Incredible Opportunity To Help Name 12 Newly Discovered Species & Save Them From Extinction In The Wild

Photo of an Ecuadorean frog 

Today, Rainforest Trust kicked off the largest ever public auction of a newly discovered species naming rights.

You can have the chance to name one of 12 species recently discovered in protected areas created by Rainforest Trust and its partners across the tropics. Pre-bidding starts today with the final auction taking place at an invitation only event in Washington, DC, on December 8^th.  All other pre-registered bidders can participate by phone and online.

Rainforest Trust hopes to raise in excess of $150,000 to save these 12 unique species from extinction.

“We have discovered new, amazing plants and creatures, and need to protect them and their habitats,” explained Dr. Paul Salaman, CEO, Rainforest Trust. “Our auction will enable the public to help us do that. Imagine having a spectacular new species named after a loved one or an organization and knowing that their legacy is tied to saving a species!” 

The auction showcases new-to-science species. Among the finds are an Ecuadorean blue-eyed yellow frog; a Colombian frog with leopard-like coloring; speckled red and bright green frogs; an orchid from a Colombian cloud forest that has flame-like orange and rose-colored petals; an orchid with a center resembling peach slices; a deadly trap jaw ant with a mandible that opens to 180 degrees; a grey forest mouse with soft fur and rounded ears; a legless amphibian that looks like a worm; and a giant-eyed red salamander.  All proceeds will be matched and directly protects the habitat of the specific plant or animal, helping save them from extinction.

The live auction will take place at Clyde’s Restaurant at Gallery Place in Washington, DC. In person, online and phone bidding starts at 8pm ET the evening of the December 8th event for pre-registered bidders. The Freeman’s Auction House will be conducting the auction with support from Invaluable, an auction aggregator.  Both are donating their services.

Dr. Salaman has discovered a number of species and was the first person to organize a species naming auction in 1994 to raise funds for conservation work. Today, Rainforest Trust has brought together a record number of spectacular species to be named all at once through an auction. 

Naming a species is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for people, companies and nonprofits that are: interested in conservation and abating climate change; in search of a truly unique gift with direct impact; or wanting to leave a legacy. If you are interested, please visit: https://auctions.freemansauction.com/auction-catalog/1618B to learn more and to pre-register for the auction. 

Over half of the world’s rainforests have been destroyed, and almost 70,000 acres more are lost every day. Rainforests are among the most important natural resources. They mitigate climate change, are a source of scientific discovery and support unique plants and animals that are essential to biodiversity and therefore a healthy planet. Rainforest Trust focuses on purchasing and protecting rainforests acre by acre. Over the last five years, they have saved one acre every 13 seconds.

Rainforest Trust is a leading international conservation organization that has been steadfast in its mission for 30 years to save endangered species through the purchase and protection of imperiled tropical habitats in partnership with local partners and communities. Since its founding in 1988, Rainforest Trust has helped protect over 19 million acres of rainforest and other tropical habitats in more than 125 project sites around the world.

Presently, Rainforest Trust is working to establish a network of over 190 protected areas toward its goal of strategically protecting 50 million acres by 2020.

Rainforest Trust has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, and 100 percent of project gifts directly fund vital conservation action. Please consider donating to the Rainforest Trust HERE!