Tag Archives: endangered

Trump Administration to Repeal Certain Protections Under the Endangered Species Act

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On Wednesday, the Trump administration took steps to reduce the scope of the Endangered Species Act, reinstating modifications from the president’s first term that had previously been blocked by a federal court.

The proposed modifications include removing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s “blanket rule,” which automatically safeguards plants and animals once they are deemed endangered. Instead, government agencies will be required to formulate specific regulations for each species, a process that may be time-consuming.

This announcement from the administration follows ongoing pressure from Republican lawmakers and industries such as oil, gas, mining, and agriculture, who have called for reforms to the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Critics argue that the law is too broadly applied and hampers economic growth.

Environmental advocates, however, have cautioned that these changes could significantly delay conservation efforts for species like the monarch butterfly, Florida manatee, California spotted owl, and North American wolverine.

Rebecca Riley, managing director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated, “They’re attempting to revert to the time when they first weakened the law. We are opposing this, and the Biden administration is working on reversing many of the adverse changes made.”

Scientists and government agencies have indicated that extinction rates are accelerating. Species populations globally are declining due to habitat loss and various pressures. Earlier proposals in President Trump’s second term sought to revise the definition of “harm.” These regulations, grounded in the Endangered Species Act, could allow logging projects on national forests and public lands to bypass species protections.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum commented that the administration aims to restore the original purpose of the Endangered Species Act while also considering “the livelihoods of Americans who rely on our lands and resources.”

“These adjustments eliminate years of legal uncertainty and governmental overreach, thereby providing clarity for states, tribes, landowners, and businesses, and ensuring conservation efforts are based on sound science and common sense,” Burgum stated.

A further proposed change requires authorities to consider potential economic repercussions when identifying critical habitats necessary for a species’ survival, an action that environmental groups claim the 1973 law explicitly prohibits.

This approach could potentially result in species being classified as endangered while allowing ongoing practices that continue to endanger their survival.

Noah Greenwald, co-director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Endangered Species Program, remarked, “What the Trump administration is attempting to do is quantify costs. If you’re aiming to protect the spotted owl, they’re trying to factor in how much that protection would cost. Historically, such costs haven’t influenced decisions regarding critical habitat protections.”

An example involving the Southwest sawfish highlights the possible repercussions of these proposals. The lizard population in Arizona’s Mule Mountains is rapidly declining due to rising temperatures, driving the reptiles towards the highest mountain peaks, pushing them closer to extinction.

A petition filed on Wednesday seeks protection for the lizard and the designation of critical habitat. Advocates believe that an economic impact assessment could hinder timely protections. The primary threat to this spiny dragon population is climate change, which could complicate critical habitat designations further.

“We feel this species should be classified as endangered. Frankly, we are somewhat astonished that this species is not already extinct,” stated John Wiens, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, who co-authored the petition.

Earlier this March, the Department of the Interior faced legal action from the Real Estate Environmental Research Center (PERC) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation over the comprehensive protection rule. Both organizations claimed the rule was illegal and would hinder states and landowners from facilitating species recovery efforts.

Designating species as “threatened” under the comprehensive rule allows them to automatically receive the same protections as those categorized as “endangered,” which are more stringent. This could lead landowners to become apathetic toward the survival of endangered species, as regulations may remain unchanged even if efforts are made to reclassify endangered species to “threatened” status.

PERC Vice President Jonathan Wood characterized Wednesday’s proposal as a “necessary adjustment” following the Biden administration’s actions.

“This reform acknowledges the illegality of the omnibus rule and re-centers recovery efforts within the Endangered Species Act,” Wood expressed.

During its initial term, the Trump administration also took action on the northern spotted owl and gray wolf.

The decision regarding the spotted owl was reversed in 2021 after it was found that political appointees had utilized flawed scientific data to justify opening millions of acres of forest on the West Coast to logging. Protections for wolves, on the other hand, remained in effect across most of the United States, only to be reinstated by federal courts in 2022.

