<
https://freedium.cfd/https://medium.com/discourse/21-species-removed-from-the-endangered-species-act-due-to-extinction-b5d3c347aa82>
'The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced recently that they will delist 21
species from the Endangered Species Act because they are extinct. Found in 16
states and in the U.S. territory of Guam, most of these species were listed
under the ESA in its early days in the 1970s and 80s, and had very low numbers
or were likely already extinct when listed.
According to the statement, one mammal (the Little Mariana fruit bat from
Guam), eight freshwater mussels from the Eastern Seaboard, two freshwater fish
and 10 birds were declared extinct after being listed as critically endangered
for decades. Eight of the delisted birds were endemic to Hawaii, with the
po'ouli,
Melamprosops phaeosoma, or black-faced honeycreeper, last seen in
2004, making it the most recently sighted of the delisted — and now extinct —
species.
Other Hawaiian birds may soon become extinct too: after the massive wildfires
triggered by climate breakdown roared across much of Maui, the critically
endangered ʻAkikiki,
Oreomystis bairdi, or Kauaʻi honeycreeper, is now
reported to have a population of just five individuals (ref), down from a total
of 454 wild individuals reported in 2018 (ref).
"Few people realize the extent to which the crises of extinction and climate
change are deeply intertwined," said Noah Greenwald, endangered species
director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
"Both threaten to undo our very way of life, leaving our children with a
considerably poorer planet. One silver lining to this sad situation is that
protecting and restoring forests, grasslands and other natural habitats will
help address both."'
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
