Current:Home > reviews21 species removed from endangered list due to extinction, U.S. wildlife officials say -WealthPro Academy
21 species removed from endangered list due to extinction, U.S. wildlife officials say
View
Date:2025-04-15 03:39:34
Nearly two dozen species are being taken off the endangered species list because they are extinct, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Monday.
Most of the species were listed under the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s or 1980s and were very low in numbers or likely already extinct at the time of listing. In the years since, "rigorous reviews of the best available science" have been conducted to determine whether the animals are extinct.
"Federal protection came too late to reverse these species' decline, and it's a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it's too late," Service Director Martha Williams said.
Scientists in 2019 warned that worldwide, 1 million species of plants and animals were at risk of extinction. There are more than 1,300 species listed as either endangered or threatened in the United States under the Endangered Species Act. The 21 species being removed include one mammal, 10 types of birds, two species of fish and eight types of mussels. Eight of the 21 species were found in Hawaii.
"The 21 species extinctions highlight the importance of the ESA and efforts to conserve species before declines become irreversible," the government agency wrote in its announcement. "The circumstances of each also underscore how human activity can drive species decline and extinction by contributing to habitat loss, overuse, and the introduction of invasive species and diseases."
The Fish and Wildlife Service had first proposed delisting the species in September of 2021. At the time, the agency proposed removing 23 species from the Endangered Species Act. In the years since, the Fish and Wildlife Service withdrew the delisting proposal for one species, a type of Hawaiian herb. It's also continuing to review information for another, the ivory-billed woodpecker.
While some species are removed from the Endangered Species Act because they're considered extinct, others are delisted because their populations have rebounded. According to the agency, more than 100 species of plants and animals have been delisted based on recovery or reclassified from endangered to threatened based on improved conservation status.
"The ultimate goal is to recover these species, so they no longer need the act's protection," Williams said.
Aliza ChasanAliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBS News.
TwitterveryGood! (87164)
Related
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Doctors remove world's largest kidney stone from retired soldier in Sri Lanka
- Gino Mäder, Swiss cyclist, dies at age 26 after Tour de Suisse crash
- The 35 Most-Loved Self-Care Products from Amazon With Thousands of 5-Star Reviews
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- Rare Roman mausoleum unearthed at London development site
- U.S. says Ukraine's counteroffensive against Russia will likely take a long time and come at a high cost
- U.S. lawmakers want South Africa to face consequences for support for Russia amid Ukraine war
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Justin Long Confirms Kate Bosworth Engagement With Story About His Romantic Proposal
Ranking
- House passes bill to add 66 new federal judgeships, but prospects murky after Biden veto threat
- Girlfriend of Football Player Spencer Webb Gives Birth to Baby 8 Months After His Death
- Greta Thunberg says she's graduating from her school strikes over climate change
- Celebrity Chef Nick DiGiovanni's Kitchen Essentials Make Cooking Fun & Easy
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Why Mo'Nique Thinks It's Time to Bring Back Charm School
- The Reba Cast Just Reunited at Reba McEntire's Hollywood Bowl Concert
- Maralee Nichols' New Photos of Her and Tristan Thompson's Son Showcase True Happiness
Recommendation
NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
Peter Thomas Roth Flash Deal: Get $109 Worth of Hydrating Products for Just $58
These Barbie Movie Easter Eggs Reveal Surprising Wizard of Oz Connection
Blac Chyna Adds New Title to Her Résumé After Receiving Her Doctorate
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
Blinken meets China's Xi Jinping in Beijing, says both countries agree on need to stabilize relations
Every Time Anya Taylor-Joy Was a Princess on the Red Carpet
These Barbie Movie Easter Eggs Reveal Surprising Wizard of Oz Connection