One Law We Need Changed Now
To accomplish the EWA’s mission, one important task is to educate policy-makers, the media and the public through research and advocacy.
We are currently attempting to get U.S. captive bred, non-native hoofstock that are currently listed as endangered in their native countries out from under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Our bill focuses on five animals that we can prove through our latest survey actually have more numbers than the three species did when we started that endeavor. They include the Barasingha, Grevy’s zebra, Eld’s deer, Arabian oryx and red lechwe.
“The legislation will allow the American people to see the data that is being used to make Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing decisions,” said Congressman McClintock. “This measure opens up the information so that the public can look at it, the science can be debated and challenged, and the best possible decision rendered under the terms of the Endangered Species Act.”
Once listed on the endangered species list, it’s virtually impossible to take an animal off. With the best intentions when the bill was signed in 1973, the goal was to preserve and recover native species who were headed towards extinction. There are now no goals or processes in place to make sure we are working towards the removal of these animals once recovered. In addition, non-native and exotic species are now being added to this list. A few of the species on the list that should be removed include the gray wolf,
This bill is now 45 years old, has a 3% recovery rate and is outdated. States and communities are willing to step in and be a part of the solution, but the Act has caused unintended and critical consequences. We are part of the solution, not an obstacle the government has to overcome. We do not need the federal government, with no state input, solely deciding on our species’ protection. Activists and other groups are constantly and consistently aiming to block the removal of animals from the Endangered Species List and we can’t fight the uphill battle with the unreasonable attorney fees associated with counter legal action.
It’s important we act now. We cannot allow these species to simply survive, we must ensure they are recovered and thriving through local and state input and transparency.
