We are the EDGE of Existence Programme at ZSL We ignite a global movement to recognise and protect Earth's most unique, extraordinary, and overlooked species. We envision a world where these species thrive, supported by a global network of diverse conservation leaders spearheading sustainable conservation that delivers equity and justice. At ZSL we're working tirelessly to save species on the verge of extinction.
Our EDGE of Existence programme is the only conservation programme in the world to focus on animals that are both Evolutionarily Distinct (ED) and Globally Endangered (GE). These weird and wonderful species. The EDGE of Existence programme is a research and conservation initiative that focuses on species deemed to be the world's most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species.
Developed by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the programme aims to raise awareness of these species, implement targeted research and conservation actions to halt their decline, and to train in. ZSL's EDGE of Existence programme is the only global conservation initiative to focus specifically on threatened species that represent a significant amount of unique evolutionary history. Using a scientific framework to identify the world's most Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, the EDGE of Existence programme highlights and protects some of the most unique.
The EDGE of Existence Programme, led by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), is a global initiative dedicated to conserving EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) species. The Chacoan peccary is a pig-like mammal with a long, flexible snout and a coat of grey brown bristly fur, and is the largest of the three living species of peccary. What is the EDGE approach to conservation? It was with this need to protect unique species mind that scientists at ZSL devised an approach to rank threatened species based on their evolutionary distinctiveness, known as the EDGE approach, focusing on how Evolutionarily Distinct (ED) and Globally Endangered (GE) species are.
The EDGE of Existence programme uses EDGE Lists to prioritise species for conservation. EDGE Lists comprise the most evolutionarily distinct and threatened species on Earth. The EDGE Fellowship 2026 is a 28-month programme that builds conservation leadership where it's needed most.
Fellows receive funding, training, and mentorship to implement a two-year project focused on a species from our EDGE species list - species that are Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered. In 2026, the Fellowship call is open globally, with priority given to projects. Bringing the most threatened species back from the brink of extinction In the face of unprecedented biodiversity losses, effective strategies for the conservation of the world's most threatened species are urgently required.
Each potential loss is vital. At ZSL, we know that conservation works best when it's powered by science. Evidence shows that timely and targeted conservation actions can.
