Mystic Aquarium
Animal care professionals at Mystic Aquarium have
the honor and privilege of caring for multiple species that appear on both the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened
Species™ as well as the Federal Endangered Species List including the
endangered Panamanian golden frog, African penguin and green and loggerhead sea
turtles. Recently proposed rule changes would significantly weaken the
Endangered Species Act, risking extinction for these species and countless
more.
But, it is not only the daily care of these listed
species that is critically important to Mystic Aquarium and its dedicated staff
of professionals; it is also the continued protection of these and all
endangered species.
Today the Endangered Species Act is under fire and
Mystic Aquarium is seeking the help of the general public. An initial
public comment period has been initiated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFW) to hear the public’s feedback on proposed changes to the Act.
“With habitat loss, biodiversity declines, climate change and human interaction, increased protection for endangered species is more critical than ever,” said Katie Cubina, Senior Vice President of Mission Programs for Mystic Aquarium.
An action alert can be found on the Aquarium’s
website, MysticAquarium.org, where participants can join Mystic Aquarium in
urging the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind the proposed
rule changes.
Petitions will also be located at Mystic Aquarium
during two outreach events International Coastal Cleanup celebration on Sunday,
September 16 and National Estuaries Day Celebration on Sunday, September 23.
All with the goal of empowering the public and
inciting change with legislators to take action.
Equally as important says Cubina, “The Endangered
Species Act works.”
The Endangered Species Act is the nation’s most
effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction; 99% of species
listed under the Act have survived and are on the path to recovery.
It also already allows for flexibility in protecting
endangered wildlife and requires that federal, state, tribal and local
officials work together to prevent extinction.
Zoos, aquariums and conservationists around the
globe are doing incredible work in hopes of saving species but, as Cubina
points out “we need this protection in place to ensure that there are African
penguins, sea turtles and countless other animals for generations to come.”
Mystic Aquarium and their colleagues believe that it
is imperative that all decisions about recovering endangered species should be
based in best available science, not special interest or economics. They have
grave concerns that these proposed rule changes will open the door to more
dangerous revisions that will weaken the Endangered Species Act.
The Endangered Species Act is considered one of the
most successful conservation policies in the world because of an effective
governmental process that continues to bring species back from the brink of
extinction.
“We have a duty to save endangered animals and the
places they live,” concluded Cubina.