The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would remove federal protection for gray wolves in most parts of the United States. The news was met with backlash from conservationists and the White House, which threatened to veto the bill were it sent to President Joe Biden’s desk.
Gray wolves are considered a keystone species in many ecosystems across the U.S. as other plants and animals within the ecosystem largely depend on them. Opponents of the animals, however, see them as a threat to livestock. While they once numbered a quarter million across the country, hunting nearly brought the population to extinction. After being included in the Endangered Species Act, their numbers began to recover, increasing to 5,000 across the continental United States.
That recovery was once again threatened when Former U.S. President Donald Trump removed the wolves’ Endangered Species status. One single 72-hour hunt in Wisconsin saw over 200 wolves killed before their protective status was reinstated in 2022.
Taiwan has had its own struggle with the protection of native species. Taiwan’s leopard cats, for example, are the only remaining endemic cat species after the Formosan clouded leopard was declared extinct in 2013. Despite being protected by the Cultural Heritage Conservation Act, it’s estimated that only about 500 remain–with road accidents and construction among the biggest threats they face. Protecting these valuable species remains a difficult balancing act for countries around the world.