From Endangered to Extinct: 21 Species Disappear From US Endangered List

Normally, an organism being removed from the Endangered Species Act would be celebrated as an ecological triumph, but not this month. The little Mariana fruit bat, flat pigtoe mussel, and Bachman’s warbler are among the 21 species of animal dropped from the list last week not due to rising numbers, but extinction. 

“Federal protection came too late to reverse these species’ decline, and it’s a wake-up call on the importance of conserving imperiled species before it’s too late,” US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Director Martha Williams said in a press release. “As we commemorate 50 years of the Endangered Species Act this year, we are reminded of the Act’s purpose to be a safety net that stops the journey toward extinction. The ultimate goal is to recover these species, so they no longer need the Act’s protection.”

Though a few of the species still have living members in zoos, all have either not been observed in the wild for years or lack enough breeding adults to stage a comeback. In total, the delisted species include 10 birds, eight mussels, two fish, and one mammal (the little Mariana fruit bat). Their natural habitats range from Hawaii and Guam to Texas and North Carolina. Regardless of origin, however, the cause for their disappearance is consistent, USFWS says.

“The circumstances of each (extinction) also underscore(s) how human activity can drive species decline and extinction by contributing to habitat loss, overuse, and the introduction of invasive species and diseases,” USFWS officials wrote.

Despite the 21-species dropoff, USFWS notes that the Endangered Species Act has proven vital in protecting wildlife as a whole. Since its adoption in 1973, more than 100 species have been delisted due to population recovery.

Reflect: What do you believe are the main challenges in preserving endangered species, and what role can individuals and communities play in helping to protect and recover these species?