This week marks the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, a landmark law that has helped protect thousands of species in the United States from extinction. Since its passage, the U.S. government has spent roughly $1.2 billion each year on endangered and threatened species, with tens of millions of dollars going towards widely known animals. However, the lack of resources for other species has been a major concern for conservationists, who are calling for increased funding and resources to ensure that all species are given the attention they need to survive.
Posts tagged as “the Endangered Species Act”
Bhagavan "Doc" Antle, owner of an exotic animal safari in South Carolina and featured in the Netflix documentary series "Tiger King," pleaded guilty to wildlife trafficking and money laundering. He admitted to overseeing the sale or purchase of protected species between 2018 and 2020, and will pay a $100,000 fine and serve three years of probation. He will be sentenced in January 2021.
On Tuesday, a polar bear attacked and killed two people in the small community of Wales, Alaska. The bear was shot and killed by a local resident, and the identities of the two victims have not been released. The incident has raised concerns about the future of polar bears, as their population has been declining due to climate change.