Government officials said Monday that they plan to remove 21 species from the Endangered Species Act for the saddest of reasons: because they are extinct.
But remaining on the list, at least for a bit longer? The ivory-billed woodpecker, a majestic bird whose continued existence has been debated by scientists and birders for decades.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s delisting proposal, put forward in 2021 for 23 species, included ivory bills. Those who believe the birds still live pushed back. Now the agency said it will continue to analyze and review available information before making a decision.
One particularly dramatic piece of new evidence was a peer-reviewed study, complete with video, published earlier this year.
The other species that gained a reprieve, at least, is a Hawaiian plant. Surveys have identified new places that the herb, which is in the mint family, might exist.
The final rule will publish in the Federal Register on Tuesday and is effective 30 days after publication.
Source link: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/climate/esa-ivory-billed-woodpecker.html