Our world is facing a biodiversity crisis, with species rapidly declining and extinction becoming frighteningly common. According to a study by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), approximately 1 million species globally are at risk of extinction in the coming decades. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, one of the most comprehensive inventories of species’ conservation status, identifies thousands of species as endangered or critically endangered. A report from The Nature Conservancy Australia state that there are 80 critically endangered Australian native plant and animal species at risk of being lost forever. Other countries are facing similar declines. These findings highlight the vital need for robust conservation measures to protect imperiled species and preserve the delicate balance of ecosystems worldwide.
Fortunately, organizations around the world are fighting to ensure the continued existence of the amazingly diverse array of wild animals with whom we share our planet. In Australia, there are a considerable number of organizations pursuing conservation efforts. On the other side of the globe, the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI), based in Washington, DC, and winner of The World’s Best Awards Wildlife Conservation Organization of 2024 “Wildlife Welfare Stalwart” title, is one good example. As America celebrates the annual Endangered Species Day every third Friday of May, which falls on May 17 this year, we explore how AWI has been involved in protecting the most vulnerable wildlife.
History
Since its inception in 1951, AWI has embodied compassionate advocacy by working tirelessly to protect animals. Founded by Christine Stevens, often hailed as the “mother of the animal protection movement” in America, AWI initially focused on ending the cruel treatment of animals in experimental laboratories. Over time, Stevens’ vision expanded to encompass a broad spectrum of animal welfare causes, including abolishing inhumane slaughter methods in the food industry, preventing the use of steel-jaw leghold traps, and banning commercial whaling. Additionally, AWI has played a pivotal role in protecting companion animals from cruelty, preserving species threatened with extinction, and combating the exploitation and destruction of critical wildlife habitat. Stevens’ legacy continues to inspire generations of animal advocates.
AWI and the ESA
The United States’ Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides a framework to protect and recover species at risk of extinction both domestically and abroad. Enacted in 1973, the ESA has been credited with saving 99 percent of listed species from extinction and is hailed as one of the world’s strongest conservation laws. The connection between AWI and the ESA dates back to the 1960s, when AWI emerged as one of the pioneering organizations advocating comprehensive protections for imperiled species. During this era of heightened environmental awareness, AWI recognized the urgent need for legislation to safeguard wildlife facing extinction. As the ESA took shape and garnered bipartisan support, AWI lobbied for measures to strengthen implementation and enforcement of the law, increase funding and resources, and add protections for species outside the United States. Since then, AWI has actively worked, through litigation and advocacy, to ensure that the ESA remains effective in protecting listed species and their habitats.
Top Ways AWI Makes a Difference
Here are some notable ways that AWI has advanced protections for endangered species:
Securing a Historic Legal Settlement
AWI’s advocacy efforts led to a historic settlement last year with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in which the agency firmly committed to the conservation and recovery of red wolves. Through more than a decade of legal advocacy, AWI and its allies have played a crucial role in securing the survival of the world’s only wild red wolf population, located in eastern North Carolina. This settlement outlines USFWS’ intentions to prepare captive wolves for release, reduce human-caused mortality, and engage with stakeholders. It mandates briefings on coyote management efforts for eight years, and the development of annual plans to release captive red wolves into the wild population; the first plan aims to release between four and six captive wolves in June 2024.
“When we filed this lawsuit, scientists warned that red wolves could be extinct in the wild this year,” said Johanna Hamburger, director and senior attorney for AWI’s terrestrial wildlife program. “This agreement pulls wild red wolves back from the brink of extinction. It signals a return to a management approach that was hailed as a model for wolf reintroduction efforts and served the red wolf so well for nearly 30 years. This settlement marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing battle to save the red wolf, preserving the species in the wild for future generations.”
Working to Expand ESA Protections
AWI persuaded the USFWS to propose the pygmy three-toed sloth as threatened under the ESA, marking a critical step in protecting the world’s smallest sloth. Responding to an emergency petition filed by AWI in 2013, the USFWS has recognized the threats facing the pygmy sloth, including habitat loss, overutilization by humans, and loss of genetic diversity.
AWI’s advocacy has been instrumental in bringing attention to the plight of the pygmy sloth. The USFWS proposal is now open for public comments until 28 May and, thus, brings hope that concerted action will ensure the continued survival of this unique species.
AWI has campaigned for additional ESA protections for imperiled African elephants. On 1 April, USFWS issued a final rule that bolstered African elephant protections. While AWI was disappointed that the agency failed to prohibit the import of wild-caught elephants for display in zoos, along with sport-hunted elephant trophies, the organization continues to advocate an end to all African elephant imports into the United States.
Promoting Marine Conservation
AWI works to protect marine wildlife both in the United States and abroad. By campaigning for expanded vessel speed regulations to prevent ship strikes and the use of ropeless fishing gear to limit entanglements, AWI defends the welfare of endangered species, such as the North Atlantic right whales traversing the waters of the entire U.S. East Coast. As of 2019, fewer than 420 of the said whales remain, and the species is in dire need of support. Calving rates have dropped significantly as adult right whales suffer repeat entanglements in fishing gear and vessel strike injuries among other threats.
