The ABC. (2019, August 7) Possum Finishing School Helps Critically Endangered Animals Prepare for Life in the Wild. Retrieved August 8, 2019, from

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-08/possum-finishing-school-for-critically-endangered-wa-ringtail/11393122

The environmental group Fostering and Assistance for Wildlife Needing Aid, or FAWNA, in Australia has recently developed a finishing school for the critically endangered possums they rescue from the wild. In the past, the wildlife experts have worried whether the possums were able live past only a few nights after being released.  The school helps reintegrate the possums safely back into the wild. The group closely monitors the newly-released possums with radio collars and help the animals build up strength before being released. FAWNA is further working with the community in order to avoid the possums from being run over in busier areas. The environmental group’s main goal is to help the species repopulate and avoid extinction.

The article tells the story of successful efforts towards rehabilitating endangered species such as the possum and also inspires similar programs to be set into place. The finishing school can set an example for other organizations as it began to gain international attention and be helpful for many other endangered species that require the same monitoring before being released into the wild. Without programs similar to these, the work and funding put into reviving dying species goes to waste as the group suggested that many of the possums may not love past the first night back into the wild. 

Vox. (2019, July 16) Trump’s Plan to Take Wolves Off the Endangered Species List is Deeply Flawed. Retrieved August 1, 2019, from 

https://www.vox.com/2019/7/13/20690727/endangered-species-list-2019-gray-wolve

President Trump and the Interior Department have recently proposed that the gray wolf should no longer be considered an endangered species. Scientists argue however that despite the successful recovery the gray wolf population has made, they are not ready to be removed from the endangered species list and still require federal protections. Ranchers and people living in more rural areas side with Trump, complaining that the wolves pose as a threat to cattle and other domesticated livestock regardless of the fact that the wolves are only responsible for less than 1 percent of these deaths. Once the gray wolves become unlisted, scientists worry that hunting and trapping by nearby ranchers may cause the wolf population to once again decrease dramatically and reverse all the progress that has been made in the past 50 years to revive the species. 

It is unfortunate that the subject of endangered species and similar environmental issues has shifted into politics in recent years as it should be a subject that both political sides care about and want to fix. It is no surprise that Trump plans on removing the wolves from the endangered species list and makes them threatened by open hunting laws because of his close ties with the NRA and public support of sport hunting. I think it is important for people to take into consideration the negative effects of killing off these animals and what effects it could have on the surrounding ecosystems. Similarly, I think that removing the gray wolf from the endangered species list at this time would waste all the work of restabilizing the wolf population that has been done in the past few decades. 

Gizmodo. (2019, July 31) Population of Critically Endangered Vaquita Porpoises Now Less than 19 Individuals. Retrieved August 1, 2019, from

https://gizmodo.com/population-of-critically-endangered-vaquita-porpoises-n-1836854124

Due to the use of illegal fishing nets off the coast of Mexico, the population of vaquita porpoises has declined by 99% in the past eight years leaving only around 19 left. The slow reproduction cycles of the porpoises makes it nearly impossible for them to repopulate quickly enough as they are being killed off by nearby fishermen. Mexican fishermen use vertical nets called gillnets to catch the totoabas fish native to the Gulf of Mexico while accidentally entrapping the vaquita porpoise as well. The totoabas fish is classified as an endangered species and can be sold for a high price of $20,000. Because of the large pay it from these fish, fishing for totabas has gained popularity among drug cartels from Mexico and other local fishermen. Both species has suffered tremendously from these dangerous human activities. 

The articles depicts the lack of action being taken by the Mexican government in stopping the use of gillnets among fisherman as they continue to kill off the remaining porpoises. Not only should the government ban the illegal fishing techniques, it also should work towards repopulating the coast with the vaquita porpoises with sufficient funding in order rehabilitate the species. The vaquita porpoise exemplifies how much more difficult it can be to repopulate a species when they are native to one specific area. On the other hand, the article depicts the greed of humanity and suggests everyone around the world needs to care more about saving endangered species such as the vaquita porpoises and the totoabas fish rather than focusing on individual gain. 

The ABC. (2019, June 23). Which animals should live or die on Australia’s long list of threatened species? Retrieved June 25, 2019,  from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-24/australias-long-list-of-threatened-species/11234090

Despite having one of the highest rates of animal extinctions in the world, research groups in Australia are currently struggling to receive the proper funding from the government needed to save many of its indigenous species from extinction. Australian research director Professor Brendan Wintle argues that the government is only giving about a tenth of the money necessary to protect the threatened species on the list which has lead to the extinction to three more animals within the last decade. While the Australian federal government reports spending $400 million towards endangered species recovery environmental researchers such as Wintle suggest that the government is only spending an estimated $121 million . Due to lack of funding from government agencies towards conserving Australia’s wildlife, the endangered species research groups are forced to rely heavily on public donations and volunteering.

The article sheds light on the lack of aid many governments around the world provide towards environmental causes such as protecting endangered species and furthermore how many of these issues are put onto the backs of the public. Environmental matters cannot just be left to individual people because it is a subject that effects everyone and future generations.  With sufficient funding, much of the now extinct wildlife could’ve been saved however it is too late to bring back these already lost species. I think it’s important for the Australian government and its people to take action against the extinction of its species as soon as possible to stop further damage on its wildlife.