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Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle is on his way home after being released from a cold-stun rehab center.
New Orleans, LA

Defenders Celebrates U.S. Appeals Court Ruling to Protect Imperiled Sea Turtles from Drowning in Fishing Nets

A federal appeals court upheld the rule requiring shrimp trawling vessels to use turtle excluder devices so that sea turtles can avoid getting caught in nets.
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pale gray north atlantic right whale swimming in dark blue ocean with an entangled string wrapped around the top of its head and seen underneath it's lower body
Washington, DC

House Gambles with Survival for North Atlantic Right Whales in Latest Vote to Delay Protections

The House of Representatives voted to pass H.R. 9436, a bill that will delay conservation protections for critically endangered North Atlantic right whales.
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 Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Izembek Volcanoe
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

District Court Okays Bulldozing a Road to the Doorstep of Izembek Wilderness

A federal district court in Alaska today allowed construction to begin on a 2.8-mile road segment on KCC lands to connect to a 10.5-mile road within Izembek.

Press Releases

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Scientists' Call to Action: The U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation
Washington, DC

Trump Administration Issues More Waivers of Law For Expedited Border Wall Construction in Wildlife Refuges and Protected Lands

As published in today’s Federal Register, the Trump administration announced it will waive dozens of environmental and public safety laws in more locations in Arizona and California in order to expedite border wall construction.
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closeup of California Tiger Salamander in grass
Redding, CA

Fishing and Conservation Groups Sue Country's Largest Agricultural Water District Over Illegal Plot to Raise Shasta Dam

Yesterday, a coalition of fishing and conservation groups filed a lawsuit against Westlands Water District for unlawfully aiding efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to raise Shasta Dam.
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Bald eagle
Washington, DC

House Appropriations Committee Moves to Fund, Protect Wildlife

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued the following statement:  “Our nation’s wildlife is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, climate change and invasive species in what the United Nations has now confirmed as our planet’s sixth mass extinction. We haven’t a moment to spare. Congress must act to protect and restore wildlife by funding programs to preserve species and habitat.
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Scarlet_Macaw
Los Tuxtlas, Mexico

Report: Scarlet Macaw Reintroduction Project Celebrates Five Years

Five years after the reintroduction of scarlet macaws into the Los Tuxtlas Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, leaders of the reintroduction project released a report detailing its progress. The report, “Slow but sure assimilation to culture and ecotourism of reintroduced scarlet macaws in Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico,” was published in the Journal of Ecotourism on April 18, 2019.
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Polar Bears
Washington

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Leaders Respond to Alaska Governor's Letter

Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Director Jamie Rappaport Clark and former FWS Alaska Regional Director Geoffrey L. Haskett have issued a response to Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s criticism of FWS staff.
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
Communications Specialist
estern@defenders.org
202-772-0243