon’s croakers – Marina is in the building.

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  • Project SIARC

    Did you know there’s an angel in the UK’s waters? There’s also a heavenly bunch of people trying to save it.

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  • Rafid Shidqi

    A real-life Ray-Man out there saving some of nature’s superstars.

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  • EDGE of Existence Programme

    One supergroup is on the scene to save some seriously threatened species.

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  • Nadia Paola Rodriguez Mendoza

    A tree rat is literally being loved to extinction – one psychologist is ready to save it.

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  • Ennia Bosshard & Harrison Carter in front of a large rock formation

    Ennia Bosshard & Harrison Carter

    Rainforests? In the UK? Being brought back from the brink of extinction?!

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  • Groupe d’étude et de recherche sur les primates de Madagascar (GERP)

    The legend of the lemur must be protected at all costs – especially on GERP’s watch.

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Storytelling

  • Juan Maria Raggio & Mariano Fernández

    Juan and Mariano are two Argentinian filmmaking veterans with several decades of experience between them.

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  • Gustavo Carrasco

    A powerful story of how traditional knowledge alongside science can protect a delicate ecosystem.

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  • Sofia Lopez Mañan & Juan Martin Ortiz

    Lights, camera, action – there’s a special toad out there about to get a serious glow up.

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  • Antonia Pérez Wagner

    What do you get when you cross the plight of the Jambato toad with a talented artist, illustrator and animator?

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  • Zac Lazarou & Oliver Cummins

    Knock, Knock, who’s there? Rainforests in the UK. Who knew? Meet the strange creatures and characters who call the UK’s temperate rainforests home. This 20-part comedy series is guaranteed to make you laugh, wonder and show you a side to rainforests you’ve never seen before.

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  • Yanyie Tran & Chris Colman

    The latest TikTok trend may not be what you’re expecting. It’s time for Mobula Mobula to take the stage, inspiring a movement of pride across Indonesia. #legendalaut

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  • Myles Storey, Bright Ong, Nguyen Dang Tu Anh, & Lam Ha

    This story comes with strings attached… literally. Meet No Nose, one of the world's rarest primates and quite the character.

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Want to get into the nitty gritty of our impact?

Read our 2024 Impact report below, or download it here.