The Endangered Species Act, established 50 years ago, continues to have widespread support. According to a recent poll, approximately 84% of Americans endorse the protections that the law affords.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Am I an Endangered Composer? Exploring Classical Music’s Future in the Age of AI

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This hacker mansion blends elements of a startup hub, a luxurious retreat, and a high-tech boutique. Scattered throughout Silicon Valley, these spaces serve as residences for tech founders and visionaries. The most opulent I’ve encountered is in Hillsboro, one of the Bay Area’s affluent neighborhoods just south of San Francisco. Inside, polished marble floors shine beneath high-tech royal portraits affixed with tape. The garden boasts gravel meticulously raked into Zen spirals, and a pond glistens behind well-maintained hedges.

On a sunny June afternoon, I accompanied producer Faye Lomas to capture an interview for a show. BBC Radio 3 documentary discussing the intersection of generative AI and classical music in both San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

We were cheerfully informed that professional creators, including us, would soon be relegated to hobbyists. This wasn’t meant as provocation or sarcasm—just a straightforward reality. At that moment, Faye interjected in the documentary, her voice tinged with agitation: “Does this mean AI is going to take my job?” It was a natural reaction, but it shifted the room’s energy.

When I embarked on making this documentary, I harbored the same curiosity as everyone else. “The cat is out of the bag,” I joked, believing this to be a wise observation. Technology has arrived, and facing it is better than ignoring it.

Silicon Valley composer Tariq O’Regan and BBC producer Faye Lomas. Photo: Joel Cabrita

When I recently spoke with Faye, she recounted the moment vividly. “We swiftly moved from talking about AI’s potential to aid the creative fields to casually mentioning how AI could easily replace every job in the company. The tone was friendly and encouraging, almost as if I should be excited,” she reflected.

This interaction feels pivotal to the narrative. Those small, human moments of awkwardness occur when discussions shift from the theoretical to the tangible.

They contemplated replacing us.

That was back in June. With October now upon us and Oasis on tour in the UK and US, I’ve been reflecting on a different kind of mansion. The band’s concert at Knebworth House in 1996 drew 250,000 attendees over two nights, where people waved lighters instead of phones—one of the last great communal singalongs before everything transformed. Before Napster and MP3s, before cell phones, and before our culture underwent invisible algorithmic reorganization.

Composer Ed Newton Rex plays keyboards and piano while donning a virtual reality headset at his residence in Palo Alto, California. Photo: Marissa Leshnoff/The Guardian

What followed was a subtle yet profound transition from ownership to access. Playlists replaced albums, curated by algorithms rather than musicians, designed to blend seamlessly with our activities. Initially, I believed this was the future of music. Maybe it truly was.

So, long after finishing the documentary, an article like this gave me pause. RBO/Shift is an exciting initiative from the Royal Ballet and Opera, exploring how art interacts with AI. It stems from an institution I deeply respect, run by individuals who have supported me and many others over the years. This initiative is touted as a bold, positive dialogue between technology and creativity, representing a potential compelling partnership. However, what catches my attention isn’t what’s included, but what is glaringly absent.

There is no reference to ethics, training data, consent, environmental impacts, or job security. It’s unimaginable that this technology threatens to significantly undermine the entire ecosystem of artists, crafts, and labor that RBOs have nurtured.

A driverless taxi navigating the streets of San Francisco. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The tone is reminiscent of what we heard at the Hillsboro mansion—always optimistic. Royal Opera Artistic Director Oliver Mears declared, “AI is here to stay” in a recent New York Times interview. “You can bury your head in the sand or embrace the waves.”

However, I find no one I meet in San Francisco, where this technology is innovated and marketed, is simply riding any waves. Embracing a wave suggests succumbing to its force. People here are focused on managing the tides and altering the moon if needed.

