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Groups Intend to Sue FWS for Failure to Take Timely Action on Hippopotamus ESA Petition

The Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society International, Humane Society of the United States, and Humane Society Legislative Fund sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). The senders intend to sue FWS for violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by not making a timely 12-month finding on their March 24, 2022 petition to list the common hippopotamus under the ESA. The agency’s 12-month finding following its positive 90-day finding was due March 24, 2023.

Groups Intend to Sue FWS for Failure to Take Timely Action on Manatee ESA Petition

The Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Biological Diversity, Miami Waterkeeper, Save the Manatee Club, and Frank S. González Garcia sent a 60-day notice of intent to sue to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). Represented by the Harvard Law School Animal Law & Policy Clinic, the senders intend to sue FWS for violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA) by not making a timely 12-month finding on their November 21, 2022 petition to uplist the West Indian Manatee, the Florida manatee, and Antillean manatee subspecies as endangered under the ESA. The agency’s 12-month finding following its positive 90-day finding was due November 21, 2023.

New Maritime Coalition Forms and Releases Guidelines to Combat Wildlife Trafficking

The World Shipping Council announced the formation of a 10-organization coalition to fight wildlife trafficking in the maritime industry and supply chain. The coalition has developed Joint Industry Guidelines for Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trafficking to help supply chain participants to prevent, identify, and report illicit wildlife activities. Led by the World Shipping Council, the other coalition organizations are TRAFFIC, the World Wide Fund for Nature, International Fund for Animal Welfare, United Nations Development Program, Global Environment Facility, Global Wildlife Program, BIC, Global Shippers Forum, and TT Club.

Washington Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Bald and Golden Eagles

Travis Branson, a Washington resident, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, violating the Lacey Act, and trafficking bald and golden eagles after the government alleged he killed and sold eagles on the black market between January 2015 and March 2021. Branson is scheduled for sentencing on July 31, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana and faces potential fines and imprisonment.

Federal Court Upholds NMFS 90-Day Finding Against Delisting Arctic Ringed Seals

The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska denied a challenge brought by the State of Alaska and the North Slope Borough against the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS) 90-day finding on their petition to remove Endangered Species Act protections for Arctic ringed seals. The court found that “NMFS provided a rational connection between the facts it observed and its conclusion” in its 90-day finding and ruled that there was “no reason to vacate” the agency’s decision in response to Plaintiffs’ petition to delist. The Center for Biological Diversity had intervened as a defendant in the case.

Federal Court Enjoins Recreational Wolf Trapping and Snaring in Grizzly Bear Habitat

The U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho enjoined an Idaho statutory provision that established a year-round wolf trapping season on private property. It also permanently enjoined the Idaho Department of Fish & Game and Idaho Fish and Wildlife Commission from “authorizing recreational gray wolf trapping and snaring on public or private land in grizzly bear habitat . . . except during the time period when it is reasonably certain that almost all grizzly bears will be in dens: December 1 to February 28.” The legal challenge to Idaho’s expanded wolf trapping and snaring law was brought by 13 groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society of the United States, and Sierra Club.

Federal Bill to End Elephant and Great Ape Captivity Referred to Committee

Bill S-15, sponsored by Senator Marty Klyne, has advanced to the Standing Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs after completing second reading. During the debate on March 19, Senator Chantal Petitclerc voiced her support for the bill, stressing the importance of updating our laws to reflect current scientific understanding of animal suffering in captivity, and changing societal attitudes towards such practices. Critics of the bill, including Senator Claude Carignan and Senator Donald Neil Plett, Leader of the Opposition, criticized the bill as frivolous, arguing that it diverts attention from pressing national issues, such as economic struggles, crime rates, healthcare, and infrastructure. Plett also raised concerns that the bill's constraints could impede conservation efforts, despite ample evidence suggesting most zoos contribute minimally to conservation endeavours. Despite opposition, Plett supported sending the bill to committee for further study.

Ninth Circuit Rules FWS Erred in Calculations Underlying Incidental Take Regulation for Alaskan Polar Bears

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) must correct calculations for an incidental take regulation (ITR) it promulgated under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The ITR allows oil and gas companies to harass Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears on the North Slope of Alaska. The court found that certain aspects of the agency’s calculations regarding the probability that the oil and gas extraction activities would harm the polar bears were arbitrary and capricious. The decision reversed the lower court as to those calculations but affirmed as to other issues, and the court remanded to FWS without vacating the ITR. The underlying lawsuit was brought by the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Alaska Wilderness League, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Environment America, Friends of the Earth, and Sierra Club.