April 4, 2024

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking a major step forward in protecting endangered species with two newly proposed rules aimed at strengthening the Endangered Species Act (ESA). If finalized, these changes will help restore vital protections that were weakened during the previous administration and could have a significant impact on species like African elephants.

The first rule would reinstate automatic protections for wildlife listed as “threatened” under the ESA. These protections were eliminated in 2019, making it easier for industries to operate without considering the potential harm to vulnerable species. Restoring them means that newly listed species will once again receive proactive safeguards before reaching the brink of extinction.

The second proposed rule would reverse changes that made it harder to designate “critical habitat”—areas essential for a species’ survival. The new rule would allow the agency to protect habitat more broadly, including areas that could support recovering populations in the future.

Together, these changes would bring the ESA back in line with its original intent: to protect species from extinction and support their recovery.

In a related move, the agency is also revising regulations around the import of African elephant hunting trophies. This proposed change would ensure that only trophies from countries with strong conservation programs are allowed into the U.S.—a clear step toward reducing the threat of unsustainable elephant hunting.

Animal protection and conservation groups have praised the announcements, emphasizing that strong federal leadership is crucial in the global fight to prevent extinction and protect iconic species.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for edutainment purposes only and may not be entirely accurate.