Bera Lake, located in southwest Pahang, Malaysia is a natural freshwater system of lakes. The 35 km long and 20 km wide lake drains into the Pahang River. The Bera Lake is one of the unique and remote wetland wildernesses in the country. It is peninsular Malaysia’s largest freshwater swamp. The ecosystem, consisting of islands of peat swamp forests and a patchwork of dry lowland dipterocarp forests, is rich in flora and fauna. The ecosystem is protected by the Ramsar Convention and has a core zone of 260 square km, and a buffer zone of 275 square km.

Tanjung Piai is a cape in Malaysia’s Pontian District, representing Peninsular Malaysia’s southernmost point. The coastline of the cape features rows of unspoiled mangrove forests that are highly significant in conversation. 22 species of mangrove trees grow in this ecosystem. The mangroves also act as an important bird habitat and both resident and migratory birds can be observed here. The Tanjung Piai’s coastal mangroves are part of an Important Bird Area and also a Ramsar wetland of international significance. Several hotels and resorts have been built around the region. However, the government mandates that environmental rules and regulations are maintained strictly by those owning private property in the area.

The Pulai River starts at the Mount Pulai and drains into the Tebrau Straits. At the mouth of the river is the largest seagrass bed of the country. A vast mangrove ecoregion is also located here. Intensive research is carried out in the ecoregion to study the unique collection of flora and fauna here.

Located on the islands of Borneo, the Lower Kinabatangan Segama Wetlands span an area of 788.03 square km. The site was added to the Ramsar List on October 28, 2008. The wetland area constitutes three Forest Reserves, the Kuala Maruap and Kuala Segama Forest Reserve, Kulamba Wildlife Reserve, and the Trusan Kinabatangan Forest Reserve. These wetlands serve as an important habitat for numerous resident and migratory birds. They are also a vital habitat of the Bornean orangutans and are significant for the conservation of orangutans.

Often called the "lungs of the Earth," the Amazon rainforest spans nine countries, but about 60% lies in Brazil. In recent years, disastrous fires, caused mainly by humans, have engulfed extensive tracts of this precious forest and killed its wild inhabitants in thousands. These fires have plundered the natural wealth of vast sections of the Amazon, making a mockery of millions of years of evolution.

The Amazon rainforest has incredible biodiversity. It is the world's most biodiverse ecosystem hosting around 10% of the global species. It is the birthplace of innumerable small rivers and streams that give rise to the mighty Amazon River that supports millions of human and animal lives in its basin area. About 3 million indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon also depend on the forest for their survival.

Female jaguar later injured in wildfires in Brazil captured by a camera trap. Image credit Jaguar Identification Project/Panthera

Forest fires, set up by potential land-invaders, advancing quickly on the Amazon forested part of Fazenda São Marcelo, they were successfully contained later on, in this 11,000 hectares forested conservation/reserved area. Image credit: Rafael Hoogesteijn/Fernando Tortato/Panthera

The rapid loss of the Amazon rainforest concerns the world, but the latest facts and figures are not encouraging. Implementing sound conservation strategies to protect the Amazon's umbrella species, the jaguars could be one of the ways to bring about positive change. Panthera scientists suggest strict monitoring of the rainforest's jaguar population and costly conservation interventions in areas with the greatest number of jaguars. They also recommend creating more protected areas, reducing meat consumption, promoting beef and wood certification, and improving cattle production.

Orcas have evolved to swim as far as 40 miles in one day to forage for food, exercise, and socialize. In addition to swimming, killer whales will dive several times per day to depths of 100 to 500 feet below the water's surface. They are naturally inclined to travel far and dive deep, which is part of the reason killer whales often struggle in captivity, where tanks can't grant the same range and the mammals sometimes develop boredom and stress due to repetitive activities.