I don’t want to dismiss AI. However, my earlier phrase, “the cat is out of the bag,” now feels like a form of moral indifference, suggesting ethics fall by the wayside the moment something novel appears. After spending a summer immersed in machinery, it’s unsettling to witness major institutions handling AI as if it’s the nuclear power of art. It’s attractive, profitable, already causing harm, yet remarkably it carries no warning label.

In this fast-paced environment, our documentary already seems like a piece of history, a snapshot from the last moment when the future ceased asking for permission. That afternoon, with gravel being shoveled and sunlight pouring in, there was a palpable silence in the Hacker mansion, which now feels suspended—an interlude before the surge.

Listening back, I can sense the atmosphere shift—the silence that followed Faye’s question and my nervous chuckle. It’s the sound of tension, the sound of humanity still grounded.

If Knebworth’s Oasis was the last significant singalong before the internet, perhaps this brief moment we chronicled represents the anxious inhalation before the machine begins to produce its own melody.

Tariq O’Regan is a composer based in San Francisco, originally from London. ‘The Artificial Composer,’ a BBC Radio 3 Sunday feature produced by Faye Lomas; is now available on BBC Sounds.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Document the Struggle to Safeguard Endangered Birds in New Zealand

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Rangers aiming to install stoat traps in the KEA Basin, New Zealand

Robin Hammond/Panos Photos

A massive conservation initiative is being undertaken throughout New Zealand to eliminate invasive species, allowing various native and endangered birds to thrive.

Kiwis that live on the ground

Robin Hammond/Panos Photos

The nationwide predator eradication initiative, documented by photographer Robin Hammond, boldly aims to exterminate three invasive species introduced by humans: rats, stoats, and possums. These predators have decimated the populations of ground-nesting birds like kiwis. This ambitious plan includes the controversial aerial application of sodium fluoroacetate poison targeting these mammals (as seen in the main image).

Biodiversity Ranger Steven Cox releases a young kiwi

Robin Hammond/Panos Photos

“It’s conservation through culling,” states Hammond. “It’s a tough choice, yet inaction leads to significant losses in our bird populations.”

Efforts are also focused on ensuring kiwis and other birds are large enough to withstand mammalian predation (as shown above).

Staff releasing Takahe birds

Robin Hammond/Panos Photos

In the wild, kiwi eggs have only a 5% chance of maturing into adults. However, adult birds like the non-flying hawk (as shown above and below) have significantly better survival rates.

Conducting a final health assessment and attaching transmitters to Takahe birds

Robin Hammond/Panos Photos

Stuffed Auckland Island merganser (Mergus australis)

Robin Hammond/Panos Photos

Unfortunately, it’s already too late for certain birds, like the Merganser from Auckland Island (illustrated above). After its disappearance in 1902, it has since been confined to museum exhibits. “I’ve witnessed flocks flying around Wellington without even knowing they existed as a child,” states Hammond. “Though, you can now hear their songs, something that was not the case before.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Wild Ones Review: New Nature Documentary Urges Action to Protect Six Endangered Species

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Panthera Pardus Taliana, a white leopard found in Armenia

Apple TV+

Wild Ones
Apple TV+

The latest nature documentary from Apple TV+, Wild Ones, offers an insider’s perspective, showcasing three expert efforts in a series that truly deserves attention.

The opening narration reminds us that nature faces dire threats, with around 150 species disappearing daily. The mission of the film is to “find, document, and protect” six of the most endangered species, aiming not only to raise awareness but also to prompt action from local officials to prevent extinction.

Camera Trap Specialists Declan Burley, Wildlife Cameraman Vianet Djenguet, and Expedition Leader Aldo Kane embark on a global journey to capture footage of the world’s rarest wildlife.

The first episode leads them into the Malaysian jungle, searching for a rare tiger. Subsequent episodes will take viewers to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia to find Gobi Bears, and onto tracking the Javan rhinos, the Gabon gorilla, and Caucasian leopards, in addition to marine life such as the North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis.

