It would be natural to feel like the state of the world is a bit hopeless, what with massive fires burning up swaths of the U.S., Australia, and South America, a record year for hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, and an ongoing global pandemic to contend with.
And after learning that two-thirds of all wildlife has been wiped out since 1970 and scientists are predicting an "unprecedented magnitude" of mammal extinctions in the next 80 years, sure, it's easy to feel bummed.
That's why it's important to remember the victories as well. The tiger population in India is bouncing back. Ditto elephants in Kenya. In Uganda, wildlife authorities are celebrating a gorilla baby boom.
And according to a new study, putting some effort into conservation is well worth it.