According to CBS News, nearly 21 species are being removed from America’s endangered species list because they are now extinct. Most of these species were originally listed under the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s or 1980s and were already in low numbers or suspected to be extinct at the time. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has conducted rigorous scientific reviews to confirm these extinctions. This serves as a wake-up call for the importance of conserving threatened species before it’s too late, as federal protection often comes too late to reverse their decline.
The Endangered Species Act currently includes over 1,300 species listed as either endangered or threatened in the United States. Out of the 21 species being removed from the list, there is one mammal, 10 types of birds, two species of fish, and eight types of mussels. It is noteworthy that eight of these species were found in Hawaii. The agency’s announcement highlights the significance of the Endangered Species Act and emphasizes how human activities such as habitat loss, overuse, and the introduction of invasive species and diseases contribute to species decline and extinction.
The Endangered Species Act has been highly effective in preventing extinctions, saving 99% of listed species. Over 100 species have been delisted due to recovery or reclassified from endangered to threatened, thanks to collaborative efforts from various stakeholders such as Tribes, federal agencies, state and local governments, conservation organizations, and private citizens. The ultimate goal is to continue recovering these species to a point where they no longer need the Act’s protection.
