561 



or fear that it would stop the importation of almost all wildlife into the United 

 States. Innumerable questions are being asked about the law. Are all leopards 

 and other spotted cats endangered? Will importation of all species listed in the 

 Red Data Books of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and 

 Natural Resources l>e prohibited? It is a Federal offense to kill alligators? Is 

 there a Federal penalty for killing endangered wildlife? Why doesen't the Gov- 

 ernment object to hunting of rare species? Will the act help stop smuggling? 

 What is the difference lietween the Secretary of tiie Interior's enadngered species 

 list and the Bureau's Red Book? Aren't all rare 'Si>ecies endangered. 



A brief review might help to answer some of these most asked questions. The 

 Act of October 15, 1966, which was popularly known as the Endangered Species 

 Preservation Act, directed the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a list of 

 endangered native fish and wildlife. Many organizations and scientists con- 

 tributed information for use in preparing the list. To help protect these species, 

 Interior is authorized to study their habits and needs, to help increase their 

 numbers through propagation and to acquire needed habitat. Interior, Agricul- 

 ture and Defense are directed to protect endangered species and habitat on 

 lands which they administer when it does not conflict with the primary purpose 

 of the area. There are now 101 species or subspecies native to the United States 

 on the list. It is published in the Federal Register and revised periodically. 



The Bureau's Red Book summarizes the status of both endangered and rare 

 si^ecies- It lists peripheral .si>ecies and those who.se status is in doubt to arouse 

 interest and stimulate research. The Red Book is a working tool ; whereas the 

 Secretary's list has legal status and authorizes an active program aimed at pro- 

 tecting named endangered species. 



Rare does not mean the same thing as endangered. Lack of habitat may re- 

 strict a species' range and cause it to be rare without causing it to be endangered. 

 Tule elk are rare because additional habitat is not available for them. But, under 

 the State of California's management, they are not endangered. On the other 

 hand, alligators which still number between 230,000-540,000 according to State 

 estimates are considered to be endangered because poaching has been decreasing 

 their numbers so rapidly. 



There is no Federal penalty for killing an animal simply because it is endan- 

 gered. Primary responsibility for protecting endangered species rests on the 

 States. Federal authority to regulate the taking of wildlife stems from the migra- 

 tory bird conventions, and the taking of resident fish and wildlife is controlled 

 by 'the individual States. The Act of 1966 stated: "Nothing in this Act shall 

 be construed to authorize the Secretary (of the Interior) to regulate the hunting 

 or fishing of resident fish and wildlife, including endangered species thereof, on 

 lands not within the (National Wildlife Refuge) System." A bill before Congress, 

 which has passed the Senate and is before the House reaffirms the rights of the 

 States to manage resident species. 



The Act of 1969 directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a second 

 endangered species list covering foreign fish and wildlife facing extinction. The 

 law permits importation of listed forms into the United States only for scientific 

 purposes or for propagation in captivity to preserve the species. Responsibility 

 for developing the list is assigned to the Bureau's Office of Endangered Species. 

 International organizations, conservation agencies, and scientists in more than 

 55 countries have been consulted. Some coimtries do not have effective wildlife 

 conservation agencies, but the inability to protect or the disinterest of another 

 country in saving its wildlife does not prevent a species from being included on 

 Interior's list if there is evidence that it is endangered. The inital list which 

 will probably be expanded several times as data are accumulated in the next two 

 years was published with implementing regulations in the Federal Register on 

 June 2. Additional species w^ere proposed July 30. 



The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources 

 (lUCN) is a primary source of data. Interior is a member of lUON and our 

 Bureau is represented on its Eicology and Survival Service Commissions. 



The Survival Service Commission prepared the Red Data Books, which 

 are handbooks on the status of the world's fish and wildlife, and resemble the 

 Bureau's Red Book. Volumes I and II contain data on more than 500 species and 

 subspecies of mammals and birds ; material on reptiles, amphibians, and fishes has 

 recently been issued. lUCN uses four categories to describe forms listed in its 

 books ; endangered, rare depleted, and indeterminate. Those described as endan- 

 gered were prime candidates for Interior's list. The majority of species in their 

 Retl Data Book are not in the endangered category. 



