50 years of the Endangered Species Act Dec 28, 2023

50 years of the Endangered Species Act

Today is a special milestone for our furry, scaly, and feathered friends: the Endangered Species Act is turning 50. This landmark legislation, signed into law in 1973, has been helping species on the brink for half a century. Who"s that in the spotlight? A humpback whale! Known for their haunting songs and acrobatic breaches, these gentle giants are a success story of the ESA. They were once on the edge of extinction, largely due to commercial whaling, but thanks to conservation efforts, their population has bounced back from around 5,000 in 1966 to an estimated 135,000 today. However, our work isn"t over. Challenges persist, from habitat loss to poaching. So, what can we do? Spread the word, support conservation efforts, participate in local initiatives, and be eco-friendly.

© Paul Souders/DanitaDelimont.com

palette

Today in History

Dec 28, 2018A species no longer at risk
Dec 28, 2019Did they forget to fly south?
Dec 28, 2020Wildcat in a winter wonderland
Dec 28, 2021Kjell Henriksen Observatory
Dec 28, 2022Maloja, Switzerland
Dec 28, 2024Endangered Species Act
Dec 28, 2025Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act of 1973

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct 18, 2025Silbury Hill for International Archaeology Day
Jun 2, 2019An island for the birds
Dec 6, 2024Finnish Independence Day
Aug 28, 2019Florentine garden brings generations together
Dec 26, 2021Happy Boxing Day!
Sep 2, 2019Detroit Industry Murals by Diego Rivera
Jan 30, 2023Ice and Snow Sailing World Championships
May 11, 2025Happy Mothers Day!
Jan 22, 2023Mountain hare hopping into Lunar New Year
Oct 26, 2023Schönbrunn Palace Park, Vienna, Austria
Aug 17, 2022Freshwater plants in Aquário Natural, Brazil
Nov 27, 2022Cecropia leaf and lobster claw petals in Mexico
Dec 6, 2023Computer Science Education Week
Jul 9, 2022Dolomites
Jan 8, 2022American bison
Oct 5, 2021A day to celebrate teachers
May 22, 2018Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Sep 3, 2020Tall, taller, tallest
Aug 19, 2020Freeze frame
May 29, 2018The first ascent
Dec 28, 2020Wildcat in a winter wonderland
Jul 4, 2023Happy Independence Day!
Dec 20, 2021Ministry of Fun Santa School
Jul 18, 2019A learning garden
May 15, 2022Lunar eclipse
Dec 2, 2020Protecting Alaska
Jun 28, 2021A medieval celebration in the Mediterranean
Jun 12, 2025Big Bend National Park in Texas turns 81
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Jan 17, 2020A seabird gets schooled