The Hispaniolan solenodon is an ancient West Indian insectivore known from the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Solenodons have the unique ability to inject venom into their prey through specialised grooves in their incisors. Before European colonisation of Hispaniola the species was one of the dominant predators on the island. It never evolved any “anti-predator” defences and is therefore poorly equipped to defend itself against introduced predators such as dogs, cats and mongooses. The species may also be declining as a result of the loss of its forest habitat to logging.

EDGE researchers, in collaboration with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust plan to assess the current conservation status and distribution of the species, determine the relative impacts of habitat destruction and introduced mammals, to allow the development of an appropriate conservation management strategy.

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£1000 Could cover in-country training and field costs for a local student to research and help conserve an EDGE species.