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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/21-species-removed-from-endangered-list-due-to-extinction-us-wildlife-officials-say/>
'Nearly two dozen species are being taken off the endangered species list
because they are extinct, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday.
Most of the species were listed under the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s
or 1980s and were very low in numbers or likely already extinct at the time of
listing. In the years since, "rigorous reviews of the best available science"
have been conducted to determine whether the animals are extinct.
"Federal protection came too late to reverse these species' decline, and it's a
wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it's too
late," Service Director Martha Williams said.
Scientists in 2019 warned that worldwide, 1 million species of plants and
animals were at risk of extinction. There are more than 1,300 species listed as
either endangered or threatened in the United States under the Endangered
Species Act. The 21 species being removed include one mammal, 10 types of
birds, two species of fish and eight types of mussels. Eight of the 21 species
were found in Hawaii.
"The 21 species extinctions highlight the importance of the ESA and efforts to
conserve species before declines become irreversible," the government agency
wrote in its announcement. "The circumstances of each also underscore how human
activity can drive species decline and extinction by contributing to habitat
loss, overuse, and the introduction of invasive species and diseases."'
Via Frederick Wilson II.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
