The Philippine spotted deer Cervus alfredi, endemic to the Visayan Islands, is threatened by deforestation and hunting. Already extinct over 95 per cent of its former range, populations survive probably only in Panay and Negros. In 1987 a conservation programme was drawn up with two immediate objectives: to establish a national park in west Panay and to embark on a captive-breeding programme. The authors describe the operation of the project and its progress to date, and discuss plans for its extension.

Cuba is home for 10 endemic species of hutia. Three of these have become scarce, or extinct, in some parts of their historical range, but remain sufficiently abundant elsewhere to make their conservation of no immediate concern. Of the other seven species, one is believed to be extinct and the rest are in grave danger. The pressures they face include capture by man, competition with introduced rats and destuction of their habitat. Urgent measures are required if these species are to survive.

Although commercial international trade in rhinoceros parts, products and derivatives has been prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1977, trade within national boundaries cannot be regulated under the Convention. As a result illegal trade to supply domestic markets persists and rhinoceros populations continue to decline. Hong Kong was the first government in Asia to address this problem. Over a period of 13 years Hong Kong authorities introduced regulations progressively restricting the trade until in 1989 all aspects of the country's rhino trade became subject to legal prohibitions. Hong Kong's experience offers a valuable model for other Asian countries.

Assam, in north-east India, is the main stronghold for the great Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis, with most of the 1500 or so individuals that live there concentrated in parks and sanctuaries. Despite valiant efforts to protect them, the forest guards are poorly equipped and no match for poachers armed with automatic weapons or those who make use of high-voltage power lines to electrocute the animals. The authors have discussed the many problems besetting rhino conservation in Assam with wildlife officials and they make several recommendations that would improve the situation.

During the last 5 years a major conservation programme has been under way in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The author worked for the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development between 1987 and 1990, and in this article gives a personal view of the achievements of the organization and the problems it faces in trying to implement its policies.

Socotra, a small island in the Indian Ocean, is renowned for its remarkable flora. More than one-third of its 750 plant species are endemic, and seven are included in the IUCN Plant Red Data Book. Among these is Dirachma socotrana, which is something of a botanical curiosity. It was described in 1881 but confusion over its vernacular name led to the belief that it was widespread on the island. In 1989 the authors failed to find it in many of the sites where local people said it grew and on a second visit in 1990 the puzzle was resolved with the help of a linguist. In fact the species is apparently confined to one mountain pass. Although it is not immediately threatened it is, like many of the other plants on the island, at risk because of development plans.