I hope to see China as a role model for preservation of animal species. The recent(ish) loss of the Baiji[1] hopefully sent a wake-up call to the Chinese government.
Here in Australia we've historically had a terrible track record for this ("There are 23 birds, 78 frogs, and 27 mammal species or subspecies strongly believed to have become extinct since European settlement of Australia."[2]), but we're hopefully getting better. I recently visited some of the Tasmanian Devils who are being bred on the mainland, in isolation from the Tasmanian population, due to [3]. They seem hale and hearty (and very cute, though I wouldn't want to cuddle one)
Here in Australia we've historically had a terrible track record for this ("There are 23 birds, 78 frogs, and 27 mammal species or subspecies strongly believed to have become extinct since European settlement of Australia."[2]), but we're hopefully getting better. I recently visited some of the Tasmanian Devils who are being bred on the mainland, in isolation from the Tasmanian population, due to [3]. They seem hale and hearty (and very cute, though I wouldn't want to cuddle one)
[1]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baiji
[2]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_extinct_animals_of_Aust...
[3]:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil_facial_tumour_disease