This series employs advanced technology like drones and thermal imaging to produce breathtaking visuals of the animals and their environments. The untouched rainforests of Malaysia—often further from human contact than places visited by astronauts—are just part of the previously unseen natural world that Wild Ones uncovers.

However, the success of the documentary hinges on Burley, Djenguet, and Kane’s emotional engagement, which keeps viewers invested in the animals’ fates. Their reactions, whether witnessing an elusive leopard or the plight of whales caught in nets, leave an indelible mark on the audience.

Seeing three on-screen experts doing their job will hook stubborn fans of the genre

In a poignant moment deep within Taman Negara National Park, Burley reviews footage from a hidden camera, initially excited about capturing a rare Malayan tiger, only to discover that the creature has been maimed by a poacher’s trap.

Burley shares the footage with Djenguet and Kane, his connection to the animals rendering him visibly emotional. Local experts point out that such striking images are vital, sparking action from viewers worldwide. The trio understands their role, but the distress it causes them is undeniable.

While the emotional weight is palpable, the episodes’ lengths and scripted interactions sometimes disrupt the flow. Occasional forced humor and dramatic elements can dilute the impact, making the experience feel less authentic.

Nonetheless, as the series progresses, Burley, Djenguet, and Kane become more at ease on camera, captivating dedicated fans with their expertise and drawing in audiences eager for authenticity.

This series stands out in the realm of nature documentaries, providing an intimate look at the emotional turmoil, physical challenges, and the enduring patience required to produce such content. With dozens of cameras stationed in perilous locations, team members must meticulously return for footage, sometimes after months.

Ultimately, capturing footage of these endangered animals in Wild Ones is not just a visual feast; it’s a compelling call to action aimed at preserving these species for future generations.

Gregory Wakeman is a Los Angeles-based author.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

The Endangered Galapagos Turtle Welcomes 100 Hatchlings as First-Time Mother

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Congratulations, mommy, Galapagos turtle, and longtime resident of the Philadelphia Zoo, recently became their first mother at an estimated age of 100.

Mom, People who have lived in the zoo since 1932layed 16 eggs in November. Four of them have been hatched. It was the first successful hatching of her species at the zoo, which opened in 1874.

Of course, she had helped. Abrazo, male turtle, is estimated to be about a century ago.

Mama and Abrazo, members of the West Santa Cruz subspecies, are the oldest animals at the Philadelphia Zoo. But Galapagos turtles can live up to 200 years longer, the zoo said.

The first hatching was released on February 27th, and the zoo announced it on Thursday. The others continued within a few days, with the last one being hatched on March 6th.

Neither of the hatching has been named, but is expected to be in the public eye from April 23rd, the zoo said. According to Lauren Augustine, director of herpetology at the zoo, they do “fantasy.” (Herpetology refers to the study of reptiles and amphibians.)

“They’re the size of tennis balls and they’re actually pretty good,” Augustine said.

The turtles in the West Santa Cruz Galapagos are International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the Philadelphia Zoo, before the new arrival, there were only 44 giant turtles in West Santa Cruz at every zoo in the United States.

Baby turtles will not share the same physical space as their parents. Their impressive size – Abrazo is 410 pounds, and Mama is about 280 pounds – poses the risk of crushing the hatch ring.

Unlike his peers, Abrazo is not his first parent. In 2011 he was part of a successful pairing; Unexpected discoveries of five hatching His previous home is Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina

Abrazo came to the Philadelphia Zoo on the recommendation of the Zoo and Aquarium Association.

Abrazzo and Mommy were introduced in 2022, and Mama began laying eggs in 2023. She has now laid four rounds of eggs. The first three rounds were not feasible. But the fourth was.

Once she laid eggs, members of the zoo staff were set up to weigh, measure, and artificially incubate at two different temperatures.

All four hatch rings born this year are women, but Augustine said three more eggs are still being raised.

“It’s kind of testimony through the excellent care that she has to take at the institution,” said Stephen Diver, a professor of zoology medicine at the University of Georgia. “It’s not easy to keep a huge tropical turtle in the Northern Hemisphere properly.”

