Conserving the Nature of America
Pair of male lions. Credit: Heidi Ruffler / USFWS
Pair of male lions. Credit: Heidi Ruffler / USFWS

ESA Listing Protects Lions in Africa and India, Director’s Order Strengthens Wildlife Import Restrictions for Wildlife Law Violators

December 21, 2015

In response to the dramatic decline of lion populations in the wild, the Service today announced it will list two lion subspecies under the Endangered Species Act. Panthera leo leo, located in India and western and central Africa, will be listed as endangered, and Panthera leo melanochaita, located in eastern and southern Africa, will be listed as threatened. Lion populations have declined by 43 percent due to habitat loss, loss of prey base, and retaliatory killing of lions by humans. Service Director Dan Ashe also issued a Director’s Order to ensure violators of wildlife laws are not subsequently granted permits for future wildlife-related activities, including the import of sport-hunted trophies.
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Examples of rhino horns seized during Operation Crash. Credit: USFWS
Examples of rhino horns seized during Operation Crash. Credit: USFWS

Rhino Horn Trafficker Sentenced to One Year in Prison

December 17, 2015
A San Francisco art dealer was sentenced and fined Dec. 16 for his role in the illegal sale of black rhino horns. He was brought to justice as part of Operation Crash, an ongoing investigation targeting illegal trafficking of rhino horn and elephant ivory. A “crash” is the term for a herd of rhinoceros. As of November 2015, more than 20 subjects have been prosecuted and sentenced, and forfeiture and restitution amounts have totaled $5.5 million as a result of Operation Crash, which is being conducted by the Service and other federal and local law enforcement agencies.
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The Northern Distinct Population Segment of the mountain yellow-legged frog was listed as endangered in 2014. More than 90 percent of the population has disappeared. Credit: Isaac Chellman / NPS
The Northern Distinct Population Segment of the mountain yellow-legged frog was listed as endangered in 2014. More than 90 percent of the population has disappeared. Credit: Isaac Chellman / NPS

Biologists Team up with Zoos to Save Frogs on Brink of Extinction

December 16, 2015
Critically endangered tadpoles emergency evacuated from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California and transported to Oakland Zoo and San Francisco Zoo over the summer have successfully morphed into healthy mountain yellow-legged frogs. Non-native trout and a deadly disease have decimated the frog. The Service, National Park Service and the worked together on this effort, and the goal is to release the frogs back into the parks in the summer.
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