Today is a special milestone for our furry, scaly and feathered friends: the Endangered Species Act is turning 50. This landmark US legislation, signed into law in 1973, has been lending a helping hand to species on the brink for half a decade. The act helped inspire Britain"s own Wildlife and Countryside act of 1981. 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 due to whaling and entanglement in fishing gear, but thanks to conservation efforts, their population is making a comeback, from around 5,000 in 1966 to an estimate of 135,000 today.
50 years of the Endangered Species Act
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California, USA
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Apple trees in spring, Germany
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Come on, guys, this way!
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Valentines Day
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Germanys green heart
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Unbe-leaf-able
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Bungle beehives
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Home of the worst-smelling food?
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50 years of the Endangered Species Act
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Owl be seeing you
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A touch of magic
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Polar bear season in Manitoba
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Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
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International Archaeology Day
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Autumnal equinox
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Taking a New Year nap
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National Park Service anniversary
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From victory to festivity
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Shark Awareness Day
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Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
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In fine feather
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Playa del Silencio, Spain
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Where is this ethereal mountain?
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Happy Yorkshire Day!
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Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
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A world within a world
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What are these predators doing?
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A mirror reflecting natures beauty
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Season of light in the City of Light