The Endangeres Species Act (ESA)
The ESA is a piece of legislation put in place to protect & conserve species of animals & plants that have been deemed to be at risk & their habitats. The ESA's goal is to prevent extinction and to recover and maintain population numbers. In order for the ESA to offer protection, the species must have been listed as threatened or endangered. A species is considered endangered if it is at high risk of becoming extinct. A species is considered to be threatened if it is at risk of becoming endangered.
Species at Risk Act (SARA)
The SARA is a Canadian legislation to protect Canadian plant & animal species that have been deemed to be endangered or threatened & their habitats and also offers protection to those that are at risk of becoming threatened
It's purpose is to prevent the disappearing of wildlife species in Canada, to recover species & to prevent species of special concern from becoming threatened or endangered.
Migratory Birds Convention Act (Canadian) & Migratory Bird Treaty Act (USA law between Canada and USA)
These acts serve to protect migratory birds, their nests and eggs from being collected, sold, hunted or killed without a permit. They do not discriminate between live or dead specimens so collecting even a feather from a dead bird would be breaking the law and is punishable. However, there are exceptions and permits can be obtained.
All these laws have been put in place to protect our wildlife & help in keeping from disappearing forever. It is because of laws like these and the hard work and dedication of conservationists that some species have rebounded & been removed from the endangered species list. Below are just a select handful of such species that I would not have had the opportunity to have photographed had they not been protected.
Bald Eagle
The majestic and much loved Bald Eagle nearly went extinct due to the use of pesticides such as DDT, hunting and loss of habitat. Populations recovered since it's protection and ban of DDT.
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| Bald Eagle Captive bird photographed at the Mountsberg Raptor Centre (Campbellville, Ontario) |
Peregrine Falcon
Like the American eagle, numbers dwindled due to the use of DDT but then bounced back after it's ban. For more on the Peregrine falcon, please see my blog post here.
Like the American eagle, numbers dwindled due to the use of DDT but then bounced back after it's ban. For more on the Peregrine falcon, please see my blog post here.
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| Peregrine Falcon Captive bird photographed at the Mountsberg Raptor Centre (Campbellville, Ontario) |
Brown Pelican
Like many others, the use of pesticides such as DDT decimated the brown pelican populations. With it's ban, their numbers have recovered and they are now off the endangered species list.
Like many others, the use of pesticides such as DDT decimated the brown pelican populations. With it's ban, their numbers have recovered and they are now off the endangered species list.
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| Brown Pelican Photographed in Florida |
American Alligator
The American alligator was hunted almost to extinction for its skin. Once put on the endangered list, the american alligator & it's habitat were protected allowing for their numbers to quickly bounce back. These ancient reptiles were eventually delisted & removed from the endangered species list.
The American alligator was hunted almost to extinction for its skin. Once put on the endangered list, the american alligator & it's habitat were protected allowing for their numbers to quickly bounce back. These ancient reptiles were eventually delisted & removed from the endangered species list.
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| American Alligator Photographed in the Florida Everglades |
ESA: http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/laws/esa/
SARA: https://www.ec.gc.ca/alef-ewe/default.asp?lang=en&n=ED2FFC37-1
Migratory Birds Convention Act: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Birds_Convention_Act
Migratory Bird Treaty Act: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918
http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/animals-saved-by-the-u-s-endangered-species-act
