Just wanted to offer some information about the down listing of Whooping
Cranes. Under the Endangered Species Act, Endangered and Threatened species
are give equal protection. There is no difference in protective actions. The
only difference in status is definition under the act. By definition,
Endangered means the species is at risk of extinction if not protected.
Threatened means the species is likely to become endangered. Since the
Whooping Cranes now have two disjunct populations (one being the experimental
eastern population), they may now no longer be at risk of extinction. That is
what is currently being considered by the FWS (though original fws plans wanted
1000 birds before down listing). Regardless of the decision, both populations
will be fully protected by the act. Unfortunately, the wording in the press
release equivocates down listing with reduction in protection. It does not, in
any way, reduce protection. It merely states that the species is no longer in
the immediate threat of extinction.
Note: The goal for FWS (and all conservationists) should be the down listing
and eventual delisting of as many species as possible. That means our
protection and management strategies are working!
Damien SimbeckKillen AL
Sent from my smart phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks.