On the global stage, AWI has achieved ESA protections for marine wildlife, such as the Taiwanese white dolphin and the Atlantic humpback dolphin, and advanced conservation efforts for Mexico’s endangered vaquita, among other priorities.
Following a 2016 petition from AWI, the Center for Biological Diversity, and WildEarth Guardians, the National Marine Fisheries Service listed the Taiwanese white dolphin as endangered under the ESA in 2018. Threatened by entanglement in fishing gear, habitat destruction and degradation, pollution of coastal and riverine waters, and vessel traffic, fewer than 60 of these dolphins are believed to remain. Similarly, a 2021 petition by AWI, the Center for Biological Diversity, and VIVA Vaquita resulted in the Atlantic humpback dolphin being listed under the ESA earlier this year. Limited to Africa’s western coast, these dolphins are harmed and killed by fishing gear entanglements, coastal development, and other human activities. With fewer than 3,000 of these dolphins remaining, AWI hopes that newly minted ESA protections will be enough to save the population; it remains unclear whether the critically low numbers of Taiwanese white dolphins and vaquitas can or will rebound.
On the brink of extinction, the vaquita, which has been listed under the ESA since 1985, is considered the most imperiled cetacean in the world. Following a 2023 survey conducted in the Upper Gulf of California, scientists estimated that only 10 to 13 vaquitas remain — a dramatic drop from an estimated 600 individuals two decades ago. The primary threat facing this shy, small porpoise is entanglement in fishing gear, particularly gillnets set to catch shrimp, sharks, and other finfish, including illegally traded, endangered totoaba. AWI has campaigned on both domestic and international fronts to help save the vaquita, and the organization anxiously awaits the results of a May 2024 population survey.
Listing foreign species under the U.S. ESA not only prohibits trade in these animals but also fosters conservation funding, global awareness, and scientific cooperation.
“There is an urgent need for collective action — cooperation among nations — to ensure the survival of these imperiled cetaceans,” said Dr. Naomi Rose, AWI’s senior scientist in marine mammal biology.
Other Advocacy Efforts
Beyond its foundational work in animal welfare, AWI dedicates resources and expertise to championing the conservation of threatened species and their habitats in myriad other ways, including, but not limited to:
Opposing Counter-efforts
AWI has actively opposed attempts to weaken the ESA and remove protections for specific listed species, working to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the critical conservation law.
Litigating for Wildlife
AWI’s legal expertise has been instrumental in litigating cases to protect endangered species, including the red wolf, Canada lynx, ocelots, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, and Indiana bats.
Raising Public Awareness
Through educational outreach and advocacy campaigns, AWI raises public awareness about the importance of wildlife conservation and the urgent need to protect imperiled species.
Moving Forward
AWI’s invaluable contributions in championing wildlife conservation and strengthening landmark ESA legislation are clear. Despite facing challenges and environmental threats, the organization has remained steadfast in its commitment to protect vulnerable species and preserve biodiversity for future generations.
To learn more about AWI, visit the organization’s website. Click here.
(Cover image credit: Red wolf portrait, B. Bartel/USFWS, Public Domain, https://www.fws.gov/media/red-wolf-portrait)
Alignment with the UN SDGs
AWI’s work aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on environmental protection, biodiversity, and partnership for sustainable development. Here’s a breakdown:
- SDG 14: Life Below Water – AWI’s focus on marine conservation, including protections for the North Atlantic right whale, Taiwanese white dolphin, Atlantic humpback dolphin, and vaquita, aligns with the goal to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources. AWI’s efforts to reduce marine animal entanglements, vessel strikes, and habitat degradation are vital actions in line with SDG 14 targets.
- SDG 15: Life on Land – AWI’s work to protect land species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including red wolves, African elephants, and the pygmy three-toed sloth, supports SDG 15, which seeks to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. This includes their work on securing legal protections, habitat preservation, and public awareness campaigns, all of which contribute to SDG 15’s goals of reducing species extinction rates and protecting threatened species and ecosystems.
- SDG 13: Climate Action – AWI’s conservation efforts also indirectly support climate action. Protecting biodiversity and ecosystems helps maintain carbon sequestration processes essential for climate regulation. While this write-up doesn’t explicitly mention climate, AWI’s work contributes to the broader ecological balance, which has positive impacts on climate resilience.
- SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – AWI’s global collaboration efforts with organizations like the Center for Biological Diversity, WildEarth Guardians, and various government agencies underscore SDG 17’s emphasis on strengthening partnerships to achieve the goals. The collaborative efforts to protect species, especially those endangered globally, exemplify cross-border cooperation.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – AWI’s advocacy includes efforts to halt the import of wild-caught animals, such as African elephants and marine mammals. This aligns with SDG 12’s goals of ensuring sustainable consumption by advocating against practices that exploit wildlife.
AWI’s initiatives exemplify a multifaceted approach to addressing biodiversity loss, aligning closely with these SDGs to support a sustainable, biodiversity-rich planet for future generations.
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All of these species have the same right to inhabit this planet as we do, and we need them more than we realize. I’m glad organizations like AWI are looking out for them.
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So true. Every creature, great and small, plays a vital role in our planet’s delicate balance. It’s heartening to see groups like AWI championing their cause. After all, we’re all threads in the same beautiful weaving of life!
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