1960s It all began for WWF in 1961 when a small group of influential and ambitious individuals recognized the urgent need for an organization to raise funds for environmental conservation work. Shortly after our birth, we launched in the UK the first ever fundraising appeal for conservation. The public response was astounding and, in the following decades, we have raised millions globally to help protect the natural world and the people who depend on it. From efforts to increase the range of the southern white rhino in Kenya to the purchase of the Coto Doñana wetland in Spain, our work focused mainly on the protection of individual species and habitats during this decade. OUR EVOLVING FOCUS... TACKLING THREATS TO PARTICULAR SPECIES AND PLACES... 1963 1965 TRAINING WILDLIFE MANAGERS WE HELP FUND A PIONEERING NEW COLLEGE IN TANZANIA FOR PROTECTED AREAS MANAGEMENT TRAINING; THOUSANDS OF WILDLIFE MANAGERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE SINCE BENEFITTED. RHINO SUPPORT WITH RHINO NUMBERS UNDER GROWING PRESSURE, WE SUPPORT THE EAST AFRICAN WILDLIFE SOCIETY'S TRIAL INTRODUCTION OF SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOS FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO KENYA - FOLLOWED BY OTHER CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO SAFEGUARD RHINO SPECIES IN THE COMING DECADES. 1969 SPANISH WILDLIFE HAVEN WWF PURCHASES THE COTO DOÑANA WETLAND IN SPAIN AFTER THE THREAT OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT; TODAY, IT'S A NATIONAL PARK AND SAFE HAVEN FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED IBERIAN LYNX. 13