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We’re Back!

A law passed 50 years ago has helped save dozens of species.

As You Read, Think About: Do you think it’s important to protect endangered species? Why or why not?

What do a green sea turtle and a Florida panther have in common? They are both protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The law was passed in December 1973. The ESA makes it illegal to kill, capture, or harm any species listed as endangered. It protects the habitats where these plants and animals live. It also provides funding to help species recover. 

Today, more than 1,600 plants and animals are protected by the ESA. It has been called one of the world’s most successful conservation laws. About 99 percent of the species under its protection have been saved from extinction.

“There’s a long list of species that were in big-time decline that we brought back,” says Randy Robinson. He works at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s one of the groups that manages the ESA. 

Here’s a look at some of the ESA’s biggest success stories in the U.S.

What do a green sea turtle and a Florida panther have in common? They are both protected by the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The law was passed in December 1973. The ESA makes it illegal to kill, capture, or harm any species listed as endangered. It protects the habitats where these plants and animals live. The law also provides money to help species recover.

Today, more than 1,600 plants and animals are protected by the ESA. It has been called one of the world’s most successful conservation laws. About 99 percent of the species under its protection have been saved from extinction.

“There’s a long list of species that were in big-time decline that we brought back,” says Randy Robinson. He works at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That’s one of the groups that manages the ESA.

Here’s a look at some of the ESA’s biggest success stories.

American Alligator

Range: Southeastern United States

Natalia Kuzmina/Alamy Stock Photo

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More than 1 million American alligators live in rivers, lakes, and swamps in the U.S.

More than 200 million years ago, alligators lived side by side with dinosaurs. Unlike dinos, alligators still roam Earth. But one species—the American alligator—was nearly wiped out by humans. By the 1960s, hunters had killed enough of these giant reptiles to put the species in danger. Alligator skin is used to make leather products, including shoes, belts, and bags. In 1973, the animals became one of the first species to be protected by the ESA.

Since 1987, they haven’t been considered endangered. But American alligators remain protected under the ESA. Why? A close relative, the American crocodile, is in danger of dying out. The two species look very similar. Officials worry that hunters could confuse alligators with crocodiles.

Alligators lived side by side with dinosaurs. That was more than 200 million years ago. Alligators still roam Earth. But one species was nearly wiped out by humans: the American alligator. By the 1960s, hunters had killed many of these giant reptiles. Alligator skin is used to make leather products. These include shoes, belts, and bags. In 1973, the animals became one of the first species to be protected by the ESA.

Since 1987, they haven’t been considered endangered. But American alligators remain protected under the ESA. Why? A close relative is in danger of dying out. That’s the American crocodile. The two species look very similar. Officials worry that hunters could confuse alligators with crocodiles.

Eastern Steller Sea Lion

Range: Pacific Ocean, from Alaska to California

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Male Steller sea lions grow to be more than 3 times as big as adult grizzly bears!

These mammals are the largest of all sea lions. They can weigh as much as 2,500 pounds. Steller sea lions feast on up to 35 pounds of salmon, cod, and other types of fish in a single meal! 

The animals’ huge appetite is one reason they were in danger of dying out. Fishermen often shot the hungry sea lions to prevent the animals from hurting their catch. By the late 1970s, only about 18,000 eastern Steller sea lions remained in the wild. 

In 1990, these sea lions were added to the endangered species list. Part of the ESA’s plan involved educating people about the animals. Twenty years later, the population had bounced back to more than 70,000. The eastern Steller sea lion was removed from the list in 2013.

These mammals are the largest of all sea lions. They can weigh as much as 2,500 pounds. Steller sea lions eat up to 35 pounds of fish in one meal! They feast on salmon, cod, and other types of fish.

The animals’ huge appetite is one reason they were in danger. Sea lions were hurting fishermen’s catch. Fishermen thus often shot the hungry sea lions. By the late 1970s, only about 18,000 eastern Steller sea lions remained in the wild.

In 1990, these sea lions were added to the endangered species list. Part of the ESA’s plan involved educating people about the animals. Twenty years later, the population had bounced back to more than 70,000. The eastern Steller sea lion was removed from the list in 2013.

Bald Eagle

Range: All of the United States except Hawaii

Todd Ryburn Photography/Getty Images

Bald eagles’ wings stretch about 6 to 8 feet from end to end. Most adult humans are less than 6 feet tall!

Strength. Courage. Freedom. The bald eagle represents all those things. That’s why it became one of America’s national symbols in 1782. It has also become a symbol of the ESA’s success.

By 1963, only about 400 pairs of bald eagles were left in the U.S. (not including Alaska). One reason was a chemical known as DDT. Farmers had put DDT on their crops to kill insects. But DDT also harmed bald eagles and other birds.

The U.S. banned the chemical in 1972. Six years later, bald eagles in 48 states were added to the endangered species list. The law further protected the wetlands where bald eagles live.

Thanks to these rules, the birds were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. There are now more than 300,000 bald eagles soaring across the lower 48 states.

Strength. Courage. Freedom. The bald eagle represents all those things. That’s why it became one of America’s national symbols in 1782. It has also become a symbol of the ESA’s success.

By 1963, only about 400 pairs of bald eagles were left in the U.S. (not including Alaska). One reason was a chemical known as DDT. Farmers had put DDT on their crops to kill insects. But DDT also harmed bald eagles and other birds.

The U.S. banned the chemical in 1972. Six years later, bald eagles in 48 states were added to the endangered species list. The law further protected the wetlands where bald eagles live.

Thanks to these rules, the birds were removed from the endangered species list in 2007. More than 300,000 bald eagles now soar across the lower 48 states.

  1. How does the Endangered Species Act help plants and animals? Support your response with evidence from the article.
  2. Compare and contrast the main threats that American alligators and eastern Steller sea lions faced.
  3. What does the word decline mean? What detail in the text shows that the eastern Steller sea lion faced a decline?
  1. How does the Endangered Species Act help plants and animals? Support your response with evidence from the article.
  2. Compare and contrast the main threats that American alligators and eastern Steller sea lions faced.
  3. What does the word decline mean? What detail in the text shows that the eastern Steller sea lion faced a decline?
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