Historic Firsts for Polar Bear and Wolf
It’s only Tuesday, but it’s already a historic week for endangered species protection.
On Monday evening a federal judge rebuked the Bush administration for delaying a decision on whether to protect the polar bear while rushing to approve oil and gas drilling in its Arctic habitat.
And on Monday morning the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit to stop the slaughter of gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains.
Polar Bear Protection Delay Ended
In a court order issued yesterday, Judge Claudia Wilken sided with the Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Greenpeace against the Bush administration. Bringing the government’s irrational and illegal protection delays to an end, Wilken gave it just two weeks to decide whether to list the polar bear as an endangered species. In addition, she ordered the decision to become effective immediately instead of being delayed by the usual 30 days.
The Bush administration has been rushing out Arctic oil and gas leases at the same time it has delayed deciding whether to declare the polar bear an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. Making the decision immediately effective May 15 will ensure that all future oil and gas decisions take into account the polar bear and global warming.
Read more about it in the Washington Post and USA Today.
This is our best chance to save the polar bear and get a grip on global warming. Please sign our petition now urging the Secretary of the Interior to list the polar bear as an endangered species. Then forward the petition (or this email) to 10 friends. Together we can create an unstoppable wave of public support to save the Arctic.
Suit Filed to Stop Wolf Slaughter
Since the Bush administration removed gray wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains from the endangered species list last month, dozens have been slaughtered by hunters and government agents in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
Stepping into the fray, the Center for Biological Diversity, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Defenders of Wildlife, and other groups filed suit Monday morning to stop the slaughter. We’re asking that the wolf be returned to the endangered species list and that the slaughter be stopped immediately.
Read more about it in Backpacker and the National Post.
Sincerely,
Kierán Suckling
Executive Director