Encyclopedia of Biodiversity (Third Edition) - Mammals, Conservation Efforts for

Mammals are a disparate group, but large mammals in particular have similar conservation needs. They tend to need large areas and to be relatively slow growing, making them less resilient. They are more likely to be killed by humans for their meat, trophies, or because they are a danger or a nuisance. Conservation efforts for mammals particularly focus on habitat protection and direct protection. Mammals are often treated as flagships for the rest of biodiversity conservation, sometimes at the expense of other species. This makes them broadly important for conservation policy.