We are urging the United States government to preserve the future of endangered wildlife and pass the Prohibiting Threatened and Endangered Creature Trophies Act (ProTECT) Act of 2024 (H.R. 7840).  This bill will prohibit the taking of a trophy of an endangered or threatened species within the United States and ban the import of any such trophy into the United States.  It is essential to addressing two significant challenges that are occurring simultaneously - the alarming rate of extinction of various species and the undeniable global climate change. Both issues are intricately linked and require our immediate attention. This bill has become more pressing than ever before.

Endangered species are sentient beings with complex social structures and deep connections to their ecosystems. They possess knowledge and wisdom that has been passed down through generations, much like the cultural heritage we inherit from our own families. Protecting their future is akin to ensuring a viable future for our children. 

By supporting conservation efforts aimed at preserving the future of endangered species, we are safeguarding the critical role they play in maintaining the delicate balance necessary for the sustenance and diversity of ecosystems. This, in turn, creates a healthier planet for all forms of life, including our own. The intricate web of interdependence that characterizes the natural world underscores the importance of protecting endangered species, as the loss of even one species can have far-reaching and potentially devastating consequences. 

When endangered or threatened species are hunted, it undermines many facets of maintaining biodiversity.  This includes the risk of local extinction of wildlife populations (1), population structure is then skewed to subadult males and females which reduces reproductive success (2), genetic erosion: where there is decreased genetic diversity and loss of resilience (3), and destabilization of wildlife populations through the key loss of individuals who contain the critical social and ecological knowledge needed for survival and reproduction (4).

Additionally, according to an article published in the Nature Climate Change journal; “Rewilding nine wildlife species (African forest elephants, American bison, fish, gray wolves, musk oxen, sea otters, sharks, whales, and wildebeest) would contribute more than 95% of the annual requirement to achieve the global target of extracting 500 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2100.  This in turn would help cap the global temperature rise at less than 1.5 degree Celsius (5).  If these endangered species are protected, their presence in their ecosystems can help mitigate climate change.

By taking steps to ensure a thriving future for wildlife, we are not only preserving the beauty and diversity of our planet but also ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come.

If you reside in the U.S. and want to make a bigger impact, you can call your federal legislators asking for their support. To find your federal legislators, go to https://pluralpolicy.com

**Photo by Bisakha Datta on Unsplash

Resources:

1.    Creel, S., M’soka, J., Droge, E., Rosenblatt, E., Becker, M.S. Matandiko, W. and Simpamba, T. (2016).  “Assessing the Sustainability of African lion trophy hunting, with recommendations for policy.” Ecological Applications 26(7): 2347-2357.  https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.1377

2.   Milner, J. M., Nilsen, E.B. and Andreassen, H.P.(2007). “Demographic side effects of selective hunting in ungulates and carnivores.” Conservation Biology 21(1): 36-47.  https://doi.org/10.1111/j 1523-1739. 2006.00591.x

3.    Allendorf, F.W., England, P.R., Luikart, G. Ritchie, P.A., and Ryman, N. (2008). “Genetic effects of harvest on wild animal populations.” Trends in ecology & evolution 23(6): 327-337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2008.02.008

4.   McComb, K., Shannon, G., Durant, S. M., Sayialel, K., Slotow, R., Poole, J. and Moss, C. (2011). “Leadership in elephants: the adaptive value of age.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278(1722): 3270-3276. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0168

5.    Schmitz, O.J., Sylvén, M., Atwood, T.B. et al. Trophic rewilding can expand natural climate solutions. Nat. Clim. Chang. 13, 324–333 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01631-6