No. 1265, October 3, 2024 |
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Block These Black Rhino Trophy Imports |
U.S. trophy hunters slaughtered two critically endangered black rhinos named Lippie and Willem, ages 28 and 31, in Namibia. Now the rhino-killers are asking the U.S. government for permits to import their body parts or products into the United States.
The story’s a vile one from beginning to end. As a major endpoint for hunting trophies from all over the world, the United States should lead in stamping out this disgusting practice. Endangered species like black rhinos should be recovered — not killed. These “trophies” were individuals with names.
Black rhinos are highly imperiled by poaching for their horns, habitat loss, and hunters gunning them down for sport. In 1960 an estimated 100,000 roamed the wild; today there are about 6,400.
Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to deny the permits to import trophies made from Lippie and Willem’s remains to the United States. |
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Jaguars Are Thriving in Mexican Reserve |
In and near the Northern Jaguar Reserve in Sonora, Mexico, at least a dozen jaguars now roam free — including females and cubs. Eight males from the area have made their way north of the border in recent years, and the hope is that, in time, females will come too — as long as they’re not stopped by border walls or pushback from U.S. officials and livestock operators.
Meanwhile the Center for Biological Diversity and allies are working on an ambitious, exciting jaguar reintroduction plan. And we believe people’s love of wildlife will prevail over obstacles like border walls.
“In the span of a generation,” the Center’s Laiken Jordahl told Arizona Luminaria, “we’ve seen an incredible cultural shift in how many communities went from hunting the cats to celebrating their presence.” Help us bring jaguars back to the American Southwest. |
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Orcas and Salmon Move Toward Cyanide Protection |
Thanks to a Center lawsuit, on Tuesday the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to take steps shielding imperiled fish and southern resident orcas from toxic cyanide pollution in Washington state waters.
“For more than 30 years, the EPA has approved the release of dangerous levels of cyanide into Washington waters, severely harming salmon and orcas, so this is a big step,” said Center lawyer Ryan Shannon. “Now the agency has to finally analyze those dangers and make sure Washington’s water-quality standards are strong enough to protect imperiled wildlife.” |
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First-Ever Fireflies Proposed for Protection |
In response to our petition and legal agreement, this week the Fish and Wildlife Service proposed protecting Bethany Beach fireflies — the first fireflies ever to be proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Found in rare wetland habitats in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, these bioluminescent beetles only fly and flash in full darkness.
“Protecting Bethany Beach fireflies would be a tremendous step toward ensuring they don’t blink out forever,” said Jess Tyler, a Center scientist who coauthored our petition. “There’s still time to save these fireflies by protecting their homes and confronting threats like light pollution and wetland loss.”
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EPA Pledges to Help Save 27 Species From Pesticides |
After years of Center campaigning to get the EPA’s pesticides office to do its duty to endangered species, the agency has finally released a blueprint for helping prevent the extinction of 27 U.S. plants and animals most at risk from pesticides. Among other things, the plan would put buffers around species’ key habitats to reduce the risk of drifting toxic spray.
“Vulnerable, endangered plants and animals need to be protected from pesticides,” said the Center’s Lori Ann Burd. “But Big Agriculture reflexively attacks any efforts to protect endangered wildlife, and it’ll surely go after this plan, so I hope the EPA stands strong for these species.” |
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Revelator: This Month in Conservation Science |
Science doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It builds on what came before and sets the stage for the next wave of knowledge — and real-world applications. But for that to happen, word of new discoveries needs to get out.
The Revelator aims to help with “This Month in Conservation Science,” a semiregular column sharing some of the latest scientific papers from around the world. Editor John Platt prioritizes brand-new papers that haven’t gotten a press release, so readers may discover something others aren’t talking about — yet.
If you don’t already, subscribe to the free weekly Revelator e-newsletter for more wildlife and conservation news. |
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That’s Wild: Taco Surprise |
Around half a billion years ago, during the “Cambrian explosion” that produced a smorgasbord of new life forms, a curious creature swam upside-down through the ancient ocean. Odaraia alata had big eyes and a “head shield” that covered much of its body and was shaped like a taco shell.
Until recently paleontologists weren’t sure how Odaraia captured food and ate it. Now, thanks to a new fossil study, we know that this shrimp-taco-like, 8-inch arthropod had a mandible (aka jaw) with tiny teeth. That makes Odaraia one of the planet’s earliest “mandibulates” — today’s mandibulates including insects, crabs, and centipedes.
Check out this Odaraia animation. |
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Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702
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