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Mike Leahy headshot
Washington, D.C.

Defenders of Wildlife Announces Mike Leahy as New Vice President of Government Relations

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Mike Leahy as its new Vice President of Government Relations.
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manta rays swimming in the shallow ocean with coral
Fort Myers, FL

Defenders of Wildlife Applauds Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for Tightening Protections for Listed Species

Defenders of Wildlife welcomes today’s action by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to end open permitting for the capture of ESA-threatened marine species in Florida waters for public display and exhibition purposes.
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NARW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Legal Intervention Aims to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales From Deadly Ship Strikes

Conservation groups today filed a motion to intervene to help fight a lawsuit aimed at overturning a seasonal speed rule protecting North Atlantic right whales from deadly vessel strikes. The groups want to defend the rule against a lawsuit brought by a New York vessel owner fined for violating seasonal speed limits. The suit alleges that NOAA Fisheries lacked the statutory authority to issue the rule.

Press Releases

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Giant Manta Ray
Washington, DC

Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration’s Failure to Protect Atlantic Sharks, Giant Manta Rays From Lethal Fishing Gear

Today, on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife and the Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice sued the Trump administration today for failing to protect oceanic whitetip sharks and giant manta rays from being captured and killed in U.S. fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.
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Southern_Resident_Orca
Washington, DC

New research shows effectiveness of laws for protecting imperiled species, remaining gaps

New research from the Center for Conservation Innovation (CCI) at Defenders of Wildlife, published in the journal Nature Communications, shows for the first time the importance of expert agencies to protecting imperiled species.
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Jaguar
Santa Cruz, Bolivia

Defenders of Wildlife Attends International Workshop on Jaguar Conservation

The Plurinational government of Bolivia last week hosted the First International workshop to combat the illegal trade of jaguars. Participants included Interpol, UNODC, CITES, various government representatives of jaguar range states and conservation groups, including Defenders of Wildlife.
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Grizzly bear sow Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone National Park
Sedro-Wooley, WA

National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Extend Public Comment Period for North Cascades Grizzly Environmental Impact Statement  

The National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) today announced the reopening of the public comment period for the draft North Cascades Grizzly Bear Restoration Plan/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding restoring grizzly bears to their historic range in the North Cascades Ecosystem. The 90-day extension begins Friday and will close on October 24, 2019.
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Grizzly Bear in Alaska
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Signs New Deal for Disastrous Road through Izembek Refuge

Less than four months after the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska struck down the Trump administration’s agreement to trade away internationally recognized, wilderness wetlands in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to a private corporation, the Interior Department has reportedly signed another land swap deal to facilitate road construction through the reserve.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244
Communications Director
mdewane@defenders.org
(202) 772-0217
Communications Specialist
jcovey@defenders.org
Communications Specialist
kirby@defenders.org
(202) 772-3268