Being hatched will be taken prisoner for at least five years. The zoo then decides what to do with them, Consultation with the Zoo and Aquarium Association. If they were genetic matches for other turtles, they could either end up at another zoo or spend their days in the wild in the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. But that would take a risk, said Rachel Metz, vice president of animal welfare at the Philadelphia Zoo.

“They are at extreme risk from natural disasters, potentially diseases, climate change and invasive species,” she said.

Centuries ago, the Galapagos turtle population reached hundreds of thousands, but it fell over time as it was hunted for human consumption. However, in half a century, the population recovered. Up to about 17,000 For conservation and breeding programs.

Although estimates of the population of turtles in West Santa Cruz vary widely, Stephen Blake, an assistant professor of biology at St. Louis University who has worked extensively with turtles in the Galapagos, says it is likely to be thousands. The population appears to be growing steadily, he said.

The population is small and prisoner reproduction is very rare, so hatching would give researchers the opportunity to study turtles from young ages in captivity, said Juan Manuel Vazquez, a biologist who studied aging in long-standing living animals. Includes Galapagos turtles.

“Additional turtles count,” he said.

Dr. Blake said it is not uncommon for Galapagos turtles to breed in 100 in the wild. Given that, hatching the Philadelphia Zoo is unlikely to have a major impact on conservation efforts, but it could help raise awareness about the massive turtles in general.

“In my opinion, this is not intended to do much for what is happening in the wild directly, reproducing a turtle. But indirect terms, zoos can promote the wonder of producing 100-year-old reptiles for the first time, and use it as a means to surprise them among people.. ”

Source: www.nytimes.com

Camera captures rare meeting between endangered wombat and echidna

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A rare and lively encounter between a young wombat and an echidna has been caught on camera, delighting conservationists in Australia.

This active behaviour, captured on camera traps, is the work of the endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Laciorhinus kleftii) is proving successful.

At their lowest point in the late 1990s, with just 35 remaining in a small reserve in central Queensland, wombats were one of the rarest large mammals on the planet. Today, thanks to hard work, wombats' numbers have grown to around 400. In 2009, relocations began to the fenced Richard Underwood Sanctuary in southern Queensland, where around 15 wombats now live.

Andy Howe Howe of the Australian Wildlife Conservation Society in Newcastle, Australia, was sorting through 100 hours of footage recorded at the sanctuary when two clips caught his eye. The first, from early June, shows a northern hairy-nosed wombat baby, proving that the sanctuary's population has successfully raised young and that the pups are now foraging on their own. The wombats are well-groomed and at a healthy weight, Howe says.

Then, in footage taken a month later, he was seen with a young wombat and a short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatusThe echidna waddles around the frame, seemingly unfazed, while the wombat becomes increasingly agitated and throws himself into the dirt.

Tim Flannery A researcher at the Australian Museum in Sydney says he has never seen an interaction like this in his decades of experience studying mammals: “This is a nervous wombat and a happy echidna,” he says.

Northern hairy-nosed wombat, Richard Underwood Nature Reserve, Queensland, Australia

Brad Ruhe/Australian Wildlife Conservation Council

He says this is typical echidna behaviour, and that the animal's spine makes it difficult and dangerous to attack. For much of the video, the wombat points its tail at the echidna, a defensive posture in the tunnel where it presses the intruder against the roof of its burrow.

Flannery says it's “amazing” to see such natural, wild behaviour from a species so close to extinction. “It's very encouraging to see wombats thriving,” he says. Now that the transplant has proven successful, he suggests new populations be established elsewhere as soon as possible.

Before Europeans arrived, the species was found from northern Victoria through arid New South Wales and into central Queensland, and reestablishment of the species throughout its range would have major environmental benefits, Dr Flannery said.

