Ten Endangered and At-Risk Species
The prettiest and most popular people among us are given precedence over the average-looking majority. We don't want to admit it, but it happens a lot, whether during the high school prom, in your typical business office, or even on the endangered species list. Sure, most of us are pretty aware of the plight of the furry, adorable endangered animals (polar and panda bears immediately come to mind). But what about those not-so-furry but still really important, worthwhile species out there? They may not be as visually appealing or cuddly as the aforementioned, and therefore do not get as much attention. But they're still in bad shape, and they need to be known.
A little background: When an animal or plant has been given an "endangered" status, it means that it is receiving federal assistance after being put on the federal list of endangered wildlife or plants. Since the beginning of the Bush administration, only 56 new plants and animals have been added to this federal listing (fewer than the additions under both Clinton and George Bush Sr.)
But in the next year, things might start to change.
Congress is making plans to give 71 new species the federal rating by the fall. These 71 species are currently in what is sometimes referred to as the "endangered list purgatory," or the endangered candidate list. Essentially, the species are considered at risk, but there isn't enough funding to label them as officially endangered. So here they wait, in purgatory - the average stay is 19 years - until Congress reevaluates them for potential funding.
Got all that? Okay. Now check out the gallery - five photos are of species currently considered endangered, and five are at risk and being reassessed for funding. And in the meantime, check out The Red List, where the longest, most up-to-date list of endangered and at-risk species (41,415 of them) is kept, more than 16,000 of which are endangered.
But in the next year, things might start to change.
Congress is making plans to give 71 new species the federal rating by the fall. These 71 species are currently in what is sometimes referred to as the "endangered list purgatory," or the endangered candidate list. Essentially, the species are considered at risk, but there isn't enough funding to label them as officially endangered. So here they wait, in purgatory - the average stay is 19 years - until Congress reevaluates them for potential funding.
Got all that? Okay. Now check out the gallery - five photos are of species currently considered endangered, and five are at risk and being reassessed for funding. And in the meantime, check out The Red List, where the longest, most up-to-date list of endangered and at-risk species (41,415 of them) is kept, more than 16,000 of which are endangered.
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