During its annual review of petitions, the US Fish and Wildlife Service decided on a step forward for the African Elephant by agreeing to investigate uplisting the species from threatened to endangered. The organization is reviewing a total of 16 petitions for adding or altering the status of several species, all part of the process of updating the endangered species list.
African Elephants have been listed as threatened since 1978, when high demand for ivory caused a vast depletion in their population. While the tusks and teeth of many other species such as hippos and walruses can also be harvested for ivory, it is the African Elephant that was in the highest demand in the ivory market. Despite strict regulations limiting the harvesting and trade of ivory from these animals, the population of African Elephants dropped nearly 50 percent during the 1980s. In 1989, in conjunction with the African Elephant Conservation Act, Congress passed a moratorium making it illegal to import raw ivory into the US. Yet, poaching and other illegal trade practices persist. This, combined with habitat loss, continues to plague these majestic animals.
In addition to uplisting these elephants, petitions for the addition of plants and animals to the list include:
Leoncita false-foxglove
- Rio Grande chub
- Rio Grande sucker
- Western bumble bee
- Yellow-banded bumble bee
Several species of pangolin, a scaly, anteater-like creature, are up for consideration as well:
- Chinese pangolin
- Giant ground pangolin
- Indian pangolin
- Long-tailed pangolin
- Philippine pangolin
- Sunda pangolin
- Tree pangolin
Under review for removal from the Endangered Species list are:
- American burying beetle
- Deseret milkvetch
- Southwestern willow flycatcher
Featured Image from David Clode/Unsplash
