There is great movement around pandas (WWF symbol) in a seething mass of organizations that determinedly try to put an end to the danger of extinction of these cute bears with squat furry bodies and sad black eyes.

On the other hand, the possible extinction of bees does not plunge anyone. Bees’ job plays an indispensable role in nature: they pollinate angyosperms. If we consider that these plants correspond to almost 90% of all around the planet and that their reproduction depends mostly on pollen transport by animals, in special bees, we ought to be much more concerned about the insects preservation.

Image by Antônio Machado

Also, in recent years, as a ‘Science’ article points out, scientists verified a strong and abruptly reduction of beehives mainly in the US since the 1970s. But beekeppers observed similar phenomena in Europe, what can be confirmed by a Le Monde piece of news, a Les Echos and a Sueddeutsche.de.

Aside from fundamental concerns about the survival of bee species, the dramatic collapse is economically significant because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees, as defended by some researches from Penn State University College of Agricultural Sciences. Now, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation is spending $28m on a report investigating the pollination crisis that is under way, as says The Economist.

So, coming back to the main issue, if pandas disappeared tomorrow, probably the world would continue to be more or last the same, but if it happened to bees the situation would be very different. Besides the lack of honey on supermarket shelves, most part of vegetation would disappear. Ok, I am pushing it a bit, I admit. But it is needed to change some long held views.

Reasons for focusing on some certain threatened species

Conservation organizations chooses to protect some species, unconsciously or not,  based on what is often called ‘charisma', selecting alluring animals. Whales are awe-inspiring, lions remind the myth of kingship, tigers are elegant, elephants and apes are extremely intelligent. From that, we can construe a lot of things.

First that the favorite conservation animals are mammals. Birds come in the second favourite position but reptiles, amphibians, fish, and, least of all, insects and plants are rarely the subject of conservation efforts. Broadly speaking, we prefer beauty to ugly.

Jonathan Baillie, Head of the EDGE programme (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species programme), commented: “Tragically, amphibians tend to be the overlooked members of the animal kingdom, even though one in every three amphibian species is currently threatened with extinction, a far higher proportion than that of bird or mammal species”.

Photo by Maria Keays

Basically, animal conservation should not be a charismatic contest. Should emphasize first on those animals that are biologically unique and under severe threat. Like the Attenborough's Long-Beaked Echidna, Hispaniolan Solenodon, Hirola, Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew, Bumblebee Bat and the Long-eared Jerboa. Now, how many of those can you picture?

By selecting unheard-of species like these, EDGE, which was founded in 2007 as a part of the London Zoological Society, looks to the future of conservation programmes, regarding the importance of all fauna.

I want to clear that none of what has been said here is aimed at diminishing the incredible work that bold conservation organizations are doing and have done for years. It is just important to highlight and bear in mind that instead of saving only ‘beautiful faces’ a little bit here and a bit there, we must preserve all life, from bees to pandas. That is development.