Lawsuit Launched to Protect Hippos |
This Wednesday, on World Hippo Day, the Center for Biological Diversity and allies warned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service we’ll sue over its lack of response to our petition to protect Africa’s hippopotamuses under the Endangered Species Act.
Hippos need help. Despite population declines, between 2009 and 2018 the United States was the top hippo-part importer — bringing in 9,000 teeth, 5,700 skin pieces, and 1,700 carvings. Federal protection would ban that commercial trade and provide awareness and funding to curb other hippo threats, like habitat loss and degradation, drought, and poaching. “Most people don’t know the U.S. market fuels hippo loss through demand for their ivory, skins or trophies for home decor,” said Tanya Sanerib, legal director at the Center’s International program. “U.S. protection could really help ensure they’re around for future generations to enjoy.” |
|
|
Wood Storks: A New Endangered Species Act Success |
|
|
Leopards One Step Closer to Better Protection |
|
|
Interview With the Wolf: Talking to Amaroq Weiss |
Biologist, lawyer and now Center staffer Amaroq Weiss — whose first name refers to a solitary, mythic wolf — is dedicating her life to returning wolves to the wild in the U.S. West.
As she says in a new interview, caring for wolves is caring for all creatures, from black-footed ferrets to sea otters to American burying beetles. Read about Amaroq’s journey from entomologist to public defender of indigent clients to passionate wolf advocate — along with the sagas of the individual wolves she’s watching.
|
|
|
Take Action for World Pangolin Day |
|
|
When ‘Superbloom’ Selfies Go Wrong |
Botanist Naomi Fraga — who won the Center’s 2021 E.O. Wilson award for her inspiring work to help save Tiehm’s buckwheat — has a new op-ed in the Los Angeles Times. Southern California’s springtime “superblooms” are wondrous to behold, she writes, but flower tourism can inflict real damage on the countryside. Can we admire the beauty of these glamorous floral vistas without trampling them into oblivion, as happened in the so-called poppy apocalypse of 2019? We can, says Fraga, and it’s not even that hard: Stay on the trails, don’t traipse into the fields themselves, and don’t pick the flowers. That way they'll be back next year. |
|
|
Protection Punted for Joshua Trees — Again
|
The Center and local allies have been fighting to get western Joshua trees — those disappearing desert icons threatened by climate change — protected under California’s Endangered Species Act. And while a proposed bill would bring needed help, last week the state once again voted to delay a decision on permanently protecting the trees.
We’re pleased that legislation to protect the species has been proposed, but western Joshua trees also need to be listed as threatened. Luckily, thanks to our work, they have interim safeguards. |
|
|
Revelator: Weather Whiplash and Climate Change |
|
|
That’s Wild: Beating the Heat, Echidna Style |
It may be winter in the northern hemisphere, but Australian wildlife are in the heat of summer. And with average temperatures climbing across the globe, researchers have been looking closer at how species survive extreme heat. Echidnas are particularly good at it — and a new report shows one reason why.
Until now it’s been a mystery how these prehistoric egg-laying mammals survive summer temperatures topping 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The report’s authors filmed them with a heat-vision camera, revealing that echidnas blow mucus bubbles from their noses to draw heat from their sinuses and cool their blood.
Who knew snot could save lives? |
|
|
Center for Biological Diversity
P.O. Box 710
Tucson, AZ 85702
United States |
|
|
|
