Endangered Species
Scientists predict that 50 percent of plant and animal species may be lost in the 21st century. In the United States, the government is being urged by environmentalists to take steps to preserve the natural habitat of these species and to safeguard biodiversity. However, Congress remains divided over the Endangered Species Act.
The Endangered Species Act is a group of laws that preserve habitats and rare species. These laws include the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act that restricts the hunting of polar bears, seals, and other marine mammals. The 1972 Clean Water Act helps restore waterways and re-establish many species of fish.
The World Wildlife Fund has recognized 10 species of animals and plants that are predominantly threatened by illegal and indefensible trade. The list was presented at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna annual conference in Kenya, last April:
| Species | Habitat | Threat |
| Tiger | Russian Far East, Southeast Asia | Poaching |
| Asian Box Turtle | Southeast Asia | Hunted for Shell |
| Horned Parakeet | New Caledonia | Habitat Loss |
| Tibetan Antelope | East Asia | Wool Use |
| Asian Ginseng | Russia, China | Wild roots (up to $3,000 per ounce |
| Whale Shark | Migratory, Coastal | Over fished |
| Sumatran Rhinoceros | Sumatra, Borneo | Hunted for Use in Medicine |
| Javan Pangolin | Indonesia | Skin, Meat and Scales |
| Hawksbill Sea Turtle | Caribbean | Global Market for Shell |
| Giant Panda | China | Habitat Loss |
To learn more about organizations committed to preserving conservation and wildlife, you can visit the following websites:
| Association for Biodiversity Information | Center for Biodiversity |
| Conservation International | Nature Conservancy |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Fund | World Wildlife Fund |
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Comments to Sybil Stokols
Last Revised January 8, 2001