There are renewed calls for sterner implementation of Endangered Species Act of 1973 amidst observations that 90 percent of animals that are initially threatened with extinction are currently thriving due to the protection that the law offers. The ESA serves as a legislative safeguard for endangered species but it still lacks specific outline on how to effectively save the animals. Make no mistake about it, ESA has its share of glory albeit the need for additional teeth.
To stress the need for reinvigorated Endangered Species Act, here are some of the species that greatly benefited from the protection it gives. Most of these endangered species traced back their brink of extinction way back in the 60's. however, there are recent cases from the turn of the millennium, according to the IFL Science.
Perhaps the most famous among protected animals under the Endangered Species Act is the gray wolf. Back in 1960, authorities thought that they might be extinct already. Not only because these canines are elusive, but actual count back then put gray wolf's population at around 300. After several decades, gray wolves are currently numbering to more than 7,000 and are widely dispersed among 53 states in the US, according to the Defenders of Wildlife.
If worst case is a barometer, nothing could beat the Virginia northern flying squirrel. Experts counted them to just 10 in 1985 but Endangered Species Act ensured that they will reach their current population of 1,100. Their abode also increased to 100 different sites as opposed to just four locations back then.
The Aleutian Canada goose is a dodo-like tragedy, yet a success story during later years. These geese were once countless in the Alaskan coasts but enterprising people introduced non-native foxes in their home for the fur trade. It turned out that these foxes love eggs and goslings, almost wiping the geese's population to mere 790. Thanks to the Endangered Species Act, the Aleutian Canada goose is now prospering at 111,000 population count as of 2011.
