Timothy O Randhir

It used to be considered against the law in America to starve a member of an endangered species to death or harm it by destroying its home. That’s changing as the federal government chips away at the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Under the Trump administration’s new interpretations of the law, as long as the animal isn’t directly targeted, there is no violation. The new interpretations, if they hold up to court challenges, could leave a vast number of endangered species at higher risk. Many of the country’s shipping, logging, mining and development practices are influenced by the Endangered Species Act’s protections. In some cases, entire species could face extinction if their habitats are no longer protected. As an environmental conservation scientist, I have been following these and other changes affecting endangered species. To understand what they mean, let’s take a look at the potential impact on three very different species.

Related coverage from the Center for Biological Diversity: Legal Filing Challenges Trump Move to OK Killing of Endangered Wildlife