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In 1973, the United States government passed into law the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Its three major goals were: to protect plants and animals from extinction by listing them as
endangered; to preserve the habitat of these species; to help populations of listed species recover. Because of these conservation efforts, many animals have brought back from near
extinction. Here are three such success stories.
It is fitting that we begin with the story of the bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States. There was an abundance of bald eagles in North America before the arrival of Europeans.
numbering an estimated half a million birds. By 1963, however, the population had dropped to fewer than 1,000. Hunting was certainly a major factor in this decline, as was the destruction of
habitat. But the biggest factor was DDT-a chemical widely used in insect sprays. It had a damaging effect on the eagles' eggs, making their shells so thin so that they broke easily and
exposed the frail baby birds inside which die soon after. The 1972 ban on DDT was the single most important factor in the revival of the bald eagle. Being listed as an endangered species
gave the birds additional protection. Bald eagle populations are now carefully monitored, and baby eagles are raised under human protection later to be released into the wild. Thanks to
these efforts, the number of eagles in the United States has grown markedly and the birds can be seen in many national parks. In August 2007, bald eagles were removed from the ESA list.
Another classic symbol of North American wildlife is the grizzly bear. Before the Europeans arrived, more than 50.000 grizzlies wandered the American West. Today, due to hunting and
habitat destruction, that number is closer to 1.000. Furthermore, because grizzly bears have babies at a very slow rate, it takes many years for the population to grow. Most of the grizzly
bears in the United States, excluding Alaska, live in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. As grizzlies are still protected by the ESA, hunting them is illegal. As bear populations grow, it
becomes very important to prevent encounters between humans and bears: 20 to 40 bears are killed each year to protect the safety of humans. People living in grizzly bear habitats are
encouraged not to leave garbage lying around in case bears are attracted to the smell, and parks put up signs warning people not to stray off the path. Visitors are also warned not to alarm
any bears they encounter.
Finally, the gray or timber wolf's story is one of the most compelling tales of American wildlife. Traditionally shunned because people fear them and consider them pests for killing livestock.
gray wolves have been shot, trapped, and poisoned, even in nature reserves. By the time the gray wolf was declared a protected species in 1973; only a few hundred remained in small
pockets of the country. Today, the gray wolf population has been revived in some of its former habitats, like Yellowstone National Park, due to strong conservation efforts. They have also
started returning to places like Washington and Idaho. The gray wolf is now listed as a species of Least Concern by IUCN. In 2006, the United States government declared May 11 to be
Endangered Species Day-a day devoted to raising awareness of endangered species.
These success stories, including the "revival" of the bald eagle, the protection of grizzly bears, and the resurgence of gray wolves, underscore the vital role played by the Endangered
Species Act and similar conservation efforts. With such positive steps toward educating people on the importance of conservation, there's reason to be optimistic about the future of
endangered animals in the U.S.
1) What does "revival" mean?
A. extinction
B. decline
C. destruction
D. rebirth
2) Which is NOT mentioned as a way to prevent unnecessary grizzly bear deaths?
A. advising people on what to do if they see a grizzly
B. restricting people from entering national parks
C. better garbage management
D. keeping people in safe and bear-free areas
3) Why did the author write this article?
A. to persuade people to donate money to animal welfare
B. to educate Americans on endangered animal protection.
C. to highlight the factors that put animals in danger
D to honor the government's achievements in protecting endangered species