“They're ecosystem engineers because they dig and burrow into the soil,” he says, “and their burrows provide shelter for other creatures during heat waves, droughts and fires.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Survival of Endangered Frogs Boosted by Winter Sauna Treatment for Fungal Disease

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Green and gold bell frogs in an artificial hotspot shelter

Anthony Waddle

One of Australia’s most endangered amphibians can fight off a deadly fungal infection with the help of a naturally heated shelter that researchers are calling a “frog sauna.”

The disease, chytridiomycosis, has wiped out about 100 species of frogs, toads and salamanders worldwide.

Green and gold bell frog (Litoria aureaThe fungus was once widespread along the south-eastern coast of Australia, but its range has shrunk by 90 percent, and although other factors such as habitat loss are also at play, chytrid is thought to be the greatest threat to the endangered species.

It has long been known that warm temperatures suppress fungal infections, and many frog species, including the Japanese bush frog, are susceptible to the disease in winter when it’s hard for them to stay warm, especially when it’s hard to find a warm place.

To learn more, Anthony Waddle The researcher, from Macquarie University in Sydney, and his colleagues studied two groups of captive frogs that were intentionally infected with chytridiomycosis over the winter.

The first group was provided with bricks with holes in them in an unshaded greenhouse shelter where temperatures rose to nearly 40°C (104°F), while the second group was provided with bricks in a shaded greenhouse shelter where temperatures rose to 35°C (95°F).

Frogs that were given warmer shelter had 100 times fewer chytrid spores on their skin than other groups.

Although chytrid has difficulty growing above 28°C (82°F), warmer temperatures appear to activate the frogs’ immune systems, Waddle said.

“Using shelter to survive is like a vaccination for the frogs,” Waddle says, “and we’ve shown that firefly frogs can develop resistance after heat has cleared their infection, potentially making them 22 times more likely to survive future infections in cold environments.”

Although the researchers have only tested the shelter on one species at this stage, they believe the technology could be used with other animals threatened by chytrid fungus, as long as they seek out natural warmth when it’s cold. Waddle says there are at least six Australian animal species that could benefit from the technology.

Importantly, these thermal shelters are easy and inexpensive to set up: “All you need is a small vegetable greenhouse from the hardware store and a few bricks, and it will only cost about $60-70. [Australian] “It will cost a few hundred dollars to build,” Waddle said, “and I can envision people putting them in their backyards to help the frogs through the winter.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Government suggests culling owl population to protect endangered species

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a plan to shoot hundreds of thousands of barred owls in West Coast forests over the next 30 years, arguing that the survival of one owl species depends on the extinction of another. The spotted owl, not native to the area, is displacing its genetically related barred owl, the bureau said.

Unless action is taken against barred owls, the spotted owl could disappear from parts of Washington and Oregon within a few years and eventually become extinct, according to service biologists.

This proposal is the latest effort to save the spotted owl, whose decline became a rallying point for environmentalists against logging in the Pacific Northwest in the 1980s. This plan raises questions about how far humans should go to save species and the cost of righting historic ecological wrongs, as the barred owls may have become established in the Pacific Northwest under human influence as European settlers spread westward.

The proposal calls for the “lethal removal” (killing with shotguns) of more than 470,000 barred owls in total and is open for public comment until January 16th. It may be difficult for the undiscerning eye to distinguish barred owls from spotted owls, as both have pale faces and mottled brown and white coats and belong to the same genus. However, barred owls are slightly larger, breed faster, are more aggressive, and are less discriminatory about where they live and what they eat.

The spotted owl population has declined by about 75 percent over the past 20 years, primarily due to barred owls, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The plan would eliminate the barred owls from 1-2% of its current range, and the removal of barred owls has been shown to stabilize the spotted owl population, although the impact has not been substantial.

Despite the dominance of barred owls, the population is likely to recover over time, and the cost of righting historic ecological wrongs is still uncertain. Wildlife biologists consulted with an ethicist about killing the animals, and while some animal rights groups disagree with the plan, a final proposal is expected to be released in the spring or summer after the public comment period on the USFWS proposal ends.

Source: www.nbcnews.com